Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Something-Worm
I came to the Nuclear Power Plant Ruins for work again.
The difference from last time is that the Princesses are with me.
Their target is the unprepared dungeon I told them about.
They seem to intend to attack the dungeon while I am working.
Watching them like that, I spent my days dumping treated water from giant tanks into the dungeon.
The Princesses were diving into the dungeon, but it seems there isn't much trouble in the depths where they are.
From this, it can be inferred that flooding the dungeon to clear it is probably impossible.
It might be possible if connected to the sea to constantly flow in a massive amount of water, but...
On a certain day repeating such days.
In the evening when the treated water was running low.
Waiting for the Princesses to return -- a scream from the Princess echoed along with a ground rumble.
"Princess!"
I asked Hareyama-san to evacuate the workers, grabbed the missiles I took out of the Item Box, and charged into the dungeon's darkness.
The dungeon's darkness swallowed everything as if rejecting the existence of vision.
Because it was unprepared, the sound of water dripping from damp stone walls echoed eerily in the silence.
At that moment, the ground suddenly shook, and a deep ground rumble came up from my feet.
It was as if the earth itself was groaning.
Overlapping with that rumble, a sharp, high-pitched scream tore through the darkness -- the Princess's voice calling my name.
The scream echoed through the narrow, winding passages of the dungeon, reaching my ears over and over again.
My heart beat like a drum, and cold sweat ran down my spine.
In the darkness, along with the ground rumble echoing in the dungeon, I felt something invisible approaching.
Just imagining what was waiting sent tension running through my whole body.
"Darling!"
"Princess!"
I saw the Princess's figure in the darkness.
Since she was carrying Kaorulko on her back, her speed seemed slow.
I ran under her and took Kaorulko onto my back.
"It's too narrow here, we can't fight back!"
The Princess screamed.
"A monster?!"
"Yes!"
"The workers have been evacuated."
"As expected, Darling!"
If it's too narrow here, is it a large monster?!
Anyway, rather than listening to the story, I hurried to the exit.
There was no time to enjoy Kaorulko's soft body on my back.
If the opponent is a monster, should I let it out?
I am a little worried, but I don't think the top rankers like them would make a mistake in dealing with monsters.
In other words, it must be an enemy that requires a wide place for battle.
As I increased my speed, the white light point I saw in front of my eyes spread out fully before me.
Since the sun was already setting outside the dungeon, it wasn't that dazzling.
Once outside, I dismounted the mage from my back and prepared for battle.
From the Item Box, missiles and a spear launcher.
Incidentally, I took out a camera for filming from the Item Box.
Coming out of the dungeon, a battle after a long time -- no, I did Merman before.
More than that --.
"Are you okay?"
I called out to Kaorulko.
"Daisuke-san, thank you."
"Niwa-san!"
Hareyama-san's voice could be heard from far away.
"It seems to be a large monster! Evacuate the workers as far as possible!"
"Y-yes!"
People who can do their work are reliable in times like this.
The three of us waited for the monster at the dungeon entrance.
The sword in the Princess's hand glowed as usual.
"Princess! What kind of monster is it?!"
"A big bug!"
"A bug, like an insect?!"
"No, it's like a giant earthworm or something."
"Fantasy has monsters like Sandworms, is it like that..."
Could such a thing come all the way to this entrance?
"It's coming!"
At Kaorulko's words, I stared into the dungeon's darkness.
Indeed, something was approaching, and it was gradually getting bigger.
"Woooo! First strike!"
I raised the missile set in the spear launcher.
"Please!"
"Here I go!"
Signaling with Kaorulko's words, I threw the missile at the approaching monster.
The weapon, reaching hundreds of kilometers per hour, flew straight toward the enemy.
For an enemy almost the same size as the dungeon passage, there would be no way to avoid this attack.
-- I thought so, but the enemy showed no sign of stopping its advance.
As something white approached, its shape gradually formed.
A huge round mouth was lined with countless sharp, jagged teeth.
Ah, right, right, it was a monster of this shape -- while thinking that, the enemy charged.
"Gyuuuuuuu!"
The monster let out a scream, and I was surprised.
Does it have a vocal organ? -- I thought, but then again, did earthworms make sounds?
No, I heard that was the sound of a mole cricket on the ground...
While thinking foolish things, the monster's huge mouth came at us, so I jumped left and right with the Princess.
The concrete laid on the ground cracked, and debris scattered everywhere.
The monster's body appearing before my eyes was thick and long, and the surrounding soil shook every time it crawled on the ground.
The huge monster's mouth opened wide, and inside, countless sharp fangs were lined up densely.
