第２８３堀：再会？ (Part2)
"Hmph. There is a saying: seeing is worth more than hearing a hundred times. Don't just listen—look for yourself. Now, you monsters, take her and head into the dungeon. We won't lay a finger on her. Once you're inside, the pursuers won't dare to follow. Isn't that right?"
With those words, she turned on her heel and walked into the dungeon.
"Come now, quickly. We will handle the pursuers for you."
The armed women walked past us, heading toward the position they were determined to defend to the death. Seeing this, the monsters around us looked on in confusion, their eyes asking what we should do.
"...Let's go into the dungeon. If it doesn't work out, we can just run again."
That was my first meeting with the Dungeon Master.
The intense sunlight could be felt even through my closed eyelids.
"Morning, is it..."
I sat up, murmuring to myself. I had been having a nostalgic dream.
*Mother, are you awake?*
A voice resonated directly inside my head. It belonged to the greatest, most powerful monster I had summoned just the other day using all the DP I had collected—Grad, the Ground Zero.
"Yes, good morning, Grad."
*Mm. Good morning, Mother.*
The sky was a vast, clear blue. It was a beautiful morning. Yet, in stark contrast to that sky, a torrential downpour was raging within my heart. Of all of us who had once aimed for a world where humans, demi-humans, and monsters could live together—even going so far as to strike down the Dungeon Master—I was the only one left.
I can still remember that day with vivid clarity.
"Regarding the predicted Great Monster Outbreak, we will not interfere. Understood?"
That was what she had said. Even though we were striving for a world where everyone could live happily, she had declared that she would ignore a catastrophe that would leave countless humans, demi-humans, and monsters wounded. She had the means and the ability to prevent it, yet she chose to let it happen.
We couldn't accept that.
So, we struck her down. To save the many. To ensure that children like me, and those gentle goblins, could be saved—even if only one more of them survived.
She had been surprised when she was struck, but after checking who it was, she had smiled gently.
"I won't blame you for what you've done. *Cough*... Leave me be, and do your best for the future you desire. I will tell Peace... *huff*... myself..."
But Peace’s rage did not subside. She plunged this continent into war, scattering sorrow and resentment across the land.
...Even after we desperately defeated Peace, peace itself was not attained. The very structure of nations stood in the way of our wishes. So, we decided to destroy the nations, annihilate those corrupted by them, and entrust the future to the next generation of children, free from all prejudice.
But the companions who shared that dream were gone. I was all alone.
The cause, it seems, was the mercenary group that prevented the raid on Enaria. They were a group centered around a black-haired man, accompanied by women who, even by our standards, could only be called beauties. Their power was immense. When the leader heard that our comrades had been defeated in Enaria, she went out with a full-scale force to take down the remaining Holy Sword Users, leaving only me behind. None of them returned. The one who had been infiltrating the Academy of Popuri didn't return either.
...They were all dead, in all likelihood.
I know their capabilities. In the current, weakened state of this continent, being captured is impossible. Therefore, it is only logical to assume they were killed.
That is why the leader had left me with one final operation.
"Alfin. I am entrusting you with all our DP, save for what is strictly necessary. If something happens to us, I want you to summon the greatest, most powerful monster to exact revenge and wipe the world clean... I know it is cruel to ask you, the tamer who gets along best with monsters, to use them as mere tools..."
"It's fine. I understand. If it comes to that, I will do it, or everything we've done until now will have been meaningless."
"...I'm sorry. I will definitely return. I won't leave you alone."
Looking up at the blue sky, I recalled the conversation with the friend who would never return.
*Mother. The sky is blue, isn't it?*
"Yes, it is."
Ground Zero—no, Grad—truly lived up to his name. He possessed power and magical strength that did no shame to his title. From the moment he was born, he understood my words and could converse with me like this.
The only pity is that Grad still has the mind of a child.
That is why the anxiety begins to creep in.