Ihoujin, Dungeon ni Moguru

Chapter 070: Lola Of The Maniacal Floor III & IV

Translator: Solo

< Lola Of The Maniacal Floor III >

Run.

My feet only have to last until I reach her. It doesn’t matter even if my heart bursts. Following the path indicated by the A.I., I ran forward holding a forlorn light.

The heat from my body and the screams of my muscles feel distant.

If I can save her, I’ll give everything.

My god.

Misuranika-sama.

I offer you my life.

Please, hear my wish.

Let me save Rana.

I’ll make any sacrifice.

I wished, prayed, and drew my hunting knife.

There was an『Eye』in front of me. One of its legs was crushed. It had been unable to converge on the sound if the explosion like the rest because of it.

I dived under the nails it swung upwards and thrust the hunting knife into the『Eye』’s throat. Due to my momentum, the feel of its flesh was thin, and I felt the sensation of the knife piercing through bone. I pulled it out violently and its head separated from its torso.

It’s the first time I had defeated a monster directly.

I didn’t feel moved by it.

I don’t have the time to feel such things.

Without letting my momentum die, I ran on.

No matter how many corners I turned, or how far I had run, I ran following Yukikaze’s instructions, killing anything in my way. Those were the only thoughts in my head as I raced forward.

I ran.

I defeated enemies.

By no means was it anything beyond the level of an ordinary person, but the days I had lived in the alternate world had trained me up.

I don’t have the time to feel happy.

The time for rejoicing is after I’ve saved Rana.

『Enemy group, 35 in number. Steer clear』

「Tch」

I clicked my tongue and hid in a corner of the passageway as I looked at the enemy markers.

The『seedlings』ran right past me like a horde of running zombies.

My heartbeat drummed loudly in my ears.

Sweat broke out all over my body because my body had come to a stop.

I could hear the sounds of the party fighting in the distance.

『Relative distance to enemies, 50 meters. It’s alright now』

Rana's location had stopped moving.

She was less than 200 meters from where I was. In a final spurt, I ran,

Or rather, I was going to run, but……

「Yukikaze, what is this?」

……I was brought to a halt before I got very far.

The passageway was blocked off ahead of me. It was a dead end.

『This is the path the tracer attached to madam took. Yukikaze believes the enemy had passed through here』

I put my hands on the wall.

I struck the wall hard with the handle of my hunting knife. It was unusually hard. There wasn’t even a scratch on it. Impatience coursing through me, I knocked on the wall, looking for secret passageways or hidden mechanisms.

Nothing.

I couldn’t find anything.

「Shit!」

In a fit of anger, I punched the wall.

The skin on my knuckles tore and blood seeped out.

A way, is there a way? Or a method? There must be something.

「………Yukikaze, activate the pulse and analyze the structure of the dungeon」

『The pulse attracts certain monsters. It’s extremely dangerous』

「Hurry up!」

『Yukikaze……understands. ………Functionality has been disabled as this is a restricted area. The pulse scan cannot be used』

「What did, you say?」

Is it a malfunction? Yukikaze had said something incomprehensible.

「Just an optical analysis of the surface is enough. There must be a secret passageway! Hurry up! Anything is fine, do something!」

『Understood』

I lost my balance and I placed my hand on the wall to steady myself. My head was spinning and I was feeling irritated. My impatience was making me feel nauseous. My body was clammy with cold sweat.

My hand slipped, and I had a feeling that something was off.

I wiped the wall using my poncho.

A pattern that had been obscured by dust and grime emerged.

I had uncovered a magic array.

No, that wasn’t what it was.

「Cos…………Cosmo, graphia?」

That was written in big letters below a circle with patterns drawn inside it. Those words had been exposed to the elements for an untold amount of time, were chipped and crumbling, but they were written in "English".

『There is data that matches the diagram. It’s a structural drawing of the universe from the 15th century mathematician, Petrus Apianus's book「Cosmographia」』1

Yukikaze gave an explanation. I wiped the wall some more and removed more dust.

There was something that looked like a small information plate. The letters had crumbled so much that I couldn’t read them by eye.

「Yukikaze, can you read them?」

The mini?pod’s analysis laser traced the letters on the plate.

『There are many places where the words have completely disappeared』

「Read it」

What is this.

Why is something like this in the alternate world? It’s no use. I don’t have the time now to rack my brain over such things. I have to find a clue for how to proceed on from here.

『Note: Displayed here is XXXX of our great ancestor XXXX. XXXX was definitely not mistaken in his beliefs. XXXX universe is, in other words, XXXX scope of what we can perceive XXXX. XXXXXXX endless darkness. XXXX in order to find the light, our XX sails XXXX』

That's all, said Yukikaze.

