This is bizarre enough to say that my life has started to go off the rails.
Everywhere I go, trouble seems to follow me.If I had hesitated even a day, or just a few more days to come here, this area would have been overrun with monsters, and it would have been too late to do anything. Then, it would have certainly escalated into a major problem that would require Shion, the Hero, and her companions, the saintly sword wielders, to handle.
However, my whimsical visit here has opened up a possibility.
The possibility of resolving this before it becomes a major problem.
"…!"
But wait a minute.
This should logically lead to bringing Shion here immediately. It's not certain that monsters will come out of the Dungeon right now.
And there's no way I can resolve this situation. After all, it's impossible to defeat the Demon King who hasn't even resurrected yet.
"…Hey, Holly. Just to confirm… The only way to destroy a Dungeon is by defeating the Demon King, right? There’s absolutely no other way?"
If that's the case, the only way to minimize human casualties is to deploy Shion to exterminate the monsters emerging from the Dungeon.
I need to bring Shion here immediately.
That's the only option.
"No. There is one more method to destroy a Dungeon."
"…And what is that…?"
I asked, sweating profusely.
A terrible premonition was creeping over me. It felt like I was about to be dragged into trouble, as per my experience.
"To destroy a Dungeon, you need to defeat the master monster residing in its deepest part."
Well, yeah.
I kind of had that feeling.
If a Dungeon is built with intruders in mind, it means there must be some benefit to venturing into it. It implies that the creator of the Dungeon would be troubled by someone reaching its interior.
So, if you reach the deepest part of the Dungeon, you might find a solution.
I had that hunch.
After all, it's such a classic trope for a Hero and their companions to conquer a Dungeon and defeat the powerful monster at its core.
"…Do you think we can make it if we hurry back to Pendragon with the Pegasus Sword, bring Shion here, and still have time?"
"It’s a bit uncertain… considering we need to make the round trip."
"Do you think we can defeat the monster in the Dungeon’s depths without Shion?"
"A few saintly sword wielders might be able to do it."
"Do you know the structure of the Dungeon…"
"I can grasp it the moment we enter. I can guide you so you won’t get lost."
"…"
"Of course, no one else can see my guidance but you."
"…"
So, there you have it.I had a feeling it would come to this.
In short, if I take Iris and Saffron with me and let Holly guide us, the Dungeon will disappear, and no one will have to die.
But if I chicken out and decide to bring Shion because I'm scared of putting myself in danger, my decishion could lead to people dying, maybe even dozens or hundreds.
So I should enter the Dungeon now, right?
That's where it's leading, isn't it?
And just as I came to this conclushion,
"Crow! That weird building apparently appeared suddenly about a month ago! It's not normal!"
"Ever since that labyrinth appeared, the water drying up started. I don't understand why the lake's water level is decreasing, though."
Iris and Saffron return from gathering information, saying just that.
"Hahaha… hahahaha!"
"Crow?"
I couldn't help but burst into an almost villainous laugh due to my incredibly bad luck.
Then, I briefly explained to Iris and Saffron what I had learned from Holly about the Dungeon.
In short, the building known as the Dungeon is teeming with monsters. After a certain period, the monsters inside the Dungeon will multiply and burst out. Only those who possess the holy swords or saintly swords can defeat these monsters. So the people living nearby are in great danger.
However, if the master monster deep within the Dungeon is defeated, the Dungeon will disappear.
I explained all of this.
Normally, when girls hear such an explanation, they would say,
"We should escape immediately."
"This is scary. What's going to happen now?"
But the responses I got were beyond my wildest imagination.
"We're going into the Dungeon right now!"
"This is exactly what I've been waiting for!"
Iris, driven by a sense of duty to save her homeland from crisis, and Saffron, thrilled to find the ultimate way to pass time, were eager to enter the Dungeon.
"…Well… I'll lead the way inside, so let's go…"
So, with these two reliable girls by my side, I led the way to the Dungeon with a heavy heart."I can't do it! It's impossible for me!"
The moment I used the Pegasus Sword to enter the Dungeon, I attempted to flee outside in near tears, only to be stopped by Iris grabbing my collar.
"Don't be pathetic! Without you, we won't understand Holly's guidance!"
The Dungeon's interior was even more ominous and labyrinthine than it appeared from the outside. Stone floors and walls, with the ceiling about three meters above the ground. There was no vantage point to oversee the entire Dungeon. We were completely reliant on Holly for guidance, but the moment I stepped inside, I felt my entire body shrink in fear.
Even as a complete novice in combat, I could sense the dense, murderous intent filling the Dungeon. I hadn't seen any monsters yet, but I just knew they were the kind of fearsome creatures that could easily kill a human.
"This is physically impossible, not just mentally! How am I supposed to survive in this den of monsters?"
"I will make sure to protect you!" Iris said, with a hero's conviction, contrasting my pathetic whimpering.
After the commotion near the Dungeon entrance, I continued to lead the way inside, following Holly's guidance in silence. Despite the lack of windows, torches, or lamps, the Dungeon was sufficiently illuminated to move around without hindrance.
Though we were taking the shortest route according to Holly, encountering monsters seemed inevitable. I was apprehensive about when that moment would come.
Meanwhile, the two girls walking behind me were having a completely different conversation.
"I can't wait to encounter some monsters. It's my first time fighting them," Saffron said eagerly.
"I've encountered them once before. They were zombies controlled by Cinellaria," Iris recalled.
"I wonder what they look like?"
"The last ones I saw were like werewolves, about two meters tall."
"Weren't there dragons too?"
"Yes... I wonder if the master of this Dungeon is as strong as that dragon."
"I'm so excited I can barely contain myself."
"It's a shame Instructor Cattleya isn't here. Her experience and the effectiveness of her Explosive Flame Sword in confined spaces would have been a huge help."
"We should focus on keeping you, Crow, safe. I'll take care of long-range attacks and defense."
"I don't have ranged weapons, so I'll rely on stealth and surprise attacks."
"Don't. If I can't see you, I might accidentally hit you with my magic."
"Oh, right. I'll be careful with my invisibility then."
"Use it wisely, depending on the situation. Just stay out of the range of my magic."
"Okay, got it."
They seemed to be having a great time."I didn't want to hear this kind of girl talk."
As I walked, lost in such thoughts, the moment I had dreaded finally arrived.
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
Leading the way, I suddenly came face-to-face with several monsters. They were beasts covered in black fur, around two meters tall, with faces resembling dogs or wolves. Unlike those animals, however, they walked on two legs and had arms equipped with sharp claws, making them look like werewolves from fairy tales.
But what struck me most wasn't their ferocious fangs or claws; it was their dense black fur. Unlike any black animal I'd known, like black horses or cats, their blackness was on another level. It was as if darkness itself had taken shape, an intense blackness that didn't seem natural for a living creature.
"I'm going in, Saffron!"
"Heehee!"
While I was paralyzed with fear and screaming at the sight of the monsters, the two girls sprang into action. Iris brandished her Ice Sword, creating several giant ice spears around her, which she then hurled like arrows at the monsters. But these weren't mere arrows; they flew at a speed that my eyes could barely follow and struck repeatedly.