Chapter 31 Another Dungeon
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I abandoned C*mslut.
Maybe that figure had only been a temporary form born from the dungeon’s strange power, but I still think it was really her. Even if it was just an illusion, at that moment, she was real to me.
Either way, I’ll never know what would have happened if I had stepped into the shallows to take her hand. Maybe everything would have crumbled away, and when the sun went down she would have turned into a monster and attacked me. Or maybe it would have been fine, just a few steps, and I could have escaped with her.
”Haah… I don’t know anymore. I’m done. I’m going crazy.”
”That was my fault,” Trash said quietly.
”No, yeah. I know. Sorry. Let’s stop thinking about things that won’t change.”
Trash kept giving me encouragement, strong words that pulled me forward whenever I began to falter. Maybe half of it was to comfort and scold herself, too. I could see how frustrated she was, trying so hard to hold herself together.
”You made the right choice,” she told me. “You still have a place to go home to. Remember that.”
”Yeah… there’s no point in regret. I’m fine. Really.”
”You don’t have to pretend to be strong,” she said softly. “It seems you haven’t realized, so I’ll repeat it as many times as I must. I was the one who took away your chance to choose.”
”…Thank you.”
Maybe she saw through my forced smile.
But that wasn’t the real problem. She had resisted temptation—but I hadn’t. And though I could have blamed her, deep down, I knew the truth.
Even so, I decided to accept her way—to follow her lead.
There was no point staying depressed forever. I didn’t have time to drown in self-pity.
I had to go home.
”So, it’s your fault, Trash. When we get back, I’ll make you take responsibility, so be ready.”
I poked her shoulder and forced a sharp tone into my voice.
Time to move on.
She blinked in surprise, then smiled at me, teasing.
”Of course. I was asked to bring you back safely, no matter what happens. Hehe… Let’s say half the blame goes to her, then.”
”…Yeah.”
We never talked about what each of us saw in the end. There was no need. Remembering it would only hurt us both.
”Really… it’s a beautiful place, at least,” I murmured.
Beyond that door was a series of beaches, all painted in sunset colors. The ocean stretched endlessly, clear and bright, washing over a carpet of white sand.
Unlike the dungeons before, doors stood scattered across the beach like random monuments.
Still, the strange phenomena seemed limited to that first island. Afterward, no monsters appeared. The world was calm and silent, almost peaceful.
It seemed only that lonely island had been special.
At least one thing Trash found in the shallows proved to be real—a mystical object shaped like a long, carved fish. She planted it into the sand.
”What was it called again? A red trumpet fish?”
”This artifact is known as the Guiding Fish Rod,” she explained. “When rolled within a dungeon, its mouth points toward the door closest to the surface. Fascinating, isn’t it?”
I crouched down and studied it.
A weird fish with a long, pointed mouth—almost like it had a flute attached. Ugly, really. It didn’t comfort me, but at least it didn’t blame me either.
It was carved from brown wood, looking like something you’d find at a countryside souvenir shop.
”It just looks like it’s falling whichever way. Makes me nervous.”
”That’s natural. It appears to be only a wooden carving, after all. Why not try it yourself, Young Master? No matter how you drop it, it always falls in one direction. Curious, isn’t it?”
”Yeah. With these torn clothes and this stick, I feel like a caveman.”
”No matter what you wear, you still look charming, Young Master.”
”Wait—are you saying I look bad right now?”
I tossed the stick. It rolled across the sand, then twisted sharply and fell, pointing toward one of the many colored doors along the beach.
”Ugh, that’s creepy.”
”Amusing, though, isn’t it?”
We crossed the last stretch of sand, stomachs empty, throats dry.
It felt like we had finally crossed the river of the dead and returned from the other shore.
Beyond the next door lay a forest, thick with trees—a place that felt human again.
Leaves rustled in the wind. I could sense living creatures nearby, as if something might leap out of the bushes at any moment.
It was a little like the dungeon’s mysterious forest, but warmer, heavier with vines and curling plants—a jungle atmosphere.
”Where are we…?”
”Phew. Finally somewhere familiar,” Trash said, looking around. “This should be the Rurunai Ruins near Tateyama Town.”
”Rurunai Ruins? What’s that?”
”A five-layer forest-type dungeon. Many monsters live here, but it’s considered low danger—ordinary women even come and go. Quite a change of pace.”
”Hmm… think there’s any food? I’m dying of thirst.”
”I’ve heard tropical fruit grows here. If we search, we might also find a water source. Let’s explore a bit.”
I let her carry me on her back.
Honestly, I could collapse any time. My body was burning, my head light. I hadn’t rested properly in over two days, and dehydration had set in. My muscles ached like rusted metal. In this child’s body, I was reaching the limit.
