The magic I reflected and the whirlwind of sword energy Karen unleashed.
They struck the Skeleton Mage almost simultaneously.
KABOOM—!
It vanished without even leaving a trace behind.
"…"
In that moment, my eyes met Karen's, who was staring at me with a slightly dazed, surprised look.
Had she gotten startled because I was suddenly ambushed?
I gave her a calm smile to show I was fine.
That said, Karen really was an unbelievable genius.
She hadn't even fully matured yet, but she'd sensed the ambush coming from a perfect blind spot and immediately countered.
Thanks to my 'Crisis Detection' enhancement, the system had forced a reaction, but she'd done it purely on her own skill.
'Oh, right.'
That aside, amid the battle just now, I'd realized I'd overlooked something crucial.
'I made a huge mistake.'
One hand grabbing popcorn, the other activating [Minor Reflection].
...So what about the popcorn bag I was holding?
I looked down.
The popcorn bag had fallen to the floor, its contents scattered pitifully.
I gazed at it with genuine sadness.
This tragedy was born of my carelessness and arrogance.
Of all flavors, it had to be caramel.
If it had been cheese or onion, it wouldn't have hurt this much...!
Just then.
Ding!
[An extremely slothful action!]
[Sloth +100!]
'Whoa, +100 Sloth!'
The crisp notification popped up before my eyes, instantly lifting my mood.
That was my reward for the no-look reflection show while munching popcorn.
Honestly, even I had to admit it was peak slothfulness.
Okay. Worth sacrificing a bag of popcorn for that.
As I scanned the surroundings with that thought, the battlefield was nearly cleared.
With the real threat of this area—the Skeleton Mage—taken out, the remaining trash mobs should be no problem for Karen and Artel.
A short while later.
Splat!
The last Skeleton Archer's skull was pierced by Artel's ice spike and it crumpled to the ground.
That wrapped up the fight.
"Hoo..."
Artel caught her breath, her face slightly flushed from heavy mana use.
And Karen stood unusually quiet for her, seemingly lost in deep thought.
"Shall we take a short break?"
They both looked a bit worn out, so I suggested it, and they nodded.
***
A brief rest period.
I sat on the lid of an old stone coffin, pondering this dungeon's hidden elements and their rewards.
That's when Karen approached me silently.
"Jeron."
'...Jeez.'
I freaked out inwardly.
She kept showing up out of nowhere like this.
How did she even do that?
No wonder she was the Sword Saint's disciple—her footwork was on another level.
Of course, I kept my cool on the outside and just gazed at her steadily.
Unlike her usual bright smile, she met my eyes with a serious look.
She asked cautiously.
"By any chance, does Jeron see the world in slow motion too?"
"…"
I was at a loss for words for a moment.
'The world in slow motion'...
Was she talking about the [Sharp Eyes] skill?
She must have picked up on it, having a similar ability herself.
"Why do you think that?"
I turned the question back on her.
"When the Skeleton Mage attacked earlier, I saw the same slowed world as you. It was just a fleeting moment, but I felt it clearly."
She clenched her fist as she spoke.
"I've never met anyone who's reached this realm except the General. And among peers... not even close."
I listened quietly.
"But Jeron has reached this sword realm too, right?"
Karen pressed me with expectant eyes.
I stared at her for a second, then brushed it off vaguely.
"Hmm. It kinda feels a bit sluggish sometimes."
"Yes!"
She already seemed convinced no matter what I said.
"I was so shocked. I never imagined someone my age could see the world like this."
She lit up and launched into her story.
"When I was little, I swung my sword all day every day, forgetting everything else, and suddenly the world slowed down! How did you get it?"
"Hmm. I just got it while sleeping?"
"...Pardon?"
"I woke up from a nap and it was like that."
In a way, it was the truth.
I'd bought the skill from the shop with Sloth earned from sleeping in class.
"S-Sleeping... and reached that realm..."
Karen muttered in shock.
[Slothful remark!]
[Sloth +50!]
Sloth went up at the same time. Sweet.
"The General always called me a genius, but there are even greater geniuses out there..."
Then.
"As expected, I really want to spar with you, Jeron! Imagine how thrilling a duel would be between those who share the same vision!"
Her eyes sparkled again as she shouted.
But I recoiled.
"Like I said last time, no thanks."
"Why not?!"
"Too bothersome."
