Chapter 271: The Deepening Secret of the Dungeon
Chapter 271: The Deepening Secret of the Dungeon
The reason I found the skill so easily was simple. It was already marked as a learnable skill.
Huh? Wasn't this a skill only a Saintess could learn?
Or was it just passed down among Saintesses, not that you had to be one to learn it?
In any case, the skill that allowed one to hear the Goddess's voice was definitely available to learn in Leia's skill window.
Thanks to leveling up quite a bit even after her Apostle Appointment, Leia currently had a few skill points saved up.
Most of her skills could be learned directly at the temple anyway, and besides, Leia's volunteer work was so diligent that her skill levels would grow incredibly fast. The proof was that all the skills Leia was currently learning were already at a fairly high level.
In other words, there was no need to be stingy with a single skill point.
I invested a point into the skill I'd found in Leia's skill window: 'Goddess Advent'.
Wooooong.
The moment I spent the skill point, a ringing sound suddenly filled my ears.
Whether it was my imagination or not, the air around us even seemed to grow a little heavier.
And in the corner of my vision, an intense yet gentle, warm light began to shimmer.
It was coming from Leia's body.
A similar phenomenon had occurred when Leia became a High Priestess, but this light felt far more intense, spreading much further.
"Leia!"
I grabbed Leia by the shoulders and called her name, and her eyes, which had been closed, slowly opened.
They were the same beautiful golden eyes I had grown so used to, but they had a slightly different feel than usual. It wasn't just her eyes; Leia's entire being felt different.
Was it because her body was glowing?
No, that alone couldn't explain how different her aura was from usual.
She looked... divine. No, of course, my angel always looked divine, but this was different. It felt as if she wasn't even human.
Opening her eyes to look straight at me, Leia, still exuding that unusual aura, offered a faint smile and opened her mouth.
"At last, we can speak like this. And much sooner than I had anticipated. You have done exceptionally well."
Leia was clearly the one speaking, but the voice was not her own.
It was a voice I'd heard before... yes. It was the voice from the game's opening.
So the Goddess really did borrow Leia's body.
I mean, I had a slight inkling from the skill name, 'Goddess Advent'.
Usually, when you hear 'advent,' you think of a beam of light descending from the sky and someone gracefully appearing in mid-air, right? So why is she possessing someone?
And she did it the very instant I spent the skill point, as if she'd been waiting.
This definitely wasn't Leia using the skill.
Given the slight suspicions I was developing about the Goddess in relation to the dungeon, seeing her appear by commandeering Leia's body like this didn't exactly fill me with joy.
What if the goddess keeps using my angel's body as she pleases... No. The idea that the goddess might be toying with me is just a hypothesis. And a weak one at that, based on nothing more than my own speculation that she created the dungeon. I should stop overthinking it.
"...Goddess?"
I spoke, partly to confirm her identity.
"Yes, Saint Guwon. First, I must offer my thanks and praise. Your achievements thus far have far exceeded my expectations. Gaining infinite life by interacting with a High Elf who used a reincarnation spell, and appointing a Hero and a Gumiho as your Apostles. And on top of that, saving a child who suffered from a congenital condition. Truly magnificent. Your results could not be better. The dungeon conquest is progressing a bit slower than expected, but that is within an acceptable range. Considering all you have done, it is a trivial matter. Indeed, my judgment in choosing you as my contractor..."
"W-Wait a moment."
I was a little worried about interrupting a goddess, but I couldn't bear it if I didn't cut in.
Fortunately, Leia, possessed by the Goddess, didn't show any sign of displeasure and quietly waited for my next words.
What a relief. I was worried about what might happen if the Goddess declared me blasphemous inside the temple, which was basically her home turf.
But the reason I risked it was because the Goddess had just used a word I absolutely had to ask about.
"Um... what exactly do you mean by 'contractor'? What contract?"
"......"
At my question, the Goddess stared at me, her mouth agape, looking completely dumbfounded as if she'd been caught off guard.
A divinely dumbfounded expression. What an unfitting combination.
"...Saint Guwon. Do you remember that you came to this world through a game?"
"Yes, of course."
"I understand you are the type of person who not only meticulously checks the game's website but also carefully examines the contents after receiving the game."
"Yes. I'm the type to even read the manual thoroughly."
I had some doubts about how a goddess would know such a thing, but I decided to let it slide. She was a god, after all. I suppose she could know that much.
"Then you must have also properly read the terms and conditions that appear when you install the game, correct?"
What? What is she talking about? The terms and conditions during installation?
Now it was my turn to be flustered.
"...Ah, no. I always install in the default folder, so I just spammed the 'Next' button and read the manual while it was installing."
I couldn't bring myself to meet the Goddess's eyes and looked away as I answered.
"Unbelievable!"
Hearing my answer, the Goddess's voice rose in disbelief.
Ugh. Hearing her say that in such a divine voice makes me feel so guilty... even though I don't think I did anything wrong.
"Just in case, I wrote it in the pre-installation notice and even had it loop continuously while it was installing... I worked so hard to add the extra information just for your disc, Guwon, and went to such great lengths to ensure that specific disc reached you..."
Yes. On second thought, I guess I'm not entirely blameless.