I wiped the sweat off my brow.

「Anything else?」

『There’s nothing else. How―――ever, the structure of the wall is―――――an inviolable domain, ……’s………la…………』

「Yukikaze?」

Her voice was filled with static.

I opened my eyes to the despair from the possibility of a malfunction after reaching this point.

『Souya-san, please take out Yukikaze’s core?unit. Put it in the center of the structural drawing――』[2]

The voice was cut off, and the upper lock of the mini?pod released on its own.

I had no time to be befuddled.

I followed Yukikaze’s instructions and pulled out the cylinder containing the pseudo-aqueous-brain.

Perhaps it was the life activity of the A.I., but there were electrical flashes of light in the liquid. It looked almost like stars shining in the night sky.

I brought the core closer to the structural drawing of the universe.

A hole opened up in the center portion of the structural drawing. It was just the right size for putting the core in.

There was no time for hesitation.

I inserted the core into the hole. Lights spread out and lit up the diagram. The core in the center shone with the same color as a familiar blue planet.

I heard a rumble.

A thick door slid to one side. The door that had kept on deceiving adventurers had opened.

Before me, the passageway continued further.

「Can you hear me, Yukikaze?」

『Yes, functionalities have been synced with the device. No problem』

Yukikaze’s voice came from my glasses.

「Let Otou-san know the location. I’m going ahead. You stay here and keep this open」

『It’s dangerous. Yukikaze believes that it would be wiser to wait for the party to join you before proceeding』

「You’re asking the impossible」

I stepped forward regardless.

It was different from the other passageways. The deterioration of the stone walls and floor was minimal. Perhaps there were more Shogaku stones in them, but it was bright enough for me to see even without a lantern.

I could see, but I didn't have a map.

Rana’s location was displayed, but the structure of the dungeon wasn’t.

She was 180 meters away as the crow flies.

However, the structure here was quite complicated. There were many dead ends. I was unable to head straight for my destination.

And, there were『seedlings』.

I saw an『Ear』in the middle of a crossroads.

I held my breath and approached it. Throwing a pebble that I had picked up, I made the『Ear』turn its back to me. I stabbed the hunting knife, which I held backhanded, into its left shoulder.

I put my weight on it, and the blade reached its heart. I twisted the blade to ruin the organ. The『Ear』reached both hands out for something. I pushed it down, and then cut off its head just in case. I had placed the blade against its neck and stepped down on the back of the knife with my foot.

I had killed it.

There were no enemies around.

As far as I could tell using my unskilled senses.

Keeping my footsteps silent, I pressed on as fast as I could.

I came across a room with a broken door. Inside it were objects similar to those from modern civilization.

I don’t have the time to look through them carefully. I can investigate them as much as I want later.

Right now, for every step, quickly, quietly, steadily, I’m straining and using every bit of my senses.

Killing them as quickly as possible. That’s the only move I have. If there is one by itself, I can manage somehow. If there are two or more of them, there’s nothing I can do.

I’ll die if I’m found.

It’s fine if it’s only me that dies.

To begin with, I don’t see any value in my own life. However, my death might result in Rana’s rescue not being in time.

I can't die no matter what it takes.

That’s why, I’ll kill you no matter what it takes.

I killed the eighth『seedling』I had encountered. Miraculously, my surprise attacks had all been successful. It fell far short of their true essence, but I had been able to copy Otou-san’s techniques.

Rana was 50 meters away.

I came out into a wide passageway. I would probably arrive at her location if I advanced down this passageway.

I slowed my ragged breathing.

Even though they’re small humanoid monsters and I had taken them down through surprise attacks, piercing their flesh, bones and hearts, and then cutting off their heads is exhausting work.

The pressure of not being allowed to fail. Straining all of my senses also chips away at my stamina. Many parts of my body are screaming from using unfamiliar techniques.

My side is twisting up in pain.

My heart feels like it’s about to burst.

But so what?

Not even one of my limbs have been wrenched off.

I only need to hang on until this day is done. I’ll bury everything using my willpower. I’ll stamp down the wounds and the pain.

I can go on.

I can still fight.

I can hear the sound of my heartbeat and the patter of feet.

A『Mouth』appeared around a corner.

Run.

I ordered my body to run forward.

I decapitated it before it could start chanting.

I can go on.

My techniques have been getting sharper since coming here. But this is a last hurrah before the end. It’s the flame of a dying candle just before it goes out.

