#446 Dungeon Cart

I’m Shabe, an adventurer, and I’m in dire need of help right now.

A few days ago, the dungeon I was in changed like a nightmare.

Dragons started roaming around the area.

Why?!

What is going on here?!

Aren’t dragons supposed to be at the deepest part of the dungeon as guardians?!

Why are they loitering around like normal monsters?!

And not just one, but four of them!

This nightmarish situation took place in the Mountain of the Sacred White Maiden.

It is regarded as the world’s best dungeon, but this sudden change in difficulty sent everyone into despair.

No one dare enter, because once you set foot inside, it becomes a brutal dungeon from which you would never get out alive. Ever.

Come on, we’re talking about multiple dragons here!

How is anyone supposed to attempt a dungeon crawl if you’re encountering dragons now and then?!  

There’s even a devilish angel named Songokufon roaming around, and encountering her is equivalent to failing!

I was hoping the increase of similar walking game-killers would make Songokufon slacken her assaults, but I was wrong.

If anything, it only made her more competitive.

And we adventurers face these negative consequences!

“We’re in trouble! The S-class adventurer Silver Wolf has been knocked out by a dragon!”

What?!

When we rush to check on him, I find my idol, Silver Wolf, is already being carried down the mountain.

He’s beaten so badly, damn it!

“...I failed. We’re no match for dragons, after all...!”

“Please hang in there, brother!”

Fuck this! I’ll avenge my idol myself!

Oof, maybe that’s impossible.

“I lost, but I found a weakness in one of them. It’s the black dragon named Bloody Mary...”

Whoa!

Silver Wolf didn’t let himself come back empty-handed despite his defeat.

This must be what sets S-class apart from the rest of us.

“If you bombard her with lines like ‘you and Ardheg look good together,’ or ‘your husband said he loves you!’ she’ll look away in embarrassment. Take advantage of that moment and run away!”

That’s incredible!

But in exchange for this valuable information, my idol had to withdraw, his whole body in tatters.

The dragons seem like they’re going easy on us...But this is still intolerable!

There is no way I can clear a difficulty level that would wipe out even an S-class adventurer!

What should I do?!

***

At the end of it all...

I’m here in one corner of the dungeon, on the verge of death.

As I continued my dungeon crawl in self-abandonment, a dragon spotted me. Careless, I fell off a cliff and am now severely injured.

I can’t move a muscle in my body from the intense pain.

I managed to escape from the dragon, but I don’t think I can continue in my condition.

Actually, my life is in danger right now.

It’s all over for me as soon as a monster comes by here.

...This is such a dumb way to die.

Some of my comrades have told me that it’s better we hold off our climb until the dragons are gone.

Dragons are usually capricious creatures, so they will go away eventually if you’re patient enough.

The butler even said Dragon Enhancement Month. Note, month.

...But something bugs me.

Avoiding danger is not an adventurer’s way of life, is it?

If you want a peaceful life, why don’t you just work for the government or something?

Choosing the path of an adventurer means taking risks. Otherwise, it’s not worth it.

...But any risk beyond a certain limit is a hard pass for me, okay?

No! I don’t want to die a stupid accidental death after being chased around by these dragons!

I want to survive somehow! I want to live and conquer dungeons! I want to be an S-class adventurer!

And then... That’s right. I want to find the Saint’s Farm.

Ugh... I still want to do so much.

Someone, help me...!

“Man, you’re noisy.”

“Huh?!”

I notice there’s someone beside my paralyzed body.

It’s a little girl.

A girl? In this extremely dangerous dungeon?

She’s not supposed to be here!

“Consider yourself lucky I found you. Eh, more like your inner voice was too loud I could even hear you from outside the dungeon.”

“Huh? Um... No, this is not the time to be confused. I’m sorry little girl, but could you please go get some help? As you can see, big brother is in a pinch right now...!”

“Shut up. I don’t care if you die or live.”

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuh?!

What is wrong with this child?! Her words and behavior are savage!

“What you should be thinking about is whether or not to eat ramen.”

“Ramen? What’s that?”

“Sit here, and you’ll understand.”

The girl nimbly lifts me up.

I see something strange next to me, thanks to my elevated perspective.

A hut?

It’s a wooden hut with wheels on both sides.

“Sit here. This is the customer’s seat!”

“Customers? And what do you mean cart?”

Shortly after being forced to sit down, the smell of food fills the air.

The girl stands on the opposite side and starts rummaging through something.

...Is she cooking?

“When I told Master about this place, he got mad at me. He said it’s not a game if it’s not meant to be cleared.”

I don’t know what she’s talking about, but I agree with what her ‘Master’ said.

“So, I decided to make some adjustments. Seidour and Mary can chase you all they want, but you should be fine after eating my ramen.”

Inside the bowl the girl puts on the table contains food I have never seen before.

“This is ramen?”

What is this? Some kind of soup?

But what are all these long, thin things in it?

It looks so bizarre...!

“Eat up. The only choice you are allowed is to eat ramen here or die.”

“That’s it?!”

No, I’ll eat it.

Either way, I was going to die of exhaustion and hunger after being chased around by the dragon.

Even if this ramen was poisoned, I would still eat it.

I could still feel the pain in my body, but with shaky hands, I managed to grab the bowl and drink the soup.

“...Oh!”

It’s delicious.

Super delicious!

I also tried some of the long, thin strips, which were also delicious!

What is this tender texture?

The more I ate, the stronger I felt, and I finished it in no time.

“Another bowl!”

“We only do second servings of noodles. You’ve already finished your soup.”

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh?!

You’ve got to be kidding!

But as soon as I finished eating the ramen, power surged through my body!

The injuries I sustained from falling off the cliff have completely healed.

Is this the power of ramen?!

“Seidour’s broth can be diluted up to 500 times, so even a human being can eat it like a normal meal. Even so, it’s still pretty potent. Once inside the body, it heals all injuries and increases physical capacity many times over.”

I bet!

My body feels light! I feel full of power!

I’m as strong as a B-level adventurer now!

“You just had my farm-style soy sauce gonkotsu ramen! I’m serving it for free during Dragon Enhancement Month! This power-up should balance things out!”

Oh, wow! Thank you, little girl!

With my current power, I think I can make it to the top while avoiding the dragons!

I guess there’s always a return on the risk!

Only those who have taken on the greater risk of facing dragons can eat this ramen.

And they will be able to increase their power!

What a wonderful world we live in!

Getting through danger to get the results, this is the way of an adventurer!