Vol. 13 - Ch. 733 - Let's Challenge Fairy Queen: What, monsters can talk?!

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The final boss of the fairy dungeon was «Intermediate Holy Spirit», but we didn't bother with that. We're here for the rare boss! 

"Our target is the rare boss of this dungeon, «Fairy Queen: Season»."

In appearance, she looked like an evolved version of «High Fairy», the female fairy boss from Floor 30. 

She donned a lavish attire, a lime-green theme dress reminiscing of nature. The priestess-esque robe, intricately decorated, promptly set her apart from your regular fairies. And, on her head rested a large rose, like a hair ornament. 

The red and black wings growing from her back were shaped like butterfly wings, giving her a slightly bewitching presence. 

Such was the Fairy Queen of «Four Season Fairy Dungeon»—«Fairy Queen: Season».

"She uses magic in combat, but this is nothing against the status debuff, «Fairy's Mischief», which is a headache when four of its minion fairies are present. Lana, always keep an out for «Debuff Resistant Blessing» and Negative Status recovery."

"Got it!"

This rare boss wasn't alone. Perhaps because we had many solo rare bosses, this one was legion type. 

"Sierra, your and mine task would be to separate them. Essentially, it's the same strategy as «Battle Wolf»—separate the minions from the boss. I will take the minions, so I want you to focus on the boss."

"You will, against minions? Will you be alright against four of them?"

"They only use long-range magic attacks. With my «Super-Reflex», it'll be a piece of cake. Besides, while you keep the boss busy, Ester and Karua will focus on dispatching the minions. We'll face the boss only when we've done that... as I said, it's the usual." 

"Understood."

"Same as always, got it."

"Anything else to be vary about?"

I nodded at Sierra's question. She's sharp, she knows an int-high dungeon's rare boss wouldn't be a walk in the park.

"Fairies are mischievous, you see. The moment the rare boss pops, a blackboard erasure eraser drops from above. If it hits, there's a high chance of getting «stunned,» so whoever's at the front needs to guard their head properly."

"Huh? Hold on, in what world is this just a prank?"

Lana immediately remarked in bewilderment, and I was with her on that. 

Dropping a blackboard eraser was one thing, but «Stun» was a real game-changer. It could easily wipe us out if we're not prepared. Getting the tank stunned right at the start of a rare boss fight was a recipe for disaster.

"There are plenty of other outrageous pranks with crazy effects. I'll tell you about the most important ones, so commit them to memory."

Then, I explained all the different debuffs and attacks we could expect.

Fortunately, both Lana and I could cast recovery magic, so even if either of one was struck, the other should be able to assist. You really wouldn't want you healer to get hit by paralysis or  sleep either, after all. It was always better to have two people with debuff recovery spells. 

After the talk of debuffs, I explained the unique skill effect, and then prepared ourselves. I blew the «Flute» and jumped into the room alongside everyone.

"Woah! It's a hit! Sierra, pay attention to the above."

"Noted."

When he made the entrance, there was no boss inside, and since the teleportation circle wasn't flashing either, it was obvious at glance we'd pulled ourselves a rare boss this time, successfully. 

Moving forward, I advised Sierra about the possible threat. 

A moment later, the familiar rare boss pop-up effect played out, and the rare boss made its appearance known. In parallel, something struck the shield Sierra had held overhead. With a *thwack,* a blackboard erasure now sat on Sierra's kite shield out of nowhere. 

Alongside it, another bewildering phenomenon occured. We heard voices beside our party's. 

«Aww, so it didn't work~.»

"Wha—?!"

"D-Did it just talk?!"

Everyone stiffened at the sudden voice.

Ah, so it's like that, huh? The boss here was capable of speech, apparently. Albeit, it didn't seem like it talked beyond the set, simple lines. There was no voice acting in the game for the boss, so it kind of took me by surprise as well. 

While we were still reeling, the other side was getting a kick out of it. Four fairies—«Ordinary Fairy», «Flame Fairy», «Ice Fairy», and «Sand Fairy»—appeared around the Fairy Queen.

«Next, next, I wanna play a prank~.»

«Wha—, that's not fair! I wanna too!»

«Patience, everyone, one at a time, right?»

«Why don't we all do it at once?»

«Yes, brilliant!» x4.

They seemed to be having a conversation, but even that soon concluded as they turned in our direction. Unfortunately, we're still wrapped in chaos.

"Zephyr, Zephyr. The monsters. They're talking! What the hell is it?!"

"Calm down, Lana. It's just fairies talking. I mean, you heard them in the hidden room too, right?"

That's right, fairy types do talk. 

They'd even used a megaphone in the hidden room to give it a horror vibe. I had explained it, so it should be obvious they're capable of speech.

But, if they can indeed talk, why haven't we heard any words from fairies on other floors? This was certainly confusing, and even I didn't have any answer to it, but if I have to guess, it's only the scenario from the 41st floor and onward. 