How dare I neglect the pre-installation notice.
So please, stop muttering things like that in your divine voice.
The Goddess's voice, even in a mutter, seemed to spread and echo throughout the entire space, and naturally, the High Priestess standing next to me was now staring at me with a bewildered expression.
Ugh. Don't look at me like that! Who even reads those things word-for-word these days?!
After muttering dejectedly for a moment, the Goddess shook her head slightly, composed her expression, and looked at me again.
"But that in itself is surprising. To be able to achieve so much without knowing the contents of the contract at all. I suppose my judgment in people was correct after all."
She puffed out her chest as she spoke, seeming quite proud of her choice.
It was an action reminiscent of Diana, but since she was in Leia's body, the impact was on another level.
Th-This might sound blasphemous, but they're being... emphasized. A lot.
Even more so because of her priestess's robes, which were tailored to be form-fitting.
Wait. Does that mean... if our Diana grows up, I'll be able to see a sight like this all the time?!
Diana, my dear. Please grow up big and strong. Ah, though of course, I'm more than happy with how you are now.
Ugh. What in the world am I thinking in front of a goddess?
In any case, I confirmed that the Goddess wasn't angry and decided to ask for an explanation once more.
"So. What is this contract? I'm sorry, but could you please explain it to me again?"
"...I see. It was not my intention, but you did end up coming to this world without knowing anything."
Was it just my imagination, or did she seem to put extra emphasis on 'not my intention'?
"However... I am out of time."
"Huh? What do you mean..."
"Any longer, and I risk causing harm to this child's body."
As she said this, the Goddess possessing Leia's body placed a hand lightly on her own chest.
Does that mean Leia will be in danger if she stays possessed any longer?! That can't happen!
"Therefore, Saint Guwon, for now, just keep this in mind: Aim for the deepest part of the dungeon. The place no one has yet reached."
With only those words, Leia slowly closed her eyes.
Then, the light radiating from her body began to fade, and she lost her strength and staggered.
"Leia!"
Of course, I caught her before she could fall.
"Mmm... Guwon... I..."
It seemed she hadn't lost consciousness.
As if dizzy, Leia clutched her face in my arms and shook her head slightly before planting her feet firmly on the ground, looking perfectly fine.
"Leia, are you okay?"
"Hehe. Yes, of course. But to think the Goddess would borrow my body..."
"You remember?"
"Yes. I remember every single word the Goddess said."
"So, how did it feel to learn the Goddess Advent skill?"
"...I see. It was my body, but it was a strange feeling, like watching someone else. It wasn't unpleasant by any means, though... A mysterious experience."
Judging by Leia's reaction, it didn't seem like anything was wrong with her.
Well, that makes sense when you think about it. A goddess delivered a divine message through the body of a priestess; it would be a problem if that caused a problem.
"But..."
"Hm?"
"For some reason, I don't think I can use it again. It's strange. I feel like I know how to use it."
"Ah, about that..."
It was a simple matter.
That skill, Goddess Advent, was a rare one in this game's system—it had a cooldown.
It wasn't a skill you could use as long as you had mana.
And that cooldown was a whopping one year.
According to the skill description, leveling it up would reduce the cooldown, but even so, it was ridiculously long. Especially for a skill that only lets you talk for a few minutes.
Anyway, I was relieved to see that Leia was safe.
And now I had the space to think about what the Goddess had said.
About her final words, telling me to head for the dungeon.
I had hoped I was wrong, but just as I'd expected, the Goddess had sent me to this world to conquer the dungeon.
But if my guess was right, the Goddess was the one who created the dungeon.
But why would she tell me to reach the end of a dungeon she created herself? Was the process of conquering the dungeon some kind of test, or was she really doing this purely for her own amusement?
No, but look at the Goddess from before. Well, she was in Leia's body, but you can usually get a sense of someone's character from their demeanor... even if they aren't a person.
Anyway, would someone who seemed so divine and kind really send me to this world just to do something so malicious?
I won't deny that I don't want to believe that truth, but even taking that into account, I just couldn't see it that way.
I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of character, you know.
Just look at my girls. How pretty and kind are they?
Furthermore, it was noteworthy that the Goddess hadn't originally planned to send me to this world without a word.
In other words, the Goddess believed that even after reading the explanation of her unknown objective, I would still choose to come to this world.
If that's the case, her intentions can't be that bad, can they?
No. But she said it was a contract.
That means there was an exchange.
What I received was probably this power. The game system that applies only to me, and the power of a Saint, which boasts an even more overwhelming effect in a world like this.
Having used it effectively so far, I knew better than anyone just how incredible this power was.
But now, that power was starting to feel a little frightening.
Since what I received was so great, doesn't that mean the Goddess's demands must have been something equally enormous?
Argh! My head is a mess.
Right! I've decided! For now, I'll keep going to the dungeon!
The Goddess told me to, anyway, and I was planning on investigating the dungeon regardless.
For now, I'll stick to my original plan and try to uncover the Goddess's objective on my own.
Still, knowing that the Goddess herself had intended to explain things took a bit of a weight off my mind.
What's the worst that could happen?
"High Priestess! What is the meaning of this!"
Just as I made that resolution, someone threw the door open without knocking and entered the room.