#521 Immaculate Dungeon

“Turn a dungeon...into a battlefield?”

That’s what Alexander came to ask me?

If a race between the demons and humans is hosted in a dungeon, there will be an imbalance of disadvantages depending on whose territory the dungeon is located in.

In such circumstances, it would be fairest to play in one that neither race had ever entered.

“Fortunately, there are such dungeons here.”

There are two dungeons adjacent to our farm, one managed by the Lifeless King, Sensei, and the other by Veil, the dragon.

Only residents of the farm frequent these two dungeons due to their proximity.

Neither the Adventurers’ Guild nor the Demon King’s Army has jurisdiction over either dungeon, so you can treat them as hidden dungeons.

“Either dungeon proves adequate to be a place for fair competition, wouldn’t you say so? For the sake of the future of all mankind, I humbly ask for your permission to use either dungeon, Lord Saint.”

It is rare to find a dragon willing to work for the future of all mankind.

And I’m sure Alexander is taking the initiative without anyone telling him to do so.

“I’d glad to be of help, so...”

Sometimes you have to contribute to society, too, you know what I mean?

As Sensei and Veil are the dungeon guardians, the only thing I can do is act as an intermediary and request permission from them.

Either way, Sensei is kind-hearted and generous, and Veil loves events, so I’m sure they’ll agree.

But there was something else on my mind, something I feared.

“Hasn’t demons and adventurers visited these dungeons before?”

“What?” perplexedly asks Alexander. “Are you certain of this?”

“Yes.”

For example, there was a time when two of the Demon King’s Heavenly Four, Aeshma and Leviasa, stayed with us and trained in dungeons.

I also remember when Mr. Silver Wolf, an S-class adventurer, was invited as a special guest to teach our students, whenever that was.

“Some went as part of academic activities or simply out of personal interest.” 

“I remember now...! I’m the one who introduced him to this place...!”

Alexander holds his head in despair as if blaming himself for his carelessness.

No need to be so hard on yourself.

“I don’t know if they’ll be part of the competition, but if either side has one person who has had experience, it would still be a big advantage, wouldn’t it?”

“Well, this is a pickle...! So, the dungeons here are a no-go, too...?!” 

I wonder if there really is a dungeon that no one has ever been to before.

The only way to answer that question is to search for an undiscovered dungeon.

As Alexander and I were racking our brains over what to do...

“Nyehehehe... I heard everything!”

“Oh, Veil.”

Our dragon, Veil (human form), shows up.

She was out selling her ramen, but she’s back.

“I served gonkotsu ramen to a buncha plebs again today! But I wonder why it doesn’t run out at all?” 

“Isn’t it because you had diluted the broth by one hundredth?”

The broth made from the dragon extract is a strong poison; if a human ingests it, they could explode or become immortal.

Veil diluted it to a degree that wouldn’t affect her mortal customers.

I once thought to myself that she could just throw the whole thing away, but we didn’t know what the dragon extract could do if it were exposed to the environment, so I ceased the idea.

I thought it would become industrial waste, but now I’m just leaving it to Veil to get rid of it bit by bit. 

But I digress.

“More importantly, Alexander! How could you just come here and not ask me for any advice? You can count on me too!”

“...”

Alexander looks away awkwardly, non-verbally giving off cues that say he might not gain anything decent from her even if he did.

“Well, you didn’t happen to be around...”

But the strongest dragon, who conceals his true feelings with a tepid excuse, remains kind.

“I see... Sorry about that then! But now that I, Grinzel Dragon Veil, have appeared, never fear! This mystery is solved!”

“Mystery?!”

Veil still hasn’t gotten over her mystery fever.

But judging by the way she spoke just now...

“Veil, do you have any other dungeons in mind that could be used as a neutral battlefield?”

“Heck yeah! A dungeon that no one has ever visited before, right? I’ve got the perfect one for you!”

“Really?!”

Does such a convenient dungeon even exist?

Is this okay?

We’re not gonna receive backlash for having double standards or something, right?!

“I’m serious! Let’s go to that dungeon right away! Tsumo is better than Ron!”

Don’t you mean evidence is better than debate?!

Anyway, Veil urged us to go to this dungeon’s location.

She and Alexander revert to their dragon forms, and I accompany them on my dragon horse, Sakamoto.

“Be back by dinner, okayyy?”

And Platy saw us off.

Wait up.

Why am I even going with them? 

“Are you guys sure I’m still necessary here?”

“Nothing in this world is unnecessary!”

I soared into the sky with Veil like a gust of wind.

And our destination was...!

* * *

“...Uh, where are we?”

I don’t know where we are.

But I think we crossed an ocean along the way.

“Is this a new continent or something?”

If it is an unexplored land beyond the sea, there might be a dungeon that no one has ever been to.

But isn’t the discovery of a new continent more like the dawn of a new era already?

Isn’t this too much than what we asked for?

“What are you talking about, Master? This is not a new continent, it’s just a small island.”

“Huh?”

Looking around, it’s true that the land, as far as my eyes could see, isn’t that big.

“A solitary island, huh...”

There is no sign of human habitation, and it looks like an island people in distress drift to.

I could sense the beginning of a story that talks about survival life here.

“Is there a dungeon somewhere on this island?”

If there were a dungeon on such an uninhabited island, no one would’ve discovered it.

“Dunno.”

“Huuuh?!”

What is this dragon talking about?!

Didn’t you bring us here because there is an unexplored dungeon people can equally compete in?!

If there’s no dungeon, we’re wasting our time!

Not only me, but even Alexander had to put up with traveling here...!

“Is this island perhaps...?”

Alexander, in human form, busily looks around.

It was as if he had seen this place before.

“We’re going to ask him directly to find out if there really are any dungeons here. Lezgowww!”

“What? Where are you going? Wait!”

Veil starts walking away without a care, so I hurriedly follow her, not wanting to be left behind.

Where is she going?

She seems to be heading for the center of the island...

“Hey, poopy brother! Your wise sister has come to visit you!”

“Oh, Sis Veil! Welcome to my castle!”

And after walking for a while, I meet...

A dragon.

If it isn’t Ardheg, the new emperor dragon...!

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tsumo and ron are Japanese mahjong terms.

tsumo=winning off a self-drawn tile

ron=winning by picking up a discarded tile

evidence (shouko) debate (ron), hence the pun