As soon as we stepped into the boss room, the interior space began to shift and take a distinct shape. What had once been a simple chamber transformed into a long, imposing corridor, and a singular figure began to emerge at the far end. This was the boss of the 15th floor, known among divers as the Trap Master.

  ***

  Race: Trap Master

  Sex: None

  Status: Normal

  Level 15 Mini Boss

  ***

  The creature looked more like an animated object than a living being—a shining, polished statue with countless translucent strings radiating from its body and connecting to the surrounding walls, floor, and ceiling. To clear this floor and proceed, the requirement was simple: we had to break it. I had already accomplished this feat before, so I knew that the physical durability of the statue itself was not the true challenge. The difficulty lay in the approach.

  The strings surrounding the Trap Master are connected to various mechanisms throughout the corridor. If a person stays at a distance, the boss will not initiate an attack unless it feels directly threatened. Even if targeted with long-range attacks, it only deploys minor countermeasures to protect itself. The true danger manifests as you draw closer. As the distance between the intruder and the statue closes, the traps embedded in the floor and walls activate. While the initial traps are relatively easy to sidestep and pose little threat to one's life, the complexity, speed, and lethality of these mechanisms increase exponentially as one approaches the end of the hall.

  Technically, there was no practical necessity to bring Woya and Wyn to this floor, as a single capable individual can reach and destroy the Trap Master alone. However, I wanted them to experience the pressure of these traps in the early stages to sharpen their instincts for the future.

  “Girls! The road ahead of the boss is filled with numerous traps. The difficulty starts low, but it will become significantly more dangerous as you get closer to the boss's position. I am going to rush forward and break it quickly. Try to advance as far as you can on your own; experiencing this now will be useful for you later on,” I said, turning my gaze toward the shimmering statue.

  “Understood!” the twins replied in unison, their expressions shifting into masks of serious concentration.

  As soon as they gave their answer, I rushed forward. The silence of the corridor was immediately shattered by the mechanical clanking sounds of ancient gears turning and springs being released. I readied my body to dodge or deflect whatever the dungeon threw at me. Just as I had anticipated, the "Fwish!" and "Fwoosh!" of arrows being fired from hidden slits in the walls filled the air.

  Moving at high speed, I found these projectiles quite slow. I easily dodged the majority of them, even reaching out to catch one mid-air without breaking my stride. Since these were the traps triggered at the very beginning of the corridor, they lacked the velocity to penetrate armor, though they could certainly ruin the day of an unarmored traveler.

  The girls were following behind me, which spared them from dealing with the initial volley I had already triggered. However, the distance between us began to widen quickly. Soon, the traps specifically calibrated for their position would begin to activate, and they would have to rely on their own reflexes. I had already instructed them to take it slow and steady, so I trusted they would remain safe while I focused on the target.

  Until I reached the middle of the tunnel, the assault consisted mostly of arrows fired from increasingly diverse angles. I skillfully navigated the barrage, occasionally letting my armor take a glancing blow while I focused on maintaining my momentum toward the boss. Once I crossed the halfway point, the arrow fire intensified, and the projectiles began to move with significantly greater speed. Large rocks also began to dislodge from the ceiling, plummeting toward the floor with heavy thuds. I could have paused to wait for them to clear, but I didn't want to prolong the encounter. I pushed my speed further, sliding under the falling debris just as it shattered against the stone.

  The moment I cleared that zone, I activated the Sword Dance skill from my Swordmaster job to further bolster my agility and dexterity. With my speed increased, I became a blur as I dashed toward the statue. The traps became truly relentless at this range, but with my superior stats, I managed to reach the boss without taking a significant hit.

  For most parties, this approach would be impossible. Standard groups typically move through this room at a crawl, covering each other’s backs and slowly neutralizing traps as they go. Some parties rely on dedicated trap-finders to dismantle the mechanisms, but I find that method far too time-consuming. The party I saw earlier was a rare exception, possessing an individual capable of clearing the room solo.

  Standing directly in front of the stationary statue, I clenched my fist and prepared the Internal Punch from my Ascetic Monk job, which I had slotted into my Job Collector ability. I struck the Trap Master with a controlled blow. The technique delivered a focused shock through the statue's exterior, causing the entire structure to shatter from the inside out. As the boss was destroyed, the mechanical sounds of the traps instantly ceased. The statue and the environmental changes within the room began to disintegrate into mana and light.

