Akatsuki Translations

Jain of the 【White Serpent】 was diligently having their morning meal.

“Fuck, dried horned pig meat again. Ain’t there nothin’ else?”

“Please bear with it, Jain-san.”

“Shut the hell up, you trash woman, hand over the vejira fruit.” -Jain

“How horrible.”

Ignoring the protestations of a female member of their party, Jain continued to shove food into his mouth indifferently. His massive body, both vertically and horizontally, matched his voracious eating of the food before him. He tore into the dried meat and gulped down water, eating with enough vigor to consume even the portions of others.

However, the place they were in was not one to enjoy a meal.

This was the “proposed main street” of 【Dragon-Devoured City, Uuga】, a city covered by a dragon’s barrier, a deadly place that had transformed from a human dwelling into a demonic dungeon.

But they couldn’t skip meals.

Without eating, one would be “eaten.”

“How many meals is this for today, Jain-san?”

“Count it yourself, trash. It’s the 5th.” -Jain

Dragon-Devoured City, the dungeon of the Dragon of Gluttony, its characteristic was indeed simple and clear.

Just by being there, “one’s life is consumed.”

While its scale itself is no different from a normal medium-sized dungeon, its characteristics were clearly different. The nature that coincided with the 【Dungeon of Sin, Gradol】 was the best proof that the power of the Dragon of Sin, Gradol was interfering here.

Therefore, they ate meals. Excessively so. Otherwise, their bodies wouldn’t last. If they went half a day without eating anything, they would inevitably be drained of their vigor by the dungeon and die of “starvation.”

“But Jain-san, we’re reaching our limit with the food. We need to go back soon.”

“When’s the next supply coming?” -Jain

“Tomorrow. 【Great Eagle of Dawn】 is coming.”

“From that old hag’s place, huh…” -Jain

Jain grimaced and started crunching on the meat, bones and all, with a grumble. His grand eating was a usual scene for the others around him, who paid no mind to it and were focused on their own meals to keep alive. They probably didn’t want to carelessly provoke their grumpy leader, for the simple reason…

“Eh~, what’s so bad about it? They ain’t gonna overcharge us, right… Ouch!”

However, undeterred, a small woman called Ravin, the same one who was abruptly called trash earlier, spoke up. Despite being scolded as trash and such, she seemed unconcerned and was trying to sneak a bite of the fruit Jain had secured when she got hit on the head.

“I hate that old hag, she’s always sayin’ things as if she sees right through me, it pisses me off.” -Jain

“That’s a lotta personal feelings, ain’t it? I like her. She gives us sweets.” -Rabin

“You’re bein’ treated like a kid and underestimated, ya know!” -Jain

“It’s fi~~ne ain’t it? Anyways, ain’t bein’ underestimated a goo ――?” -Rabin

As Jain got visibly angrier, Rabin continued unabated, not reducing her words. Just then, as the rest of their companions began to anticipate whether another punch would fly in their usual manner, that moment arrived.

” ―― Huh?” -Rabin

Rabin was the first to notice the anomaly. With her beastperson, or more specifically, rabbit tribe’s characteristic long ears, she twitched them and picked up on the sound. Slowly, the other companions also became aware of the noise. From the main street where Jain and the others were located, further ahead, in what should have been a plaza for relaxation but now was a hazardous area where hordes of monsters overflowed, attacking any intruders, atop the remains of what used to be a fountain.

There were “sounds of battle.”

“Sounds like there’s a fight with monsters, probably. I can hear the sound of weapons clashing and monsters screeching.” -Rabin

Rabin distinguished the combat sounds through her supernatural ability, 【Super Hearing】, enhanced by her magical growth. Upon this information, Jain pulled out hatchets equipped on his waist and stood up, his face scowling.

“Better not be leftovers from our group that’s come in.” -Jain

“We don’t have anyone who uses a ‘bizzare weapon’ like a dragonfang spear.” -Rabin

“Then, it’s other adventurers. Fuckin’ annoying. Y’all get ready!” -Jain

At Jain’s command, the group quickly finished their meal and started packing up. Rabin, who had already prepared herself, stood beside him with a knife in hand, grumbling with a look of annoyance.

“Are we going?” -Rabin

“Those intruders came to a spot we had monopolized. We gotta show ‘em this is our turf.” -Jain

“You sound more like a beast than a beastperson.” -Rabin

“Shut up, trash.” -Jain

Giving Rabin a light shove, Jain then lumbered towards the direction of the sound.

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Going back in time a bit

“…Is this what used to be the city?” -Ur

【The Walkers】, Ur and his party, had set foot into the “Dungeon ・ Dragon-Devoured Uuga.”

And Ur, looking at the scene unfolding before him, felt somewhat overwhelmed by its strangeness.

The dragon’s barrier, which completely blocked out the sun’s light, had turned the former city into a place where the interior was filled with magic, now serving as a source of light, eerily illuminating the entire city from below with a reddish-purple glow.

Though it was under construction, traces of it once being a city were strongly evident. Tall buildings to be constructed on the limited land stood evenly aligned. It was an impressive feat, considering it was built by just one priest and Nameless without any blessing from spirits.

However, all of it was now covered in bizarre masses of flesh, completely ruined.

“…What are these, roots of……flesh?” -Shizuku

Shizuku’s description was accurate. Roots of flesh. Writhing, throbbing, naked masses of flesh without skin were extending and wrapping around the buildings. Not just the buildings, but also spreading across the ground, breaking through the neatly paved pathways.

“…Could this be some kind of monster?” -Lynne

『”Don’t touch it carelessly. It’s ‘alive’, this thing. 』-Rock

Intrigued, Lynne, who was approaching to get a closer look, jumped back at the caution advised by Rock, who was in knight’s armor. The pulsating roots of flesh crawling on the ground indeed appeared to be alive.

