Pick Me Up!

Edis answered reluctantly.

I cut off the communication.

“Hey.”

“If you’re going to mourn your fate, save it for later.”

“But…!”

I pulled Eloka by the back of her neck.

Our faces came closer.

“I decided to put you on this mission. I’ll take the responsibility.”

“I forced you into this!”

“No one can force me.”

Eloka’s eyes wavered.

I smiled slyly and then released my hold on Eloka.

Eloka slumped over the water as if drained of strength.

“…Take it somewhere else.”

Jenna muttered.

“W-What are you talking about.”

Eloka backed away, flustered.

I laughed and then said.

“You seem to have spare energy.”

“Shut up.”

“Good. The three of us will finish the mission.”

“How?”

“Look at the mission window.”

I looked to the right of my vision.

The mission’s objective window was displayed.

[Floor 35.]

[Mission Type – Plunder]

[Objective – ???]

[Special Objective – NPC ‘Priasis Al Ragna’s Survival]

Plunder or capture.

Not extermination.

It meant we didn’t necessarily have to beat the water dragon.

Probably the water dragon is just a mid-boss.

A guardian of the place where the key is located, something like that.

Then.

‘Just ignore it, steal the key, and hand it over to Priasis.’

The standard would be to hunt the water dragon and then enter the key storage, but now that was no longer an option.

[The altar capture has been released!]

[The goddess’s blessing is lifted!]

Survivors on the airship escaped the area.

Monsters were swarming around the statue of the goddess. Recapturing it was difficult. To retake a territory once lost, in principle, several times the force was needed. Moreover, monsters were also swarming towards the airship.

[Mermaid’s Tears]

[Oxygen Concentration – 100%]

‘A time limit, huh.’

We had to drive into the water within a set time, steal the key, and return.

I explained my plan to them. I knew the approximate location of the key. I had heard about it several times from Priasis.

“Can we do it?”

“We have no choice.”

“That’s true.”

“Then we must!”

Jenna rolled up her sleeves.

Eloka also hardened her expression.

Both seemed to have made up their minds.

I nodded and then took a deep breath.

And dove deep into the water.

‘The boss was injured.’

Although we lost the statue of the goddess, we still had a chance to win.

I moved my arms and legs, gliding through the blue waves.

Jenna and Eloka followed behind me.

‘At the bottom of the sea, there’s a temple where blue light twinkles.’

I recalled Priasis’s words.

[Oxygen Concentration – 93%]

‘Oxygen is being consumed quickly.’

A huge shadow appeared in the water.

The water dragon. It had shown up as expected. The wound on its chest that had been ragged was halfway healed.

Swoosh!

Jenna immediately drew her bow.

The streamlined arrowhead lodged into its scales.

Kuuooooo!

The water dragon roared and approached us.

“…”

I gestured to the two of them.

Ignore it, that was the message.

They nodded and briskly moved their feet.

‘We can shake it off.’

It wasn’t as fast as before.

Its tail and fins were torn.

I put strength into my arms and legs and moved forward.

[Oxygen Concentration – 73%]

At the bottom of the sea.

The blue light twinkled.

It was clearly visible even from a distance.

Bubble bubble.

Jenna grabbed my collar and pointed behind us.

I turned my head.

[Mermaid Lv.38] X 32

A group of mermaids was approaching.

I turned my body sideways. A harpoon whizzed past.

‘Ignore them.’

The two nodded.

We dodged the harpoons skillfully and moved towards the bottom of the sea.

[Oxygen Concentration – 43%]

A huge temple submerged in water revealed itself.

‘Of all places, here.’

The depth was nearly five hundred meters.

Not a place to dive carelessly.

I landed on the roof of the temple.

‘Entrance is…’

Not visible.

Then we’ll break through.

I gestured to Eloka.

Eloka immediately began casting.

‘We need to protect her until it’s done.’

Mermaids fell one after another to Jenna’s shots.

I deflected incoming harpoons in front of Jenna.

[Oxygen Concentration – 35%]

The more violently we moved, the faster the oxygen was consumed.

I relaxed my body, minimizing my movements.

【…!】

Boom!

One side of the temple’s roof shattered.

I signaled, and starting with Eloka, we began entering the temple through the hole in the roof one by one.

Eloka first, then me, and Jenna last.

[‘Jenna(★★★)’ has been afflicted with a bleeding status. Health decreases over time.]

We landed inside the temple with the flow of water.

【Move!】

As soon as we touched the ground, Eloka immediately gestured with her hands.

Stones from the floor rose and blocked the hole through which water was pouring.

Eloka gasped for breath.

“We can buy some time. It won’t last long, though.”

I looked around.

The place we landed was a huge cavity the size of a sports field, and the inside of the temple seemed not to be submerged.

[Oxygen Concentration – 28%]

‘Can we make it back with this?’

We had consumed more oxygen than expected.

Regardless, we had to think about that later.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

I looked back.

Jenna was hesitating on her feet.

“How badly are you hurt?”

“Not much.”

“Be honest before you get scolded.”

“A little…?”

Jenna smiled awkwardly.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen that expression.

When this kid feels guilty about something, she makes that face.

I strode behind Jenna.

Her left calf was deeply gashed.

‘…Sigh.’

Hit by a harpoon?

It hadn’t stuck in, but it seemed to have scooped out a chunk of flesh as it passed.

“A potion will heal it quickly.”

“It will heal, sure. If you stay still and don’t move.”

“I can still fight, you know.”

Boom!

The cavity shook violently.

It was the water dragon’s voice.

“Ouch!”

I sat Jenna down, then took out a potion and bandages.

I opened the potion and poured it over the wound, then wrapped it with bandages.

“Wait here.”

“I can fight too.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

“You’re being unusually kind.”

I finished wrapping the bandage and took out a white potion.

Mermaid’s Tears. I placed it beside Jenna.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“For emergency use.”

I continued.

“Eloka, you too…”

“I’m not staying! Stay here? I wouldn’t have come if that were the case!”

“Really?!”

“Yeah!!”

Eloka placed her hand on her chest.

“If I did something, I will take responsibility. That’s the duty of a noble. You too! Since you called me! Behave like a gentleman and escort me to the end!”

Eloka brushed her hair back and laughed merrily.

Her hands were trembling, though.

‘This is…’

I smiled wryly.

“Then let’s go.”

“What about me?!”

“I’ll come back for you soon. Wait patiently.”

[Attention!]

[This dungeon is designed for a 5-person party.]

I brushed aside the message that appeared in my vision and moved forward.

[The battle shop is now open.]

[Do you wish to purchase the High-Quality Glow Stick for Support (one-time use, 100 gems)?]

[Yes(Select) / No]

Does this guy even understand the situation?

I'm currently Translating the following s: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!