I Found an Ancient Dungeon!?
[Karina Square]
4.7★★★★★ (22,457 reviews)
Tourist from the Royal Capital
★★★★★
Amazing… I can’t believe a place this beautiful exists.
Nameless Traveler
★★★★★
I’ve traveled through countless countries, but I’ve never seen anywhere as beautiful as this.
No wonder it’s called the most beautiful square in the world.
Rowdy Five-Year-Old
★★★★★
It’s so biiiiig! No matter how much I run, I can’t reach the end!
—
“Whoa… So this is Karina Square.”
“It’s… crazy big, meowaa.”
“It’s… very beautiful.”
After making our way through the narrow alleys, we arrived at Karina Square, the most famous spot in Rivana.
It totally lives up to its reputation as the most beautiful square in the world.
A vast, brick-paved area, surrounded by pristine white buildings.
At the center, there’s a gorgeous river, and a tall building functioning as a lighthouse, with someone stationed at the top with binoculars.
The place was packed with what looked like tourists, and even adventurers who normally wouldn’t hang around a square like this.
But the space was so large, it didn’t feel crowded.
Milfie stood there with her mouth wide open, and Aqua gripped her staff tightly in awe.
Of course, I was just as amazed.
I mean, a place this stunning… this other world really is worth exploring.
Oh, I better make a note of this for the Guide Map.
But as I scrolled through the reviews, something concerning caught my eye.
I’d heard about it beforehand too—High Tide.
“Water’s already starting to come in,” Aqua pointed out.
Just as she said, a thin layer of water coated the ground, reflecting the sky like a mirror.
It was beautiful… but dangerous.
High Tide is a flooding phenomenon caused by the ebb and flow of the sea.
This country was originally built on reclaimed land, so it’s a recurring problem.
The water level has been rising every year, and people are beginning to worry that the whole place might sink someday.
It’s one of the nation’s most pressing issues.
But I trust Tia will handle it somehow.
My Guide Map progress had already surpassed 40%.
There was still plenty to see, but night was approaching.
That’s when it happened—something surprising.
“““Ohhhhh…”””
It made sense why everyone gasped—all the lights around the square came on at once.
The whole place was bathed in a magical, dreamlike glow.
Some of the lamps even floated in the air—probably magic.
Soon, restaurants began opening up, and tables and chairs were set up outside.
I see… this isn’t just a tourist spot—it turns into a dinner district at night.
“Milfie, Aqua, how’s your appetite?”
“I might’ve overdone it at the buffet… Maybe we should just rest and start exploring in the morning?”
“I agree.”
Still stuffed from the buffet, we unanimously decided to look for an inn.
That’s when I saw something unbelievable on my Guide Map.
I stopped dead in my tracks, frowning.
Milfie called out to me.
“What’s wrong, Tabito?”
“This… what… is this…”
I’d seen this before—the map was layered, overlapping vertically.
Where was it… oh! It hit me.
“… This is underground, isn’t it?”
I’d seen the same thing inside dungeons—the first and second floors overlapping.
You could click to zoom in or display them separately. This looked the same.
A weirdly long passageway, maze-like… but there were no reviews.
Curious, I asked a local.
“Underground? Beneath this square? I’ve lived here for forty years and never heard of that. Impossible.”
“No way. This is just a square.”
“Impossible. No such thing. Beneath here’s the sea.”
Everyone gave the same answer.
But I could see it—clear as day.
I explained to the others, and Aqua’s eyes widened.
“If what you say is true… it might be a dungeon. There are countless undiscovered dungeons hidden across the world. If this is one of them, it wouldn’t be surprising that no one knows about it.”
It makes sense—no one can find it if they can’t see it.
But I’m different. My Otherworld Guide Map doesn’t miss a thing.
“If this is real, it’s huge. You know how dungeons are full of treasure, right?”
“Of course, but… no way…”
“Exactly. If it’s undiscovered, even the shallow floors will be packed with untouched treasure.”
Meaning… if we’re the first ones there, it’s free treasure galore!?
This just got interesting.
“Aqua, we might find Elmirah’s magic book before we even finish the Stamp Rally.”
When I said that, Aqua smiled faintly.
Man, the Otherworld Guide Map is the best!
◇
That night, at Rivana Castle.
In a luxurious, opulent room, Princess Eltia received a report from an elderly, white-haired man.
Her long, pale pink hair and jewel-like, translucent red eyes reflected her somber mood as she scanned the documents.
“The signs of High Tide are appearing earlier than usual this year.”
“We’ve known the water level has been rising steadily, but I never expected it this soon. At this rate, even the residential areas might be affected.”
“What’s the status of the drainage magic research?”
“It’s progressing. We’ve also reinforced the levees, but with so many old buildings, it’s difficult to fully manage the situation. We’re considering reconstruction, but…”
“Cost doesn’t matter. Use my private funds if necessary—prioritize the citizens’ safety.”
“Understood. I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”
Their expressions softened for a moment.
“But… how should I explain this to His Majesty?”
“Just say I took the initiative. As royalty, it’s our duty to put the people first.”
“You truly are… an admirable princess.”
“That’s not true. I’m only standing here because everyone supports me. A certain adventurer… reminded me of that.”
“An adventurer, you say?”
“… It’s nothing. Just… reminiscing.”
Princess Eltia gazed out the window, recalling the night view she’d seen in the capital.
She understood that meetings were often fleeting. No matter how many promises you made, there were people you’d never see again.
She wasn’t expecting anything.
But deep down, she still hoped to see him once more.
“Speaking of adventurers… I heard something curious.”
“Curious?”
“Yes. Princess, are you familiar with the legend of the ancient dungeon beneath this country?”
“I heard about it as a child. The phantom dungeon hidden within this nation… The one said to contain treasure that will save us in our time of need.”
“Exactly. A tourist has been asking around, claiming there might be something underground at Karina Square. If that’s the ancient dungeon, wouldn’t that be fascinating?”
“… Did you investigate?”
“Karina Square has undergone repairs countless times. If such a thing existed, it would’ve been discovered by now.”
Eltia answered, then suddenly froze.
No… Could it be…?
“Was that adventurer’s name… Tabito, by any chance?”
The royal secretary’s eyes widened in shock.
“Yes… it was. How do you know that name?”
Princess Eltia broke into a beaming smile and spoke firmly.
“If Tabito says so, then there’s no doubt. Contact the Adventurers’ Guild immediately and get in touch with him.”
Though surprised, the royal secretary nodded.
Once alone, Princess Eltia opened the window, her expression brightening.
“Tabito… You came to see me. I’m so happy.”
What do you think about this chapter?
