Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?
Chapter 412 - 294: Authentic Adventure in the Sain Dungeon

Chapter 412: Chapter 294: Authentic Adventure in the Sain Dungeon

The so-called "Sain Dungeon Original Adventure" was conceived by Merca to make some money for booze.

As everyone knows, Sain Dungeon has undergone many transformations, and a lot of the scene layouts have long been different. Coupled with the myriad strategies flying around, this has ruined the immersive experience for the newcomers aspiring to enter Sain Dungeon.

The newbies can’t experience the joyous adventures of the first group of Sain victims... no, beneficiaries, which is truly a huge loss.

And those old-school adventurers who suffered endlessly from the Sain transformations often look down on the newcomers who follow strategies, saying things like:

"Nowadays, newbies have it easy; just stupidly following a strategy is all they need to do. We had spirit back in the day."

"Exactly, exactly. Anyone who hasn’t experienced being teleported right into the face of a Molten Furnace Knight is incomplete. Newbies nowadays have low quality."

Where there are people, there is comparison. It’s not surprising for such situations to arise, though the statements from the elders have infuriated the new adventurers.

"Spirit? It’s just plain stupidity to fall into traps and get chased by monsters. How dare they boast about it here?"

"Who in their right mind would want to experience being sliced at the waist by a Molten Furnace Knight? Are you a masochist?"

"What’s wrong with following a strategy? That’s the wisdom of the predecessors. Besides, a strategy doesn’t guarantee safety. You’re just jealous!"

Unexpectedly, a conflict arose between new and old adventurers. Merca’s thought on this is—let them fight! Let them fight!

Because of the new-old conflict, her business has improved. Some newbie adventurers pay her to see what those who yell daily have actually experienced in Sain, planning to counterattack after their real-life experience!

With the business booming, she even recruited lots of elves to work with her, almost forming a company, but was discovered by her aunt Vienma.

"I should’ve said everyone should prioritize spreading my magic theory, right? Why did you dig away my precious assistants!?"

And then... Merca returned to her solitary state, her hope of going public shattered, able only to pick up odd jobs on the side.

It’s not that she doesn’t want to recruit other helpers; it’s just that people from Bed City have smelled the business opportunity and started imitating her operation model. Competing with humans is too troublesome, and she’s too lazy to engage.

"Alright, we’ve arrived. This is the first stop, Fran Fort!"

Merca used her business voice to sound energetic, releasing her hand from covering Elsa’s eyes.

Elsa eagerly opened her eyes!

A dim scene of yellow-green sticky poison water flowing, mosquitoes flying everywhere, and trees entirely dead appeared before her.

Her smile froze instantly.

"Th-this is it?" Due to the scene’s overwhelming impact, she started to stutter.

Back in Bed City, she never entered the swamp area that preceded Fran Fort. After leaving Bed City, she no longer followed Sain’s news, only cramming some relevant knowledge recently (meaning she learned the names of each area in Sain).

So her current cluelessness about this place truly fits well with Merca’s activities.

A moment later.

"I just stand here, right?" Elsa stood in the poison pool, at a loss, "Why are you so far from me?"

Merca gave a thumbs up from afar and then threw an Enemy Attraction Skull over.

"Don’t try to defend yourself; not resisting is key!"

"Huh?" Elsa appeared puzzled, with big circle eyes.

She saw bubbles emerging from the swamp not far away, and one by one, large eyes surfaced, quickly sprinting towards her.

Looking back at Merca again, the distance between her and Elsa was shortening as the Curse Frogs approached!

The closer the Curse Frogs got to you, the farther Merca was from you.

"Uh, hi?"

Elsa didn’t understand what "taking a bath with Curse Frogs" meant, but it sounded like a friendly activity, right? The big eyes of these monsters called Curse Frogs looked cute; maybe she could establish good relations with them?

"Puff!"

As she smiled at the dozens of Curse Frogs in front of her, their saliva splattered onto her face.

[Elsa died attempting to greet the Curse Frogs]

Soon after, she returned with a dazed look to the bonfire at Fire Transmission Ceremony, facing a gleeful Merca.

"How was it? Did you experience the hardships of the predecessors? The Curse Frogs used to be the earliest mascots of Sain Dungeon, and everyone stumbled under their claws in some way or another."

"Are you happy? You’re now... wait, what expression is that, what actions are those?"

"Don’t hit me! Weren’t you the one who agreed to this! Murder!"

Elsa beat the elf to the ground, seemingly forcing her to return and become...

"What’s the next activity?" Elsa asked with a darkened face. Blending with the mercenaries, she could still emanate a bit of dread, causing the other party to shudder.

"Tha-that Fran Fort also has random Teleportation Treasure Boxes, double Stone Statue Ghosts, and Molten Furnace Knights..."

