Chapter 18: Dungeon’s Resident Beast
ㅤThe dungeon in Blood Territory is currently confirmed to have eight floors.
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ㅤThe first floor is directly connected to the ground, just a deep cave. No monsters spawn on this floor, so essentially the dungeon itself starts from the second floor.
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ㅤ’I wonder where the monsters come from…… it’s still not clearly understood, huh~’
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ㅤOne theory is that humans with magic power started being born, monsters started appearing, and dungeons emerged all around the same time.
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ㅤ’Well, there are people who reincarnate from different worlds, so it seems plausible, huh~’
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ㅤThe world is full of mysteries. I don’t think too deeply about it. There’s no answer anyway.
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ㅤMonsters inside the dungeon spontaneously generate from the darkness. And that darkness is said to be connected to another world. The types of monsters currently rampaging outside the dungeon are thought to have left the dungeon in its early stages and established their own ecosystem. Therefore, if a territory has a dungeon, it was necessary to thoroughly defeat the monsters that emerge from it.
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ㅤ’But monsters actually don’t come out of the dungeon on their own very often, huh~’
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ㅤThe dungeon is a comfortable environment for them too.
ㅤHowever, we can’t let our guard down because there’s a phenomenon called Stampede that occurs very rarely.
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ㅤThe second floor suddenly opens into a large space. The first floor is a cave, but its width is only about the size of a wide school hallway. As if leading to the main second floor, you walk straight and emerge into a space with a ceiling far above. Many small monsters appear here, but if you’re careless, amateurs will be quickly defeated. However, since it’s spacious, it’s easy to fight.
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ㅤThe third floor is a continuous rocky area. It’s also a bit humid. From here, the dungeon starts to show its true colors, and fearsome monsters start to appear.
ㅤI basically always used this third floor as my hunting ground. This floor is an even wider space than the second floor, and there are many types of monsters. If I go to the fourth floor, I might have to make a quick return without being able to explore the dungeon slowly, so the third floor, with its wide range of difficulty and the possibility of encountering rare monsters, is currently the best place for me.
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ㅤThat’s why I was a little excited about the monster I saw in front of me now, one I’d never seen before.
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ㅤ’Minotaur……!’
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ㅤIt’s a pretty rare monster, a bull-headed humanoid. I can’t believe it was in this dungeon. I’m alone today. Milia and Reid aren’t here. It’s a shame I can’t share this excitement.
ㅤI was walking towards the back of the third floor as usual when I bumped into it from behind a rock, just like a normal adventurer. Wow, I was surprised. Even I noticed the footsteps, but since the Minotaur walks on two legs, I was thinking casually, “Oh, an adventurer is coming…… I wonder who it is~”.
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ㅤ’Reid would probably be dumbfounded if I told him~’
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ㅤFortunately, unlike other monsters, the Minotaur didn’t immediately attack! I’ve heard that humanoid monsters are special beings with considerable individual differences. Or rather, I read it in a book. They’re different from ordinary monsters, sometimes with high intelligence, making them even more formidable opponents.
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ㅤ’The Minotaur doesn’t have a human head…… but I wonder about its intelligence?’
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ㅤI quickly back away and put some distance between us. According to the book, Minotaurs are physical attackers. It wouldn’t be wise to get close.
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ㅤ’Hmm…… the book said Minotaurs are ferocious, but is that also an individual difference?’
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ㅤThat’s how much I was observing the monster, who was just standing there blankly, and I noticed it was carrying a human’s, an adventurer’s rucksack.
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ㅤ’What? Did it steal that from a human?’
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ㅤMaybe it’s already full and has no intention of attacking humans?
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ㅤ”Uh…… well……”
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ㅤAn awkward atmosphere flows between us, even though it’s a monster. I’m in full battle mode, but I can tell the Minotaur is completely indifferent. Huh? Are we really gonna fight? Seriously? I can almost hear it saying that. Oh no, no! Give me back the excitement I felt a moment ago~!
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ㅤ”Alright!”
