Chapter 55
How should I put it, the Dungeon Gallery...
For me, I guess, it's the place that connects me to the world.
Even if I could go outside,
it was hard to leave the place unattended, since a dungeon never knew when an intruder might show up.
Aside from Malang and the bug man, the anomalies were usually just sleepyheads who slept all day.
And they couldn't exactly talk directly with me, either.
Hmm.
In the end, the Gallery was my social circle itself.
In a novel I once read that left a deep impression on me, it said, 'Human means a dignified being distinct from other animals,' so I guess that means fish-like monsters are people too!
The Dungeon Gallery is full of good people.
I've received a lot of help since my complete newbie days.
They're the kind of people who add fun and excitement to a dungeon master's boring everyday life.
The World Is Cold.
Also known as Secha-ham.
A veteran famous for being tormented by elves.
Among veterans, he's said to be the weakest.
Even in serious situations, he'd shout, 'Elves are fucking disgusting!!' and make everyone laugh, so in many ways I was fond of him.
Well, actually, I wasn't that close with the veterans.
Except for Sarangi, hmm, they all felt like they were doting on the youngest sibling.
We'd never really had any deep conversations.
Anyway.
Right now, Secha-ham's situation looked extremely bad.
Orange★ : I get that it's a tough situation for now,
ㄴOrange★ : but pull yourself together and explain what's going on first.
ㄴOrange★ : Weren't you even leaving comments during the newbie livestream last time, acting all relaxed?
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Fuck, hahaha.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I thought I'd be able to stay relaxed too...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : During this position-shift cycle, I finally got moved far away from the World Tree Forest.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I was so happy, shouting, 'Fuck yeah, I'm finally free!! You fucking knife-eared bastards, I'm outta here!!' when
ㄴThe World Is Cold : they came after me all the way and started tormenting me again...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Fucking bastards...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : But this time it looks like they really prepared properly...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : They even brought a Sword Master from the North Kingdom...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Wow...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : No matter how I think about it, this guy really seems hopeless...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : On top of that, all the traps got smashed in the last wave...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I have to block them with brute-force minions... fuck...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I've raised these minions myself.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : If they die, the next wave is really hopeless...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Ah, fuck, I seriously don't know.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Why is the world so fucking harsh only to me?
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Fuck, ever since last time it's been two World Tree waves in a row, and I've just been getting screwed over...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I'm a dungeon master without tears, but I'm so fucking wronged and miserable that tears and snot are really pouring out of me.
ㄴI Have No Minions : Don't you have any points?
ㄴThe World Is Cold : It's been deficit waves ever since last time, so I don't have any points until the next Income...
ㄴGolem King : You should hold the line yourself and manage the minions well, then try to block them somehow.
ㄴGolem King : Ah, but the Sword Master really is screwed...
ㄴDIP : Easy to say... what are we even supposed to do about this?
ㄴDIP : This dungeon is already so simple that it's poison to anyone who relies on brute strength.
ㄴDIP : Is there no way?
ㄴMagic Hero : S-s-so what's the Sword Master's name...
ㄴMagic Hero : Tell us that first...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Icarus...
ㄴSealed Conqueror : If it's Icarus, he's low-tier even among Sword Masters.
ㄴSealed Philosopher : Still, at least it's not that Carmina bastard.
ㄴSealed Conqueror : Hey, lol, at least it's not a Blesser.
ㄴSealed Conqueror : Try to stay hopeful somehow.
ㄴSealed Philosopher : Yeah, and you said the distance was far, you bastard.
ㄴSealed Philosopher : They won't come swarming in all at once like the last waves.
ㄴKing Slayer : Hang in there.
ㄴI Have No Minions : It's still too early to give up, so try to get your head together somehow.
ㄴAnonymous Butcher : I agree.
ㄴAnonymous Butcher : Hang in there.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Sigh...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Should I just kill myself, fuck...
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.
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This time for real, I can feel that Secha-ham is screwed.
Should I say he's radiating a gloomy aura from the post.
Everyone feels bad for him, but there's no way to help, so they're just pacing around helplessly.
As I mentioned before, dungeon masters are involuntary shut-ins.
They can't leave the dungeon, so even if they want to help, they can't.
But.
ㄴNewbie : Hyung
ㄴNewbie : Where did you say the dungeon address was??
ㄴNewbie : If I remember right, it was pretty close
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Why do you need the address??
ㄴNewbie : I think it's time to test my power...
ㄴSealed Philosopher : ?
ㄴSealed Conqueror : ?
ㄴThe World Is Cold : ?
It's been a long time since I last found something to latch onto.
ㄴNewbie : If it's the power of an anomaly, couldn't it beat the elves??
ㄴI Have No Minions : Wait, are you planning to go see Secha...??
ㄴNewbie : Yeah
If it were me, that'd be another matter.
I'm the only dungeon master who can move around outside the dungeon.
Anyway, the situation had been sorted out, so I was free.
I'd just go there casually.
ㄴI Have No Minions : No, even so, that's way too dangerous.
ㄴI Have No Minions : Newbie's only level 90 right now.
ㄴI Have No Minions : Secha's already in the high 200s, so what are you going there to do...
ㄴI Have No Minions : Dreamland is powerful in the first place because of its traps and minions.
