Chapter 181 New Dungeon Exploration – Second Floor (Part 2️⃣)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Hiroya’s POV)
”There’s giant ants popping up, and it feels like a ‘huge ant nest’ kind of dungeon, right…”
I can’t help but think that maybe a ‘Queen Ant’ will show up soon.
”Dungeons often change their vibe a lot with each floor, you know, Hiroya.”
”Well, this is still just the second floor.”
Walking through a big, cave-like corridor, Liz and Asuka chat about this.
Just like Liz said, the S-class dungeon Azradelius really does have a first floor that feels like a huge palace hall, a second floor that’s like a natural cave, and a third floor that’s a stone-built underground maze. Each floor has its own vibe.
But considering the total number of floors expected in this dungeon, it might not change its atmosphere too much since, as Asuka said, we’re still on the ‘second floor.’
”…Hey, everyone, wait a sec. ──Noriss, come with me for a bit.”
Martina takes Noriss with her to scout ahead, probably because she spotted something at the end of the corridor.
* * *
”It turned out to be a hall… but──.”
Martina quickly returns to report and shifts her gaze to Noriss.
”Unlike the previous halls… um… this one is a square hall, and it’s not like a natural cave anymore; it’s more like a ‘big room made of stones’.”
Noriss picks up from Martina’s look and adds to the report.
”There were no monsters. We didn’t go all the way in, but it seems like a dead end.”
”That’s strange…”
”Yeah. It’s clearly a hall with a different vibe than before, but there’s nothing here…”
Liz’s question gets a nod of agreement from Martina, who checked the scene.
”Maybe there’s a ‘teleportation trap’ like before…?”
Kazumi shivers lightly. Is that the group of orcs that teleported here?
”…I guess I’ll have to ask Marti and Noriss for help now.”
”Yeah. Alright! Just in case, let’s all head to the hall.”
After Liz strongly nodded at Dorothy’s suggestion, everyone agreed and headed towards the hall.
* * *
”This is…”
”Definitely…”
”The atmosphere has clearly changed…”
Aluda, Eluda, and Meluda stepped into the hall after Martina and Noriss, looking around. Martina warned Noriss to be on guard for traps, while Aluda and the 3 sisters started searching for the ‘cavern beyond the wall.’
The rest of the members stayed alert, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
”Hey, there’s something like a plaque here.”
Aluda, who was examining the wall, called everyone over.
”…It looks like something is written here, but I can’t read it. It’s not in magic language, nor is it the ancient spirit language that our elf language is based on.”
Even Dorothy, who was likely well-versed in languages among the group, tilted her head in confusion.
* * *
(Rena’s POV)
(Is this… the language of the gods!?)
The language of a god that once existed. The words of the god that created and shaped this world now managed by Rena.
(If that’s the case, this dungeon is from before the ‘Twilight of the Gods’…?)
Rena knows. Because Rena is a goddess.
The dungeons that exist in this world are creations made by artifacts called ‘Dungeon Cores’ created by the gods.
There’s a noble reason for it, to activate the world. But in reality, it’s just ‘the gods’ play.’ A test for humans by the gods… Rena had scattered them across various places when she first came to this world, saying it was “the rule.”
But this dungeon is different. It was created around the same time as or even before the ‘Twilight of the Gods.’
’Twilight of the Gods’──
The ancient 2 gods who created this world joined in the conflict among their followers that erupted on a global scale, returning the developed civilizations of this world to nothing. The two gods lost their powers and disappeared somewhere.
Magic was lost, and people returned to primitive living.
To recreate such a world from scratch, Rena became the administrator of this world.
”This plaque, there should be the same one in the second floor of the Welnia Labyrinth.”
Asuka touches the plaque.
(Rena can read it…)
’You must not reach the lowest floor. If “that” is unleashed, the world will return to nothingness once again.’
(The fact that there’s the same plaque in the Welnia Labyrinth means…)
Most likely, in the lowest floors of both labyrinths…
(The ancient 2 gods are sealed away…!?)
I shiver involuntarily. Rena is a goddess, after all.
(We must not awaken them… No, the ‘ancient 2 gods’ must be eradicated from this world.)
If the two gods were to fight again… this world would also──
I can’t tell anyone about this. No, it’s something Rena herself must handle.
(This disaster is nothing compared to the Demon King…)
”Rena? What’s wrong?”
Kazumi peers into Rena’s face.
”Huh?”
”You look… really serious?”
”Oh, yeah. I was just wondering what’s going to happen next…”
(Well, there’s no need to panic. The Welnia Labyrinth hasn’t been conquered in 100 years since it was discovered. It doesn’t seem like anything will happen during ‘Rena’s’ lifetime in this world.)
This is a matter concerning the goddess Rena. ──Well, it is Rena herself, after all.
”I guess we have to leave it to Martina.”
Rena gathers her thoughts and responds to Kazumi with a smile.
* * *
(Hiroya’s POV)
”Martina! Next to this plaque! It looks like there’s a hollow space!”
Aluda calls out to Martina in a flustered voice.
* * *
Under Liz’s instructions, the other members keep their distance and watch the operation.
(I have no idea what kind of traps might be here…)
I’m always on alert, ready to move. Next to me, Asuka is also paying close attention.
”Alright. This is it…”
Martina murmurs with a smile, drawing her knife from her waist and carefully wedging the blade into the gap in the stone wall.
Noriss watches the operation intently from up close.
After about 30 minutes of work, a part of the assembled stone wall was removed.
”There’s a lever in here. ──It’s okay. There are no traps.”
Saying that, Martina reached her arm into the opened stone wall.
──Click. Grrrrrr…
With a mechanical sound, the stone wall next to the nameplate began to rise up. Beyond it, a large stone-paved corridor appeared.
”Great job, Martina! Thanks to Noriss, Aluda, Eluda, and Meluda too!”
”This is where the real deal begins──right?”
Liz’s words of encouragement and Dorothy’s practical comment.
”That’s right. ──Everyone, let’s stay focused!”
We stepped onto the stone pavement and moved forward.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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