That’s Just How This Dungeon Is*5
Well, let’s go with that hypothesis for now. From there, I started moving purely for the sake of gathering “information.”
For the time being, I decided to talk to every adventurer I could and collect “useful dungeon tips.” The pretext was a campaign called, “Let’s gather everyone’s info so we can make it available at the reception! Safety through shared knowledge!”
… And when I broke down and analyzed all the info gathered from the adventurers’ perspectives—both about this dungeon and others—I ended up with a surplus of mana.
Hmm.
There’s a lot to think about, but… whatever. The point is: it’s all information. Whether it’s the Panis Village cafeteria menu, church teachings, or the genetic information of a tomato, it doesn’t matter—if I absorb and deconstruct it, I gain mana. With that mana, the World Tree grows, and I get closer to finding a way back to my original world.
… Well, just in case, I tried to build another staircase again.
Didn’t work. As soon as I tried to approach that fissure, something stopped me—reconstruction wouldn’t work.
So the only thing that can approach that crack is probably the World Tree… Makes sense, since it’s supposed to be a tree that connects worlds.
Hmm… I’ve got a lot of thoughts, but it can’t be helped. This is the only lead I’ve got right now, so I’ll just have to figure out how to keep getting mana.
“… Maybe I should hire a novelist.”
“What!? Asuma-sama, what did you just say!? You’re thinking of something weird again, aren’t you!?”
“Or maybe I should make it mandatory for everyone in Panis Village to keep a diary…”
“What is it!? You’re definitely thinking of something weird! Right!?”
… Those were the thoughts I had while playing the recorder. The tune was El Cóndor Pasa. Learned it in elementary school music class, so I can play it. Piyoroo, piyoroo.
Apparently, sheet music is also recognized as a legitimate information source—it gave me a decent amount of mana. Also, playing music seems to generate a faint bit of mana, similar to human speech. Piiiyo, piyoroo, piyoroo, piyoroo.
“If we build a library in the village… I’d be over the moon.”
“Oh my. If that’s what you want, how about we invite the town’s traveling library here? We’ve already got enough income from running the dungeon reception to afford it…”
“Oh! If that’s an option, then please, by all means! I’ll cover the cost!”
This world already has printed materials, after all. Which means—if I’ve got money, I can buy information. Guess I’ll just have to do it.
“Panis Village is only going to get wealthier, isn’t it?”
“Yeah! The village’s prosperity is directly tied to the dungeon’s prosperity! Looking forward to working together!”
For now, the best course is to bring more things and people into Panis Village and increase the flow of information. Yeah.
… Maybe I really should hire a novelist one day. Actually, if we had people performing plays or something, that alone would probably boost the amount of information quite a bit… Maybe I should attract entertainment businesses to the village.
I’ve got a bunch of ideas, but well, I can’t do everything at once. So for now, I asked Edele to arrange for the traveling library to visit.
I said I’d pay for it, but she absolutely refused. “This is for everyone in the village. You’ve already given us more than enough, Asuma-sama,” she said.
If that’s how it is, then I’ll just repay the favor in some other way… Anyway, I’ll be in your care, Edele-san.
Alright.
So, having decided to invigorate the dungeon overall and start introducing entertainment-like elements, I’ve reached the next point of curiosity—
“… Does this dungeon want to know things?”
I still don’t really get why information becomes mana.
Well, it’s not that information is mana—I already figured that out.
Because even the information I already know gives a mana bonus the first time I absorb it.
Which means… the dungeon values “information it hasn’t encountered before.” That’s how I should see it.
“So does that mean the dungeon has a will of its own, huh…”
I looked at the bracelet again.
> The dungeon is a mechanism that devours all matter and converts it into mana.
> The dungeon is a mechanism that uses mana to create all things.
> The dungeon acts in pursuit of new mana.
> The dungeon sleeps, but never perishes.
… It also said, “The dungeon awaits its master,” at the start, didn’t it?
I always wondered why it would want a master—but if that’s about acquiring new information, then that actually makes sense.
“If that’s the case, guess we’ll be working together, huh?”
Not that the dungeon can answer me, but—well, looking forward to working with you too.
“By the way, I wonder how other dungeons handle things.”
Now I’m curious about other dungeons.
If they’re all after information too, then there must be some kind of “system for obtaining it,” right?
But from everything I’ve heard so far, it doesn’t seem like that’s the case.
“Hey, Lisas-san. Ever heard of a dungeon that just collects books nonstop?”
“No, can’t say I have… Sorry. I’ve entered a few dungeons before, but I’m no expert.”
“I see… Well, can you tell me whatever you do know about other dungeons?”
I don’t know a thing about them, so I’ve got to ask people like Lisas or Mishisia who know more about the outside world.
“Well… first of all, they have way more monsters. I think I mentioned that before.”
“Yeah.”
Right. We’ve only got slimes here, but other dungeons are probably full of cool, strong creatures…
… Nah, it’s fine. Slimes are cute. They’re useful. That laid-back attitude of theirs is kinda cat-like. I like it.
