episode_0085

The adventure ended without a hitch.

In the deep layers of the Novastia Dungeon, in an isolated building, there was a dark basement. This place, once devoid of even a single cockroach, was now teeming with people.

Daphne walked down into the room, filled with blue magical light and white electric illumination. The Violets had already opened the floor and taken out the bag hidden within.

“Is this… that artifact?”

“That’s right. It’s an artifact so rare that there are only a handful of them in Lustrum, no! in all of Trist.”

Daphne carefully lifted the bag. A moment later, the bag glowed, scattering into white particles, then entered her body. Her blue eyes looked around in surprise.

“Let’s see, this one.”

She mumbled a few words and picked up a nearby pebble. The pebble in her hand disappeared and reappeared several times.

“My goodness, a personal subspace! This is an incredible discovery! How did Violet know about this?”

“Well, I have one too.”

Several guns were taken out for a demonstration in front of her. She nodded in understanding.

“No wonder, I thought it was strange how you carried so many weapons…”

We smiled confidently.

“Now, you don’t have to carry heavy things anymore! How is it?”

“Thank you! Such a precious item…”

She was too moved to finish her sentence. A little later, she tested the bag’s functions and marveled at its performance.

“I can freely take out anything I want. The capacity is beyond imagination. I can’t see the bottom.”

“Of course! It’s just that there’s a limit to the volume and weight you can take out at once. If you disassemble it and put it in, even a car could fit!”

Hearing my words, her clear blue eyes seemed to light up with a new idea.

“Oh! There was a way to use it like that. Then, even in isolated areas where vehicles can’t go, one person could deliver large quantities of relief supplies and build shelters. A walking relief camp!”

Indeed, just like someone who would create a medical volunteer organization, she was already contemplating how to utilize the bag.

“And, I’ll say it again. Violet, thank you for giving me something like this.”

Daphne carefully hugged Violet 58, who was at the very front.

“But I’m sorry.”

“Huh? What for?”

“You got hurt so many times because of me, and even died. Like Violet 198 just now.”

Oh dear, it seemed Daphne had taken to heart what happened during the fight with the crawler earlier. One of the Violets behind stepped forward and rolled up their left sleeve.

“No! I’m alive. Look here! See the number?”

“…?”

“Did you forget? We revive even if we die. Don’t worry about it too much!”

Daphne’s expression subtly changed upon seeing Violet 198, who had revived.

“Ah, that’s right. It was like that during the entrance ceremony too…”

Her face was similar to someone who, skeptical of an advertisement for ‘fish-shaped bread with real crucian carp inside,’ took a bite and actually tasted real fish meat.

“Are you okay? We don’t die, seriously! Even if we die, we just move into the mental network. We come back to life when a body is provided!”

“Still, wouldn’t it be better to try not to die if possible?”

“This is our strategy, you see. It’s become a habit now, too late to change. And, we barely died today.”

Seeing our cheerful replies, Daphne’s eyes slightly crinkled. Soon, her reaction began to heat up, and the Violets realized they had chosen their words poorly.

“’Barely,’ you say? What does that mean?”

“No, it just means our synergy is good!”

A Violet stepped back but was grabbed by the shoulder by Daphne.

“Will you tell me honestly?”

We finally confessed. Staring into those blue eyes made it impossible to lie.

“Originally, about five to ten of us died each day.”

“Ah, oh…”

“No! That was a long time ago. Nowadays, our equipment is better, and our skills have improved, so we don’t die as often. So don’t worry.”

Daphne sighed softly, then hugged me again.

“Alright. If that’s Violet’s choice, I can’t stop you.”

An unknown determination was etched into her gem-like eyes, which had been filled with bewilderment and pity.

“But, at the very least, when I’m by your side, I won’t just let you get hurt.”

“What did you say?”

“Be prepared. Even if you try to die, I’ll unconditionally save you! Got it?”

“No, I told you, it’s fine if I die!”

“It’s *not* fine for me! And, I’m in a support role, you know? A healer? Don’t overexert yourselves, just protect me safely.”

“Ah, alright.”

At her firm declaration, we could only scratch our heads and agree.

As we went outside the building to prepare to leave the dungeon, our whole bodies ached and throbbed.

“Ugh, it’s like this again.”

The Violets stumbled slightly. This sensation was the pain of other Violets, transmitted through the effect of the pain distribution ability.

As our complexion worsened, a staff immediately tapped the ground. The pain vanished.

“Ehehe! Thanks for that! I feel a bit better.”

“You always get hurt because you’re so reckless with your bodies. Where is it this time?”

“This? It’s not ‘our’ body.”

At the Violets’ reply, Daphne tilted her head. Pondering for a moment, she slowly opened her mouth.

“I have one question. What are the other Violets outside this dungeon doing right now?”

“Well, they’re exploring a dungeon to practice their synergy with Irene. Why?”

“…With Irene, I see. Surely, it’s nothing dangerous, right?”