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ㅤFor now, let’s immobilize that Minotaur and go look for the owner of the luggage it’s carrying. If they’re alive, we might be able to save them.
ㅤOnce I’ve decided on a course of action, things move quickly. Anyway, it’s time to attack!
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ㅤ”Here I go!”
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ㅤAs I swing my hand upwards, the ground rises sharply, piercing the Minotaur’s legs……! But……
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ㅤ”It’s not piercing……!?”
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ㅤThe sharp earth spears, which should be hard, crumbled without piercing the Minotaur’s shins. I lost in terms of hardness.
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ㅤ”Isn’t it too hard!?”
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ㅤIs that even possible!? This isn’t the time to be surprised. The Minotaur has finally entered attack mode. It closes the distance between us in an instant.
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ㅤ”Crap!”
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ㅤI quickly cast a double layer of defensive magic, but……
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ㅤ–Crack!
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ㅤIt breaks with a single blow. That fist is too strong! But I’m not giving up either.
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ㅤ-━……Huh!?
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ㅤThe Minotaur, suddenly unable to move, looked down at its feet in surprise. Its monster legs are sinking deeper and deeper into the ground that has turned into a swamp. It’s hard to put your strength into it when the footing is bad, right~!?
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ㅤ”There are other ways to immobilize your feet besides just breaking them~!”
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ㅤI don’t know if it understands what I’m saying, but it’s because I’m adventuring solo that no one can see me bragging to a monster.
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ㅤ”Time for the finishing lightning strike~!”
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ㅤI aim my index finger at the Minotaur’s head and fire a lightning strike, careful not to damage the luggage it’s carrying.
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ㅤ–Gah!!!!!
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ㅤThe opponent lets out a low growl, “Groooowl……!”, but manages to stay conscious.
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ㅤ”Seriously!? Humanoids are really strong……”
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ㅤThis is the first time my magic hasn’t worked so well. It can’t be helped. I guess I’ll have to cut it up with wind blades. I generate numerous wind blades in the space between me and the Minotaur. But,
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ㅤ”Whoa!!! Don’t k*ll it, don’t k*ll it!!!”
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ㅤSuddenly, an adventurer cuts in between us.
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ㅤ”Whoa! What!!?”
ㅤI didn’t notice their presence again. That was dangerous. If I had been ambushed, I would have been in trouble.
ㅤThe opponent is a tall, young adventurer. A large scar on his cheek is striking. His short red hair is spiky and looks stiff.
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ㅤ”That’s my monster! So don’t k*ll it!!!”
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ㅤShouting this, the adventurer strains to pull the Minotaur out of the mud. The Minotaur is letting him do as he pleases.
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ㅤ”Ah! It’s running out of magic power…… Geez, how much did you hurt it~?”
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ㅤHe’s grumbling and complaining.
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ㅤ”Because! I would have been killed if I didn’t k*ll it!”
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ㅤIt’s not my fault! I spit out words that sound like an excuse, but
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ㅤ”I’ve ordered it not to attack unless it’s attacked. And it won’t pursue if its life isn’t in danger……”
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ㅤThe red-haired adventurer continues to grumble as he places a finger on the Minotaur’s forehead. A faint light emanates from it, and the Minotaur’s entire body glows in the same way, and it begins to move again.
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ㅤ”Because I didn’t know it was your monster…… or rather, that it was being used by a human! If you’re going to complain, you should put your name on it!”
ㅤ”What monster carries human luggage!”
ㅤ”There might be one!”
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ㅤAnd besides……
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ㅤ”Is that Minotaur…… a Chimera!?”
ㅤ”……Yeah”
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ㅤThe adventurer, looking like he didn’t want to say it but had no choice, grumbled at me.
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ㅤ”Hey, do something about this mud!”
ㅤ”Alright, alright”
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ㅤAs I solidify the ground again, the Minotaur easily breaks through the ground and jumps out. It still has tremendous power.
