Prologue

The faint blue ice crystals, tempered over a thousand years, hung menacingly from the cave ceiling like the fangs of an ancient, slumbering ice dragon.

A cold wind echoed through the deep abyss, resembling the lamentations of souls trapped for millennia. The sound reverberated through the cave, transforming into a fearsome howl.

“This is really creepy…”

The young archer girl, Leby, fidgeted with her quiver, her trembling voice betraying her fear. Her nimble fingers brushed against the arrowheads, seeking comfort.

The others nodded in agreement, their eyes reflecting growing unease.

“If the reward of five hundred gold coins isn’t worth it, you can leave now,”

said their client, the blond mage from the Magic Tower, Ryandel, adjusting his pristine robes with a gentle smile. His voice carried the calm demeanor of a scholar, befitting his reputation as the tower’s chief researcher.

The adventurers’ eyes gleamed with greed as they steeled themselves once more. The sum was enormous-enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for a year.

“Let me emphasize once again,” Ryandel continued, holding up his crystal staff.

“Our target is the Frost Ether Ore, a rare mineral found in the lower layers of the labyrinth. Once we reach the lower layer, the dwarven mineral detector will locate it quickly. Just focus on protecting me.”

The adventurers nodded resolutely, their eyes envisioning a golden future.

“Then let’s proceed.”

…

“Haha! We’ve finally found it!”

Ryandel’s triumphant shout echoed as they discovered the ore near the entrance to the deeper layer. The exhausted adventurers’ faces lit up with renewed energy.

They had endured unimaginable cold and hunger, battling countless monsters for a week longer than expected. The promise of a hefty reward kept them going.

“Kal, you mentioned you’d return to your hometown after this, right?”

“Yes, I have a girlfriend waiting. I plan to propose when I get back!”

Kal’s voice was filled with excitement and hope.

“That’s great! Invite me to the wedding. What about you, Leby?”

“I…” Leby’s cheeks flushed as she played with her hair.

“I’m going to the Academy. This quest is also to raise my tuition…”

“Really? With your archery skills, do you need to go to the Academy?”

“Yes!” Leby’s eyes sparkled.

“The Heshet Empire Academy is attended by none other than the Third Prince! If I can showcase my archery skills to the Prince and share this adventure story…”

Her face turned red.

“Oh… I’m already nervous. I wish I could take the entrance exam soon…”

“Ahah…” The veteran adventurer, Rodrick, with his graying hair, forced a smile.

“The Third Prince is known for his good looks and kind nature. With your skills, he’s sure to notice you.”

Amid their cheerful conversation, Ryandel carefully extracted the Frost Ether Ore. His mind was already racing with plans to write a groundbreaking paper using this rare material.

But then, the cave began to tremble faintly.

The ice crystals clinked against each other, emitting sharp sounds, and the cold grew more intense.

“Kieh!”

A piercing roar shook the area.

The cold wind swirled along the walls, signaling the approach of something ominous.

“Ryandel, what’s that sound?”

Ryandel quickly cast a detection spell, his face pale.

“It’s a Crystal Basilisk… This is serious.”

“A Crystal Basilisk? That S-Rank monster said to inhabit the lower layers?”

Fear and despair gripped the adventurers, their faces etched with the shadow of death.

“Yes, no doubt about it,” Ryandel muttered, raising his magic.

“We can’t go back, and it won’t let us leave.”

“Can’t we wait until it disappears?” Leby’s voice trembled.

“It’s already aware of us,” Ryandel’s expression darkened.

“It won’t give up such easy prey.”

The Crystal Basilisk was a formidable foe, even for a party of three A-Rank adventurers, three B-Rank ones, and Ryandel, who was A-Rank himself. Their chances of victory were slim, especially in their exhausted state.

As the shadow of death loomed, Kal suddenly asked,

“Does anyone have any leftover alcohol?”

“What? You want to drink in this situation?” Rodrick exclaimed in disbelief.

“Kal, snap out of it,” another adventurer sighed.

“A Crystal Basilisk is an S-Rank monster, but compared to others of its kind, it’s manageable…”

“Kal, please…” Leby pleaded, her voice trembling.

“No! I don’t want to drink. I was thinking we could go deeper! There’s a flower here that, if you offer it alcohol, it’ll protect us!”

