Chapter 127
『The Stellar Vein Dungeon……?』
Jibru’s words echo in my mind, and I can’t help but mutter them back.
「Yeah, that’s the name of the dungeon I live in. As for its location… Well, I’ll tell you later.」
I kinda want to know now.
Where have I heard ‘Stellar Vein’ before?
Elibel mentioned it a while back.
And I recall something about it from tales of the Demon King and the Brave Hero…
Lost in thought, Jibru continues speaking.
「Earth, you’ve undoubtedly grown strong and healthy. But―――you’re still weak. Weak enough to be easily bested by the likes of Dragon Slayers and Pathless.」
『That’s… well…』
I can’t count how many close calls I’ve had in just two and a half years.
I just want to live a peaceful life, but trouble always seems to find its way to me.
「Given your age, your strength is quite remarkable. Your magical prowess has reached considerable heights, and there’s still much potential in you.」
But Jibru doesn’t stop there.
「You don’t have the luxury of time to realize that potential. Even if you do nothing, calamities and nuisances are drawn to you. Just like they were to me once.」
There’s a strange emotion in Jibru’s voice at the end.
Since coming into this world, I’ve faced a lot of injustices.
Dungeons I’ve painstakingly created have been destroyed. And just when I’d built a second one, I was forcibly transported to another.
How many times have I wondered if the dungeons in this world are just naturally fragile?
I’ve been constantly working to improve them, though.
「You have the potential to become strong, without a doubt. I, as your mother, guarantee it. You have both the talent and the ‘right’ to stand at the pinnacle of this world. So, won’t you come to me? I can protect you and make you even stronger. With me, you can live peaceful days, undisturbed and unthreatened.」
『…………』
「I want you to grow stronger, as a mother wishes for her child.」
It’s an incredibly tempting offer.
Living safely, undisturbed – that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
「So, Earth… will you come with me?」
Jibru takes a step closer.
Safe living.
A parent to protect me.
This new option is right in front of me.
But…
『Wait, does that mean I have to abandon this dungeon?』
「That’s what it would entail.」
Jibru nods.
Hmm…
『And… would I be going there alone?』
「Yes.」
A quick reply.
So, it’s just me…
『What about taking my subordinates with me?』
「That’s not possible.」
『―――Then, no.』
Without hesitation, I refuse Jibru’s offer.
My voice is steady, clearer than I’d expected.
I didn’t think it’d come out so easily.
「Eh?」
Jibru looks shocked, eyes wide.
I’m a bit surprised myself.
「E-Earth… Why? Why would you refuse an offer from your… your mother?」
Did she not anticipate my refusal?
She looks a bit rattled.
『Hmm… How do I put it…』
Why did I refuse so effortlessly?
Is it because it’d just be me and I’d feel lonely?
Or maybe the thought of moving and changing dungeons is just too bothersome?
Or have I grown attached to the dungeon I’ve lived in?
I wonder why.
I can’t pinpoint the reason.
But when she said it’d be just me, I felt a pang of loneliness.
Images of Ann and Elibel come to mind.
All of us sharing magic stones, chatting, and laughing.
Why did that come to mind?
…Why indeed?
『Um, just to confirm again, I can’t bring my subordinates with me, right?』
「Absolutely. You know as well as I do that coexisting within a dungeon can be challenging. If it’s just you, it’s easy for me to instruct my followers. However, managing all of your companions becomes a task. Plus, it’s my followers’ role to protect you. You don’t need anyone else, do you?」
It’s a hassle… really a hassle, huh.
And… right.
So that’s how it is.
Yeah.
Just as I suspected.
It feels right.
I can’t think of this dragon as my mother.
I can’t exactly explain it, but, pushing for an answer, I’d say it’s just a hunch.
I feel like she doesn’t see me as her child.
It might be rude to say this to someone I’ve just met, but even though Jibru’s words are warm and comforting, there’s a coldness behind them.
It feels like she’s looking at me but not really seeing me.
『―――I think I’ll pass. Honestly, it’s an appealing offer, but I prefer this dungeon.』
I scratch my cheek absently.
