Chapter 84
At Elibel’s lab deep underground――――
『A monster that can alter the structure of the dungeon itself…?』
Ann murmurs as if she’s mulling over Elibel’s words.
It was such an unbelievable statement.
In the first place, she had never heard of such a monster.
Although Ann prided herself on having substantial knowledge, including the records from Elibel’s relics that she received from Earth, further information gathered from forest monsters and her antlings, she was unaware that there was a monster with such an ability.
「It’s not surprising that you didn’t know. It’s a pretty obscure monster.」
With these words, Elibel operates a terminal extending from a brilliantly colored sphere and changes the image.
On it, something akin to old documents were displayed.
『These are?』
「These are records that have been preserved about the ‘Pathless’.」
『Really!? And where… where did you get these?』
There were supposed to be no such materials in the ruins left by Elibel.
That means, this information must have been recently acquired.
「I had my Wraiths and the others sneak into the underground magical library of the Löwenherz House and bring these back. Including my research materials, which I didn’t leave in the ruins. Quite a lot, actually.」
When Elibel says this, small Wraiths appear, passing through the floor and equipment.
Giving a sharp salute in the style of a certain Marine Corps, they seemed to be saying, “We’ve brought back what we’ve collected. We did our best,” with expressions on their faces.
Apparently, they couldn’t speak.
But one could generally figure it out from their expressions.
『So much… in detail…』
The information displayed was nothing short of magnificent.
The displayed image had detailed characteristics and abilities of the “Pathless,” features of the magic circuits, and many other detailed records.
Moreover, links to other various information could be seen in the corner of the image.
「…When on earth did you have time to gather this kind of information?」
「Hmm, I managed to squeeze it in between my research. That country seems to be in chaos now, and the security of the Löwenherz House was as loose as a sieve, so it was a piece of cake.」
Elibel says this as she switches images.
She made it sound like it was nothing, but Ann was both amazed and dumbfounded that she had managed to do so much amidst all the busyness.
As always, the skeleton in front of her seemed to be exceptional in various ways.
On the side, the small Wraiths were appealing that they worked hard, which was somewhat healing.
「……Well, even after two hundred years, I’m a genius for creating an unfading barrier, but the disappointment was also great…… I had run away from home, and nothing had changed in that house. I was hoping they might have surpassed my theories and techniques, but they were only imitations and slight improvements… I was more disappointed than astounded. They haven’t moved forward at all.」
Elibel sighs.
The flame flickering in her eye socket seemed somewhat lonely.
To the sage who believed that continuing to think is intelligence, and stopping thinking is the most foolish thing, her descendants seemed to be failures.
Well, even though she refers to them as descendants, she herself never married, so technically they are descendants of her relatives.
「Ah, I digressed. Anyway, this is everything I know about the Pathless.」
Upon hearing this, Ann looks at the displayed documents.
She reads everything from corner to corner and, after finishing reading, she felt an irresistible urge to punch the brilliantly colored sphere.
She held back just in time, but the discomfort didn’t go away.
Instead, she smashed a rock that was nearby.
The small Wraiths shivered slightly.
『What is this…?!』
Anger surged up.
To her, the “Pathless” was an unbearable entity.
To describe its ability in a word―――
『Dungeon Altering Ability…』
At the Pathless’ whim, it changes passages, increases stairs, and creates floors.
The ability to freely transform the dungeon itself.
Just when you think you’re going the right way, you find yourself off track.
The dungeon ceases to be a dungeon.
It strays from its original form.
Hence the name―――the “Pathless.”
Ann thought it was absurd.
The “Dungeon Destruction” ability used by the Dragon Slayer before was pretty bad, but this ability is even worse.
It was almost as if it denied the dungeon itself.
It usurped what they had painstakingly built in a sinister manner, as if snatching it from the side.
There was no way she could accept it.
Ann glared at Elibel.
If she had an expression, there was no doubt it would be filled with anger.
『Elibel, you knew about this, didn’t you?! Why did you keep silent? No, why didn’t you devise a countermeasure―――』
「I did take a proper countermeasure,」
Interrupting Ann’s words, Elibel replied.
