Akatsuki Translations

Record Location: Dragon-Devoured City, Uuga 

Scribe: Ur 

Subject: Flying Dragon 

Bounty: Unknown ← Definitely gonna extort money from Echelle. 

Analytical Magic Information: Unknown rank / Consumption / Enclosure ← Shizuku checked with her ring.

Exploration Day 1

The exploration of the Dragon-Devoured city has begun. 

Exploration party: Myself, Shizuku, Locke, Echelle, Lynne. 

We decided to avoid using the Rock ‘n’ Roll for this time, prioritizing confirmation of Jain’s information.

To avoid accidents like last time, we consciously steered clear of the “Serpant” route, but this time, we encountered a high number of monsters, making it tough.

Buildings under construction within the planned residential area have become monster dens. 

→ Monsters living atop high structures fall from above. 

→ Crazy.

Especially the slimes are dangerous. When they fall, the air pressure spreads their bodies over a wide area. Protecting just the head is not enough; if slimes fall around you, you’re caught, and it’s over. If Jain hadn’t told us beforehand, we’d definitely be dead. Seriously dangerous.

Places where the sky is open are absolutely to be avoided. 

Basically, the surface has been mostly explored by Jain, resulting in nothing of interest. 

We have to delve underground.

Moreover, Echelle was not confused this time and followed our commands. 

Compared to before, her mental state seems much more stable, but it’s unclear if what Shizuku said had any effect.

Also, after following instructions, she kept glancing over here. Wonder what’s up.

Day 2

The underground is crazy too, huh???

The planned construction site for the city. The majority of the underground passages, meant for effective use of limited land, are overrun with flesh roots. Thinner compared to above ground but still, there’s no place to step. That alone would make it just a bad footing issue, but the trouble is these flesh roots complicate the passages. They block the paths that should be passable, complicating the route further, and even digging holes with the dragonfang spear is impossible because the flesh roots have invaded the ground and walls (gross).

The stairs supposed to lead down to the fifth underground level got completely blocked at the second. We need to find another passage down.

It’s truly a dungeon. The tight spaces are overflowing with monsters. Tough. We retreated quickly.

Echelle was tasked with shooting monsters from the back row. She was fairly successful in shooting them down.

But then she kept staring over here afterward. 

→ Tried patting her head on a whim, and she quietly let it continue.

Is this Sun Knight okay? Lynne’s look of dismay is painful.

Day 3

Continued exploration of the underground.

According to Jain, the “flesh roots” of this Dragon-Devoured city extend from underground. So, the target should be below. No 【True Magic Core】 was found above ground either.

So, combining Shizuku’s reverberation and Echelle’s city construction planning knowledge, we somehow discovered a passage to the underground. It led down to the fifth floor, so we reached the fifth layer. The third and fourth layers were ignored because, as Shizuku said, “they’re filled with flesh roots.”

According to Jain, the layers themselves aren’t that deep. So, the end might be near.

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Day 4: Fifth Layer, Underground Waterways

“…Echelle-sama. What was this place?” -Ur

“It was supposed to be the purification facility for the city’s sewage. It’s hardly been constructed yet.” –Echelle

“A waterway, huh?” -Ur

『How can they create such a cavity underground without it collapsing? 』-Rock

“The city’s construction is based on centuries of accumulated know-how since the appearance of the dungeons. It won’t collapse that easily.” –Echelle

Before Ur and the others lay a space filled with intertwined waterways spreading in all directions. Originally intended for sewage flow, the lack of use meant there was no foul odor. Instead, this place had become a creepy space teeming with the roots of flesh. The stone waterways, writhing like the viscera of a creature, were incredibly eerie.

Ur and his companions were on the upper level of these waterways, at the entrance of a pathway meant for maintenance staff.

『Shall we move on? 』-Rock

“…No, Shizuku, what’s the situation around here?” -Ur

“There aren’t many monsters. There are a few small presences wriggling in the depths of the waterway…” -Shizuku

“Good… After scouting the area, we’ll set up a relay point here.” -Ur

“A relay?” –Echelle

Echelle tilted his head, puzzled. Ur, without taking his eyes off the waterway, answered Echelle’s question.

“We’ll create a barrier so that monsters won’t approach, a resting place. We need a safe zone since it’s too far back to the surface from here.” -Ur

“Can we actually create such a place inside the dungeon?” –Echelle

“It seems basic to divert the monsters’ attention if possible, with lookouts as necessary… normally.” -Ur

Ur looked back. Lynne gave a thumbs up.

“How long do you need it to last?” -Lynne

“A few hours should be fine. Can you even create a barrier that lasts that long?” -Ur

“The dungeon is a crucible of magical power. A warding barrier could last indefinitely.” -Lynne

“Many thanks, O’ Great White King Formation. Make it a comfortable one.” -Ur

“Give me an hour.” -Lynne

“Understood. Everyone, start guarding Lynne.” -Ur

With Ur’s word, they all began to keep watch, centered around Echelle. However, thanks to Shizuku and the magic book 【Footprints in Fresh Snow】,  they could quickly detect nearby monsters, so there was no need to be constantly on alert.

