Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Return from the Rune Dungeon
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‘……Done.’
I gently caressed the newly appeared tattoo on the back of my hand. With this, all the conditions for challenging the forsaken creature boss battle imposed by the gods were met. All that was left was to progress the story.
‘They should be finished up top by now, right?’
Having completed its role, the rune stele crumbled away, losing its light. I left it behind and blankly gazed up at the ceiling of the boss room while waiting for the magic circle leading to the dungeon entrance to activate.
As a trap to screw over players who happily returned to the surface after acquiring the rune, an intermediate boss ambushes you the moment you arrive at the dungeon entrance. From behind, no less.
First-time players would struggle desperately to defeat Lucia and claim the rune, then joyfully ride the magic circle back to the surface—only to get smashed in the back of the head by that thing and die pathetically. That was the usual outcome.
But now, there was no need to worry about that at all.
‘As if they could lose to it.’
The forces up there alone included the four captains of the Silver Dawn Knights who once served the emperor, one of the twin pillars of the Holy Kingdom's military might—the Heresy Inquisitor—along with over a dozen battle nuns.
It would be weirder if they lost to a mere intermediate boss. Even if the captains charged in one-on-one, they could crush them effortlessly within 30 seconds and spend the rest of the time leisurely resting.
Before long, a green magic circle appeared where the rune stele had been. It led straight to the surface. I stepped onto it and was soon teleported somewhere.
My vision went black for a moment, and when it returned, my body was on a bridge just below the dungeon entrance, wobbling unsteadily. I steadied myself, channeling strength into my shaky legs.
The sunlight that welcomed me was far clearer and warmer. It was a stark contrast to the gloomy, pitch-black sunlight when we first entered the rune dungeon.
I walked out to the middle of the bridge. Carefully avoiding any slips, I leaped up to the upper bridge, grabbed the edge, and pulled myself up.
“Ah, Delta!”
My eyes met Lize’s, who had been looking down from outside the dungeon. Spotting me, she beamed and waved her arms vigorously. Her ample breasts, wrapped in a white sleeveless top, jiggled left and right.
Judging by her lack of armor, they’d already taken down the intermediate boss. I’d explained that since that was the only monster left, they could ditch the armor afterward.
Lize dashed across the bridge in one breath and hauled me up with a single arm as I flailed below. She straightened out my disheveled clothes.
“Did you handle it okay?”
Without a word, I held up the back of my left hand.
Lize smiled brightly at the tattoo, now more intricate with the addition of the ‘Rest in the Abyss’ rune from this dungeon to the Vitality Enhancement rune we’d acquired together before.
I stroked her head a couple of times. A pleased “Hngh~” sigh escaped from between her rosebud lips. Once I finished petting her and started walking forward, Lize trailed happily behind me.
Finally stepping onto solid ground felt soothing. The dungeon floor was a muddy mess of black sludge, and the bridges were disgustingly slick with who-knows-what.
The battle nuns stared at me in a daze, while Selene appeared expressionless at first glance—but her jewel-like green eyes trembled repeatedly with astonishment.
“……I’m relieved you’ve returned safely, esteemed guest.”
“You look pretty shocked.”
“Of course. How could we not be? You single-handedly dismantled a place our Holy Kingdom failed to conquer despite countless sacrifices—and in less than an hour, no less.”
“I told you I would. I simply kept my word. Nothing happened up top, right?”
I looked around. The murky, dismal scenery from when we arrived was gone, replaced by a clear sky and vast expanses of vibrant greenery.
In the corner of my vision, I spotted the monster’s corpse—smashed so thoroughly that “pathetic” didn’t even begin to cover it. I chuckled inwardly. Just as I’d expected.
“Yes. Nothing occurred aside from that monster appearing.”
“Then we’re done here. Time to head back. You all set?”
“We came here following you, Delta. What else is there to do?”
The other captains nodded in agreement at Lize’s words. In fact, shedding their armor was a sign there was nothing left for them to do.
“Understood. Then let’s return. Gather your holy armors. All units, prepare to withdraw.”
Selene issued orders to the battle nuns. They moved in perfect unison, surrounding us on all sides. Not that any more monsters were coming, anyway.
The captains hurriedly donned their armors. Full plate was notoriously cumbersome to put on and take off, but they equipped it as easily as casual clothes.
Selene took point, with us following behind. The battle nuns maintained a set distance while encircling us.
