29. Dungeon Rematch and Rakushel of Days Past
We'd made it to the third floor of the dungeon.
The formation was Mizuki and Fam up front, me and Myra in the rear.
I'd equipped my bow in preparation for the Big Eyes.
Myra had her mace at the ready.
"So, Myra, you've been in a dungeon before, huh?"
When we entered, we could choose floors from 1 to 30, or 39 to 41.
"Yes. Back when I was a nun, I went down to the 30th floor once."
"Were you in a party?"
"I was in Aidan's party. Or rather, he was the one who taught me how to explore dungeons."
"I see."
Myra nodded.
"Aidan saved me and Ira after we lost our parents to the plague. Thanks to him, we were able to enter the church orphanage. He kept supporting us after that, too, so we never went without there. And now here we are."
The dwarf Aidan's legs were short. Uncle Longlegs had become Uncle Shortlegs. The real man who'd raised those two magnificent pairs of tits. Plenty of people owed him their lives. Me and Fam included. Leaving this city meant saying goodbye to him, too.
"The plague, huh. Like the Black Death?" It was the only medieval plague that came to mind.
"Yes. There was no one at the church in our rural village who could heal it."
I see. So churches actually worked in this world.
"Master."
Fam called out to me.
There were two Big Eyes on the ceiling. Before I could even nock an arrow, they spat fireballs at us.
The distance made them easy to dodge. As I nocked another arrow, wolves charged from the front and behind.
"I'll take the one in front!" Mizuki headed straight for it.
"Then I'll handle the one behind!" Myra positioned herself to guard my back.
"Fam, let's take down the Big Eyes!"
"Yes!"
The moment I loosed my arrow, Fam threw a kunai. It pierced right through one.
Just as the Big Eye fell, Mizuki and Myra finished off their wolves.
"That was a breeze. Let's push on."
As I said it, I noticed Fam staring up at the ceiling.
"The kunai's stuck up there... it won't come down."
Arrows were consumables, but kunai were too valuable to toss away. I hit it with a stone pellet using earth magic, and it dropped.
"Thank you, Master." Fam bowed her head.
"Fam..."
For some reason, she felt a little distant. I stroked her ear. Still the best texture in the world.
"...Master?"
"Nah, it's nothing."
I pulled my hand away. Mizuki and Myra were staring, and I felt my face heat up.
Still, against ranged enemies, arrows would run out first. Magic drain for control was an issue, too. And if we couldn't recover kunai... Against something like an area guarder, it was unavoidable, but burning through supplies on trash mobs was rough.
"Mash, how about we check everyone's levels real quick?"
Myra suggested it.
"Sure. I'm Adventurer level 17."
"I'm Ninja Wolf level 14," said Fam.
"I'm Swordsman level 11, second job Adventurer level 2," said Mizuki.
"And I'm Shrine Maiden level 34, second job Nun level 15. Mash and Fam level up fast thanks to Mash's divine blessing. Mizuki's been fighting high-level foes, so her gains are quick too, but the blessing effect seems even faster. Hmm..."
Myra was way ahead by a mile. Better not stare at her chest too obviously. She seemed lost in thought.
"By the way, Fam, decided on your special skill yet?"
I asked her.
"Not yet. I'm torn, but 46cm Triple Turret Cannon looks promising."
If she fired that thing, the shockwave would probably blow us allies away first. Fam was a big battleship gun enthusiast, huh? Maybe she wasn't satisfied with my destroyer—no, light cruiser.
"I'm looking for something that can protect Master."
"I see. A skill to protect me would protect you too. I'm all for it."
Fam nodded happily.
"No rush anyway. Level up a bit more, and you might find something that fits better. We can decide after we reach Migurutto."
"Right. I'll think it over slowly."
Fam replied.
"Divine blessings are said to appear in one in tens or hundreds of thousands. Mash, can you grant them?"
Myra asked, clearly shocked.
"Nah, I traded with Rakushel during the fight with Lead's crew. She gave me a catalog for Fam's special skill."
"You've been giving Fam all the perks from the start. We get you're her top priority, but Mizuki and I are your lovers too, you know."
Myra glanced at Mizuki for backup.
"Eh? M-me? I mean... no... yeah, I'd like some kindness too."
Mizuki fidgeted, looking down. Kinda cute.
"Special skills are off-limits. But attitude-wise, got it. I'll do better."
"Yes. Please do."
Myra smiled. Honestly, I still didn't know how to handle her. Needed the guts to cop a feel. Alright, now or never. I reached out stealthily, but locked eyes with Mizuki. She was glaring. I withdrew.
"As an apology, Myra, I'll share my storage with you."
I quickly made her a partition.
"Thank you!"
Glad she was happy.
"Hmph. What about me?"
Mizuki chimed in. She already had her own storage. Tricky.
