Chapter 89

After throwing Smither into the abyss, we headed towards the room with the coffins and started moving.

"Well, I wonder what's going on..."

"Is the door still open?"

"Actually, it might lead underground, and he could still be alive..."

"Stop saying things like that. If that were the case, it would be terrifying."

I was wondering if the door would really be open after defeating him like that. What if there was a bottom to the abyss, and Smither had come back to life? Such worries swirled in our minds.

While we were moving, I noticed Luna, who was walking next to me, tilting her head and pressing her throat.

"Luna, is something wrong? Did you get hurt just now?"

"I've recovered, but if it still hurts, please let me know, Luna."

I had only supported her, but Luna had directly clashed with Smither's attacks. After that, Cis had healed her, but it wouldn't be surprising if there was something wrong with her body. It was that intense a clash... Only Noll and Luna, in their skill-activated states, could have withstood it.

"No, it's not that. I'm just really thirsty. Hachiro, can I have some water from your canteen?"

"Sure, go ahead."

I was worried, but it seemed she was just really thirsty. She wasn't sweating much, but maybe she was thirsty from the tension.

I took the canteen out of my bag and handed it to Luna. She immediately poured water into a cup and started gulping it down.

After finishing, she poured more water and kept drinking, over and over again. Isn't she drinking too much? She's already had more than five cups... Is it normal to be this thirsty?

"Are you feeling better?"

"Probably. I should be fine for a while. Sorry about that."

"If anything happens, tell me right away!"

Luna returned the canteen to me after drinking twelve cups. She drank a lot... Her stomach must be full.

Cis approached her with worried hands, but Luna, as usual, frowned and pushed her hands forward to gesture her to stay away.

I was worried, but it seemed she was back to her usual self. I thought she might be unable to move like Noll or feel unwell like Estelle after using her skill twice, but there were no signs of that. Still, we couldn't let our guard down, so we would keep an eye on Luna as much as possible.

After tightening our resolve, we continued moving and finally saw the entrance to the room with the coffins. Once we enter, we'll find out if we defeated Smither... It's nerve-wracking.

"Hey, it's open!"

"There's also a fragment of the stone tablet!"

"Is this the end of the ruins?"

We swallowed and entered nervously. The double doors at the back of the coffin were open, and there was no treasure chest, just a fragment of the stone tablet embedded in the wall. When I tried to remove it, it came off easily.

With this, the rectangular stone tablet was complete. Now, we just need to figure out where to use it.

●

After leaving the room with the coffins, we wandered through the dungeon, looking for where to use the completed stone tablet. As we progressed, fighting mummies that kept appearing, we came across a large iron door at the end of a corridor. There was one like this in the Goblin Dungeon... Is this the goal?

"Is it... there?"

"It seems so, but... we've encountered so many traps, I'm a bit scared to go in."

Because we had encountered so many traps in this dungeon, everyone had become suspicious. Even though we wanted to rush in now that we could see the goal, no one was willing to do so.

"Alright, let's check it out, Noll and I."

"That's right. If anything happens, Cis and I can handle it."

Currently, only Noll, Cis, and I could move properly. I wanted to leave Noll behind to protect Estelle and the others, but we should check for traps first. Cis can handle the monsters here, and Estelle and Luna aren't completely unable to move.

"Estelle and Luna, take a rest. Cis, can you keep an eye on them?"

"Of course! I'll watch them closely!"

"Ugh, stop... don't come closer..."

I asked Cis to watch over Estelle and the others while we waited. She responded with a smile, clapping her hands and wiggling her body. She then approached Luna, who looked uncomfortable and pulled a face.

...She's really the same as always.

Leaving Estelle and the others with Cis, Noll and I started moving forward. We carefully checked each step and looked around as we progressed.

We reached the inner door without encountering any traps. Hmm? We were so cautious, but there was nothing? Did you think there would be a trap? Too bad! It's a bit frustrating to be teased like that, but it's good that there was nothing, so let's be happy about it.

"Alright, we just need to insert it here."

"That would be great if this is the end..."

There was a rectangular hole in the center of the door, so we inserted the completed stone tablet. The door then opened on its own.

"Looks like we don't need to worry."

"That's great!"

We cautiously looked inside and saw a dark room similar to the Goblin Dungeon. Finally, we can relax... It's over, finally over.

"The inside of the dungeon is like this?"

"This place is similar to the Goblin Dungeon."

