Those Guys Just Won't Die
"......Those guys just won't die."
Esperona lay sprawled on the wide bed in her lavishly decorated room, watching the footage streaming from the ceiling. It showed the seventeen heroes taking a break.
"Should I lend a hand?"
That might be the right call, but she shook her head right away. Laziness was the reason, of course. But it wasn't just plain old sloth keeping her on the sidelines.
She raised one hand, and a bag on a distant table flew through the air into her grasp. This bag was a hidden piece the dungeon entrants had earned as a reward for clearing the twelfth underground floor in under thirty minutes. Back then, it had been called the Dungeon Guard's Lost Bag. Upon acquiring it, they'd seen a message: "The Dungeon Guard's favorability toward you has increased."
The bag was made of fine material, but time had worn it ragged. As Esperona clutched the black bag, a flicker of nostalgia softened her eyes.
"......You're the first ones to find my stuff in all the people who've entered this dungeon."
The bag in Esperona's hands was one of her most cherished possessions from her days as a human. Five such items were scattered throughout the dungeon. They'd found one, leaving four more. And with it, her favorability toward the dungeon entrants had risen by twenty percent.
She shouldn't have felt any emotion toward them at all—but now she did. So, using laziness as an excuse, Esperona was giving the 27th heroes their chance.
"This is weird."
Why had the Creator built such a pointless system? She couldn't fathom his intentions. But one thing was clear: the Creator exploited everything except himself thoroughly. Every system in the dungeon he'd made was designed to benefit him alone. This baffling favorability mechanic must serve his gain too.
"How?"
The question was what kind of gain it brought him. But Esperona's curiosity didn't last long. Staring at the bag, her eyes drifted into the past.
In life, she'd done countless favors for everyone she knew. She'd lived cleanly and purely, diligently cultivating her mind. Then one day, she attained enlightenment. She reached the nirvana of Buddhist lore, freeing herself from all suffering and grasping eternal truth.
But her daily life didn't change. The same routine repeated, just as before. The shift was internal: her heart entered eternal peace, free of worries and cares. From then on, Esperona stopped doing favors and simply lived as she pleased.
This mortal world was but a fleeting spring dream. When the body perished, it all meant nothing—a false realm. No need to waste effort on vanities. So she wandered like a traveler, enjoying her remaining days until her body failed. Then she cast it off without regret and ascended to the spirit realm.
Those who failed to awaken would reincarnate into flesh again, repeating their grueling lives. But the enlightened transcended the cycle, enjoying eternity in the spirit realm. Esperona planned lazy, comfortable days ahead.
Then a dazzling light appeared before her.
"Pure soul, I needed someone just like you."
"Who are you?"
"The being who created the universe and all its myriad things."
"......Are you a god?"
"Amusing reaction. You know the enlightened can all become gods, right? You're a god too. And I'm the primordial one. No real name, so just call me the Creator."
"Why have you come to me?"
"I'm bored. Of the universe I made. So I'm planning to flip it all over. But plain destruction and recreation? No fun."
"I see......"
"I've made a little game for diversion." Behind the Creator, dozens of tiny planets materialized. "These are the dungeons I've created. I'd like you to manage the new one."
In that instant, the Creator's intentions flooded Esperona's mind. He'd run over 1,982 survival games so far, scrapping more than 1,900 dungeons in the process. She instantly understood what this survival game was—and why he ran it.
"Why entrust a dungeon to me?"
"Because you're demigod blood."
"Demigod?"
"Half-god. A chosen soul with divine blood. That's why you reached nirvana. In short, you're practically my child."
It was shocking. But the Creator's actions with his dungeons were even more so.
"Survival game......"
"Yes. I'll give the lifeforms on dying planets a hundred chances. Clear the dungeon, and the planet survives. Fail, and it becomes cosmic dust."
"You know a planet's lifespan is ending because you made them?"
Her innocent question drew a chuckle from the Creator.
"Haven't you been listening? I'm recreating the universe. The moment I decided, every planet's lifespan ended."
Snapping back from the memory, Esperona muttered softly.
"Recreating the universe out of boredom. Is that really the only reason?"
Right then.
"......What?"
A sudden, alien unease washed over her. Even she, who spent her days merged with the bed, bolted upright. From some unknown place, a foreign energy seeped through dimensions.
Sniff sniff.
A scent mingled in that energy. One thought flashed through Esperona's mind.
"No way—Ferrofero, you little punk?"
Not long ago, Ferrofero had bought the Creator's authority, overpowered her, and fled somewhere. Esperona suspected he'd carved out a new space in the dungeon before the authority expired and hidden there.
