Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Manners Make the Man
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Vallak gathered his family and shared the news he'd heard from Karian: the assembly would be held in three days.
"It's finally happening—the assembly Mr. Karian mentioned."
"And come to think of it, Big Bro got an invitation, right?"
"Indeed."
Judging by how the second brother and the youngest were buzzing with interest, they were looking forward to this gathering too.
Now our tasks for the next three days were crystal clear.
"Ferguson, Ophelia, Damfir—you three spread the word to everyone entering the rest area that the dungeon will be closed for three days."
"""Got it!"""
"And Little O, you go with Zephyra and send all the spirits in the mini-dungeon back to the spirit realm."
"Can't we just have my kids pitch in and clean up Sky Island?"
"You're right, Big Bro."
"Of course, that's an option, but this time the undead from the sea have offered to help."
It just so happened that the sea undead had requested a chance to visit Sky Island for a bit of fun, so pulling out the spirits—who clashed with their energy—was the smart move.
Plus, those sea undead were pretty damn strong.
With their ability to detect living beings, entrusting the job to them would flush out any hidden lurkers in no time.
"You're using the undead's hatred for life to your advantage, huh?"
"Then our kids won't have to bust their asses, and we can clear out everyone on the massive Sky Islands and in the sea!"
"So you two make sure no spirits are left in the mini-dungeon and seal the entry portal."
With the cleanup crew sorted, it was time for the next item on the agenda.
"C-Captain, is that for real?!"
"Kairel sis, aren't you getting a bit too excited?"
"But we get to go to Pepira's village together!"
Damfir, being a cat person at heart, was over the moon about this.
When we headed to the assembly anyway, the three of them would just be twiddling their thumbs.
So why not treat it like a vacation, swing by the kid's village, and give the Nyaotribe some reassuring backup explanations?
"Why not join them and take a break too, Ophelia?"
"Thank you, Father. But how do we even get to the Nyaotribe village?"
"The skeleton merchant's handling that."
"Ooooh! As expected of Mr. Karian!"
"That skeleton guy is seriously nice-nya!"
With everything said that needed saying,
everyone got moving to tidy up the dungeon interior.
"Looking at it like this, it's a far cry from when I used to clean the dungeon all by myself."
"That's because the family here's grown so much."
"It's real change, no doubt. By the way, skeleton merchant, you just left—why're you back already?"
"Oh, about that..."
Ah, he'd brought the answer about upgrading the boss room I'd mentioned last time?
With all the heavy hitters showing up after the assembly, the boss room was bound to get trashed over and over, so prepping sooner was better.
Guess it was time to chat boss room upgrades with Karian.
******************
As everyone mobilized to clean the dungeon interior per Vallak's orders,
the spirits on Sky Island began vanishing before their eyes.
"Hiiiik?! Th-the spirits are disappearing!!!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Ugh, there go the pointy-ears again."
"It's just a dungeon quirk, but lately the elves are making such a fuss."
The fact that spirits weren't respawning was a huge boon for everyone except the elves—dwarves and humans alike were thrilled.
"Move it!!! Let's grab everything first!"
"Whoa~ This is a gold mine!"
"Now we can finally investigate Sky Island without interference!"
The special harvestables that had grown fat on spirit energy inside the mini-dungeon fetched top dollar outside.
While the elves wailed in despair, everyone else enjoyed a merry harvesting spree.
That's when an eerie shadow fell over them.
Too dense and heavy to dismiss as mere clouds.
Instinctively looking up, the three races gasped at the sight blotting out the sky.
Vast objects drifted slowly across the endless heavens.
And from their hulls' sides, indescribable black eyes began popping out one by one.
The moment they met those black eyes' gaze,
everyone remembered.
The terror of those who despised life.
The reason one must pray for the souls of the dead.
Soon, an ancient and bizarre pirate fleet revealed its majestic presence, sailing freely through the skies.
With weathered decks and black sails billowing, the cannons on their hulls locked onto Sky Island.
"Wh-what the hell?! Why is that sea drifter here?!"
"Run!!!"
"Uwaaaah! Flying pirate ships!!!"
Sadly for them, escape wasn't an option.
The pirate ships' cannons, already aimed, spat fire.
And all the living beings crumbled into blue light.
Thus began the Buster Call in the mini-dungeon, while in the main dungeon, Ferguson and Kairel announced the closure to challengers entering the tavern.
"Wait, what?! The dungeon's closing for three days again?!"
"G-Good lord! It just changed, and now something new already...?"
"What is it this time?"
"Last time there was that huge shift on Sky Island, so maybe the main area's getting a big overhaul?"
"O~"
The hero parties were buzzing with anticipation, figuring something new was being added.
But they froze at Ferguson's words.
"It's not an addition this time—personal reasons mean the dungeon's closed for three days."
"P-Personal reasons?"
"Terribly sorry, but we can't go into details. Just know that if you come barging in after three days..."
""""............""""
The hero parties in the tavern recalled Vallak bursting from the boss room every time the dungeon closed.
"Better not risk a pointless death at Vallak bro's hands—why not kick back for a full week starting today?"
"Hahaha... Yeah, that sounds smart."
"We'll spread the word outside properly."
"Thanks for the heads-up."
As the hero parties and Ferguson chatted amiably with hahas and hohos, Pepira, watching from the side, got a question mark hook floating over her head.
