Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Just a Little Bit Left Until the Surface
Using a shortcut, we escaped the labyrinthine floors.
The place we emerged from seemed to be the safe zone of Floor 7.
It seems the Princess and Kaorulko have visited here before, but they gave up because they couldn't find the entrance.
Could it be that the entrance is that hole we crawled through? If so, whoever made this has a seriously twisted character.
Well, it's a world like a game and a dungeon, but this isn't a game.
There's no need to entertain players called adventurers.
On the contrary, maybe the ones who made this dungeon are just enjoying torturing adventurers for no reason other than that.
Having escaped, I decided to call out to the adventurers nearby for now.
"Over there!"
"Who's there!"
A wary reply came.
"We're adventurers! Are you adventurers too?!"
"We are adventurers as well."
"Is it okay if we go over there?"
"It's fine... but..."
Were they not welcoming us, or were they just on guard because we suddenly called out to them in such a place?
Slowly approaching the adventurers.
"Yo."
Those present were adventurers with fantasy-like equipment.
Fantasy equipment was probably drop items.
The fact that they could reach this far meant they must be high-level adventurers.
Three men and one woman—the woman seemed to be a mage.
"What do you mean?"
The man who replied seemed to be the party leader, but he still looked wary.
"One of our companions seems to have been here before, but they said they couldn't find the entrance. Was there an entrance?"
"You too...?"
"So... does that mean there isn't one after all?"
"Yes..."
"Hey! If that's the case, why don't we just blow the wall away with Explosion magic?!"
The female mage started shouting.
"I wouldn't recommend that. We thought the same thing too—we dug a hole somewhere, but..."
"How was it?"
"It felt like it connected to a completely different place. I felt some danger, so I didn't check all the way to the end."
"So it was..."
"But anyway—actually, there is a place you can enter."
"Really?!"
"Are you interested?"
"Yes."
The adventurers exchanged glances.
They might be suspecting me a little.
"Come this way."
I led the adventurers to a place where a rope was hanging.
The Princess and Kaorulko were there too.
"If you climb this rope, there's a side tunnel, and you can enter from there. Inside is a dungeon with Griffons and such."
"W-wait a minute!"
The opposing leader suddenly shouted loudly.
He seemed agitated about something.
It wasn't just the leader; the other men were also murmuring restlessly.
"What is it?"
"T-that person over there... could it be Cherry Princess (Ouki)?!"
"Yes."
The Princess answered briefly.
So, the adventurers call her Cherry Princess?
Since it's Sakurako as the Princess, it makes perfect sense.
"W-we're meeting here of all places! I'm a fan!"
"I-I am too!"
"Hey! Don't cut in line!"
The men gathered in front of the Princess, excited, but the remaining female mage looked at the squealing boys with a cold stare.
Maybe she wasn't happy that a woman other than herself was getting attention.
"T-then! Could that be Empress (Empress) over there?!"
"Is that a new equipment set?!"
"Huh?! Kyaa! Kyaaaah!"
Kaorulko crouched down, hiding her chest area.
It seems she had forgotten she was wearing the Breast-Curtain Dress equipment.
"Tch!"
The opposing female mage spat out.
"The Princess is the Princess, but Kaorulko is the Empress..."
"I-I don't know. For some reason, that's how I'm called..."
Her chest? Or the size of her chest?
"I never thought I'd meet Cherry Princess's party in a place like this!"
"Huh? Wait? But didn't the internet say Cherry Princess's party went missing?"
One of the men on the other side seemed to have noticed.
"We just linked up with those two who went missing and made it back here."
"What about the old man?"
Well, I am an old man.
The reaction from the two girls is quite different, isn't it?
"Me? Didn't the news say an old man who claimed to have an Item Box was in the news? That's me."
"Eeeee?!
"So, you joined Cherry Princess's guild... right?"
"Well, something like that."
"And he is also my Darling!"
"!!!"
At the Princess's words, the men froze.
"Hahaha, well, more importantly, you want to go inside this dungeon, right?"
"Huh? Y-yes... well..."
"As I said first, if you climb this rope, there's a side tunnel where you can enter."
"R-really...?"
"It's true!"
The men faltered at the Princess's strong tone.
"We actually came down from above."
"W-what do you mean by that?"
The female mage stepped forward.
"Well, it's a long story."
I told them the circumstances of how we got here.
"Labyrinth Cult..."
The adventurers' faces darkened.
"Recently, there's been talk on the internet and elsewhere about high-level adventurers going missing, right?"
"Y-yes."
"It was all their doing."
"We barely made it here from the deep layers where we were dropped."
The Princess supplemented my words.
"..."
The people in front of me were speechless.
I don't think there's any credibility in the words of a weird old man, but the Princess is different.