ㄴI Have No Minions : You remember how you had a hard time even one-on-one against Yuben, who wasn't even a knight, last time, right...?
ㄴI Have No Minions : Even though your level has gone up a lot since then...
ㄴI Have No Minions : You don't even know how to fight properly.
ㄴI Have No Minions : Going alone would be pointless.
ㄴNewbie : I'm not going to fight directly, so it's fine, it's fine.
ㄴI Have No Minions : Then what are you planning to do
ㄴNewbie : I already had something I wanted to test, so I'm going to try it this time.
ㄴI Have No Minions : Still, that's way too much.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Newbie.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I'm really grateful for what you're saying, but you don't need to worry about me that much.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : If I die, I die. That's that.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I always joked that I was jealous and green with envy, but.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I'm still your senior, Newbie, after all, right?
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I can't let a junior be put in danger, so I'll do what I can.
I never thought he'd care about me this much.
Honestly, I'm touched.
Is this really the Secha-ham who used to get tormented by elves all the time?
My chest swells.
But.
Then that gives me even more reason to go.
ㄴNewbie : I'll check whether minions and trap placement work.
ㄴNewbie : Still, I should at least try.
ㄴNewbie : Even Sword Masters are equal before an anomaly, right?
ㄴNewbie : You remember last time, when I set Restia as a minion and was able to leave the dungeon, right?
ㄴNewbie : I haven't tried it directly yet...
ㄴNewbie : Somehow I feel like I might be able to get into your dungeon too, hyung.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Still...
ㄴNewbie : If I try and it doesn't work, I'll just go back, yeah.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I'm so grateful and sorry, though...
ㄴNewbie : If you feel bad about it, do a forward roll when we meet.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : Hahahahahaha, fuck...
Phew, good.
ㄴSsigan Saranggae : You're saying you'll get to see Newbie in real life before I do??
ㄴSsigan Saranggae : jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous jealous
For now, it'd be better not to worry about Sarangi.
ㄴThe World Is Cold : If you come, I'll bow to Newbie.
ㄴNewbie : Ugh...
ㄴThe World Is Cold : I'll dote on you too...
ㄴNewbie : (////)
ㄴSsigan Saranggae : ㅡ_ㅡ
ㄴSsigan Saranggae : Ha... I'm seriously so jealous...
ㄴSsigan Saranggae : Still, Newbie, please take care of that idiot for me ㅠㅠ
ㄴSsigan Saranggae : And absolutely don't let him dote on you.
ㄴNewbie : Hehe
ㄴSsigan Saranggae : Answer.
Then.
Let's think about how to get there from here.
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Secha-ham's dungeon is fortunately located in the northern part of the continent.
It's in a rough region called Frostthorn Mountain.
Anyway, it's near the North Kingdom.
For now, you could say it's on the same line as Fire Forge.
Going there by Bungbungi would be a bit awkward.
It's far, and the mountain itself is snowy and rugged, so it'd be asking for an accident on the way.
By the way, those World Tree Forest elf bastards...
What the hell, they followed me all the way from the West Kingdom to the North Kingdom?
I once looked at the continent map when dealing with the branded elves in the Living Forest.
Even though the distance was pretty far, the fact that they still came all the way here shows they're seriously obsessive bastards.
Still.
There is a way.
"Malang."
"Ehk."
"Looks like it's time to show what you've got."
Malang had evolved into a 4-star anomalous slime while fighting the dwarves.
The Goblin Cave's traps are designed to take corpses and belongings away, so
Malang had to go hungry during the wave before last,
you know,
the time when the dwarves were getting taken apart by Tom and Jerry, right?
Back then, it gobbled up a huge number of dwarves and their belongings.
"Can't you get any bigger than an exercise ball?"
"Mwoot."
The rank definitely went up.
But because there was no change in appearance, it was a little hard to tell.
Still.
【Anomalous Slime (★4)】
【Tags : Anomaly, Immortal, Harmless, Flight】
【It quickly cleans up the trash inside the dungeon. It follows the dungeon master's orders.】
Malang's status window had changed.
This time, it even gained the 'Flight' tag,
so I thought it might be useful.
"Want to try flying?"
I climbed onto Malang.
Then Malang wriggled and swallowed me whole.
"Oh."
Of course, I wasn't digested.
There's no way our Malang would eat me.
I figured it felt like being trapped inside a round ball.
I kind of want to see it in a mirror.
It felt like being in a bathtub.
Warm and cozy.
Malang's body was transparent too, so I could see outside clearly.
Like a hot-air balloon, Malang floated up gently.
"Go forward!"
"Ehk."
It had some speed too.
By feel, it was on par with Bungbungi or maybe even better.
"That should do it."
The problem was...
What if an intruder came in while I was away from the dungeon?
Anyway, I was done cleaning up the surrounding area.
I had definitely put the dwarves in line.
Anyway, I could check the dungeon situation through the status window as well as the core room monitor.
If anything happened, I could just come back as fast as possible.
And honestly, I kind of thought the anomalies would block them on their own anyway.
That carefree thought crossed my mind too.
"Let's go, let's go, let's go."
"Ehk."
And so, I set out for Secha-ham's dungeon.