Chapter 11: Wandering Dungeon (Part 08)
As we returned to the surface, just as Lyra Nora had said, the entrance to the Dungeon had collapsed and vanished.
There were no signs of Undead in the abandoned village, and the sense of unease I had felt upon entering had also dissipated. Now that I think about it, it was mentioned that the Undead monsters that had appeared did not venture far from the village. If the Dungeon’s territory extended all the way to the surface, that would explain it.
We arrived back in the town of Barbadoza just before evening.
The report to the Count was to be made by me, the party leader, and Mariane, the guild receptionist. After returning to the inn with everyone, Mariane and I tidied ourselves up before heading out again.
“Excuse me, Soushi, but could we stop by the guild for a moment?”
Mariane, now dressed in her guild uniform, seemed to have something on her mind ever since we exited the Dungeon.
“Were you concerned about Lyra Nora’s name? Planning to check the records?”
“Yes, I believe it won’t take too long.”
“Understood. Then let’s head to the guild first.”
Upon arriving at the guild, Mariane immediately entered a back room.
As I made my way toward the bulletin board, I happened to run into Gahren from the ‘Dawn’s Thunder’ party, who was just entering the guild.
“Hey, Soushi! I thought you were off on the Count’s request today?”
“Yes, I just finished my investigation and returned. I’m about to report to the Count now.”
“Well, good work. Oh, by the way, Nielsen left town today. It seems he’s going back to his hometown to regroup.”
“Is that so? By the way, where is his hometown?”
“Over in the Duke’s territory.”
“The Duke? Duke Armand, you mean?”
“That’s right. He originally hails from there. Apparently, he came from a fairly decent family, but after Awakening, he had no choice but to become an adventurer, which led to quite a rough patch for him. Fortunately, he gained strength as an adventurer and reached B-rank, but it seems that caused him to go astray in another way.”
“I see…”
The fact that the young Nielsen was heading toward Duke Armand’s territory could be useful information. Given the situation with Freinir, I had no intention of going to Duke Armand’s territory, so the likelihood of running into him again was honestly a relief.
“Well, anyway, sorry for putting you in a difficult position.”
“No, I think it was unavoidable in that situation.”
As I maintained a neutral response, Mariane emerged from the back room.
“Thank you for waiting. I’ve finished my investigation, so we can leave at any time.”
“Got it. Then, Gahren, we’ll be on our way.”
“Take care.”
After parting ways with Gahren, Mariane and I headed straight for the Count’s residence.
Upon speaking with the guards at the castle gate, we were allowed inside without delay.
We passed through the well-maintained garden and were led to the Count’s mansion, which resembled a castle.
“Oh, Soushi, this way, please!”
At the entrance, we were greeted by the Count’s twin bodyguard sister, Reisei. Following her through the lavish interior, I was surprised to find ourselves in the Count’s office. Although we had been instructed to report immediately, I hadn’t expected to be ushered in without any waiting.
Seated on the sofa in the office with Mariane, we faced the Count, a kindly old man with a white beard. Behind him stood Reisei and her brother Reinan, along with a bespectacled man in his thirties who appeared to be the household steward of the Lautrec family. He was still young, but his demeanor reminded me somewhat of Viscount Barius’s Rodan.
“You’ve managed to resolve this matter on the same day? Quite diligent, aren’t you? Now then, let’s hear your report.”
Following the Count’s prompt, I recounted everything that had transpired that day. I occasionally checked with Mariane to ensure there were no discrepancies. It was frustrating that there was no evidence to support our claims, but the Count listened attentively, nodding along without showing any signs of doubt.
“What a peculiar tale. A Vampire speaking deep within the Dungeon, and a Dungeon that disappears upon completion. What do you think of this as a guild employee?”
As the Count directed the question to her, Mariane nodded and began to speak.
“I actually recognized the name ‘Lyra Nora’ and checked the guild’s records. As a result, I believe the Dungeon we encountered is the ‘Wandering Dungeon.'”
“The ‘Wandering Dungeon’… Eyrock, have you heard of it?”
The Count turned to the bespectacled steward beside him.
“I have heard of it. It is said that in ancient times, when the evil dragon appeared and the continent faced a crisis, new Dungeons would emerge as a precursor to that event. The people of that time referred to it as the ‘Wandering Dungeon.'”
“I see. Mariane, is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. This incident dates back about 200 years. According to the records from that time, it was noted that a female Vampire named ‘Lyra Nora’ appeared in the lowest level of the ‘Wandering Dungeon.'”
“Hmm…”
The Count let out a deep sigh and crossed his arms.
I had a similar reaction when I first heard this story on the way to the Count’s residence. Recently, new information had been pouring in, but this particular revelation felt especially significant.
“So, the reappearance of the ‘Wandering Dungeon’ could mean that something ominous is about to occur in this country or on the continent?”
“Since we only have that one record, I can’t make any definitive statements. We may need to consult even older records.”
Mariane’s words were indeed accurate; we couldn’t make judgments based on just one past example. However, I couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered. I didn’t want to believe that my ‘Bad Luck’ Skill would lead to something so monumental…
“Indeed, that seems to be the case. For now, I will inform His Majesty of this matter. However, we will only take decisive action if similar phenomena occur in the future. What kind of response do you think the guild will take?”
“We will report to the Grand Master, but I believe the response will likely be similar to what we have done before.”
“It seems this will remain a confidential matter for a while. However, it’s remarkable how a mere gathering of Undead has escalated into something significant. It looks like my old bones won’t have a moment’s rest, especially with your situation, Soushi.”
“Uh…”
The Count’s knowing smile caught me off guard for a moment.
Indeed, our party had been entangled in various troublesome matters, and with the continuous emergence of strange monsters and Dungeons, it was perhaps inevitable that we would attract the attention of the ruling class. However, I doubted anyone would believe my biggest secret—that I came from another world.
“I understand. Your efforts this time have been greatly appreciated. Please receive your reward through the guild as per the regulations. Now, Soushi, how do you plan to spend your time until you are summoned by the royal family?”
“Well, first, I plan to explore the Dungeons around Barbadoza. After that, I might take on some requests.”
“That sounds quite diligent. Depending on future circumstances, we may find ourselves in need of capable adventurers, so I have high hopes for you.”
“Thank you. I will do my utmost to meet those expectations as an adventurer.”
“Hoh hoh hoh, what an interesting young man you are. Most adventurers are quite young, but someone of your age, with such depth of thought, is rare. Keep that in mind.”
“Yes, sir.”
The Count’s words made sense. Although I still felt inexperienced as an adventurer, it was likely unavoidable that my age would lead to such expectations. I had hoped to simply live a long life, but… life rarely goes as planned.