With the safety confirmed, we called Estelle and the others over, and we all entered the room. Luna, who was seeing the final area of the dungeon for the first time, looked around with interest.

As we went deeper, we found a platform on a thin pillar, just like before. Is this how the inside of every dungeon looks? This is the third dungeon... It makes me wonder if there are more out there. If they exist in the Angol Ruins, which were supposed to be thoroughly explored, they might be in other known locations.

Anyway, it's finally the moment we've been waiting for. I immediately held my phone over the transparent board on the platform. The phone vibrated, and something appeared on the screen.

[Dungeon Completion Reward: 200 Magic Stones, Premium Ticket, SSR Cost Down, SSR Skill Up]

Wow! What is this!? What is this!?

This is incredibly generous! 200 Magic Stones, a free ticket, and two SSRs! What a lavish reward!

"Hehe, here it is! This is what I was looking for!"

"Ogura, you still have energy to celebrate..."

"You're grinning so much."

Receiving such a reward has really lifted my spirits! I can't stop smiling! Ah, all the fatigue from today has vanished. I was aiming for 140, but I got 200!

...Wait? Something's off?

Did I get the Magic Stones so easily last time? I remember there was another message before receiving them...

"Hmm?"

"Brother? Is something wrong?"

"No, when we cleared the Goblin Dungeon, I remember a message about something being 'unlocked'... I think it was 'blackening'?"

Before receiving the Magic Stones, there was a message saying 'blackening' was unlocked. After that, we were immediately teleported, so it was left ambiguous. What was that about? It said 'unlocked,' but there was no change to my phone... Is something happening without my knowledge?

"Blackening...? Could it be a change in your title, brother?"

"Title? ...There's no change."

I checked the title change screen, but there was no change. What was that all about? Is it related to the dungeon, or something else... I have no idea.

"Whoa!?"

"Another teleport! Everyone, gather!"

As I was pondering, a magic circle appeared at our feet. I think we'll just be teleported outside, but just in case, we all huddled together like before. Then, our vision was filled with white light.

"Ugh... Is everyone okay?"

When the light faded and I opened my eyes, we were at the entrance to the Angol Ruins dungeon. I immediately checked to make sure everyone was there and felt relieved. It's convenient to be sent back to the entrance, but I don't like the suspense every time.

Right after feeling relieved, a dull creaking sound came from behind. When I checked, the dungeon entrance was starting to close.

"What, why!?"

"The dungeon... is closing."

The Goblin Dungeon's entrance collapsed and disappeared, but this one is just closing. We might never be able to enter again.

As if to confirm this, the pedestal for the phone in front of the entrance glowed green and disintegrated into particles of light when the door closed.

"Since it's over, let's head out from here."

"Can't we use the beacon?"

"Oops... It doesn't work."

"It doesn't reach outside..."

Just as we were about to start walking out, Cis asked if the beacon worked. I thought it wouldn't work inside the building, so I checked my phone, and it said "Cannot be used." Sigh... We'll have to walk back the long way.

"Hey, Ogura! The Magic Stones are turning black!"

"Huh?"

When we left the room with the dungeon and entered the room with the Magic Stones, Noll pointed and shouted. The green-glowing Magic Stones had all turned black and lost their light.

Come on... No way. Could these Magic Stones have been absorbing magic power from the dungeon? Did the dungeon disappear because we cleared it, causing this?

"...Is this our fault?"

"That's what it seems..."

"Ahaha... We came to investigate, but we might have reduced the income of adventurers..."

Oh no... What should we do? We might get in trouble if this happened after we left... But the existence of the dungeon wasn't known, so this is an act of God, right?

If we keep quiet, it might get complicated, so it's better to be honest. We should take the blackened Magic Stones with us just in case.

Feeling a bit down, we started walking out.

"Huh? The Flare Mummies are gone?"

"Come to think of it, we haven't encountered any for a while."

"And there seem to be fewer of them."

As we walked out, we encountered a few mummies, but none of them were the ones that didn't disappear. The number of mummies was less than half of what it was on the way in.

"Did the abnormality disappear because we cleared the dungeon?"

"But if that's the case, the dungeon was the cause of the abnormality, right?"

It's hard to imagine the abnormality ending suddenly, so if there was a trigger, it must be because the dungeon was gone, as Estelle said. That means the abnormal monster appearances were caused by the dungeon. However, the dungeon has been around for a long time.

Why did this abnormality start now? It didn't happen with the Goblin Dungeon. Hmm, I don't understand.

"Dark!? Have we been in this dungeon this long?"

