by Fujino Omori
What was left of the battle-ax fell to the ground in pieces.
Their enemies were gone.
“…”
Welf and Lilly didn’t move, just silently stood there unable to speak.
Bell had his back toward them, shoulders rising and falling with each shallow breath.
He had defeated four Minotaurs in a row.
It was an accomplishment that went beyond his Level or skill and put his technique and strategy on display.
That was when Welf understood that all those rumors about the boy defeating a Minotaur weren’t just idle gossip.
—Minotaur Slayer.
Welf gulped down the air left in his throat, his eyes locked on the boy’s back.
“I think it’s about time you told me what you’re up to, Hermes,” said Hestia in a quiet but sharp voice.
The search party pressed forward in the dim light. Hestia matched Hermes’s pace while aiming the lamp in her hand all over the place. First toward Ouka and Mikoto, then back toward Chigusa, lighting up all of their faces in turn.
Then she cast the light under Hermes’s chin, casting dark shadows across his face.
“How do you mean?”
“The real reason why you want to help Bell.”
The search party’s current formation was designed to protect the deities in the middle. The hooded adventurer led the way with Ouka and Mikoto on either side of Hestia and Hermes; Chigusa was behind them as Asfi kept an eye on their tail.
Making sure everyone was far enough away not to be overheard, Hestia got in close to Hermes’s side.
“Hey, hey, didn’t I already tell you? When a buddy of mine’s in trouble, it’s only natural I help them out!”
“Enough with the act. We’ve already come this far, what’s the point of keeping it up? I want the truth, Hermes.”
Hestia pressed hard for answers. Even the blue in her eyes turned a shade more serious than usual.
Seeing the stout resolve in her eyes, Hermes decided it was pointless to resist and flashed a weak smile. “All right then, Hestia.”
His already narrow eyes squinted even more narrowly. The corners of his mouth quirked up as he started to speak.
“The reason that I cut my trip so short this time was to do someone a favor.”
“A favor…?”
“Yes. That certain someone wanted me to check up on Bell.”
This favor was the reason that Takemikazuchi had been so suspicious of Hermes in the first place.
Careful to keep her voice low, Hestia pried even further.
“And who is this mysterious someone?”
“The man who raised Bell. His words, not mine.”
This was someone she’d heard about many times—this faceless person who often came up in conversations with Bell. His grandfather.
But according to Bell, his grandfather had already…
“…Bell’s grandfather passed away, did he not?”
Hermes leaned down so that he could speak softly into Hestia’s ear. “Something unavoidable came up, something that he had to keep secret from his precious little grandson. So he faked his own death and has been in hiding ever since.”
She already knew quite a bit about this person from Bell, causing her face to contort as mixed emotions started bubbling up from within her.
“So anyway, he’s been keeping a low profile after leaving Bell behind…You see, Bell’s title and the fact he’s the new record holder were announced at the last Denatos, right? He happened to be sipping tea at the time that he overheard that information. Made for quite the mess, I hear.”
Hermes looked like he was thoroughly enjoying himself as he continued his story.
“As you would expect, being a father figure, he wanted to know what his boy was up to. But he couldn’t go himself. I just happened to be there and made myself available. I go in and out of Orario all the time, so I was perfect. Isn’t that simple?” said Hermes as he extended his finger into the air.
A group of monsters had suddenly appeared in front of their party, and the hooded adventurer moved to engage. The other adventurers quickly snapped to attention to protect from sneak attacks while a one-sided slaughter took place in front of them.
The search party came to a stop. Hestia had been quiet up to this point. Ignoring the sounds of combat, she asked Hermes in a subdued voice:
“So who’s the god using you as their errand-boy? There’s no way it’s—”
“Oh, did I ever say that this person was a god? This was just between you and me, and I’d be grateful if you keep it that way.”
Hermes forced a very unnatural smirk.
Although Hestia wasn’t thrilled that Hermes dodged the question, she could sense no deceit in his voice. She came to the same conclusion as a certain goddess of beauty had—that he had no intention of harming Bell.
And if his favor story was true, he’d be in a rough spot if Bell didn’t make it out of this alive.
“…I understand your situation. However, that doesn’t tell me why you’re down here. There’s no need for you to come this far to check on him. You’d have an unlimited number of chances on the surface, wouldn’t you? I have no idea why you’re in the Dungeon, Hermes.”
Maybe it was because Hermes wasn’t at all intimidated by Hestia, or maybe because he wanted to see her reaction, but he told her the truth. However, there is a difference between telling the truth and revealing how deep the truth goes.
Just how far are you willing to go? she thought to herself as she looked into Hermes’s unnaturally perfect eyes.
“It’s true that I was asked, but I, too, am interested in Bell.”
Hermes smiled.
But it wasn’t his usual charming smile. It was a softer expression, one that a deity normally wouldn’t show.
“I want to see with my own two eyes what he’s capable of, Hestia.”