  With the boss defeated, twelve silver Obscura coins and a small, silverish cocoon manifested on the floor. I bent down to retrieve the loot and inspected the rare drop.

  ***

  Mithril Cocoon

  Mithril thread harvested from the Trap Master. It can be used to weave artifact-quality clothing.

  5g

  ***

  This was a high-quality thread used in the creation of artifacts with mana-oriented properties. I estimated it could fetch between 10 and 15 gold coins on the open market. It was a fair reward for the effort, though certainly not a reliable way for ordinary divers to get rich, given the lethality of the final stretch near the statue.

  I turned back and walked toward the girls. They appeared to be in good health, though I noticed their equipment was slightly battered from the traps they had encountered. There were a few shallow scratches on their skin where the traps had managed to graze them.

  “Well done, girls,” I said, offering a smile as I reached them.

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  “Thank you, master,” they replied. Their tone was as polite as ever, but I could see the visible signs of fatigue and the lingering sting of their minor injuries in their eyes.

  “Here, let me take care of that. Healing Touch!” I said, activating the skill from the Ascetic Monk job. I applied it twice to each of them, watching the scratches close and the color return to their faces.

  “Oh, thank you, master! Hehehe,” Woya chirped, feeling the warmth of the healing.

  “I am grateful for the master’s grace,” Wyn added with a respectful nod.

  “You both did well today. Let’s head out,” I said, seeing they were fully recovered.

  “Yes, master. Are we heading straight home?” Wyn asked. She was familiar with my general schedule and knew that I had another commitment today, which likely prompted the question.

  “You two head home first. There is dinner to prepare and other household matters to attend to. I’m going to stop by the Dungeon Raider Guild to sell this drop, and then I have an appointment to keep,” I informed them.

  “I understand, master,” Wyn replied.

  We made our way to the 16th floor briefly so the girls could unlock access to it for future trips. After that, we exited the dungeon together. We walked for a few minutes until we reached the point where our paths diverged, said our goodbyes, and parted ways. I moved through the streets, passing various shops clustered around the guild building. It was mid-afternoon, around 2 or 3 o'clock, so the usual crowds had not yet gathered. I entered the guild with the intention of quickly selling the Mithril Cocoon and moving on to my meeting.

  As I approached the reception desk, the sound of a heated conversation caught my attention.

  “Ouch, ouch! Please, be more gentle... O-ouch! Are you doing that on purpose?”

  “Oh, stop being such a crybaby. You’re too big to be acting like that over a few bandages.”

  “That’s easy for you to say! Paul and I were the ones fighting on the front lines while you were supporting us from a safe distance!”

  “Come on, big brother Tarkhond. Big sister Sarya and I were very helpful from the back. You shouldn't say such mean things. It's wrong.”

  “Elaris, you too? She was the one who called me a crybaby first—”

  “Quiet, both of you. People are starting to look and laugh.”

  I looked over and saw four people sitting on a bench, tending to various wounds with bandages. I recognized them immediately as the party the twins had chatted with before: Paul, Tarkhond, Sarya, and the young Elaris.

  “Are you all okay?” I asked, stepping toward them.

  “Do you think we look—! Oh, it’s you. Tch,” Tarkhond started to snap, but when he realized it was me, he immediately turned away with an irritated click of his tongue.

  “What happened to you all?” I asked, turning my attention to Paul, the party leader.

  “The caravan we were hired to protect was ambushed,” Paul explained, his eyes meeting mine. He had actually noticed me the moment I entered; his awareness was clearly heightened after being in a recent life-or-death struggle. He looked fierce, his tone somewhat clipped and emotionless despite the gravity of his words. “There were quite a lot of them, so we all took some hits. Thank the gods it’s only at this level of injury. Some members of the other parties and the merchant’s own men didn't make it.”

  “I see... I’m glad you all made it back with only scratches. Do you have any idea who attacked you? Bandits?”

  “They acted like bandits,” Paul replied, choosing his words carefully. “But I suspect they weren't. They were too well-organized; they knew our exact route and the timing of our passage from the very start. They weren't quite as skilled as professional military soldiers, but they didn't fight with the individual prowess of a veteran dungeon party either. My guess is they were either mercenaries or another merchant’s personal bodyguards.”

