Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Warrior Meets the Strongest Lifeform on Earth
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Where the hell is this place?!
Just ask someone!
"If what Brother Vallak said is true, then Karian might know something about this dungeon's layout."
"You're talking about... that skeleton who uses magic?"
"That's right!"
Merchants who wander through all sorts of dungeons in this world might have even a scrap of info about this one. All we had to do was wait patiently for the skeleton merchant.
And finally!
"Brother Vallak!"
"Ooh!! You're here! Skeleton... Huh?"
What the—? Who's that woman next to the skeleton merchant?
She has horns like me, but no tail, so she's not a demon?
Soon, Perry and Osatpi beside me also spotted the woman—who clearly didn't belong here—and wore puzzled expressions.
Just then, as countless hooks floated above our heads.
The skeleton merchant introduced the woman who'd come with him.
"Brother Vallak, this is Bellesa, who leads one of the dream demon factions."
"Nice to meet you! I'm Bellesa."
"Y-You're a dream demon?!"
She wasn't like the sleazy succubi I knew!
What was it... She had this fresh, innocent vibe, like the middle schoolers from my past life—
No, wait!
This world had games that were global hits.
Ultra-popular ones even teens could play.
To avoid backlash from the global forces of political correctness while keeping the ratings low for monsters like these!
Dream demons didn't have to be oozing with sex and decadence—they could be a race that truly lived in dreams!
Oh dear.
I'd just learned from meeting Osatpi that I shouldn't judge by appearances, and here I was forgetting it already.
Time to pay the price for seeing the woman in front of me that way.
"Bellesa, was it? Nice to meet you. I heard you came to help me out—truly grateful."
"""????"""
"Hm? What's with everyone?"
"B-Brother Vallak called her by name!!! And such a normal reaction!!"
"Ugh! This little bro... it's too moving."
"W-Why me!!"
These guys...?
I'd been staring at her with what must've looked like super rude eyes.
You think I'd try to get chummy with someone who's just a business contact?!
Even a warrior marching toward death feels some guilt!
I'd deal with these bozos—who saw me as some water buffalo brute—later.
For now, I approached the dream demon, who seemed to find the situation hilarious.
"Tch, ignore those guys."
"Hehe, got it. I'm just flattered that Brother Vallak welcomes me like this—don't know where to put myself."
"Thanks for understanding. Looks like you came with the skeleton merchant, so are you a dungeon merchant too?"
"Pretty much. And we have something for you from our side, Brother Vallak."
"For me?"
What she handed me next was... some magic tool?
"What's this?"
"A little while from now, the city where beings like you gather will be complete. We're planning a party then, and the consensus is to invite you too."
Beings like me gathering?!
Th-That means...!
"A dungeon bosses' reunion, huh."
"Uh... You're not surprised at all, Brother Vallak?"
"Everything has its reasons."
Well... Demon Lords numbering over a hundred throwing a feast on special occasions.
A pantheon of gathered devils~
Monsters banding together to form nations~
Villain alliances plotting world destruction~
Heroes assembling in one place~
It was all so overused in media from my past life that it barely fazed me.
Anyway! Looking at the dream demon in front of me, she was obviously insanely strong.
She was even hiding her power like some old master.
For a powerhouse like that to come personally with an invite!
It was proof they held me in high regard!
Plus, she'd be high up among the dungeon merchants.
So I asked her about the dungeon layout that Osatpi had mentioned.
But—
"A ban?!"
"We wanted to tell you about this dungeon, Brother Vallak. But..."
She wrote something on the floor using a tool, but the letters smeared away in an instant.
A ban that smeared writing on contact meant even words couldn't convey it.
"With things like this, there's nothing we can do. So please, Brother Vallak, don't be angry..."
"I get it."
"Huh?"
Honestly, for the AIs ruling this world to rein in bosses acting freely inside dungeons.
What could be more effective than info control!
Spoilers are a sin everywhere!
Plus, info and knowledge had always been treated as massive power and assets.
And since bosses like Perry and Osatpi weren't mere puppets following AI scripts.
They couldn't stop autonomous actions, so they hid the truth as much as possible.