『Now then, what shall we do from here, Lady Knight? 』-Rock

“…………” -Echelle

Rock turned and questioned. There stood the radiant Sun Knight, Echelle, clad in shining platinum armor. She frowned slightly in annoyance at Rock’s question.

“Silence, damned undead soldier. Do not speak so casually to me.” -Echelle

『Would you prefer I keep quiet even if you were to be attacked from behind? 』-Rock

“You…” -Echelle

Echelle glared, and Rock chuckled with a clattering of teeth, his white teeth peeking through the shadow of his helmet.

『Just joking. Don’t get so worked up. I’ll certainly listen to what you say. 』-Rock

“Basically, he cannot go against my orders. Rest assured, Echelle-sama.” -Shizuku

Shizuku added further words, and Echelle, though displeased, seemed convinced by Shizuku’s words and turned her face away. Ur quietly sighed, making sure she couldn’t hear.

The reason she had come along was because she insisted on it.

“I do not trust activities carried out by just you. I will accompany,” Echelle had declared, which greatly troubled Ur. Suddenly adding a new member to the group was concerning enough in terms of coordination, not to mention Rock’s existence.

Although he was officially registered with the Adventurer’s Guild as a familiar and had permission, his existence was honestly not something that could be openly disclosed. Necromancy was a controversial art, banned in some cities. And Echelle didn’t seem tolerant of such things.

However, once she insisted on accompanying them, they couldn’t hide Rock’s existence. When entering a dungeon together, whether the other is a knight or a priest, they must entrust their lives and support each other. Dungeons are such deadly places. Half-hearted secrets were out of the question.

Thus, as soon as she decided to accompany them, Ur disclosed Rock’s true identity—

“How dare you! To meddle with the taboo of desecrating the dead!! Are you insane?” -Echelle

As expected, she yelled furiously—but, surprisingly, or perhaps should one should say, eventually, she tolerated Rock’s existence. Grudgingly and with anger mixed in.

Whether it was due to Shizuku’s persuasiveness, a sense of crisis concerning the state of the city she governed, or both, was unclear. But in any case, they managed to bring Rock along.

The problem was Echelle herself.

“So, just to confirm, your weapon is ‘that’? Is it suitable for dungeon exploration?” -Ur

The ‘that’ Ur pointed out was the weapon she carried over her shoulder. A long, thin tubular object, a type of armament called a 【rifle】. Ur remembered it as essentially a “personal weapon.” When dealing with monsters, insufficient firepower was the issue.

Yet, she fearlessly and proudly readied her rifle.

“It’s a 【Magic Rifle】. Let me tell you, my skill with this would not lose out to the likes of you.” -Echelle

“I’ve heard of it. In principle, it’s the same as your dragonfang spear. It has a magic core inside.” -Ur

“This is a more advanced and miniaturized version. It’s different from your bizzare weapon.” -Echelle

She sneered at the object on Ur’s back. Ur, pulling out his own prey, the dragonfang spear, checked it and then nodded.

“Honestly, I won’t deny it’s a bizzare weapon anymore.” -Ur

“Ur-sama’s dragonfang spear has indeed become quite unique.” -Shizuku

『Frankly, it’s disgusting. 』-Rock

“I’m starting to regret not paying more attention to its appearance. Right now.” -Ur

Ur’s dragonfang spear is composed of three parts: the spear body, the handle, and the magic core. Except for the magic core, which grows by absorbing magic, other parts are gradually updated through requests to a blacksmith.

The current spear body of Ur’s dragonfang spear is the formidable talon of the Poison Omen Bird, the【Poison Omen Bird’s Talon】, which was disassembled and reassembled through alchemy into the named 【Purple Flower Spear】. While the name sounds somewhat beautiful, it’s frankly poisonous-looking. It’s reddish-purple in color and, perhaps due to the influence of the monster bird’s magic, it’s strangely twisted and malevolent-looking, as if drops of poison might spill from the blade.

When the finished product was presented, his immediate thought was to return it, but as it functioned perfectly without any issues, he couldn’t complain. It was unreasonable.

“Well, what can I say, it’s convenient, so bear with it.” -Ur

“Don’t come any closer with that, it’s disgusting!!!” -Echelle

“Oh, come on.” -Ur

While engaging in some reluctant camaraderie with his employer, Ur surveyed the surroundings. Currently, there is a presence of monsters, “it exists.” Naturally. This is a dungeon. They will likely attack soon. So Ur was on high alert, in two senses.

“Now then, Echelle-sama. Do you remember the agreement?” -Shizuku

“Huh? What’s that?” -Echelle

“The condition for accompanying us.” -Shizuku

“Oh… Ridiculous. Such advice is unnecessary for me—” -Echelle

“Echelle-sama.” -Shizuku

As Shizuku pressed on, Echelle fell silent again, uncomfortably, under the gaze of everyone else present, and then resignedly shouted.

“If things become hopeless, lie down flat on the ground with all your might’, right!? I understand! Of course, I have no intention of finding myself in such a disgraceful state!!” -Echelle

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“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!” -Echelle

　She found herself in such a state。

『Well, I had a feeling it’d be like this. So, what is this.』-Rock

　As a result of an “accident,” Rock, with his head rolling on the ground, casually inquired while Echelle, who fell to the ground and screamed, was ignored. Around the party,【The Walkers】, various large and pitch-black, grotesque, soft-bodied life forms were wriggling eerily.

“They’re 【Slimes】. Let’s do this.” -Ur

Already somewhat tired, Ur let out a sigh as he announced the start of the battle.