The god’s orange pupils seemed to sparkle in the darkness as he once again leaned down to Hestia’s height.
Then he whispered in her ear.
“I need to know if he possesses what this era requires of him.”
Another round of fierce explosions.
A whole pack of hellhounds falls to the ground in a shower of sparks and plumes of smoke. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen it by now—Welf’s anti-magic Magic. He still has his hand out, kind of floating in the air in front of us.
His rasping, exhausted breaths are right next to my ear.
“—”
“?! Welf!”
Plop. His neck goes limp, head hitting my shoulder. His body goes slack in an instant. All of his weight suddenly comes down on my shoulder. Bending my knees, I fix my grip and prevent him from falling over.
His face falls in front of mine as I fight to regain balance. Welf’s eyes are closed, his face absolutely drenched in sweat.
Mind Down…!
We’ve depended on him too much. Mental power, or Mind, is required to use Magic. Welf has used so much of it that his body can’t take the mental strain anymore. Tears well up in my eyes as I look at his listless body hanging over my shoulder.
All the magic potions and double potions we had are long gone.
We can’t help Welf.
“…ah.”
I hear a long, weak breath behind me just before the sound of something falling over.
I turn my head around just in time to see Lilly’s eyes roll into the back of her head as she falls headfirst onto the gravel path.
“Lilly…”
I take a step in her direction. Just like Welf, she’s out cold.
The combination of anxiety and fatigue—a new kind of stress we never experienced in the upper levels—must have worn her down.
She’s been passing her healing items to us, never taking any for herself. Her Status is the lowest of anyone in our party. She probably ran out of strength a long time ago and has been willing her body forward until now.
“…!”
The only sound
left in the tunnel is my own breathing. Suddenly everything looks darker and more terrifying than before.
But it’s just my imagination. The Dungeon hasn’t changed at all.
This is just, for sure…some kind of symbolism, seeing my fear come to life.
There’s no one left to help me. I have to face the terrors of the Dungeon alone. All of this darkness and despair surrounding me is all in my head.
I can hear my heart pounding in my chest. Suddenly the air feels cold. My eyes fly open, scanning the tunnel.
“…!!”
I clench my jaw so hard that my teeth feel like they’re going to shatter.
I grab ahold of Lilly’s outstretched hand and pull Welf closer.
I have to overcome this fear. I have to confront it head-on before it crushes what little courage I have left.
I don’t have enough time to be scared. Move forward. Stand.
All of us are getting out of this alive…!
“Forgive me…!”
Welf’s broadsword, Lilly’s backpack—they’ll just slow me down.
I throw away anything heavy, leaving them with only the most basic equipment, and pick them both up. I get Welf situated over my right shoulder and hold Lilly’s small body under my left arm.
Leaving most of our party’s equipment behind, I move forward again.
“Gah, uwaa…!”
Welf’s arms dangle in front of me, swinging back and forth like a pendulum.
It goes without saying that unconscious people are heavy. But I can carry them, keep moving. It’s all thanks to my Status, but I can move forward with the weight of two people in my arms.
Breathe in and out, lift one foot, push off the ground.
I can hear Welf’s metal greaves, the armor on his lower legs, clack together with every step I take.
I have to find a hole before any more monsters show up…!
If the monster attacks now, it’s over.
Wouldn’t be much of a fight, wiped out before I could even move. I can’t protect them, and escape would be next to impossible.
A tsunami of cold sweat runs down my body as my muscles scream out in pain. I can’t think about that right now. I need to focus all of my strength on pressing forward.
“!”
There’s one.
Another tunnel intersects this one, making a four-way intersection. The path to the right ends in about ten meders. But I can just make out an opening in the dim light at the very back of it.
Taking a quick look around to make sure no monsters are waiting to ambush us, I hurry over to the hole.
I step on the lip of the hole and take a look down. Then I take a deep breath and jump.
“—Uff?!”
Air whistles past my ears before a hard impact.
I miss the landing. My feet hit at a bad angle and I lose my grip on Lilly and Welf. Both of them roll forward, their unconscious bodies sprawled out on the cold floor.
Throbbing pain floods my body. I force my shoulders up and crawl over to them. The cool pieces of gravel that were stuck to my face fall off as I go. I can hear them hitting the floor around me.
Finally arriving next to my friends, I grab their bodies and climb to my feet in the darkness. Then I take my first step on the seventeenth floor.
My body…it’s too heavy…
My arms and legs feel like they’re made of lead.
There’s something really strange going on. I’ve been at my physical limits for a long time now, but this is far beyond anything I’ve felt before.
There’s only one reason I can think of.
“Heroic Desire, Argonaut.”
It’s this skill that gave me the strength to finish off those Minotaur. I felt like something had been pulled out of me as soon as I launched that charged attack. Like all of my Mind and physical strength had been totally sucked dry.
Of course, an attack that powerful wouldn’t come without some kind of price. Doing my best to ignore the side effects of Argonaut, my brain desperately urges my body forward.