It won't last long. I’ll go on without stopping. Every second counts.

Fast and quick, but quiet and silent. I’ll consume my life to get even one step closer to the pinnacle.

Like a murderous beast that devours its enemies without sound.

Just like Lola,

I’ll kill the『seedlings』that she brought forth.

And then,

The place I arrived at was a graveyard.

< Lola Of The Maniacal Floor IV >

It was a tremendously large space with a high ceiling that was shaped like a bell. There were lines of Ark-like stone coffins, and adventurers’ weapons were venerated on top of them.

The number of stone coffins there was overwhelming. They were lined up as far as the eye could see. One hundred, two hundred, no, thousands. There were more than ten thousand of them.

In the distance, I saw the enemy and a woman.

I took off my shoes and bent over, hiding in the shadows of the stone coffins as I proceeded forward.

I wiped the blood and grease off the hunting knife using my poncho. The blade was nicked and chipped, and it was in bad condition. I re-gripped it in my right hand, and then took out and held the karambit in my left.

It's the endgame. Don't mess up, don't be impatient, but move quickly.

『Souya-san, please listen to this piece of advice』

A message from Yukikaze was displayed on my glasses.

『Your current location has been relayed to the party. Please hold off on fighting. It’s dangerous』

The closer I got, the louder my heart beat.

In a corner of the graveyard, there was a round, open space.

The first thing that popped into my head was that it looked like an operating room.

Freshly torn robes and underwear, accessories and a staff were strewn all over the ground. Scattered among them were broken tools and aged equipment. The ground was littered with blood stains.

I saw Rana's white skin.

She was naked, and she had been placed on top of a bed that looked like a birthing table. All of her arms and legs had been extended.

She appeared to be sleeping.

Her face was peaceful, as if she was having a good dream.

I didn't even notice that the horrifying Lola was hovering next to her head.

Be it medicine or magic, she had the means of taking away people’s ability to resist.

Lola was staring at Rana's body with eyes filled with darkness. Her long claw trailed across Rana’s skin.

The tip of her claw touched a protrusion.

Ahh, a soft cry escaped.

My clenched back teeth made a gravelly sound.

Not yet.

Endure it.

Just a little more, and I’ll be able to move completely into her blind-spot.

I’ll decide it with a single blow.

I have to finish her off in one blow. I definitely won’t let her get away.

Otou-san’s hunch was right.

The monster who has been deceiving adventurers for over 30 years, no, for a much longer time, hasn’t noticed my presence.

Behind and diagonally to her left. There’s where I’m moving towards.

A little more, just a little more and I’ll reach it.

Just a……

……little more.

I noticed a half-open stone coffin.

I couldn’t help looking inside it.

Inside it was the upper body of an elf. She had been ruined and fiddled with extensively, was withered and shriveled until she was only skin and bones, and had been strangled to death.

Seeing a hallucination of Rana’s future, I dashed out of the shadows, filled with rage and the intent to kill.

I kept my body low, as low as possible, and ran as fast as I could.

With a single blow,

I’ll kill you.

A large amount of blood splattered about.

A splash of red landed on Rana’s cheek.

「Urg, gah」

Lola, who had turned around, had stabbed one claw through my left shoulder.

I’ve messed up the final moves for checkmate.

I’ve put up a lackluster showing right at the very end. I failed to keep my presence hidden even though I knew I should have. But even so, this is good enough.

「……I know……」

I deliberately stepped forward and made her claw sink to its base into my flesh. I heard myself screaming loudly.

I stabbed Lola’s arm with the karambit and dug its blade into her flesh. The hooked claw-shaped blade wouldn’t be dislodged easily. We had each sealed one of the other’s arms. We had each sealed the other’s escape.

「I know a person who is chasing you」

She swung her free claw at me.

When I blocked it with my hunting knife, the claw bit midway into its blade.

「He’s a terrifyingly strong adventurer. He’s a person who would have obtained glory if he didn’t chase you. He’s heading here right now」

Lola howled, spewing her bad breath at me.

I swung my head and head-butted her.

I whipped her struggling body about. We crashed into the bed and Rana’s body tumbled to the ground. She didn’t seem to have been injured by the fall. Relieved, I fought Lola.

We had both lost our biggest strength, which was stealth. Our weapons were also far from deadly. It was going to be an extremely long and drawn-out fight.

The hunting knife broke.

I swung it regardless. I hit using its handle and slashed at Lola with its broken blade.

She was cutting my body to ribbons with her claw.

Her claw is sharp, but if I stick this close and limit the speed of her swings, it doesn’t have enough power behind it to cut my body or limbs in two.

