Open, Sesame!

“… They said they poured all the profits into that banner, so I wondered what was going on.”

I turned my head at the voice coming from behind, as I watched the power of “Temitus” imbued in the banner.

The person talking to me was none other than Miriam.

“Mr. Dmihtan, weren’t you just going to let this commission go? I thought you came to make money.”

I looked at her. I wanted to do that too. But what could I do?

There doesn’t seem to be anyone else besides me who can hold this “Volcano Event.”

So, a suitable sacrifice was necessary.

“Gold coins…”

When I told her that her share—which I hadn’t even planned to give—also went into purchasing the banner, miriam’s face turned pale.

No matter how I think about it, it’s ridiculous. It’s not even your money.

Leaving Miriam behind, we prepared to head for the fissure dungeon of Lagmor Mountain.

Inside, it boasts the danger of a “gold rank” dungeon, and I’ve heard that Abyssification is even taking place.

We needed to be fully prepared, so along with all kinds of consumables, we packed Petrification Antidote Potion as well.

“Finally.”

Barkal looked at the fissure, his eyes sharp. He must be convinced that Darsan is beyond it.

Compared to him, Serena’s face was clouded with concern.

“The petrified beasts… I have a question.”

She looked at me and asked.

“What is it?”

“Petrification can be undone with the Petrification Antidote Potion, right?”

“That’s right.”

“So what happens if something is damaged before using the antidote potion?”

Serena asked, her face filled with genuine concern. I also grew curious.

The Petrification Antidote Potion would only help “reverse” the effect but wouldn’t restore it to its original state.

If the petrified body part breaks off, wouldn’t it be impossible to recover even with the potion?

“… In that case, if we’re turned to stone, we’d have to be careful not to break, right?”

Then, Serena suddenly got into an invisible chair stance, stretching her arms out in front of her.

“How about this pose?! If it’s hard to use the antidote, at least it’d be easy to carry someone on their back!”

That’s what Serena said, and her face started to brighten up.

She truly seemed to think so.

* * *

“Wow…”

As we stepped inside the Lagmor Mountain dungeon, miriam let out a gasp of awe.

It was only natural. What appeared before our eyes was a grand building with towering marble columns and intricate carvings.

The kind of architecture you’d expect only in ancient Rome. And at the edges, snake heads were carved here and there.

As if to hint at what dwelled inside.

“… Ugh, why are there so many statues?”

I heard Miriam’s muttering voice behind me.

I glanced at her. She’s not even a member of the Dungeon God, so she doesn’t have to come along. I tell her that every time.

There was no need to say more. She could decide for herself. Leaving her behind, I surveyed the inside of the dungeon once more.

“Dungeons have such mysterious structures. It looked so hot outside, but inside it’s so calm.”

Serena also looked around giving her simple impression.

“The interior of a dungeon is a completely different world.”

No matter what’s outside, the inside maintains its constructed form.

So even though the dungeon is buried in lava, one doesn’t feel any heat inside. The problem is, when it’s time to leave, the chances are high you’ll have to swim through lava.

I moved forward, glancing at the monsters turned to stone.

How strange.

So many petrified monsters, but where are the adventurers?

There should at least be some traces.

Thinking that, I headed to the building visible ahead. After all, there was nothing else but that.

“It’s a door.”

As we approached, a massive door marked with a coiled snake appeared before us.

“Did all the adventurers go through this door?”

“We can’t fall behind!”

With a powerful shout, Barkal stood before the door. He began pushing with all his might, trying desperately to open it.

But the door wouldn’t budge.

“Graaaaaaaaaaaah!”

The door did not open.

“O Thrag, grant me strength for honor!”

No, it really isn’t opening. Stop it, kid.

[To proceed beyond this point, you must bear the curse.]

[Those who can withstand the curse, put on the necklace.]

A solemn voice suddenly echoed in my ears. It felt like an explanation of how this dungeon was set up.

“Someone has entered my head!”

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one hearing the voice. Barkal suddenly raised his axe, looking around.

“Get out of my head!!”

“Calm down, brother Barkal! It’s just the voice in the dungeon!”

“Damn this dungeon, don’t whisper to me!”

At Serena’s words, Barkal raised his axe into the air. Then, he started swinging the axe at the door blocking us.

Thunk!