She flared her nostrils wider.
Sniff sniff sniff—
Focusing on the incoming scent, she caught a faint whiff of Ferrofero.
"Found you, troublemaker."
Her body dissolved into smoke. De-materializing into spirit form, she shot toward the scent's source.
* * *
The Dungeon Guard catches the scent of the Hidden Space.
"What do we dooo! Esperona will definitely find this place!"
Ferrofero panicked at the message.
"Esperona? The Dungeon Guard?"
"Yes, sir!"
The Dungeon Guard tears through a dimensional rift, attempting to enter the Hidden Space!
The Hidden Space blocks her intrusion!
The Dungeon Guard charges with all her might!
Crackle—!Sizzle!
As the messages ended, sparks flew in the air. Then—
Craaaack—
A dimensional rift cracked open slightly.
The Dungeon Guard materializes!
From it emerged the head of a red-haired woman, straining with effort. Esperona. She whipped her head around, scanning the surroundings with a mix of shock and exhaustion.
"What is this place?"
Two meanings layered in her words. First, how could such a vast farm-like space exist? Second, what kind of place exerted this crushing pressure even with just her face poking through?
Then she spotted Ferrofero.
"You......!"
At that moment—
Hiss!
Lucy bared her teeth and lunged at Esperona.
"No, Princess!"
Startled, Ferrofero rushed over and scooped Lucy into his arms. Even if the Hidden Space blocked her entry, the Dungeon Guard's power was terrifying. If she wanted, she could kill everyone here in an instant.
"Princess?"
Esperona's gaze shifted to Lucy. Ferrofero positioned himself to shield her, hiding her behind him. All the pets gathered at his side. Suddenly surrounded by reliable allies, Ferrofero swelled with emotion.
He'd been utterly alone since entering the dungeon. Chest heaving, he drew the rapier from his belt. The other pets brandished swords or extended claws, ready for battle. Han Ji-woo joined them, dual-wielding blades, glaring at Esperona with clear displeasure.
Buoyed by his steadfast comrades, Ferrofero bellowed in fury.
"You lied to meee!"
"When did I?"
"You said if I managed the dungeon in your place, you'd save the princess!"
"And?"
"But as you can see, the princess is alive and well!"
"I didn't know. Quit wasting energy and come back now. I'll forgive you."
Ferrofero shook his head.
"No can dooo! With the princess here, this is where I belong too!"
"I see."
Esperona nodded as if understanding.
"No reason to stay if the princess is gone, right?"
"......What did you sayyy?"
Ferrofero's body trembled.
Esperona eyed Lucy cowering behind him.
"Nooo! Touching the princess is absolutely......!"
"I'll handle her."
Han Ji-woo stepped forward. "Auntie. Why try to drag off someone else's family?"
"I don't look old enough for 'auntie.' ......Who are you?"
"The landowner here."
"You made this space?"
"Nah. Got it for free."
"......Whatever. Too lazy to think. I just want Ferrofero."
Esperona tilted her head mid-sentence, scanning the area again. Familiar sights jumped out: the lake and waterfall from the dungeon, livestock pens, flower beds, fruit trees—all here.
"Ah, so that's it. Stuff made here shares to the dungeon."
Her eyes locked on Han Ji-woo. How did this space form? How did he share his creations? Questions swirled, but thinking was a hassle. Easier to end it: kill Han Ji-woo.
"Playtime's over."
With those words, a searing white-hot fireball ignited in the air. It streaked toward Han Ji-woo, slicing space with a trail of afterimages.
"......!"
In the blink of an eye, it closed in—no time to block or dodge. He'd take a fatal hit. The incandescent blaze promised massive damage. Dodging was impossible anyway; even if he could, the pets behind him would suffer.
Pet Physical might tank it, but he'd already used it today. Thoughts raced through Han Ji-woo's mind in that split second. But the best option was to brace and take it.
Right then—
Nyaaaaang!
Lucy, sensing danger from the fireball's launch, leaped to block Han Ji-woo's face.
"Lucy!"
Han Ji-woo's cry was near a scream. If she took that, she'd die for sure.
"Priiiincesssss!"
Ferrofero flung himself toward her in shock. At that instant—
At the moment the Cat Tribe Princess is in peril, a truly reliable Cat Tribe Royal Guard stands by her side.
Skill Divine Cat Armor has been unlocked.
Divine Cat Armor!
Lucy's skill activated automatically. Lucy and Ferrofero's bodies erupted in brilliant light simultaneously.