New chapter of Let’s Create a Dungeon is out! (6/12 chapters)
Why are the Stairs Gone?
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After capturing the self-proclaimed treasure hunter who called herself Mina, Leon and the others decided to suspend their exploration and return to the surface. As for her specific punishment, they would likely leave it to the judgment of the Elf High King.
“Ugh, to think that I, of all people, would make such a mistake… But there has to be a chance to escape…” (Mina)
“What are you muttering about? If you try to escape again, this time I will cut you down on the spot.” (Filia)
“I’m not escaping, I’m not escaping! So please stop drawing your sword!” (Mina)
It was not just that the tomb of the hero had been desecrated, but to the earnest Filia, Mina’s very personality must have been intolerable. Since earlier, her eyes had been filled with bloodlust. Just then, a golem appeared.
“Leave it to me!” (Filia)
Shouting that, Filia charged toward the golem and unleashed a powerful slash, as if venting her anger upon it. Though Leon and the others were simply abnormal, she was not the leader of the knight order for nothing. She could not defeat it in a single strike, but she read the golem’s counterattacks, avoided them precisely, and steadily inflicted damage in return. Eventually, after several blows, the golem ceased functioning and collapsed.
“She just took down that golem by herself… If you make her mad, you’re seriously done for…” (Mina)
Mina was trembling. Hearing that muttered remark, Leon felt puzzled.
“Can’t you do that too, Onee-chan?” (Leon)
“No way, no way. I’m a treasure hunter, and not that great in combat.” (Mina)
“Then, how did you make it here alone?” (Leon)
This was the 5th floor of the tower. There were multiple golems patrolling on the way, and there was no way she could have made it this far without encountering any of them.
“That’s easy. Those things follow a certain pattern in their movements. Once you understand that, avoiding them is no big deal. Their detection range is fixed too, so as long as you don’t enter it, they won’t come after you.” (Mina)
“I see.” (Leon)
She was a disappointing woman in many ways, but perhaps she was unexpectedly sharp, Leon thought. Well, if she weren’t, she wouldn’t have been able to work as a treasure hunter in such dangerous places.
“Even though you did fall into a trap.” (Leon)
“T-that was just a little slip-up! That sort of thing never happens normally!” (Mina)
While talking like that, they arrived at the stairs that should have led down to the fourth floor. Or rather, they should have.
“…That’s strange. They should have been here.” (Filia)
Filia furrowed her brows suspiciously and glared at the ground. But there were no stairs, but only a flat floor.
“Did we possibly take the wrong path?” (Filia)
“No, I think we’re in the right place.” (Leon)
Leon shook his head. He clearly remembered that the stairs had been here.
“Wait, what’s going on? Why are the stairs gone!?” (Mina)
“…Even if you ask me, I don’t know. I’ve been here several times, but this is the first time something like this has happened.” (Filia)
With no way to descend, they had no choice but to stand there for now.
“Should we break it?” (Arc/Iris)
“Want to give it a try?” (Leon)
Leon gave a slight prod to the twins who were looking up at him.
“Okay!” (Arc/Iris)
The twins struck the floor with their fists. The impact was tremendous, and the shockwave alone looked like it could send a person flying.
“Huh? Wait, what was that just now!?” (Mina)
Thinking they were just toddlers, Mina stared with wide eyes, but the twins shook their heads.
“…No good.” (Arc/Iris)
As Leon had expected, the floor remained completely undamaged. This tower was made from a special material that even Leon did not recognize, and it had been reinforced with a powerful magical “indestructibility” enchantment. Breaking it would take quite a bit of time. Filia let out a sigh.
“At this rate, descending to the lower floor is impossible…” (Filia)
“W-what are we going to do!? We can’t get out like this!” (Mina)
Filia glared at the shouting Mina.
“Could it be that this is your doing? A system may have been activated to prevent unauthorized intruders from escaping.” (Filia)
“Eh? I-it’s my fault?” (Mina)
“If you were to die here, the stairs might reappear…” (Filia)
“Hii! H-help! This elf is way too scary!” (Mina)
Terrified, Mina ran to hide behind Leon. Having been made into a shield without permission, Leon sighed and offered a suggestion to the two.
“If going down isn’t an option, then why not go up?” (Leon)
““Eh?”” (Filia/Mina)
—
About two hours later. Filia and Mina were deeply regretting ever agreeing with Leon’s suggestion.
“A g-golem’s coming from the left too!” (Filia)
“From behind as well! We’re completely surrounded!” (Mina)
Their current location was the 45th floor of the Tower of Meltera. This completely unexplored zone was already a battlefield in all but name. Swarms of golems emerged from who knew where. Moreover, each individual unit was in a completely different league compared to those from the lower floors. They were not made of soil or rock, but of metal. In other words, metal golems. Because of that, their defensive strength was absurdly high, yet they still moved swiftly. On top of that, they wielded weapons such as swords and spears, and their handling of them was already at the level of a master swordsman. At this point, they could hardly be called golems anymore, but rather seemed like fully armored humans.
Furthermore, there were many different types, including stationary golems that, while immobile, could fire powerful projectiles, small flying golems, and command-type golems that issued orders to others. These various types attacked in formations with coordination like that of well-trained soldiers.
“Why did we come up this far…” (Mina)
“Why did we come up this far…” (Filia)
It was the first time that the feelings of the two, who otherwise got along terribly, were completely in sync.
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