With a monstrous noise, cracks started to form in the door.

“Barkal!”

Wait a minute.

Who knows what might happen if the door breaks!

Normally, I would’ve responded calmly to Barkal’s antics.

A dungeon door isn’t a joke.

If you could open it with an axe, everyone would do it, right?

Craack.

But this time, it was different.

Barkal, who had obtained the World’s Precipice, swung his axe with incomparable force.

“Ha ha ha! Open, Sesame!”

Craack.

He struck the door again, and the cracks grew wider.

Before long, the section where Barkal struck collapsed.

To think he’d solve the dungeon’s gimmick like this. No, how is this even working?

“Ha ha ha ha!”

With Barkal’s final blow, the immense door crashed to the ground.

Dust billowed up, and beyond it, the inside of the dungeon was revealed.

“What is…?”

Serena looked inside with wide, startled eyes.

The sight beyond the door was horrific.

A chilling mist.

No, not mist.

It was the energy of the abyss.

* 〈This is a dungeon undergoing Abyssification.〉

Maybe that’s why the door fell. It seemed the dungeon couldn’t function properly due to Abyssification.

Beyond the writhing, blood-dark energy, countless passageways appeared.

It was structured like a giant ant nest.

Some entrances were tall and wide, others were narrow and low.

Sizes.

Directions.

All different.

No wonder we hadn’t seen any adventurers—each must have gone their own way down those tunnels.

“There are just too many entrances!”

Frowning at the dozens of doorways, Barkal scowled.

“I hate riddles!”

Barkal strode forward.

Shhaaaak!

As Barkal marched, something clung to the dark floor and wrapped itself around him.

“Ah!”

Before I could warn him, Barkal grabbed the thing that struck.

As we entered brighter light, what attacked us started to become clear.

A snake.

“Why are there snakes in a place like this?”

Wearing a ludicrous smile, Barkal twisted the neck of the snake he’d caught.

The wriggling white snake soon went limp in his grip.

I approached the snake Barkal had discarded. Small, but its fangs glinted dangerously.

“Petrification venom.”

“Petrification venom?”

“Yes.”

It isn’t only used by the dungeon’s master—do all the monsters here use “petrification venom”?

Upon hearing my words, Serena’s face clouded over again.

“Brothers, I thought about this.”

“What is it?”

When I asked, Serena suddenly bent her body into an arch.

She lifted her hips high in a prone position.

“I think this pose would be better if we turn to stone, rather than the previous one!”

Looks like she was continuing the earlier conversation.

“We have the Petrification Antidote Potion anyway, so you don’t have to worry.”

“But there’s always ‘what if,’ isn’t there?”

True, it could happen. But haven’t you been worried about just that for a while now?

Leaving Serena behind, I looked at the countless entrances before me.

Which one should we take to find a good path and become well-known for it?

“Wait a second.”

As I was choosing, miriam stepped forward.

She pointed to one of the nearby entrances and spoke up.

“There’s a trap down there after just a short walk. Disarming it won’t be hard, but why take the path with a trap?”

She spoke with self-assured confidence, as if she’d already been inside. I stared, surprised.

Even if she’s not a member of Dungeon God, it’s possible to help out.

But how did she know about the trap?

“Now that I think about it, you’re a rat.”

“Not a rat, a rogue…”

Ah, right. Because Barkal kept calling her a rat, I was mixing it up too.

“When it comes to finding traps, I’d say I’m the best among us here.”

Miriam smiled with her nose slightly upturned, full of confidence.

It was the most confident she’d sounded yet.

But it certainly was helpful. Taking advantage of the moment, I encouraged her.

“You’re actually useful for once.”

I meant it as a compliment, but Miriam gave a dry laugh, taking it strangely.

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

If that’s not a compliment, then what is?

“Barkal, looks like Miriam wants to be praised by you.”

Annoyed by her grumbling, I decided to toss it over to Barkal. Miriam quickly waved her hands, signaling for me not to.

Something’s odd. Why is Barkal so quiet? I looked at him.

I saw Barkal’s gaze fixed on the hall with all the entrances. He was looking up near the ceiling.

There, a tall man much like a barbarian was staggering along.

“That guy…”

When he saw the skull helmet the man wore, Barkal muttered.

“Darsan!”

—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep