SSS-Rank Overlord: Defend the Dungeon or Die-Chapter 181: Episode

The second Balak had lately come to be known as the fairies’ dungeon. Currently, under Kinjo’s management, it had reached B-rank, Stage 3, and was the most visited dungeon after the labyrinth.

"How’s it been lately? Is it still the dungeon that disbands raid parties, like the rumors say?"

"Nah. It’s gotten better recently, but it seems there’s a different problem. You know, right? The guardian in the maid outfit that only appears in the second Balak."

"Ah, yeah. I came to see that fairy today, too. How could I not know."

"Right. The number of raiders coming just to see her has increased. But the problem is that raiders who come with their lovers keep getting distracted by her. It’s apparently causing a lot of breakups."

The rumors were rampant among the raiders visiting Balak’s territory. The fairy in a maid outfit who only appeared in the second Balak was so beautiful that it was hard to believe she was a dungeon guardian.

Now that the dungeon’s protection period was over, some raid parties came to earn Zen and achievements, while others flocked just to see the guardian.

"Medium turret! Shield bearers to the front!"

"Damn it, the mana cannon is targeting Yulsen! Just put up a barrier!"

"D-Damn it! Soldiers appeared from behind! Molu, I told you we should have used the radar detection net!"

That day, too, numerous raiders had come to the second Balak. They pushed through each room, even accepting the penalty for exceeding the party size limit. Some suffered minor injuries from traps, but none of them gave up. They only pressed on to the next room, for the sake of their goal.

[You have entered the fourteenth room of the second Balak.]

At last, a raid party arrived at the fourteenth room. The number of rooms had increased since the dungeon was upgraded to B-rank, but they were pleased.

"Ugh. You pesky humans. You’ve shown up again today!"

The fairy in the maid outfit had appeared. The raiders cheered and immediately cast their shields.

[B-rank Raider Radevu has cast Earthen Barrier.]

[B-rank Raider Einst has cast Sacred Barrier.]

[B-rank Raider Billion has cast Wave Barrier.]

Soon, dozens of layers of barriers enveloped the raid party. It seemed their party was composed entirely of priests, as they cast no other skills.

"It’s useless!" the fairy flying in the air shouted, firing dozens of magic bullets that chipped away at the barriers’ durability.

But this was a barrier layered by over twenty priests. No matter how powerful her magic bullets were, it would take a considerable amount of time to destroy it. The raiders began to watch comfortably from within their shields.

"Ooh. What an incredible figure. This is definitely the best spot to watch from."

"L-Look over there! The wind is making her skirt flutter!"

"Oooooooh!"

They had all put down their weapons and were staring at the fairy with lecherous eyes.

"AHHHHH! Where are you looking!" she shrieked, belatedly grabbing her skirt as her face turned red. Dealing with raid parties was stressful enough, but now they were even abusing barriers to gawk at her.

"Grr. Don’t come back again!"

"Aww. You’re leaving already? This is no fun."

"Hah. Look at that view from the back. I’d love to live with a woman like that."

"Dream on. Not even the daughters of noble houses are that beautiful. Maybe a princess!"

The raid party watched the disappearing fairy, already looking forward to next time.

---

The Master Room door slammed open, shaking the entire chamber. Kinjo, who had been enjoying the view on the monitor, jumped in surprise and looked behind him.

He fell silent.

A fairy, who had returned at some point, was sitting at the table, glaring at him.

"Hee-hee-hek. Lady Mederia, you’ve returned," Kinjo tittered.

"I-I can’t do this anymore! I’m so sick and tired of it! Lately, there are even raid parties that give up on fighting and just use barriers to mock me! Can’t you do something about them?!"

"I-I am trying my best, my lady. But since the order came from Master Taehyun, it’s impossible to wipe out all the raid parties."

"There are other ways! Other ways!"

Ever since Balak’s territory had been established, the dungeon had been run to give raiders a sense of hope. Mederia knew this, but she couldn’t stand being turned into a spectacle.

