The Boy Who Fell to the Lowest Level of the Dungeon, Becoming the Strongest and Returns to the Surface After 10 Years~He Just Wants to Live a Quiet Life, but His Childhood Friends Who Have Risen to Prominence Won’t Leave Him Alone~ - SS 1: Elta-kun and the Fierce God-san

“Don’t stop by ‘Demon Mountain'”

Elta’s best friend──Fen from Fenrir──said that very firmly.

This is the lowest level of the Asterla Dungeon.

Currently, Elta is thirteen years old.

This is a story from about four years after he had hit rock bottom.

“Hey, hey, Fen.”

“What is it, Elta?”

Elta and Fen were lounging in bed as usual.

Then, out of the blue, Elta brought up the topic.

“Why can’t we go to ‘Demon Mountain’?”

“Indeed. The Demon Tribe is very ferocious.”

Fen begins to talk about the Demon Tribe.

Elta doesn’t know, but the strongest races live in this lowest level.

However, the “Demon Tribe” is still called a warrior tribe and is feared by other monsters.

Furthermore, at the pinnacle of those demons──the “Fierce God”──the fear is beyond measure.

According to rumors, they constantly intimidate those around them, keep everyone at bay, and tirelessly train their fists at the peak.

“Hmm.”

“So, Elta, don’t go to ‘Demon Mountain.'”

Fen stares intently at Elta.

However, Eltastill hadn’t shed his bratty demeanor as he broke into a smirk.

“Eh, what should I do?”

“No way! Don’t go, absolutely don’t go!?”

In a panic, Fen insists and reiterates.

It sounds so much like a pretense now.

“Geez, I get it already.”

“Haah… As long as you understand, that’s all that matters.”

If there was anything beyond Fen’s calculations, it would be the magnitude of Elta’s curiosity.

The next day.

“When I’m told not to go, I just want to go even more~”

Curious, Elta set off to “Demon Mountain” with a nonchalant expression.

So that Fen doesn’t find out, secretly.

“Wow, it’s so big!”

When he arrived at “Demon Mountain,” where the Demon Tribe lived, Elta couldn’t help but raise his gaze high.

Several mountains are connected, forming a single giant mountain.

Though he traces the steep path with his eyes, the summit is far beyond sight.

It must be a mountain of a size that is practically impossible to reach on the ground.

“This seems tough.”

That being said, time passes reasonably while spending it with Fen.

From his usual races and hunts, he already possessed superhuman physical abilities.

“I hope to arrive by evening.”

Alright, Elta steeled himself.

Without missing a beat, he starts running up the mountain at an incredible speed.

As if climbing almost vertically.

“Here I go.”

And so, after a few hours of climbing, Elta arrives.

To the summit of “Demon Mountain.”

“Wow, beautiful…!”

Looking back, it was a breathtaking view.

The clouds, which he usually only looks up at, spread out below, and the red light of the setting sun gently illuminates them.

Even among the lowest levels where natural disasters constantly occur, it was top-class beauty.

“Isn’t it strange?”

The structure of the lowest level is completely misunderstood.

In the first place, humans have only ever reached Elta, and Elta has never even been considered to be understood.

However, many things seem unchanged from the surface.

For some reason, there is sunlight, and also mountains, rivers, and grasslands.

It’s just that the size, the monsters that inhabit it, and the way the weather changes are all abnormal.

And since Elta has completely gotten used to it and was moved as it must be quite a sight.

However, Elta suddenly flinches and jumps.

He noticed a presence creeping up from behind.

“…!”

This is the top of the mountain where the demon resides.

Then, it must be one person.

The leader of the warrior tribe “Demon Tribe”──the Fierce God.

“Whoa!”

The first impression is that it’s big and red.

With large two horns, red skin, and fangs protruding from its mouth.

But what stands out the most is──the physique.

The structure of the body is close to that of a human, but in terms of muscles and bones, it is still of a size that is more fittingly described as giant.

It was truly worthy of being called the “embodiment of strength.”

