Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Shining Green
After rescuing Iroha's younger sister and on the way back to the surface――.
We were riding a train running through the dungeon when, suddenly, we were hit by violent shaking, and the passenger cars were shaken along with us.
It seems we derailed.
Crawling out somehow, we found ourselves in an unfamiliar space.
It seems we had been thrown to some other place, not Floor 4 where our train was running.
There, we were attacked by monsters.
The enemies were creatures resembling wolves with burning bodies and two heads.
Using the hot spring water stored in the Item Box, we extinguished the fire wrapping around the monsters' bodies and managed to defeat them, but that wasn't the end.
The red, inorganic space that had been trapping us suddenly began to be dyed green.
"Darling!"
The Princesses came to my side.
That light was not just a color; it was slowly eroding the entire space.
The light, initially floating thinly, gradually grew denser, stealing all other colors from our vision.
Sensing an abnormal situation, I stored the black monster I had just finished off into the Item Box.
If I could store it safely, this monster named Hellhound must be definitely dead.
"Green again?!"
Just as Iroha said.
The green light filling the space――suddenly underwent a change.
As if piercing through a thin film, its center began to darken slowly.
The black, initially a small dot, quietly and surely spread, eventually forming a giant cross shape.
That cross floated up, cutting through the green light, and in the depths of the crack, a pitch-black void where nothing exists peeked out.
"What is that?!"
Probably, everyone thought that.
At that moment, the entire space trembled.
A low sound like an earthquake echoed from somewhere, and the ground vibrated.
Along with tinnitus, a sensation like pressure compressing the inside of my chest attacked me.
From the black cross crack, something like cold wind blew out, but it was not just wind.
Every time it touched, my whole body's skin buzzed, and a creepy feeling that something invisible was crawling up ran down my spine.
The crack writhed as if alive, and an abyss as if the darkness itself had opened its mouth spread out.
Slowly emerging from there was a being possessing both dignity and terror――a Dragon with scales shining like a green gemstone.
Those scales sparkled like a kaleidoscope every time they received light, reminiscent of the deep brilliance of an emerald.
Each scale was arranged precisely like a small mirror, with no gaps between them.
It radiated a mysterious beauty that even made one hesitate to approach.
The Dragon's eyes were as deep black as the crack, yet at their center burned a scorching golden light――a gaze that seemed to pierce through the soul of anyone looking at it, staring us down.
Every time its long tail swayed, a sound of air being cut echoed, and its claws shone like steel, hinting at the power to crush rocks with even the slightest movement.
"A Dragon!?"
The Princess shouted.
"No way!" "Daisuke-san!"
The Princess and I had faced a Dragon on Floor 9, but for Iroha and Sana, this must be their first time.
"But isn't it smaller than the previous one?"
"Exactly what Darling said!"
The Dragon on Floor 9 was two sizes bigger than this one.
"Lesser Dragon――or should I say Emerald Lesser Dragon?"
My camera has been spinning non-stop since the first Hellhound.
If we can get back to the surface, my regeneration count will skyrocket again.
Well, that's if we can get back.
"Gorururu……"
A low growl from the enemy could be heard.
It seems they also recognized us as enemies.
I've heard that Dragons have quite high intelligence, but I wonder about that.
Well, that's probably just a story from fiction…….
To think such a creature actually exists.
If I showed it to my university professor, she'd be happy, I bet.
Thinking about her, who loves monsters, the Dragon opened its mouth.
Its body was emerald green, but the inside of its mouth was true crimson――and within that, green light shone even brighter.
"This is bad!"
The enemy's target was clearly us.
I picked up Sana in my arms again and jumped away from the spot.
The next moment, green breath was spewed from the Dragon's mouth.
A deafening roar filled the entire space.
It was less like fire and more like that monster spewing some kind of radiation.
The ground melted and turned bright red from the green breath, revealing a very high temperature.
The heated air rose upward, and the air at our feet was drawn toward the melted ground.
"Oraaa!" "Yaaaaaa!"
The Princesses raised their swords and attacked the Dragon from both left and right, taking advantage of the gap as it breathed.
As expected of veterans.
They perfectly grasped the timing to attack.
Shining white blades, they stepped on the ground and slashed at the emerald scales.
It was truly perfect timing, but the swords swung down with all their might were mercilessly deflected.
"Geh!?" "What?!"
High-pitched sounds and orange sparks scattered, unable to even leave a scratch.
"Gorururu……"
I put Sana down and took out a Magic Stone and a slingshot from the Item Box.