Her voice was calm, but it had an overwhelming aura of authority.
The icy tone made her Wraiths disappear with a shudder.
It was chilling enough to even make Ann break out in a cold sweat.
And then, Ann understood the emotion put into that voice.
Because she herself was feeling the same emotion.
An overwhelming feeling of anger.
「I knew the existence of the ‘Pathless.’ Since I knew, it’s natural to take precautions. But… the Pathless that appeared exceeded my imagination…」
She explained how unexpected it was.
Elibel scratched her skull without skin, making a grating sound.
「The ‘Dungeon Alteration’ that the Pathless performs depends on the amount of magical power―― which is, its strength. So, I worked with Earth to intricately design the dungeon, raising the magical energy density to its limit. This is still ongoing. The countermeasure itself is simple and straightforward. Basically, the larger the dungeon, the less likely the Pathless will be able to intervene.」
She switched the terminal’s display with a flick of her finger.
It showed the moment when Earth disappeared.
She burned the moment, when an impossible passage appeared and then vanished, into her eye sockets.
「…If it were to intervene in this dungeon, it would definitely require a power level of ‘Calamity-class’ or above. But that’s ‘impossible’ to happen. That’s why I was at ease. No―――I was careless. After all, that idiot is the anomaly of the anomalies…… I had forgotten that there can be exceptions to any monster.」
Her voice trembled.
Uncontrollable rage was manifested in the flickering flame of her eye sockets.
Ann could feel that emotion.
Because she felt the same way.
『I… I’m sorry, I spoke too much.』
Indeed, Elibel, more than anyone else, was proud of the creation of this dungeon.
Overwhelming knowledge, experience, and achievements.
She had used all of that to create this dungeon.
The frustration and humiliation must be considerable.
Ann honestly bowed her head.
But Elibel stopped her with a wave of her hand.
「No, I wasn’t calm, either. Anyway, now―――」
『Yes, first we need to confirm Earth’s safety!』
Saying so, the two immediately spring into action.
『Elibel, I’ll give the orders, you perform the reverse detection of Earth’s magical power!』
「Of course! What about the others?」
『Tres and Pururu will be here in a few minutes. Una and Dos are in the Holy Kingdom of Harshalud, so they won’t be able to come here for a while. The Four Forest Chiefs are in the middle layers of the dungeon, and the animal-types are standing by in the deep layers.』
「Alright! Let’s find that idiot quickly! Berg, you help too!」
『Yes, ma’am!』
Berg, using all six of his arms, started operating the terminal extending from the brilliantly colored sphere.
Next to him, Ann began telepathically communicating with other members in the dungeon.
『All layers, be advised! Maintain first level alert and commence operations! I repeat――――』
While quickly giving instructions to her subordinates and the antlings, she silently prays in her heart.
――――Please be safe, Lord Earth.
All instructions were swiftly given.
As soon as Elibel’s reverse detection was complete, they had to be ready to immediately proceed with Earth’s rescue.
The figure issuing commands to her subordinates showed no sign of the confusion that had reigned just moments before.
The queen of the Black Ants.
With dignity and grandeur, she truly embodied the majesty of a dungeon queen.
Watching her with satisfaction, Elibel spoke up.
「Ann, I think you understand but…」
『Yes, there will be no leniency, no pulling punches, no carelessness, no complacency. We will annihilate them. The Pathless will pay for the sin of abducting Lord Earth with its own body.』
Ann responded, gripping the hilt of her sword.
As if answering, Elibel also smiled.
「――――Hah, splendid! Ah, it’s okay to kill it, but leave the body intact. I’ll research it thoroughly until it turns to mush.」
The two of them were considering the image of the still unseen enemy as they examined the traces of Earth’s magical power.
The Pathless should clearly understand whose master it dared to mess with.
The queen of the great swarm, and the all-knowing sage.
Two entities one would never want to oppose were there.
The surging stream of magical power that flowed from the two of them spread throughout the dungeon, even making their supposed allies tremble with fear.
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