Chapter 55

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 55

Chapter Title: The World is Cold

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The Dungeon Gallery... what should I even call it?

For me, it's the one place connecting me to the rest of the world.

No matter how much I can go outside...

The nature of a dungeon means intruders could show up at any moment, making it tough to step away.

Excluding Malangi and the Bug Human, my anomaly phenomena are just a bunch of sleepers who do nothing but snooze.

And even they can't hold real conversations with me.

Hm.

To cut to the chase, the Gallery is my social life.

There was this novel I read ages ago that really stuck with me. It defined a "person" as a noble being distinct from other animals—and claimed even fish-like monsters counted as people!

The Dungeon Gal is packed with good folks.

They've helped me out a ton ever since my total newbie days.

They're the spark that adds fun and excitement to my otherwise dull Dungeon Master routine.

The World is Cold.

The guy they call Cold Hamster fits the bill.

He's a veteran infamous for suffering at the hands of elves.

Among the vets, he's got the rep for being the weakest.

But even in dire straits, he'd yell "Fucking elves!!" and crack everyone up. In a lot of ways, I really like the guy.

Well, truth be told, I'm not that tight with the veterans.

Except for Love-y, anyway. With the rest, it's more like doting on pesky little brothers.

We've never really had deep heart-to-hearts or anything.

Anyway.

Cold Hamster's situation looked seriously grim right now.

...

This time, you could really feel that Cold Hamster was fucked.

The post radiated this gloomy aura.

Everyone felt bad but could only stomp their feet helplessly—no solutions in sight.

As I'd heard before, Dungeon Masters are forced hikikomori.

Can't leave the dungeon, so even if we want to help, we can't.

But.

It's been forever since I last gathered my hooks.

My situation's different.

I'm the only Dungeon Master who can roam outside freely.

Things are sorted here anyway, so I've got time on my hands.

I can just swing by stealthily.

Didn't expect him to care about me this much.

Honestly, it's touching.

Is this the same Cold Hamster who was always broken from elf trauma?

My heart swells.

But.

That just makes me more determined to go.

Whew, alright.

Better ignore Love-y for now.

Alright then.

Time to figure out how to get there.

...

The World is Cold's dungeon was luckily in the northern continent.

Frostneedle Mountains—a pretty rugged area.

Anyway, near the North Kingdom.

Basically same line as Fire Forge.

Bunbuni might be iffy for the trip.

Distance is long, and the snowy, treacherous mountains are accident bait.

Those World Tree Forest elves, though.

Did they really chase from West Kingdom all the way to North Kingdom?

I saw the continent map when dealing with Branded Elves in the fresh forest before.

Even from that far, they came. Obsessed bastards.

Still.

I've got a way.

"Malang."

"Ung."

"Looks like it's your turn to show your power."

Malangi evolved into a 4-star anomaly slime fighting those dwarves.

Goblin Cave traps take corpses and gear, so two waves back, Malangi starved.

But before that.

When the dwarves got wrecked by Tom and Jerry.

Malangi devoured a ton of dwarves and their stuff.

"Can't get bigger than Jimbul size?"

"Mung."

Rank went up, sure.

But no visible change, hard to tell.

However.

Malangi's status window had updates.

Added a "Flight" tag this time.

Could come in handy.

"Wanna try flying?"

I climbed onto Malangi.

Malangi wriggled, swallowing my body.

"Whoa."

Obviously no digestion.

Malangi would never eat me.

Probably feels like being trapped in a round, bouncy ball.

Wish I had a mirror.

Like being in a bathtub.

Warm and cozy.

Malangi's body is transparent, great outside view.

Malangi floated up like a hot air balloon.

"Go forward!"

"Ung."

Decent speed too.

Feels equal to or better than Bunbuni.

"This seals the prep."

The issue...

Intruders while I'm gone.

Area's cleared anyway.

Dwarves are under control.

Can check dungeon status via core room monitor or status window.

If something happens, rush back fast.

And honestly, won't the anomalies handle it?

Such complacent thoughts crept in.

"Let's go go go!"

"Ung."

And so, I set off for Cold Hamster's dungeon.