"Sana, move away?"
"I won't! I'll fight with Daisuke-san! Compressed Light Bullet!"
Blue light began to gather in front of Sana, and the Dragon opened its mouth again.
"Can't be helped!"
There was no time to run anymore.
The Magic Stone in my hand was already charged with magic, glowing blue inside.
Since I could use the Lightning Sword, maybe I could use this too.
"Oraaa!"
I swung the slingshot with all my might and threw the black Magic Stone toward the green Dragon――but.
The enemy might have been underestimating that such an attack would work.
It didn't avoid it at all and took a direct hit from the Magic Stone.
The moment the Magic Stone collided with the Dragon's chest, a dazzling flash occurred, and green fragments scattered everywhere.
Amidst the overflowing light, the Dragon's scales rained down like sparkling gems.
Seeing that scene, a thought crossed my mind that I had done something wasteful――.
What am I saying while wandering in this death trap?
I laughed at myself.
"Gyaaaah!"
The Dragon shook its head and screamed with a pained expression.
It was an attack I was half-doubting would work, but it seems it dealt considerable damage.
"Strike my enemy! 《Magic Missile》"
Continuing, Sana's magic exploded.
Magic like glowing threads aimed at the Dragon, and half of the enemy's head was enveloped in a flash of light.
It seems the magic hit.
Once again, sparkling green gravel scattered into the light.
If those scales were truly emerald-like gems, they would be incredibly valuable.
No, just Dragon scales should be valuable…….
Rather than that, the next attack――.
I was readying my sword, and the Princess and Iroha were preparing to charge――but.
"Gaaaah……"
The Dragon let out a pained scream, and its long neck slowly collapsed onto the ground.
When the sparkling green light disappeared, it became clear that half of the monster's head had been blown off.
This――was it the power of Sana's magic?
She seems to be extremely lucky, so maybe she just hit a vital spot――something like that.
The details are unknown, but did she defeat the Dragon?
"Huh?!"
Sana's body began to be enveloped in white light.
This is a level up――proof that she defeated the Dragon.
Checking the surroundings, no additional monsters popped up.
"Princess! Please guard Sana. I will store that Dragon."
"……Understood."
The Princess looked unhappy.
Was it because Sana took the loot?
In a normal floor, maybe, but in a place like this, there is no such luxury.
We have to defeat it when we can.
I left Sana with the Princess and approached the giant monster.
Green sparkling fragments were scattered all around.
I wanted to pick them up, but there was no time for that.
The monster that suddenly appeared might suddenly disappear.
"Store!"
I tried to store it as is, but it failed.
Maybe its tail is too long.
I cut the tail of the giant Dragon I defeated before, but this one is slightly smaller than the previous one.
If I don't cut the tail, shouldn't it fit inside a 10-meter square if I bend the body?
"Orya!"
I lifted the monster's giant tail and bent it.
The tail was also covered in green hard scales, so they dug into my palm and hurt a little.
"Store!"
After bending the tail, I tried to store it again.
This time, it seems I stored it successfully.
The corpse like a green mountain disappeared from before my eyes.
"Miss Kagari!"
Kagari and the others, who had been hiding behind the locomotive, came out.
Returning to where they were, Sana's level up was still continuing.
How much did her level go up?
"If Sana leveled up, then her magic must have hit after all."
"Well, it was probably a fluke……"
"Maybe it just hit a soft spot and pierced through…… like the eyes……"
Sana seems to have high luck stats, so that possibility exists.
"Ahaha, that's possible!"
Iroha, who had been listening to my words, laughed.
"Daisuke-san!"
Kaorulko also came over.
The mole men were still hiding behind the passenger car, watching us.
It seems female power is stronger.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yes, it's fine. I apologize. I was completely useless."
Kaorulko bowed deeply.
"Since you couldn't use magic, it can't be helped. Sana seems to be an exception."
"You could use magic items, right?"
"That's right. Maybe we should prepare such items in case of an emergency."
"Most magic items that drop are one-time use types……"
"Mine, Namu Thunder, is an exception."
"That sword consumes a huge amount of magic, you know? It's strange that Darling can use it many times."
The Princess spoke as if sulking.
"Darling-san! Darling-san!"
Kagari came to my side.
"Why are you calling me Darling too?"
"It's fine! Anyway, can I pick up those green fragments?"
"……I haven't confirmed with Sana, but probably it's okay."
She isn't the type to hoard that much.
"Yay!"