“Hm? Delta, what’s that at your waist?”
Lize tilted her head at the holy catalyst tied to my belt. Selene’s eyes flicked toward us at the words, but my body blocked the view, so she couldn’t tell exactly what it was.
What Lize had spotted was the holy catalyst Lucia had used. Delivering it to the Heresy Judge would finally wrap up the Lucia event.
I’d just discarded the catalyst used for the blessing enchant on my sword. It wasn’t an event item anyway, and later I could get something far superior—a superior holy spell—from the Pope.
I planned to visit the Holy Kingdom at some point anyway, if only for that Pope’s blessing enchant. Stella’s sudden arrival had thrown the schedule into chaos, though.
“It’s a holy catalyst. Picked it up down there.”
“Oh?”
Her curt reply was enough for Lize, who backed off without pressing further on how or why I’d picked it up. Selene seemed to think the same and turned away.
I had no idea what reaction the Heresy Judge would have upon seeing Lucia’s holy catalyst. In the game, there was no option to show it to the Heresy Inquisitor.
This was an event tied to the Heresy Judge, not the Heresy Inquisitor.
With no need to stay vigilant, our pace quickened considerably. We reached the barrier rift sooner than expected. Soon, the golden glow came into view.
“Esteemed guest, might you spare a moment after exiting the barrier?”
“We’ve got nothing but time anyway, so sure. But why?”
“I’d like to hear about what happened inside the rune dungeon—and the effects of the rune.”
“If that’s it, of course. Got it. I’ll follow you right after we’re out?”
I agreed readily. It was meant for the Heresy Judge originally, but spilling it to Selene wouldn’t cause any major issues.
The person who’d authorized entry into the rune dungeon had changed, after all.
“Yes. Thank you for your kindness.”
Selene bowed her head slightly in gratitude, then positioned the battle nuns on either side of the rift.
“Please go first. We’ll follow.”
From outside, the rift’s interior was visible—but from inside, the outside wasn’t. Only the golden glow was visible. Guess that’s why it’s a barrier, I thought idly.
We pushed through the rift as Selene instructed.
“Why are you esteemed guests emerging from inside the sealed rune dungeon barrier?”
emerging, we spotted Stella standing there with a sullen expression, arms crossed under her chest, glaring at us.
Battle nuns stood in a line behind her. The holy knights originally guarding the place were nowhere in sight.
Neither the Heresy Judge nor the battle nuns held weapons. Stella’s face showed mild dissatisfaction rather than anger. No immediate brawl seemed likely.
“What does it look like?”
“……You entered the rune dungeon?”
“Correct.”
Stella clutched her forehead. Her deep sigh carried genuine lament.
“Esteemed guest. His Holiness the Pope declared you precious visitors, but even so—entering the rune dungeon without permission on your own whim is—”
“I granted permission.”
At that moment, Selene stepped out from the rift.
“I authorized entry to the rune dungeon, so the esteemed guests did not intrude without permission.”
“……Heresy Inquisitor, you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What on earth were you thinking? If they’d gotten seriously hurt or killed—”
“Don’t you know better than anyone the esteemed guest’s capabilities, Heresy Judge?”
Stella flushed slightly at the direct hit and cleared her throat awkwardly to change the subject. She was probably recalling how she couldn’t land a single blow on me in our sparring match and got utterly crushed.
Her odd behavior drew piercing stares from the captains beside her. Their faces were hidden by helmets, but their expressions were obvious.
“Ahem. Fine. Let’s say the skill checks out. So, what’s the result? You gave up on subjugating it and just came back?”
“The barrier can now be dispelled.”
“……Huh? For real?”
“I wouldn’t lie about something like this, Heresy Judge. I’ll summon the holy knights again later. I ordered them to stay back just in case.”
“No, I didn’t mean it’s a lie…… You went in just moments ago, and you’re saying you’ve already cleared the dungeon? I was just surprised.”
Stella’s gaze turned to me. Seizing the opening, I spoke up quickly.
“By the way, I have something to deliver to you, Heresy Judge.”
“Hm? To me?”
“Yes. To you, Heresy Judge.”
Her green eyes widened in confusion. She looked utterly caught off guard.
“What is it? It’s not the head of some monster from the rune dungeon, is it?”
Stella laughed lightly. Quietly, I untied the holy catalyst from my waist and held it out to her.
“…….”
Stella’s laughter cut off the instant she saw the holy catalyst.