Akatsuki Translations

That day, the entrance to the Dungeon of Sin, Lust was enveloped in an unusual atmosphere.

The entrance to the Dungeon of Sin always had a cold, oppressive air, as if the demonic nature from within was trying to spill out. Even the most spirited adventurers would break out in a cold sweat and swallow hard when faced with its gaping maw.

But now, the air was filled with a different, bizarre tension.

“…What the hell is that?”

“A carriage…? A chariot…? Eh? A chariot in the dungeon?”

“They’ve been coming and going frequently lately. Actually, that’s Ur. Ur, the Golem Slayer.”

“Wasn’t it Ur the Bone Crusher?”

The adventurers and merchants all directed their gazes at one thing: a peculiar carriage stationed at the entrance. Those familiar with weaponry could discern that it was meant to be a chariot, but there was something odd about it. There were no horses for mobility. No horses, no driver’s seat, no reins. It was round. For some reason, there was a large bow protruding. The wheels were absurdly large and thick.

There were too many things to question, and almost everyone present was scratching their heads.

And then, there were two doing something strange in front of the carriage.

“…………”

“…………”

One was a small boy, Ur, the rookie who had recently become the talk among adventurers. He was a plain human with a copper ring, sooty ash-gray hair, a small stature, a giant dragonfang spear, and outfitted in monster material gear, making for an unusual appearance, so even among the others, he stood out.

Adventurers who were troubled by the infamous 【Poison Omen Bird】 yet unwilling to tackle it had spread rumors about him, and many recognized his figure.

And there he was, for some reason, shirtless, sitting at the entrance to the dungeon, reading a book with a pile of them next to him. That in itself was odd, but even more peculiar was the person behind him.

“【…………!】” -Lynne

A hobbit girl with orange hair in braids, thick glasses, and an old-fashioned witch costume. In one hand, she held a “pure white” magic staff, with which she was inscribing some sort of magical formula on Ur’s exposed back.

That in itself was not unusual. In the dungeon, the mainstream 【Enchantment Magic】 involved magical enhancements, and right before entering, inscribing formulas directly onto the body could yield better magical effects. There were indeed those who did this.

However, nobody would continue this process for several hours straight.

“Ur-sama, how are you feeling?” -Shizuku

“Pretty rough.” -Ur

Ur candidly responded to Shizuku’s concern.

For two and a half hours, Ur had been immobile. Lynne had been clinging to his back the entire time, tirelessly inscribing a magic circle on his body. Now that the target of the formula was the movable Ur himself rather than the ground inside the dungeon, they could greatly reduce the effort needed to inscribe Lynne’s 【White King Formation】 inside the dungeon.

Nevertheless, just sitting still for hours was mentally taxing. He couldn’t disturb her as she was fully concentrated and continuously constructing the magical formula. Ur remembered advice from Diz and occupied himself with reading to pass the time without exhausting his mind.

Shizuku also flitted about Ur, devotedly moving around to ensure that Ur did not become fatigued.

“Ur-sama, do you need a new book?” -Shizuku

“Leave it there.” -Ur

“Ur-sama, would you like to eat some Lily fruit?” -Shizuku

“Give it here.” -Ur

“Ur-sama, please have a drink. It’s Raymo juice sold at that stall over there.” -Shizuku

“Tasty.” -Ur

“Ur-sama, shall I assist you in the restroom?” -Shizuku

“Stop that.” -Ur

It was somewhat excessive.

Thus, as he was exposed to the odd stares from those around him, the construction of the spell formula progressed, and then,

“【………………】It’s… ready.” -Lynne

A voice tinged with fatigue leaked from behind Ur When he twisted his neck to look back, he saw Lynne’s face, sweaty and breathing heavily, right before him.

“Is it done?” -Ur

“Only the foundation. I can take a break. It’ll take about two more hours to complete.” -Lynne

“…It’s about time.” -Ur

Ur stood up and began to tidy up his equipment and the surrounding luggage. He brushed off the dirt. He passed a water bottle to Lynne, who was still regulating her labored breathing. The real challenge was about to begin. It would be troublesome if she were to run out of steam here.

“Rock, are you good?” -Ur

『Of course. 』-Rock

Upon asking, the wheels of the cart began to move on their own with a creaking sound. Adventurers watching from a distance raised voices of surprise, but Ur didn’t mind. He didn’t have the luxury to care.