  “That's interesting,” I said, trying to piece together the variables. “Why would a rival merchant attack a caravan protected by multiple guards? Was the man you were working for carrying something exceptionally valuable?”

  “I don't know,” Paul admitted, looking down at his bandaged left arm. “I had my doubts while working for him. All we were doing was protecting a caravan moving in and out of the Forest of Dungeons’ entrance. It didn't seem right, but it wasn't a problem until today.”

  “I understand. If it’s that dangerous, wouldn't it be better to just quit that line of work? You’d surely make good money in the dungeon instead,” I suggested.

  “No, I don't think so,” Paul countered. “You might not see the dungeon as dangerous, but unless you’re raiding a floor far below your actual capacity, the profit margins are slim. Most of the real money comes from the mini bosses, and they are much stronger and more unpredictable than anything else on the floor. When you compare the pay to the risk, guarding is more consistent. With a large enough group and good teamwork, we at least have a better chance of keeping our lives.”

  His logic was pragmatic, and I couldn't argue with his perspective. My situation was different because I was significantly stronger than the floors I currently frequented. For most, power is the only true path to freedom.

  “I see. That makes sense from your position,” I agreed.

  “Um, big brother Han...” Elaris called out from the side. She had clearly been waiting for a gap in the conversation so as not to be rude.

  “Yes, Elaris? What is it?” I asked, softening my tone.

  “Where are the other big sisters? There were three of them last time, weren't there? Are they all okay?”

  “Woya and Wyn are doing just fine,” I laughed, appreciating her curiosity. “We were in the dungeon together today, but they went home early to handle chores. If I’d known I was going to run into you here, I would have had them stay with me.”

  “Is that so? I’m glad!” she said, her energy returning. “You shouldn't get hurt like us, okay? But since you’re so strong, you’ll be fine, right?”

  “Yes, I’ll make sure nobody gets hurt,” I promised. It was my goal anyway.

  “Hehehe... wait, big brother,” Elaris said, her smile faltering as she remembered something. “What about the other big sister? The one from last time? Is she alright? Did something happen to her?”

  I paused for a moment. “She is also fine. Let's just say we didn't get along as well as we'd hoped, so we decided to part ways.”

  “Oh, that’s a shame,” Elaris said, looking a bit dejected. “But as long as she’s okay, I hope we meet her again.”

  “Parted ways? You just sold her, didn't you?” Tarkhond’s voice cut through the air, harsh and unpleasant.

  “Tarkhond!” Paul barked, but the swordsman didn't stop.

  “What? He’s just gaslighting the kid, Paul. Hey, Elaris! She was just another slave for the high and mighty Lord Wolf over here. He probably just got bored with her, or she didn't fit in his bed, so he sold her off. What's the matter, Han? Looking for a replacement? Maybe you want Elaris—”

  “Do you have a death wish?” I interrupted, my voice cold. “If you finish that sentence—”

  Smack!

  Sarya’s hand connected sharply with the back of Tarkhond’s head. “You idiot! He’s sorry, Sir Han. He’s just lost his mind from the pain of his wounds. Please, don't mind him,” she said quickly, apologizing before I could escalate. She clearly saw the shift in my demeanor and was trying to protect her comrade.

  “You... fhuu... forget it,” I said, forcing myself to breathe and regain my composure. “I’ll pretend I didn't hear that. Just watch your tongue from now on.”

  I had no desire to continue speaking with him. Paul also offered another apology on Tarkhond’s behalf, and I accepted it to avoid further drama.

  “If you’re going that far, I’ll drop the matter. Just make sure he doesn't cause any more trouble for the rest of you,” I said, my meaning clear. If he kept making enemies like this, he would eventually get his whole party killed.

  “I’ll make sure of it,” Paul promised, looking sternly at Tarkhond, whose mouth was now being physically covered by Sarya’s hand.

  “Good luck with your recovery, then,” I said. I turned and walked to the desk, quickly finalizing the sale of the Mithril Cocoon. Since the guild was quiet, the transaction took no time at all. I pocketed the gold and left the building, heading toward the auction hall for my next appointment with fast, purposeful steps.

  [Edited]

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