#870 The Dungeon Experience

It’s me again, and I’m an adventurer today.

“I’m about to start my duties now. However, since I’ve actually received a commission from Silver Wolf, I’ve got to get serious and not treat this like a game.”

A job is a job, even if it’s just a work experience.

They’ve asked me to meet up with a local adventurer there...

Hmmm...

Could that be them?

“Haha, hey there, looking forward to working with you.”

First things first, a friendly greeting to break the ice.

The adventurer waiting for me was Ms. Heligene, a dark-skinned demoness.

Apparently, she used to be a soldier in the Demon King’s Army and had recently changed careers, as the briefing indicated.

The main goal was to show her the ropes of being an adventurer and help her understand its significance.

“We’re about to enter a newly discovered dungeon. It’s a cave type. It’s more dangerous than some advanced dungeons because its full extent is unknown. Who knows, maybe even a Lifeless King lives inside...?”

Ah, setting up flags like that again...

“Well, even if something like that happens, we, former Demon King’s Army members, won’t flinch. I expect great things from you, famed adventurer. Heh...”

...

Oh, I see what this is.

It’s the classic newbie hazing, right?

The “let’s see what you’ve got, heh...” sort of thing.

It’s common in a merit-based field.

All right then, let’s dive into the dungeon and live up to those expectations.

“To the unexplored depths of the abyss, let’s go!!!”

“YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!”

The accompanying orcs and goblins are also full of vigor.

Watching them, Ms. Heligene, who’s also coming along, tilts her head in confusion.

“Huh? Humans can tame monsters too...?”

Well, we’ll get to understand each other better once we’re actually in the dungeon.

***

We’ve entered the dungeon.

The cave-type interior stretches long and deep underground.

It’s cool and slightly chilly, filled with a sinister aura not typical of just any cave.

“Dungeons are otherworldly... The moment you step in, you realize it. The miasma here is unbearable for ordinary people. If you don’t run away, I guess that means you’ve got at least the basic qualifications to be an adventurer, right?” says Ms. Heligene vainly.

She probably still clings to her pride as a former member of the Demon King’s Army.

I’ll have to report this reluctance to the Demon King later.

...Oh?

There’s some activity up ahead.

A palpable malice is approaching us.

Multiple sources.

“Kikikikikikikiki...!!!”

Approaching us with an ultrasonic shriek that no human can make...

...Bats?

Bat monsters?

Monstrous bats, a size larger than a large dog, inconceivably enormous creatures by any standard, are flying towards us!

“Gigantic Bats... A common monster in caves in the Demon Kingdom. Stay back. Their high-speed flight is hard to track if you’re not used to it.”

Ms. Heligene steps forward, ready to handle them herself...

“Everyone, on it.”

“UNDERSTOOD!!!”

My orc and goblin companions annihilate them in an instant.

“So fasttttttt!!!”

Our companion is astonished.

My men make short work of average monsters.

Their speed is sometimes so fast it breaks the sound barrier, making it impossible for even flying monsters to escape.

The giant bats kept coming, dozens of them, but they were swiftly beheaded, and the danger passed.

“…?!…?!”

Ms. Heligene stares with her mouth agape, unable to believe what she’s just witnessed.

 She seemed frozen, forgetting even to breathe for a good few seconds.

“Goblins this strong... I’ve never heard of such a thing...!”

Hahaha. Surprised, aren’t you?

My kids are strong. It’s always a joy to hear them be praised.

“My Lord, what should we do with the bats we’ve killed?”

The goblins ask me.

Monsters are usually used for their materials; that’s the norm.

But really, what in the world can one use bat materials for? I haven’t got the foggiest idea.

Could its fur be of any use, given its size? Deep-fried bat doesn’t sound particularly appetizing, does it…?

“Aha, that’s it. If it’s a monster unique to the Demon Kingdom, perhaps Ms. Heligene knows some clever use for it?”

“A result of the Commander’s influence? Aren’t there special classes that bestow abilities on the monsters they command among humans? Monster tamers or something? No, if that were true, they’d have been unleashed in wars… But then, there are those summoned from other worlds with unique skills…!”

She’s still muttering to herself.

Best to leave her be for now.

We can’t just wait around for her to come back to her senses, so we might as well keep moving forward.

“...Ah, watch out! Don’t rush in heedlessly!!!”

“Hm?”

Just then, the entire cave ceiling came crashing down.

A trap?!

We’re about to be squashed flat against the ceiling!

But before that…

“Hmph!”

My orc companion holds up the ceiling.

With one hand.

Then pushed it back.

With one hand.

He pushed just enough for a clicking sound to be heard, and then the ceiling stopped falling.

Locked into place.

“Hanyaaaaaaaaaaa?! Even with an orc’s brute strength, holding up the entire ceiling?! And even pushing it backkkkkkkkkkkk?! How?!”

Once again, our demoness is in utter shock.

But for my orc, this is nothing; lifting a ceiling is barely a warm-up compared to hoisting a whole dragon.

They are, after all, renowned for their incredible strength.

But our leaders, Orkubo and Gobukichi, are even stronger.

Considering they’re newlyweds, I didn’t bring them along for today’s vocational experience.

“J-Just because you command strong monsters doesn’t mean their strength is yours, monster tamer! True strength lies within oneself!!!”

Before I knew it, I had been firmly established as a monster tamer in our dear demoness’s mind.

It’s difficult to outright deny, as much as it irks me…

“Fools who dare to desecrate my dungeon, face your doom hereeeeeeeee!”

And then, an autonomous skeletal figure appeared.

That familiar miasma is unmistakable.

“A Lifeless King, huh?”

So, he’s come to collect on the flag, as expected.

It turns out this is his dungeon.

“Eeeeeeeek! I didn’t expect a Lifeless King to actually show uppppppppp!”

Our brave lady, who was all bluster just before entering the dungeon, now looked utterly petrified.

First encounter, perhaps?

Well, it’s not every day you meet the strongest of the undead, an encounter usually synonymous with death. Her panic is understandable.

“How dare you, mere mortals, desecrate the domain of a Lifeless King, Colonel of the Undead! I shall extinguish your life and reshape you as my vanguard!!!”

“A-Anyway, let’s run! We can use your orcs and goblins as a diversion. Maybe buy some time…!”

Diversion? Buy some time?

As if I’d let my orc and goblin companions be used like that.

I unsheath my holy sword.

A flash of light from my swing engulfs the Lifeless King.

“Guhoooooooooooooo…! Th-This light… a holy sword?! Why would a wielder of a holy sword be here?! Noooooooooooooo!”

With a final scream, the undead overlord was blown away.

“Don’t worry, it was a mercy blow.”

It probably didn’t kill him.

I don’t like needless killing, even if the other party is already dead.

“Ridiculous…! The holy sword, said to be possessed only by the Demon King? Why would an adventurer have one in their possession…?!”

Meanwhile, the demoness, completely overwhelmed, couldn’t move an inch.