"That plan... it's over now. Ion, let's just give up everything. If we do it now, we can still fix things. Since we can fix them, just..."
"What a foolish human. You can't even handle such a simple task properly."
"What? ...Ugh."
There was no time to express confusion at the sudden change in tone. Isaein felt a wave of nausea and quickly clamped her mouth shut.
In front of her, the form of a person named Ion began to crumble. No, that couldn't be a person. It was something terrifying. What on earth was happening...
Her thoughts were interrupted. Just by looking at the crumbling form, she felt a pain as if her mind's delicate fibers were being sanded down.
A few seconds later, Ion had turned into a half-melted, shapeless black mass.
"..."
The appearance was identical to the black slime that had attacked the city a few days ago.
Isaein suddenly remembered a name.
...The Faceless One.
Indeed, it was a fitting name for the object in front of her.
"Ugh, ugh! Get away!"
With a squelching sound, the black mass collapsed and enveloped Isaein.
'I need to use the defensive item...'
Isaein's class was a support mage. To compensate for her lack of physical strength, she always carried a simple defensive item that could be activated easily.
However, before she could even move her hand, the item in contact with the half-melted Ion melted away.
"Ugh..."
Resistance was futile. Isaein, who had fallen to the ground, frantically reached out and grabbed a vase, throwing it.
Crash!
A loud shattering sound echoed. The vase she threw hit Ion directly.
"Huff, huff... huff... Is it over?"
Ion froze. For a moment, she felt relieved, but then the half-melted face broke into a laugh.
"Keeheehee, heehee, heehee..."
"Ugh..."
Ion, emitting a strange laugh, approached. She thought about running, but her body wouldn't move. Witnessing the unknown terror felt like being carved by a razor.
Eventually, the completely melted Ion grabbed Isaein and forcefully pushed the black slime into her mouth. She couldn't breathe.
"Ugh, ugh! Ugh!"
'I need to tell Cedric...'
That was her last thought before she lost consciousness.
When the struggle completely stopped, the door opened again. A hunter from <C&L Corporation> cautiously spoke.
"President Isaein, I heard a loud noise. Is everything alright?"
Isaein slowly got up. She smoothed her disheveled hair, straightened her wrinkled suit, and turned to look at the hunter.
"I'm fine. I accidentally dropped the vase. Can you call someone to clean it up?"
"Yes, I'll call someone right away."
As the hunter was about to close the door and leave, he tilted his head slightly and turned back.
"President, by the way."
"What is it?"
"Were you alone? I saw Ion come this way just now."
"Well, I've been alone the whole time. Maybe he went somewhere else?"
As she said this, Isaein's eyes glowed dully like fake jewels.
* * *
That day was a normal morning.
I turned off my phone alarm three times before reluctantly getting out of bed.
I fed Miim and Lime, and had breakfast on the first floor with As. I originally planned to make an omelet, but it ended up as scrambled eggs after a failed flip. Well, it's cooked, so it's fine.
As has been in a bad mood since last night, but he didn't skip breakfast. Good, he needs to eat well to work.
After breakfast, I checked the inventory.
There's still plenty of coffee beans.
I got this because I used the gold draw tickets accumulated from quests and achievements to get a 10-roll, which gave me this item.
[Item: Commercial Fully Automatic Large Roaster (★★★☆☆)
It can roast anything.
A fully automatic system that anyone can use easily.
Can be installed in this space to save space.
Can be used conveniently with the Ring of Cthulhu.
※ Free installation]
The large roaster I've been longing for!
I fell in love with this item as soon as I saw it. Now I can easily roast a large amount of coffee beans.
Maybe I should make a bit more sugar.
As I thought this and absentmindedly looked out the window, I was startled.
"Huh?"
The blue sky, the warm morning sunlight, and the clear view were refreshing.
Do you see what's wrong with this picture?
The ominous appearance of the large dungeon 《Abyss》, which was always prominently visible from the window, was nowhere to be seen.
No, more than that.
I rushed over to check outside.
Whoosh—
The sound of waves could be heard. Sunlight poured down on the golden sand, and in the distance, fantasy-style buildings could be seen here and there.
"Where am I...?"
The outside of the shop was in an unfamiliar place.
Ding, the alarm sounded.
[Congratulations! You have completed the 'Sub-Quest: One Lap Around the Dungeon'.
Please claim your reward.]
<Cafe Riel> was located on a cliff overlooking the sea.
The phrase "located on a cliff" sounds awkward, but that's the only way to describe it.
Did a hurricane hit while I was asleep? It's not like I'm in The Wizard of Oz, so how did the entire shop building move to an unfamiliar place?
I looked at the blue sea outside the window with a sense of absurdity.
Yeah, I like the sea too. A peaceful summer vacation spot is nice. Lying on a sunbed, doing nothing, eating, and then doing nothing again. It's a dream.
But I didn't want the shop to fly to the sea.
"What's going on...?"
I decided to calm down and check for any other abnormalities.