"Got nothing to give right now. Guess I'll have to kiss you instead."
"Eh? Right here?" Mizuki's face went beet red.
"Master..."
Fam sounded scary.
"Mash, while you're using the bow today, mind if I borrow your katana? Wanna test it out."
"Might need to switch for some enemies... but fine."
I handed her the katana. She was rear guard, so swapping time wasn't an issue—but I'd use my one-hander then. Testing options was important for her.
"Anyway, I've been thinking. The enemies on floor 3 are too low-level for us. Ira and Cecily will join tomorrow onward. How about floor 10 or higher?"
Would Ira and Cecily really party up? Hard to picture.
I glanced at Fam. Could she handle a sudden jump in enemy levels? Ideally, we'd ramp up gradually.
"That's the spot. Right there."
Myra pointed it out. Busted.
"Ah, sorry, I overstepped."
My expression must've shown. She bowed apologetically.
"We prepped for today, so let's take out the third-floor area guarder. Tomorrow we handle travel prep and rest. We can discuss then."
Needed to gear up for Migurutto. And after daily fights since arriving, a rest day was due.
"Got it," Myra said.
"Mizuki?"
"Yeah."
Mizuki nodded.
"Myra, have you seen Rakushel before?"
I asked on a whim. The church murals were spot-on, and the duel crowd recognized her.
"No. I don't think anyone alive has met Rakushel-sama or any gods in person. But she's a special goddess."
"How so?"
"Remember the story I told about the various races' origins?"
I nodded. Humans bred recklessly with animals, spawning beastkin races. The gods saw it and made sure such pairings wouldn't produce offspring anymore. I'd explained it simply to Mizuki too.
"Wonder how many races there are," Mizuki said.
"No one's seen the world's end, so we don't know. Anyway, the gods raged at humans for creating new races and tried to wipe them out with divine punishment. Rakushel-sama opposed it. She led 100,000 humans, backed by her four fellow goddesses—Rishar-sama, Rushe-sama, Renren-sama, and Ronron-sama—against the end-god and the rest. Few remain now, but paintings and sculptures from that war survive."
The gods' anger made sense.
And one god had a panda-like name—super casual naming. But no point mocking it.
"Did all gods fight?"
"No. The two primordial gods, the five creation pillars, and a few others sat it out. But every god except the five goddesses sided with extermination."
"Got it. About 40 on the enemy side, then."
Myra blinked in surprise.
"You knew the story?"
"Nah, first time." Rakushel, Rishar, Rushe, Renren, Ronron—too obvious.
"Did humans win?"
"No, sadly they lost. Rakushel-sama wielded her divine spear but couldn't fell the end-god. The five who sided with humans were imprisoned, or so the tales say."
That space she summoned me to—was it her prison?
"But their sacrifice let the surviving humans reach the end-god. They couldn't kill it either, but they grounded it. It can't return to the heavens. The other gods gave up on genocide, prevented new races, and withdrew. But the grounded end-god still lurks somewhere, plotting humanity's end. Last sighting was that war. Plenty of legends claim later appearances, but nothing with witnesses like the duel."
"Is the end-god the Demon King?"
Mizuki dropped a bombshell. I wondered the same. Rakushel's "Demon King" was probably it—or a transferree it summoned. If transferrees were the kings, fine. But fighting the end-god? Rakushel's power wouldn't cut it. Need another way.
Per the story: I Goddess Summon Mizuki to the showdown. She dodges the fatal blow—stronger foes make her skills shine. She could win now. Explains Rakushel pairing us. Keep Fam away. If she martyrs herself, no point fighting. I'd be done. Dead already, maybe.
There's a way: no combat, no martyrdom. She's my girl.
Nah, find another plan. I ain't dying. Not till I find a beauty topping Mizuki someday.
"The Demon King felled 100 years ago. Hmm, Mehmet doesn't sound like the end-god. Too weak for one. Name mismatch seals it."
Feudal empire. Eastern Demon Kingdom. Holy wars. Screams Mehmed II from my world's history. Some transferree goofed a name, got Demon King'd. Need an accurate map. Mizuki eyed me, thinking the same.
"Demon King's Mehmet? What's the end-god called?"
"Primordials are top-tier, creation five next, end-god below. Can't say its name. Speaking it invites divine punishment. Church elite secret. I learned as your servant from the high priestess."
Naming kids could kill parents via smite. Or it's some unthinkably weird name. Ultralong, or password with numbers/symbols.
"But maybe I should tell you. Never speak the end-god's name."
So, don't link it to the god when saying it.
Probably Norse "Closer" or something. But "never" makes me wanna say it.
"Dragging it out, huh. We know it?"
"The end-god shares your name."
"'Your name'? What kinda idiot name is that?"
