Chapter 56: Go Away

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The young hunters were taken aback by Riven’s blunt words, but Emma still insisted with determination in her voice. "Please at least let us help you clear the dungeon? We want to help you, to repay you for what you did...!"

"You think I’m going to fall for that? I can perfectly do that with Daniela and my Familiar. You just want to leech on the experience," Riven read through her plan immediately, clearly seeing how she was disguising "paying back the favor" as a way to ride his bus and gain free levels and loot.

"Ugh..." Emma lowered her head in embarrassment. "I-I wasn’t... trying to do that... um..." She was nervous because he had so easily read her true intentions.

"Go away for now," Riven said firmly. "I’ve done enough for you. Forget about us and go on with your lives as usual. Noir, bring them out of here."

"Woof!" Noir immediately encompassed the four hunters in thick shadows and disappeared, rushing toward the first floor to drop them safely at the entrance.

"W-Wait!"

"Uwaaaah?!"

"W-What the hell!"

"Uuggh...! I’m going to pukeeeee!"

As their panicked voices faded into the distance, Riven sighed in quiet relief. He then noticed Daniela’s slightly sad expression and turned toward her. "What’s wrong?" he asked.

"Riven... you didn’t need to be so mean," she sighed softly. "You weren’t mean to me, but why to them?"

"I saved their friend’s life," Riven answered simply.

"Ah, yeah..." Daniela chuckled a little. "Um... but..."

Riven sighed again, massaging his temples before gently patting her shoulders. "I did it because they were in danger. The longer they stayed here, the more they risked getting assaulted by a bunch of giant undead and killed. I am not confident I can protect so many people by myself. I already struggle with just you."

"...!" Daniela’s eyes widened in surprise. "S-So you were worried about them?"

"Hm," Riven nodded while looking into the distance.

Daniela smiled lightly and giggled as she hugged Riven’s arm tightly. "So you’re just a nice guy but you’re embarrassed to admit it! Heheh!"

"What? What is that supposed to mean?" Riven sighed and tried to shake her off, but Daniela refused to let go and instead climbed onto his back with a playful grin.

"Alright, let’s go!" she said cheerfully. "The final boss is awaiting for us, right?"

"Calm down. One step at a time," Riven said while looking upward. "Noir’s returning."

Because the wolf could merge completely into shadows, his ability to travel through space was incredible. In mere seconds the black wolf reappeared behind them, barking happily like a regular dog even though he was a true wolf.

"Woof!"

"You’re back, Noir!" Daniela said with bright eyes. "W-Wasn’t that way too fast though?!"

"Yeah," Riven smiled faintly. "He’s a quick boy. Because he can merge into the shadows, his ability to travel is incredibly quick. Anyway, now that he’s back I assume you dropped them off safely?"

Noir nodded once. Up above, right outside the dungeon entrance, the four young hunters were being looked at strangely by the other hunters nearby. Moments earlier they had watched a giant wolf head suddenly appear and vomit the four of them onto the ground, leaving them covered in drool and twitching in pure disbelief and shock.

"Looks like we’re done then," Riven nodded. "Alright, first things first... this labyrinth."

Riven’s eyes gleamed with a soft golden light as the power of his new Talent, Treasure Hunter, activated right away. It allowed him to create a clear mental map of his surroundings and "sense" the correct paths through the maze.

When he combined this ability with his own Beast Senses, an incredible synergy was created. He could even detect exactly where enemies were located so he could avoid them if he wished.

However, Riven did not want to avoid the enemies. He actually wanted to fight as many of them as possible and thoroughly cleanse this entire place.

To complete the dungeon he needed to take down two hundred monsters after all.

"Come," Riven said as he led Daniela and Noir toward a wide open area of the dungeon. Six different paths connected to this central space, which was faintly illuminated by a glowing crystal floating at its center. The crystal had no other special properties other than glowing softly, so he did not pay it much attention. "Now... Use Clowny Charm."

"...Eh?" Daniela looked at Riven in mild surprise. For a short moment she had hoped he was simply bringing her along a safe route that led directly to the boss.

But his true intentions were clearly different.

Riven wanted nothing but trouble.

"Come on, Daniela. You know we need to take down two hundred monsters, right?" Riven asked. "This open area has several routes where the monsters can come from. It’s perfect for us."

"..."

Daniela lowered her head for a moment and then nodded silently. She activated the skill while holding back a small tear, thinking to herself, "Riven, you’re really insane..." but never saying the words out loud.

FLASH!

As colorful lights appeared and swirled around her body, the monsters from every corridor within the Labyrinth immediately felt her presence and were instantly baited toward them.

Indeed, even the Undead-type Monsters, who were usually immune to most status effects, were easily enraged and "baited" by the power of her skill.

RUMBLE!

Heavy footsteps began echoing from every direction at once, making the entire dungeon tremble constantly. The galloping of gigantic skeletal horses, the roars and mad laughter of insane undead knights, and the heavy metallic sound of enormous swords being swung against every obstacle filled the air. Even the thick stone walls started breaking apart due to the complete frenzy that Clowny Charm had caused among the monsters.

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