Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Dungeon Creation (4)
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I've been living too cushy lately.
Surrounded by women whose breasts could all rightfully be called massive.
I'd even forgotten that flat chests existed in this world.
Yeah, flat chests...
But they did exist.
What a tragic reality. Breasts have always been called the "pocket of the heart," and the bigger they are, the better.
Seeing that pitiful thing where even finding a curve was a challenge, a sigh escaped me naturally. I was lamenting its cliff-like smallness.
- ...Hold on. What are you staring at so intently?
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit narrowed her eyes and covered her chest herself. Apparently, I'd been too obvious.
- Sorry.
I wanted to add, "I was just observing to figure out if that was really a breast or a cliff since it's so small," but I held back with supreme patience.
I still didn't know exactly what this Dungeon Guardian Spirit was. I couldn't start off with a rude attitude, so I showed her respect and courtesy for now.
- Hoo.
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit seemed intrigued. She examined me.
- You possess a very mysterious ability.
She was probably referring to my telepathy. It was mysterious, sure. Normal monsters didn't have such a skill.
But the same went for her.
'She's speaking through will alone.'
I analyzed the Dungeon Guardian Spirit's "speech." Strictly speaking, she wasn't actually "speaking." Just like me.
Her mouth was moving, but what reached me wasn't words—it was her "will." A will that transmitted directly into the mind, not vibrating the air with sound.
Similar to my telepathy, but different.
Telepathy delivered language into the opponent's mind, while the Dungeon Guardian Spirit projected her raw will directly into theirs.
Well, monsters woke dungeon cores, and monsters had all sorts of languages.
There were plenty of low-intelligence ones incapable of higher thought. So the spirits communicated with monsters via will rather than speech.
- It's nothing special.
She nodded at my response.
- Fascinating. But are you truly the monster who awakened me?
- Yes.
- I see... Hmm, hm.
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit muttered to herself while appraising me like an object. Even her mutterings reached me as will.
From top to bottom, methodically. Feeling her persistent gaze, it wasn't long before she wore a satisfied expression.
- I have a question.
- Hm? What is it?
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit tilted her head.
- Am I going to become the dungeon's master now?
From what I knew, injecting mana into a dungeon core created a dungeon right there, and the monster who provided the mana became its master.
The dungeon researcher in the previous game's lore had said as much.
But her words were nothing like what I'd expected.
- Heh, as if.
- ?
As if? Did that mean I was wrong?
- It's similar, but... Well, if you think positively, you could say yes. Your "body" will become the boss and master of the dungeon, after all.
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit gave a meaningful smile.
My body alone?
- What does that mean?
She just chuckled lowly at my demand for explanation.
Her laugh grated on me. As I glared, she flashed a chilling smile.
- Hehe, exactly what it sounds like. Your body will become this dungeon's master. Only...! You'll have to hand it over to me first!!
Wuuuuuum-!
It happened suddenly.
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit's aura shifted completely.
She grimaced wickedly, her mouth twitching.
- Injecting your mana to awaken me yourself... Hehehe. How grateful I am, monster. But that's a monster's "fate." If a mere beast dares claim mastery over something, its end is always tragic.
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit began gathering her power in earnest. Her presence was overwhelmingly intense. As expected of a spirit from a B+ grade core—the entire cave shook with her might.
Shwaaaak-!
Shwaak-!
Responding to the threatening killing intent, my tentacle limb slimes extended Thorn Tentacles to attack her.
They moved automatically, sensing my main body in peril and moving to eliminate the threat.
But they had no effect on the Dungeon Guardian Spirit, made of light. She had no solid form. Unlike regular monsters with physical bodies, the tentacles sliced through empty air.
- Hehehe. Your minions? Pathetic. Such attacks won't work on me.
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit laughed wickedly. She slithered toward me slyly.
- Now, hand over your body obediently, nameless monster. I'll make good use of it.
Her eyes burned with greed. I stared at her calmly and asked.
- Do others do this too?
Hm?
She tilted her head.
- Do all Dungeon Guardian Spirits attack the monster that awakens the dungeon core?
That had been nagging at me since she'd switched to combat stance.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
- Hoo, you even know I'm a Dungeon Guardian Spirit. How intriguing.
- Answer the question.
- Hehehe. I don't care for your arrogance, but I'll humor you. Yes. We Dungeon Guardian Spirits seize the monster's flesh the moment we awaken, gaining a body to guard the dungeon. That's our nature. We slumber in the core, waiting foolishly for a monster to wake us.