"We'll pick them up too!" "Pick them up, pick them up!"
"U-um, can I too?!"
The Conductor had come.
The men who had been hiding also came and started picking up the green fragments scattered on the ground.
"I don't know if they are really valuable, you know?"
"But they're super pretty!"
Kagari held up a green fragment.
――And yet, I also picked up a larger fragment rolling at my feet.
Looking at Sana, glowing from the level up, through the green stone.
――I see, it is pretty.
While doing that, Sana's light disappeared.
"Sana!"
She wavered, so I supported her.
"Daisuke-san!"
Sana hugged me.
"That was a long level up. You must have gone up quite a bit, right?"
"Let me check……"
She was checking her own status.
"How is it? You don't have to say it if you don't want to tell me……"
"I reached Level 44!"
She held my body tightly.
Since she is already at a high level, the strength is amazing.
If it weren't for me, my bones might have broken.
"Geh!? Level 44?!"
Hearing Sana's words, Iroha jumped up.
"That Dragon was a bit small, but it's a monster from Floor 8 or 9. If you defeated it, it wouldn't be strange for the level to go up that much."
"Ugh…… Indeed. I couldn't even imagine defeating it."
"Besides, that might have been a rare individual."
"A Dragon with a whole emerald body isn't normal, is it?"
Kaorulko seems to agree with my opinion.
"Ugh……"
Hearing the news about Sana's level, the Princess turned pale.
She probably never dreamed Sana would level up this quickly.
When Sana let go of me, she faced the Princess.
"If my level becomes higher than Cherry Princess-san, can I take Daisuke-san?"
"I never said that! He is my Darling!"
"Then, what is Cherry Princess-san's level?!"
"T-That has nothing to do with you!"
"Gu nu nu……"
The two glared at each other.
"Yaegashi-sama, you were mounding up with levels, so you got mounded back, right?"
Kaorulko's merciless retort exploded.
"Gu nu nu……"
By the way, how high has the Princess's level become?
When she leveled up last time, I thought it was over 40, but I hadn't heard the exact number.
If she's unlucky, she might have been surpassed by Sana with this level up.
Judging from Kaorulko's reaction, it seems she flipped over.
"Darling! That's cheating!"
The Princess glared at me.
"What, what? What's cheating?"
"Isn't Darling favoring this woman?!"
Suddenly, I felt hit by this.
"That's not it. In this situation, only she can use magic, so relying on her is unavoidable, right?"
"Ugh……"
"That's right, Yaegashi-sama. It's a bit unsightly, isn't it?"
Kaorulko's scolding exploded.
"Don't call it unsightly! Whose side are you on, Kaorulko?!"
While the Princess and Sana were arguing, a change appeared in the space.
"What?!" "What?!"
Everyone braced themselves.
The scenery slowly changed, overlapping like layers.
"Transfer again?!"
Everyone looked around, but saw a familiar landscape and a moldy smell.
It felt like we had returned to the original dungeon.
"Could it be we returned to the original dungeon?!"
"Try using magic."
"Yes."
When Kaorulko cast magic, a magical light lit up.
"If it works, we must have returned to the original dungeon……"
It seems the locomotive and passenger cars returned together.
However, the emerald-colored Dragon fragments that were rolling on the ground seem to have disappeared.
Since the fragments Kagari and the others were holding didn't disappear, that proves it wasn't an illusion.
"Good……"
The female mage who was boiling water with the locomotive looked relieved.
Checking the surroundings, I found the tracks.
"There are tracks. We must have returned to Floor 4 of the original dungeon."
"Haa~!"
Koeda sat down flat on the spot.
"What is it? A trap where you can't escape unless you defeat a popping boss while trapped?"
There's a joke about rooms you can't leave unless you do something erotic, is this the dungeon version?
"If Darling and the others weren't here, we'd be dead instantly!"
"That's right…… We couldn't possibly win against such a Dragon……"
Iroha and Koeda looked confused.
"Moreover, a cruel setup that seals magic."
"Damn! This dungeon is absolutely stubborn!"
Iroha spat out my words.
"The only one who profited is Sana, haha. I don't know how much an Emerald Dragon is worth."
"No! Daisuke-san, please take half!"
"Huh? I didn't do anything? I did defeat that Hellhound or whatever……"
"No! Because of your attack, my attack hit too!"
"Hmm? Well, if you're giving it, I'll take it."
"Yes!"
Sana pressed closer to me.
"What is it?"
"I learned a new magic!"
