Rotten Party

The day had dawned for the new adventurer party, ‘Dungeon God’, to set out on their expedition.

Our destination was an “Iron Rank” dungeon, as advised by the Adventurers’ Guild. We also received a special compass from the guild so that we could easily find our way.

“The red arrow the mana stone compass points to—if we head in this direction, the dungeon should be there!”

As I held the mana stone compass, Serena, recognizing it, began to explain.

With her bright smile and refreshing demeanor, she brought a sense of lightness to our party, which had been gloomy and rough-edged until now.

“Weren’t you a new adventurer?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. But I was actually in another party before this.”

She’d been part of another adventurer party? Then, did she leave that one?

“Why did you leave that party?”

“That’s… a bit hard to talk about.”

It seemed she had her own reasons. Well, it didn’t matter. All we needed was a ‘cleric’.

Before departure, we headed to the stables near the entrance and brought out a wagon.

It was the wagon I had taken from the (fake) merchants before. Even if the distance was short, traveling by wagon was much better.

“W-wait, you have a wagon? And you’re a barbarian?”

Serena was visibly surprised when I brought the wagon out.

Of course, her surprise was a result of thinking, “A barbarian, using a wagon?!”

“Are you saying barbarians aren’t allowed to have wagons?”

“No, not at all! I’ve just never seen a barbarian driving a wagon before!”

I couldn’t quite figure out what status “barbarians” had in this world. With such questions in mind, I set off for our destination, pulling the wagon.

Hiiing──!

The horse neighed as Barkal took the reins, and with that, Barkal sprang up.

“As I thought, we might have to break one of its legs to keep it disciplined!”

“I’ll do it, Barkal.”

“No, brother! Last time, you did it. This time, I’ll do the hard work!”

A commendable sentiment.

“Hold still! Or I’ll cut off two of your legs!”

But he was clearly not in his right mind.

“Put down the axe, Barkal! I’ll take the reins.”

In the end, I was to take the reins myself.

* * *

Here it is.

After about four hours traveling in the direction the compass indicated, we arrived at the “Iron Rank Dungeon.”

“So this is the dungeon that will be ‘Dungeon God’ party’s first step forward!”

Serena grinned as she looked at the rough yet imposing entrance of the dungeon.

With an enthusiastic voice, she spoke, while Barkal crossed his arms and responded with an indifferent attitude.

“In comparison to the dungeon where we underwent our coming-of-age ceremony, this is nothing, brother.”

He acted as if it was nothing, but Barkal’s shoulders were trembling slightly.

Was he scared? No, as I looked into his eyes through the slits of his skull helmet, it was clear he was excited.

“I’m going in.”

I threw myself into the dungeon portal first.

Like after finishing the coming-of-age ceremony, a blinding white light flashed before my eyes and soon, the bleak interior of the “dungeon” appeared.

“Hm.”

Looking up, the sky was covered by something. A closer look revealed that this dungeon was inside a tree.

“I am Barkal of the Red Wolf Tribe!!”

While I was trying to guess what kind of dungeon this was, a roar rang out behind me. It was Barkal and Serena.

“It’s a dungeon! It’s glory! Where is the enemy, brother?!”

“Wh-where is the enemy, brother?!”

Serena mimicked Barkal’s speech, perhaps finding it awkward to do nothing.

Why are you even… The words rose to my throat, but acting tense and hesitant would be worse.

“Kraaaargh!”

“Ahh, ahhh!”

Ignoring the two, I surveyed the dungeon’s interior.

In 《Dungeon God》, dungeons that spawn are almost completely random—everything from the location, to the rewards, to the monsters.

Therefore, not even players can be certain what will appear unless they enter and check for themselves.

However, things are different for an experienced ‘player’.

If you look around inside, you can often guess what sort of dangers lie ahead.

Wooden surroundings. Mushrooms and mold wedged between the wood.

‘… Poison.’

This meant there was a high probability that “poison”-affiliated enemies would appear in this dungeon.

Great, just what I needed.

I sighed internally.

Normally, I would have abandoned the dungeon and left, but since it was related to the Adventurers’ Guild, walking away wasn’t an option.

Our first mission.

Wasn’t the reputation of the “Dungeon God” party riding on this?

‘There’s another reason.’

If we ran away here, Thrag would probably start foaming at the mouth and pitch a fit. So we had to keep going.

At least we had a cleric who could heal.

“Let’s move out.”

We ventured deeper into the dungeon. Although my words sounded grand, there was really only one path, and all we could do was follow it.

“Enemies ahead.”

And not long after, we ran into a monster.

― Grrrkk…”

A wolf with mushrooms sprouting all over its body. Its eyes were covered by fungi, but it stared straight at us.

“It’s only a wolf?!”

Barkal drew his axe and stepped forward.

“But please be careful! It could still be dangerous!”

This time, it was Serena’s voice. True to her cleric role, she was worried about Barkal.

Healing magic quickly causes fatigue—so it can’t be used recklessly. Since our party’s resources were limited, communicating to minimize their consumption was only natural.

… Huh?

I glanced at Serena.

Why wasn’t the cleric staying back, but instead stepping forward?

I wanted to say something as I watched her back, but I was too flustered and only mouthed the words.

“Almighty Liberas, watch over me.”

Ah, I see.

It was for a prayer. More precisely, for divine magic.

“Prayer of Light!”

