Episode 1048
Episode 1048
'Alright. Let's start by asking why this is here.'
Having finished organizing his thoughts, Lee Han asked,
"Why is this here?"
"Huh?"
Jowurin tilted her head in confusion, not understanding what Lee Han meant.
"..."
"It's not exactly common for a mansion to have a dungeon entrance, is it?"
"Wait, really?!"
Jowurin was genuinely surprised by the contractor's words.
In other dragons' residences, having one or two dungeons connected was perfectly normal.
"......"
Lee Han was once again reminded of how much he still didn't know about the dragon race.
He hadn't realized. He just assumed it was a given...
"Fascinating."
'Shouldn't the master be the last one to be surprised?' The baby basilisk wagged its tail as it thought to itself.
The master's mansion was already filled with demons, golems, and all sorts of strange things—so why be shocked that a dragon's mansion had a dungeon entrance?
Other dragons were all diligently cultivating their dungeons!
Excited, Jowurin launched into an explanation.
These dungeons, whether formed naturally or artificially, had always been objects of both fear and excitement for the Empire's adventurers.
The fear of not knowing what dangers might lurk in the bizarre environments that differed from the outside world.
And the thrill of not knowing what rewards might await after overcoming those dangers...
But that was merely the perspective of mortals. Dragons approached dungeons with far more cold and calculated reasoning.
They managed dungeons like one would tend to a mansion's garden or courtyard.
They infused mana to increase air density, cast spells for internal circulation, placed rare monster eggs, stored weapons...
Just as one would lay down aquatic plants, pebbles, and soil before introducing fish into an aquarium, they made all sorts of preparations and let time do the rest until a perfectly decent dungeon was complete.
Afterward, all they had to do was send their minions to collect necessary materials or reagents.
If they had placed rare monsters inside, they could retrieve the multiplied creatures. If they had stored weapons, they could retrieve those same weapons, now strengthened by absorbing the dungeon's mana.
In other words...
'A kind of dragon garden!'
Just as Einrogard students secretly cultivated gardens somewhere on their estates for self-sufficiency, dragons were doing something similar.
The scale was incomparably different, but the fundamental principle was the same.
'I cultivated it diligently behind Gonadaltes' back. The other dragons helped whenever they visited...'
'That sounds even more ominous...'
'Behind the Skeleton Principal's back, with the help of other dragons...'
Both sounded equally foreboding. Lee Han cautiously asked,
"Have you ever gone down there yourself?"
'I left it untouched so we could explore it together when you and your friends came!'
Jowurin seemed like a child proudly presenting a treasured snack to share with friends.
Of course, Lee Han didn't find this particular "snack" very appetizing. He already felt full enough.
'Hmm. Now that I think about it, the other dragons probably didn't make it too dangerous.'
The fact that it was made behind the Skeleton Principal's back was still a bit unsettling, but dragons were, by nature, masters of dungeon gardening.
They wouldn't have filled it with dangerous things when there was always a chance the ever-curious Jowurin might wander in.
Glancing to the side, Lee Han noticed Eandurde's eyes sparkling brightly—a rare sight.
"Dungeon...!"
"......"
Lee Han could already sense the tide turning. Two out of the four present were eager to go in.
'But this is exactly when I need to stay sharp.'
As the de facto leader of this scaled adventuring party, Lee Han had to keep a clear head to ensure no one got hurt.
"What exactly is inside the dungeon?"
'I never asked about that.'
"Any warnings? Like it being dangerous, or that we shouldn't enter?"
Jowurin shook her head vigorously.
'Hmm. Is it really okay...?'
After firing off more questions to assess the situation, Lee Han finally felt somewhat reassured.
If none of the dragons had warned or stopped them, the likelihood of danger had significantly diminished.
And Jowurin had said she only infused mana without adding anything strange...
"Then, Your Highness. Allow me to ask one final question."
Mm! You may ask.
"But why is this considered my gift?"
Uh... Because Lee Han likes danger?
Tilting her head, Jowurin repeated verbatim what she'd heard from the Skeleton Principal.
To be precise, it was something about 'being madly obsessed with death' or the like, but that seemed rather rude, so she chose to forget it.
"I see."
Lee Han could guess the culprit without even asking.
The next time he met the Emperor, a wicked letter of vengeance would reveal itself!
"It'd be nice if there were ghouls or Frost Giants."
"...Stop saying creepy things, Eandurde."
Lee Han, who had descended into the dungeon entrance (with Jowurin, who had gone down first, cushioning their landing softly), shuddered and scolded Eandurde.
Encountering Frost Giants, beings from another dimension, wasn't exactly an auspicious sign.
Especially since strange rumors like 'the mage recognized by the King' were floating around about Lee Han among the Frost Giants.
-It's not just a rumor, is it?
"Isn't it past your bedtime? Go to sleep. You won't grow if you don't sleep."
-......
The Baby Basilisk felt deeply wronged.
It had only asked a simple question!
"Light, arise."
Lee Han cast the spell.
Given that the dungeon was cultivated by dragons, the passage was spacious enough for Jowurin to roll around freely, but it was still dimly lit.
It was probably for the sake of the flora and fauna growing in the dungeon, but there was a chance Jowurin might trip over a rock. Lee Han amplified the light output significantly.
"?"
Eandurde stared in bewilderment at the massive orb of light floating in the air.
No matter how she looked at it, the scale and power of this light far exceeded the <Light Creation> spells she and her friends used.
