Chapter 444
Dungeon of Precious Stones (3)
Since it was a re-entry, I thought we would have to pay the fee again, but fortunately, we were exempted. I'm not sure if it was because it was a request-related matter, or if the nobles who were the clients paid for it.
“”Wow!””
“"Oh?”"
Upon entering the dungeon again, we exclaimed in amazement once more. The diamond forest had transformed into a ruby forest.
"It changes so dramatically~"
"It's quite different from before~”
"”Amazing~!”"
After standing at the entrance for a while and observing the transformed dungeon, Dill-san also entered from behind.
"Oh? Did it just change? You guys are lucky to see two different dungeons in one day."
"Yes, indeed. Well, now I'm even more curious about the Sapphire and Emerald forests."
“”Wanna see them soon~”"
"Right."
"Hahaha~ I hope we can see them soon."
Even though the forest changes periodically, it seems that the exact cycle for the transformation is not clearly defined. It changes as quickly as a few days or as late as a month.
"Dill-san, are you going on a dungeon capture?"
"Oh, I plan to do some mining on the third floor for a few days."
"Huh? Aren't you going to use the teleportation device in the hall?"
Since this is an advanced dungeon, if you've been to a certain floor before, you should be able to use the teleportation device in the hall, right?
"Unfortunately, the hall’s teleportation device is for returning only."
"Eh? Is that how it's designed?"
"Yeah, it is. I don't know why. Oh, but you can use the teleportation device on the first and second floors to go to any floor without any issues."
"That's... strange, isn’t it~"
...It's like the dungeon is saying, "Look at my first floor first before proceeding."
"But well, since I take my time touring the first floor every time, it's not a problem."
"Well, this forest seems enjoyable no matter how many times you see it, right?"
"”Kaiser, let's go that way~!"”
"Umu, okay."
Allen and Elena, accompanied by Kaiser, started walking, so I also began walking behind them with Dill-san.
“”That way next~””
"......"
As Allen and Elena confidently moved forward, Dill-san’s expression gradually tensed.
"Wait a minute. Takumi, is this really your first time here? No mistake, right?"
"It is~"
"Then why are you heading towards the staircase leading to the lower levels without hesitation?"
"Ah... my kids are good at finding things."
"It's not that simple, is it?!”
"I don't know the location of the staircase myself, so I can't say for sure. Is it correct?"
"... Yeah."
The children are undoubtedly heading towards the destination. Well, I had a feeling it was right, considering that Dill-san, who was originally planning to go to the lower levels, was walking in the same direction as us while exploring. Otherwise, he would have separated from us along the way.
—Thud!
"What? What was that!?"
While walking towards the staircase with an expression of disbelief or fatigue, Dill-san was suddenly met with an incredibly loud noise.
"Sorry. I collided with something because I was looking elsewhere."
"Collided!? No, no, no, the sound was not just from a collision!"
It seemed like Kaiser had collided with something, but it definitely wasn't a light sound. It was more like... the sound of a truck crashing.
"Any injuries?"
"Mu?"
"Are you okay?”
"It broke."
"Broke!? What broke? Your arm? Leg?"
"No, it's a branch, I think?"
"Branch? A branch!?"
I thought it was a severe fracture from a hard impact, but it turned out that what broke was the branch of the ruby forest. Kaiser held a branch about the size of my arm, looking apologetic.
"I-it, it broke!? But, I mean, the gemstones here are supposed to be unbreakable..."
"......"
I hurriedly looked at Dill-san, who was standing there with his mouth wide open, completely stunned. Truly speechless. Asking him anything now would probably not elicit a response.
"But anyway, you broke it so cleanly~ So, Kaiser, you are really not injured, are you?”
"Umu, I'm fine."
Kaiser was rubbing his forehead, so it seems he broke it with his forehead… It looked a bit red, but there didn’t seem to be any significant problem. Delivering a headbutt that made such a loud noise and coming out of it with just a little redness—a true Leviathan stuff indeed.
"... Um, so, because headbutts are physical, it’s okay not to about it, right?"
"... Yeah, that's right."
I wondered if we were okay, so I asked Dill-san, and there was a weak response in a feeble voice. However, Dill-san hadn't recovered; he finally covered his face with his palm and bowed his head. Maybe he reached the limit of astonishment?
"Allen wants one too!"
"Elena too!"
Seemingly envious of Kaiser, Allen and Elena took picks out of their bags.
"If you are going for it, choose the thinner branches. Avoid the trunk of the tree or those standing on rocky parts; your pickaxes might break, and the situation may turn dangerous.”
“"Got it~””
Perhaps inspired by Kaiser acquiring a branch, Allen and Elena's desire to collect was ignited. Magic was prohibited, but using tools to strike seemed to be fine, so I let the children do as they pleased.
“"Heave-ho!"”
The picks swung down from the children, but... it just made a small sound, and there was no change to the branches.
"How was it? Did you feel anything?"
"”Muu... it's hard~””
The children looked surprised as the picks were deflected, but gradually, their expressions turned into pouts as they realized the branches weren't breaking so easily.
"Mu? Is this what you want? If so, aim for a thinner spot. Yeah... oh, this looks good. Allen, here. Elena, here. Aim for the thinnest parts."
“”Okay!””
Kaiser looked around and instructed the children to target the thinner branches, about the size of a conductor's baton, at the nape of the branch.
“"Heave-ho!"”
"It's impossible in one go. Aim for the same spot and strike several times."
“”Okay~””
Allen and Elena continued striking the same spot on the branch repeatedly. It didn't seem very effective at first, but suddenly, after a dozen attempts, the branches snapped.
“”It broke~””
"Uwah, it broke? Surprisingly, it breaks if you really try to.”
However, consistently targeting an even finer spot on branches, as Allen and Elena did, seems quite challenging~
"Huh!?"
Seeing the children picking up the broken branches and raising it above their heads, Dill-san once again froze.
"Let's do it again~"
"Kaiser, where's a good spot?"
"Mu? Right, how about here and here?"
Not content with one branch each, Allen and Elena continued to challenge themselves, obtaining three ruby branches each.
"... Takumi, you guys are abnormal."
By the time they got the third one, Dill-san was finally crouching down with his head in his hands.