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ㅤThe red-haired adventurer’s name is Zap. He’s a C-rank magician. He seems to have just arrived in Blood Territory yesterday. To think he’s already reached the third floor, he must be quite skilled.
ㅤHe said he works as a solo adventurer with the Minotaur as his partner.
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ㅤ”Who would choose to fight a Minotaur instead of running away!?”
ㅤ”There are quite a few people like that in this town.”
ㅤ”Huh!? Seriously!? Is this town a den of battle-hungry people!?”
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ㅤThe misunderstanding cleared up, and we exchanged information while munching on roasted dried meat. Or rather, I’m basically bombarding him with questions.
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ㅤ”This is the first time I’ve seen a Chimera~”
ㅤ”The town I lived in had a Chimera Workshop nearby. I found it at the ruins.”
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ㅤThe Minotaur stood next to Zap, looking around. I’m grateful to be able to take a break without being on edge.
ㅤIn this world, Chimera refers to any monster that has been modified by human hands. In the case of this Minotaur, a specially processed magic stone is embedded in its body, allowing it to obey the commands of the human who gives it magic power.
ㅤHowever, this technology has already been lost, making Chimeras themselves quite rare and expensive.
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ㅤ”I usually cover its face with a cloth and make it wear clothes.”
ㅤ”That’s hilarious…… Oh! I heard about that this morning! That a weirdo came to town!”
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ㅤI heard people talking about it near the purchase shop. They were saying things like, “Is it a shady drifter with a suspicious past……?”
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ㅤ”You heard it too? It’s a bit conspicuous, you know~”
ㅤ”But it’s troublesome to run into someone like me, so I think it’s better to be inside the dungeon in that conspicuous outfit.”
ㅤ”Hmm…… that’s persuasive.”
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ㅤZap has a frank personality. He’s worried about his bad mouth, and he said,
ㅤ”I guess I’m a bit socially awkward since I spend so much time talking to a Minotaur. But I don’t want people to know too much about it, so let me know if I do anything weird.”
ㅤ”Well~ a lot of people would want it if it’s that reliable.”
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ㅤBut Zap probably knows that it’s not something that can be easily taken. There’s no point in defeating it. Capturing it without harming it seems quite difficult.
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ㅤ”It’s actually reassuring to have someone as strong as you around. The more mediocre guys are the ones who want it and try to negotiate all sorts of things, and eventually try to steal it.”
ㅤ”Really? I understand the feeling of wanting to increase your safety net.”
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ㅤI wish I had someone who could keep watch and sense presences for me. When I say this without thinking, Zap gives me a startled look, so I hurriedly make excuses.
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ㅤ”I would never think of taking the Minotaur from Zap! I would never do anything to separate such good partners!”
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ㅤDoes that mean I could take it if I wanted to……? He muttered again, but then,
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ㅤ”Yeah, that’s right. He’s a good partner, even though he’s silent.”
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ㅤHe looked towards the Minotaur, who seemed to have noticed something and was trying his best to keep watch.
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ㅤThat day, the Minotaur even carried my share of monster materials. When we left the dungeon, he was wearing that suspicious outfit, so the adventurers who saw him were buzzing and watching from a distance, but since I was with him, they seemed to judge that it was okay to approach.
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ㅤ”Hey, Tempest!”
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ㅤHe said, but his eyes were on the Minotaur. Too obvious!
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ㅤ”Yes. Let me introduce you! This red-haired guy is Zap. And the silent one next to him is……”
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ㅤHuh? What should I call him!? I start to regret starting the introduction without thinking, but,
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ㅤ”This guy is…… Mino. He has a big scar on his face and can’t talk, but he’s not a bad guy……”
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ㅤZap covered for me. Or rather, he probably just named him now. It’s straightforward.
ㅤMino nodded. The adventurers seemed to be convinced. Scars are a part of our profession. It happens.
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ㅤBoth Zap and Mino eventually became familiar faces in the Blood Territory adventurer town. Recently, Zap told me in a much calmer tone that it’s fun to see other adventurers who come from elsewhere get surprised and scared every time they see Mino.