Chapter 29

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 29

Chapter Title: Squishy

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It was a complete power level-up, literally.

Honestly, I didn't expect the elevators to perform that well.

Hmm.

I bought the elevators simply to ramp up the difficulty.

To shuttle invaders back and forth between Zone 1 and Zone 2.

If I sketch out a rough dungeon map:

│Entrance│
│        │
│Passage│
│        │
── ──
│ Empty │
│ Space │
│       │
── ──
│Core Room│

Not entirely wrong.

But more accurately, it's like this:

│Passage│ │Maze│
│Elev  │ │     │
│  M  │ │Maze │
│  i  │ │     │
│  z  │ │     │
│  e  │ │Maze │
│     │ │     │
│Elev  │
──────────
│      School       │
│Somewhere Elevator │
│      School       │
──────────
│      Core Room    │
──────────

Anomaly traps don't trigger detection magic by default.

Plus, things like the maze and school only activate once invaders reach the zone.

So most would assume there's just a long passage and a wide open space ahead—a total miscalculation.

Even if they safely pass the elevator, a far more vicious school and maze await.

Invaders without intel couldn't even crack the elevators.

In the end, a flawless victory with no disputes.

Of course, things went my way.

If the Branded Elves had successfully used escape scrolls and shared info from the start, the outcome could've been wildly different.

People aren't made of Protoss-level valor.

Extreme situations bring out true nature even more.

The Branded Elves are wicked scum with no sign of humanity.

So their lack of cooperation stood out even more.

Anyway.

Are elevators the strongest?

Look at this shiny thing.

Doesn't it just gleam?

I can set spawn zones freely.

Even change them mid-wave.

Disperses groups too.

Screws over invaders, tosses in free otherworldly insects.

Kya.

A total cash cow.

Oh, during the wave, riding the elevator reminded me.

Lestia visited before, remember?

The maze kindly sprinkler-wrote the path on the floor.

Anomalies are inherently friendly to me.

Elevators too.

And the otherworldly insects in the mystery space linked to elevators.

To avenge the Quick Sage, I headed to Zone 2 and ran into one.

It bowed to me and handed over some mystery gift.

A squishy, rainbow-jelly thing with a sweet scent.

"What, handing out rice cakes now...?"

I didn't eat it.

Too risky if it's bad.

Feed it to Squishy later.

Or maybe try if curiosity wins someday.

"Is it really that hard to break through? Because they're Branded Elves?"

Only ride alone.

Avoid unlit corridors.

Ignore bug people.

Enter three-digit code.

Sounds simple...

Yet over twenty Branded Elves died just at the elevators.

"Haven't even shown all of Zone 2 yet."

Julius, who killed the Quick Sage.

The punk bragging about escape scrolls.

Strutted into Zone 2 cockily, but got schooled by school + evolved statues.

In my opinion, Zone 2 has Dreamland's strongest defense right now.

Tada.

At first glance, kinda underwhelming minions and traps.

Instant kill but easy to counter.

Feels weaker than doppelganger + maze combo.

But remember the faceless girl who pickpocketed Branded Elves' stuff to the staff room?

That was a weeping statue evolved by the school generator.

Loses unique personality but gains school-fitting traits.

Maybe higher rank, but school definitely tougher than maze.

Maze bleeds you out slow.

School roasts you hot and heavy.

Personally, wanna see these in action.

"Julius was the big boss, right?"

I stared at the scroll from Julius.

Snatched it before Squishy devoured him.

He had weapons, potions—good loot.

Planned to yoink scroll without killing, but items don't return if owner's alive.

That's why I waited blankly in front of staff room.

Anomalies friendly but can't cross certain lines.

Anyway, not the point.

Branded Elves' boss died in the dungeon.

Couldn't even use escape scroll.

Would anyone else dare come?

I doubt it.

Bit of a shame.

This world has Blesseds.

Dungeon needs more fortification.

Wanna level up, hoard more points.

"...Did I kill him for nothing?"

Escape scroll counts as defense success too.

Tsk...

Nah.

If he leaked info outside, way bigger headache.

Think positive.

No guarantee they'd return.

"Ack."

"Squishy, you ate it all already?"

"Mum?"

Anyway.

Got one burning question lately.

"Why'd you get so huge...?"

"Eh?"

Squishy ballooned.

Too big to lap-pet now.

Practically a yoga ball.

Squishy got all puffy.

Ate too many corpses and trash?

Come to think of it, Squishy's been acting odd lately.

Like carrying undigested trash to feed the maze generator.

Weird to watch, but stats jumped two stars, stats up too.

Even says "Obeys Dungeon Master commands."

The notes to Branded Elves causing chaos? Mostly Squishy's growth.

Hugged daily, petted, thought that's why it listens...

Hmm.

Immortal too.

No non-growable.

Only one hireable.

"Squishy, what's your dream?"

"Eh."

This guy's suspicious.

If it understands me,

Don't just "eh," write on floor.

You delivered notes fine before.

"Just grow healthy."

I flopped onto oblivious Squishy.

Surprisingly comfy.

Like those waterbeds in ICU, probably.

Now,

Branded Elves quieted.

How to spend 250k points? Tough choice.

Save for 80, splurge on 4★?

Or reinforce zones?

"Hold up."

Step out, check situation.

Major threats passed, should be fine.

Wanna show basement dwellers Life Forest views.

For the first time in ages, I fired up Vroom-Vroomie.

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