“Seraphina Bloom…”

Ryandel fell deep into thought, his crystal staff glowing faintly with magic.

“Ryandel, you’re not believing that rumor, are you?” Rodrick raised his voice.

“Seraphina Bloom is nothing but the King of Insects, a monster! It’s said to command hundreds of insect-like monsters, a dragon-level beast! It’s better to face the Crystal Basilisk than gamble with that monster!”

“No!” Kal argued passionately.

“The Hero and the Saint’s party also received its help! That’s why it’s called Seraphina Bloom, after the Saint!”

“What about the 2nd Knight Order of Genes Kingdom that was wiped out after hearing that rumor?”

“They recklessly tried to capture Seraphina Bloom.” Kal’s eyes shone with conviction.

“Survivors said that if you offer it alcohol, it not only lets you rest but also casts healing magic. And when you leave, it even assigns S-Rank monsters as escorts!”

“What nonsense,” Rodrick scoffed.

“Did they hallucinate? And we’d have to go deep to find the King of Insects. The lower layers are infested with S-Rank monsters. We’d be throwing our lives away.”

As their argument grew heated, the Crystal Basilisk’s roar drew closer.

“Kieh!”

“It’s coming!” Ryandel made a decision.

“Let’s go to the lower layer! Run!”

“Shit!”

Rodrick cursed as he followed the party into the depths, knowing that abandoning them would mean a quicker death.

As they descended, the icy hue deepened into an inky blackness reminiscent of the deep sea. Shadows danced in the darkness, like unseen figures swaying to an unheard rhythm.

In the suffocating darkness, the adventurers moved silently, even holding their breath.

“This is the lower layer…” Leby whispered, her voice trembling.

“Ryandel, let’s hurry…” Kal urged.

“Now that we’re here, it’d be pathetic to die to another monster before meeting Seraphina Bloom.”

At the crossroads, a faint, alluring fragrance wafted through the air. The sweet, intoxicating scent was unmistakable-Seraphina Bloom, the King of Insects.

Ryandel led the way, holding beer and wine in each hand, his staff glowing with magic. The fragrance grew stronger, like the scent of heavenly fruit, guiding them toward a divine path.

However, the eerie sound of countless insects echoed from the end of the tunnel, contrasting with the sweet aroma.

The party walked in silence, ignoring the ominous sounds, until they reached a vast cavern.

The floor was covered in small, red flowers that glowed softly, like moonlight. Above them, insect-like monsters danced, their forms terrifying yet mesmerizing.

A crimson butterfly with three pairs of wings shimmered like flames, a giant ice wasp with a stinger the size of a human arm exuded menace, and a floating, metallic spider displayed an otherworldly elegance. These were creatures they had never seen before, yet their presence dwarfed even the Crystal Basilisk.

At the center stood a colossal flower, its petals a deep crimson and its stem as black as coal, towering over a man. Its overwhelming presence was regal, like a queen ruling over her domain.

Fortunately, Kal’s suggestion proved correct; the monsters here did not attack. Ryandel cautiously approached the massive flower, careful not to trample any smaller blooms.

“Here, we’ve brought beer and wine,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.

“We fled from the Crystal Basilisk that suddenly appeared in the lower layer. May we rest here for a while?”

He didn’t believe the flower could understand him, but something told him it would listen.

As Ryandel finished speaking, black roots erupted from the ground, shattering the bottles and absorbing the alcohol. The adventurers shuddered at the sight of the roots moving like living entities.

After draining the liquids, Seraphina Bloom swayed in pleasure, scattering pollen into the air.

“Hick!”

Leby flinched, but the pollen brought warmth, healing their wounds.

“Huh… My wound is healing!” Rodrick exclaimed, staring at his arm in disbelief.

“Me too!”

“See, Rodrick?” Kal grinned triumphantly.

“This beautiful, kind flower is called the King of Insects. From now on, let’s call it Seraphina Bloom or the Saint’s Flower.”

“Well… I guess I was wrong,” Rodrick admitted, looking embarrassed.

“I didn’t realize how wrong I was.”

As the adventurers exchanged stories of relief, a voice echoed deep within the massive flower, unheard by anyone.

‘Two at Stage 2, three at Stage 3… Oh, and two at Stage 4. Not bad. They even brought such fine alcohol. I’ll remember this. If I learn polymorph, I must ask them what kind of alcohol this is.’