Chapter 43: Mobydick’s Heart

“Ugh! Everyone, great job! That was clean!”

“Welcome back!”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

As I returned to the stage, the surroundings buzzed with chatter.

It was a scene that brought a slight smile to my face.

Before, when I came back, only Dulv greeted me.

But now, many heroes welcomed me like comrades.

They were the companions I had wished for.

“Oh, wow. I finally realized that Suri’s skill is real after joining this party. Is it true that you pulled off a critical success with sheer skill? That’s amazing!”

“Huh… truly an incredible ability. I think Suri deserves a 5-star rating! Amazing!”

The raider and the spearman talked excitedly.

[Suri has been fully repaired!]

[★★★★★ Sealed Tome of Gold and Dusk]

[★★★★ Sage’s White Staff] [Critical Success!]

Two pieces of equipment appeared on the screen, both repaired.

The staff was a critical success again, just like before… but unfortunately, I didn’t get to see a 6-star critical success.

I had heard it was possible, but it didn’t seem easy.

“Hehe! That was truly a fun experience! Listening to Master Dulv’s know-how made things clearer! I’ve learned a lot!”

“Hoho. That’s thanks to Master Ian’s skill. Reading the flow of mana and understanding the internal structure… a regular blacksmith couldn’t hope to match that.”

“You’re too humble! I want to do this more often!”

“Come, have a drink! There’s nothing like a cold drink after a hot day at the forge!”

“Thank you for your hard work, Master!”

“You worked harder, Master!”

The Sage and Dulv clinked their glasses.

Dulv wore a happier expression than ever before.

‘Did he finally gain a comrade in the forge?’

He hardly seemed like the intimidated dwarf summoned for the first time.

[Lv. 47 : Mobydick, the White Whale]

Thunk!

Back into the dungeon.

Splash!

The dungeon started in a pitch-black space.

Beneath my feet, a liquid pooled up to my knees, and as Gobori had said, it seemed we were beginning inside the belly of the whale.

“Let’s go. We have to finish this quickly.”

Pressing my helmet down, I stepped forward.

“Ugh… I hate this place! Let’s go fast!”

“Wait, wait! I can’t walk fast here! Let’s take it slow! Eeek!”

Rose and Gobori responded.

But Gobori struggled to walk due to the stomach acid.

“Hup!”

“Huh?”

I hoisted Gobori onto my shoulder.

Rose and Gobori were light enough to carry without effort.

“Like this, right? When the fight starts, hop down on your own.”

“Hey, bro!”

“Pfft. It’s not that hard.”

I chuckled and moved on.

Helping out this much was nothing.

[You take damage from the powerful stomach acid!]

[Potions cannot be used in this dungeon!]

***

After moving a certain distance, the messages popped up.

This was the reason this dungeon was so difficult.

Since it was inside the whale’s belly, we took damage from the acid, and on top of that, potions were unusable.

Many parties had been wiped out midway.

[Digestion progress remaining…]

[278/300]

Moreover, there was a time limit.

We hurried forward through the dungeon.

Thud! Thud! Sizzle…

“Ugh!”

I blocked the falling acid with my shield.

But damage below the knees was unavoidable.

Enduring the pain, I pressed on.

“You okay? The healing’s keeping up.”

“Of course. Better than those beetles we faced back then.”

I said to Rose while pushing through the acid.

The dungeon’s strategy was surprisingly simple.

Lower the boss’s health to below half before encountering it, then unleash all attacks immediately upon meeting it to finish it off.

Otherwise, it seemed exhausting.

I checked the time and hurried onward.

“Up ahead! Up ahead!”

Rose pointed straight ahead.

“Gik!”

“Sh-shit!”

Ahead wriggled long, white roundworms in a disgusting mass.

Monsters blocking the path to the core, it seemed.

The writhing mass of roundworms filled the way like a spider’s web.

“Special move! Gobori Bomb Rapid Fire!”

Kaboom! Bang!

[Lv. 1 Desert Whale Roundworm defeated.]

[Lv. 1 Desert Whale Roundworm defeated.]

Of course, Gobori’s bombs made no difference in front of them.

