Dungeon's Final Boss: Banished by My Boss, the Goddess, to Earth—So I'll Continue My Past Life - 63

Chapter 63: Heading to the Peschel Dungeon

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Rock’s attitude felt different from what I had seen before, but that might have been due to the translation device. Without dwelling on it too much, we headed for the dungeon in the Kingdom of Peschel. The dungeon entrance was located on the exact opposite side of the island from the port, relative to the old castle in the central area. There was no sandy beach in this area, and the entrance’s glowing vortex was inside a cave facing the sea.

“During high tide, you won’t be able to enter the dungeon at all, and even if you try to leave the dungeon, you won’t be able to return.”

“Having to pay attention to the tide… That’s quite an inconvenient dungeon.”

“But isn’t it safer than having it in the middle of the city?”

Is she referring to an overload, where monsters overflow from the dungeon?

“Still, in a location like this, it would take longer for people to notice if something happened. Each option has its pros and cons.”

“That might be true.”

For now, it seemed that we could still enter the cave.

“We’re heading inside. What about you?”

“Do I look like an Awakened?”

“No.”

Right. Clare was not an Awakened.

“Well then.”

Apparently, if we paid a nearby boatman a tip, he would take us to the entrance. Mio and I boarded a small boat and made our way to the dungeon entrance. After disembarking and walking a little further, we spotted a group of men loitering near the entrance. I couldn’t discern specific ethnicities, but if I divided them into three general categories, they all had white skin.

Aside from the vortex’s glow, several lights were hung on the cave walls. The power source seemed to be coming externally.

That makes sense. No one would leave something in a place that might get submerged.

“Hey, Asian. What business do you have here?”

One of the men asked in a voice like Yhorm’s.

How does the machine translator decide on the voices it uses?

“Do tourists really come all the way out here?”

My response was converted into a bland, mechanical voice through my smartphone. It would’ve been nice if my own voice could have been included in the selection.

“If you’re not a tourist, then leave. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of a woman, would you?”

“Heh… I don’t really mind it though.”

Another man’s voice sounded like Kimemaru’s. I tilted my head and asked.

“I thought Rock Barnhorn had arrived here before us?”

“……”

They responded with silence and displeased expressions on their faces.

“Surely, you aren’t changing your words based on who you’re talking to? That would mean you’re failing in your role as gatekeepers.”

“You bastard!”

『So step aside.』

I infused my words with power.

“Guh!”

In that instant, the men froze in place, unable to move. The force of my universal language compelled the weak to obey my words without question.

『Never block our path again.』

Not wanting to repeat this process, I reinforced my command before stepping through the entrance.

“That was amazing.”

“Well, it’s not a method I like to use.”

Mio sounded impressed, but I wasn’t eager to show that ability off. Controlling others with words alone… It was a useful technique for dealing with certain stubborn individuals, but if I relied on it too much, I would start to lose my sense of self and I would have a hard time knowing how to socialize with other people properly.  I should only use it in moments like this—when it was preferable to forcing obedience through violence.

My control tends to slip over time. I need to remind myself of that occasionally and tighten my restraint…

“Otherwise, I might end up ordering you around someday.”

“Ordering me around…?”

Mio gazed into the distance at my words.

“…That might not be so bad…”

“Huh?”

“Ah! No, never mind!”

“Is that so?”

As Mio shook her head, her face bright red, I turned my attention to the dungeon. A wooden-framed tunnel stretched deep inside. The passage had the atmosphere of an old mine shaft.

“So, what’s the plan for today?”

“Let’s see. We’ll go about an hour in to scout for ore veins. Also, I’d like you to use that DC Ring.”

“Ah, right.”

Mio activated the DC Ring on her wrist. A holographic panel projected in front of her. Its display was only visible to her, so even I couldn’t see it.

“It has the same menu as the Kichijoji Dungeon.”

“You can also view the menu from the New York branch. Just tap the settings button on the side.”

“This one? …Oh, there it is.”

“Though the only difference is the selection of buff foods.”

“It’ll be nice if I ever feel like having a donut~♪”

“True. Since I’m here today, how about you try fighting?”

“Huh?”

“The golem will handle defense. I’ll take care of buffs and healing.”

“You want me to fight?”

Mio usually only fought when she was with Yune or Yinling, and even then, she acted as a tank. She had never considered herself the main attacker before, but this time, that was exactly what I intended. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to collect any dungeon drop items.

As a dungeon monster myself, and with the golems I created, no matter how many enemies we defeated, we would never obtain magic stones. I could still gain experience points, but that would only benefit me. Mio, who spent magic stones to buy golems, would gain nothing in return, and that was unacceptable.

When she explored dungeons alone, she left combat entirely to the golems, sacrificing battle rewards in favor of mining magic stone veins and maximizing her video views. That was a logical strategy given her abilities. But since I was here, and this was just a preliminary scouting trip, it didn’t seem right for Mio to be the only one taking a loss.

That was simply unacceptable. She needed to gain something too.

“But if I’m the attacker, won’t it take a long time?”

“With my buffs? No problem.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

“Also, switch your equipment. Your usual gear isn’t suited for combat and might break.”

“Got it!”

Satisfied with my reasoning, Mio retrieved the pickaxe and shield I had given her before.

“While we’re at it, I’ll teach you how to fight with a shield.”

“Wow, thank you!”

She summoned a golem purchased through the DC Ring, and with that, our preparations were complete.

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