Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented

Since the day I met Nagi, my double life began.

While continuing to hunt in the eastern wasteland of the Alparion Empire, I kept an eye on Nagi’s growth and joined her whenever it was time to tackle the Elite Dungeon.

By the time this expansion, the Eastern Commander Raid, kicks off, new players should have reached at least the last raid dungeon.

Nagi was growing at an impressive rate.

Could she be in middle school? Is she not going to school?

Even if it wasn’t a major level jump, plenty of experience-boosting items available in the market allowed players in that level range to progress. Previous dungeon weapons could also be bought at a cheap price, so you didn’t need to wait for Elite Dungeon or the next area to open up like beginner players. Members of the Hong Baek raid group rapidly leveled their alternate characters this way.

There is a significant difference in leveling up through consistent daily quest currency and buying things at retail prices; still, it wouldn’t take long for them to catch up in dungeon progress. Of course, it’s also possible to shorten that time by purchasing through the auction house, but tradeable eco stones can be expensive.

I felt as though I had been running forward without looking back.

I sensed the need to reflect on the path I had taken.

Although I passed it off in front of Chris, I couldn’t help but wonder if Igrim, in her motherly form, would have been like that. A too-rapid farewell followed by a reunion, albeit in a slightly different state.

The series of events I experienced in the northern continent had drained me in many ways.

The Northern Commander.

And Igrim.

As long as I still loved this world, as long as traces of my companions were visible before my eyes, I couldn’t detach myself from my past as a hero.

During my encounter with the Eastern Commander, would my past not trip me up? In what way would it remind me of the hero’s mission this time?

At this point, where I was slowly integrating ‘Rain’ and ‘Seulbi,’ I also had to pay attention to the hero’s mission.

Was this why I turned my gaze for a moment?

It wasn’t that urgent anyway. I can think about it after the outline of the Northern Commander appears.

The one who brings me fresh joy after running ahead.

Stealthily.

“It’s been a while here too.”

Following the girl cautiously leading the way through the dark corridor, I leisurely admired the dungeon’s interior.

Her cute brown bobbed hair perked up. The little startled animal-like reaction of looking around at even the slightest sound brought a smile to my face.

The newbie swordsman I was raising, ‘Nagi.’

Today, I came to the Elite Dungeon with Nagi.

The ‘Lesser Demon’s Tomb.’

Made up of Named Enemy ‘Black Wyvern,’ Named Enemy ‘Baron Statue,’ and Named Enemy ‘Sealed Demon,’ it is the second Elite Dungeon in Astria Online.

An underground structure that continuously descends, when you finally reach the dwelling of the Sealed Demon below, a terrifying lake of lava and a gigantic demon will greet the players.

“This dungeon, I really struggled at first, you know? Hah, when I faced the Black Wyvern’s breath for the first time, everything went black before my eyes.”

“Yikes, Black Wyvern?”

“Yeah. It’s like a super huge pterosaur.”

“Like this much?”

Nagi stretched her arms to draw a massive circle. I barely held back the impulse to hug her at that adorable gesture.

I spread my arms wider to draw an even bigger circle.

“This big!”

“Whoa.”

Nagi’s eyes widened in surprise.

We smiled at each other.

I, having alleviated Nagi’s tension, left the occasional monsters for her and slowly followed from behind.

“You learned a skill called Moonlight Slash, right? And Counterattack too.”

“Yes. When I use Counterattack, I move behind the monster. Moonlight Slash is a skill that sweeps around me!”

Nagi’s sword spun around, scattering moonlight in the vicinity.

“From now on, those two skills will be your main abilities. Moonlight Slash will eventually evolve into a stronger single-target damage skill… For now, let’s use those two and try to take down the Black Wyvern.”

Entering the massive chamber with Nagi.

In the center of the Named Enemy combat area, a gigantic Black Wyvern coiled up.

“Yikes.”

Nagi let out a startled cry.

Creeeak—

[Named Enemy]

[Level 27 Black Wyvern]

[HP 210,000/210,000]

Lesser Demon’s Tomb Named Enemy, Black Wyvern.

The black scales surrounding the body of the gigantic pterosaur glimmer ominously in the torchlight of the cave.

This guy doesn’t have especially difficult normal patterns. The tricky part comes when it drops below a certain HP and activates its flying special pattern.

If you came in with a proper 4-player party, there would be no issues. You could shoot it down with a crossbow loaded with Wyvern Killer bolts. The flying scales that come flying after the Wyvern takes off would be handled by classes with ranged shields, while others go for the crossbow.

However, the baby wyverns that appear with the flying Wyvern hinder the performance of the gimmick.