“How about Shizuku?” -Ur

“No problem.” -Shizuku

“The main part of the escort will depend on Shizuku.” -Ur

“I understand.” -Shizuku

Shizuku smiled gently as always. It was a smile that often caused him headaches, but this time it brought relief.

“Lynne.” -Ur

“…I can do it.” -Lynne

Having emptied the water bottle, Lynne nodded.

“Your spell formula will be crucial. I’m counting on you.” -Ur

“It’s you who will wield the completed spell formula.” -Lynne

With a confidence that he would not fail, and a burning emotion warning that failure would not come without consequences, Ur felt the weight on his shoulders, yet he was also relieved. It was a relief that the key player, Lynne, was free from anxiety.

The only one anxious was himself, which was typical.

“…Let’s go.” -Ur

With a deep breath, as if expelling all the simmering anxiety from the pit of his stomach, Ur declared.

　　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

In the deep green dungeon, amidst the dense, bewitched forest, a strange driving sound, ill-suited to the maze, echoes, chirping away. Weaving through the trees, a small chariot without horses makes its way on a pathless path. The 【Rock ‘n’ Roll】, named by Ur, kicks up the muddy road with its tires as it races along.

『Hmm, running smoothly, isn’t it, HAHA, 』 mutters a voice, not from inside the chariot, but from the chariot itself. Rock, having become one with the chariot, speaks contentedly, maneuvering the wheels’ axles like limbs, as the small chariot deftly navigates slopes that barely qualify as paths.

“I’m not comfortable, though…” -Ur

“It’s hot in here.” -Shizuku

In contrast, Ur inside the chariot moans as if in pain. It’s not comfortable, and the reason is simple: it’s hot and cramped. Knowing this, they had taken measures with a 【Magic Charm】 for temperature control, but with three people packed almost on top of each other in such a tight space, the heat was inevitable.

『What are you complaining about, lad? You get to be close to two girls. That’s a perk, isn’t it? 』-Rock

“There’s a limit… I’m glad Lynne is a hobbit.” -Ur

“【…】” -Lynne

Currently, Lynne’s magic circle creation is still ongoing. Sitting in a specially ordered chair inside the chariot, Ur has Lynne practically lying on top of his back as she continues to etch the magic circle. The work, done in a cramped space with only a faint light, must be incredibly tough, but she never stops her pen. All for the honor of the White King Formation.

The chariot, designed for “Lynne to continue drawing with everyone else defending and moving,” was ultimately the “tactic” that Ur and the others chose to utilize Lynne’s power and to challenge the bounty heads in the future. But even now, Ur still had doubts about whether there might be a smarter way to do this.

But, it was too late for regrets now. He shakes off the unease.

『Looks like food has arrived. 』-Rock

Rock announces this just before a thud is heard, followed by the eerie death throes of a creature. It seems Rock has slain a monster outside. Currently, he is one with the chariot. His body can morph parts into blades or spikes to intercept monsters.

“Did you get a magic stone?” -Ur

『Delicious. 』-Rock

They don’t bother collecting the magic stones from the monsters, letting Rock consume them directly.

Inside the dungeon, there’s no shortage of energy replenishment for Rock. Since the chariot constantly consumes magic as its power source, it’s crucial. They have prepared spare magic stones for replenishment, but it’s best to conserve where possible.

“It looks like our preparation is paying off for now.” -Ur

“Yes, it seems Dangan-sama and the others have done a very good job.” -Shizuku

“We poured in gold like water. If not, we’d be bankrupt by now.” -Ur

At any rate, they felt the preparations were on track. Despite the short preparation period, the substantial investment had yielded certain results. This smooth progress was evident from Lynne, who unhesitatingly continued to inscribe the magic circle on Ur’s back.

Now the only thing left was to check if there were any problems on the dungeon’s end.

“Shizuku, do you see anything unusual in 【Footprints】?” -Ur

“I do.” -Shizuku

“Really… what is it?” -Ur

Ur was taken aback by her swift response and asked again. She does? Did she just say there is a problem? Shizuku, spreading out the 【Footprints in Fresh Snow】, peered down at Ur in the lower cockpit with a troubled expression.

“Yes, we have a problem, Ur-sama. The situation in the dungeon is different from our usual explorations.” -Shizuku

“…Specifically?” -Ur

“It’s too quiet. There are fewer monsters.” -Shizuku

Indeed, during normal explorations, encounters with monsters in the dungeon occurred much sooner compared to this time. They had been attacked many times, and encounters were not unusual. It wasn’t that such experiences were particularly special; that’s just the nature of a dungeon of monsters.

