Akatsuki Translations

6th Rank: Minotauros

The Minotauros; a mutated form of the 9th-rank monster, the Goze. However, its nature had not drastically changed. It had not undergone a significant transformation or been endowed with alien physical functions like many mutated monsters. It was an extremely simple mutation, limited to only physical enlargement and an increase in ferocity, and it enhanced the characteristics of the Goze without compromising them.

In other words, it moved well, rampaged well, and killed well.

It was a killer of the utmost simplicity. If it rampaged in a narrow dungeon with no escape, even experienced silver-rank adventurers could be caught off guard. It had no clear weaknesses, and moreover, due to its simplicity, mutated Goze appeared frequently, each time sacrificing adventurers who ventured into the dungeon, making them feared.

Its nickname was the Dungeon King. It was a monster that many adventurers feared, trembled at, and tried to avoid fighting.

“But! This ain’t! A dungeon!!!” shouted a silver-rank adventurer who immediately kicked the side of the appearing Dungeon King’s face.

『ＢＵＭＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯ！？』

“Jain-sama?!” Shizuku exclaimed in surprise.

“Aah, finally, something perfect for relieving stress has appeared, eh?!” Jain said, his appearance suddenly in front of Shizuku and the others. He was dressed in a shirt and pants, the ultimate relaxed style of a dad on his day off, but his fighting spirit was at its peak. Following behind him in an extremely unbalanced manner were Ur (and Akane, who was hidden inside him due to the presence of the attendants) and Rabin.

“Ur-sama, Rabin-sama,” Shizuku greeted them.

“Shizuku, you’re safe… but this is no joke. A Minotauros, of all things,” Ur said.

“What happened to Jain-sama?” Shizuku asked.

“His vegetable garden got smashed to smithereens,” Rabin explained.

“I see,” Shizuku nodded in understanding at Rabin’s extremely concise and clear explanation. Despite his rough appearance, there could be no other reason for him to be raging like that, considering how calm he usually was in any dire situation.

“Hey! Get the attendants to back off!! Those who can fight, keep a large distance and surround it! Don’t misjudge the reach of the Minotauros!!” Jain shouted.

However, as expected of a top-class adventurer, despite his surging anger, his instructions were surprisingly accurate.

As told, Kalkara gave orders to the attendants to retreat.

The remaining warriors surrounded the area around the Minotauros.

『ＢＵＧＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯ！！！！』roared the giant Goze, holding axes in both hands. It must have taken damage during its mysterious fall, but it glared at its surroundings with eyes filled with killing intent, not showing any signs of it at all.

However, Jain, without any particular impatience or surprise, laughed ferociously with great composure.

“Even if it’s a 6th-rank monster, a Minotauros that comes out nonchalantly in an open area without bringing any companions is just small fry!! I’ll torture ya to death!!!” he declared.

“Aye aye, Captain,” Ur replied obediently. There was absolutely no reason for an adventurer not to follow the instructions of a superior adventurer in terms of years of combat experience, combat proficiency, and knowledge. It was reassuring.

The others were the same. They kept a large distance from the Minotauros’s attacks and surrounded it from all directions.

“Those who have means for long-range attacks, scatter in different directions and keep firing!! Those who only have close-range means, escort and distract ‘em!!” Jain commanded.

『Hey, Jain! What should I do? 』 Rock asked.

“Old man Rock, go for ultra-close combat! Aim for the legs!! If we immobilize it, victory is certain!!” Jain replied.

『Haha!! Nice!! Sounds fun!! 』 Rock exclaimed.

And so, under Jain’s command, the battle began.

No, to be precise, it was truly a one-sided trampling.

“【Roar】” Ur shouted.

“【【【Sing, O Ice, and Impale】】】” Shizuku chanted.

“【Come Forth, O Magic, O Thunder, Become a Flash and Impale Mine Enemy】” Eckstein invoked.

“【O Stone】” Kalkara commanded.

『ＢＵＧＧＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯ！！？？？』the Minotauros roared in pain and confusion as it was attacked by magic from four directions. Ur, Shizuku, Kalkara, and Eckstein launched their attacks from outside the Minotauros’s attack range, making it a one-sided assault. Even so, the Minotauros displayed its remarkable toughness, but of course, it couldn’t remain completely unscathed. The Minotauros writhed in pain and then went into a rage.

『ＧＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！！』it bellowed.

“Yes, yes, over here,” Rabin taunted.