This wasn't something achievable by simply casting a normal spell more powerfully.
"How did you...?"
"Ah. I modified the spell. No need to try copying it. It's not exactly a practical method anyway."
Lee Han had applied the realization he'd had while trying to cut the chains before entering the dungeon to other spells as well.
If he had to name it, it would be <Wardanaz's Light Creation>.
"......"
Eandurde stared fixedly at her senior, who had casually mentioned modifying and creating a new spell.
Her gaze was an equal mix of awe and admiration.
"Isn't this strange?"
When Lee Han asked Jowurin, who was crawling along behind them, the Gold Dragon seemed puzzled by the question.
Wasn't Lee Han always like this?
"W-well, yes."
Eandurde lamented that she was the only mage present.
If there had been another mage, they could have shared in her astonishment!
"Wait."
Thanks to the intensified light, their vision extended far ahead. Lee Han's expression grew serious as he looked forward.
"This is strange."
"!"
Eandurde realized why her senior had stopped and was on guard. A peculiar sense of dissonance emanated from the distant passage.
Part of the passage ahead was a naturally rugged cave, but the section beyond was clearly a meticulously carved granite corridor.
The alternating pattern of such passages was undeniably bizarre. Eandurde exclaimed excitedly,
"Maybe a monster destroyed it!"
Exactly!
Jowurin chimed in enthusiastically.
If a monster had appeared and caused destruction, the jagged passages would make sense. 'Does such a monster even exist?' Lee Han wondered inwardly.
Roaming around Einrogard naturally made one well-versed in monsters.
Especially someone like Lee Han, whose fate seemed intertwined with monsters—he had no choice but to know them inside out for survival.
Yet, no monster came to mind that could destroy a passage with such ruler-straight precision and then move on.
"Everyone, stay here. I'll go check ahead."
Lee Han cast combat divination magic and even performed Crystal Top Divination as he moved forward.
No matter how he looked, there didn't seem to be any danger around, but since you never know, he had to be thorough.
"!"
While scouting ahead, Lee Han's eyes widened when he saw characters carved into the wall. Could this be a clue about the strange passageway's true nature?
Uman paved this passage. Since big sis might trip when she descends later, stop spouting nonsense and tearing up the floor. Paving the passage won't pollute the dungeon environment!
I removed the paving from the section under my care, Uman. The dungeon's environment must remain natural—that's what makes it a dungeon! Big Sis would actually be more disappointed to see it paved, don't you think?
-Aunina
"......"
Lee Han staggered slightly. He felt disappointed in himself for taking this seriously. 'What the...' Reading the text revealed there had been a conflict between two dragons regarding decorating this passage.
Uman, a dragon Lee Han knew, was pro-paving, while Aunina, an unfamiliar dragon, was anti-paving...
Look there! Lee Han must have guessed the truth!
From behind, he could hear Jowurin whispering excitedly to her fellow Scale Adventurers. She seemed incredibly eager to find out what kind of monster had appeared.
"...I've identified it."
Lee Han quickly covered the wall's text with magic before speaking.
"It's a monster called the Doreangi. It sometimes appears and messes up passageways like this."
"Of course!"
"I've never heard of it!"
"It's extremely rare, so you wouldn't have. You'd hardly ever see one. Now, let's stay alert and move forward."
Lee Han avoided eye contact as he lied.
He couldn't bring himself to tell the two, who were so full of anticipation about the dungeon's threats, the truth.
Hey! Hey, look, Lee Han!
Jowurin hugged Lee Han tightly with her front legs and shook him. The strength would have knocked an ordinary person over, but Lee Han, already accustomed to Jowurin, braced himself accordingly.
He stood firm, as if rooted to the ground.
"What's... that?"
A side path branching off from the main passage.
At the end of the circular clearing stood a sword embedded in stone.
Jowurin and Eandurde were already brimming with excitement, but Lee Han remained calm. 'No... this is a dungeon made by dragons.' If it were any other dungeon, it might have been an ancient relic, but since this was made by dragons, the story was different.
Had they built it over an existing dungeon, perhaps?
"Hold on. Let me check first."
Lee Han approached cautiously, checking for more of the same text he'd seen earlier.
This sword from Kinnara was personally obtained and planted here by Uman. It still needs to absorb more of the dungeon's mana, so don't touch it.
-Uman
"......"
Why? Why?
"The trap here is too dangerous for our current level. We shouldn't approach it yet."
"!!!"
Jowurin's pupils dilated.
Who knew such a dangerous trap existed?!
The dungeon... seems far more dangerous than I thought...!
"Oh? So, shall we turn back?"
Lee Han brightened up.
Truthfully, by this point, Lee Han had realized something.
To be precise, this wasn't a dungeon... It's a treasure vault for Jowurin!
It was essentially a garden the other dragons had prepared in advance for when Jowurin would eventually explore it.
The treasure sword Lee Han had just found was explicitly marked as such... So, there was no point in his party taking it prematurely. It still needed more time to mature.
But Jowurin shook her head.
I trust Lee Han. I trust Eandurde too.
"...!"
Eandurde turned her head sharply. Though her face wasn't visible, anyone could tell she was moved.
...What about me?
O-of course I trust Basil too!
Flustered, Jowurin hastily added. Fortunately, the baby basilisk giggled and fell for it.
"...Understood. Then let's proceed further."
Lee Han! There's a treasure chest over there!
"Oh dear. From what I can see, that's an instant-death trap if touched."
"?! There's such a thing?!"