“…”

We answered her intuition with silence, and Daphne, realizing the situation, clutched her head.

“Oh my goodness…”

“Ehehehe…”

***

While the Violets traversed the desolate ruins to deliver a precious artifact to their friend, in a dungeon further away in the central-west, a purple-haired girl and a black-clad escort walked through the forest.

“This is Novastia Team, Command, do you read? V Squadrons are currently escorting D and approaching the target location.”

“This is Command, confirmed. The team accompanying I has passed through the dungeon entrance.”

The Violets were currently exploring a dungeon with Irene. This was entirely Irene’s strong insistence.

“The Chloris Forest is a place full of various traps and anomalous phenomena. They say most of the dangers have already been dealt with by the academy, but I’d rather stick my head into a monster’s maw than trust the academy. Moreover, the ruins you spoke of are in uncharted territory. There will be far more dangers there.”

Before departing for the dungeon, Irene strongly insisted on practicing their party synergy through training.

“Since we don’t know what might happen on site, we need to synchronize with each other. Understood? Originally, Daphne should have come here with us, but it can’t be helped.”

“Understood! But Irene, where on earth is this place?”

Her golden eyes scanned the checkpoint at the dungeon entrance. The way she walked straight there without hesitation made it seem like she had visited many times.

“It’s the Alkesia Forest.”

“First time I’m hearing of it.”

This place didn’t even appear in the game. Maybe it showed up from Part 2 of the story?

“Really? You might not know it. This place is more famous for other things than hunting.”

The checkpoint was bustling with various vehicles and people wanting to enter. As I was about to join the line, she stopped me and led me to another passage nearby.

“Not there, come here.”

Irene pulled out an ID card with a sun and crosshairs emblem from her pocket. It was the Helios logo. The checkpoint guards, after checking the ID card, opened the gate without a word.

“As expected…! Irene’s family is amazing!”

Upon entering, various structures and watchtowers built on a concrete floor became visible. Large and small trucks came and went inside. When I made a fuss, she blushed slightly, looking embarrassed.

“Ah, this? Thank you, but it’s not that big of a deal.”

“But look, would other people be lining up there if they weren’t affiliated with a clan? We’re the only ones allowed straight in without even a check. If that’s not amazing, then what is?”

“That’s not true, Helios is a newly established clan. Right now, there are countless people in the world more amazing than us. Not to mention the four great clans, we’re far behind compared to former noble families or other large corporations.”

Listening to Irene’s calm explanation, I shrugged. To use an analogy for her words, it was like the daughter of a new IT company CEO saying, ‘We’re nothing compared to chaebols, multinational corporations, or those from traditional noble families.’

I stuck out my tongue slightly.

“That’s by your standards, Irene, but from my perspective, it’s plenty amazing!”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was speaking from my own perspective and didn’t consider others’ situations. If it offended you, I apologize.”

While she waved her hands in a fluster, a shimmering gate appeared before our eyes.

“I was just kidding, let’s go in quickly!”

I took her hand and entered the dungeon. They say it’s customary to jump when entering, but I wondered what it would be like here.

“It’s dangerous to enter like that! Don’t jump!”

“Whee!”

As soon as the scenery changed, I tumbled onto the ground with a thud.

“Ugh!”

Irene quickly helped me up after I fell.

“The entrance here has a big difference in elevation between the outside and inside. Of course, you’d fall if you jumped like that.”

While I composed myself, she brushed the dust off my clothes.

“Oh my… you seem to have been here a lot?”

“Before, I’ve been here a few times for training. The Helios Clan often uses this dungeon to educate its trainees.”

When I looked up, instead of the checkpoint and concrete floor scenery, I saw a green sea filled with gigantic trees. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary forest.

Our goal was to go to the outpost in the dangerous zone and return.

“All the monsters here are low-level. There’s only one type of mid-level monster, and even that one is slow, so it can be intercepted immediately. However, the moment you cross a certain area, it becomes overrun with various anomalous phenomena and traps, and the weather is unpredictable. It’s the optimal environment to experience what a ‘dungeon’ as a supernatural space is like.”

We walked into the forest. I hadn’t noticed it from the entrance, but the thickness and height of the trees were beyond imagination. Giant trees, appearing several meters in diameter, rose to the height of apartments. Due to their height and dense branches, the forest interior was dark. Lights installed here and there illuminated the darkness.

Nearby, laborers in safety helmets and vests were inspecting pipes embedded in trees and carrying pinecone-like fruits the size of human bodies. As I looked around in wonder, Irene explained.

“The trees in Alkesia Forest have grown abnormally large due to the influence of Aether. Thanks to that, their tree sap and fruits contain rare substances that are used as industrial resources.”

“Those people seem to be non-Awakened. Is it okay for ordinary people to come and work in a dungeon?”

“This is a safe zone with almost no anomalous phenomena or traps. The monsters that were here were hunted down long ago.”

We reached an area fortified with tall barriers and barbed wire fences. At the entrance, hunters were standing guard. Thanks to Irene again, we passed through smoothly.