"Inside, it's hard to tell the time."

When we stepped outside, the sky was dark, and the area around the pyramid was shrouded in darkness. We must have been in there for a long time... I don't feel like walking through the desert, so let's use the beacon to go home.

We'll report to the Adventurer's Guild tomorrow. Everyone is exhausted, and it would take a long time to report now, especially about the Magic Stones.

"Luna, are you feeling unwell!?"

"Hmm... Ah, yeah..."

I was about to use the beacon when Cis suddenly shouted. When I looked at her, Luna was walking unsteadily and looked unwell. Her voice was weak, and her response was slow. She was clearly not her usual self.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"She looks dazed..."

"She seems worse than me."

Noll waved her hand in front of Luna's face, but there was no reaction, and it was unclear where she was looking. Did she suddenly feel unwell after we went outside and the tension broke?

"Luna, do you have a fever?"

"Hmm..."

Cis put her hand on Luna's shoulder, pulled her close, and checked her forehead. Luna, who would usually make a fuss if someone did that, was now passive and unresponsive.

"Luna! Are you really okay!?"

"Something's definitely wrong! Ogura, give her the all-purpose medicine!"

"This is abnormal... For Cis to touch her without a reaction..."

Seeing this impossible scene, we realized Luna was in serious trouble and panicked. Cis touching her without a reaction is a serious situation! What's going on with her?

"Even I, known for my calmness, would be angry and cry at that reaction!"

"Ah, s, sorry..."

"S, sorry... I am..."

"Sorry..."

Cis, looking like she might cry, turned to us and shouted. We admitted it was too much and bowed our heads. But it's true that this is an abnormal situation...

In this awkward atmosphere, Cis, who was looking around, was suddenly tackled by Luna, who was being held.

"Kyaa! L, Luna? Wh-what!?"

Luna hugged Cis from the front, and Cis was pushed to the ground. As we panicked, Luna opened her mouth wide and bit into Cis's neck.

"L, Luna... Ah, ah... Ah, haa..."

"Mmm..."

Luna clung tightly to Cis's body, and a sucking sound could be heard from her mouth. Is she... drinking blood?

At first, Cis struggled, but soon she made a listless sound and stopped struggling.

"Hey!? What are you doing!?"

"Awa, what's going on..."

"Estelle, it looks like Cis is enjoying it..."

Noll watched the scene, covering her mouth and trembling. Estelle, looking at Cis, put her hand on her cheek and was stunned.

I think... I agree with Estelle. Cis's mouth was half-open, her face flushed, and she didn't look like she was resisting. In fact, she started hugging Luna back and seemed to be enjoying it.

Should I help her?

"Ugh!? Cough, cough... It tastes bad..."

Just as I was about to pull Luna away, she released her mouth from Cis's neck. She frowned and coughed, saying it tasted bad.

"What were you doing? You bit Cis!"

"I... I bit Cis? ...This taste, it's definitely that taste... Ugh"

It seems Luna doesn't remember biting Cis. She looked teary-eyed, stuck out her tongue, and seemed really uncomfortable. To have such a strong reaction to Cis's blood...

"I'm sorry it tasted bad..."

"Ugh... S, sorry..."

Cis, who had this reaction, lay on the ground, looking teary-eyed and unable to move, whispering.

What's going on... Both the one who bit and the one who was bitten are teary-eyed. Luna is apologizing and helping Cis up.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes... Thank you."

I also approached Cis and handed her a potion. Since she can move normally, it seems she's fine.

"I tried to make it taste better, Ogura."

"O, oh... I see. Good job..."

Cis, drinking the potion, looked at me with a serious expression and declared her determination. Yeah, I don't know how to react to that.

Cis has always been a bit strange, so I'll try not to dwell on it.

"I feel a chill, but my condition has returned to normal. My thirst is gone too."

"That's good. But why did this happen suddenly?"

"Maybe... Luna gets a blood-sucking impulse when she uses her skill?"

Luna's skill backlash might be a vampire-like blood-sucking impulse. She did say she was really thirsty. Using her skill twice must have caused a strong impulse.

She must have been really trying to hold it in until we got outside. I thought she could use her skills repeatedly, but it seems she can't use them so freely. It would be good to find a way to deal with this in the future.

This time, Luna helped us a lot. Thanks to her, we can now use the gacha. I should do something to repay her.

With the commotion over, we decided to use the beacon to return home. We've been through a lot, but it's finally time for the gacha.