Chapter: 374
[Considering that what is written there was the archaic language used by the people of the Jushin Church, they wouldn't have taken the name of Lord Jushin lightly. It means that there is indeed something left by Jushin at that very end!]
Grandpa was all worked up and raised his voice, but I let it go in one ear and out the other.
Why did I come to this place?
Sure, it all started with the desire to pull a stunt on Lasha, but even if that hadn’t been the case, I would have ended up here. Since the Sloppy God gave me a quest to help the Second Queen with her regrets, I had no choice in the matter.
The influence of the Sloppy God was also present in the process that led the Second Queen to propose a deal to me. That guy wanted me to stand on the podium and spout nonsense. While I’ve been responsible for many subsequent events, it’s still true that the Sloppy God had a hand in all of it.
…The Sloppy God wanted me to look at that map. He wanted me to find what he had left behind.
Just looking at the quest window popped up tells me that. The Sloppy God is definitely hoping for me to get that treasure.
What the heck is waiting inside that led me here?
Even though the Sloppy God enjoys messing with me, he still acts like a proper god when it matters. The fact that he’s going through this much trouble means that whatever is waiting there must be substantial.
I can’t help but wonder what’s waiting there. I felt the corners of my mouth lifting as I waited for the conversation between Karia and Heyshan to wrap up.
The two were engaging in a heated discussion, pooling thoughts just as the adventurers causing a ruckus in the middle of the shop passed out from alcohol.
As the waitress muttered that she wished they would just die, Karia, who had organized several points in her notebook, turned to me and spoke up.
“Employer! You heard the conversation we had so far, right?”
‘Nope. Didn’t hear a thing.’
“Why would I have to listen to the gossip of a bunch of old hags? Of course I didn’t.”
Karia, who had gotten used to provoking with her Mesugaki skill recently, seemed slightly irritated this time.
But I stood my ground even in front of that anger. They should have explained in a way that even a newbie could understand. If they’re muttering in terms only they could comprehend, I can’t help but zone out.
“What were you doing, then?”
This time I couldn’t stand tall. It’s hard to admit that I was thinking about the items left behind by the Sloppy God.
Every man imagines themselves taking down a robber who burst into a bank, but no one wants others to catch on to that, right? It’s similar.
Still, I couldn’t stay silent, especially when Karia’s annoyance loomed large, so I pointed at a curvy character in the corner of the map.
‘Did you interpret this?’
“Interpreted this bizarre, unrecognizable script?”
“…You interpreted this? How?”
It seems the language from Grandpa’s era was genuine, as even Karia didn’t know it.
So, I casually mentioned the Sloppy God’s name for the first time in a while, saying the god had personally revealed the meaning of that script.
Even disregarding the context, the word “revelation”—being a cheat excuse that can be understood—nodded Karia.
“Lord Jushin personally left a miracle. It seems something incredible is waiting for us.”
In that way, I managed to hide my silly imagination while gaining a justification that I wasn’t just idle.
‘So…’
“So can you tell me the conclusions you reached while gossiping with the old hags? It’ll surely be sloppy, but it might still be useful.”
“Hmm. Let me explain from the beginning. If we look at this map…”
Karia smoothly began explaining in terms only she understood, and I gave up on grasping the process.
Right. What good will it do to understand the steps? Ultimately, if I get the answer right, I can pass the exam.
“So, we probably need to search this island thoroughly first.”
My island, huh? I roughly know the terrain over there. When completing Heyshan’s quest in the game, I had to scour the island like cleaning out a closet.
But among the regions I knew that had connections to the Sloppy God, none matched up. I can’t rule out the possibility that reality has changed from the game, yet it opens up too many scenarios.
Let’s trust the knowledge I have from the game and work from there. If I fail on the first island, I can adjust my thinking for the next one.
Hmm. Then it makes sense to search the areas that are inaccessible for now.
‘Karia…’
“Old maid. Don’t you have the detailed map for this damned island? Hand it over.”
Taking the map from Karia, I strained to recall my hazy memories of the game as I examined the island.
I can’t remember the precise paths, but I roughly recall the mini-map. If my memory serves me right, there should have been something here and here.
Yeah, I remember. People were in an uproar over DLC bait here. This has to be the spot.
After marking the map, I immediately stood up. What’s the point in dragging my feet? It’s better to deal with things quickly. I’d need to take the kids around the dungeon during the day, so I’d better get everything done at night.
It’s a bit of a bummer that I’ll have to see Arthur, who will be writhing in embarrassment later, but I can deal with that tomorrow morning.
“Are you heading out right away? Employer?”
‘Yeah. Is that a problem?’
“Why, old maid? Tired from getting old? Though if you don’t sleep, the wrinkles will increase.”
“Are you guessing something? Fine. Let’s go right away.”
As I looked at the map, my memories were blurry, but I naturally found the way with my eyes. I should go this way from here, right?
“Have you ever been to the archipelago, Lady Allen?”
Even on a night with a hazy moon, Heyshan was amazed by how I was finding my way naturally. She said that even long-time adventurers in this area wouldn’t manage this much.
I didn’t bother to explain it to her. It’s not like I could say I memorized the path since I’d passed through it countless times in the game.
Instead, my companion Karl shine like it was his ability and shared all kinds of stories with Heyshan.
