Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: The Warrior Meets an Old Friend
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While Bellesa was lost in memories of the past.
Kairel and Pepi headed home, brimming with happiness.
"See you tomorrow!"
"See you nya!!"
"Get home safe."
Now, only Bellesa and Balak remained in the boss room.
She considered delving back into her research on rotations.
But she also needed to tell him about the giant slugs on the 10th floor.
And to inform him of the strange events unfolding outside.
"A new era is dawning outside? Tsk... Feels like I've seen that somewhere before."
"Is this what you mean?"
"Ah, you're talking about the analysis of that centaur golem's core."
"What a bland reaction."
"Bellesa, look at this part of the information."
"Infinite power... the parts, huh."
In the investment world of the information age, where big data had piled up endlessly, even the little guys knew one field to avoid.
Infinite power!!!
If a company's description mentioned anything like that, it was total garbage stock—never invest.
Anyway, Balak had been one of those little guys in his previous life.
So he dismissed magic-engineered infinite power as a pipe dream.
But hearing Bellesa's story, he thought maybe this world, with its cheat-like mana, could actually achieve infinite power.
"Impressive. So even outside, there are capable scholars who drew major inspiration from that core."
"Based on our estimates, a technological revolution could happen in 10 to 20 years."
"That soon? Ah, no... Could it be arcane punk?"
"Arcane... punk?"
"Nothing."
He recalled the genre where a magical industrial revolution occurs.
The city on the 50th floor even resembled buildings from that genre!
So, was this world's medieval state just a stepping stone to arcane punk?
—That thought crossed his mind.
As Balak sank deeper into contemplation.
Bellesa told him about the giant slugs on the 10th floor.
"We found a cave full of white crystals emitting light a while back. And there was this massive giant slug there."
"A giant slug?"
"It's making cat noises like 'mya-ong,' and it's enormous... Could it be the pet you mentioned last time?"
"I-is that true?!"
His pet from long ago was still alive!!
What fate was this!
Soon, Balak asked Ferguson to watch the dungeon, saying he'd quickly go somewhere with Bellesa and return.
The two hurried to the 10th floor.
***********
Balak and Bellesa arrived at the 10th floor in no time.
The theme here was white crystals glowing brightly, keeping the cave atmosphere surprisingly well-lit.
"Bellesa! Where exactly is that giant slug?"
"Just a moment... There's slime on the floor, so it must have moved. We can follow this trail."
So Pengpeng really was alive?!
Oh my god!!
This must be joy!
Before regaining memories of his past life, this grateful creature had filled his innocent heart.
When releasing it at the mountaintop, he'd said he hoped they'd meet again someday.
To think they'd reunite here in the dungeon...
Soon, I began tracking the slime trail with the dream demon's guidance.
Not long after.
I spotted a giant slug even bigger than a house in the distance.
And!!
"Mya-ong? (Master?)"
It felt like it was calling me!
Of course, its body was far larger than when we'd parted.
But instinct told me immediately—it was Pengpeng.
I yanked off my helmet and charged forward.
Did it remember my face?
It seemed thrilled, inching toward me while waving its two tentacles.
After ten long years apart, we reunited.
"Pengpeng!!"
"Mya-ong! (Master!)"
The soft, moist embrace as I hugged it!
It really was Pengpeng!
"Wow~ Who would've thought I'd see you like this! And you've grown even bigger!"
"Myaaa-ong! (I thought I'd never see my master again after ending up in this weird place!)"
Pengpeng seemed overjoyed too, hugging me back with its tentacles and wailing.
"Myaaa-ong! (Master's got some weird shell now, but he feels way stronger!)"
"I promised I'd get stronger before we parted, didn't I? Th-that said... For some reason, it feels like I can hear your thoughts. Must be my imagination, haha!"
"Mya-ong! (I can read all of master's thoughts too, but probably just imagination!)"
"Huh?"
"Nya? (Huh?)"
Wait, we're actually communicating?
How is this possible...
"Looks like Lord Balak's pet survived so long it became a spirit beast."
"Bellesa! Is that for real?!"
The dream demon, handing me back my discarded helmet, smiled warmly and explained what had happened.
"It's huge compared to others to begin with, and its aura feels strong."
