I decided to dive into the dungeon with the gathered members in the afternoon.
Mio was clinging at my back and shivering with fear. It really looked like she was fully equipped with blindfold, earplugs and diapers. It didn’t seem like she could be a part of our battle power no matter I looked at her. Well, I knowingly took her along though…
[Why did you purposely bring Mio along, Jin-kun?]
[She really is pitiful.]
<<mio are="" okay="" you="">></mio>
[I~can’t~]
[Err, it’s because it’s pitiful to be left out.]
[I believe she is more pitiful in this state…]
I ignored Sera’s words and moved ahead. From this floor on, the traps had become even stronger, and traps that kill people directly, like those that shoots arrows or those where the ceiling would fall, had increased. It can no doubt be called an area that’s quite difficult to advance in without the map. I can understand that the furthest they advanced to was floor 32.
The types of monsters that appeared were centered around undead types called zombies and skeletons.
Their skill levels were extremely low and the sweet feeling of obtaining skills was extremely scarce. If someone told me “so, they’re weak,” that wouldn’t be true either. Their statuses fit their levels and they held a troublesome characteristic where they got immediately revived by their skill after being killed. Destroying their magic stone was the quick and easy way to kill them. However, magic stones would be more valuable the bigger they are, and their value would be extremely reduced if we damaged it.
In addition to that, this area didn’t have any special products. It didn’t have anything I wanted to harvest like the medicinal plants in the lush area or the minerals in the volcanic area. Bones, so to speak? …We didn’t need them. I could nod to the fact that there were hardly any explorers who would want to explore the graveyard area because of the triple suffering, where enemies were strong, traps were brutal and yet there was nothing to get despite having defeated a flame dragon.
[Of course, it’s different for the people who are seriously thinking about capturing it though.]
[Well that is true. After all, they differ in their original goals. In fact, there are explorers who have reached as far as the 32nd floor…]
[When we went to take independent actions from you the other day, Jin-sama, we did some intelligence gathering, but apparently explorers who seriously think of capturing the dungeon are in the minority. To think that it would be less than one percent…]
Up until now there had been explorers on the same floor here and there (on the map), but I really haven’t caught sight of them starting with this floor.
[This gives me the impression that the areas up until the volcano area are testing areas and that from here on out they would turn down everyone except for the truly powerful people.]
Just like Sakura said, from here on it was going to be the actual dungeon. They must have taken it upon themselves to give it this kind of structure in order to select only the people who would try to go through the dungeon even when there were no visible special rewards.
This country had several legends, and the ones who arrive at the deepest floor were said to be granted vast wealth. By the way, the 50th floor being the deepest floor is one of its legends.
However, there were some questions remaining for us, who learned about dungeons through games or novels. It was about what would happen to this dungeon after we reached the deepest floor. According to games and novels, there were cases where captured dungeons collapse, or cases where it would be placed under the control of the one who captured it.
[It is better for it to be under control, a collapse would be troubling right?]
[That’s right. The balance between countries will collapse. No, since one country will collapse after all.]
If the underground dungeon collapses, then what do you think will happen to the cities above it? They will collapse (physically).
[I heard there are no restrictions in going to the deepest floor. Could they not have considered the possibility of a collapse?]
[I don’t think they would consider a collapse or something just by going to the lowest floor if they don’t have the basic knowledge on our stories and such.]
[But looking at the structure of this dungeon, it feels like neither a collapse nor being under control would be strange…]
[You have a point…]
I didn’t think it was possible that they would create a dungeon this cliche-like just to give you a treasure after you reached the deepest floor and then go “bye bye”.
[Well, as you would’ve expected, I don’t think it’s going to collapse as soon as we get there, so we can just move so that only the collapse won’t happen, right?]
[You are right. I prefer it be under control (desuwa).]
[Master will be the dungeon master~!!!]
<<kyau>></kyau>
Mio suddenly shouted. Though she’s wearing earplugs, she should have been able to hear us if we talked so close to her. Dora who was next to me was surprised.
[Please delete the graveyard area when you become the dungeon master. I’ll do anything.]
Hm?
After that, we continued toward the stairs to the next floor. Oh, it’s because we already took care to confirm the way to the stairs with Cynthia’s group in the beginning. They returned to the volcanic area immediately after that though…
[But still, it feels depressing doesn’t it.]
[Yes, to be honest, it’s troublesome…]
Some traces of fatigue were showing on Sera and Maria’s faces. They were still fine physically, so it should have been mental fatigue.
[There are too many enemies!]
Just as Sera said, the monster encounter rate was terrible. Monsters always came up from the ground next to us every time we passed by. For that reason, we got stuck continuously single-mindedly casting
Curse Mark :
Greatly strengthens attribute values of oneself or follower monsters for a fixed duration. Greatly reduces the target’s lifespan in compensation.
[*sigh*, it doesn’t seem like I can calmly do research today.]
As we entered the safe area, the demon, no, Zelvain muttered so. His skin was purple like Romarie, with long silver hair. He was wearing a white coat and monocle, giving us the impression of a researcher.
I bore in mind not to look too much at the bundle of explorers which was near my field of vision. When I checked the map, the explorers in that lump were all women. According to Alta, only one group out of three was said to be a woman only party, so it should probably that group.
[Welcome, uninvited guests. Regretfully, but I cannot let you return alive, now that you have seen my figure.]
As Zelvain said that, a horde of undead-type monsters approached us from behind Zelvain. I think there’s around 50 of them. As expected from level 8.
[You can’t escape with a transfer stone with this, right?]
Transfer stone couldn’t be used when monsters were nearby. So it means he just have to summon monsters if he doesn’t want the other party to escape. I want to see what kind of face he will make when we escape with “Portal”. No, I won’t do it though…
[Well, if I’m asked if I need to run away, then I would only answer not at all though…]
[Oh, you say something interesting in front of a demon. Will you be able to say the same thing even when you know that I am one of the four heavenly kings of the demon lord army “Zelvain of the massive army”?]
Oh what, so he’s Romarie’s colleague. Then I can understand his bad taste.
[The four heavenly kings of the demon army, huh? Recently I heard one is defeated in Kastal recently, but you’re at that level?]
Let’s fan a fire for now. It was me who defeated her in the first place though…
[The likes of Romarie is the weakest among the four heavenly kings in terms of battle strength. It is natural for her to die when her plan was exposed. It bothers me that I am lumped together with her.]
Ah, so Romarie wasn’t oriented for direct combat. Well, I can’t say her Curse she possessed was oriented in battle either.
[More importantly, human. If you know about Kastal’s matter, then there is something I want to ask.]
[Nope, why do I have to go out my way to answer a question of a demon?]
[It’s because it takes time to expose your memories after killing you. If you answer me while you’re alive, then I will kill you peacefully unlike that lump of meat, you know?]
Exposing my memories after killing me he said, he’s saying quite the dangerous stuff. Ah, yes. I can do that too, what about it?
[I don’t want something like that. In exchange answer our question.]
There was something he wanted to ask, something he was curious about before he would kill me. It’s a good chance, so let’s ask something at this timing.
[Go ahead and say it…]
Zelvain nodded after thinking for a while and then urged me ahead.
[You didn’t instruct these dungeon monsters to go to the upper floor, did you?]