"Kairel, why are the hero parties so cooperative with the tavern keeper?"
"No idea. Maybe he's just that silver-tongued?"
"It's so mysterious-nya."
Word of events in the main and mini-dungeons spread like wildfire through Lighter in a single day.
"Vallak's closing the dungeon for three days due to personal reasons?"
"...Kinda feels like the dungeon's got a personal shop vibe. Nah, just my imagination?"
"We were just getting used to it! A full seal now?!"
"I barely assembled a party, and this'll break it up again..."
Everyone had questions, sure.
But what could they do when the owner was shuttering for a bit?
Might as well take the opportunity—adventurers,攻略 teams, hero parties, free knights, merchants, guards, all decided to rest up.
Just as the dungeon and outside world paused for regrouping,
"Hahaha! So this is the place with that dungeon!"
"Trials await us!!!"
"Kiyaaahoo!!"
In the worst possible timing, Beastria's beastmen arrived at the dungeon.
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Beastmen.
A race with human bodies but animal ears and tails.
In Beastria, their tribal confederation, they'd just successfully negotiated with the Empire.
"Now we can finally enter that dungeon!"
"The world's strongest being! The worst dungeon! An insurmountable trial!! Oooooh!!"
"Gazua!!!"
The hot-blooded young beastmen quickly banded together.
Leading them was Skala, the silver wolf tribe's female warrior, who skipped Lighter entirely and charged straight for the dungeon with the group.
But...
"Why's there no one at the dungeon entrance?"
"Y-Yeah, weird, right?"
By the rumors, the entrance was supposed to swarm with crowds every day.
But today was closure day!
Even the guards at the entrance were off, leaving the beastmen with a desolate scene.
So how did the beastmen react?
"Let's just go in!"
"""Yeah!"""
That's right! Beastmen weren't big on overthinking!
As Skala, the young beastmen's silver wolf leader, strode in confidently, the whole group followed into the dungeon.
And they immediately encountered... a certain being.
"Who might you all be...?"
It was Ferguson.
*************
Even with warnings, some folks never listened.
And what became of them?
"Travel Rear Naked Choke!!!"
"""Grahhh!!!"""
BOOM!!!
Those inside the dungeon got hit by Vallak's "traffic accident" and dissolved into blue light.
Unsure when the invitation would activate, Vallak had been stationed at the entrance just in case.
"Bro, I'll send back anyone who comes in."
To spare his brother unnecessary steps, Ferguson stepped up.
Ferguson could now handle autonomous combat, so Vallak approved.
Once the entrance was sealed, Ferguson would return to the boss room.
A short while later.
"Hero, sorry, but please head back."
"Wh-why is the tavern keeper here?!"
Sure enough, some humans tried sneaking in.
But they got nabbed at the entrance by Ferguson.
Not wanting to piss off the rest area's de facto owner, they apologized politely and scrammed.
As Ferguson kept turning away intruders, the young beastmen group barged in.
"Who might you all be...?"
Ferguson was a bit thrown by these unfamiliar faces from the dungeon.
But the beastmen had a different reaction to Ferguson, who had changed into a sharp suit for the assembly.
"Hahahahaha! What the hell is that?!"
"Hey hey~ Why's a cursed freak wearing clothes like that?"
"Kukukuku, never laughed this hard!!!"
"He's bigger than normal guys, but who cares!"
They immediately started trash-talking Ferguson.
Skala, their leader, even pointed at him and shouted.
"Wanna bet who kills that senile old fart first?"
"Sounds good, Boss!"
"Then that guy's eyeballs are mine!"
Watching the beastmen hype themselves up, Ferguson...
"Tch."
...felt nothing.
An overwhelming powerhouse like him wasn't fazed by weaklings' yapping.
Still, he had to tell them to leave once, so he spoke.
"Sorry, heroes, but the place is sealing up—please exit."
"What?! Who the hell are you to boss us around!"
"Then no choice."
Seeing their attitude, Ferguson figured force was necessary and tapped the ground with his foot.
tok-tok.
The beastmen thought he was scared stiff.
Tap—
In an instant, half their group had their upper bodies ripped clean off.
""""Huh?""""
Skala and the survivors were splattered with blood gushing from their comrades' lower halves.
Staring at their fellows dissolving into blue light, they went blank.
"Ah, sorry. Didn't expect it'd get you all messy. I only fight virtual foes daily, so this slipped my mind. My bad."
"Wh-what..."
Tap—
He tapped the ground again, and every beastman except Skala up front lost their lower halves.
"Gr, graaaaaah!!"
"Huh?!?!"
Unlike the upper-body victims, these didn't die instantly.
Agony hit, and they started screaming.
Ferguson's movements transcended the beastmen's perceptions, so Skala couldn't even grasp what happened, slowly succumbing to unknown dread.
As Ferguson approached slowly, Skala trembled like a tiny pup before a massive white wolf.
He wasn't even emitting killing intent, so the eerie vibe overwhelmed her, freezing her body.
"What exactly are you so afraid of? Weren't you all here to die in the first place?"
"Uh... euh..."
"By the way... you seem to be leading them, hero. Since fate brought us together, allow me one piece of advice."
Step, step, step.
Thud.
"Manners make the man."
"Hik—"
Tap—
In the end, the beastmen were utterly wiped out by Ferguson, their first challenge ending in anticlimactic defeat as the dungeon sealed shut.