"What about other areas?"

"Also, uh, in the forest area, ’get roared at by the headless lion ape’, ’kick a bonfire and challenge the Left Bow Swift Slash Tachi three avatars’, in the Great Tomb area, ’shoot up the street’ and ’Endless Reincarnation Sticker Corruption Favored’ then go to the food area to fish and kick a Pikachu."

Elsa fell into deep thought.

"How about I refund your money?" Merca was somewhat intimidated, having been in this line of work for half a month, it was her first time encountering such a tough challenge.

"No need, I’m quite interested in the remaining activities, and I can even pay you extra."

"What?"

"But...." Elsa said quietly, "You will be experiencing the remaining activities for me to see."

"No way!"

Sure enough, those with expressionless faces often have a dark side when you look deeper.

The time that followed was filled with Merca’s suffering.

Who asked her not to explain beforehand what "bathing with Curse Frogs" meant, this was considered paying for her own mischievous desire—to see Elsa panic.

The Lion Ape, the only monster with a "Horror" mechanism in Sain Dungeon, has drawn an increasing number of challengers ever since an adventurer claimed that being roared at by the headless lion ape grants profound insight into life. People seem to believe that being in a "Horror State" can treat depression.

"I’m sorry, Steeran, don’t leave your sister behind, I’m sorry—" After being roared into a horror state, she frantically kowtowed to the air, and Elsa quickly gave her some Horror Dispelling Powder.

The Left Bow Swift Slash Tachi three avatars are a somewhat famous monster combination, penalizing anyone who disrespects a bonfire. Allegedly, some seek them out specifically to learn PVP techniques, and the War Ashes [Swift Slash] they drop are extremely powerful treasures.

"I, I hate the Left Bow..." Merca uttered her final words before being shot down like a pincushion.

The subsequent shoot-up street, Endless Reincarnation, etc., were beyond her capacity to handle even though she knew the strategy guide.

After experiencing the entire process, she had lost weight, her eyes were bloodshot, and she was speaking weakly.

Seeing this, Elsa showed a smile that said, "I forgive you," seemingly growing more fond of smiling recently.

"I’ll take you to Lake Lienia now."

Merca just wanted to quickly get rid of this unlucky deity and, spurred by survival instincts, displayed a rapid strategy speed, racing with Elsa to Lake Lienia and successfully delivering her to Academy Gate Town.

"Repairing weapons requires Souls, you probably don’t have enough, so here, take these." She gave Elsa a large Soul of a Nameless Warrior.

"Thank you, you’re really a good person."

Merca’s mouth twitched upon receiving the goodwill card, and she waved repeatedly saying, "The project experience ends here, take your time to repair it, I’m leaving!"

[A wild Merca ran away!]

Elsa finally met the long-desired Blacksmith Andre. When he took her broken greatsword and told her to pick it up at the same time tomorrow, she was so excited that she gave Andre a hug!

Those witnessing this scene nearby were all shocked, as they had seen people get their brains smashed with a punch for laying hands on the blacksmith!

However, Elsa’s gesture of gratitude wasn’t deemed an attack, and Andre let her hug him for a few seconds before shooing her away.

She was now enveloped by immense happiness, walking as if in a daze.

The greatsword had been with her since she became a Hero as a child, akin to family to her, and Andre repairing the broken greatsword was akin to saving a family member.

With that, her fondness for Sain Dungeon, now featuring Andre, increased significantly.

Though she had minor grudges with Sain Dungeon before, they were not irreconcilable hardships, and time had long since diluted those grievances.

This dungeon left her with a deep impression today, especially Lake Lienia, where the thin mist combined with the shimmering lake surface under the moonlight presented a scene of unparalleled beauty she had never witnessed in her life.

The landscape of the Lake District felt distinctly different from other places.

"Gollum..."

Elsa’s stomach growled, reminding her that she had spent the whole day there and needed to find a place to eat.

The Academy Gate Town had been completely revitalized by adventurers, with various shops established, including a large restaurant where most adventurers residing in the Lake District would dine in the evenings.

When she pushed open the restaurant door, the noise was overwhelming, making her hesitate at the entrance.

While hesitating at the door, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind.

"Gus, how did you end up here?"

"Huh?"

Elsa turned around and saw a familiar face—it was Tami!

Behind Tami were Luluwo, Berto, and others—the Skyrim Strategy Group had all come.

"Is she the one you mentioned last time?" Luluwo’s eyes twinkled when she saw Elsa, and she suddenly grinned, wrapping an arm around hers, "Serendipity brought us together, come join us for a meal, today is our celebration feast!"

Luluwo’s excessive enthusiasm left Elsa a bit at a loss for how to respond, and at this moment, Tami approached and smiled:

"We found a way to completely defeat Overlord Vonier."