“The young lady has had a remarkable talent for navigation since long ago. Both for outside paths and those in dungeons, you see.”
“Wow, really?”
“Yes. It’s from the days when I traveled with Young Lady.”
With the kind of people who could be friends with the short-tempered Second Queen, Heyshan didn’t dismiss Karl’s praise and listened intently.
As I walked, hearing the distorted version of my heroic tale from a Shoddy Dog’s perspective while letting out a chuckle, before I knew it, the destination was coming into view.
The entrance of a cave on the island’s outskirts. It looked like a place anyone could walk into, but in the game, this was an area I couldn’t enter.
“Ah. Is this the place?”
It seemed Heyshan had been here before, as she frowned. Karia urged her to explain.
“Do you know anything about this?”
“I do. I’ve checked all the suspicious spots since coming to this archipelago.”
“What’s so special about this cave? It looks like an ordinary cave.”
“From the outside, sure.”
Instead of explaining, Heyshan showed what was happening physically. As she tried to enter the cave, just like in the game, something invisible blocked her.
Seeing that, Karia tilted her head as she followed Heyshan, but the result was the same. The barrier at the cave entrance blocked everyone.
“What’s this? This is a style I’ve never seen before?”
“I also stayed here and tried various investigations but came up empty.”
While the two, accustomed to this sort of thing, were deep in thought, Karl drew out his sword.
“Let’s try to break through with force.”
“…Wait. No! Hold on!”
“Haah!”
Despite Karia’s protest, Karl raised his sword, igniting a blade of energy that matched his unique color.
Bang!
The single strike with power greater than what had shattered my defense in our duel smashed down at the cave entrance, yet the barrier stood firm.
It seemed he didn’t expect this outcome, as Karl bit his lip hard.
“Whoa. This is solid. I can’t seem to do it.”
“If you can’t, then I can’t either. Wow, with this much, doesn’t Lord Jushin need to come personally?”
“Hey, you clueless fools from Allen, shut up and stand back before you say something to your lord.”
Under Karia’s threat, the two knights obediently stepped back. The fools who thought strength would solve everything were left powerless against greater power.
“It definitely seems related to the divine. Should we bring someone from that side?”
[Young Lady.]
As Karia kept muttering to herself, Grandpa spoke up.
‘Why?’
[You might be able to get through.]
‘Is this a format you know, Grandpa?’
[Not really, but... Hmm. Yeah. It’s a hero's intuition.]
His tone was definitely hiding something, but I didn’t pry into it. I knew that digging further would only just frustrate me more.
Instead, I stepped past the others to where the cave stood and placed my hand where a barrier was expected. Then, my hand passed through the void and entered the cave.
The same went for any other part of my body. The barrier that had rejected Karl’s strongest attack accepted me as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
As it kept going back and forth in wonder, Karia stared at me blankly before finally speaking up.
“Employer, what on earth did you just do?”
‘Well, I don’t know?’
“Don’t know? Unlike your ugly companions, I’m cute, so shouldn’t I be fine?”
“I guess you just don’t know. Wait a moment. I need to run a few tests.”
After that, under Karia’s lead, we conducted various tests, but all they proved was that only I could enter the cave.
Of course, this wasn’t a problem for me. Since it was a place that the Sloppy God had prepared for me, there couldn’t possibly be an insurmountable trial inside.
“It won’t do! Young Lady! What if something’s in there? I can’t possibly let you go in alone!”
“Why are you barking when you can’t even get past the barrier? ♡ If you can’t do anything, just guard the entrance. Shoddy Dog ♡”
“But! But!”
While Karl was at a loss for words due to the factual assault, Karia approached me and handed me various items from her Space Pocket. Things like potions, protective necklaces, and magically inscribed scrolls.
“Though I’m sure you’ll handle it fine, just in case, listen to me. If it feels dangerous, withdraw. Got it?”
‘Don’t worry about it.’
“Puhahha! You really have wide boundaries. Instead of worrying about me, why don’t you think about how to kidnap a husband?”
Even without Karia’s warning, I had no intention of recklessly taking risks. This world isn’t a game, and I have only one life. While it’s true that I’m starving for new content, I’m not crazy enough to gamble my life.
Waving my hand to reassure everyone except Karl, I produced light through Divine Magic and headed into the cave.
How long did I walk through an empty cave aimlessly? When I reached the end of the path, I discovered the entrance to a dungeon.
Unlike the dungeon entrances created by the Evil God, this one gave off no ominous feelings, which made me lift the corners of my mouth.
This was a format even I, the sludge, hadn’t seen before. Was it really a dungeon made directly by the Sloppy God and not the Evil God?
How exciting. I wonder what’s waiting inside. Just as I opened the dungeon door, filled with excitement for new content.
“Puhahah!”
I burst into laughter uncontrollably.
<...Young Lady, why are you laughing? What’s happening?>
Even to Grandpa’s worried voice, I couldn’t respond. I couldn’t find the words to express the scene unfolding before me.
Puhuh. Puhahah.
…
Sigh.
Damn it.
I’ve cleared this dungeon before.
It wasn’t in the main game, but I had been here while doing various mode dungeons in Soul Academy.
Hey.
Sloppy God.
Were you the f*cking master of those wretched modes?
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