『There might be a lot of trouble and issues ahead… but I think I’ll manage. The dungeon has expanded, and I have all my subordinates with me. Also―――』
「Also?」
『―――Moving is just a pain.』
I’ve grown used to this place, starting over somewhere else seems like such a bother.
Jibru stares at me, her expression dumbfounded.
At the same moment, a shimmering light from a teleportation gate shines from behind me.
「HAHAHA! Are you kidding? You’re refusing the invitation of the Divine Catastrophe Dragon King just because moving is a hassle? I’ve never heard of such a thing. Oh my, I can’t breathe, I’m laughing so hard!」
An inappropriately cheerful voice echoed.
Elibel appears, laughing her head off.
Then Ann, Pururu, Tres, and Berg follow.
All of them are armed.
What’s with the getup?
「That was hilarious, Earth. You’re such a riot. Never a dull moment.」
Elibel says, readying her staff and looking towards Jibru, with Berg standing by her side.
「Jibru, do you get it now? This is your son, Earth. He hates complications, runs from hardships, lets his subordinates deal with trouble, a hopeless shut-in who refuses to face reality. How is it? He’s a total lost cause, right?」
Hey, quit it.
I might cry, you know.
But, Elibel continues.
「But as weird as it sounds, everyone adores this utterly foolish guy.―――So, sorry, but we won’t hand him over to you.」
Elibel taps my side with her hand.
Then Ann steps forward.
『We belong by Lord Earth’s side. Even if Lord Earth wished for it… no, even if he did wish for it, we would never leave his side.』
Ann points her Magic Sword Ridill at Jibru.
『If someone tries to take Lord Earth away from us, even if that someone is Lord Earth’s mother or the top-class Divine Catastrophe Dragon King, we will perceive them as the ‘enemy.’』
Tres and Pururu chime in.
「I want to be with dad too!」
「Puu~」
Everyone gathers around me.
Jibru watches silently.
She then sighs deeply.
「You’re truly blessed with loyal companionss, Earth.」
She says with a smile.
「But―――how foolish.」
Jibru states.
Everything changes in an instant.
With a wet crunch, Ann’s head is crushed.
『――――Wha…?』
For a moment, I don’t understand what just happened.
But as I turn my head, Ann’s body, now headless, collapses to the ground, obeying gravity.
Wait, what?
What just happened?
「What… the… ARRRGGGH!」
This time, Elibel disintegrates completely, her body shattered into nothingness.
Hey, hey, hey, HEY!
Hold on a second!
What’s going on?
Jibru laughs.
「―――These people are in your way, aren’t they? So, I thought I’d remove them for you.」
Then, it’s Pururu.
After her, Tres.
Berg follows.
They’re crushed and killed like they’re nothing more than bugs.
All of this happens in just a few seconds.
All my subordinates on the scene are dead before I can even comprehend what happened.
Jibru hasn’t moved a single step, yet…
―――my subordinates are dead.
Yes, dead.
『Ah… ARRRGGGHHHHHHHHH!』
I scream.
Jibru speaks from atop a mountain of corpses.
「――――Now, you understand the difference in our powers, don’t you?」
The moment Jibru finishes that sentence――――standing there are all my unharmed subordinates.
『What… just happened…?!』
「…Tch」
「Huh? What just happened to me?」
「Pu… puu…?」
『Huh? Everyone…?』
What was that?!
「Now, do you still have the courage to face me?」
『What… was that, just now?』
「That was a ‘result’. If your companions and I were to clash, that’s how it would end. I just showed you the outcome.」
I ask Jibru, and she answers.
But what does that mean?
Did she use some kind of illusion magic?
「That was merely an image. However, it represents a possible ‘result’. I’ll ask once again, Earth, and all of Earth’s companions: after seeing and experiencing that ‘result’, do you still wish to oppose me?」
As she speaks, an overwhelming magical aura emits from Jibru, filling the room with the intense wave of magical power I felt when she first appeared.
I’m trembling uncontrollably.
Scary.
Jibru is, without a doubt, a monster.
That vision of death from before, she can turn that into reality.
But there’s one, just one, who’s staring right at Jibru while trembling.
『…And what exactly is that supposed to mean?』
It’s Ann.
All eyes are on her.
Even as she shakes, Ann grips her sword, her glare fixed on Jibru.
