Dungeon's Final Boss: Banished by My Boss, the Goddess, to Earth—So I'll Continue My Past Life - 76

Chapter 76: Audience with the Goddess

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I left the villa where Mio and the others were staying and headed for the dungeon. The entrance was hidden in the raging sea, but it posed no problem for me. Transforming into the Blue Slur form I had used during the auction, I dove into the sea and entered the dungeon. However, even after entering, the seawater did not disappear.

This… Was a complete rejection of intruders. Humans were not made to survive underwater. At least, that was the case in the world where I had managed a dungeon and it was true on Earth as well.

In such a world, to flood the entrance itself with water was clearly intentional. If one had the proper equipment and skills, it wouldn’t be an issue, but this world had not yet reached that stage of technology.  Producing orichalcum, encroaching upon the surface… This dungeon was clearly abnormal.

“For now, if it’s possible to ask, I guess I should.”

It was no more than intellectual curiosity, but I decided to move forward anyway. Besides, in this flooded state, there wouldn’t be anyone else around, and there was a better form I could take than the Blue Slur. Well, it was a dragon form, but not my true body. I could take on the form of Leviathan (Spirit Horned Golden-Scaled Radiant-bearded Fin Sea King Dragon)

It was the form I had taken when I acquired various attributes during my dragon transformations. Unit adapted for water was strong, but it was difficult to find opportunities to use it in dungeons designed to welcome humans. Even so, I had trained this form to this extent. Thanks to that, I was able to become a Yellow Dragon with the ultimate attribute balance of “Taikyoku,” and eventually evolve into my current form, the Luminous Glorious Majestic Invincible Supreme Dragon, EX Magnifique Dragon.

In any case, I proceeded in the form of the Sea King Dragon. In a world with oceans, nothing could hinder the swimming of a Sea King Dragon. Enemies like sahagin species dissolved into magic energy the moment they approached with hostility, sucked away by the flow of my gill-breathing. In the blink of an eye, I reached the lowest level.

“O-Oh…”

At my arrival, the Deep Sahagin Emperor—King Peschel—who had been waiting on the throne, stood up, trembling. Even the trident he clutched was shaking.

“To think the difference in our ranks would be this great…”

“Thank you for waiting.”

Seeing him so overwhelmed, I somehow felt it would be inappropriate to reveal that this wasn’t even my true form. I decided to stay silent about that fact.

“So, what will you do? Shall we fight?”

“Indeed… indeed! I beg you!”

Since he was this happy about it, King Peschel must be a genuine battle maniac. 

“Come!”

Without another word, King Peschel kicked off his throne and rushed forward into the flooded hall. His momentum was like an arrow. With his trident thrust forward, each of the three points was charged with a different elemental magic. The golden scales that marked him as a ruling class shone with pure brilliance.

No playing around, no testing the waters—this was a full-force, all-in attack.It didn’t feel right to block it half-heartedly. Just a single strike. That was likely what King Peschel wished for. Dungeon monsters didn’t fight because they wanted to. They fought because they were born there, lived there, and had no choice but to fight. While combat was a given for their existence, not all were naturally adept at it. Having experienced life as various species starting from goblins, I understood that well.

King Peschel. For now, he was only at this level, but who knew what he might become in a hundred years? After all, dungeon monsters did not have a definitive death. Unless their creator decided, “I won’t use this one anymore,” they could revive again and again. As long as they kept moving forward, they could continue to grow stronger.

“That’s why I hope there won’t be a next time.”

I unleashed the Sea King Dragon’s breath. A golden torrent forming a triple-helix vortex engulfed the Deep Sahagin Emperor and completely erased him. His experience points turned into magic energy and flowed into me.

It was my victory.

“Now then… Will the dungeon disappear with this?”

Or perhaps…?

In the next instant, the surrounding water vanished. Yet I didn’t fall. Instead, pain surged through my entire body.

Poison? No, this was… Radiation.

Immediately, I shifted from Sea King Dragon form to EX Magnifique Dragon form. This form could withstand zero gravity and the vacuum of space. Just like the underwater setting, the outer space setting hadn’t been much used in dungeons. However, the EX Magnifique Dragon, having mastered all attributes through “Taikyoku,” was capable of handling everything.

Now then, it seemed I had been forcibly shifted from the ocean to outer space…

“Would you mind explaining what exactly you’re trying to do?”

“I should be the one asking that.”

The reply came from directly ahead of me.

A figure was walking through space. With steps so graceful it seemed heels should be clicking against the ground, she approached with the poise of a model striding down a fashion show runway.

“A goddess, huh?”

“How arrogant. But unfortunately, you do possess that kind of power.”

A silver-haired woman with sharp, intelligent beauty—not a ditzy beauty like Piroane—looked up at me. The sheer force of her presence seemed about to slice the tip of my nose despite the vast difference in mass between us.

“My name is Shelheim. Dragon born from our hands, I shall allow you to introduce yourself.”

“I am Jiro Hasegawa.”

“Jiro Hasegawa. Why are you destroying my dungeon? You should have no reason to do so.”

“If you want reasons, I have two.”

“Speak.”

“First, because the dungeon boss here challenged me. Second, because I am a living being of this planet.”

“This planet? Ah, you’re a reincarnated unit, then.”

Shelheim understood instantly. What an impressive comprehension. If it had been Piroane, she would definitely have needed further explanation at this point.

“May I ask you a question as well?”

“If it’s within what I can answer.”

“Why do dungeons that seem to invade the surface exist? Aren’t dungeons supposed to generate energy for the gods’ world?”

“Heh… Hehehe… I see, so the sense of danger you felt is the third reason, huh?”

“The third? I see… I suppose you might be right.”

If I interpreted my second reason as part of my duties as an Awakened, then that conclusion made sense.

“Very well, I shall answer you. ‘There is no need for you to know.’”

“Would you at least guarantee that nothing more dangerous than the dungeons themselves will appear?”

“No, I will not.”

“I see.”

How unfortunate. Well, even if she had given me such a guarantee, it might not have brought any real peace of mind.

Thinking about it, it was strange. If the mere existence of dungeons brought only benefits to the planet and its world, there would be no reason to destroy them. The reason Earth had to do so now was because they were multiplying without restraint. Proof of that was how the oldest dungeons had become sites for high-quality magic stone mining. Yet, if that were the case, why had my dungeon, after a hundred years, continued to attract raiders so persistently?

Why had it not simply settled into being a convenient magic stone mine? Perhaps the people of that world had realized that the continued existence of dungeons brought harm to their world.

“Jiro Hasegawa. This is an act based on a plan laid out by a Great Being. Excessive interference will bring misfortune upon you.”

“I see. I’ll be careful. However…”

However… I felt the urge to say it.

“Still, as someone who lives on this planet, I want to make use of my knowledge.”

“That is beyond my concern.”

With those words, the goddess vanished.

Was that her way of saying “I didn’t hear anything”? Or maybe, “I’ve warned you, what happens next is your problem”? It was probably the same either way. In other words, it meant something dangerous.

But…

“That’s fine too, I suppose.”

I had decided to provide skill training to Mio and the others. That training was an extension of that in a way. I wanted to use my knowledge and… 

“Having a sense of purpose in life is a good thing after all.”

Basically, that was all there was to it.

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