“From here on, it’s the dangerous zone. Be careful and watch closely.”

“Alright, I’ll summon us!”

Ten Violets were generated. We followed Irene into the dangerous zone like ducklings trailing their mother duck. We immediately encountered a monster.

An ugly-looking cat monster darted between the trees, then leaped towards us as if to fly.

“Not so fast.”

“Screech… screech!”

Irene swung the spear she carried on her back. The Pelinut, split into two, died instantly.

“That spear is new to me? Wasn’t it foldable?”

“That foldable spear is for training. This one is for actual combat.”

The atmosphere gradually changed. Unlike before, the surrounding trees were not dense but sparsely grown. Large warning signs were posted on the trees.

After walking a bit, Irene raised her arm to stop me. Something like shimmering smoke was visible in front of us. She took a small orb from her coat pocket and flicked it towards it.

-Whoosh!

When the orb hit the ground, pure white flames shot up to human height. The orb melted instantly.

“Whoa… whoa!”

“See that? It’s a rapid ignition phenomenon that exists regardless of the area. It’s the most basic type of anomalous phenomenon. You have to be careful because you’ll get seriously hurt if caught in it. Always focus your magic on your eyes and ears to survey your surroundings, and if there’s a suspicious spot, throw small objects to check for safety.”

“Like that orb?”

“Exactly. Some people use nuts, bolts, or coins, though.”

Irene showed the orbs in her coat pocket.

“Do we have to check everything individually? Can’t we just charge straight through?”

“Of course not. No matter how strong an Awakened, they can get hurt or die if caught in an anomalous phenomenon.”

We continued to move forward, learning about the anomalous phenomena. Lightning bolts bursting in mid-air were common, and sudden gusts of wind would send objects flying into the sky, or sharp thorns would burst out.

At some point, the Violets arrived at a place with a large warning sign. Unusually, there were no trees here. What appeared to be monster bones were scattered around.

“Stop. Everyone be careful. Don’t approach. This is a monster habitat.”

“Where is this? What are those?”

“This is one of the representative trap-type monsters found in dungeons… Violet! Where are you going?”

“I dropped an orb. I’ll pick it up and come right back. Huh?”

Violet 56, who had walked beyond the warning sign, fell into the ground while picking up an orb and returning. It seemed there was a pit in the ground, like a trap door.

Violet 56, who had fallen into the pit, struggled with both arms.

“I’m stuck! Pull me out!”

Irene’s eyes widened like lanterns. She tried to remain calm as she rushed towards Violet 56.

“Violet? Calm down. Stay still, I’ll get you out right away!”

“What is this?”

“It’s a Murmilion! A monster that digs traps and inhabits them. Don’t move carelessly, you’ll provoke it!”

“Then you should pull me out faster! Wait, I’ll pull you out!”

“Murmilions are sensitive to vibrations and noise. You have to pull them out slowly! No! Stop-”

The Violets swarmed and pulled Violet 56 with all their might. However, a very strong force held Violet 56 from below, making it difficult to pull her out. And then something even more bizarre happened.

“Guys! Something’s wrong with me! I have no sensation in my lower half!”

Strangely, the sensation in my lower body disappeared, as if it had been anesthetized.

Hearing Violet 56’s words, Irene’s face turned pale.

“What did you just say?”

“I said I have no sensation below.”

“S-surely not…”

Something made a crunching sound, and then the force restraining her legs vanished. Violet 56 was lifted by us and pulled out of the pit. The sense of accomplishment quickly turned to horror.

We were all horrified.

“Violet 56! Your legs!”

Violet 56’s legs were gone.

The ground vibrated, and then thorny tentacles shot out from the pit, grabbing Violet 56 again. We immediately abandoned Violet 56. There was no way to save Violet 56, who had lost her lower body!

“Screech! I’m being pulled down! Avenge me!”

“We’ll avenge you!”

Violet 56, as if resolute, pulled out bombs and Molotov cocktails. No sooner had Violet 56 vanished into the pit than a loud explosion was heard, and thick black smoke billowed from the pit. The ground vibrated violently.

-ROOOAAR!

The monster’s shriek of pain was heard.

“Avenge Violet 56! Die!”

We rained attacks into the pit. Everything we could mobilize: bullets, bolts, gasoline, explosives! Soon, a large monster, enveloped in smoke, burst out of the pit and thrashed in pain. We attacked it furiously, and the battered creature lost strength in its body and slumped down.

“We got it!”

“It seems there are more of them? Let’s kill them all!”

We generated more clones. We intended to kill all those monsters and take revenge. Some Violets embraced bombs and incendiaries in their arms, preparing to charge.

“Vi-Violet? What are you doing right now?”

“Could you help us? We’re going to kill all of these things here!”

Her golden eyes trembled violently. Irene, with a bewildered expression, stopped us.

“Stop! Self-destructing? Are you insane?!”

We had no choice but to be scolded and return to our positions.