She is a super-famous top ranker that every adventurer knows.
"We are returning to the surface as is, but please be careful of the Labyrinth Cult."
"Y-yes."
"A-ah, um..."
The female mage raised her hand gently.
"Hm? What is it?"
"What happened in the deep layers of the dungeon?"
"Oh, Dragons and such were swarming everywhere."
"Eh?! Do Dragons really exist?!"
"They were there—right, Princess?"
"Yes, I thought it was hopeless for a moment..."
"Could it be... you defeated a Dragon?!"
"Yes, the Princess slashed them down!"
"Oooooh!
"Amazing!
"As expected of Cherry Princess!
"Amazing!"
The adventurers erupted at my words.
"No—that was Darling who..."
"Never mind, never mind."
The Princess seemed ready to deny it, but I cut her off.
It's more exciting and makes for better material if a super-famous top ranker defeated them rather than a weird old man.
Charisma is important for things like this.
If I say anything, no one pays attention, and they don't pay attention to me either.
Well, I could claim to be a top ranker and build a record, but that's troublesome and I'm not interested.
"Was the Dragon really amazing?!"
A woman who seemed a bit unhappy with the men's attitude toward the Princess, but she seemed interested in monsters.
"Shall we take a look? Actually, it's inside the Item Box."
"Eh?!
"Seriously?!
"I want to see!"
We made some space and decided to show just the tail.
"Summon!"
The tail of a giant dragon covered in hard scales appeared on the cobblestones.
Since it was in the Item Box, it was still warm, with steam rising from it.
"W-wow! Is that really a Dragon?!
"Such big scales!"
The adventurers were full of interest, circling around the giant tail.
It seems that if you're an adventurer, you get interested in monsters.
Well, before that, boys basically like Dragons anyway.
I stored it away quickly so it wouldn't hurt.
"So, that's how we escaped here barely alive, surrounded by monsters like these. You be careful too."
"We understand."
They seem more obedient compared to the beginning.
"Also—if you climb that rope, there are Harpies. Be careful."
"Harpies? They're in a place like this?"
The female mage looked surprised.
Personally, I don't want them to hunt the Harpies, but if you say hunting monsters is what adventurers do, I have no words to return.
They live off this too.
As for me, I can only hope the Harpies escape safely.
"Is the inside of that hole safe?"
"No—our advice from us who just came out of that hole is—we don't really recommend it."
"Are there monsters?"
"There were Slimes that spit acid. And bugs."
"Bugs?!"
"Not Gs, but bugs that feel like that..."
"Mm-hmm."
The Princess and Kaorulko nodded while listening to me.
Well, the manly Princess was in a situation where she lost her mind...
And we managed to get through thanks to my insecticide attack.
If that hadn't been there, it would have been quite a difficult situation.
"Eww! I hate bugs!"
The female mage who had been listening writhed in disgust.
"Well, for now, those were the only two types of enemies we met, but other enemies might pop up."
"Thank you. We'll be careful."
"Are you going?"
"No—we'll consult with our companions."
"I don't want to go!
"But if this is the only entrance...
"We should go back and make a plan."
As expected of a high-level adventurer party.
Their situation judgment is accurate.
I shouldn't worry about them then.
The only dangerous ones are the Labyrinth Cult members.
"Well then, please be very careful of the Labyrinth Cult."
"Thank you very much."
The adventurers bowed to the Princess all at once.
The Princess's fame is amazing, as expected.
The treatment is completely different from when it was just me.
We got the information and collected intel, so we decided to head for the surface.
Passing through the safe zone of Floor 7, we entered Floor 6.
"Darling, there's a map we made here, so we can get through quickly."
"Sweet."
Floor 6 is a wide dungeon with a high ceiling.
It's a maze made of huge, wide corridors.
According to them, the monsters that pop up are Lesser Demons, Minotaurs, Gargoyles, and so on.
"I can finally see a familiar scene..."
Kaorulko looked quite exhausted.
"Nothing except the Minotaur seems to be worth money."
"That's right. That's why everyone doesn't come down here."
"Only serious clearing parties come to a place like this."
"That's right."
Maybe they were targeted by the Labyrinth Cult around here.
"By the way—are Lesser Demons really demons?"
"No, it seems that there was a character similar to them in a game, and somehow that name stuck."
"Oh, I see."
I was worried that if there were Lesser Demons, there might be non-Lesser Demons, but it seems they haven't confirmed that.
"Gargoyles fly in the air."
"It's hard to understand that stone statues can fly."
Well, the Princess's words make sense, but the physical laws are messed up in this space anyway.
"If stone statues can fly, maybe there's magic that allows flying too?"
"That's possible... hmm."
The Princess was thinking seriously, but if I use my Item Box, I can jump.