This is the biggest challenge during solo play.

There’s no chance to go after the crossbow. You must dodge the scales and pay attention to the attacks from the baby wyverns as well.

“To dodge the scales coming from the air, use ‘Backward Evasion.’ And until the next scale comes, we’ll use Moonlight Slash to take care of the baby wyverns.”

“Yes.”

“But the issue is…”

I trailed off, glancing at Nagi’s expression filled with half-excitement and half-fear.

After three scales, fire will shoot from the mouth of the Wyvern suspended in air.

What I worried about was this pattern. After dodging three scales, the fire breath would come before the cooldown of the backward evasion was finished.

If things go sideways, I might have to tank the last scale with my body. It wouldn’t kill me, but it would hurt a lot.

And most importantly, dodging the fire breath.

“More than anything, you must not get hit by the breath. Can you promise me that?”

“Yes. I’ll try.”

Nagi nodded with a determined look, her fists clenched.

Watching Nagi walk toward the Black Wyvern, I sent her a worried glance.

Other patterns are manageable. I can save her before reaching death.

But with the breath, there is no time for me to step in. I have to use backward evasion right at the moment the flame touches my body.

And…

“Ugh.”

I grimaced at the sudden memory of pain.

The agony of being burned alive.

Even imagining it is a terrible pain.

Even I, familiar with pain, had cried like a child during that moment.

Of course, Nagi’s synchronization rate, even at her highest, wouldn’t reach half of mine, but I wouldn’t want to put her through such horrific pain.

Nagi wanted to face it herself.

I couldn’t stop her determination.

Because I felt the same.

“Don’t get hit by the breath, no matter what.”

I prayed for Nagi’s efforts in a low voice.

Nagi had several tries before facing the special pattern.

This was fine. It was an adaptation process.

But no room for error in a special pattern. A mistake in it would lead to unavoidable death.

Kiiiii–!!

Flap, flap, flap.

“Ugh!”

Whoosh—

The Black Wyvern’s special pattern, the first flight began. The enormous lizard’s wings spread, and the gust created by its flaps pushed Nagi’s small body backward.

“Focus! This is it! Left and right, spot the baby wyverns appearing from the walls! Immediately secure aggro and use the area skill, Moonlight Slash, to chip away at HP! It’s crucial to take these friends down quickly!”

Tatata—

Clang!

Nagi swiftly fended off a baby wyvern charging at her nearby and began to whittle away HP with her instantly cast Moonlight Slash.

Soon, other baby wyverns were surrounding Nagi from all directions. Before they could completely encircle her, she cautiously adjusted her position to keep all the baby wyverns in front of her.

Good, just like that.

Flap.

Swaaaack!

Finally, the first scale pattern emerged. With a sharp sound of slicing, scales shot from the baby wyvern’s wings floating in the air.

Nagi’s small frame reacted without delay.

Tat!

Pa pa pa pak!

With ‘Backward Evasion’ activated, the scales zipped past Nagi’s body over there. Not a scratch on her. Her expression brightened a bit, but she didn’t let her guard down completely.

Clang!

Nagi calmly blocked an incoming charge from another baby wyvern.

“Good, two more to go!”

Tat!

Pa pa pa pak!

The second scale.

Spla spla pat!

Amidst that, Nagi’s Moonlight Slash continued to inflict wounds on the baby wyverns. If she dodged just one breath, it seemed possible to finish them off.

Her situation was better than mine back then. All the strategies were already in my head. Nagi just had to follow my instructions.

And that swordswoman named Nagi had the skills to effectively emulate my experience.

Flap!

The third scale pattern emerged, and here, Nagi couldn’t use backward evasion.

Fzzzt.

Nagi, facing off with a baby wyvern in front, faded into thin air.

Spla pat!

Nagi appeared behind the baby wyvern. Using Counterattack, she avoided even the extensive scale attack effectively.

Snap!

“Y-yes!”

I found myself clapping without realizing it.

‘Counterattack.’

The second invulnerability skill following backward evasion.

You can only use it when there’s an opponent in front, but plenty of baby wyverns were ready to become her targets.

When I played this dungeon at that time, the rank of Counterattack was low, so it had no invincibility. It had worked well to instruct Nagi to raise the rank in advance.

Indeed, the experience of a pioneer matters.

Twinkle.

As I rejoiced over Nagi’s success, the Black Dragon’s mouth suddenly brightened with a red hue.

Whoosh.

In an instant, flames ignited that burned the air, gathering before the Wyvern’s mouth.

Kiiiii—

With a fierce roar, fire exploded, engulfing the entire chamber.

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