Sure, it sucked that the chance to learn the truth quick was gone, but I had time!
I'd uncover it myself, bit by bit!
***********
Regret was regret.
I didn't forget my original goal.
"So with this bracelet and magic tool, I can manifest my thoughts into reality? How does it even work?"
"Simply put, think of it as temporarily creating our dream realm with this tool. But be careful—only usable in sealed spaces like this."
With this magic tool, I could turn the place into a dream world!!
That meant!
I activated the tool fully.
And sank into deep thought to meet the being I wanted.
Soon, in my imagination, I moved to a place thick with massive grasses and trees.
I looked around the gigantic world.
Then the wind stopped, and the ground trembled beneath me. No, the earth... roared.
Thud...! Thud...!
Realizing something huge and alive was breathing nearby, I instinctively hid in the giant grass.
Then, as a thick shadow draped over the grass from beyond, it emerged, slicing through the dense fog.
A massive head.
Big yellow eyes.
Short arms.
And a mouth with teeth gleaming like daggers—it stretched its neck long, roaring skyward, and a deafening boom split the heavens.
"KUOOOOOH—!!!!"
Yes! This was the one!
You're the one.
Come forth, Tyranno!!!
KUUUUNG!!!!
A sudden boom rang out before me.
Slowly opening my eyes, there it was!! A real, massive Tyranno!!!
"O... Ooooh!!!"
"My god... such a creature exists..."
"C-Cool."
"Huh? That's coo—"
You little punks! Facing a dinosaur like this.
No wonder puny things like drakes or wyverns didn't cross your minds!
But this wasn't the end!!!
The Tyranno's heart reached out to me.
'Vallak! Evolve me!'
Aah!! Right! The Tyranno could go even further from here!
"I hear you! Now evolve!! Tyranno!!"
"KUOOOOOH—!!!!"
Suddenly a round disk appeared under the Tyranno, spinning wildly.
Then mechanical parts attached themselves.
"Yes!! That's the form!! Shed your frail organics and reach the pinnacle of life!!!"
And the evolved Tyranno's form was!!
KWAAAANG!!!
"Mecha Tyranno!!!"
"""Ooooh!!!!"""
Karian, Ferguson, and Orek stared at the gleaming silver behemoth, chills running through them as they covered their mouths.
Vallak nodded in satisfaction at his crew's reaction to the Mecha Tyranno, then shouted at the men.
"You didn't think this was it, did you!"
"What?! There's more?!"
"Brother Vallak! What did you do!"
"Th-This wasn't the true endpoint for lifeforms?!"
As Vallak intended, another disk formed under the Tyranno for a second evolution.
But seeing no real change, the onlookers felt puzzled.
However!!!
"Skeleton merchant!!"
"Y-Yes?!"
"Darken this place!"
As Karian did so per Vallak's order, they instantly saw what had changed in the magnificent beast.
""""Oh.""""
Thus, facing the Mecha Glow-in-the-Dark Tyranno, the men were so moved they shed tears and gave a standing ovation.
Bellesa watched them with a look of total bewilderment.
*****************
With such a powerful being created in the boss room, the magic tool reached its limit, and the Tyranno vanished in a puff.
But its spirit lingered—the party's hearts burned hotter.
"Hahaha!! Truly grateful! I didn't expect it to hit this hard!"
"Ah... Sure."
"K-Karian. Truly... moving. To meet such a being in life..."
"Brother Vallak, you called that thing a Mecha Glow-in-the-Dark Tyranno? W-Would it be okay if I kept a shrunken one in my shop?"
"I'm a druid, but I realize now I've underestimated nature too much. I truly repent."
Afterward, Bellesa got rave reviews from the hyped-up men, but unable to grasp their sentiments at all... well, whatever.
Their goal with the Elder Council—to get closer to Vallak—was overachieved, right?
Anyway, after hearing Vallak's further request, she whipped up a tool on the spot.
"Not just that magic tool earlier, but making these instantly... impressive."
"Experience counts. And you get how to use it, right?"
"Of course!"
So this tool stores a room as a space and inserts it elsewhere!
No one's entering the dungeon right now, so time to tweak the room after the dungeon shelter quick!