"C-could a giant slug become a spirit beast...?"
"Even I've never seen a case like this."
Back when he lived with the old man, the giant slugs in the forest were boulder-sized.
Pengpeng had been one of the bigger ones.
I'd secretly fed it all sorts of things as a kid.
And it kept surviving even after we parted, turning it into a spirit beast?
The creatures in this world are truly wondrous.
"Bellesa, do spirit beasts enable this kind of communication?"
"It varies by individual. This one seems able to communicate."
"Mya-ong (So that's how I can hear master and the scary one's thoughts!)"
"M-me, the scary one?!"
Oh ho, Pengpeng's spirit beast evolution didn't just boost intelligence.
Did it gain special abilities too?
"Definitely. We'll have to run some tests."
"Ooooh..."
What abilities does Pengpeng have, exactly!
I'm dying to know.
Anyway, Pengpeng wants to come with me.
And I want to bring it to my dungeon.
The issue is, there's no space prepared for it yet.
I'd like to give it a really nice spot, so maybe have it wait here for now...
Thud!!!
Hm? Footsteps from somewhere.
Thud thud thud thud!!!
And they're getting louder?!
Is there someone else here besides us?!
The dream demon and Pengpeng noticed too.
Let's see... The aura's a bit stronger than the old bees.
And a bizarre aura structure, like a dhampir?
Soon, the unidentified presence approached and finally revealed itself to us.
Thud!!
"Wh-what is this?!"
"A human woman? And that outfit..."
The being that appeared was dressed unlike anything I'd encountered before.
A white-haired woman in exotic attire, infused with an Eastern aura, reached for the sword at her waist.
*****************
Narin, the boss of the 9th floor themed around high mountains, half-human half-yokai.
She had come from the East and, like the others, was transported to the Abyss a year ago.
But aside from the flipped day-night cycle.
And the eerie fog around the highlands.
Who would think this place was a dungeon!
She didn't even feel hunger or fatigue here.
As a martial artist, Narin deemed it the perfect training ground.
And spent the time honing her swordsmanship.
But that peace didn't last.
Kwaaaaang!!
"Wh-what is this?!"
Balak had done "that long thing."
Once the dimensional ripples stopped, Narin moved to investigate.
But preparing fully made her later than the others.
She found the secret portal to the 8th floor, explored the mystical space with jewel-encrusted bugs.
Reached the 7th floor's massive graveyard and fought endlessly respawning undead.
But unable to find the portal to the 6th, she returned to the 9th.
Still, she didn't give up!
'There must be a formation that leads somewhere other than the cave.'
Her guess was spot on.
She'd reached the glowing crystal cave and was exploring.
But Balak and Bellesa came to the 10th.
Noise echoed through the cave, drawing her to the source.
Thus, they met.
Sensing Balak and Bellesa's auras, chills ran down Narin's spine!
'C-could they be the ones who created this bizarre space—!'
Yes! Narin believed the culprits behind this place were right in front of her!
With a house-sized giant slug in view, she drew her sword in defense.
But Bellesa recognized Narin.
'That's the one from the 9th floor? And... she'll probably die to Lord Balak, so I should tell him.'
After all, this being had suffered the same fate as them.
Feeling a bond of shared misfortune, Bellesa whispered to Balak pitying Narin.
"Is that true? But she looks too human..."
"She's probably like Kairel—a mix of human and something else."
Now Balak knew everything.
But he wondered.
What if he told her they were allies?
She surely wouldn't believe it.
Her fighting spirit might waver.
Plus, this woman was a sword-wielding martial artist!
From the East, no less—he wanted to see her true skill!
Drawing his greatsword, Balak spoke.
"Bellesa! Watch Pengpeng!"
"Sigh... Fighting it is, then. But she's a woman who suffered like us, so go easy."
"Don't worry!"
Bellesa saw through Balak's intentions completely.
With a finger snap, she teleported Balak and Narin to the 1st floor boss room.
Narin panicked at the sudden shift.
But likening it to her highland teleport, her misunderstanding deepened.
Composing herself, Narin assumed her stance.
Balak donned his helmet again.
Moonlight and stars faintly illuminated the swaying yellow reed fields in the wind.
"I won't be defiled!"
"Come at me!"
The two warriors faced off.