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Dungeon Rhapsody – Part 03

Perfecting the spell for crossing worlds for stable use was a significant achievement, but an unexpected option surfaced: the ability to return to Japan.

Next month, discussions with Serika and others would be necessary. Either Hikaru or Serika had to remain in this world to use the spell—theoretically. Perhaps conducting an experiment would be beneficial. If Selyse, Sara, or Sophie activated the spell, would it establish a connection to Serika in Japan through the connection between souls?

Japan was likely in quite a commotion. The monthly rift that used to appear without fail would no longer manifest.

Hikaru hoped there wouldn’t be an intensification of media coverage, but it was Serika’s responsibility for revealing the existence of another world.

Oh… I forgot to tell Selyse about the White Ray Blade.

He planned to tell her that he had reported it to Luvain (and immediately fled) the next time they met.

Although they were given the keys to a residence owned by the Four Eastern Stars in the capital, he left it untouched to avoid creating unnecessary obligations.

I feel like things are getting more and more complicated.

Hikaru, mentally exhausted, was dozing off without realizing it. He was on a stagecoach heading to the satellite town of Pond.

Since his last visit to Pond, Hikaru had been considering something. He thought about using Pond, the place where his adventures began, as a base of operations for a while.

Lavia seemed tired too and was sleeping, while Paula was the only one awake, lending her shoulders to the other two. Despite the weight, she looked strangely happy.

“Lord Hikaru, Lavia, we’re here.”

They arrived in Pond early in the evening.

Leaving the carriage stop, they strolled along the main street of the cozy town. Hikaru recalled how he had heard about the Ballast family having a huge fight right here.

“By the way, Lavia, thanks for the work this time,” Hikaru said as they strolled walked.

After bringing Paula to Pond, Lavia stayed alone in the capital to protect Ivy and handled all interactions with Queen Kujastria herself. While Lavia insisted it was her choice, Hikaru couldn’t help but admire her boldness in approaching the queen using Stealth.

“There were some things I wanted to talk about,” Lavia said.

“With Her Majesty?”

“Yeah. Anyway, did you talk to I—Baron Taylor?”

“I did. But I think it’s better not to get involved with him any further. I probably won’t have any more contact with him.”

“I see.”

Lavia learned that Hikaru still thought Ivy was a boy.

“What’s wrong, Lavia?”

“Nothing. Just thinking how you can be unfair sometimes.”

“Huh? Me?”

“But it’s okay. I like that part about you too.”

Hikaru was momentarily flustered as Lavia tightly hugged his left arm. She didn’t usually do such things in public.

“Um, sorry. Are you angry about leaving you alone in the capital?”

“I’m not angry.”

“R-Really?”

“But take me to the café you went to with the receptionist, Freya.” Lavia stared up at Hikaru.

“Wh-Who told you that?”

“Walls have ears and doors have eyes.”

“I guess… Wait, isn’t that a Japanese phrase? When did you learn it?”

“I talked a bit with Sara on the way back from Japan, and she told me.”

“…”

They’re enjoying Japan a little bit too much.

“I want to learn Japanese. I remember there was a category on the Soul Board that could make you good at languages.”

“There is.”

Under the Instinct tree of the Soul Board, there was Intelligence, which branched out into Language Comprehension and Language Output.

But since Lavia’s Instinct was not unlocked, she would need at least three points just to put one point in Language Comprehension.

“I will kill lots of monsters.” Lavia clenched her fists.

Hikaru was bewildered by her enthusiasm. “H-Having motivation is a good thing… I guess?”

Since they were planning to resume adventurer activities anyway, it was perfect. Hikaru and Paula also had zero points left on their Soul Board, so the goal was not just to earn money but also to increase their Soul Rank for emergencies.

“Lord Hikaru, it looks like there’s a commotion at the Adventurers Guild.”

“Sounds like business as usual to me—”

Hikaru paused. As Paula mentioned, something was off with the ruckus.

Adventurers were flocking to the guild. A lot of them, in fact, that they spilled out onto the entrance.

“Hey, what’s happening?”

“Excuse me. What’s going on in the kingdom?”

“We have no idea.”

“We only got an urgent report.”

“Wow. Over ten dungeons, and that’s only what’s currently known.”

At the mention of dungeons, Hikaru and the girls exchanged glances.

“The guild is trying its best to understand the situation.” Freya’s voice could be heard all the way to the street. “The only thing we know for now is that dungeons have appeared all over the continent, and we have confirmed twelve of them.”

New dungeons had appeared all over the continent.

Hikaru would need a few days to learn the details of the situation.

---

“Suddenly, a ceasefire is not our biggest problem.”

Gerhardt Vatex Anchor, the Leader of the Confederacy of Einbiest, flashed a ferocious grin.

“I’m actually pleased that we could achieve a ceasefire,” Pope Luvain of the Theocracy of Bios replied calmly. “We don’t want the Quinbrand Empire attacking in the midst of the dungeon problem.”

He had just concluded a ceasefire agreement with the Quinbrand Empire and had returned to the Holy City of Agiapole only yesterday.

The two of them stood side by side on the balcony of the Tower’s 7th floor. The height provided a commanding view of the entire city, bathed in the light of the setting sun.

“Are you okay with this, Lord Gerhardt?”

“Hmm?”

“That thing appeared in Einbiest too, didn’t it?”

Luvain pointed to a huge, cone-shaped rocky mountain towering in the middle of the forest beyond the outer wall of the holy city. Dense mana—miasma or some kind of unholy energy—hung around the mountain, flocked by strange birds, mere specks from a distance but spanning several meters up close. Reconnaissance reports indicated a diverse range of monsters inhabiting the vicinity. Such a thing had appeared right within a stone’s throw of the holy city.

“Apparently. Einbiest’s dungeons are far from the city, so there’s no problem. I’ve got enough time to clean this up before heading there.”

Gerhardt was already raring to clear the rocky mountain dungeon. Despite receiving information that several dungeons had appeared in Einbiest, he couldn’t just pass by something interesting right in front of him.

“Dear heavens. Deputy Leader Jillarte must be having a hard time.”

Gerhardt chuckled. “It’s fine. The more I act reckless, the more they rely on her. Anyway, Pope, are you sure about this? There might be treasures sleeping in that dungeon. What if I just take them all away?”

“I don’t mind. Monsters might spill out of the dungeon. Eliminating the threat is more important.”

“I like the sound of that. Well then, I’ll do as I please.” Cloak flaring, Gerhardt turned back to the room, then stopped. “Come to think of it, why did dungeons suddenly appear? Do you know anything about it?”

“Good question. I have no clue.”

“…”

“…”

“So long as I can have some fun, I’m good.”

Gerhardt strode away.

“…”

Luvain turned his gaze towards the rocky mountain, then lowered it to his feet.

“Silver Face said he destroyed the mysterious device in the great pit, a device that gathered and condensed all the evil in the world. What would happen if that evil were left alone?”

Luvain already knew the answer. He believed that the appearance of dungeons everywhere had something to do with the great pit. The device had sealed away these dungeons in some form or another, and its destruction resulted in the dungeons appearing on the surface.

“Good grief. You never fail to amuse me, Silver Face.”

If he learned about this, he would likely say, “Don’t put this on me.”

It was entirely unclear what dungeons were and who created them. Nevertheless, adventurers all over the world were emboldened by the appearance of these dungeons. Because common knowledge dictated that dungeons held treasures.

It wasn’t just adventurers either; nobles and the military moved to secure these mysterious structures.

An uproar revolving dungeons would soon engulf the world.