Frankly, I was astonished too. I wondered if it was another reality buff. Imagine if we could talk with monsters... that simple thing was actually amazing, wasn't it? Oh man, just the possibilities hyped me up!

"They're coming, Zephyr! Hurry up, and deal with aggro!"

"A-ah, right! «Appeal»!"

Sierra's composed voice pulled me out of my fantasy. I swiftly invoked my skill. 

Still, that was a blunder. Even though I had said I will take care of minions! Tch, curse you, mine craving for knowledge! ...Wait, never mind that. It's not knowledge fault. 

I pulled the four minion fairies, and led them to the ambush point, while I held my shield forward."

 «Burn for me~»

«Froze for me~»

«Paralyzed for me~»

"They sure have some mouths. I shall begin then—«Long Thrust»!"

«Kyaa!?»

"—Huh? They can scream?!"

Momentarily, the four minion fairies launched their attack at me. I nimbly dodged some, while I used shields to block others. In the meantime, Ester swooped in from their flanks, assaulting them. 

But, their scream kind of made others hesitate in taking a relentless approach.

"Ester, they're monsters. Ignore their screams!"

"......It reminds me of the time when Zephyr mercilessly cut that pitiful cow."

Err, Karua, why are you having a distant look in your eyes? And a pitiful cow? What?

"Karua, can you do it?"

"Hn, I have prepared myself. I will be fine—«Force Sonic»!"

«Kyaa!?»

"Hn—I shouldn't pay attention. Don't pay attention. «32 Star Stream»!"

«Noooo!»

I had no idea why, but Karua's eyes were brimming with some sort of tragic resolve... somehow, it was hurting my conscience. Alright, let's treat her with curry later.

However, her intent to attack seemed to have narrowed her vision. She lost herself in offence, forgetting about the evasive footwork, and fairies seized that moment.

«We got her! Take this! «Fairy's Mischief»!»

"!!"

It was a spray bottle. With a pshh, it sprayed Karua's face, putting a «Sleep» debuff on her. 

Ack, Karua had the least resistance to «Sleep», too!

"«Prayer of Purification»! Wake up, Karua! —Wait, kyaa?!"

"Lana-sama?!"

"It's the handiwork of «Fairy Queen»! —Sierra, how is aggro accumulation going?! «Appeal»!"

"Argh. It's flying around, so I am having a bit of trouble."

I followed Sierra's words, and indeed, «Fairy Queen» was swimming around freely in the sky, dodging Sierra's autonomous shields. 

Since her «Taunt» area of effect could even affect aggro management on minions, she was trying to use «Shield Smite» instead to aggro her, but it was obviously not working. 

And being out of anyone's control, «Fairy Queen» fixed her eyes on Lana, slamming her spell on her. 

From above Lana, a square-shaped barrier fell, confining her, applying «Bind» status to her.

"«Recovery»!"

I promptly casted the debuff recovery spell, and within a moment, fissures spread around the box-shaped barrier, and it shattered. 

I wonder what was the mechanism behind it?

"You saved me!"

"«Appeal»! —Sierra! I think we've got enough aggro on the minions to not care about exceeding it! You will be fine for two uses!"

"Copy that. —«Taunt»! «Aura Point»!"

«Grh, she's annoying me. Alright, time to present her the magic bullet barrage!»

"«Material Shield»!"

Boss's attention finally turned to Sierra, blasting her with a magic attack. Sierra blocked it with one of her skills. We just needed Sierra to keep the boss' attention, so even a bit of aggro was effective. 

With the threat gone, Lana was finally free to cast her spell.

"Lana! Time to shine!"

"Just leave it to me! «Blessing of Debuff Resistant»! «Anti-Magic Blessing»! «Blessing of Guardian Dog»! «Blessing of Agility»!"

At long last, the tide of the battle began to turn, and we found our groove.

"The pranks mainly played by «Ordinary Fairy»! Ester, Karua, settle it down first! «Appeal»!"

"Roger! «Flash Stab»!"

"«Star Burst - Rain Edge»!"

«Woah, woah! You're so awful, ganging up on me! I'm really, really angry now~!"

The elemental fairies weren't as troublesome as the «Ordinary Fairy» was with its debuffs. I immediately passed the instruction to target it first. 

And, since their attention was completely focused on countering us, there was no more gaggle coming from them. 

I continued to dodge attacks from the three remaining minions, sometimes failing in doing so, but otherwise I kept my attention to tanking until we finally had a breakthrough. Before long, the «Ordinary Fairy» was dispatched as it vanished in effect.

«T-they got me~...»

Now that the debuff threat was no more, we could finally sprung up our offence. 

Afterward, we dispatched «Flame Fairy,» «Sand Fairy» followed after, and ultimately even the «Ice Fairy». They disappeared amidst the sea of effect, their last words echoing.

«Hyaaa, nooo...~»

«No way~...»

«Uh-huh, they're strong~...»

With the minions sorted out, we then turned our attention to «Fairy Queen».