As expected, she began to use “Holy magic” to cast “buffs” that enhanced the abilities of her allies.

Prayer of Light.

A buff that slightly raises the target’s defense.

‘Hm?’

Except, she used it on herself.

‘Not on Barkal or me?’

Ah.

Thinking about it, I could understand.

No matter how much a cleric stays at the rear, they can still be exposed to enemy attacks.

It was an understandable judgment to raise her own survivability. Makes sense.

“Fleet Footed!”

Again, she cast holy magic.

Fleet Footed.

A spell that enhances the target’s speed.

She also cast this one on herself.

Well, it is important for a cleric to be able to dodge quickly.

“Blessing of Strength!”

My God! She’d already learned a spell like that!?

Blessing of Strength.

A very versatile buff spell in 《Dungeon God》. As the name suggests, it’s a blessing that enhances the target’s strength.

If a cleric knows this spell, even a “Gold Rank” adventurer party would covet such talent!

As expected, she really was a “Disciple” like Barkal. While I was thinking that—

She used “Blessing of Strength” on herself.

That’s strange. Shouldn’t she be casting it on Barkal or me? Clerics in the rear shouldn’t be fighting in melee.

‘Now that I think of it.’

Why wasn’t Serena holding a staff? While I wondered, she began wrapping bandages around her hands.

It looked just like a seasoned boxer’s hand taping.

Why?

Why?

As these questions overwhelmed my mind, she suddenly rushed at the mushroom wolf before Barkal could move.

― Grrrrrr!”

As she closed the distance, the mushroom wolf crouched and opened its jaws wide.

Still, unafraid, Serena drew closer.

A faint light gathered on her bandaged fist as she swung it at the wolf’s jaw.

― Kyeee!

A phenomenally clean right hook. If she’d been a ‘grappler’, one of 《Dungeon God》’s martial classes, anyone would have been impressed.

But you’re a cleric.

― Kyee! Kyee!

She looped her right arm around the wolf’s neck. Then, a guillotine choke.

I heard a sickening crunch as the bones splintered. Incredible strength. If she were a ‘grappler’, the crowd would be applauding.

But you’re a cleric!

― Grrk… grrk.

Eventually, with her grip unbroken, the wolf’s neck snapped and it died instantly.

It was overwhelming power. She didn’t even let go until she was sure; only after the kill did she release the choke.

That’s something only vanguard classes like a barbarian or fighter were expected to do.

But you’re a cleric!!!

Barkal, watching from the side, beamed with satisfaction.

“As expected, she is no mere woman. She is a true warrior.”

You insane bastard.

So that’s what you meant.

* * *

An Iron Rank dungeon.

It would not be an exaggeration to call it the lowest-level dungeon, but for most people, surviving it was far from guaranteed.

And in such a place, the fledgling “Dungeon God” party was already in crisis on its very first day.

It was a crisis severe enough that the party disbanding would not have seemed strange. To resolve this crisis, we—or to be exact, I—called a trial.

“Serena.”

When I called her name, Serena, still on her knees, looked up cautiously.

“Y-yes…”

“Weren’t you a cleric?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Your god is Liberas, correct?”

“Yes, yes. The God of Love and Virtue, Liberas.”

In this world, to gain the “cleric” class, one must put their faith in a “Benevolent God.”

To date, there were three Benevolent Gods known.

Hyirat, the God of Judgment and Virtue.

Creana, the God of Freedom and Virtue.

And Liberas, the God of Love and Virtue.

To obtain the cleric class in 《Dungeon God》, you must have faith in one of these three.

“You’re not lying?”

“Never! In the name of Lord Liberas, I am truly her believer!”

“Then.”

Feeling myself get worked up, I barely swallowed the words rising to my throat.

Let’s calm down for a moment.

“Why would a cleric be punching things on the front lines?”

“T-that’s…”

What people expect from the “cleric” class is to support from the rear with healing and buff magic.

Serena knew that, which was why she knelt like a criminal when I called a trial.

“To rush ahead and fight with your fists—is that something a disciple of Liberas would do?”

“It’s all because of Lord Liberas’s teachings!”

“Teachings?”

When I tilted my head, Serena began to get up.

Tsk.

When I clicked my tongue at her, she sat back down sheepishly.

“Lord Liberas once said—”

A believer who hears the words of her god clearly. She really was a Disciple like Barkal.

“If you are her follower, you must always protect your allies in any situation.”

“And what does that have to do with fighting with your fists?”

“… I— I know. I know what kind of responsibility adventurer parties expect from clerics.”

“Then you knowingly deceived us?”

“That’s…”

What I wanted was a cleric to support two vanguards. With a normal cleric, ours would have been an ideal party.

“Go on.”

I decided to at least listen to her excuse.

“The essence of a cleric is to protect life.”

Reasonable.

Protecting allies with healing and buff magic—that is a cleric’s fundamental duty.

“But I thought about it. If it’s Lord Liberas—the God of Love and Virtue—she would never allow those she loves to get hurt!”

“Hm.”

I nodded.

“So if the role of cleric is ultimately to protect…”

If that’s their duty?

“Then isn’t killing the enemy so our allies don’t get hurt the same thing!?”

Clap, clap, clap.

Behind me, I heard Barkal applauding.

Don’t clap, you bastard.

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

A rotten party indeed.

With 3 fighters to boot.

Well, Serena isn’t wrong.

Your allies won’t get hurt if you kill the enemy quickly…

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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