Those fangs gleamed eerily as if preparing to mince the prey.
Its long body was dark brown, and its wet, shiny surface reflected sunlight, increasing the eeriness.
Its appearance was like an earthworm, but its movement was fast.
It seemed to have no eyes, but like a hungry predator seeking living flesh, it was surely targeting us.
I couldn't let such a monster escape from here.
I must definitely kill it.
Well, if it completely comes out of the dungeon, modern weapons like tanks and fighter jets could be used.
With three top rankers here, I couldn't back down.
The Princess thought the same, so she was full of energy.
Kaorulko was positioned far back, preparing a fatal magic.
What the Princess and I had to do was buy time for the mage's chant.
We confirmed with each other with eye contact, but it didn't feel like the previous first strike was effective.
"Yaaaah!"
First, the Princess started.
Reading the monster's movement, she slashed at the outer shell covered in brown mucous membrane.
Where the tip dug in, the part opened, and when white flesh was seen, blue bodily fluid gushed out from there.
"Not red, but blue?!"
Blue was blue, but it looked poisonous, making you think it really was poison.
That was the color.
I took out more missiles from the Item Box.
"Here I go!"
The missile set in the spear launcher was fired again, embedding itself in the monster's skin.
The brown body surface, from which blue bodily fluid gushed out again, didn't seem hard.
However, if I continue such petty attacks, will it be effective? -- I felt it wasn't very effective.
It felt like I was only damaging the area around its mouth...
"Gyuuuuuuu!"
The monster shook its body as if complaining, so maybe it took some damage.
"Daisuke-san!"
Kaorulko's voice came from behind.
"Yeah!"
I stepped back with the Princess, and the mage's chant was finished.
"Pierce our enemy! 《Gamma Ray》"
A flash of light tore through the space.
That light was dazzling enough to burn the eyes, a shockwave loud enough to pierce the ears rang out, and the earth trembled.
Supernatural power that ignored the laws of nature was unleashed.
Like a silver spear, it went straight toward the huge enemy.
In the center of the light beam, energy concentrated so intensely that the surrounding air distorted with heat, piercing even into the huge enemy.
The moment it pierced the enemy's body, an explosion sound resonated from within, and the giant body convulsed.
From the part pierced by the light beam, dazzling particles of light spewed out, scattering in the air like fragments of stars.
"Gyuuuuuuu!"
The enemy froze on the spot, then gradually collapsed.
When the giant body touched the ground, a vibration came from the ground.
Only the smell of burnt protein and the rising smoke remained, and silence visited the battlefield.
"My ears are still ringing, but it should heal soon."
"Darling! Did you do it?"
"I don't know."
Anyway, it's definitely over 10 meters in length, so it won't fit in the Item Box as is.
"Haa haa..."
Kaorulko, who had used up her magic power, slumped down.
"Are you okay?"
"Something like that."
"Shall I carry you?"
"...Please."
Saying that honestly means it must be that tough.
I took out hot spring water from the dungeon's hot spring from the Item Box and handed it to her.
"Killing such a big guy should raise Kaorulko's level... but probably she's not dead yet."
"Ueeeeeee!"
The Princess made a strange sound, so I looked, and she was covered in the monster's blue bodily fluid.
"Isn't that poison or something? Well, since it's blood, I don't think it's poison."
"It's gross~!"
Unusually, the Princess started crying.
Since it was such a big guy, the amount of bodily fluid was incredible, and the whole area was dyed blue.
Dragon blood might be valuable, but what about this one?
Speaking of which, the settlement for the dragon I sold before isn't finished yet.
I think it takes time to process because I'm selling the scales one by one...
No, more than that, it's the enemy before my eyes.
Anyway, filming is over for now.
"Let's finish it off!"
The crying Princess pulled herself together.
No, I should say she decided to just go for it.
"Kaorulko, is it okay for the Princess to finish it off?"
"Please. I can't move another step."
The magic recovery of the hot spring water is quite slow.
So is her equipment.
"But, how does such a big guy die? If we leave it, it will eventually die, and it feels like it will become Kaorulko's achievement..."
Blue bodily fluid continues to flow from the attacked spot.
It doesn't seem to be recovering, so it will probably die eventually...
"Niwa-san~!"
Hareyama-san's voice could be heard.
"It's not dead yet, so don't get close!"
"Okay~!"
Now, how should I finish it off?
"Speaking of an earthworm's weak point, the heart is located a little above the place where the body is wrapped like a bandage..."
"Is, is that so?"
A young lady wouldn't know an earthworm's weak point, would she?
"Yes."
"Could it be that?!"
