Seeker 253.2

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Chapter 253.2. Accident

A little while ago, the four members of the adventurer party Dawn Warriors were walking through the tunnel looking quite exhausted. 

The adventurers continued their exploration while complaining.

"Ah, seriously getting tired. How many have we defeated so far?"

"It's the 5th encounter, so with Soldiers and Mages, it's roughly around twenty bodies, I guess."

"Well, we've earned quite a bit. But seriously, there seem to be a lot of Soldiers and Mages this time, right?"

"Yeah, if it's the same everywhere, that harem guy's party might be wiped out. It's tough with just the three of them."

"Tch, I hope that guy alone kicks the bucket. Then the two girls can be ours."

"Haha, no way. Either way, we wouldn't be noticed by them."

"Don't say depressing things. Ah, that audacious girl in black. I want to make her scream like that at least once in my life on the bed."

"I also want to capture and train that wizard kid."

"...Seriously, your thoughts are borderline criminal."

"But we're good people, so we can't do anything forcibly."

"That's right. We're good people. Desires and actions are different things."

"Yota cut it out. More importantly, how about MP and potions? Do we still have enough?"

"It'll manage. Even if we have two or three more battles, we should be able to endure the Queen battle afterward."

"Ah, I remembered that harem guy again. '[If we can defeat her, can we take down the Queen just by ourselves?]' was it."

"Heh, don't remind me. But that was a masterpiece. If we ever fought the Queen once, we'd realize how ridiculous it is to fight her with just the three of us."

"Youthful indiscretion, huh?"

"But those guys should be at level 25 if they can accept a raid quest. They should have accumulated decent experience."

"That's true, it's mysterious. Normally, it shouldn't be like that—wait, what?"

Then, with a clatter, the ground beneath the man suddenly collapsed.

Not only his footing but the entire party's footing seemed to crack like walking on thin ice, making a rattling noise as it collapsed all at once.

The 4 adventurers fell into the darkness and soon landed in what seemed like another ground.

The falling distance was about 5 meters.

Fortunately, none of the four suffered significant injuries, but...

"It hurts..."

"Darn it, what's happening?"

"Where is this place...?"

Fortunately, the lantern they carried remained intact, and its light illuminated the surroundings.

What caught the men's eyes was...

""""What...!?""""

Around them, a multitude of Killer Ants were crawling, seeming to exceed 20 in number. 

Among them, there were quite a few higher-level species.

It looked like a spacious hall.

The ceiling was thin and collapsed, causing them to fall into this place.

Furthermore, other than the swarm of Killer Ants surrounding them, a colossal monster came into view for the men. 

It resembled a Killer Ant but was about three times the usual length—approximately five meters. 

It had wings on its back, and its abdomen was notably larger. 

It was the Queen Ant, the queen ant that ruled the swarm of Killer Ants.

"The Queen's den!?"

"Don't mess with us! There's no escape!"

Looking around the hall, there seemed to be an exit, but in front of it, numerous Killer Ants, accompanied by two Soldiers, were gathering. 

It was almost impossible for everyone to safely pass through there.

However, they had no choice. 

Taking on the Queen with this number was a suicidal act with no chance of winning. 

Just as the adventurers were about to move...

Splash! Something poured down on the men from above.

"What...!?"

"Darn it, we've been hit! Is it the Queen's slime!?"

"Gah, my whole body is sticky, and I can't move!"

It was a viscous liquid ejected from the Queen's mouth. 

Got covered in sticky slime, the adventurers' movements got significantly hindered. 

The swarm of Killer Ants surrounding them rushed toward the adventurers, whose movements got slowed by the slime.

"No... No way!?"

"Darn it, they're coming!"

"What do we do!?"

"Whatever we do—Damn! Aghhh!"

Crimson giant ants swarmed the adventurers. 

The adventurers desperately swung their weapons to fend them off, but while attacking one, they were bitten by another and suffered one significant injury after another.

Even Killer Ant Soldiers joined the fray, thrusting with a [Double Thrust] using their spears. 

The Killer Ant Mage cast a magic spell, piercing the men's bodies with rock bullets.

"Damn, damn it... Aghhh!"

"Someone... Help...! Aghhh!"

"I'm going to die...! Help, don't eat me! Aghhh!"

The adventurers were nothing more than prey for the crimson ants. 

They were torn apart, pierced by spears, shot by rock bullets, battered, and one by one, they fell.

But when the last one was about to lose consciousness, the situation changed.

"Uncles, are you okay!? Hah!"

"All three seem to be unconscious! Come here, Soldier, over here—[Three Strikes]!"

"In this position, it's hard to target them all together! [Explosion]!"

"Kwaa, kwaah!"

Appearing out of nowhere in the dire situation of the Dawn Warriors was a group of young adventurers that the men had belittled earlier. 

A young man in brown armor wielding a spear and a black-clad woman with two wavy short swords attacked the Killer Ants, turning them into magic stones one after another.

In a slightly distant location, another monster attacks the Killer Ants. A Griffin—could be seen.

"I... am I dreaming...?"

Witnessing the miraculous efforts of these young adventurers, tears unconsciously flowed from the eyes of the Dawn Warriors' adventurers.