Chapter 131 – Floor 19. Masterio

Contrary to my expectations, Albert and Blue Tongue joined me only after a full day had passed.

It seemed the distance was a factor, but more so the constant march of librarians restoring the floor and corridors to their original state had delayed them.

Of course, now that there was no need to fear enemies or traps, they could afford to take their time.

During that time, I naturally made an effort to enjoy myself with Leviana, who had just barely repaired her damaged body to a level that looked fine on the surface before Albert and Blue Tongue arrived.

After reuniting, since both looked tired from their intense fight on Floor 17, we rested for another full day—making this already the third day on Floor 18.

“This sight never ceases to amaze me. If such manpower can be mobilized, large-scale civil engineering wouldn”t be so daunting. If possible, I”d like to return to White Chamber with you all.”

Albert had risen early and, seemingly tireless, was swinging his sword alone. When I got up, he began correcting my stance while chatting.

Most of his talk was about the librarians.

They moved in perfect unison, never interfering with each other, tireless, and stronger than most grown men.

Working beside the nobility, I supposed such thoughts naturally came to him when witnessing this.

Though he had been slandered, branded a criminal, and exiled, as a knight of noble blood, his loyalty and patriotism seemed untainted by the desire for recognition.

Blue Tongue, seemingly displeased with the chilly air flowing through the corridor, had woken long ago but was idly wasting time, fidgeting about.

Like a cat, she stretched out or tapped the floor with her thick tail, even grabbing a working librarian to play with before breaking it.

When the librarian stopped moving, perhaps bored, she clung to my sweat-drenched body, demanding breakfast.

“Isn”t it time to stop training? Training just wastes energy when you”re gaining real experience. Eat breakfast, human.”

“Whoa! You”re heavy!”

Even now, if I tried to shake her off, Blue Tongue”s weight was overwhelming, and I panicked. But she gripped my arm tightly, refusing to let go.

Then, her licking tongue brushed my cheek, exchanging my sweat for her warm saliva.

“Ugh…”

“That old man only teaches dueling techniques. Honestly, beyond that level, it”s useless.”

“That”s harsh…”

Blue Tongue, a monster-class fighter, sharply criticized centuries of human martial arts mastery, so I had no choice but to treat her to the pinnacle of 21st-century food science.

Until the meal ended, her tail swept the floor nonstop.

Well, as long as she liked it, that was enough.

After finishing the meal made with full use of 21st-century science and resting sufficiently, we set off again toward Floor 19.

Me, Albert, Blue Tongue, and now Leviana, who had returned to her cold, doll-like demeanor from when we first met, being carried by a puppet-like butler.

“Thinking back to what the young man said, the midsection”s control was taken by various monsters, right? I wonder how you managed to join him first.”

Albert broke the silence, stroking his chin as he asked.

“I hold the corridor”s control, and the lower managers receive partial authority delegated from me. The intruders killed the original lower managers and forcibly took their rights. When the intruders died, the midsection”s movement rights reverted to me.”

“Ho… With authority, can you even pose as a god here? That”s frightening.”

Albert”s detailed answer made him thoughtful, stroking his beard deeply.

“Ah, now that I think about it, that corpse collector mentioned giving gold and treasures. Maybe I should have taken that and killed him.”

“Do you need that?”

“I wanted it before, but now I need money badly.”

Because of that damned guy, I had to take a leave of absence I never intended, pay rent for a place I wasn”t even living in, and support a growing number of dependents.

‘Slimes just keep coming endlessly once inside… The spiders are the real problem.’

I tried feeding them various things, but they only ate meat, and their enormous size meant they consumed a tremendous amount.

Based on the fact that a tiger in a zoo eats 9kg daily, I was essentially raising a tiger.

As an ordinary office worker, I couldn”t possibly afford the food expenses.

Even as a student, I feared next month”s food bills more than those tentacle eyes.

At least in onahole form, I didn”t need to eat anything—small mercy.

“I can find the intruder”s loot.”

“Really?”

“Since you dealt with the intruder, it”s only right you get the reward. It would be insulting if I didn”t give it.”

Is this… love?

I vowed to convey this love persistently at night, shedding a hot, salty tear.

***

Floor 19 was small.

Not small enough to call it tiny, though.

It was definitely twice the size of the area on Floor 18 swept away by the fiery explosion from Floor 20.

However…

“What is this place…”

“Looking at the floor, there are marks like where some kind of coffin was, just like above.”

Floors 16 through 18 were filled with exhibits and glass cases, but Floor 19 was mostly occupied by a huge, incomprehensible device.

It was so large that just standing before it made it hard to gauge its full size.

The device, shaped like a hemisphere, was made of sturdy metal. When lightly tapped with a fist, it emitted a hollow *thunk* sound, suggesting some internal space.

*Tap!*

The strange device reacted to Noto… something—a rat hidden inside Blue Tongue”s armor.

‘Still alive…’

*Tap, tap-tap-tap—*

I had thought it dead since it disappeared, but it had survived by clinging tightly to Blue Tongue.

Surviving that shockwave proved it was no ordinary squirrel.

Apparently wanting to convey something, the squirrel gestured wildly at the massive machine.

I asked Blue Tongue what it was saying, and though slightly annoyed, she interpreted the squirrel”s chattering.

“This oddly shaped metal mass is the hyperspatial refractive bypass that this rat and its kin arrived on…? I don”t understand much of it.”

*Chitter! Screech! Tap!*

“Hmm… Anyway, it”s supposed to be something that can take them back home.”

‘Annoying.’ Blue Tongue scratched her head and looked around, clearly sharing that sentiment.

‘So this thing in the center of the map with no interaction—is it a UFO?’

On DunGal, opinions were divided about the dome occupying Floor 19.

With no interaction or clues, speculation ran wild until the topic grew cold—until now, when a miniature giant space squirrel”s spaceship was revealed.

*Screech! Tap!*

Dotorius glared at our indifferent reactions, then seemingly gave up, hopping onto Blue Tongue”s head and darting up to cling to the ship”s surface before disappearing.

Being a squirrel, it sure was good at riding.

May you become king again on Dotorius.

“…I think it”s time to meet him.”

“No need to look for him. I came to find you all myself.”

As Leviana finished speaking, a figure silently appeared—red-skinned, with grotesquely twisted horns protruding from his forehead.

His bat-like wings, connected by membranes, were heavily damaged with holes and tears but gave an impression of toughness.

His eyes had sclera stained black, and his irises burned like fire.

“…A demon.”

“A demon, indeed.”

“Wow, a demon.”

Our simultaneous reactions made him chuckle meaninglessly as he rested a heavy, long hammer on his shoulder.

His predatory glare was intimidating, yet somehow felt gentle.

The muscular demon smiled and announced his name.

“Masterio! I am a mere demon named Masterio, co-designer of this corridor and self-proclaimed Hell”s General.”

Thus appeared Masterio, the friendly NPC and sub-boss of Floor 19.