"Huh? Really? Did you learn something amazing?"
"It seems to be a magic called Great Heal."
"Oh? Kaorulko learned Area Heal, didn't she?"
"Yes. I rarely get a chance to use it……"
Kaorulko is an offensive mage.
She uses Heal after combat ends.
"Great Heal means…… instant recovery even from near-death or critical injuries, something like that?"
"If Daisuke-san gets seriously injured, I'll heal you!"
"Gu nu nu……"
The Princess made a bitter face at Sana's words.
"Haha, thank you."
"And――I've learned another magic……"
"Still more?"
"Turn Undead…… do you know it?"
She looked up at me.
"Huh? Turn Undead? I think that's the one where Undead disappear in one hit……"
"Is it an amazing magic?"
"I think it's amazing…… but I've never heard of it before."
I glanced at Kaorulko, but she shook her head.
"Yay!"
Sana hugged me and looked at the Princess, showing off――.
"Gu nu nu…… Darling!"
"What is it?"
"Let's go level up!"
"First, we have to break through that Floor 7, right? Otherwise, we can't go any higher? Or should we look for the Labyrinth Cult and ask 'Please send us to the deeper layers!'?"
"That is absolutely not allowed!"
Kaorulko was desperately opposing it.
Of course, it was a joke.
"Well, even if we were sent, we'd end up in a worse place for sure."
"Gu nu nu…… Damn…… how on earth……"
The Princess was muttering something.
"Princess, Princess, don't do dangerous things."
"That's exactly what Daisuke-san said!"
Although I and Kaorulko emphasized it, the Princess didn't seem to accept it and looked troubled.
"That's it! Moles!"
The Princess ran over to Kagari.
"Huh?! What?!"
"Dig a new hole! If we dig from Floor 7, we can go to Floor 8 or 9, right?!"
"We almost died with this one, so Floor 8 or 9 is impossible."
"Uguu……"
The Princess seemed about to stop, so I had to propose a compromise.
"Okay! Next time we encounter a dangerous enemy, I'll let you deliver the finishing blow!"
"I feel like that's becoming a flag……"
Kaorulko looked worried.
"I hope it doesn't happen. Before that――I feel like the encounter rate with monsters is abnormally high when I'm with the Princess……"
"Ah――that, I also often think……"
Kaorulko seemed to think the same thing as me.
Could it be that, opposite to Sana's extremely high luck stats, the Princess's luck stats are extremely low?
"In that case, you'll eventually encounter an enemy that satisfies the Princess."
"I'm a little afraid of that……"
While everyone was chatting, a light approached.
Since it was a magical light, it must be adventurers.
"Over here! We are adventurers! No hostility!"
"Adventurers?!" "Wow! The locomotive is overturned!"
The arriving adventurers were surprised by the broken locomotive.
It was a group of about five people.
Coming to Floor 4 means they must be at a certain level.
"We were on this train, but it suddenly derailed."
"That's true! I was the conductor of this train!"
It would be quick if the Conductor explained.
"What?!" "We came to search because the train went missing……"
I listened to their story.
The engineer thrown out of the locomotive was alive and was rescued by adventurers nearby.
"Good……"
The Conductor and the female mage looked relieved at the safety of their colleagues.
So they came to search based on the engineer's story…….
"Listening to the story――the locomotive suddenly disappeared."
"We were teleported to another place with the locomotive――blah blah blah……"
"What is that?" "Is it a type of trap?"
The adventurers looked at each other.
"Seems like it. It seems to be a trap where you can't return unless you defeat a popping boss."
"What kind of worst trap is that……"
The adventurers also looked exasperated.
The enemies are strong, so if we can defeat them, a huge level up is certain, but…….
"Anyway, the locomotive and passenger cars are in this state."
"This one won't be usable for a while……" "Really……"
The shallow layers are double-track, but Floor 4 has few users, so it's single-track.
It will take some time to restore.
Maybe my Item Box will be called upon.
"Princess, if the train can't be used, we'll have to walk anyway."
"There is no choice. Let's go to the safe zone on Floor 4."
"Understood."
She seems to have returned to her usual self, which is good.
I was worried what she might be thinking if she was planning something dangerous.
But I can't let my guard down.
"Haa~ I want to go home soon."
Iroha grumbled.
"The adventure ends only when you get home."
"Darling, stop it. It's going to become a flag again."
"There's no way that would happen."
"……"
Everyone looked at the Princess.
"No――it's fine, haha."
I could only give a bitter smile now.