“Um, um…”

“…”

The Fierce God is staring intently at Elta.

As Fen said, it has an overwhelming presence that completely keeps others at bay.

Even the lowest-tier monsters rarely escape.

However, Elta approached even Fierce God without fear.

“Is this the right place for Fierce God-san?”

“…”

However, there is no response.

The mouth seems to move slightly… but the Fierce God simply stares straight at Elta.

Having trouble with the conversation, Elta pointed at the scenery.

“Um, shall we watch it together?”

“…”

However, since there is no response, the conversation naturally doesn’t continue.

In a place like that──

“Eltaaa!”

“Whoa!”

With a voice that sounded like a scream, Elta was pulled back forcefully.

“Are you okay?”

“…!”

When he turned around, Fen had rushed over.

However, seeing Fen’s demeanor, Elta’s eyes widened.

Even a divine wolf, of all beings, was showing a flustered expression.

“Grururururu…”

Even among the lowest ranks, Fen could stand at the top and was on guard.

Against the overwhelming intimidation emanating from the Fierce God.

And then, Fen raises her voice.

“I told you not to go near Demon Mountain!”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“But we’ll talk later. For now, step back!”

Fen shot a glance at the Fierce God.

The tense legs seem to be already in a combat-ready stance.

“O Fierce God, I have no intention of fighting. I will take my leave now.”

“…”

“Is it okay?”

“…”

As expected, there is no response.

Fen interprets that attitude as consent and tries to turn away.

Just as she was about to take a breather and step back.

The curious boy, Elta, jumped out from the side.

“Fierce God-san.”

“E-Eltaaa!?”

Elta ran quickly towards the Fierce God.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!”

Fen hurriedly tries to bring Elta back.

However, Elta seemed to be feeling something.

“Fierce God-san, you’re definitely talking about something, aren’t you?”

“W-What!?”

Elta quietly brings his ear closer to the Fierce God.

Since there was no sign of an attack, Fen cautiously followed Elta.

Then, she really heard a voice.

“It’s been a while since I last saw you.”

“”…!””

“I saw a monster for the first time in a while.”

It did say that.

The Fierce God knows nothing of humans and probably thought Elta was also a monster.

Furthermore, if they look closely, the Fierce God’s face also seems somewhat pleased.

“I was always alone, so I’m happy.”

“Really! I’m happy to see you too!”

And so, Elta and the Fierce God shake hands.

That scene was an “achievement” that no monster had ever accomplished before.

Also, Fen, next to him, goes limp and loses strength.

(Could it be… the true identity of the Fierce God…)

The true identity of the Fierce God was──just a “shy person.”

Due to its innate appearance, the Fierce God was greatly feared.

Their appearance is so terrifying that even the same “Demon Tribe” is afraid.

In the meantime, it was elevated on its own and called a “Fierce God.”

Being taciturn just meant it had a quiet voice.

The reason it trained its fists was simply because it didn’t have any friends.

This was the true form of the leader of the Demon Tribe──the “Fierce God.”

“Th-that’s ridiculous…”

“But, I’m sorry, Fen. I broke the promise.”

“Hmph, that’s old news now.”

At this point, she can’t even muster the energy to get angry anymore.

Rather, she was grateful for Elta’s curiosity.

(Now that I think about it, was it like this when I met Elta too…)

Then, Fen suddenly remembered the time she met Elta.

But that’s a story for another time.

“I want friends.”

“Me too! Then let’s be friends!”

Thus, Elta expands his circle of “friends.”

After that, the two occasionally became companions in mountain retreats, where they would teach each other how to handle the strongest fists.

And so, the name of the new strongman, “Human Elta,” began to spread even to the lowest levels──.

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Afterword

Thank you for waiting!

The first SS was Elta-kun’s lowest tier chapter!

This is an updated version of the SS that was previously shared exclusively in my recent notes!

The Strongest Race Series Part Two── [Fist of the Fierce God]. It seems that this was born like this.

You can also see Fen’s struggles being tossed around by Elta-kun here and there, haha.