The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Translator: “Mythko” Editor: “Weasalopes”

The dungeon’s fifth floor .

There was a black lion called Toramaru who had a tulip growing in the head waiting for me in the fifth floor .

Why is he called Toramaru?

If you are normal, surely you want to make a joke or two about his name .

I did it too, but just moments after he told me about his precious elf friend .

Then, for some reason, I became friends with Toramaru, and moments after he gave me such a request .

I want you to find my elf friendー

It seems that he never received any news once his friend descended to the sixth floor .

Despite wanting to go looking for him, he received an order saying that he should not go down to the sixth floor . He dutifully keep fulfilling the order for 350 years…

He told me that since he can’t disobey the order, that if I could go for him .

Moments after accepting his request, I stepped timidly onto the sixth floor . What was waiting for me was… A zombie able to separate itself into six parts, a monster called Six Zombie

At first I was scared, since it had the skill 【Immortality】 . But then, I found out that it was weak against the light and saint attribute .

In other words, the monster was burned using my 【White Flames】 .

As I was capturing the sixth floor other type of zombie appeared . This one was wearing clothes and was equipped with a bracelet .

When I used appraisal on it, the 【Zombification】 skill appeared . That’s right, he was bitten by another zombie and infected .

I thought, maybe this is the person that Toramaru was looking for . I used the 【Edit】skill, and released him from the zombification .

Before my eyes, his appearance changed, from zombie to elf .

◇　◆　◇

「ーUm, I’m wondering if you are you Bachel-san?」

「Yes, that’s right, you?」

I’ve finally found the elf called Bachel-san!

Moments after I made a triumphant pose, I answered his question .

「Nice to meet you . I’m called Noir Stalgia . There is something I want to confirm, do you remember something that happened recently, anything?」

「Something recently… Aaaaah!? That’s right, I was attacked by a creepy zombie so I ran away desperately… After that, nothing」

「You become a zombie」

「Eh, what did you say?」

「You became a zombie after being infected for over three hundred years . I cured you using a special skill」

As I explained what had happened, Bachet-san was shocked .

He wasn’t able to stop his tears and mucus from flowing after receiving so much information at once…

「Then, I’m… I’m three hundred and eighty years old already? Am I an old… man? It’s a… lie… right? 」

「You look quite young, appearance-wise, so you may not have physically aged」

「Is that the truth! Then that’s good news . You said you were called Noir-kun? I’m sorry, but could you help me get to the first floor? I’m already sick from this dungeon」

「Of course . First, let’s go to the fifth floor . There your friend Toramaru is waiting for you!」

I tell him in a cheerful tone . After all, it’s the long-awaited reunion . I thought he was going to be happy, but for some reason Bachet-san’s body became rigid .

ARE YOU JOKING?

He moved his mouth . He didn’t even let out a small voice .

Then he held his head and leaned his ass on the floor and started *Waa waaaa* weeping .

This person… Could it be that he is the type of person who has strong emotions? I thought elves were the calm type .

「He is still waiting for me? It has to be a joke… Please go back, I beg you . I… I was scared, so scared, that I went away from him…」

「What do you mean, by that?」

「Before entering this dungeon, I was fighting monsters, that’s when I met him . I was scared and I couldn’t move . He said 『Do you need something?』 . I thought I’d get killed . Then at that moment I said, ‘I want to be of help’」

I want to be your friend .

When Bachet-san said that, Toramaru began to think for a while . Then he said with a happy expression, 『It’s the first time in my life to have I’ve ever had a friend』 .

Even in this harsh hidden dungeon, Toramaru possessed ample power, and finally they reached the fifth floor .

But Bachet-san’s mind reached its limit .

「I wanted… to get away . But I even gave him a suitable name such a Toramaru… After that, once in a while he looked at me with a smile on his face, you know why he looked at me like that, right? I was his emergency rations!」

That’s impossible . Toramaru never considered Bachet-san as food, but as a precious friend .

The reason why he always smiles every time he saw you was because he was happy you were his first friend .

「Noir-kun, no, Noir-san, please . Please don’t let Toramaru see me and send to the first floor, please!」

Bachet-san clung to my leg .

I can only sigh now .

Does such a sad truth exist?

After all, Toramaru thought about him for hundreds of years .

「I can’t do such a thing . Please explain the situation to Toramaru properly」

「If I do that, I will be killed」

「That’s impossible」

「But if I say the truth, Toramaru’s heart will be hurt, and he may never trust humans again . On the contrary, he may go berserk and attack me…」

I don’t think he will attack humans .