”Huff… haah…”
Trash, on the other hand, was unstoppable.
She had fought battles, bled, burned, and used her psychic power until it must have drained her dry—yet she still carried me without slowing.
After some time walking between the tropical plants, something moved above us and dropped from the trees.
Trash instantly set me down and drew her sword.
”Gyaah!”
”Oh? A monster. Perhaps a baboon.”
”What—what’s going on?”
My mind was foggy, too tired to react.
Before I understood, Trash slashed through the air. The beast’s cry was cut short.
When I blinked, the hairy creature—about a meter tall—was split clean in half.
A wet sound splattered nearby.
The monster’s body hit the ground beside me. Blood and organs spilled out, steaming in the humid air, and the red liquid soaked into the dirt.
”Wh—what…? A monster!?”
I could only stare, frozen.
”Gyaaah!”
”Gyak! Gyaw!”
”Gwaah!”
”It seems the rest of the pack has found us,” Trash said calmly.
They weren’t alone.
From every direction came loud shrieks and growls—we were surrounded.
”Young Master, please stay behind me.”
”Eh—what!? Monsters!? Are you okay!?”
Only then did I realize—we were under attack.
Without answering, Trash swung her bloodstained blade, scattering crimson droplets across the ferns.
”Gyagyaah!”
”There?”
”Gyaa, gyah! Giggigii!”
The monkeys darted through the trees, jumping and snarling.
Each time one lunged, Trash met it with steel.
One, two, three—their bodies burst apart, and the air filled with the sharp scent of blood.
”Gigi…”
”Ki, chichi, kyau!”
”Gyaaah! Gyahhh!”
”Stay calm, Young Master. Compared to that Horned Owl, these are barely moving targets. Count your fingers—this will be over before you finish.”
Trash tore through the jungle like a storm, cutting down the monkeys that attacked from above and below.
When her blade got heavy with blood, she switched grip and used the hilt to smash skulls. When that, too, was soaked red, she wiped the blade clean with a sharp swing and went back to killing.
One by one, the human-sized creatures turned into silent piles of flesh.
She looked like a cold, unstoppable killing machine.
Wait—what… what is this?
Whoa. She’s way too strong!
”Gyah! Kyaah!”
”…Hmm. Throwing stones now? Smart enough to keep their distance.”
She swung her arm.
”Gyauw!?”
But her sword was gone.
A monkey fell from above—her blade lodged deep in its forehead.
A large one lunged from the bushes, seizing the moment while she stood unarmed.
Maybe it was the leader, striking with vicious teeth and claws. If it had gone for me, I’d have been torn apart in seconds.
Trash caught it in midair with ease.
”Ki… kii!”
”Did you think humans were weak in close combat?”
The beast thrashed, choking under her grip. She didn’t even flinch.
”I really have gotten stronger,” she said. “Must be from clearing that sunset dungeon.”
”Gi… kikii!”
”Sorry. Let’s make it quick.”
Crack.
Its neck bent like rubber, and the body hit the ground with a dull thud.
The rest of the monsters screamed and scattered.
Panic spread through the jungle until silence swallowed the place again. None of them came back for revenge.
”Hi—hiii!”
Too strong.
She’s basically a terminator!
Around her feet lay a mountain of corpses. Blood dripped from her sword. Nothing else moved.
”Young Master, are you hurt?”
”N-no, I-I’m f-fine… th-thanks.”
”Ordinary monsters are only this strong. Any Imperial Guard who’s taken the Oath of Fealty Ritual could handle this.”
”I-I mean, that’s… amazing. I’m not scared or anything! Really!”
”Heh. I thought you’d say that.”
She looked a little sad at first, seeing my fear—but my words made her smile, bright and proud.
Even surrounded by death, she glowed faintly, though no aura could hide that smell. No matter how cool Trash looked, the stench of blood gave her away.
”Also, it seems escaping that beach filled with mystical energy gave me enough experience to rival slaying a whole army of monsters,” she said.
”I see. That can happen, huh?”
”Yes… perhaps a blessing in disguise.”
”Yeah… good for you. That’s a good thing.”
Silence settled between us.
For a moment, I remembered everything—and the sadness came rushing back.
Without thinking, I clung to her.
When I closed my eyes, I saw that scene again.
Was it really the right choice? Were my memories, my knowledge, still left behind there? Was she still standing in those clear shallows forever?
She said nothing, just let me hold on.
We stayed that way, sharing warmth, until we quietly stepped apart.
”…Were you afraid?” she asked softly. “Even so, my power is under control now. The Horned Owl was an exception, but this strength is the true gift you bring, Young Master. It may look violent, yet it proves I can fulfill my role in the Exploration Squad.”
She sounded relieved, even if a bit unsure.
That wasn’t really why I was upset.