I was able to use it during the Dragon battle, actually.
We stepped into the vast dungeon corridor.
The ceiling was so high we had to look up, overwhelming us with its height.
The corridor was spacious, as if we were walking through a giant cave, with a long distance from wall to wall.
Footsteps echoed, making us feel our presence strongly in the silence.
The air was cold and damp, and in the deep silence, we couldn't feel the presence of other adventurers.
"Darling!"
Something was approaching, rough footsteps.
"Adventurers? No, it's strange for adventurers."
"Probably monsters, alright!"
The Princess was eager—but wait, weren't we rushing to get outside?
"Bumoohhh!!
"Bumo!
"Bumo! Bumo!"
Three Minotaurs appeared—Jetstream Attack.
It seems they sensed our presence, brandishing giant axes and charging at us.
"Bumoohhh!!"
Their red eyes shone brightly, and drool flowed from their open mouths.
Veins bulged like snakes on the thick arms holding weapons.
"Come on!"
"Are we fighting after all?!"
"I'll use magic, so provide cover—"
Blue light began to gather in front of Kaorulko.
"No, I'll do it!"
"Darling?"
"Yes, yes! Over here!"
I took out a bowling ball from the Item Box and threw it at the monsters' feet.
"Bumooh!"
What I threw got tangled around the monster's feet, making them fall.
"Hey hey! What's wrong!"
I kept taunting them from a slight distance.
"Bumoohhh!!"
The two enraged monsters charged straight at me.
"Hahaha, Tank Summon!"
What I took out of the Item Box was an empty water tank.
Even that alone was quite heavy.
There are tanks filled with water too; if I used those, they would weigh 100 tons, but dropping them on the ground would cause damage from the impact.
They probably aren't made that tough anyway.
"Bgyaaah!"
Letting out a strange cry, the two Minotaurs were crushed under the tank.
A few-ton tank falling from a few meters high—mass attack.
Even if the opponent is a strong enemy, it should deal considerable damage.
"Store!"
"Bgya!
"Bgyaaah!"
When I stored the tank, the monsters' bodies were crushed, but both were still alive.
They were moving, but there was no danger anymore.
I glanced at the Princess's side.
It seems they immediately neutralized the enemies I flipped over with the bowling ball.
As expected of high-level adventurers.
Exquisite skill.
"Then this one—Summon again!"
"Bgyii!"
The monster was crushed again by the giant tank.
This should have completely immobilized them.
I moved the tank aside.
"Bgyi
"Bgyii..."
"Are they still alive?"
Their limbs were already bent, and various things were spilling out of their bodies, but they were still moving.
That's why monsters are dangerous.
I took out a mace from the Item Box and crushed the Minotaur's head.
If the head is gone, even a ferocious monster has no choice but to fall silent.
"It's like this, so it won't be worth money anymore."
For now, I searched for Magic Stones and stored them.
"Darling, this one too, please."
"Okay."
The individual the Princess defeated had its head cut off, so it seems it died from blood loss.
As expected of a veteran's way of killing.
This one should sell.
I stored it in the Item Box.
"Isn't there any part of the Minotaur that's worth money?"
"The horns are worth money."
It seems they are used for medicine.
Speaking of which, animal horns are used in Kampo medicine too.
Something like that.
I cut off the horns of the two crushed ones and stored them.
"I'd like to avoid fighting as much as possible."
"Since fighting monsters is what adventurers do, there's no helping it."
Doesn't the Princess have the option to run away?
"There's the option of running away at full speed... but Kaorulko, I'll carry you?"
"But showing your back to the enemy..."
"Doesn't that mean we don't have to fight the Dragon?!"
Kaorulko was admonishing the Princess's actions.
"I just want to check how much combat power the Dragon has."
"Why don't you do that when you officially clear it, with preparation and margin?!"
"Ugh..."
The Princess was being pushed by Kaorulko's sound logic.
Her words make sense, but the Princess's bloodthirsty side seems to be throbbing.
Something like wanting to fight strong enemies.
"Well, even in a pinch like that, an irregular like me comes along, so rich people really do have luck."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Of course."
Kaorulko looked suspicious, but it was the truth.
We ran straight through Floor 6 and arrived at Floor 5.
Naturally, we didn't even glance at the camp on Floor 5.
"Um, can I put on the robe now?"
Kaorulko seems embarrassed by her current equipment.
"Well, we probably won't fight anymore."
Even if we defeat the enemies on these floors, it doesn't matter for the level.
"That's right."
"Speaking of which, the effect of that equipment is still unknown."
My eyes inevitably drifted to Kaorulko's chest area.
"Probably, it's an increase in defense and magic defense..."
"And automatic recovery? Magic defense means your own magic isn't hindered, right?"
"Yes."
