Volume 2 Chapter 29 Dungeon Core and Boss Monster
In a room deep within the hidden dungeon.
"Everyone! I'm so glad! You're all safe, thank goodness..."
Cecily hugs her companions.
Everyone was less hurt than expected.
As expected of high-rank adventurers.
"Ah, did you do this...?"
The S-rank adventurers look over the fallen monsters.
"I can't believe it..."
"To take down such strong monsters in one blow...?"
"Is this some kind of mistake...?"
They cast skeptical glances at me.
"Everyone, that's rude! If it weren't for this person, we would have been wiped out!"
"Don't worry. It's understandable that you can't believe it."
I leave them behind and head deeper into the room.
At the far end of the large hall, there was a pedestal with a giant crystal the size of a person floating above it.
"This is...[Dungeon Core]?"
"Hey Zeke, what is that?"
I explain to Chippy.
"I heard it's like the heart of the dungeon. It supplies magical power and distributes items within the dungeon."
"Hmm... I don't really get it."
But because I don't understand it well, researching this might help me achieve my [goal].
"LordZeke, what are you doing?"
"I was thinking of taking the Dungeon Core back with me."
"Wait, take it back!?"
Cecily gasps in surprise.
"D-Don't say something so reckless. This is literally the heart of the dungeon. It's impossible to take it out."
"I thought it was something an adventurer who cleared the dungeon could take back."
"No way! If you touch this, you'll just be forcibly teleported outside. There's no way to extract it."
Chippy tilts her head.
"By the way, Zeke, what do you want to do with something like this?"
"I'm researching if I can naturally generate Mana Crystals."
Why did I become an adventurer in the first place?
It's because I wanted to know the mechanism of how Mana Crystals are produced in nature.
Currently, only me can create Mana Crystals in this world.
But if I die, the supply will be cut off.
As a result, it's highly likely that humans will come attacking for the crystals inside the monsters.
I wanted to know.
How to create something like the core of this dungeon, where magical power is crystallized.
The dungeon is managed by the guild, and only adventurers can enter.
(The Adventurer Guild is an independent organization that doesn't belong to any country. Plus, if I get too close, my identity will be revealed, causing a big commotion.)
"I can't believe such an amazing plan was in progress... as expected of Zeke!"
"Alright, then let's do this..."
And then, it happened.
Crack...!
A massive magic circle unfolded at my feet.
"Wha!? What is this!?"
With a loud rumbling, something huge emerged from the magic circle.
"Grroooar!!"
It was a gigantic dragon made of stone.
"Wha, a gargoyle!? The dungeon master (boss monster) is here!?"
The dungeon core is literally the heart of the dungeon.
There exists a guardian to protect the heart.
That is what the dungeon master is.
"Oh, it's over... I can't possibly win against a gargoyle."
The S-rank adventurers had completely lost their fighting spirit.
Cecily also collapsed on the spot, her face pale.
"Chippy, take Cecily and fall back!"
"L-Lord Zeke... what on earth is happening!?"
Chippy quickly hoisted Cecily onto her shoulder and distanced herself from the scene.
"Grroooar!"
The gargoyle swung its fist at me.
"Ah, watch out! Dodge ittttt!"
With a tremendous sound, everything around was blown away.
Chippy had set up a wind barrier to protect the S-rank adventurers.
"N-No way!? You stopped a gargoyle's attack with one hand!?"
I blocked the gargoyle's attack with my right hand.
And then, I understood.
This dungeon master is also a lifeless monster.
"Hand of God [Erase Heal]"
This hand heals living things and takes life from the magical.
The gargoyle's hand, arm, and body... crumbled away.
And without a trace, the dungeon master vanished.
"""......"""
The adventurers were so shocked by what happened before them that they were paralyzed.
"Amazing, Zeke! You're the strongest again today!"
Only Chippy was bouncing around happily.
"Now, shall we take the dungeon core?"
I touched the dungeon core with this hand.
I lifted it up just like that.
"Y-You removed the dungeon core...?"
"Well, it was easier than removing a tumor."
The dungeon core changed to a size that fit in my palm.
Then, the place we were in warped.
And before we knew it... we were thrown outside.
"The dungeon... has disappeared...?"
"Looks like it."
The entrance we first came through was completely blocked.
Around it, people who had been inside the dungeon were sprawled out.
(I saw Makhen there too, but I ignored it.)
"""L-Lord Zeke!"""
The rescued S-rank adventurers rushed to me.
"W, what's wrong?"
"Thank you very much for your help this time!"
"I'm sorry for doubting your strength!"
"Lord Zeke is our lifesaver! And the strongest adventurer!"
They took my hand, tears streaming down their faces, and bowed repeatedly.
"As expected of Zeke! I'm so proud!"
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