The roundworms burned away in bright red flames.

“Pwoooong…!!!”

Boom…!!

The dungeon shook simultaneously.

‘Was the whale’s belly being attacked and in pain?’

Still, the giant whale wouldn’t die easily.

We pushed forward at this pace.

“Ugh! Gross! There!”

Rose pointed her finger.

This time, giant tapeworms swam through the acid and closed in.

“Shield charge!”

Thud! Bang bang bang!

[Lv. 10 Long Whale Tapeworm defeated.]

[Lv. 10 Long Whale Tapeworm defeated.]

They crushed many tapeworms at once.

“Let’s go.”

Without rest, we kept moving.

“Ugh. I just can’t get used to this dungeon. Look! Those are all eggs!”

“When they hatch, they’ll attack! Let’s get through quickly!”

Rose and Gobori pointed at the inner wall.

The crimson inner wall was covered in eggs.

They said the eggs would hatch over time, and these bugs specialized more in interference than direct attacks.

Their strategy was to obstruct our path and dissolve us in the acid.

[Digestion progress remaining…]

[168/300]

I checked the screen and moved forward.

My character’s health was now at 60%.

“More than halfway there, right?”

“Almost there! We’re close!”

“That was pretty fast! As expected of our party!”

Gobori and Rose said.

I blocked falling acid and pressed on.

“But it’s strange.”

“Hm? What is?”

“These parasites… shouldn’t they dissolve in the acid? Something’s off.”

“Eh, it’s Valhalla! Don’t sweat the small stuff! Haha!”

Gobori chuckled in reply.

A little further, splash!

We faced the heart in a wide space.

But if we entered through the esophagus and stomach, why was the heart here?

Well.

It was just Valhalla.

I decided not to worry about the details.

Dun dun! Dun dun dun dun dun! Dun dun dun dun dun!

The lively music signaled the start of the boss fight.

[Boss: White Whale Heart Roundworm] Lv. 47

[Boss monster has appeared!]

“Sh-shit…”

The boss was the roundworm wrapped around the heart.

Its size was enormous, coiling around the 4-meter heart, and the whale seemed to be in pain because of it.

The whale’s ferocity was all thanks to this roundworm.

[This is a boss battle.]

[Manual combat recommended.]

[If Mobydick’s heart stops, you lose the battle.]

Two health bars appeared on the screen.

[Boss: White Whale Heart Roundworm] Lv. 47

[100/100%]

One was the health bar of the roundworm coiling around the heart.

[Boss: Heart of Mobydick, the White Whale] Lv. 100

[100/100%]

The other was the heart’s health bar, wrapped by the roundworm.

The strategy here was to remove the roundworms before destroying the heart.

Of course, we had already completed this strategy while coming through.

I kept my distance and waited for the roundworm to approach.

“Sh-shaa!”

The roundworm wrapped around the heart attacked.

As soon as it separated from the heart, I lifted Gobori.

“Rose!”

“Okay!”

Rose flew up at my command.

[★★★★ Fairy Rose of the Rose Blossom: Adorable Fairy Wings Effect!]

At the same time, Rose equipped Gobori with the Sealed Tome of Gold and Dusk.

I hurled the Goblin Sentry Gobori toward the roundworm.

“Bori! I’m counting on you!”

“User! Now!”

Whoosh!

“Ugh!”

The long roundworm grabbed Gobori.

But Gobori’s health was at 47% after making it this far.

I had intentionally adjusted Rose’s healing to keep his health balanced.

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac]

[One strike!]

I tapped Gobori on the screen to unleash the attack.

“Ugh! Art Specialty: Explosion!!!”

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac: Art Specialty: Explosion!]

Kaboom!

“Gigegek!!!”

The fierce explosion staggered the roundworm.

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac has fallen!]

But it was too soon to relax.

Gobori, equipped with the tome, immediately revived.

[★★★ Sealed Tome of Gold and Dusk effect!]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac has revived!]

“Bro! Now’s the time!”

“Sorry!”

“No need to apologize!”

“Hup!”

I threw a dagger at Gobori’s forehead.