When the Princess pointed, a faint white band could be seen on the brown body.
Is this really it?
I heard that earthworms have many hearts...
"It certainly looks like it... Shall the Princess try finishing it off?"
"I'll leave it to you!"
It's getting dark soon, so it might be better to settle it here.
I think I can probably finish it off -- but how should I handle this one?
When the Princess approached the monster's body, she raised her sword.
The location was above the faint band visible on the huge body.
"Darling! Is it around here?!"
"I think so."
"Alright! Fuuuu -- no, yaaaah!"
After taking a deep breath, the sword was swung down with a shout.
When the brown wall split, bright blue liquid gushed out again toward the Princess.
"Nyaaaaa!"
The Princess retreated from there immediately, but she ran toward me still dyed blue by the bodily fluid.
"A-are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine... for now."
"I don't think it's poison... but won't the color stain your skin?"
"Eh?!"
She was surprised, but did she not imagine that?
While worrying about the Princess, her body began to glow.
"Isn't this a level up?"
I peered into her body.
"Probably."
Since the level up started, she must have defeated the monster.
Since she defeated such a big one, she should have a considerable level up.
"Hey! Hareyama-san, it's okay now~!"
"Okay~!"
I could hear the voice, but not see the figure, so she must be hiding somewhere.
After waiting a while, she came with the workers.
Next to her were people in camouflage uniforms holding guns.
They were probably the Self-Defense Forces guarding us.
"Yikes!""Did you really do such a big guy!""Amazing!"
"These people here are the top rankers among adventurers."
Hareyama-san stood with her nose in the air.
"Wow! There's blue stuff everywhere... What is it?!"
The workers were scared by the blue stuff spreading over the ground and concrete.
After all, it was everywhere.
"It seems this thing's blood is blue. It's all blood."
"Doesn't this need to be washed or disinfected...?"
Hareyama-san is worried, but that's right.
"Before that, we have to figure out how to drag this thing out and dispose of it? If it starts rotting, it will be terrible..."
"Kyaaaaa!"
Hareyama-san was screaming.
Since she's like the person in charge here, she needs to take charge.
"Oh! Darling! Darling!"
The Princess, covered in blue, came happily to me.
She leveled up, after all.
"How much did you level up?"
"More than leveling up, I learned a magic!"
"Eh?! Magic?! You learn magic from that level?!"
"Yes -- it says Magic of Cleaning (Clean)."
She was checking her status screen.
"Nice! I want Cleaning (Clean) too."
"Hehehe..."
She had a smug look, but she seems to try using the magic right away.
After all, she looks like she's covered in blue paint right now.
"Are you okay?"
At my words, she quietly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"No problem -- Cleaning (Clean)!"
Those words called forth power from within her.
As soon as the words finished, blue light suddenly appeared around her.
At first, it shone like small sparks, gradually becoming stronger and more vivid.
That light danced in the air like a living thing, gracefully dancing around her.
As the particles of blue light touched her skin one by one, they soaked into her body.
When the light particles were absorbed into her body, the blue dirt clinging to her skin peeled off with a crackling sound and accumulated at her feet.
"Oooooh!"
An exclamation of admiration leaked from the workers who saw the Princess's magic.
That's right, a beauty in a bikini armor surrounded by particles of light -- what a fantastic scene.
Anyone would be captivated.
"Princess."
I took a robe from Kaorulko and handed it to her.
Before I knew it, Kaorulko's body was also hidden by a deep robe.
While everyone's gaze was stolen by the fantastic scene, she seems to have taken out a robe from her own Item Box and put it on.
"Ahh..."
Disappointed voices leaked from the men.
Because the bikini armor was hidden by the robe.
"Even warriors and swordsmen can learn magic..."
"So it seems."
"I wish I had Cleaning (Clean) and Warming (Warm)..."
"Indeed, those two are convenient for daily life."
Kaorulko also agreed with my opinion.
"Well, leaving the magic aside, what should we do with that guy..."
I looked at the monster exposing its huge corpse -- I felt like I could see something in the blue sludge.
I stared hard -- indeed, there seems to be something.
I ran there.
"Darling?"
The Princesses didn't seem to notice -- but when I got close, a golden bottle was lying there.
"This is --"
It looks like the same thing I picked up in my hometown's dungeon.
When I picked it up, shining particles sparkled inside the bottle.
The way it reflected the light was like stardust, and the whole bottle looked like it contained a small universe.
"Darling?"
The Princesses also came to me.
"Princess, this is an Elixir."
"Elixir?!""An Elixir?"
The two of them peered into the golden bottle I was holding.
They were very interested, but just watching the swaying golden particles was fun.
