The dungeon 'Sage's Playground' took on the form of a tower. Its difficulty level was moderate, making it relatively easy to conquer compared to dungeons that appeared in the later stages of the game. However, it might be a bit challenging for Electra, the princess raised in the royal castle, while Ciel had already achieved accomplishments as a member of the hero's party.
"Nevertheless, if we can't conquer this dungeon, dreaming of clearing the 'Eternal Library' is futile. If you give up, I won't take you to the library. Is that alright?"
"Yes, of course. You won't have to worry about me burdening you, Sir Baskerville."
Electra said confidently, clenching her fists in front of her chest. Despite the fact that her chest, larger than Aeris's, was being compressed from both sides, I discreetly averted my gaze.
Since we had formed a party, they had agreed to follow me as the leader. This also allowed me to speak informally to royalty. While Ciel seemed somewhat reluctant to follow my lead, she reluctantly consented because it was for the sake of rescuing Leon.
"Zenon-sama, monsters have appeared."
After a while of stepping onto the first floor of the tower, humanoid figures resembling mannequins emerged from a side passage up ahead. These featureless wooden puppets held axes in one hand, and one by one, they appeared around the corner—six in total.
"Maraudolls, huh? They're common in this dungeon."
'Clack, clack, clack.'
"They're coming."
The Maraudolls were still about ten meters away. They weren't particularly fast, and we had plenty of time to prepare.
"I'll handle this. You don't need to assist."
"Your Highness Electra?"
Aeris asked with a worried tone as Electra advanced.
"I'll be fine. Despite my appearance, I've ventured into dungeons many times before."
Electra calmly retrieved a rod from her cleavage—or rather, her chest's valley.
"Summon... White Dragon."
A magic circle appeared on the stone floor, and a dragon the size of an African elephant materialized. The dragon was covered in pure white, snow-like scales and had a curiously endearing face with round, cat-like eyes that mewed at its master.
"Roar!"
"Counting on you today, Snow."
"Roar!"
"I'll strengthen you. White Breath."
Electra lightly waved her rod, and a red light enveloped the White Dragon, enhancing its magical attacks.
"Roar!"
Buffed by the supplementary magic, the White Dragon turned its head towards the Maraudolls and opened its mouth.
"Rooooaaaaaarrrr!"
A blast of icy breath struck all six Maraudolls. The wooden puppets, armed with weapons, were encased in ice, and in the next moment, they shattered into pieces.
"It's done. They were even less of a challenge than I thought."
Electra proudly puffed out her ample chest.
This was how a 'High-Rank Enchanter (Druid)' fought. Combining the roles of 'Enchanter' and 'Summoner,' the 'High-Rank Enchanter (Druid)' was primarily known for summoning creatures and enhancing their abilities with buffs. They could also apply debuffs to their opponents and, while their healing abilities were limited, they could use restorative magic. This versatility made them highly valued, and players often said, "If you have an extra party slot, just put in a 'High-Rank Enchanter (Druid).'"
"You're quite the skilled magician to be able to summon a dragon, Your Highness Electra."
"Even as a member of the royal family, my father's educational philosophy is that proficiency in martial skills is necessary. It's only natural that I can do something like this."
Electra placed her hand on her hips triumphantly, but from within the remains of the ice, one Maraudoll rose up, and with its arms missing, it charged at Electra.
"Clack, clack, clack...!"
"Aah!"
Electra screamed in surprise. I almost moved to help, but a fireball flew in from behind and blew the Maraudoll's head off.
"Your Highness, complacency can be dangerous."
Ciel stood with a long staff in her hand.
Seeing the Maraudoll rise up, she instinctively cast an attack spell.
"Th-Thank you for that. Count Uranus' daughter..."
"You can just call me Ciel. Your Highness."
"I'm fine with Electra too, Ciel-san."
"Then, once again, thank you. Electra-sama."
It seemed that the bond between the two newcomers had deepened thanks to the Maraudoll's intervention. Even Aeris smiled warmly as she watched them shake hands.
"Yeah, with this, there's no need to worry."
If she could summon a high-ranking creature like a dragon, she must have had enough skill not to be a burden at the very least. Ciel's abilities were also impressive. While it ended in a draw, she had fought against one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's army, which was quite an achievement.
"Now it's all about teamwork. Let's develop that here in this tower."
On the first floor, I hardly had a chance to join in. Electra and Ciel handled the monsters efficiently on their own. The Unplanned party had made it to the second floor of the 'Sage's Playground' with almost no damage.