Thus, they took a short break.

The only sound was that of Lynne etching a magic circle. The presence of monsters remained scarce. Shizuku could sense them from afar, but for now, they showed no sign of approaching. Ur was cleaning his dragonfang spear. He wanted to disassemble it for maintenance, but it would be foolish to render his weapon unusable in a situation where monsters could attack at any moment.

“……” –Echelle

Then, Echelle came to sit beside Ur, slightly behind him, and stared intently at him. Initially, Ur thought to ignore her, but her gaze was so earnest and seemed to convey an unspoken message, so he turned to face her.

“What’s wrong?” -Ur

“…Nothing, really.” –Echelle

“There’s no way it’s nothing when you’re glaring at me like that. I’ll listen if you want to talk. We have a moment now.” -Ur

In the dungeon, there aren’t many opportunities to take it slow. Upon returning to the surface, Ur and his companions are exhausted, and there are many tasks to attend to. Echelle, after all, is the leader of the provisional city. She, too, must have a mountain of responsibilities. Truly open moments for conversation are rare.

Perhaps understanding this, Echelle moved a bit closer to Ur, seemingly not wanting others to overhear. Then,

“……..Am I being useful?” –Echelle

“Hm?” -Ur

“Answer me.”-Echelle

Ur pondered for a moment, scratching his head. The only sound around them was Lynne etching the spell formula. It was quiet, unbelievably so for the dungeon. Eventually, Ur looked up, seeing Echelle awaiting his answer with a serious expression, and replied,

“Fairly so.” -Ur

“What kind of half-hearted answer is that!” –Echelle

She was angry, clearly dissatisfied.

“To be more specific, you’re at least useful in combat. The front line has me and Rock, and the rear has Shizuku and Lynne. Shizuku’s casting and Lynne’s 【White King Talisman】 have limitations in time and quantity for activating magic.” -Ur

While Shizuku’s casting speed is exceptional, it isn’t instantaneous. Lynne’s talismans, although self-made, have a finite number. The difficulty of using the White King Formation goes without saying.

Ur has his throwing skill, but that’s merely a secondary weapon. His current role in close combat keeps him fully occupied. Having additional hands in the back line is always better.

“Your “rifle” has decent power and is fast. Reliably shooting monsters without delay is helpful. But, you’re still unaccustomed, which sometimes slows your initial response. So, ‘fairly so.’”-Ur

Ur responded with complete honesty. His answer was straightforward and unabashed, devoid of any lies, flattery, or sycophancy. Whether it was the answer she desired, however, was a different matter.

”…………” –Echelle

 

And Echelle, in reply to Ur’s answer, wore a displeased expression. Unfortunately, it seemed that it wasn’t the answer she had hoped for.

“Are you dissatisfied with that answer?” -Ur

“…Shut up.” –Echelle

She looked down, seemingly in a down mood today.

Ur was used to her emotional swings. They had settled down quite a bit since they started exploring the dungeon. The outbursts had stopped. So, this was relatively mild.

Thus, Ur calmly tried to engage her,

“Is there something you’re anxious about?” -Ur

“…If you’re curious, you should just ask. I can’t defy your orders.” –Echelle

“I’m not intending to force you to say anything you don’t want to. But if there’s something you want to say, I’ll listen.” -Ur

With that, Ur fell silent, cleaning his dragonfang spear and waiting for her reaction. If there was no reply, he was fine with that.

“I…”  –Echelle

Eventually, Echelle spoke up softly. Ur stopped and turned to listen.

“…I need to prove I can do more… otherwise…”  –Echelle

“Not satisfied with just a rookie adventurer’s level of contribution?” -Ur

“There no way I’d be…!!” –Echelle

Echelle raised her voice, glaring at Ur. But that didn’t last long. Her ears drooped, and she buried her face in her knees she was hugging.

“…You and I are different. I can’t be content with the status quo…”  –Echelle

“I respect that ambition, really…” -Ur

“You’re mocking me, aren’t you?” –Echelle

Echelle raised her face irritably. Ur shook his head.

“I truly mean it. I think I should learn from you.” -Ur

“Learn…?”  –Echelle

“After all, excluding the rookie Echelle-sama, I’m the one with the lowest contribution in our group.” -Ur

“Eh?” For the first time, Echelle looked up. Ur hadn’t belittled himself just to get her to lift her face; he was simply stating a fact.

“The main force is Shizuku, and at crucial moments, Lynne. Rock is for close combat, plus he has the all-around ability to transform his own bones. In contrast, I’m just an ordinary warrior.” -Ur

Though absorbing magic power from defeating formidable bounty heads and enhancing his physique had indeed progressed, he was still struggling with that power. Constantly defeating powerful monsters had led to ongoing instability in controlling his body. There were times during meals when he accidentally crushed a cup in his hand due to miscalculating his strength.