Kinjo broke into a cold sweat and looked away. This was the tenth time she had demanded he deal with the raid parties. But it wasn’t easy to handle a team composed entirely of priests. Besides, thanks to Mederia, they were attracting a lot of visitors. Kinjo couldn’t easily give up that advantage.

’I feel bad for Lady Mederia, but for the prosperity of the second Balak, I cannot give this up.’

This was the second Balak, on its way to A-rank, second only to the main dungeon. In this situation, B-rank raiders with manastone equipment were his best customers.

"Hee-hek. I-I will try my best to find a solution, my lady."

"Seven days. Find a solution within seven days. If you can’t, I won’t just stand by either."

"I understand. It seems you’re very stressed, so it would be best for you to go and rest."

"That was my plan!"

With that, Mederia stormed out of the Master Room. Left alone, Kinjo let out a sigh of relief and thought of Taehyun.

’It would be better to ask Master Taehyun for help. Lady Mederia adores him, so if I use that emotion, I should be able to get her to overlook this.’

His long nose twitched. Like the goblin of schemes he was, Kinjo was planning to use even Taehyun to resolve the situation. Just then, a new raid party appeared on the monitor.

[The Spewallo Raid Party has entered the second Balak.]

New customers.

"Hee-hee. Welcome, welcome. Please offer up your manastones freely for the sake of the second Balak!"

---

In every dungeon, besides the rooms for raiders, there were separate spaces for the soldiers. The main forces, in particular, would occupy an entire room to rest, and Mederia had expanded that space even further. Although it consumed a considerable amount of Zen, Kinjo was the one managing the second Balak. She believed she deserved at least this much.

"Oh, Lady Mederia, how do you manage your skin to keep it so fair?!"

"Hmm. I think I was born with it. Perhaps it’s a blessing from the Fairy King, Pesilin."

The fairies sitting around the table listened with sparkling eyes. Mederia, sitting in the center, leisurely enjoyed her tea. She always relieved the stress from dealing with raid parties by drinking tea with the other fairies. While it might have looked like noble ladies gossiping, the fairies simply knew how to enjoy the atmosphere. Just chatting about the territory, the dungeon, guardians, raiders, and Taehyun was an incredibly enjoyable time.

"By the way, Lady Mederia, how are things going with Master Taehyun?"

"Sigh. There hasn’t been much progress. He’s always so focused on managing the dungeon that I don’t think he even notices me."

"Oh, what a shame! Master Taehyun is so clueless. To not realize that someone as beautiful as you holds affection for him. At this rate, that vixen Riel might make a move first!"

Riel, the supporter who had been by Taehyun’s side from the very beginning. Even now, she was biding her time, aiming to share a bed with Taehyun and keep him all to herself. At this rate, just as the fairy said, Riel might beat her to it. But as a guardian of the second Balak, she couldn’t visit the main dungeon often. Mederia let out a deep sigh and emptied her teacup. Just then, the communication device she always carried rang. Hoping it might be him, she answered.

-Hee-hek. Lady Mederia, another B-rank raid party has entered. Please head to the fifteenth room with Mandra.

But the voice that came through was the goblin’s distinctive one.

"Ugh. I hate him. His nose is so long, and his voice is so creepy."

"He’s just a goblin, and he’s acting as a supporter. He’s planning to work Lady Mederia to the bone again!"

"If it weren’t for that goblin, all the fairies in the second Balak would be happy."

The fairies immediately showed their disgust, criticizing Kinjo. Meanwhile, Mederia’s eyes turned cold as she grabbed her equipment and left the room.

"...That creepy, long-nosed goblin."

---

[B-rank Raider Trundle has cast Earthen Barrier.]

[B-rank Raider Colonia has cast Sacred Barrier.]

[B-rank Raider Anaxian has cast Wave Barrier.]

The B-rank raiders cast their barriers. This time, over thirty priests were mobilized. The raiders cheered as they saw Mederia appear in the air.

