The Undeniable Reality
The entity slipped easily from my grasp the instant I froze. I reached out a moment too late, but it dodged with practiced ease and retreated to a spot just out of reach. Maintaining that distance, it spoke again.
[There’s no need to rush me. I was planning to explain everything once you regained your senses anyway. Still, there are a few points we should clarify first.]
“……”
The unidentified black cat stared at me with calm, unreadable eyes. Yet its voice carried none of the earlier playfulness. The contrast between its doll-like appearance and that ominous presence kept me on edge. The entity seemed equally unwilling to waste time on pointless banter and continued at once.
[First: I have never once spoken nonsense since the beginning. Second: The terms of the contract will be fulfilled exactly as stated, so there is no need to be angry. Third: I will now explain the plan and direction needed to achieve that. All you have to do is follow my instructions. …If you dislike that, say so! The contract will dissolve automatically and you will return to dust as nature intended.]
The message was long, but the core was simple: obey quietly if you don’t want to die right now. Delivering such a terrifying warning in such a harmless tone was, in its own way, a talent. I wanted to curse the vile creature right then and there, but cold reason held me back. After all, this entity was the one that had saved me when I was already dying. In a situation where truth and lies were still unclear, reckless gambling wasn’t rational.
When I simply glared in silence, the entity looked rather satisfied. That only made my expression sour further.
[Well then… To clear your suspicions, I suppose I should start by teaching you how to use your power. The timing is actually perfect! Using those humans who betrayed you as resources would be ideal. It would ease your guilt while letting you take revenge—an efficient two birds with one stone, wouldn’t you say?]
“Wait. I don’t know how much time has passed, but by now they’ve probably already left the dungeon… Is that even possible?”
Since I had decided to follow its lead for now, I voiced the question calmly. The entity answered without hesitation.
[Think carefully. Recall the form in which you found those mana stones. If you consider it properly, the answer will come to you.]
The sight of the mana stones embedded in the cave walls was still vivid in my memory, so recalling it was easy. Soon I grasped the meaning hidden in its words. When I let out a small sigh, the entity smiled faintly.
[It seems you’ve caught on. That’s right. Those mana stones were all embedded in the cave walls, not inside the monsters’ stomachs. Naturally, they didn’t bring mining equipment when they entered the dungeon, so starting work immediately would be impossible.]
“…In other words, you’re suggesting we wait until they return with equipment?”
[Heh, quick on the uptake. They’ll come back to this dungeon soon. Since the monsters along the path have already been cleared, they’ll bring minimal gear and focus on mining. Our goal is to deal with those money-blind fools one by one…]
It sounded like the whisper of a devil— a sinister voice that skillfully manipulated emotions and led people down the path of corruption. An indescribable sense of foreboding brushed against my mind, almost like instinct.
[After all, they’re society’s trash who have repeated such atrocities many times. You’re the one who suffered directly, so you know better than anyone, don’t you? It would be better if those kinds of people disappeared from this world without a trace. You were thinking the same thing deep down, weren’t you?]
“!……”
It read my innermost thoughts with eerie accuracy and subtly fanned the flames of murderous intent. It was a sweet temptation I couldn’t resist even while knowing something was off.
[Of course, I’m not saying this recklessly. Even if they’re off guard, it would be too much for you in your current state.]
The entity rose from its spot and slowly approached me, looking up from below. Whether it was my imagination or not, its gaze seemed to carry a faint trace of amusement.
[So this is special training. I’ll teach you how to properly use your changed body and newly acquired abilities. It won’t be easy, so you’d better prepare yourself.]
With those final words, the entity began moving deeper into the cave. Left alone, I let out a deep sigh and followed. It seemed I had no right to refuse.
-----
[Come to think of it, have you ever wondered why such high-grade mana stones are buried in a low-rank dungeon like this?]
The entity suddenly spoke up. Of course, I had no idea. When I first saw them, I had simply thought fortune had smiled on me—much like how lottery winners rarely question why they won. After all, the very substance called mana stone was shrouded in mystery from the moment of its creation. How could an ordinary citizen like me possibly guess?
Seeing my reaction, the entity smiled and continued.
[This dungeon looks like an ordinary ant nest from the outside. The monsters living inside are also ordinary ant-type creatures. But in truth, it hides an interesting secret.]
With that preface, the black cat pointed ahead. Curious about what this “secret” could be, I looked in that direction and doubted my own eyes for a moment. Not far away, “it” stood there in an almost unconscious state. Its body was several times larger than a normal ant monster, with jaws as thick as steel. It radiated an overwhelming presence unlike any monster I had encountered in this dungeon so far. The giant ant-type monster leaned against the wall, staring blankly into the air. It was an unbelievable sight, yet it was no illusion—it was real.
The moment that realization hit, a question flashed through my mind. It made no sense for such a monster to inhabit a D-rank dungeon. Creatures of this level normally appeared in B-rank dungeons at minimum. It would have been more believable to call this ant monster the dungeon’s boss. But since I had already confirmed with my own eyes that the boss room door was firmly sealed, that possibility was essentially nonexistent.
While I stood frozen, my existing knowledge clashing head-on with reality, the entity spoke like a born storyteller.
[Then how about this? Originally, this dungeon’s true rank was A-rank…]
“!?… What did you say?”
[Have you never found it strange? Why would the boss room of such a minor dungeon be sealed with a special lock? It’s too suspicious to be mere coincidence. Then how about this assumption: an internal war once broke out inside the dungeon.]
Internal war. The meaning was clear. As the truth gradually took shape, the entity delivered the final blow.
[The truth is simple. Inside this ordinary ant-nest dungeon, a new queen ant rose up against the existing one, sparking a fierce civil war for survival. As a result, the dungeon’s overall power weakened, causing its rank to drop naturally, and the surviving ant monsters became significantly weaker as well. The place where those mana stones are buried in large quantities was the center of the battlefield where the giant ant monsters fought so desperately.]
“Then, inside that sealed boss room…”
[You’re probably right. The winner of that civil war—the true master of the A-rank dungeon—is waiting inside. It was truly fortunate that you never managed to enter. Otherwise, you would have been wiped out without exception.]
The truth, now laid bare, was terrifying yet strangely fascinating. Dungeons were vast labyrinths that naturally stirred curiosity. But right now, facing immediate reality, such hidden truths offered little help. The entity, noticing my reaction, spoke again.
[I’m only telling you that this behind-the-scenes story exists. What matters to us isn’t the past, but what’s right in front of us now.]
“…So what do you plan to do with that dying monster?”
I asked the main question while trying to ignore the ominous feeling creeping up on me. The slime-transformed body, the suspicious abilities I had seen on the status window earlier—something truly horrific came to mind. Yet even as I asked with a sliver of hope, my premonition proved correct once again.
[What else? We’ll use it as nutrients for your growth! I kept it in this state specifically for that purpose.]
I heard nothing after the word “nutrients.” Only that single word echoed in my head. My already pale, ashen face grew even paler. This… was exactly what I had feared, wasn’t it?