“Die, you bastard!!” Jain yelled as he and Rabin slashed at the extended arm that swung down its axe, while the long-range attackers dodged. Although the arm was as thick as a large tree, it wasn’t impervious to the blades. Wounds were inflicted, and blood spurted out. With each hit, the frequency of the Minotauros’s attacks decreased.

『HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 』 Rock was rampaging at the Minotauros’s feet. Wielding a greatsword he had created from his own body, he mercilessly targeted the toes and tendons of its feet. The Minotauros stamped its feet repeatedly in an attempt to escape, but it couldn’t land a hit on Rock. Even if it did, the immortal warrior instantly regenerated, leaving the Minotauros unable to deal with him.

『ＢＵＧＹＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯＯ！！！』the Minotauros roared in frustration.

“This really is torture. It’s the power of numbers,” Ur commented.

“It’s this dumbass’ fault for charging into the middle of a group of warriors on its own. If it’s not in a dungeon, we can gather as many personnel as we want. Here,” Jain said, motioning with his chin. Ur looked in the direction Jain indicated and saw a group of White Serpent warriors coming from across the park, seemingly having received a message from Jain. Each of them held weapons and headed straight towards the Minotauros.

“By the way, don’t let your guard down, Ur. If you underestimate it, you’ll die,” Jain warned.

“I have no intention of letting my guard down, but is there any chance of a comeback from here?” Ur asked.

“If you’ve been hunting bounty targets, you should remember. Big monsters are stubborn,” Jain pointed out.

Jain’s observation hit the mark.

『ＧＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！』 the Minotauros let out a tremendous roar the moment it spotted the reinforcements of the White Serpent, temporarily halting the surrounding attacks as if it couldn’t move. Then, taking advantage of that brief moment, it lowered itself deeply, close to the ground, and placed both hands on the ground.

“Scatter!!” Jain ordered, and at the same time, the Minotauros leaped forward in one go. It was a charge by a giant over 20 meters tall. Of course, there was no way to stop it, and the encirclement was shattered. Ur fully understood Jain’s warning. If he had taken that charge head-on, even with his magic silver armor, he would have been crushed to death.

『Sorry! I couldn’t block its legs! 』 Rock apologized.

“No, its movements have slowed down. Let’s surround it again before it escapes to a place with many obstacles!” Jain said.

“Wait, Jain!” Ur interjected, raising his voice. He held his adventurer’s ring to his ear and raised his hand towards Jain. With a slightly bitter expression, he said, “We should keep a little distance.”

　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

Administrative District – Central Passage

“Alright, let’s go,” said Lynne.

“H-Hey, hey. Is this really okay? Lynne?” Echelle, the master of Uuga, stood side by side with Lynne, the wielder of the White King Formation. At their feet lay the White King Formation, and from the passage ahead, a gigantic monster, the Minotauros, was approaching.

“I’m still practicing the 【Mirror’s Blessing】, and I’ve never done anything like this before…” Echelle expressed her concern.

“Don’t worry, Echelle,” Lynne smiled at her. Echelle felt a little reassured by her confident attitude, but…

“You never know if something is okay until you try it,” Lynne added.

“What do you mean by ‘don’t worry’?!” Echelle exclaimed.

“It’s fine. I thought of it, so I want to try it out. That’s human nature, isn’t it?” Lynne said.

“It’s not human nature! Definitely not!! It’s the thought process of a mad magician!!!” Echelle retorted.

“You’re noisy,” Lynne ignored Echelle’s protests and activated the 【White King Formation】 at their feet. The most powerful light among magic burst forth, and the ultimate magic was about to be born.

“【Open】, Echelle,” Lynne instructed.

“I won’t be held responsible for what happens!!” Echelle shouted. “【O Mirror!!】”

Echelle raised her hand towards the sky. As a manifestation of her power’s authority, a gigantic mirror was born in midair. The beautiful mirror that reflected everything also mirrored the 【White King Formation】 directly beneath it.

“【Reflect!!!】” Echelle commanded.

And lo and behold, the White King Formation reflected in the mirror also began to emit an intense light.

The ultimate magic shining doubly set its sights on the approaching Minotauros and intensified its radiance.

『ＧＵＭＯ！？』the Minotauros stopped its movement, sensing the tremendous pressure. It seemed to have realized what was about to happen. However, it was already too late…

“【Divine Lightning’s Judgment ・ Doublefold】,” Lynne declared.

The scorching light released from the two White King Formations merged, mixed, and transformed into a single massive lump of lightning. The unleashed lightning engulfed the Minotauros’s body and incinerated it in an instant.