“Hanh, hahh…”
How long have I been down here? I lost track of time a long time ago. A full day? It could be longer for all I know. I’ve never wanted to see the sun so badly in my life.
I’m pretty sure the seventeenth floor is a shade darker than the higher floors. Haven’t seen any monsters yet, so I concentrate on my breathing, my chin tight.
Come on knees, bend!
They’re screaming out in pain.
My ears are ringing, practically begging to be released from this grueling trek.
I’m trapped, alone in the darkness, searching for an exit I can’t see. And even if I find it, is there a light at the end of this tunnel? Is there any hope left?
Part of me wants to give in, give it all up right now.
It’s so appealing. Just give up and embrace the end.
“Give me…a break…!!”
I adjust my grip on my friends. Even though the words came out of my mouth, it feels like Welf said them.
I’m the only one left. If I give up now, they die too. My friendship with them is the only thing keeping me going down here at the edge of hell.
Slowly, I make my way through the stagnant air. Every sound, every echo seems to summon the scythe-wielding spirit of Death himself. I can feel him reaching for the back of my neck, fingers brushing against me many times.
I realize something while being pushed this far to the brink:
I’ll die the moment those fingers overtake me.
Just like so many adventurers before me who never made it home from the Dungeon.
The tunnels are…converging…
The rock walls seem to open up in front of me, wide enough for large groups of adventurers to easily pass through. The massive tunnel didn’t bend or fork, so it was kind of like walking inside a giant snake. The ceiling is extremely high; little beads of light no bigger than candle flames are the only things I can see.
I decide to go toward the wider end of the tunnel. It should lead to the deepest part of the seventeenth floor.
Lilly told me when we decided to go to the eighteenth to look for the widest tunnels, and I’m going to do just that.
The Dungeon is quiet.
…Why?
The seventeenth floor is too quiet.
I have no answer. Every little sound seems to echo forever. The pieces of rock that get kicked out of the way roll into the darkness, the sounds of their tumble quietly fading away.
There are no monsters here.
I could feel them around me before, but this place feels empty. It’s completely unnatural, going this far in the Dungeon without a single encounter.
It’s like they’re waiting for something—no, they’re afraid of something that’s about to be born.
The monsters are hiding, staying as quiet as possible.
A cold shiver runs up my spine.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
But I can’t stop now.
Reasoning manages to overpower my instincts and drive my feet faster toward the end of the tunnel. The jockey is whipping his horse, pushing onward. The silence is my window of safety. I can still make it through.
I enter a wide-open tunnel area that seems to be designed for an absolute behemoth kind of monster. I rush toward the other side, nearly losing my balance more than a few times as I try to look around.
Then:
“…!”
I made it across.
And into a very wide, very tall room.
The shape of this room is completely different from all the other random and haphazard designs I’ve seen so far in the middle levels.
The large, circular entrance leads to a rectangular room that has to be at least 200 meders long. This place is even bigger than the Dungeon Pantry. I think it’s about a hundred meders wide, the ceiling a good twenty meders over my head.
The walls and ceiling are made of many different-size rocks piled on top of one another—with t
he exception of the one to my left.
Completely smooth, it looks like someone or something built it with their own hands. I can’t believe my eyes. Whoever this massive artisan was, their flat wall ran from one corner of the room all the way to the back. It’s overwhelming.
There’s a strange kind of beauty to it, but it feels so unnatural. It doesn’t belong here.
“The Great Wall of Sorrows…!”
This place—it floods you with a feeling of bewilderment before suddenly vanishing.
It has left so many adventurers with such an empty feeling of despair that the ones who made it back alive from the seventeenth floor seeing it gave the wall that name.
It’s a Dungeon wall that only bears a certain type of monster—the wall of the king.
I gulp down the air stuck in my throat and tear my eyes away from the wall. I have to make my way through.
There aren’t any monsters in here. The wall is looming over my left side as I travel deeper into the room, struggling to regain control of my beating heart. I take another look at Welf and Lilly, tightening my grip. Their eyes are closed, bodies limp and helpless.
We can still make it.
We can still make it through here without any problems.
I can see the exit, the entrance to a small cave at the end of the room. If I can just get there—
I brokenly laugh at myself—such a one-track mind—as I set a course for the exit.
Crack!
“—”
I heard it.
That sound.
My head whips to the left.
There it is, right in front of me. My eyes shoot open.
A massive crack runs down the wall from top to bottom like a massive lightning bolt.
“…!!”
My mind goes blank, but my feet speed up.
Holding Welf and Lilly even tighter, I lift my heavy legs as fast as I can.
I’m not even halfway through. The exit is far, too far away. I’m moving as fast as I can but I’m covering no distance. What is going on?!
Crack! Crack! Even more lightning bolts run down the Dungeon wall, deafening echoes filling the room. Pain and fear wash over me as each one hits my ears. The entire room is shaking. A sudden avalanche of wall fragments slams into the Dungeon floor, splitting my eardrums.