There are types like Counter Magic that seem to prevent you from using your own magic too.
While talking, we encountered a monster like a tree with long branches rustling—Treant.
They spread out in a group across the corridor, blocking the way.
This enemy has high defense and isn't worth money at all; it has no good points.
They occupy the corridor, but they aren't very fast, and there are gaps.
If we dodge well, it seems we can get through.
Just as I thought that—
"Alright!"
The Princess was full of the urge to fight.
"This is the move to run away!"
I picked up the Princess and dashed.
"Darling!"
"Kaorulko! Can you keep up?"
"I-I think I can—kyaaaah!"
While I was saying that, Kaorulko got entangled in the Treant's branches.
It seems her long skirt and robe made her movements sluggish.
"Kaorulko!"
"Gyaahhh!!"
Hanging upside down with her hands and feet tangled, her long skirt lifted up, revealing everything.
"Princess! Where's your weapon?!"
"Kaorulko has it!"
Inconvenient at times like this.
I took out a weapon from my Item Box.
It's a large sword I got from a Lizardman before, but the Princess should be able to use it easily.
"Can't we do something with this?"
"Wow! As expected of Darling! Leave it to me! Yaaaah!"
Holding the sword, she ran through the monsters with the speed of a storm.
I followed behind to support the Princess.
Her movements were sharp as lightning, cutting down the monsters one by one in the blink of an eye.
Her figure was like a gust of wind sweeping across the battlefield, with trails of light dancing around her.
The Treant's branches were overwhelmed by her speed and power, cut off before they could react.
Her swordsmanship was truly art—each swing drew a perfect trajectory.
What happens when the branches are cut?
Of course, a woman with a big chest falls.
"Kyaaaah!"
I ran to the landing spot to catch Kaorulko.
I held out my hands and caught her big butt.
Normally, you can't catch a falling woman.
You'd get crushed together and it would be over—but, as expected of high-level power.
The Treant had tangled her robe, tearing it.
I took out a blanket from the Item Box and covered Kaorulko.
"Princess! That's enough! Let's go!"
"B-but!"
"Then I'll carry Kaorulko and go ahead."
I started running at a dash.
"Da-a-a-a-ling!"
The Princess's voice came from behind.
As expected, she followed me.
It seems she didn't think she would be left behind, but no—she really wants to return to the surface.
We arrived at the camp near the Floor 4 entrance at almost full speed.
I've visited this place many times, so I know the faces.
The Princess also put on the robe.
My destination is the steam elevator.
I'm tired of running.
Eating will fix my physical condition, but mentally I'm exhausted.
I don't mind paying a little money, so I'll use the train.
"Princess, let's take the train."
"Boo!"
She seemed sulky about something.
It wasn't opposition to taking the train, but rather about being left behind earlier.
"Sorry, I wanted to go back quickly."
"It's fine—Sakurako-sama! Daisuke-san wants to go back quickly for his companions."
I'm worried about Ren, so that's certainly part of it, but personally, I'm mentally exhausted too.
I want to go back now.
"Of course, that's part of it, but simply, I want to go back."
"Really, that's it..."
Kaorulko seems to share my opinion.
Even if we return, it's unclear if we can encounter the Labyrinth Cult again.
Anyway, that teleporter or whatever, we might be sent flying again.
We don't even know where their base is.
Ren didn't get kidnapped; she went there on her own...
As for her, I have a part of myself that has given up half-heartedly.
Waiting for the elevator in a space lit by fiber optic lights.
"Boo!"
Waiting with the sulky Princess, the steam elevator came down.
It was a complete analog structure made of steel beams, pulleys, and wires.
The boiler was said to be heated by magic, a fusion of magic and technology.
First, a lot of luggage came down, mostly horse-drawn carriages.
Since electricity and internal combustion engines can't be used, it's unavoidable.
Using steam engines for transport vehicles would be inefficient too.
Horse manure is absorbed by the dungeon even if left alone.
This place is truly like the early Showa era.
We decided to wait until the unloading was finished.
People were on board, but not many, and everyone had good equipment.
Maybe because it's bright here, the equipment looks good.
They must be parties with money or high-level adventurers.
Their destination is deeper, so they are using the train and elevator to shortcut.
Our eyes met with a woman who seemed to be a mage.
She wore a high-quality robe with a fantasy flavor, held a staff, and chestnut curly hair peeked out from the robe.
"Hey! Isn't that Cherry Princess and the Empress?!"
"Oh, it's you."
The mage came over to us.
"I heard you were missing?!"
"We just returned from hell."
She answered with an unhappy expression.
They seemed to know each other, but she glanced at the man in plate armor behind her.
"Hmph..."
Judging from the Princess's expression, they seemed to be people she didn't want to meet.