But why was it that today, of all days, there were fewer attacks? The encounter with the monster that Rock had immediately dealt with earlier was the first. And this was despite having already breached the dungeon with this chariot for about twenty minutes.

『I feel it too. The dungeon is unusually quiet today. There’s a lack of monsters’ presence. 』-Rock

“Is it calming down?” -Ur

『…It’s not something that good, is it? More like, something’s stirring. 』-Rock

Stirring. Tense. It was an abstract description, but coming from Rock, who was not human, it carried an unpleasant credibility. However, the issue was why this was happening. Especially at this very moment.

Or is it because it’s this very moment?

“Is this chariot the cause?” -Ur

The chariot came to mind first as an overwhelming anomaly. Though small, it’s large enough to carry three people and their gear, and now it’s racing through the dungeon as if it owns the place. It wouldn’t be surprising if the creatures of this more life-like dungeon were on alert… but,

『The possibility isn’t zero… but I doubt it’s that. 』-Rock

“Besides, we would have noticed during the test run.” -Ur

This wasn’t their first time riding the chariot in the dungeon. Ur wasn’t reckless enough to plunge into the main event without preparation. They had run tests in the dungeon multiple times. Nothing unusual had happened then.

“So what is it? Who is it?” -Ur

『It’s you. 』-Rock

“Huh?” Ur was taken aback. Aware that he was the most ordinary and mediocre among the current members, why would he be the cause of trouble? It would be more convincing if it was said to be Shizuku’s fault.

『You might not realize it, but right now, you’re dangerous. 』-Rock

“I get that it’s a matter of perception, but could you be more specific?” -Ur

『You look strong. 』-Rock

“That’s straightforward.” -Ur

Ur twisted his neck without moving the rest of his body. In a cramped space that would be tight even for a hobbit, Lynne was sprawled out, etching a magic circle on Ur’s back. The likely cause, or rather definitely the cause, for Ur to be felt as strong was this circle. He couldn’t think of anything else.

But,

“The magic circle isn’t complete yet, is it?” -Ur

In reality, he didn’t feel power surging through his body. He had experienced enhancement magic applied by Shizuku several times, but he felt nothing of the sort now.

“Besides, we’re using【Invisibility】 and【Magic-Blocking】. Rock’s perception might differ since he’s inside a barrier…” -Ur

『It’s not that direct kind of thing. It’s more diffuse. 』-Rock

“Meaning?” -Ur

『It’s like some indescribable thing is growing, giving me the chills. 』-Rock

Growing. Right now, in the present tense, the magic circle on Ur’s back is gradually nearing completion. It’s as if its invisible, non-material, non-magical presence is being transmitted as a threat to the surroundings…?

How absurd! He wanted to scream, but Ur was aware that such inexplicable things did exist in this world. Therefore, there was no use lamenting the irrational. He had to accept reality and face any arising problems.

Encounters with monsters are decreasing. That’s good. Less wear and tear is a positive. Emergency resupply isn’t possible, but if combat also decreases, it’s a break-even situation. This is good.

The most important thing is,

“…Let’s just hope the Poison Omen Bird doesn’t escape.” -Ur

If that troublesome bird escapes because of the “presence” emitted from Ur, the operation would be a failure just because of that. The completion of the magic circle can no longer be stopped. Once complete, there will be a time limit. Searching for the omen bird afterward would be impossible.

Spotting the omen bird before the magic circle is complete is the condition for the success of the operation.

The worst-case scenario is it escaping.

The next worst thing would be――

“Ur-sama, it seems there’s no need to worry about it escaping.” -Shizuku

“…And why is that?” -Ur

When he asked again, her loud voice echoed inside the cramped chariot.

“It’s coming to us.” -Shizuku

The next worst thing would be to be attacked before the completion of the magic circle.

『ＫＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥ！』

A shrill cry echoed. It was a strange scream raining down from above. Shizuku glared at Footprints, then looked up. Of course, the roof of the chariot blocked the view of the sky, but Ur understood the meaning of her gaze.

“…This fuckin’ bird sure is lively.” -Ur

Immediately after, the chariot was struck with an impact. It was as if some massive weight had fallen from the sky—rather, that was precisely what had happened.

The Poison Omen Bird had descended.

『ＭＯＫＫＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥ！！！！』

The battle with the Poison Omen Bird begins.