Chapter 61

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 61

Chapter Title: Dungeon Master Alliance

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As I stepped into the dungeon, 3M Hamster welcomed me.

He was in his Polymorph form as a pretty little girl(?).

Haa.

Every time I see him, I hate Oblivion a little more.

Anger welled up inside me.

But it wasn't really 3M Hamster's fault, so I held it back.

"Newbie, I survived thanks to you. You really went through hell. I have no idea how to repay this favor."

"You had it way worse, hyung. All I did was summon some minions. No big deal."

"No need to be modest between us... You can brag a little at times like this."

"Anomaly carry."

"Fair!"

3M Hamster laughed.

I was truly relieved he was safe.

It was a bit cringy to say,

but protecting that smile alone made this outing worthwhile.

For the record, since the words might mislead,

I don't feel any romantic attraction to him at all. I'm just glad my friend made it out okay, so don't get the wrong idea.

"Still, isn't the damage pretty bad?"

"It's not zero, but the survivors leveled up big time, so it's actually a gain. Lots of injuries, but almost no deaths. Experience and points rolled in nicely, and income's coming soon, so after some regrouping, we'll be way better off than before?"

Anomaly minions can't be raised, but others can.

Things didn't seem as dire as I'd feared.

I planned to leave the neck-snapping yandere in Dino World.

With this, he should be fine going forward.

3M Hamster, usually so gloomy, was talking brightly now.

That said, it wasn't confirmed whether the anomaly minions would harm 3M Hamster or his dinos.

We needed to isolate them for now, at least.

When my wave hits, those guys start moving.

Friendly fire identification is crucial.

"So I'm thinking of making a separate anomaly zone. Slot it between Zones 9 and 10 as a 'last bastion' kind of setup. Might work well, and it'd minimize rule-breaking exposure too."

I agreed it was reasonable.

The neck-snapping yandere was communal, after all.

Meaning if Dino World's rules got compromised,

it'd weaken its effect in Dreamland and elsewhere too.

No ink mice or shorty here either.

Best to treat it like an ultimate move—for both of us.

Anomalies shine best when enemies are pushed to the limit anyway.

"Great idea. You're the best, hyung. No wonder you've lasted so long."

"Hehe..."

After all the back-patting,

3M Hamster gifted me a Drake Heart.

A drake heart is the crystallized organ from a lesser dragon, turning into an item upon death.

Apparently, you get one when a minion of certain rank or higher dies.

It looked like a heart-shaped gem.

Effects: Consume for all-stats boost. Blocks one fatal injury.

Extremely useful.

Basically a one-time save.

Anomalies are invincible, but I'm not.

"Sorry. Wanted to give you something better, but nothing good handy..."

"I didn't do it for rewards anyway. Thanks, I'll take it."

I pocketed the Drake Heart.

Gonna chomp it down in the dungeon later.

"Eung."

Mallang-i, no staring like that. You have infinite lives.

Share this one with me, okay?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Time to head out?"

"Yeah. Even if anomalies devour waves, can't leave my post empty forever."

That vibe.

Never had real issues living solo,

but I often imagined thieves, robbers, heart attacks, strokes.

Maybe that's why.

Having someone nearby makes a huge difference personally.

Dungeons too.

Probably just me over-worrying.

Waves are just chaos and auto-run for me,

but being there in person feels way more reassuring.

3M Hamster looked at me regretfully.

"Hyung."

"Yeah?"

"Can I really pet your head just once??"

I'm not gay, for real.

But weak to cats and dogs, can't help it...

"What do you take your senior for? Absolutely not."

"Okay..."

"...You really want it that bad?"

"Now you're making it weird. I'm good."

Anyway.

Finally,

3M Hamster kept his promise and transformed into a dino—then rolled forward.

Whoa.

A T-Rex rolling ahead? More rare than the Drake Heart.

.

.

.

.

.

I rode Mallang-i back to Dreamland.

Nothing to do but gallery-surf, so I kept my fingers busy.

Time melted sweetly away.

.

.

.

.

.

Haa, fuck.

Finally back.

I missed it.

My gloomy, bizarre Dreamland.

Guess I'm a real homebody.

These white, freaky corridors—somehow, just looking melts away the fatigue.

I took the elevator to the core room.

"......"

"Hello."

Passed a bug-man on the way, gave a nod.

Plopped in front of the monitor and crunched the Drake Heart.

Looks super tough.

Won't chip a tooth, right?

Luckily, not that hard.

Like devouring a massive candy.

Bit off chunks and let them dissolve in my mouth.

Sweet.

All stats +7.

Added trait: 【Critical Injury Nullification (One-time)】.

Stretched.

No intruders anyway.

Nothing left to do.

Back to gallery time.

Hm?

What's up suddenly.

Delivery boy?

Where's this coming from?

Ah.

Makes sense now.

This is straight honey.

Mutual aid structure via me.

Veterans had only communicated via gallery till now.

Couldn't leave at all.

But I showed up.

Only one who can exit.

Now, the Dungeon Master alliance they'd only dreamed of—

could become real.

World's vast, of course.

Spatial limits clear.

No real-time trades.

Still.

More hopeful news for Dungeon Masters?

Feels embarrassing somehow.

I scratched my head.

Gallery feels extra lively today.

Hope gets ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠people excited.

So surely.

A new wind is blowing now.