Shizuku didn’t seem to have such problems, and Ur was tired of feeling inferior.

“So, I won’t mock or ridicule the effort to improve. I’m not in a position to do so.” -Ur

When Ur said this, Echelle’s expression changed slightly. It wasn’t a look of mockery. It was a bit different, somewhat curious.

The silence returned, but after a while, as if making up her mind, she asked,

“…Are you okay with that?” –Echelle

“No, I’m tormented by feelings of inferiority every day. It’s miserable being the weakest one giving orders.” -Ur

Ur answered honestly. Echelle’s face turned even stranger, and then silence fell again. Ur continued to maintain his dragonfang spear, the only sound being the etching of spell formulas echoing around them, a tranquility unbelievable for the dungeon.

“…I understand it’s hard to give orders when you can’t do it yourself.” –Echelle

“Yeah.” -Ur

After a while, Echelle started to speak sporadically. Ur stopped his work and slowly nodded in agreement.

“The attendants, they all look down on me. Whatever I say, they just laugh it off. If I insist, they glare at me with disdain.” –Echelle

“That’s tough.” -Ur

“I know my orders aren’t perfect! But I’m trying my hardest! Yet, they…”  –Echelle

“It’s sucks not having your efforts acknowledged.” -Ur

Initially, Ur’s words were an affirmation, but gradually, Echelle began to reveal her inner thoughts. Perhaps unable to hold back her emotions any longer, tears started to fall as she spoke.

“If this keeps up and the city fails… to my father, this time… but how can I…”  –Echelle

“We came here to figure something out. That’s why we’re here.” -Ur

“What if it fails… what then… there’s nowhere else…” –Echelle

Saying that, she began to cry again. Ur realized she was far more cornered than he had thought. It was puzzling why she, a member of the privileged class and a Sun Knight, would end up in such a situation. Why was she burdened with the significant role of city construction, the questions were endless.

Ur’s position was too different from hers. Therefore, he couldn’t fully comprehend her struggles, but he had an idea of what was cornering her.

Being continuously hit in a place with no escape, unable to scream, the pain of being crushed.

It was despair, enduring an endless agony without knowing when it would end.

He understood a bit why she insisted on accompanying them. She couldn’t bear to wait passively for a possibly disastrous outcome without doing anything.

If he didn’t provide an escape route, she might break. But what Ur could offer was limited.

“…Well, if everything else fails, you can always come with us.” -Ur

He couldn’t just leave her without saying anything, so Ur mentioned that.

“…Huh?” –Echelle

It took Echelle a few seconds to react to Ur’s words. It was an entirely unexpected proposition, evident from her bewildered tone.

“What, you don’t like that idea? That’s too bad, then.” -Ur

Perhaps she disliked the idea of joining a Nameless adventurer’s guild, Ur thought, shrugging. However, Echelle’s reaction wasn’t of disdain but more of astonishment.

“…Join your guild?” –Echelle

“Yeah, that’s what I said.” -Ur

“That’s… that’s… of course that’s not acceptable.” –Echelle

“Of course? There’s hardly a lower hurdle than joining a Nameless adventurer’s guild.” -Ur

Ur laughed, almost defeated.

Unless she had committed a crime, Ur saw no issue. He might not fully grasp how dire her situation was or what would happen if she failed, but if she was safe and sound, he was willing to welcome her. The barrier to entry was that low.

Of course, if she refused, that was that—

“……………….Is that okay?” –Echelle

“Yeah, it’s fine. We’re short on hands, anyway. I’ll welcome all the help I can get.” -Ur

“…It’s okay, then…”  –Echelle

Echelle muttered those words repeatedly for a while. Whether it was good or bad for her, at least she no longer looked as if she was on the verge of death.

Ur left her be for the moment and reached for his dragonfang spear to continue maintenance. But before he could,

“Ur-sama.” -Shizuku

Shizuku called out. Her interruption meant monsters were approaching. Ur stood up, spear in hand.

Echelle hurriedly followed suit.

“Monsters?!” –Echelle

“Yes. As far as I can tell, about five monsters are approaching. Four of them are small.” -Shizuku

“And the remaining one is big… What’s the size?” -Ur

“About 4 meters tall and over 50 meters long.” -Shizuku

“”Okay…”” -Ur & Echelle

Ur and Echelle swallowed Shizuku’s words, realizing they couldn’t digest the information, and spat it out.

“‘WHAT?!!’” -Ur & Echelle

『ＧＵＢＵＵＢＯＢＯＢＯＢＯＢＯＢＯＢＯＢＯＢＯＯＯＯ！！！！！！』

The next moment, a giant sandworm, its massive body wriggling and filling the waterway, emerged from the labyrinthine water channels.