114
Chapter 114
I heard the entire story regarding the Barrier from the Vampire Lord.
Thanks to that, I was able to learn various facts, such as the reason for the Barrier's existence and the cause of its Annihilation.
The Vampire Lord really knows a lot.
I asked the Vampire Lord how she knew all of this information.
"Everything I just mentioned is recorded in the History Book."
"Gom-gom? Gom-gom-gom?"
The History Book?
Are you talking about the Humans' History Book?
When I asked again, the Vampire Lord gave a small shake of her head.
"The History Book currently possessed by Humans does not have this level of information recorded. I was told that many history books were burned and destroyed during a war in the distant past. That is why there are no Humans who know about the Barrier in detail."
"Gom-gom-gom?"
"The History Book I mentioned refers to a book passed down through generations of Vampire Lords. It is the book left behind by our Progenitor."
"Gom-gom."
I see.
I nodded my head.
It seems the history of Vampires is quite deep as well.
Seeing that the Vampire known as the Progenitor recorded such history in detail, it meant they were a Vampire that existed in the very distant past.
Are they dead now?
Or are they still alive and holding the position of an Elder?
I was curious about this too, so I casually asked.
"Neither. They have not passed away, nor do they hold the position of an Elder."
"Gom-gom-gom?"
"The Progenitor voluntarily entered a coffin and fell into a deep slumber in the distant past. They did so while leaving behind the message to wake them if a crisis of extinction were to arrive."
I have never met the Progenitor in person myself.
The Vampire Lord added.
Anyway.
To summarize the story I just heard:
Ultimately, Humans had been protected by the Barrier for a long time.
From the monsters of our Continent, who were practically banished in the past, and the Beings of the Abyss inside The Abyss.
And I heard that the reason the Barrier on the side of The Abyss hasn't faced Annihilation yet is because Humans still have some faith remaining, however faint it may be.
It seems the criteria for the Barrier's Annihilation on our side and The Abyss's side are different.
As long as their faith did not completely disappear, the Barrier on the side of The Abyss seemed to be continuously maintained.
I think I know the reason without being told.
It's probably because that side is a much more dangerous place.
Because The Abyss would be far more threatening to Humans.
After all, it was said that the Beings of the Abyss have a ferocious nature.
Well, it might have changed now that a long time has passed.
Even our Continent, which is said to have only had relatively docile monsters driven into it, currently has plenty of ferocious guys.
"Do you not have any more questions?"
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom-gom?"
Roughly when will the Barrier blocking The Abyss face Annihilation?
"I cannot know exactly when it will be, but as I said earlier, it will be soon."
"Gom-gom."
So she doesn't know.
That was the end of my questions.
On a side note.
I was told that half of the Lord's Human subordinates had crossed over to this Continent a few days ago by blending in with the Expedition Team, while the other half remained on the Humans' Continent to rule the country. They had naturally been informed about the collapse of the Barrier in advance, and it is said that they are currently pouring their efforts into mass-producing ships in preparation for the day of humanity's doom. I heard the King has made plans to load as many citizens as possible onto the ships and migrate.
And according to the information the Vampire Lord recently obtained, most of the other countries are already making large-scale migration plans as well.
Among the Humans are those who possess the Prophecy Skill.
In other words, there are those called Prophets, and it is said that they all came up with the Prophecy that the Wave of Destruction would soon engulf the Humans' Continent. They even gave a Prophecy that the only safe place from the Wave of Destruction would be the Unknown Continent or its vicinity. A Prophecy doesn't always hit the mark, so there are many who doubt it and don't believe it, but I heard there are far more who believe it since this is the first time in history that the Prophecies of the Prophets have all coincided.
Hmm.
The Humans are really planning to migrate to our Continent.
Did they choose the lesser of two evils rather than the worst?
Even if it's temporary, they'd completely lose their homes if the continent sinks into the ocean.
Most of them probably wouldn't survive if swept away by the waves, anyway.
Anyway.
When the Humans invade our Dungeon in the future, I'll have to give them a warm welcome.
Since there are overflowing spots for Slaves in the Labor Camp.
***
2nd Floor.
Everyone woke up from their naps and stretched.
I took them all in before continuing to look around.
"Gom-jjang, what are you looking for? Are you looking for me?"
"Gom-gom-gom."
I don't see Tosuni.
Where did she run off to without saying a word this time?
"Are you talking about To-jjang?"
"Gom."
"Hehe. Do you want to know where To-jjang is right now?"
"Gom-gom."
"I want to know too."
"Gom?"
"I don't know where she is either."
"......."
"I'll help you look, so take my hand!"
The Fox held out her hand.
I grabbed the Fox's hand.
"Let's check the Tomb first!"
She seemed to be talking about Mother Bear and Urami's Tomb.
For reference, the Tomb that was in front of the Portal outside the Dungeon was moved inside the Dungeon a while ago.
I felt bad for Jjokkomi, who was so worried someone passing by might damage the Tomb that she constantly went outside the Dungeon to keep watch.
And technically, you could say we built a new Tomb for them.
We created a new space in a secluded corner of the 1st Floor, placed their bodies there, and built a Tomb much larger than before.
But hey, Fox.
Why the Tomb?
I highly doubt Tosuni is there.
"Gom-gom, gom-gom-gom-gom?"
"Maybe she's managing the Tomb together with Teol-jjang!"
