Chapter 19 — A Skilled Scout and the Usual Traps

Section: Part 1 — Exile, Then Saving the Nation

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“My turn,” Mimi said, blowing yet another kiss before melting into the dark.

Night vision really is a scout’s best friend.

We’d been in the dungeon for hours without incident, largely thanks to her. With no natural light, most people rely on fungus glow or torches. Mimi’s foxkin eyes saw without help; her scenting and hearing caught hidden monsters too. Her hand‑drawn maps were as sharp as printed blueprints.

“She even marks the ambushes perfectly,” Meg whispered, awestruck.

“With Mimi we’ll breeze through,” Bill muttered.

Yeah… that’s the problem. I’d have to warn her later.

“Actually, that precision can bite us. Aside from fixed traps, I’m going to ask Mimi to leave the rest off the map,” I said.

Bill blinked. “What? Why? Isn’t accurate info better?”

“And if the ambushers move? If traps get reset somewhere else?” I asked.

Meg nodded. “You’re warning us not to trust recon blindly. Understood.”

“Exactly. Even the best scout’s intel is history by the time we get it. Trust the walls, maybe—but traps and enemies? We have to find those ourselves or we die. Mimi and I will teach you. Learn it.”

Bill gulped and nodded.

Liza rolled her eyes. “Doubt the walls too? Paranoid much?”

“You spend your life in the sky,” I said. “On lower floors the walls themselves can be monsters. Grandpa said so.” I glanced at Meg. “Imagine a wall that waits until your back’s turned and—chomp.”

She squeaked and latched onto my arm. “Please don’t say things like that…”

Even Liza and Elza edged away from the stone, eyeing it warily. Ellie shot me a look.

“Back,” Mimi whispered, appearing soundlessly. Heart attack fuel. “Lower stairs ahead. Big guy guarding—two heads taller than you, clubs like Ellie’s staff. Mage with a staff. Maybe frost? Can’t tell. Two mediums, five smalls, all clubs.”

“Perfect. Thanks,” I said, ruffling her hair.

“Praise me later,” she giggled.

I faced the group. “You heard her. I say we clear them now and map the rest later. Thoughts?”

“Agreed,” Chloe said. “Better to avoid a flank attack.”

Most nodded.

“Here’s the plan…” I outlined the ambush. Mimi’s arrow, my buffs, Meg and Elza’s Ice Lance, Liza and Chloe as striking wings, me walling the boss, Ellie on debuffs.

Soon we crouched at the chamber entrance. A brazier lit the room, silhouettes huddled around a yawning stairwell. Mimi loosed a shot the moment I cast Penetration, Meg and Elza launching Ice Lance. The mage and two small fry dropped instantly.

We charged. I planted my shield and cast Enhance plus Taunt. Every pair of glowing eyes snapped toward me.

Perfect. Wall time.

Three lunged. Liza’s rapier and Chloe’s fists removed them from the equation. The “boss”—twice my size—hammered away. I blocked, letting the others clean up.

The remaining smalls dashed forward and promptly face-planted—Ellie’s Trip. Meg and Elza fried them. Bill darted in to finish the last one, leaving just the three bruisers.

“Ellie, debuff the boss. Meg, attack magic. Bill, onto its back,” I ordered.

They nodded, tense but ready—until the boss froze mid-swing, limbs locked.

“Huh?” Bill faltered, sword half-raised.

I sighed. “Ellie. Not helping their growth.”

“Fair,” she said. She’d hit it with Hold, immobilizing the poor brute. Chloe one-punched it out of mercy.

We looted in silence. “Not much of a lesson,” I muttered. Ellie shrugged. Chloe grinned.

We decided to map the rest of the floor before heading down. Mimi darted off again. I opened my mouth to scold Ellie—“training means you can’t solve everything for them”—when Mimi sprinted back, tail puffed.

“Dan! We’ve got a problem!” she panted, grabbing my sleeve.

Something finally went wrong.

----- End of chapter -----