Chapter 85

I was in Kou's dungeon.

When I waited in the front chamber, an enemy dungeon passage appeared.

A bright red light burst forth, making it impossible to open my eyes.

"Damn it! What the hell!?"

"Master! The enemy is a Fire Dungeon!"

"Kyu~!"

I heard the voices of Liricia and the holy white dragon Rana.

I protected my face with my arm and opened my eyes slightly to look at the enemy.

A passage about five meters wide had been created in the wall of the chamber.

There, a row of burning monsters stood.

A huge burning giant, probably an Ifrit, whose head almost touched the ceiling of the passage.

There were also a lizard-like Salamander and a larger dragon, both enveloped in flames.

There were also a flaming horse and a flaming bird. The bird resembled the Phoenix I had fought before.

Due to the presence of the scorching group, the air seemed to waver.

No, the redness was because the stones and iron were glowing red, and I could tell that the enemy dungeon was at an unbearable high temperature.

At the forefront of the flaming group was someone I knew well.

Her twin tails, like burning flames, were flared, and she was hiding her bare, slender upper body with her arms crossed.

Heat was emanating from her upper body. This one was probably the source of the heat.

Her red eyes caught me and glared at me.

"So it was Alek's dungeon after all."

"Ruber! Ruber-san!?"

The woman enveloped in flames was the guild master, Ruber.

When she brushed her twin tails with her hand, red phosphorescence scattered.

Her small, exposed breasts trembled slightly.

"Ruber... you're a dungeon master?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"Why here?"

"Hmph. If an 8 billion power dungeon suddenly appeared in the forest near the capital, of course I would come to check it out."

"Wait, this dungeon is that powerful?"

Then Kou said from the back chamber.

"The tutorial is over, and the master's power has been added. So, the master alone is 8.1 billion, the lady is 50 million, Sophicia is 20.2 million, Rana is 7.77 million, and Tetti is 5."

"This dungeon core is quite talkative. It shouldn't just give out numbers like that."

"It's fine, right? Because... no, it's fine now. Besides, the numbers change quickly. The lady increases by 3 to 7 million every night, and Sophicia increases by 10,000 every time she takes a bath."

I was curious about many things, but now it was about Ruber.

I looked at Ruber and said,

"So... Ruber. What do you intend to do? I'd prefer if you kept quiet."

Not only was I a dungeon master, but Liricia and Sophicia in their angelic forms were also seen.

Ruber, with a warlike smile, surveyed our members.

"Well, what should I do? It's been a while since I've faced an opponent who can bring out my full strength. It might be interesting to play a bit. If you win me, I'll keep your secret. Hehehe... Edgar, are you on their side?"

"Guild master, I'm sorry. I owe Alek a debt I can't repay."

Edgar glared back with black eyes from under his hair and, from somewhere, produced a strange-shaped knife and a rope with talismans attached, which he wrapped around his waist.

Ruber covered her mouth and laughed, seemingly enjoying the situation.

"It's just a game. The two fallen angels should step back. You'll turn into burnt angels."

"What, what are you saying! I'll protect Master!""I can use a major attribute reduction spell too!"

The two angels flapped their wings and braced themselves, glaring at Ruber.

However, Ruber did not lose her calm demeanor.

"Do you think you can withstand it? When I go all out, even the Ifrit and Phoenix behind me get burned."

The Ifrit, whose head almost touched the ceiling, nodded his burning face.

The flaming bird behind him trembled as if recalling Ruber's full power.

"Why do the embodiments of fire and flames get burned... you're a bit monstrous."

I said, and she laughed loudly. Her well-shaped chest jiggled.

"Hah! I don't want to hear that from Alek...? Why is there a child? You should evacuate that child too."

"Kyu!"

Rana shook her white hair and shook her head, glaring back at Ruber.

I introduced her.

"That child isn't just a child. She's a holy white dragon. Her name is Rana."

"What! A holy white dragon!? ...I see, I've been in the way."

Ruber shrugged and walked to the corner of the passage, where she started putting on jewelry—rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

They seemed to have fire resistance and fire sealing effects, and as she put them on, the wild flames diminished, and she returned to a beautiful woman.

Well, she was beautiful to begin with, but her aura was scary.

Confused by her sudden change in attitude, I asked,

"Wait, is it okay now?"

"I can't hurt a holy white dragon... that holy attribute dragon zombie?"

"Yeah, that's right. It was big, but it shrank when I used it as material."

"Indeed... thank you for saving the world."

"Huh?"

I was surprised by her sudden words of gratitude.

I just revived Rana, right?

Moreover, I had no intention of saving the world. I just created a dragon dungeon for my own sake...

