Chapter 28

Today's third update.

When the sunlight began to tilt towards the western sky, I returned to the capital with Lirisia.

However, we didn't immediately return the cart we were pulling; we used it to gather supplies.

The cart's wheels clattered over the cobblestone path as we walked.

"Hmm. Food, a portable pot, cups, candles, and ignition oil... and a block of copper?"

"Kou said he wanted it."

"Materials, huh? Got it."

After buying everything, we headed to a cheap inn where we could stay on the first floor.

We spent 113,200 goats on shopping and 3,000 goats on the inn.

--- By the way, since the shop won't be used for a while, maybe we can get a discount on the rent?

I'll talk to the landlord later.

We brought the supplies into the room and connected it to the dungeon, then returned the cart to a warehouse near the castle.

Total cash on hand: 43 large gold coins, 29 gold coins, 6 large silver coins, 13 silver coins. 4,597,300 goats.

◇ ◇ ◇

Kou's dungeon is filled with bright, bluish-white light.

When I placed the block of copper on the floor, it sank and disappeared.

I arranged the remaining food on the floor and spoke to the sub-unit.

"Alright, Kou. Follow the plan."

"Roger that."

The entrance disappeared, and another place appeared immediately.

When we stepped outside, we were on top of a mountain.

I intended to tackle a dungeon in the mountain range that was likely the main dungeon of the golems.

If possible, I wanted to destroy the core and power up Kou.

Apparently, dungeons are always at war with each other, so if we leave it alone, Kou might be destroyed again.

Kou's voice came from the sub-unit.

"This is as far as I can go. If we get any closer, my presence will be detected."

"Where's the entrance?"

"Beyond the ridge."

"Got it."

Lirisia and I walked east along the ridge, which was covered in gravel.

The scenery around us was magnificent, with green forests and plains to the north.

To the south, a vast canyon with cracks in the flat ground spread out.

The sky seemed closer somehow.

I spoke to Lirisia, who was walking beside me.

"What a nice place."

"Yes. It would be even more beautiful without the dungeons and monsters."

Lirisia smiled, her silver hair swaying in the wind.

Just seeing that made me feel like the journey was worth it.

We found the entrance to the dungeon on the slope beyond the ridge and carefully descended.

Suddenly, Lirisia frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I just detected a faint smell of blood... It seems a monster has died nearby."

"The one who killed it might be nearby. I'll secure the entrance while you become an angel and scout the area."

"Okay!"

Wings spread from Lirisia's back.

I drew my sword and descended the slope, diving into the dungeon entrance.

The ceiling and walls were made of a single slab of rock, and there was no sign of an enemy.

"It's safe inside."

"Okay, I'm coming in."

Lirisia spread her wings and flew lightly to the entrance.

She then used the Aura Dictict and monocle to scout the area.

"There's no enemy. Just the corpse of a large boar."

"I see. Should we take the corpse for loot?"

"It's mostly eaten, so we can't get the fur. Plus, it's dangerous down the cliff."

"Alright, let's ignore it and move on."

"Yes, master."

We proceeded deeper into the dungeon.

The ceiling and walls glowed faintly, making it quite bright.

The floor and walls were seamless, forming a square tunnel-like dungeon.

I drew my sword, and Lirisia spread her wings and used the monocle to look around.

At forks and crossroads, we chose the path without traps and continued on.

Nothing happened for a while.

"I thought we'd encounter monsters since this is a monster path..."

"It's strange. Maybe the resources around here have been depleted?"

"Let's keep our guard up and hurry on."

"Okay!"

We continued downward without encountering any monsters.

◇ ◇ ◇

It was yesterday evening.

In a cabin in the forest, the Chaos Dragon was alive but near death.

It knew it needed to eat to grow, but fear dominated its mind.

Instinct screamed louder than hunger.

--- It's dangerous, it's dangerous, it's dangerous! I'm going to die! I'll be killed!

Its body wouldn't move, and it couldn't escape.

Yet, the holy damage continued to pour in mercilessly.

Just being near it was enough to be toyed with until death.

--- What the hell is it? I'm an SSS-rank monster!

But struggling with a near-death body was futile.

All it could do was wait for death.

Suddenly, its body felt lighter.

The presence of that thing was gone. It seemed to have moved somewhere else.

--- Now's my chance!

The Chaos Dragon immediately ran out of the bushes, scattering broken eggshells.

It desperately fled the area, away from the cabin.

Crying and running south, it might have been the first time the Chaos Dragon, which had been reborn many times to destroy the world, shed tears.

It knew there was a human town to the northwest of the forest.

But it also knew that attacking it would surely bring that thing back.

It wanted to eat and heal its injuries, but first, it needed to get away.

It didn't know how far it had to run to escape the range of that map-like weapon.

Fear drove its feet more than pain or fatigue.

Even at the edge of the forest, anxiety grew.

It killed a large boar and climbed the mountain.

--- If I go to the other side of the mountain, I should be out of range.

That was its thought.

Despite its severe injuries, it crossed the mountain and emerged on the other side of the ridge.

Truly, it was an SSS-rank monster.

--- I should be safe here.

The Chaos Dragon slowly ate the large boar it had brought.

Chewing the meat, it thought.

Ten thousand years ago, it had become overconfident and isolated itself from its own kind, leading to a hunt by all races.

This time, with such a powerful enemy, it needed to hide and grow stronger.

If possible, it would conspire with the Demon King or the Evil Dragon King to destroy the world. That's what it decided.

After that, it alternated between sleeping and eating.

The next day, as its injuries gradually healed, it looked around in the bright surroundings and saw a dungeon on the cliff.

It hadn't noticed the entrance in the dark night.

--- This is a good place to hide.

The Chaos Dragon climbed the cliff and entered the dungeon.

Inside, it was bright, and there were golems.

Against an SSS-rank monster, they were no obstacle.

It crushed them with a single strike of its claws or tail.

Inside the shattered rock bodies, it noticed black cores.

It took one out and bit into it.

It was a bit hard but packed with concentrated magic power and tasted good.

"Kyaa"

It let out a sound of joy for the first time in its life.

It continued to hunt golems and gnaw on their cores like apples.

It went deeper and deeper into the dungeon.

When it reached a room with a round orb, the floor beneath it glowed.

--- A magic circle!?

But it wasn't a trap. A freshly roasted bird appeared in front of it, steaming.

The Chaos Dragon, wide-eyed, bit into the roast.

--- So good.

My body is coming back to life... Ah, I see. The golem cores alone don't heal my body.

I need meat, I need meat!

As if reading its mind, a voice spoke.

"More tender meat lies ahead."

A part of the wall opened, revealing a passage.

The Chaos Dragon, still eating the chicken, looked at the round orb, which seemed to be the master of the room.

--- Is that true?

"I don't lie. And there will be more. If it's not enough, I'll prepare 100 more roasted chickens."

--- Alright.

No one except that man could kill it.

Everything in this world is its food.

It would feast to its heart's content.

After finishing the roast, the Chaos Dragon entered the long, endless passage.

Despite the drop in ranking, we're still 13th for the day!

I couldn't have come this far without your support!

Thank you for the bookmarks and ratings!

The next update might be around midnight or 3 AM.

→ 29. Resupply and the Sleeping Dragon and Edgar's Team