"…"
[Sloth +10!]
Karen deflated at my blunt refusal.
But no helping it.
Sparring her now would blow my cover completely.
If we had to, I'd need to prepare some trick later.
That's when Artel approached us.
...Everyone. Enough chit-chat. Let's get moving."
Artel urged us on with that terrifying expression from before.
"Yep."
Karen and I followed without complaint, heading to the next area of the dungeon.
***
About 10 minutes of walking?
We faced a massive, ominous door incomparable to anything before.
The entire door was carved with screaming skulls, making it look like the gateway to hell.
"...This has to be it."
Artel said in a tense voice.
"The deepest part of this dungeon. The boss room."
Boss room.
Where the dungeon's most powerful being slumbers.
Take it down, and the dungeon clear is done.
Of course, that's for the standard clear.
Here, I might have to put in a little effort.
Couldn't just sit back with popcorn anymore.
But no going all out either.
Just enough to lend a hand.
That should do it.
"Everyone ready?"
At my question, Karen raised her sword.
"Ready, sir!"
Artel nodded, gathering mana.
Creaaaaak—
We pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.
The interior was unexpectedly quiet.
A vast plaza, completely empty.
But that silence only amplified the pressure and tension.
Right then.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The ground shook violently, and the earth began to split.
From the crack rose a massive bony hand.
"Giant Skeleton!"
Just as Artel shouted.
Bursting fully from the ground, it was a colossal skeleton at least 5 meters tall.
One hand gripped a greatsword of bone, the other a bone shield.
-Roooaaar!
The strongest among skeletons, the Giant Skeleton, bellowed.
At least it wasn't transparent.
"I'll go first!"
Karen charged ahead.
But her sword was blocked by the massive bone shield.
"Tch, this thing's tough...!"
"Move!"
Artel's ice spike flew and smashed into the shield, but it just bounced off with a dull thud.
Seizing the opening, the Giant Skeleton swung its greatsword down.
Boom!
A huge crack formed where Karen had barely dodged.
'Worthy of a green-rank boss. But...'
I watched and fired a [Mana Slash].
Slash!
It cleanly severed the creature's leg bone.
'Left leg bone—that's its weak point.'
Thud!
The giant knelt.
It was so huge the leg wasn't fully severed, but its movements were heavily impaired.
"Whoa, Jeron! What was that? That looked just like sword energy!"
Karen cried out in surprise.
"Isn't Jeron actually more swordsman than mage deep down?"
"Quiet, focus!"
Artel snapped.
And so the boss battle began in earnest.
It wasn't too hard.
Karen drew aggro up front, Artel supported from the back, and I tossed in slashes at key moments.
Avoid the sturdy shield, and its body was surprisingly soft.
Two geniuses and one veteran.
No way a Giant Skeleton could handle this stacked party.
-Ruuuumble...
In the end, it collapsed into a heap of bones.
"We did it!"
Karen cheered joyfully.
"Hoo... It's down."
Artel panted.
Uh. That line's dangerous.
Of course, the Giant Skeleton wouldn't revive.
But it wasn't truly the end here.
Karen, with her sharp eyes, would notice soon enough.
I waited leisurely.
Sure enough.
"Hm?"
Karen glanced around, then pointed at the wall behind the bone pile.
"Jeron, Artel! Check this out! This wall looks different somehow!"
Approaching, the wall section did seem subtly different in texture.
Karen tapped it with her sword hilt, then swung.
Boom!
The wall crumbled, revealing a downward passage.
"...Hidden boss room."
Artel murmured in surprise.
"A hidden boss in this dungeon."
Her face hardened slightly.
Hidden boss.
Usually far stronger than the dungeon's rated grade.
"...Should we go in? It might be risky with just us three."
Artel's reasonable concern.
But Karen's eyes were already burning with passion.
"Of course we go in! The true powerhouse was hiding right here!"
Then their gazes naturally turned to me.
A hint of expectation in their eyes.
'They probably think if I go all out, even a strong one will be fine.'
However.
Far from their expectations, I had zero intention of going all out.
The standard way wouldn't work even with full effort.
Not even with my ultimate [Hack and Slash].
'But what if we cheese it?'
The no-effort strat only veterans knew.
That way, no need to lift a finger.
Well, technically... maybe just one flick.
This dungeon's true hidden boss.
Recalling its gimmick, I smirked wickedly.