But, it is very likely that upon learning the truth Toramaru will feel betrayed .

Then, should I say that he died?

That should hurt him even more .

「No, you have to properly talk to Toramaru . After all, I promised him . That I would save you」

「…Uu, I guess there’s no other… option」

「If Toramaru were to attack you, then I’ll help you escape」

「I understand . I’ll believe in you」

I took Bachet-san with me and went back to the fifth floor .

As soon as I climbed the stairs, Toramaru was there waiting .

Sitting down . Cute…

『Gaoo, gaoooo… My friend… You’re safe!』

As Toramaru let out shouts of joy, he was patting Bachet-san head . It must be an expression of love .

I send a glance to him .

After nodding, he opened his mouth .

「Please listen to me, Toramaru」

『Why such a meek face, my friend Bachet!』

「It’s regarding the word friend… Never in my life I thought of you as a friend』

Toramaru became serious .

Bachet-san looked at us with a crying face .

Good luck! After all, everything that happened it’s because of you!

「A-About that . The first time we met, I said that I wanted to be of help, to be your friend because I thought I would get killed . But the truth is that I’m not good with wild beasts… Moreover, you are so big… The reason why I told you to wait for me here was because I wanted to get away from you」

Even though he left the explanation short, he was able to transmit the true intention . Even me who is not related made my head hurt .

There is no painful expression in Toramaru . He just listened quietly .

『Was like that? No, somewhere inside me I knew it . Then my journey with Bachet-san ends here』

「…Sorry」

『I don’t mind . ――Noir . Thank you for listening to my wishes . I want you to come see me another day . I want to thank you』

「I don’t need something like a reward」

『Then you two, later』

After saying that, Toramaru disappeared in the depths of a passage .

「You did well, Bachet-san」

「I’m sorry for having caused such feelings…」

「It is true that what you did was terrible, but it is also true that you armed yourself with courage and spoke . I really appreciate what you did」

「If you were not bad with wild beasts, I would have liked you to get along with him」

「Then, shall we return?」

【Transfer between floor】skill made a black hole on the floor . There, I entered together with Bachet-san .

I escaped from the hidden dungeon from the first floor .

When we are outside, he told me .

「I can’t bother you anymore . This is enough」

「The world has changed a lot since you entered, are you sure you’ll be fine?」

「That’s something I’m looking forward to . I want to see Noir-kun again . Thanks for the help, until we meet again!」

After saying goodbye to Bachet-san, I continued waiting for Toramaru at the entrance .

I thought that he wanted to talk with me .

But even after three hours, Toramaru doesn’t appear .

「It’s strange」

He has not been defeated by other monsters, right? No, with his strength, that’s impossible .

I wonder if he got lost . Or could it be that he’s still on the fifth floor waiting for me?

Either way, I decided to go where he is .

I moved to the fifth floor using the skill .

While being wary of giant ants, I proceed through large passages .

「I wonder if Toramaru is the one who did it…?」

The corpses of monsters are scattered everywhere . While trying not to step on them, I continued through the complicated passages .

On my way, I heard *Ooon oon* such voice .

Following the voice wIth stealthy steps I ended in a dead end . Toramaru, who was facing a wall, was looking towards the ceiling and roaring .

Of course it is .

Of course, this is not a roar .

It’s a cry .

I touch his back .

It’s really bushy .

『…Noir…?』

「I’m sorry about Bachet-san」

『I was the idiot . Waiting hundreds of years for a person who is not even my friend…』

「I don’t think so . I think what you did is something amazing . It made me think that I wanted to be your friend」

『Friend… with someone like me?』

「Yes . It’s not a lie . If Toramaru is fine with this, I really want to be your friend . It would be a great honor for me to be your first friend」

After being silent for a while, Toramaru turned his eyes toward me .

He stared at my face seriously, and spoke with insecurity in his tone .

『With someone like me… are you serious?』

「You said that you were going to thank me, right? That’s what I want as a reward」

『I see… I see . Then, from now on, Noir-kun and I are friends . Then you can ride me』

Toramaru crouched down and let me ride him .

Hyaaー As expected, this is a nice view!

『I feel good . I will run, don’t get shaken off』

「Okay! You can run!」

Toramaru runs through the dungeon vigorously .

I enjoy the sensation of Toramaru’s mane from time to time while I grasp firmly from it .

As I thought, fluffy is the best .