The soaring dagger pierced Gobori’s forehead.

Thunk!

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac has fallen!]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac: Bomb Pouch That Leaks effect!]

Kaboom!

And the explosive flames erupted.

[White Whale Heart Roundworm is in pain!]

[Finish it off with a strike!]

***

The two explosions staggered the boss.

There was no chance for damage to reach the whale’s heart.

I pressed the strike and finished the dungeon.

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker: Flurry of Strikes!]

Whoosh! Kaboom kaboom!

“Gigegek……!!!”

[White Whale Heart Roundworm defeated!]

[Achievement: Clear Mobydick’s Heart with over 50% HP.]

[Achievement: Clear Mobydick’s Heart with over 80% HP.]

[Achievement: Clear Mobydick’s Heart without taking damage.]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker’s……]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker → Lv. 44]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker → Lv. 45]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac’s……]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac → Lv. 40]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac → Lv. 41]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac → Lv. 42]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 43]

[★★★★ Fairy Rose of the Rose Blossom’s……]

[★★★★ Fairy Rose of the Rose Blossom Lv. 44]

[★★★★ Fairy Rose of the Rose Blossom → Lv. 45]

[Mission Clear!]

[+910 Gold]

[Pet Bonus!] [+210 Gold]

[Pet Bonus!] [+180 Steel Shards]

[+300 Diamonds]

[+20 Normal Cards]

And so, the dungeon was cleared.

We did it! I said it’d be over with one strike and one explosion, right? This is Gobori’s power, kiyaahhoo!

“Yes! The book! Buy! Gobori!”

“Wow! Cleared in one shot? Awesome!”

“Hahaha! That’s true sacrifice! The spirit that made my brother get bitten by beetles!”

“Ugh! Great job! Our little green guy did well!”

Gobori, now a ghost, rejoiced.

The strategy was possible thanks to Gobori volunteering from the start.

If we had tried to stall and react to patterns, the boss’s patterns would have grown worse.

“Rose!”

But it was too early to relax.

I spread both hands and called Rose.

“Eek! Here it comes!”

Rose hurriedly flew into my hand.

The dungeon’s end seemed quite rough.

I curled my body around Rose.

Boom… boom!

“Ugh!”

The rushing current swept my whole body.

I didn’t know how water currents could arise near the heart, but I just accepted it.

That was Valhalla.

“Pwoooong…!!!”

Splash!

We were thrown outside, carried by the whale’s water jet.

It sounded impressive when I heard it, but experiencing it firsthand was an even greater thrill.

Thunk!

“Ugh!”

I fell outside and raised my hand.

Fortunately, Rose was unhurt.

Gobori, pale as ever, had also emerged.

“Oh! That’s the event you see when you clear without damaging the heart!”

“Phew! Good work! Our party really is the best! Thanks, everyone!”

Gobori and Rose said.

A rainbow stretched ahead thanks to the whale’s water jet.

Though the dungeon defied realistic explanation, that made it all the more thrilling fantasy.

“Pwoooong!!! Pwoong!!!”

The huge whale swam through the desert.

It let out a sound as if thanking us, and the rainbow faded as it disappeared beneath the desert sands.

It was a satisfying conclusion.

Whoooosh… Thunk!

“Oh! It’s here!”

“Wow! Rewards!”

A box fell from the sky.

‘Did it come riding on the whale’s water jet?’

Rattling loudly, the box’s contents were unknown.

[Oh? You rescued a mysterious hero from inside the whale’s belly!]

[Special 5-star card acquired!]

[You can obtain a random 5-star hero!]

A card appeared on the screen.

A special 5-star card.

It was the reward from this dungeon.

“Ha! The setting is that they became a companion after being inside the whale’s belly! You’re guaranteed a 5-star hero! Congratulations, User!”

Gobori said, gazing into the air.

“Ett.”

I lightly shook myself off and stood.

Turning back, I saw the field where the desert ended.

That was goodbye to this desert.

I moved my steps toward the field.

[Episode 3: The Golden and Sunlit Desert cleared!]

[+100 Diamonds]