Chapter 9 - Postponement
“Huh~? A spring that erases scars, you say... So, you’re luring those girls who fled in defeat back into the depths of the dungeon, huh? As expected of you, Master. You think differently from the rest.”
Peta-chan says something rather ominous.
What’s she talking about? That’s a harsh way to put it. I prepared the Scar-Erasing Spring for the sake of those girls who were lamenting their scars...
Well... in the end... it’s true that the situation has turned into, “Come back again. This time, go even deeper... hehehe.” So, I guess there’s no helping it.
But is it really better for them to keep risking their lives? Shouldn’t they just leave it be?
The answer to that lies only with the girls living in this world.
The value of life, pride, and honor varies too much depending on the era and civilization.
“...Hey, Peta-chan. Can’t we get rid of the dungeon monsters?”
To begin with, I don’t remember placing any monsters to kill adventurers.
They just spawn on their own for some reason.
“Impossible. Those monsters are manifestations of the dungeon’s miasma—clumps of stagnation and distortion given form.
And that stagnation occurs because the miasma creates miracles to fulfill desires, which puts a strain on it.
Unless you turn the dungeon into a plain cave with no hot springs or treasures, monsters will keep spawning somewhere.”
“Hmm... I think it’d be fine if we just had a harmless, safe hot spring dungeon where lots of guests could stay long-term for a relaxing visit... Is that impossible?”
“Master, even the way you use those screens to monitor adventurers is a manifestation of desire, you know?
The miracles we Cores and Masters use often distort and manifest as things like floor bosses.”
Wait, what?
...Well, now that I think about it, there was that boss monster on the 5th floor that I definitely didn’t place. It just spawned and started rampaging.
So, that’s how it works, huh? No helping it, then.
“But you know... the amount of Dungeon Points you get from spilled blood, corpses, and their belongings is on a whole different level.
Even if there were a way to eliminate danger, I think it’s better not to, don’t you?”
Hmm... To Peta-chan, humans seem to be nothing more than creatures that bring points to the dungeon—nothing more, nothing less.
From around the 6th to 7th floors, deaths start happening regularly, so it’s... mentally taxing, to say the least.
However, the core of this dungeon’s success lies in the structure of having excessive numbers of people entering as escorts for nobles.
As Peta-chan said, making the dungeon completely safe would drastically reduce the number of escorts and, in turn, the profits.
It’s a troubling dilemma.
But then again, my current body isn’t human—it’s that of a creature called a Dungeon Master.
Compared to when I was human, I’m far less affected by death or misfortune.
It’s not that I’m emotionally numb, but rather, based on my experiences and memories, I just feel... uneasy about it.
I’m no longer human. I’m a mysterious magical being that thinks as part of the dungeon.
Speaking of which, I haven’t... done it since becoming a Master.
Despite being in an environment where I get to see the increasingly beautiful, naked bodies of female knights every day.
I still have enough of a human heart left to think, “Thank you!” when I see a beautiful knight’s naked body... right?
Well, Peta-chan is always watching, so it’s not like I could do anything anyway.
Also, I haven’t eaten anything since becoming a Master.
I don’t need to sleep, but I do occasionally.
Dungeon sleep isn’t really sleeping—it’s more like shutting down my consciousness and skipping time.
When I first complained about the 22-hour wait for dungeon construction, Peta-chan said, “Why don’t you just shut off your consciousness during that time?”
When I tried it, the 22 hours flew by in an instant.
It didn’t feel like sleeping—more like the time just vanished.
So, the dungeon lifestyle is: use points to build the dungeon, shut off your consciousness when there’s nothing to do, and check the results a few days later.
For the 8th floor construction, which took 79 hours, I naturally shut off my consciousness.
Even while I was “asleep,” people kept coming in droves, and hundreds of thousands of Dungeon Points poured in. I’m almost ready to build the 9th floor.
But... I’m not doing it yet.
Expanding the dungeon too quickly would just make things harder for the explorers.
Instead, how about I add more and expand the popular hot springs in the first and second levels?
“We’ve been expanding the dungeon at a breakneck pace, but... hey~... Master~, shouldn’t we start building the 9th floor? We have enough points... Shouldn’t we? Huh? Master?”
For some reason, Peta-chan clings to my arm with an expectant look, wagging her little tail and pleading for dungeon expansion.
“Nah... Not yet. The 8th floor just got finished, right?”
Her face immediately falls, looking utterly crushed.
What’s with her...?
For her, breaking free from the stagnation of being an 8-floor dungeon for so long is a big deal.
Building the 9th floor is her long-cherished wish.
And here I am, casually brushing it off with, “Not yet...”
As a Dungeon Core, that must sting.
“Fine! I don’t care! I’m shutting off my consciousness for a while! Bye bye!”
With that, she pouts, her face suddenly becoming expressionless like a doll, and she stops moving.
“What’s her deal...?”
Seeing her suddenly throw a tantrum and stop for no apparent reason, I thought about playing a prank on her.
But I’ve heard that if the Master touches her, it’ll wake her up.
(Conversely, the Core can also wake the Master.)
With her gone—the little creature who was always curiously watching my work from behind—I felt a sense of loneliness for the first time in a while.
“Haah... This is the first time I’ve been alone since coming here, huh? There’s not much to do for a while... Maybe I’ll shut off my consciousness for a few days too.”
I idly think this while watching the many female knights enjoying their bath.
Then it hits me.
...Come to think of it. I haven’t done it since becoming a Master, but...
It’s not like I’ve lost the ability, right?
Back in my previous life, I was seriously ill.
I hadn’t been involved in such things for a long time, so I hadn’t thought much about it.
But it’s not like becoming a Master made me lose my desires.
What if... my thing just stopped working altogether?
The thought terrifies me, and in a half-crazed state, I pull down my pants and stare intently at the naked bodies on the monitor, trying to... do it.
Yes... It worked just fine.
Afterward, I nervously glance behind me, worried that Peta-chan might have woken up and see me.
Fortunately, she’s still an emotionless doll, completely unconscious.
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