The Protagonist’s Party is Too Diligent – 104
EP.104 Strategy (3)
“How could there be a place like this, and people didn’t know about it?”
Claire mused as she stared at the dungeon entrance.
She wasn’t wrong. The entrance was enormous—a ruin in its own right. What was once an ancient temple lay almost completely destroyed, with its original form barely discernible. Dense grass had grown over what must have once been flat ground, making walking difficult. The temple, reminiscent of a smaller Parthenon, was completely overtaken by ivy.
Still, it wasn’t exactly inconspicuous. It created a clearing in the middle of the forest, and from up close, it was obvious that this place had been artificially constructed. Even in a forest teeming with wildlife, it was hard to believe that Northwood’s hunters wouldn’t have stumbled across it at some point.
“It must be the power of the relic.”
Alice said seriously.
The light from the relic had grown brighter than before, though there weren’t any other notable effects—no magic circles or hidden runes appearing around it. Truthfully, even a simple magic stone could emit such a mysterious glow, given the right craftsmanship.
The relic itself resembled a shattered stone tablet. While there were engraved patterns on its surface, they only hinted at being part of a larger design. What that design represented was impossible to discern. It looked like something straight out of a horror game—one of those fragmented tablets you needed to open a locked door.
This particular piece seemed to come from the center of a larger object. Its broken edges left it unclear whether the original shape was rectangular, triangular, or even circular.
I had seen this before. In the original game, it was an item obtained after defeating Verratti. The relic became the spoils of victory, while Verratti ended up as a prisoner of the Empire, serving as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Papal State.
…She wasn’t a heroine. The Papal State’s heroine appeared later in the story. But that’s beside the point.
“There’s probably some kind of perception-blocking magic here,” I said. “Even if this place has been forgotten by the Empire, it must have been significant to previous civilizations.”
“Perception-blocking magic? Is that a real thing?”
Claire asked, her expression one of genuine surprise.
“In an era where everything was solved with magic? It’s not impossible.”
I replied.
Claire looked startled, while Alice nodded in thoughtful agreement.
“That’s probably why the Papal State brought this relic here. It proves they knew locations like this existed around the world.”
Alice said.
“Doesn’t the Empire have relics too?”
“Sure, but the Empire never bothered figuring out how to use them. We didn’t even know their locations—just kept them locked up as treasures. Nothing more.”
As Alice and Claire continued their discussion, I slowly made my way closer to the ruins. With every step, the blue glow from the relic intensified.
Hearing my unprompted advance, the sound of hurried footsteps came from behind.
“Do you actually know something about this place?”
Bella asked, catching up to walk beside me.
“……”
I didn’t respond.
Sure, there was plenty I knew.
For instance, I remembered the general layout of this dungeon. While I couldn’t say I knew it perfectly, entering the structure would gradually jog my memory, much like when I entered the capital’s sewer system.
And this dungeon wasn’t particularly difficult. Of the six main chapters, this was the dungeon introduced in Chapter 2—the first full-fledged dungeon in the story.
While the game’s graphics back then had their limitations—the sparse grass and unnaturally stiff ivy didn’t compare to this lifelike setting—the faint glow of the relic and the overall layout of the ruins matched what I remembered almost exactly.
“I’ll lead from here.”
“But it’s dangerous—”
“The only dangers will be the monsters inside.”
I answered Alice’s concern briefly and handed the relic back to Bella.
“Won’t we need the relic inside?”
“We’ll need it at the end.”
I reached for the shotgun I’d brought along. The fire-elemental rounds would undoubtedly prove invaluable, given the abundance of slimes lurking within.
This was the first dungeon that truly resembled one. Previously, even if the forest paths twisted and turned like a dungeon, it wasn’t explicitly an underground ruin like this. While there might be blocked paths or mechanisms, there were no traps threatening your life—just an abundance of enemies to deal with.
As I pumped the shotgun, chambering a round, the group exchanged glances. Even Bella met Alice’s eyes for a moment.
Alice had seen me navigate the Imperial sewer system with ease before, but that was a far cry from a dungeon built in ancient times. At least the sewers had maps.
Seeing their doubtful expressions, I turned away with a faint smile tugging at my lips—a smile of satisfaction. At least I still had a distinct trait setting me apart from the others.
*
The dungeon’s interior was dim and composed of monotonous stone pathways.
In the game, the developers had brightened the interior for player convenience, but the reality was oppressively dark. Even with a full moon outside, no light seemed to penetrate the depths. Was that another magical effect?
By contrast, the relic in Bella’s hands emitted an even stronger glow, illuminating the area around us. It was eerily similar to its in-game depiction.
I considered telling the others to stick close but dismissed the idea. Their combat abilities far surpassed mine; there was no reason they couldn’t keep up.
Following the relic’s glow, we advanced deeper into the dungeon.
It didn’t take long before—
“Enemy—”
Bang!
Before Claire could finish reacting to the slime that appeared, I had already pulled the trigger.
Even without perfect aim, the shotgun’s fiery blast completely disintegrated the creature.
“……”
The others stared at me, mouths slightly agape, as I casually retrieved another shell from my side and reloaded with a deliberate click.
I had come prepared, after all. At least I knew the types of creatures that would appear here and their elemental weaknesses.
Feeling a flicker of pride deep within, I resumed moving forward at a measured pace.
*
“You’re amazing, big sis…”
…Hmm.
Maybe I overdid it a bit?
With almost no traps and monsters easily dispatched by my overpowered gear, the dungeon felt less like a challenge and more like a stroll. I’d only brought a pistol and shotgun, but given the slimes’ vulnerability to heat and magic, that was more than enough.
Mia Crowfield could have been a significant help here too, but convincing her to come would’ve been impossible. She’d made it clear she didn’t want to leave the casino, and dragging her out wouldn’t have sat right with me. Even if she’d come, showing her the depths of this dungeon would’ve been… awkward. I’d have probably left her with Charlotte instead.
“Hmph.”
As we reached what seemed to be the dungeon’s deepest chamber, Bella let out a curious hum. Her mask, with its blackened eye covers, hid her gaze, but I could tell her expression as she looked at me had subtly shifted.
“…This device.”
At the deepest part of the dungeon, just before the room containing the boss monster at the end of each section, there was an automatic recovery device.
In the game, this feature was more of a convenience than a logical element. The developers had likely realized how absurd it was for a merchant to be calmly standing right outside a boss room, so they opted instead for mysterious ancient devices powered by magic to serve the same function. These devices weren’t exclusive to this dungeon—they appeared in various places throughout the game. However, this was my first time encountering one since arriving in this world.
“It’s still operational.”
Alice said as she approached.
The device was a strange, spiral-shaped pillar, radiating a myriad of vivid, glowing colors.
As expected, it didn’t include the in-game shop functionality. It simply stood there, humming faintly with energy.
“…What is this device, really?”
Leo furrowed his brow as he examined it closely.
Only then did it hit me: No one in our party had been injured.
In a world where people die when shot, it applied fairly to other beasts and monsters as well. If a bullet could penetrate leather, it could kill a bear.
…And slimes, of course.
Thanks to my meticulous preparation, there had been almost no injuries along the way. That meant no one needed healing here, and none of them could fully appreciate the purpose of the device.
…Did I really overdo it?
For a moment, I thought so.