But since she’d done her best to lighten the mood, I couldn’t ruin it.
Still, the raw power, the battlefield full of torn bodies—it was a lot for a kid like me to take.
Should I… compliment her?
”Uh, yeah. Thanks. You really are strong. I guess you weren’t running away all this time—you were just holding back.”
”…! I see. I’m glad you understand.”
”But, um, the smell’s awful. I’m gonna puke. Let’s go somewhere else.”
”You’re right. The bodies seem useless for materials anyway.”
That… sounded kind of terrifying, so I hurried to leave the corpse pile behind. Eating monkeys was where I drew the line.
Apparently, this whole thing counted as some kind of level-up event—but it didn’t affect me at all.
Too bad.
Though later, it turned out this moment had awakened a sleeping power inside me. Lucky me.
Three days passed.
Somehow, we managed to survive inside the dungeon.
The forest was huge; every direction looked the same. We lived off fruit and tree bark, sleeping on branches at night.
”Munch, munch… yeah, not bad.”
I bit into a round, pale-yellow fruit.
Chiba. Southern Bōsō.
That region was famous for loquat fruit—even in my previous life, it was the second largest producer in Japan. The southern coast was a paradise for fruits, not just seafood.
Maybe that’s why this jungle had so much to eat.
”Does it suit your taste, Young Master?”
”Yeah. Can’t believe something growing wild tastes this good. It’s like they’ve been bred for sweetness. Perfect substitute for water, too.”
”I’m glad. Feeling a bit better now?”
”Sort of. Still sore all over, and I’d kill for a bath or a bed. At least there are no maggots. That’s something.”
Even so, I wasn’t healthy—just less near-death than before.
I looked at the loquat-like fruit in my hand, its juicy yellow flesh glistening where I’d bitten it.
While I’d been choking down dry rations on that slave ship in Kujukuri, people near this dungeon were eating stuff like this? Unfair.
Couldn’t we trade ships or something?
This Rurunai Ruins dungeon lay in the Tateyama region, south of Ichihara.
Tateyama sat between sea and mountains in the old Kazusa Province—rural, undeveloped, the “foot” of Chiba, as the locals said.
It had five layers, all cleared long ago.
There weren’t many dangerous monsters—by Imperial Guard standards, anyway—and while it produced things like perishable food and animal hides, it wasn’t suited for industry. Locals called it their backyard kitchen. Also… criminals sometimes hid here.
”Imperial Guards have too much resistance to poison, so we can’t test for toxins on behalf of our masters,” Trash explained. “Since I trained from childhood, I can tell poison by taste. Please don’t imitate me, Young Master.”
”Huh. Still, everything here tastes so good I might just eat random berries.”
”As they say—poison often tastes delicious.”
”Really!?”
”If you find a fruit that interests you, tell me first.”
When I looked intrigued, Trash smiled with quiet pride.
It felt like I was finally experiencing the real Imperial Guard training I’d only ever heard about.
”Come to think of it,” I said, “Tateyama Town was where my classmate Tokumasa lived, right? That dungeon maniac. I hope he doesn’t mind us raiding this place and eating everything. At least it’s not stealing like taking crops.”
Trash chuckled faintly. “…Haha. True enough.”
…Wait, what was that pause?
”According to the Guiding Fish Rod, the next door is close. Let’s reach the upper level before sunset.”
”Changing the subject, huh? Fine.”
I rode on Trash’s back as we continued through the jungle.
Now and then, animal-shaped monsters attacked—but she crushed them in seconds.
”Kiiiii!”
”Hyah!”
A flying squirrel-like monster fell apart mid-scream.
Smaller ones barely slowed her down; she dispatched them as casually as swatting flies.
The larger, okapi-like beasts charged headlong, but she twisted aside and cut them down in one smooth motion.
Each swing of her sword sent shockwaves through the air.
Watching her fight, I finally understood how normal people must feel watching a hero in action.
She was like a walking hurricane—horsepower of a small car, at least.
”Grururur…”
”Oh? This one looks tough. Young Master, stay behind me.”
”O-okay. Be careful.”
”Of course. This won’t take long.”
A moment later, a huge tiger stepped from between the trees.
Its black fur shimmered with deep red stripes.
Not as massive as an Earth tiger, but lean and powerful, its muscles moved like coiled rubber.
Its eyes glowed crimson as it sized us up.
”Grururur…”
”Coming, are you?”
Tension filled the space between them.
Both circled slowly, judging distance, ready to strike.
Then the tiger broke eye contact—and leapt.
Even I could see it move.
Time seemed to slow, the beast’s body stretching midair as it came for us with claws wide.
The clash lasted only a heartbeat.
Just as its claws reached her, Trash thrust her sword with both hands.
The blade pierced straight into the tiger’s chest with a heavy, bone-crunching thud—like a sumo collision.