Then Rana ran to Ruber.

When she reached the boundary between our chamber and the enemy's passage, she extended both hands toward Ruber.

"Kyu! Kyu~ Kyu~!"

She was desperately trying to appeal to Ruber.

Ruber, who was putting on the jewelry, looked at me with a troubled expression.

"What is Rana saying?"

"I don't know. She seems to want something."

"What? You want something?"

"Kyu! Kyu!"

She appealed with her entire small body, making small circles with her hands.

Ruber, watching this, exclaimed,

A~h, and put on a cloak.

Then she returned to her companions, took a round orb from a bag on the back of a flaming horse.

It was a small orb, about the size of a thumb, and it was a blood-red color.

She returned, holding the red orb aloft.

"Is this what you want?"

"Kyu~!"

Rana nodded, her blue eyes shining.

Ruber rolled the orb across the floor to Rana when she reached the boundary.

Probably, if any part of her body entered our chamber, the heat would be unbearable.

Rana quickly picked it up and held it carefully in both hands.

I had a feeling. Was this one of the orbs offered to the holy white dragon?

"Is it okay, Ruber?"

"If it's an orb, it's useless for me to keep it."

"Rana, say thank you properly."

"Kyu~!"

Rana bowed to Ruber. I couldn't understand the meaning of her words.

Ruber, now fully equipped, turned to us.

"Then I'll keep today's events to myself."

"You had the orb?"

"Orbs tend to appear in the place where their attribute is strongest. Since I'm fire, I got a red orb."

"I see. Should I look for other orbs in similar places?"

"There are five left. Good luck."

Ruber said, looking at Rana.

I nodded and shrugged.

"But I didn't expect you to be a dungeon master, Ruber."

"There were hints. It's not natural for a fire dungeon to conveniently have fire resistance and fire sealing items. I had the dungeon core make one each time I cooperated."

"I see. I'm similar."

"Also, Alek, you should learn to compress more. If you fight me, you need to fill the chamber with holy waves."

"That's difficult... but thanks for the advice. I'll practice."

"See you."

With a confident smile, the passage closed.

The light from the burning dungeon disappeared, making it feel momentarily dim.

Looking up, I saw a bluish-white light quietly illuminating the chamber.

I sighed, feeling drained.

"I'm suddenly exhausted... thanks for your help, everyone."

"No, I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.""I'll take more baths to get stronger."

Liricia and Sophicia said, folding their wings.

Edgar, who had been at the edge of the chamber, spoke.

He was back to his usual self, and the strange tools he had wrapped around his waist were gone.

"I'm glad you're safe. I'll return to the investigation."

"Yeah, thanks, Edgar. You helped a lot."

"Call me anytime. See you."

Edgar casually waved and left through the passage leading to the capital.

I looked down at Rana, who was beside me.

The young girl was staring intently at the red orb in her hand.

"Rana, is that the orb? It's supposed to be offered to an egg, but what will you do with it?"

"Kyu~... Kyu!"

Suddenly, Rana put the orb in her mouth and swallowed it.

I rushed over, a bit panicked.

"Hey, are you okay!? What if it gets stuck in your throat!?"

Even though it was about the size of a thumb, it was roughly the size of a five-year-old's throat.

Rana's small body started to tremble.

I squatted down and shook her shoulders.

"Hey, did it get stuck—"

"Kyu~!"

As Rana screamed, a bright red light burst from her entire body.

I covered my eyes from the blinding light.

"Are you okay!?"

"Yee~!"

In the red light, her body grew larger and larger.

When the red light faded, a blue-eyed, white-haired girl stood there.

She was about seven years old, taller and with longer limbs.

She smiled at me and Liricia.

"Rek, rek! -- Risha, risha!"

"Hey, you can talk now!"

"Rek! Kyu~. Rek, aito! Risha, aito!"

Rana hugged me, who was squatting, and spoke happily.

It was good that she could talk, but her speech was still slurred, so I could only understand about half of what she said.

But whenever I understood a little, Rana smiled broadly and said "Kyu!" or "Kyai!"

After spending some time with Rana, we returned to the mansion for dinner.

I've revised the prologue and released a new work.

'I will heal everything ~The youth expelled from the village repairs the trash he found and rises to the top!~' https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6104gm/

It's not very popular... maybe it's because there's no element of revenge?

Is it also bad to copy titles?

I'd be happy to get your feedback. I've written up to 100,000 words in the first chapter.

Also, it seems that the old man hero and the award-winning work will be published simultaneously, so I might not have time to write. I'm sorry.

Please wait patiently.

The next chapter will be updated tomorrow.

→ 86. Spica, Tetti, and Curry Rice