"Ooh! She’s here! It’s our goddess!"

"Who said I’m your goddess?! Don’t you people ever get tired of this?!"

"Ahh. Even her voice is beautiful. All hail the maid fairy!"

"Grrrr. I can’t take this anymore!"

She had attracted raiders with her looks before, but it had gotten much worse since Taehyun gave her the maid outfit. Mederia unleashed her killing intent and focused the firepower of her magic bullets.

[Due to the effect of the Rainbow Gauntlet, the critical hit rate of your special ability increases.]

[Due to the effect of the Pletanis Bow, the accuracy of your shots increases.]

[Due to the effect of Precision Shot, the hit rate of your shots increases.]

The effects of the new equipment she had bought from the Demon Realm Auction were activated. She even cast Precision Shot, fiercely firing her magic bullets.

"L-Lady Mederia?" Even Mandra, watching from the side, felt fear at Mederia’s killing intent.

[Blentas Raid Party’s integrated barrier durability: 69%]

The barrier’s durability was slowly decreasing, but it couldn’t be destroyed in one go.

"It won’t budge! This is a barrier layered by over thirty people!"

"Ooh. The maid fairy is really angry. What do we do?"

"Isn’t she pretty even when she’s angry? Next time, let’s bring some mages from the tower and preserve this image too!"

The raiders mocked her, leisurely watching from inside the barrier. Just then, a part of the barrier began to crack.

’Concentrated fire. Concentrated fire. Concentrated fire!’

It was because of Mederia’s attack, focusing all her magic bullets on a single spot. She poured all her mana into it with venomous eyes.

"H-Hey. Isn’t this a little dangerous?"

"It’ll be fine. This is a bar—cast by over thirty people..."

An arrow whizzed through the air.

"Aaargh!"

A raider with an arrow in his shoulder cried out in pain. His comrades broke into a cold sweat as they saw the hole in the barrier. Slowly, Mederia aimed her bow at the opening.

"I still have 245 shots left. Brace yourselves."

"Aaaaaargh! Save me! Dispel the barrier, quickly!"

"It’s a non-dispellable barrier, you bastard!"

And so, the raiders died miserably inside their protective shell.

---

[The Blentas Raid Party has been annihilated.]

At last, the raiders were annihilated. All of them had mocked her. But Mederia had no time to celebrate, stunned by a sudden change.

"Wh-What’s happening to my body?"

"L-Lady Mederia, your body is slowly changing," Mandra stammered.

"I feel like I’m getting stronger. Could it be... am I evolving too?"

Her entire body was being suffused with mana. It was likely the same evolution phenomenon Grai had experienced. Mederia suddenly thought of Taehyun.

’Will he still accept me even after I evolve?’

Anxiety bloomed deep in her heart. Grai, who had been an Orc, had transformed into a human when he rose to A-rank. There was no guarantee she would be an exception. Mederia looked at her slowly changing body and screamed.

"N-No! I like myself the way I am! I don’t care if the raiders bother me, I like myself the way Master Taehyun sees me!"

She couldn’t even begin to guess what she would look like after the evolution. Mederia tried to reject the mana and break free from the phenomenon, but it was no use. Two more wings were already sprouting from her back.

[Evolution has been a great success.]

[Your rank has risen to A-rank Guardian.]

[The A-rank Guardian, Archfairy Mederia, has been born.]

And so, Mederia skipped two stages at once, evolving into an A-rank Guardian.

"Huh? Oh. I haven’t changed that much?"

Other than the addition of a pair of wings, nothing else was different. She looked over her body in confusion. Just then, someone walked down the corridor opposite her.

"You’re lucky," Taehyun remarked. "That was a clean transformation."

"T-Taehyun," she breathed.

"Still, you got another pair of wings. Congratulations, Mederia. With this, you’re an A-rank Guardian."

It was none other than the Dungeon Master of Balak, Taehyun Yoo.