Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Luck and Misfortune
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While Ballack was preoccupied with reopening the dungeon.
A remarkably peaceful time had passed outside.
Even glad tidings kept spreading.
"Wow… another demonic realm has vanished?"
"The heroes have been so capable lately."
"Speaking of which, weren't there some guys saying the heroes got way weaker after the great war?"
"Yeah, there were."
"Those doomsayers? They all got thrown in jail after causing a ruckus at the last dimensional rift."
Last time, when the dimensional rift opened—what the doomsayers thought was a tutorial—the zealots had swarmed out en masse…
"Ooooh!!! This world is doomed now, and nothing can be trusted…"
Shouting nonsense like that, they caused chaos.
But before they could do much more, the incident resolved itself.
Pointed at by armed soldiers, they shuffled off to prison with awkward expressions.
Meanwhile, various beings addicted to the foul taste of the Abyss Pit began wandering the world in search of new challenges.
As a result, those pursuing not just mid-realm chaos but outright apocalypse—followers of demons and bizarre entities—started getting cut down one after another.
Sure, they'd lined their hideouts with traps and all sorts of contraptions—
"Not much to it, huh?"
"Indeed. No linked traps either—way too predictable."
"Pfft~ Who steps on a pressure plate right there on the floor?"
"Triggers are too basic, and those ejection holes are blatant."
"No riddles around here?"
"""As if!!!"""
Who from a place of infinite respawns, where they'd grown sick of far worse traps, would get caught by these?
The followers' traps were downright boring to them.
"Damn it! You're not even blocking anymore!"
"Why is the archer using magic!!"
"Our carefully prepared traps!"
"Gaaahhh!"
And so, the demon worshippers' forces shrank dramatically.
To top it off, the gods had stuffed all the dangerous ones into the Abyss Pit, flattening the difficulty of every dungeon in the mid-realm.
The mid-realm could truly be called an era of peace.
But have you heard of the law of conservation of luck?
It was time for great misfortune to strike the world.
Soon, the three days Ferguson mentioned to the rabbit guild passed.
With news of the mini-dungeon reopening and a massive patch, everyone waited eagerly at the entrance.
But at that moment!
Zzzzap! Craaaack!!!
Whooooosh!
A massive spark erupted from the Abyss Pit entrance, followed by a raging storm.
Unsure what was happening, everyone backed away from the entrance.
The anomaly soon subsided, dust settling.
And there, smack in the entrance, a being appeared.
Who else could it be?
"Ahh… So this is the world Father spoke of. Truly beautiful."
"""Huh……?"""
It was none other than Anima making her debut in the world.
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A combat doll with pinkish skin on full display from going shirtless.
Anima marveled at the cloudless blue sky.
Everyone facing her froze stiff.
"Th-that doll?"
"Uh… um… uh…"
The ones waiting were all hardcore dungeon challengers, so they all knew Anima—and had all died to her!
Soon after—
"Ruuuun!!!"
"Uwaaaah!"
"Kyaaaa!"
Adventurers and others who valued their lives fled.
Hero parties, knowing disaster would strike the moment Anima rampaged here, hurriedly drew weapons.
Knights still lingering also stayed to fight alongside the heroes.
Chaos erupted at the dungeon entrance.
But Anima just shook her head at the massive crowd ahead.
After some time, all who could flee had fled.
Those resolved to face her edged closer bit by bit.
Anima touched something at her waist.
A voice shattered the silence.
[ CLOCK UP ]
"Time accelerates."
"""!!!!!"""
Vreeeeem!
Anima vanished from sight, panicking everyone.
They spotted her soon after—in the sky!
Racing through it at high speed!
"Walking on air?!"
"Is she heading for the city?!"
"Damn it!! Chase her!!!"
"We lose her here, we'll never catch her! Run!!"
Everyone bellowed and frantically pursued Anima.
Of course, Anima was Ballack's clone.
She had no taste for needless killing.
But would they know that?
They chased the endlessly accelerating Anima with every means at their disposal.
Contrary to expectations she'd head straight for Raider, she vanished elsewhere entirely.
The world plunged into sudden pandemonium.
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News of a doll from the Abyss Pit escaping hit the Altria Empire like a nuke.
An emergency countermeasures committee convened in the imperial capital.
The empire's top powers engaged in fruitless debate.
Bang!!
"We must pursue it immediately!"
"…And how, exactly?"
"You want to just sit there while that doll rampages through the empire?"
"Intel from Raider says that thing has a body unscratched even by knight captains wielding mana-enhanced swords. And it seems able to accelerate its own time."
"What kind of doll has functions like that… Who made it?"
"For now, my take is—"
"Then—"
As the meeting devolved into chaos.
The sun of the Altria Empire, Empress Eileen, sank into deep thought.
How much time passed?
As the mood wilted, she spoke.
"Why didn't that doll attack the moment it emerged?"
"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
"This document states… the doll harbors hostility toward all entering the dungeon and acts on it. But after a set time, it retreats on its own. And it hasn't caused any issues until now."
However—
"I know full well its danger, so I understand your concerns. But this matter still has unresolved questions. And there's only one way to get answers."
"We have no choice but to confront that werewolf in the dungeon shelter directly."
Truth is always close at hand.
This was simply a matter of asking Ferguson.
The empress knew it well and issued orders.
"The knight captains from each region are challenging the Abyss Pit right now—send imperial edicts at once."
"Understood."
"Also, issue special decrees to my old comrades among the imperial nobles."
"Your Majesty… to the grand dukes as well?"
The surest way to intel existed.
But no need to rely solely on it.
To counter unpredictable situations, the empress messaged her old allies.
And one being came to mind—
"If only the Hero were here…"
"Sigh… Beren, you always vanish right when we need you."
The pride of the Altria Empire and one of Empress Eileen's great achievements(?).
The hero from the great war era, Beren—they missed him dearly.
But thanks to a prank-loving saint's blessing, no one knew where he'd gone.
As they sighed in lament.
Urgent news arrived in the meeting room.
"A massive mana storm has erupted in Count Sebekir's territory!"
"What?"
"And there!!"
"The Hero is fighting some being!!"
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Rewind a bit.
Facing his wife's fury at the Papal Court, Beren's future looked bleak.
Sure, his TS'd childhood friend stayed behind promising to handle it…
But could he relax?
Maybe he should rush to his wife now, kneel, and beg—that's what he thought.
As Beren paced anxiously.
News shaking the world reached him too.
"So… a doll of immense power escaped the Abyss Pit and is wandering outside the dungeon?"
"Yes, traveler! If this goes wrong, the empire's in real trouble!"
A major threat loomed over his wife's empire.
If played right?
He could score major forgiveness points.
Judging thus, Beren released all restraints on his body.
Rushing from the Papal Court as if searching the empire, he sensed a ferocious beast-like aura.
Drawn to it, he found—
"You? The doll that escaped the Abyss Pit."
"Hoo? Impressive."
Beren confronted Anima, who was standing still to set up a relay device.
He readied for battle.
But puzzled at Anima ignoring him mostly.
"Hey, doll. What're you doing right now?"
"Enjoying the true world."
"What?"
"Isn't it truly beautiful? The sky, the earth, and the exquisitely balanced ecosystem there—it's like a treasure chest."
Beren felt awkward hearing Anima praise the world he and his comrades protected.
Soon judging Anima no villain, Beren chatted a bit.
"By any chance, do you have a name?"
"Of course."
"Then—"
"The one asking for a name should give theirs first—it's polite."
"…Can't argue that. I'm Beren."
"Anima."
Thus began the odd encounter between the two, sending the world down yet another unknowable path.