『You might be strong. Incredibly strong. Honestly, just facing you like this terrifies me. …But that doesn’t mean we’ll bow down to you!』
「You’ll die. Are you okay with that?」
『Life or death, it’s a small matter. My heart won’t waver over something so trivial. It’s not about whether we can win or lose! As a servant of Lord Earth, I won’t kneel before you! Never!』
Ann and Jibru’s eyes lock in a fierce stare down.
Surprisingly, it’s Jibru who looks away first.
「You truly remind me of Mýrus… Not just in appearance, but in spirit too. She said the same things before she left me…」
Her voice sounds nostalgic.
After a moment of silence, Jibru turns to me.
「―――Fine. Let’s wait a hundred years.」
『Huh?』
「One hundred years. It’ll take a century for the Earth Dragon to fully mature. I swear I won’t interfere with you all during that time.」
Suddenly, Jibru changes her stance.
What does she mean by that?
「Eh, why the sudden change of heart?」
Elibel asks.
Somehow, she’s managed to sneak around and now stands behind Jibru, her staff at the ready.
「It seems to be so. I’m just respecting the child’s opinion, is there a problem?」
「…Nope. As long as you don’t interfere, it’s all good.」
Elibel continues to grip her staff, never letting her guard down.
Jibru turns to me.
「Earth.」
『Y-yes?』
「If, in a hundred years, you become stronger—so much so that even I acknowledge your strength—I won’t force you into my dungeon, nor will I interfere.」
『Wait… wha-?』
「Earth, can you do it? Can you become even stronger than you are now?」
I glance around silently at everyone.
All of them are shaking visibly. Still, not one of them looks ready to give up.
Why aren’t they scared after seeing something like that?
―――Of course, they’re scared, idiot.
They’re scared, but they are still standing up and not giving up for your sake.
You understand that, right?
You are their superior.
They’ve always been there to help you.
Shouldn’t you at least show some spirit in return?
…Yeah.
You’re right.
I take a slow breath, eyes closed for a moment.
Then, I lock eyes with Jibru.
『I will… become stronger. I promise you that.』
「I see… Very well, Earth. Let’s meet again in a hundred years.」
With a look of loneliness, Jibru vanishes.
Just as suddenly as she appeared, she’s gone.
「She’s gone… I don’t sense Jibru’s magical presence in the dungeon anymore.」
Elibel says, manipulating some kind of orb.
『Man… I’m drained.』
「We all are. But I’m impressed you managed to stand up to her like that without any boosters. You earned some respect today.」
『Lord Earth, that was impressive!』
Ann and Elibel praise me.
Honestly, even I’m surprised I could say such things.
But, the weight on my shoulders feels heavy.
I’ve just gotten myself into a crazy situation.
『Become stronger, huh…』
Can I even do it?
If I just grow normally, I doubt Jibru would acknowledge me.
『It’ll be okay. If it’s you, Lord Earth, you can do it. We’ll be here to help.』
「Me too!」
「Puu!」
With those words, Ann and the others gather close to me.
They’re right.
That comforts me.
As long as everyone is with me, maybe we can pull this off.
『Well, let’s just give it our best shot…』
Just another challenge added to our ever-growing list.
That’s one way to think about it.
Man, all this stress made me hungry… Maybe I’ll have some magic stone for now.
In any case, Jibru left our dungeon, leaving behind an insane challenge: become strong enough in a hundred years to earn her recognition.
At the outskirts of the Eld Desert――――
「Listen to this, Gwyve. Earth told me he’d rather be with his companions than come to me, even though I love him so much.」
『You know, I think it might be the way you phrased it, or how you approached it? Didn’t I ask you from the start? If it was okay not to be by his side when he was born?』
「But there was a good reason for that―――」
『Even so, the way you put it, it’s almost like you’re asking for a misunderstanding. You never had intentions of harming him, right?』
「Eh? Was there something wrong with how I said it?」
『You… didn’t notice? That’s not the kind of tone a mother uses with her son.』
「What!? Really?」
『Sigh… I get that this is your first time raising a child, and you’re struggling with boundaries, but maybe you should learn a bit more about being a mother…』
「Is it really… that bad?」
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