"No! What if I tsukkomi the real name after your boke? Don't bait me into that embarrassing death!"
Myra nailed the retort.
"Exactly. Idiot's Mash. Still, wanna dig a hole and scream it."
Mizuki wanted in on the boke too.
Lighthearted name turned heavy. Then it hit me.
"Fam, you knew the end-god's name?"
"No, not 'your name'."
Fam tried spreading the laughs.
"Fam... you don't have to force it."
"I... couldn't say it well, but when I got sick, I suddenly knew. Forgot till next morning after meeting Master, gazing at your sleeping face. It brings world's end, so I thought terrifying. But no. I love it. Even if world follows Rakushel-sama, I'll follow Master."
"Fam... harsh, but Mash is just a middle-aged dude. I came here with him—no mistake," Mizuki said.
"I'm not the end-god. 'Just a dude' is rude, but yeah, ordinary human. Pray to me, nothing happens."
Fam looked troubled. Clearly unconvinced. Wanted to convey something, or cry. But she neither affirmed nor denied. She glanced at Myra.
"Summoning gods ain't ordinary. But now, you're normal, Mash. That name holds power, though. Change coming."
Ominous, but Myra's eyes sparkled with expectation.
"Fam, speak your mind."
"No. My feelings for Master too strong, warped my view maybe. Too late to pray elsewhere now."
"Warped how?"
"The world. Since meeting Master. But feels like I knew before."
"From your illness?"
"Probably. Or earlier."
Getting confusing. But worth remembering. Why didn't Rakushel stop such a "grand" name? Feels like a prank.
"Ultimately, Mash's fault for not properly introducing himself to Rakushel!"
Mizuki declared.
"Myra, know Fam's village guardian deity?"
Probably top god-related.
"No. Not from myths, I think. Deified humans, monsters, phenomena passed down. See when we go."
"Promised Fam. We'll go. Count on you then."
"Got it. I'll do my best."
Myra beamed.
"Still, you can summon Rakushel. Why not ask her direct?"
Mizuki had a point.
"Tried. Doesn't work that way."
"'Cause you're always thinking ecchi stuff?"
She saw through me. No rebuttal.
"That summoning, Rakushel-sama cast a massive charm field. Probably always on auto. Victims lose awareness even after, minds subtly altered. Potent. Normals can't resist."
Myra explained. Mana drunk plus charm? No wonder.
"Ah, so that's the ecchi mood. Relieved."
"No clue what's relieving, but only Mash gets horny at a goddess."
"Not true. Fam too..." Fam covered my mouth.
"...What're you two doing?"
Mizuki's icy stare.
"Take me next time, Mash. We can talk proper."
Myra said smugly. Nope, no Rakushel for her.
"You faith Rakushel-sama, right? That's why summoned?"
"Eh?"
Myra's question stumped me. Rakushel was my first god sighting. But to me, just a hot big sis. Too real. No legendary aura Myra described. Faith needs distance?
"Nah, no faith. I worship M... Mizuki's tits."
Wanted Myra's, but couldn't say it. Mizuki's fine too.
"Ehh?" Mizuki hid her chest, glaring accusingly.
"What'd you faith in your old world?" Myra asked, surprised.
"Didn't know Rakushel existed. Gods were myths, human inventions mostly. Didn't buy it much. If anything, the eight million gods."
"Shinto? Not Buddhist?" Mizuki asked.
"Not expert, so dunno. But my vague beliefs match Shinto. Like, if I wash my daily chopsticks and hand 'em off saying 'yours now'—creepy, right?"
"Yours? Fine. Others'? Ew."
Mine okay for her? I'd slurp hers happily.
"Don't badmouth dead, cleaning feels purifying beyond spotless. Regional grudge/impurity stuff ingrained subconsciously."
"...Yeah, kinda," Mizuki said.
"Grandparents' funerals Buddhist-style. But family scoffed gods yet did Obon, New Year, Christmas. Obon ain't 'celebrate,' but still faith."
"Ugh. No faith means anything goes..."
"Lifestyle faith absorbs others. Eight million includes Buddha crew, monotheists."
"But conflicting doctrines contradict?"
Mizuki disliked it. Fine, to each.
"Groups trap/kill youngest brothers exist. Fooled rabbits too. Extra randos fine. You prayed at shrine for exams, chapel wedding—girly dreams, right?"
"Ugh... how'd you know? B-bad?"
"Not bad. You'd look gorgeous."
"Y-yeah?" Mizuki blushed.
Myra and Fam sidelined awhile. Explaining'd take time.
*Note: Strictly Mash's opinion.*
Thanks for reading.
Bookmarks and ratings mean the world—truly grateful.
Motivates me. I'll keep at it.
Typos caught save me. Really appreciate it.
Thanks for the feedback. Loving it.