I understand their feelings.
"Is this the first time you've seen it, Princesses?"
"Yes."
"-- If a rare item like an Elixir came out, does that mean this guy is the final boss of this dungeon?"
"In that case, what will happen to the dungeon here?"
"Probably, it will disappear..."
"Eh~!?"
I heard a voice from behind my group, so I turned around, and it was Hareyama-san.
"What is it?"
"Is it true that this will disappear?!"
"Yes, if this guy is the boss -- that's what I'm saying."
"Eh! W-what should we do! It will affect future plans, and I have to contact everyone..."
"Wait, it hasn't been decided that it will disappear yet, shouldn't we move after it disappears?"
"T-that's true, but..."
This dungeon might have been intended to be developed as a dungeon resource recovery site as part of a public works project.
There were more heavy machines than when I first came.
"But, it was good that the top rankers gathered this time. If this had come out, there might have been significant damage."
"T-that's true."
Before talking about that, there is something to do.
This is about disposing of this big guy.
"Well, what should we do with this? If we pull it out with heavy machinery and cut it, it will fit in my Item Box..."
"Y-yes! Then let's prepare the heavy machinery..."
Hareyama-san was about to move, but suddenly an earthquake struck our feet.
"An earthquake?! This is a bit strange for an earthquake...?"
The workers were also confused.
It feels a bit different from the vibration of an earthquake... and I remember this vibration...
As I thought that, dust rose from the dungeon entrance.
"Look! The dungeon!""What's going on!""What on earth is happening!"
Ignoring the flustered workers and Self-Defense Force members, I headed for the dungeon entrance.
Peering into the depths through the gap blocked by the monster's giant body...
"Hm? Gone?!"
Could it be -- I took out a light from the Item Box and turned on the switch.
It lit up.
If this were a dungeon, it shouldn't light up.
Shining the light with the lit lamp into the depths -- the depths were gone.
"Ah, as I thought --"
It was similar to when the dungeon created in the backyard of my hometown disappeared.
"Darling! What happened?"
"The dungeon has disappeared."
"...Huh?"
"The dungeon has disappeared. It seems this guy was the final boss after all."
"Can dungeons disappear?!"
"They disappear! There was a story about a small dungeon appearing in the yard, and when we beat the monsters to death, it disappeared, right?"
While talking with the Princess, Kaorulko also came.
"Yes, I heard that story -- it is really blocked..."
She was also peering into the depths of the dungeon through the gap of the monster.
"Eeeeeh! C-could it be, did it really disappear?!"
Hareyama-san, who had been listening to our story, was screaming.
"Yes, no doubt."
"Eh-to! Eh-to! First, I'll contact the Prime Minister..."
She started contacting people everywhere in a panic.
"It's getting dark --"
"Darling, what should we do with this?"
"Hmm, oh! That's it -- it seems to have been torn apart by being caught up in the dungeon disappearing, so maybe it will fit in the Item Box?"
Let's try storing it.
-- Before that, let's take a photo and send it to Sensei.
You've never seen a monster like this, right?
To compare the size, I had the Princess stand next to me and took a photo.
"How is it?! Did you get a good shot?"
"Hahaha, it's fine -- Store!"
As I thought, the huge monster was stored in the Item Box.
It was because most of its body had disappeared due to being caught up in the disappearing dungeon.
"Ooooooh"
Cheers rose from the workers again.
I checked the spot where the monster disappeared, and indeed, the dungeon had closed.
"Still, the dungeon is gone... I won't get scolded, right?"
I was planning to invest here, and they might say I suffered a loss.
Or it might be deducted from the price of the treated water this time.
"Dungeons disappear!"
The Princess's eyes were sparkling.
She was diving into the dungeon, but isn't she investigating the dungeon?
When I do something, I first gather information.
Maybe it's different for each person around here.
"Princess, what should we do with this Elixir?"
"...I'll leave it to Darling."
"If you drink it, the Princess's thing 《smell》 might disappear too."
At my words, she looked up at me a little.
"Should I drink it?"
"No, I like the Princess's smell, so it's fine..."
"Then I'll stop!"
"I see."
"Eh?! Sakurako-sama, you should drink it."
Kaorulko seems to oppose the Princess's thinking.
"Since Darling says it's fine, it's fine."
"Well, I like everything about the Princess."
"..."
My words also made her turn red, unusually.
"What is that! It's like a pimple and a dimple!"
Unusually, Kaorulko was making a fuss, but a message came.
"I want to see! I want to see! What is that! I definitely want to see!"
It was a message from Sensei.
As I thought, she's really hooked.