Early DAR Vol. 5 Chapter 16 Part 4

Full title: Starting a New Life for the Discarded All-Rounder

Note: If you found any typos/mistakes, pls write them in the comment. Thanks.

Translator: Airis

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<Brat, are you absolutely sure there aren’t any left?>

“I told you, there’s nothing here.”

<Really? Hey, flashy one—you confirmed it too, right?>

“I already said I did, didn’t I?”

Kristoff, referred to as “flashy one,” replied without even looking at Uncle Gry, clearly unwilling to entertain him any further.

<Are you certain...?>

“Uncle Gry, enough already!”

Roa snapped, and Uncle Gry finally fell silent—though clearly unsatisfied.

They were now inside the central tower of the Citadel Dungeon.

Ever since they’d left the massive underground chamber they’d entered through, Uncle Gry had been pestering Roa and the others with repeated questions. The swarm of bugs from earlier must have shaken him deeply.

Roa and his party had already emerged from the underground level and arrived at the first floor above ground.

Natural light poured through the open windows spaced along the walls. The room was surrounded by thick stone, but thanks to careful architectural planning, magic light wasn’t even necessary; the daylight alone kept the space well lit.

A thin layer of dirt had gathered on the floor, likely carried in by the wind, and weeds grew here and there.

The space felt more like a stone-paved garden path than an interior room.

At least, unlike the underground, there were no signs of squirming insects.

Yet Uncle Gry continued walking with his body pressed tightly against Roa’s back.

He still appeared nervous, glancing around frequently as they moved.

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you check for yourself—”

<I refuse!>

Uncle Gry shut Roa down before he could finish.

With his abilities, Uncle Gry could easily use detection magic to check for nearby insects.

But he didn’t, because he knew all too well that there was no such thing as a truly bug-free place.

Insects existed everywhere in the world.

Even if they weren’t visible on the surface, they could hide in wall cracks, floorboards, and unseen crevices.

He knew this. That’s why he refused to use detection spells himself.

Because once he did, he would detect insects, and then he’d freeze, unable to move.

So instead, he relied on Roa and Kristoff, who specialized in detection magic, to reassure him.

He used their words as a kind of self-hypnosis.

In short, it was self-deception.

He trusted Roa enough to allow himself to believe there were no insects—if Roa said so.

“Pathetic…”

Dietrich muttered behind him, prompting Uncle Gry to shoot him a glare.

Under normal circumstances, he would’ve snapped back, but this time, he understood he had no leg to stand on.

At that moment, the group was en route to a staircase leading to the upper floors.

Kristoff and the twin Magic Wolves took the lead, while Dietrich and Cornelia brought up the rear.

Roa, Uncle Gry, and Bernhart were sandwiched in the middle.

“You are sure this is the right way, aren’t you? Don’t go blaming fear if we get lost.”

<I said probably. I’ve never actually been in these lower levels.>

“Useless.”

<I’ll kill you!>

They continued onward, relying on Uncle Gry’s vague directions and Kristoff’s detection magic.

True to its name, the Citadel Dungeon was a fortress built for war. Even if enemies breached the lower levels, the design made it difficult to reach key areas above.

As a result, staircases were deliberately scattered and placed in separate locations.

The corridors were maze-like; not elaborate enough to hinder daily life, but complicated enough to throw off intruders under pressure.

“Baw!”

“Baw!”

Just as they turned another corner, the twins barked in unison.

<Looks like mutts are coming.>

Uncle Gry translated their words, still unwilling to do any detection himself.

Everyone stopped at once.

<What did humans call them again…? Right, mane-dogs? They're cowardly scavengers that feed off leftovers from other magic beasts. Used to live underground… three of them are approaching.>

Mane-dogs were canine-type magic beasts, also called “corpse scavengers.” They moved in small packs.

Their jaws were strong enough to crush bone, but otherwise they were weak.

Roughly the size of the twin Magic Wolves, perhaps a bit larger.

“Mane-dogs, huh. Roa could handle that.”

Kristoff murmured, and Dietrich gave it some thought before turning to Roa.

“Wanna try fighting them?”

He figured it would be good experience.

Since beginning his training with Uncle Gry and Nostalgia, Roa hadn’t fought any magic beasts.

There was the scuffle with Puffy in the Rabbit Forest, but that hadn’t been a real battle.

When it came to Undead, Roa had treated them more like pests to be exterminated.

Even with the Gigant Skeleton, he’d only prepared a sticky trap to stop its legs, he hadn’t fought directly.

Simply put, Roa was still weak.

That’s why a controlled battle with weak magic beasts like these was valuable.

“Of course, we’ll support you. You can take them on one at a time. What do you say?”

Roa hesitated for a moment, then nodded decisively.

“I’ll give it a tr—”

<No. I’ll handle them!>

Uncle Gry interjected.

“…What? Why? This is a perfect chance for Roa to gain real experience!”

<I said I’ll do it!>

“You’re the one who said Roa needs to train in real combat! This is the perfect chance!”

<...>

“Hey!”

Dietrich barked in frustration, but Uncle Gry ignored him.

Wind began swirling through the corridor, magic was already being prepared.

“Is that… wind? No—flames? But we haven’t even seen the targets yet…”

Bernhart’s voice echoed in the hall.

The mane-dogs had only been sensed by the twin Magic Wolves, they were still beyond Kristoff’s detection range.

Firing magic this early was a mistake.

Worse still, Uncle Gry hadn’t used detection magic himself. He couldn’t possibly aim accurately.

“Uncle Gry… aren’t you pouring a lot of mana into that spell?”

<…>

Uncle Gry didn’t respond.

Even the twins tilted their heads at his strange behavior.

<Go.>

The moment he spoke, everything turned crimson.

“My eyes!”

“What the hell did you do, you shady Gryphon?!”

“Kyah!”

“Urgh…”

“Baw!”

“Bauwuh!”

“Ooooh!! The power… What devastating might!”

“Uncle Gry?! What are you doing?!”

Flames had erupted all around them.

Everyone instinctively shielded their heads, but it seemed Uncle Gry had cast a protective spell beforehand.

The fire and heat did not touch their surroundings.

<Fuhahahahahaha! Burn! Let all that is unpleasant turn to ash! Reduce it all to cinders!!>

His maniacal laughter echoed alongside the roaring flames.

“He’s using wind magic to spread fire magic across a wide area? But how far is this reaching…”

Bernhart gazed into the inferno, his eyes sparkling with awe.

His cheeks were flushed with excitement—paired with his handsome face, he looked like someone lovestruck.

“…Is he trying to burn all the bugs…?”

Roa’s murmur drew everyone’s eyes to Uncle Gry, still cackling.

Every one of them was staring in suspicion.

The twin Magic Wolves, in particular, were giving him a look of pure disdain.

<Hmph. Don’t be absurd! The spell was aimed at those mutts. It just happened to spread that far! The bugs had nothing to do with it! The scorched earth is purely coincidental!>

“Uh-huh…”

<It was a coincidence!!>

No one believed a word of it.

𑁋

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