“Also, the traps… they’re more, well, murderous.”
“Murderous?”
“Yeah. If dungeons really have wills of their own, then I’d say they’re out for blood. I’ve felt that more than once.”
Oh, that’s… scary as hell. Yeah…
“Well, I guess if someone makes it all the way to the deepest floor, that’s bad for the dungeon.”
“Exactly. In that sense, this dungeon’s ‘non-lethal’ nature makes it a rare kind.”
Yeah, I figured it was rare. We only have slimes, after all.
“So rare means there are others like this, but not many?”
“There are others, though not many. A famous one in the capital produces food.”
“Food…?”
“Yeah. It even has baths. People can stay overnight. It connects to a mining vein that produces gold, so people actually live there.”
… Ah, I get it.
So basically, the more people live there, the more mana it gathers. Makes sense.
And if people bathe there, it probably collects genetic data from their shed skin or something… Wait. In that case, those lethal dungeons are… making people bleed to get information…?
… Hold on.
“The brain… It’s the brain…”
“Huh? The brain? What about it?”
“The most information is in there, right…?”
Yeah. It hit me. Maybe not all human memory is physically stored in the brain, but still—if a dungeon kills a person and absorbs their corpse, it must get tons of information!
“I see… So those deadly dungeons are killing humans to absorb them.”
“W-well, there are some dangerous ones, but few that kill everyone who enters. Most have incentives—like treasure or gems on the first floor—to attract people.”
Yeah, makes sense. Dungeons need people to enter, or they can’t collect bodies. Finding that balance between killing and letting some escape must be tricky.
And that capital dungeon with lodging probably works the same way—just having people enter is enough to feed it. I see, I see.
… But the real question is whether those dungeons know what they’re doing.
Unless you’ve deliberately tried absorbing books or diaries, you wouldn’t realize that “information itself is the source of mana.” I bet plenty of dungeon masters still think “life energy” is the source.
“Well, this dungeon’s going to stay non-lethal.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Peace suits me better.”
“Yeah.”
Yeah… this dungeon should stay that kind of place. We’ve got a village, after all—let’s keep things peaceful and calm.
“I’m grateful, honestly. Just making my rounds, picking up gems, and living quietly suits me fine. Plenty of adventurers here think the same way. It’s good to have a peaceful dungeon like this.”
“I want to keep drawing in people like you.”
At this point, we’re already attracting adventurers like Lisas-san, so I think this niche model’s working.
I still remember he lost an arm and an eye… and yeah, there must be lots more like him. Many of the adventurers here have also lost parts of their bodies in the war.
… Which is why it’s a secret that I’ve been mixing healing herbs into the hot spring water. Word is, it helps with old wounds. So yeah, I’m keeping that up.
“By the way, Lisas-san, do you have any regrets about leaving your old job?”
I’m curious about what kind of hopes the people who stay here still carry.
“I guess… saying I have no regrets would be a lie. But I’m getting old. Even if I hadn’t resigned, I’d have been pulled from the frontlines soon. Then it’d just be paperwork. I’m not built for that.”
He chuckled wryly—then his face darkened a little.
“And besides… there’s no point staying for stability anymore…”
“Huh?”
“… When I came home from the war, my wife was sleeping with one of my fellow officers.”
… Yeah, I couldn’t hide my expression either.
I see… the wife… with a colleague… right.
“Ah—sorry, Asuma-sama. That’s probably a bit much for you.”
“No, no, I get it. Um, Lisas-san—I told you I’m nineteen, right? I did tell you that, didn’t I? Hey?”
I tried to insist I was old enough to understand, but this guy still treats me like a grade-schooler! He’s even patting my head! Come on!
Well, whatever. Doesn’t matter if I’m a kid or a college student. That’s not the point.
“So… how did that even happen?”
“… The war kept me away for a long time. While I was gone, she got together with some castle clerk. I don’t know the details. Don’t want to.”
That’s… painfully real. Oof.
“Man, but you’re such a good guy, Lisas-san…”
“Apparently I’m boring.”
“What? No way…”
For the record, I’ve been told, “You’re too interesting, that’s why you don’t get dates!” People are weird, huh. Guess I’ll just dance it off.
“Well, anyway, that’s why I wanted to stay far away from the castle.”
“I get it, I really do…”
Yeah, losing an arm means desk work from now on—and that’d mean facing his ex and her new husband every day… Yeah, no thanks.
“… So no, I don’t regret leaving. At the time, I quit on impulse out of sheer frustration—but looking back, it was the right choice.”
He said that awkwardly, then smiled faintly.
“Still, my old squadmates were good people. I do hope I get to see them again someday.”
“I see. I hope you do. Oh! If Panis Village grows into a tourist spot, you could tell them to come visit!”
“That’s true. The adventurers here already say the hot springs work wonders…”
Since there was a war recently, maybe developing the hot springs as a full-on therapeutic destination wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’ll have to discuss it with Edele.
… That was what I was thinking, but—
Lisas’s reunion with his old comrades came a lot sooner than either of us expected.
What do you think about this chapter?