The inside of the shop was the same as usual. I could enter this space as usual, and the electricity and water were fine. However, my phone had no connection.
As I put down my phone, which kept showing "transmission failed," I noticed a quest completion notification.
What was this quest? I brought up the quest details and sighed.
[Sub-Quest: One Lap Around the Dungeon /Completed/
You, who are tired of work, go out.
Take a lap around the dungeon to stay healthy and change your mood.
Enter a random dungeon: 1/1
Reward: Experience (500exp), 100 rubies, random recipe]
[Experience: You have gained 500exp.]
[Level: You are now level 13.]
[New Recipe: Irish Coffee]
...
Right, I had this quest.
This quest, which I had been ignoring, suddenly completed, which means...
I'm inside the dungeon...
Since I didn't want to enter the dungeon, the system moved the entire shop into the dungeon while I was sleeping. What a creative system.
I rubbed my forehead while glaring at the system notification, and Miim protested from the side.
"Why! It wasn't me. I don't know anything about it!"
"But I haven't said anything yet."
"You just looked at me with suspicious eyes!"
That's true. The cat most closely related to the dungeon and the system was this one.
However, Miim, feeling wronged, fumed and then hung his head, muttering.
"Why... I don't have the authority to do something like this. What power does a low-level entity have..."
Muttering about the sorrow of a low-level entity, the cat was in a digging state.
"Meow! Nya, nya!"
This time, Lime suddenly started crying with great intensity.
"Lime, why? What's wrong?"
Judging from the way she bounced like a bouncy ball, she had something to say. I quickly took out the slime language translator and tried to interpret Lime's words.
"Meow... Nya!"
-The power of the Great One is felt nearby.
"Who is the Great One? More importantly, Lime, do you know where we are?"
"Nya, nya, nya!"
-The living flame of eternity, the garden of the Great One. Worship.
"...What? So who is it?"
"Meow, nya... nya..."
-3.14159265358979...
This time, the value of pi appeared. I asked a few more times, but the result was the same. The periodic table, the quadratic formula, and other irrelevant things appeared before eventually falling silent.
This science slime is so frustrating.
Why are my pets like this...
I gave up trying to get information from Miim and Lime and approached the window. I slightly opened the window and poked my head out to look around. After a while, all I could hear was the sound of the wind.
As I stood there, As approached and asked.
"What are you doing?"
"As, shh!"
Although we're inside the dungeon, I don't feel the presence of any monsters.
Instead, the scenery is perfect for a "Relaxing Summer Vacation Episode."
Should I go outside? There don't seem to be any dangerous monsters.
"Wait, As! Don't go out recklessly!"
"Are you going to keep doing this? I'll leave without you if we're late."
As grabbed the doorknob and asked with a sullen expression.
Forget it. I can't find a solution just by thinking about it here. I quickly followed As out of the shop.
I briefly searched the area with As. However, there was nothing particularly noticeable, and the system window remained silent.
Just as I was about to suggest we return to the shop, not going too far.
Rustle.
The sound of dry leaves being stepped on came from nearby. My nerves were instantly on edge.
'As, step back. There's something over there.'
'Don't be scared. I'll take care of it if it comes to that.'
Saying this, As straightened his shoulders, which looked very cute, contrary to his intention.
'So, if I protect you, you'll...'
'Will?'
"Will...!"
Just as As was about to say something, the presence beyond the bushes grew stronger. I was ready to use the power of the ring on my hand to burn it if necessary, but I was surprised by what I saw.
It was... a cow.
A large body, a white base with black spots, and a gentle face. Even after rubbing my eyes and looking again, it was still a cow. The only unusual thing was the golden, triangular horn on its head.
Soon, a system notification appeared in front of me.
[A-grade Golden Triangular Horn Cow has appeared.]
Fortunately, this cow showed no signs of aggression.
It glanced at us and then lost interest, starting to leisurely graze. A peaceful and pastoral scene, fitting for a "Relaxing Summer Vacation Episode," unfolded.
Phew, the tension finally eased. It's not a dangerous situation.
"As, let's go to the opposite side."
Just as I said this, the ding sound rang again.
[Sub-Quest: The Throbbing Heart's Whereabouts?
Do you need milk, an important ingredient to enhance the flavor of coffee?
A Golden Triangular Horn Cow has appeared in front of you.
Increase the Golden Triangular Horn Cow's affection to the maximum.
If taming is successful, you can obtain milk.
Tame the Golden Triangular Horn Cow: 0/1
Reward: Special Barn, Advanced Automatic Milking Machine]
Eek...
The milk in the dimensional shop is still out of stock, and as a result, the menu has been drastically reduced.
I need milk, and I do, but I don't want to get it directly from a cow.
I prefer to buy it with money rather than make it myself, and I hope this system remembers that.
[The Golden Triangular Horn Cow is indifferent to you.]
[Affection: ♡♡♡♡♡]
The problem is that the shop has been teleported into an unknown dungeon. The only information available is this cow quest.