Teol-jjang was the nickname the Fox recently gave Jjokkomi.
"Gom... gom-gom."
"Let's hurry up and go!"
For now, I decided to hold the Fox's hand and check the Tomb.
Just as she said, Tosuni might be helping Jjokkomi out.
Since Tosuni is a kind kid, like an Angel.
After heading down to the 1st Floor like that.
We hurried along with quick steps toward the space where the Tomb was located.
Upon arriving at that space, a massive Tomb made of Toy Blocks revealed itself.
It was a Tomb far larger in scale than most royal mausoleums.
I had intentionally built it large.
Because even in death, Mother Bear and Urami are still family.
"Kku-oh, kku-oh-oh."
I could see Jjokkomi's back in front of the Tomb.
Jjokkomi was managing the Tomb all by herself in solitude.
Swish, swish- as she wiped away the dust piled on the Tomb with a pure white cloth.
"Kku-oh?"
"Gom."
Jjokkomi finally noticed us.
"Dongsaeng-Oppa, why did you come here?"
"We came looking for To-jjang!"
The Fox answered instead.
Jjokkomi tilted her head.
"Tosuni isn't here, though?"
"Gasp. It seems this wasn't the place... Gom-jjang, let's search somewhere else!"
The Fox pulled on my arm.
I carefully detached her hand.
"Huh?"
"Gom-gom-gom-gom-gom."
Since we're here, let's help Jjokkomi before we go.
It'd make me feel bad to just turn around and leave after coming all this way.
How could I ignore our Jjokkomi when she's managing the Tomb so sadly all by herself?
So I decided to help out a little bit, and then look for Tosuni afterward.
She's probably somewhere inside the Dungeon, anyway.
"Kku-oh-oh? Are you guys going to help too?"
"Gom-gom."
"I'm good at helping!"
Managing it wasn't really a big deal.
We just had to wipe the dust piled on the Tomb with a cloth, like Jjokkomi was just doing.
Swish, swish- Squeak-!
Like this.
"I'm going to wipe it with my tongue."
"Gom."
I whacked the Fox's head with my Cane.
It's dirty, so wipe it with a cloth.
"Whimper...."
Just like that, we started helping Jjokkomi wipe away the dust piled on the Tomb.
Swish, swish-
Squeeeak-
While cleaning the Tomb, I briefly recalled a memory from the past.
A long time ago, I had made a request to Ms. Vampire.
I asked if she could resurrect Mother Bear and Urami, just like how she had resurrected Ailee.
Ms. Vampire replied that it was impossible.
She said it was too late to resurrect them as Undead.
And today.
I had also subtly made the request to the Vampire Lord.
Honestly, it's not like I want to see Mother Bear and Urami again, but I still wanted to bring them back if possible.
For Jjokkomi's sake.
However, unfortunately, even the Vampire Lord couldn't resurrect them.
She said it was impossible because too much time had passed since they died.
Of course.
It wasn't like there was no method of Resurrection at all.
Because both Mother Bear and Urami were registered in the Doll Encyclopedia.
Since they were killed by the Old Man when he was alive.
But I didn't turn the two of them into Fake Dolls.
Because Fake Dolls are merely created by copying their appearance from when they were alive, making them entirely different beings from the real ones.
Jjokkomi wouldn't welcome that either.
Urami and Mother Bear.
Let's just send the two of them off peacefully.
They'll probably get a new life and live well, just like me.
When I finished my reminiscing with those thoughts.
"Gom?"
Bulge.
Near the top of the Tomb.
I discovered a part that was slightly swollen.
To be exact, one Toy Block was bulging out.
Glancing to the side, I noticed that one block at the top of Urami's Tomb was also slightly bulging in the same way.
What's this?
Was the Tomb always like this?
I couldn't quite remember if it had this shape from the beginning.
I was the one who built it, but my memory was fuzzy.
Hmm.......
The moment I was staring intently at the bulging part while stroking my chin.
Beep, beep-!
An alarm sounded.
It seemed someone had invaded the Dungeon as an Intruder.
I decided to check that bulging part again later and quickly ran toward the Dungeon entrance for now.
***
The identity of the Intruder was a single Luna Rabbit.
The Luna Rabbit was holding a giant Carrot in her hand.
And Tosuni was riding on top of the Luna Rabbit's head.
She was lying down while riding it, currently munching on a small Carrot.
"Woong, Teddy Bear. It's been a while."
"Woong!"
The Luna Rabbit and Tosuni simultaneously raised their hands and greeted me.
Our Tosuni.
I wondered where she went, but to think she brought back a Luna Rabbit?
I never dreamed she would have gone outside.
But why did she suddenly bring a Luna Rabbit?
While I was having these doubts.
The Vampire Lord's voice came from behind.
"Has an Intruder appeared?"
The Vampire Lord spotted the Luna Rabbit and stopped in her tracks.
"...Hmm?"
"Woong?"
The Luna Rabbit also discovered the Vampire Lord.
Their gazes crossed, and a brief silence flowed for a moment.
Soon, the Luna Rabbit thrust out the giant Carrot and quickly flew at the Vampire Lord.
"Woo-woong! Tanaric Bloodmoon!! Accept the marriage proposal from our three sisters!!!"
"Haa... Here we go again......."
"Accept it!!!"
"I refuse."
"I refuse your refusal! Just accept it already!"
What's with this situation?