”Guhh—!? Gah… guh…”
”I felt that. You’re done. Don’t suffer.”
The tiger sagged against her as if embracing her.
Even dying, it tried to bite her neck—but the strength drained from its jaws.
It slumped, dragging down, until it lay still on the ground.
Her sword, half-broken, jutted from its chest.
”That was a good fight,” she said calmly. “A fine trophy.”
”Whoa—amazing! That was so cool!”
It looked like a scene straight out of a movie.
I couldn’t help myself—I clapped.
Monster hunting really was cool.
”It’s carnivorous, so the meat isn’t edible,” Trash noted. “But its hide could make a fine rug. No special properties, though. Shall I prepare it as furniture?”
She wiped her blade, a proud but bashful smile flickering across her face.
For all her stoic attitude, Trash could look adorably smug sometimes—like an older sister showing off.
”Uh, yeah… maybe not,” I said awkwardly.
A room with a tiger rug? No thanks. Even if she’d earned it, that wasn’t my style.
”By the way, Trash-san, you’re bleeding!”
”Oh, just a small cut on my forehead. That was close.”
”No, not just that—your whole outfit’s ruined! You need to get those clothes off before you get sick!”
”W-wait, Young Master—what are you—!”
Her clothes were a disaster.
The front soaked red from the tiger’s blood, shredded beyond repair.
New wounds opened across her body, and I could see bruises beneath the grime.
If tiger blood got into those cuts, it could be bad—really bad.
I made her strip, even over her protests.
Yes, that meant undressing a girl, but honestly, in this world, it felt more like she was exposing me to something indecent.
”…This is awful,” I whispered.
Trash’s body had no uninjured part left.
Cuts, bruises, burns—strange dark patches from magic or disease.
Even bits of grenade shrapnel were still embedded in her skin.
I realized I’d never actually seen her clearly in good light before.
When I stood speechless, she covered herself with one arm, scars and all.
”Please forgive me,” she murmured. “This body is not fit to be seen by the opposite sex…”
She bowed her head, face red with embarrassment.
More than the wounds, she seemed worried about me seeing her naked.
”Exploration Squad members are all like this,” she added quietly. “Everyone bears their scars. I’m sorry you had to see something so unpleasant.”
”No, that’s not it at all. Doesn’t it hurt?”
”It’s fine. Many of these are old. Believe it or not, I’ve healed a lot already.”
”Healed? This is healed?”
For once, I wasn’t remotely excited by a naked woman.
She looked like a walking history of pain.
”It’s true,” she said. “When the body grows stronger, the wounds begin to heal themselves.”
”Wait—whoa, the grenade fragments are pushing out of your skin!”
”At a certain threshold, an Imperial Guard’s regeneration surpasses injury. Senior officers of the Japan Empire’s Guard are veterans, yet have not a single scar.”
”Wow. Your wounds… they really are fading.”
Deep slashes that would leave lifelong scars on anyone else were closing before my eyes.
Even the uneven skin tone was smoothing out—healing from the deepest layers upward.
”So, the more monsters you defeat, the stronger your body becomes—until the injuries just vanish?”
Life really was strange.
If humans had infinite lifespans, maybe we’d regrow limbs like lizards.
This was probably the same power—natural healing, boosted to its extreme.
”It seems my ability has risen to mid-rank within the Exploration Squad,” she said. “Among women, a scarless Guard is admired. Like stones in a river, polished by hardship until they shine. As they say, hardship makes the gem.”
”I mean, that doesn’t make me any less worried about you.”
”I appreciate that, but truly, you should mind your own skin first, Young Master.”
”Yeah, yeah. Just… take care of yourself, okay?”
Afterward, she couldn’t wear the tiger hide, so we salvaged what we could of her torn jinbei.
We rubbed dirt and leaves over the bloodstains, scraped away the dried bits, and patched together the usable cloth.
It looked ridiculous—but better than nothing.
From then on, every monster we met fell to Trash’s blade.
I gathered fruit while she, disturbingly calm, drank the blood of slain serpents to regain her strength.
The journey went on smoothly.
And finally, hope shimmered ahead—
we were almost out of the dungeon.
Notes:
• Guiding Fish Rod – Mystical item found by Trash-san in Chapter 31. Points toward exits when spun and ends the duo’s dungeon ordeal.
• Rurunai Ruins – A low-risk jungle-type dungeon entered in Chapter 31 after the island escape. Found by Trash-san and the Young Master seeking safety.
• Kazusa Province – A region cited in Chapter 29 dungeon records defining unreturnable dungeons. Serves as a geographic and academic reference for explorers.
• Tokumasa – Friendly male student from Nokogiriyama, Tateyama Town. Sun-darkened skin, approachable.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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