I only need to block attacks that will kill me instantly. I’ll give you as much of my flesh and blood as you want.

Even now, they’re heading here. Just by playing for time, I’ll win. No, so long as Rana is saved even if the worst comes to worst, it’s a huge victory for me.

But.

I heard a wet sound as I felt something being stuck into my abdomen.

A tail-like tentacle had extended from Lola's body and thrust itself into my abdomen. I was attacked by intense drowsiness. Exhaustion washed over me and my vision flickered. I felt the sweet temptation to relax and go to paradise.

I bit my lip.

Even that pain felt distant.

Not yet.

I took out a pen-type syringe from the opened mini?pod. It was a needle-less syringe and would inject the drug through pressure. I pressed it against my neck and thumbed the switch.

「tsu」

Cold liquid was pumped into my hot body. My body temperature went crazy and my body trembled.

It was a powerful drug.

It numbed pain for a short while, erased fatigue, and improved concentration. If used regularly, the user would become an invalid. I had prepared it as an emergency measure in case of serious injury.

My heartbeat drummed even louder, but pain and fatigue disappeared so completely that it was almost creepy.

I awakened.

The claw approaching me looked unduly slow.

My mind had awakened, but I couldn’t move my body properly. What I could do, was make the claw pierce through my right shoulder.

The pain felt distant.

I plunged the broken hunting knife in, twisted, and gouged.

I screamed.

Lola's body was lighter than I had expected. We collided with a nearby stone coffin. However, I was flung about by whatever energy it was that made her body float.

A jostling, rough and tumble fight continued to unfold.

I blacked out from time to time from the blows I was taking to my head. Blood flowed endlessly from the wounds on my shoulders.

Lola.

You want to survive, right?

I don’t.

Killing you is enough for me.

Saving her is enough for me. Other than that, I don’t need anything else.

For that reason, you’ve lost.

I rolled together with Lola across the ground. The broken-off blade of the hunting knife was next to me. I clenched it between my teeth, and drove it into Lola’s neck.

While holding her in a hot, tight embrace, I slid the blade deeper.

A scream loud enough to numb my eardrums rang out.

Just like this,

Like, thi……

Oh,

It snapped.

My body had reached its limits. I only now noticed that I was completely drenched in my own blood. My spirit was fired up, but the thing connecting my mind and my body had snapped.

I couldn’t move.

I couldn’t move my body no matter what I did.

The effects of the drug were also gone. The reason for that was simple. I had likely lost too much blood.

The blade had only made a shallow cut on Lola’s neck, and the wound was far from fatal.

This is as far as I go

I don't think it's a shame.

I think I did well, all things considered.

I'm sorry, I murmured.

I closed my eyes.

The faces of the party members I had met in the alternate world flashed across my mind. The daily life I enjoyed, the sweet encounters and warmth, the short but memorable days of adventuring.

That night I swung my friend’s sword for the sake of his fame.

The mornings I found those girls beside me when I woke up.

The night I met a tiny god.

Those dreamlike far-off days. They ran through my head, just like a Phantasmagoria.2

This is it for my adventure.

Lola pulled her claw out from my right shoulder violently.

In my final moments, I’ll at least stare death in the face like a man.

I looked straight ahead and spoke.

「Can I say one last thing?」

She raised the claw.

「For the likes of me to cause you so much damage, you sure don't amount to much」

The claw that had been swung downwards pierced into my forehead.

A dull sound resonated through my bones.

A sword had sprouted from Lola’s chest.

Exactly where her heart would be. From behind without mercy.

「I’ve finally found you」

Otou-san pulled out the sword. Lola's cry sounded like a pitiful plea.

The return slash flew right above Lola’s shoulders.

「Hey, that’s not all you amount to, right?」

Otou-san stabbed Lola.

He stabbed her again and again.

「That’s not all you amount to, right?!」

He badgered the monster that had breathed her last long ago.

I got a glimpse of his long-standing feelings.

I felt the pure rage of youth.

Through his sword, he directed it, slammed it against the corpse. Eventually, the blood-soaked longsword broke under its owner’s power.

After looking befuddled for a second, Otou-san returned to his usual self.

The face of the father of adventurers came back.

I saw my party members approaching from afar.

「Souya, well done. I thank you from the bottom of my heart」

「Otou-san, sorry, but, I’m leaving, the rest to you」

I let go of the consciousness that I had been barely holding on to.

With my wounds, only the gods know if I can leave the dungeon alive.

Oh, but I feel a slight sense of accomplishment. I can die easy.