'I see.'
Her words unveiled the dungeon's secrets.
The dungeon core was a trap from the start. A trap for the Dungeon Guardian Spirit to claim the body of the monster injecting mana.
That explained "integrated dungeons" and "separated dungeons."
I'd thought integrated dungeons fused the boss monster with the core, granting greater power. Wrong.
It just meant the spirit had successfully possessed the awakening monster's body.
The power gap between the dispossessed monster and the spirit-enhanced body made the boss seem stronger.
Separated dungeons were failures—where possession didn't occur.
That rarity and the bosses' immense power made sense now. Only by surpassing the spirit could a monster avoid possession.
As I sorted my thoughts, the Dungeon Guardian Spirit Hina continued.
- Don't worry, monster. I'm a kind spirit, so I won't be rough. Stay still, and I'll end your mind swiftly.
She spoke as if granting mercy.
- Your high intelligence surprised me, but that's all. I can see your level anyway. You have a sturdy body, but it's no match for me. I'm among the strongest Dungeon Guardian Spirits. Bad luck for you.
She was right.
My current body rating: C+.
Hers, per the system core rating: B+.
She was far stronger.
To hit B+ in system stats, average stats needed at least 170. Monstrous numbers.
But I had confidence.
I'd anticipated this possibility.
If I wanted true safety, I'd have used the separate C-grade core instead.
- Come on, then.
- ...Hm?
The Dungeon Guardian Spirit tilted her head.
- Hurry up. Didn't you say you'd seize my mind? Let's end this without wasting time.
She looked puzzled.
- How are you so calm? Can't you feel my power? Or are you unafraid of death?
- I'm afraid of everything, but I don't think I'll lose.
- Heh heh heh, bluffing? You can't resist me. Let's see how long that lasts.
She snorted and charged.
Her "form" slipped smoothly into my body. Intent on eradicating my mind from within and claiming control.
Per her plan, we'd clash in the mental realm. At our level gap, I'd lose every time.
But—
Born with the destiny to stand at the pinnacle of all life forms. Grants complete immunity to mental attacks and allows inspection of opponent's stats. Can also detect erogenous zones and virginity status.
Master of All Life.
The filial skill that let me check opponents' stats.
Its mere stat-checking saved me countless times, but it had another key feature.
Complete immunity to mental attacks.
- Guh... What is this...!?
Her possession attempt was a mental attack. The skill nullified it entirely.
Hina, the Dungeon Guardian Spirit who'd entered my mind to dominate it, panicked visibly as her assault failed.
- Y-You... How do you have such a mental barrier... I-Impossible...
Her haughty voice trembled with shock.
Only then did I flash her a sly grin. No face to emote with, but since she was in my mind, she'd sense my will.
As I mocked her inwardly, I turned to the golden orb forming her shape.
Slurp—
I shattered it with mana, exposing the raw core within—the "perfect dungeon core"—and gripped it with a Basic Tentacle.
- Eek! W-Wait, you! What are you doing...!
Hina shuddered.
Her "form" emanated from this orb. Though her shape was now inside my mind, this was her true body.
I caressed the orb gently.
- D-Don't touch it. Hnng...! It's disgusting!
Her arrogant tone, as if she were empress.
I didn't like it. I whispered to her softly.
- Do you grasp your situation now, Hina?
- H-How do you know my name...!
- Shatter this orb, and you die. Such a fragile existence, you Dungeon Guardian Spirits.
- Khk...
From the start, any female is most beautiful when pinned beneath a male, moaning in submission.
I disliked Hina's lofty attitude.
Especially with her flat chest.
My fondness for her had plummeted.
Not because of her flatness. Just her arrogance toward me.
Probably.
I rolled the glowing golden orb along my tentacle.
- W-Wait! Don't handle it so roughly! Not there! It's s-sensitive...!
The dungeon core let out a whimpering moan.
To be this weak.
How did she even rate B+?
I understood.
This dungeon core was pure and raw.
Once the spirit killed the monster's mind and took its body, it fused to the heart, issuing all commands.
Fusing into every nerve made it sensitive—that tracked.
But now, it was her weakness.
I prodded every spot, watching her reactions.
And.
Squeeze—
- Eek...!?
I found the spot that made her form convulse violently.