Volume 3 Chapter 31 A String of Truths That Are Not Worth the Actual Truth
In the Great Mine of Gold World (Kinsekai), deep inside the boss room of Area 100.
The first thing Horace saw upon entering was a room that could only be described as a 'throne room.'
The marble floor was covered with a red velvet carpet, and the back of the room was elevated, where a luxurious sofa sat.
On the sofa sat a young man.
He wore a pitch-black coat that clung to his tall, lean frame, leaving no room for waste.
His face, youthful, bore an expression that was a messy mix of 'serenity' and 'frivolity'... yes, an expression of 'ease.'
His purple hair and purple eyes flickered.
"You're the God of Provisions, Arzent, right? But this is strange. If my knowledge is correct, that appearance... it's the same as Eudynes, the leader of the 'Forever' adventurers' community from 100 years ago."
"Huh? I thought I had erased all portraits of this body from the world. You recognized me on first sight."
Arzent clapped his hands.
The room was spacious, and the clap was not strong, yet the sound echoed clearly.
"Now then, Horace. I understand that you've come to defeat me. But... let me ask why."
He seemed genuinely curious.
Horace answered without hesitation.
"Simple. I don't like you."
"You don't like me, the God?"
"That's right. I don't like being called 'livestock.' I don't like tarnishing the man I admired. And I don't like being 'in the way.'"
"Hmph... how did you come to know that? There shouldn't be a way."
"12 years ago. I died once. At that time... my consciousness left my body, left this world, and almost entered 'the back of this room.' I heard your conversation then."
"12 years ago? When the 5 of us gathered... ah, that time. I see, you heard that conversation?"
Arzent flashed an untroubled smile.
"If you heard that voice, my body on this planet was resurrected, and my consciousness began to return to my original body from here. That's why I know some things that I normally wouldn't."
"I see..."
Arzent grinned, a little too smug.
"Horace. So you already know, huh? The true nature of this trial dungeon, 'Thy Name.'"
"Yeah. The whole point of this dungeon is, if you reach the end, you get exactly what you want──along with an unbreakable name attached to it. That's the reward. And you lot ended up getting 'the name of a god.'"
"Right. There are only 5 dungeons like this 'Thy Name' in the whole world. All 5 of us cleared our own dungeons, dived to the very end, and claimed the god-name. After that... we used its power to squeeze every last scrap of 'force' out of the world itself."
"Each of us governs something different, but you, you rule over 'nourishment'... Whenever something kills, your power decides what happens to the one who gets killed. That's how you kept getting stronger──off every death."
"Exactly. Killing and dying──it's just nature's way. I messed with the most basic, constant law in this world, then split that stolen power with the other 4. Together we made this 'Thy Name' dungeon our perfect base."
If there's a secret passage to 'Thy Name' deep inside the 'Great Mine of Gold World,' then there must be a much longer road ahead.
No way the throne room──practically the goal──would be this close to the entrance.
The only reason there even is a throne room here is because 2 thousand years ago, Arzent beat the Great Mine of Gold World, challenged 'Thy Name' from this very spot, and when the 5 of them argued about where to set up their private rooms──he picked this place for himself.
"...And yeah, you said it yourself. 'I can't stand when anyone gets in my way.'"
"Yeah."
"As for why, it's all in Eudynes's old autobiography. There's this line: 'For a Golem Master, a god isn't something you pray to or worship. It's something you make.' That always stuck with you, huh?"
"Exactly. If I'm really going to make a god, for real... I have to see the end of this dungeon. Getting blocked here? Can't stand that."
In this world, calling yourself 'the strongest' means you must be a master at handling magic.
Magic seeks stability.
That stability is boosted by a 'name'.
In short, this dungeon can 'carve an absolute name'──it's a very important place for the Golem Master and for the arrogant folks who boast about 'creating gods'.
For the Golem Master, gathering lots of metal is key... and Eudynes, a Golem Master, should have come here through the 'Great Mine of Gold World (Kinsekai)'.
That's why, getting interrupted 'here' really ticks Horace off.
Don't treat the dungeon entrance like your own. Don't monopolize it.
No one is guaranteed that kind of right.
"That's right. Now... and 2000 years ago. Monopolizing the dungeon is something no human will ever accept. But I, who have reached godhood, have no reason to care for people."
Arzent stood up from the sofa.
"Deus Ex Machina, you say? An interesting claim. Do you really think you're worthy of naming a god? You should know that without going deeper into this dungeon, you won't get the 'true name'. Are you aware, as a false god, you can be defeated?"
"Of course."
"Very well. As a 'challenger' standing on this ground after 100 years, let this 'God of Provisions Arzent' judge if your journey is worth becoming a 'myth'."
As Arzent stretched out his right hand, a 2-handed sword appeared there.
The purple blade was carved with a series of gear-like grooves.
"'The Divine Sword Ephemera'... let's see if your armor turns to scraps before this blade is done talking."
Hearing this, Horace made a greatsword with ten peaks and a single edge appear, and he laughed through his nose as he spoke.
"Hah! Sorry, but this is a one-of-a-kind creation meant for a single creature. Don't underestimate it!"
With a fearless smile, both of them stepped forward.
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