CH 16

Chapter 16: Dungeon this way →

The dungeon…..is to the right?

……...a dungeon isー

In any Isekai Fantasy World, having Dungeons around is normal. And in this world, there are of course Dungeons.

The Monsters inside of a Dungeon, and the Monsters that live above ground are similar but different.

The Monsters above ground will mate with one another to grow in numbers versus the Dungeon Monsters are born from the Dungeon walls.

It’s something I picked up from books, so it’s hard to believe but…

Ain: “There’s a Dungeon here?” Sia: “Uu, UUuuuuuu”

Ain: “Then that town must have been prosperous because of this Dungeon then.”

The corpses of the Monsters above ground will not disappear after you kill them. But you can harvest the corpses to get materials.

The Monsters inside a Dungeon apparently turn into light and disappear. When they disappear, they drop items and materials like a game.

Even if it’s the same type of Monster, it’s said that the quality of Dungeon Monster drops are much better. That’s why there are Adventurers who make a living off hunting Monsters inside Dungeons. And there is an [Adventurers Guild] that manages these Adventurers.

But the Dungeons in this world were slightly different from the Light Novels and games that I used to play.

Ain: “But why did this island become deserted then? If the Dungeon was alive…...then they could keep getting profits from it, no?” Sia: “AUUuuー?”

Ain: “Was there something that happened and did it……….die?” It may sound strange to say if a Dungeon is alive or dead, but that’s how Monsters are born from the Dungeon walls.

All Dungeons have a Boss on the very bottom floor, and in that Boss’ room, there is a [Dungeon Core].

If you destroy this Core, the Dungeon will die, and Monsters will no longer be born, and the Boss will not appear again.

If you destroy the rest of the Monsters, then it becomes just a giant cave.

If a town prospers from gaining materials from Dungeons, once that resource is gone, they will usually become abandoned towns.

But normally, no one would go around destroying Cores. Even Adventurers prefer to have a source of income rather than lose their livelihood entirely.

But there are good reasons for destroying a Core as well.

If a Dungeon suddenly sprouts up next to a town’s main road, Capital, or town, or if it pops up next to farmlands, sometimes, they will opt to destroy the Core.

When a Dungeon is created, the Monsters' Essence that floods out from the entrance to the surface will draw the above ground Monsters to it.

They have to consider the people’s safety when destroying a Core.

But if a Dungeon appears far away from human civilization, they usually build facilities catered to Adventurers around that area.

Ain: “I guess for this island, any place that would be farther away from the Dungeon would be right atop of the sea, so I guess that’s why the town is so close.”

A Dungeon huh…..that tickles my curiosity. I really want to go inside and take a look around.

Sia: “UA”

Ain: “Hm? HMMMMMー!”

Sia raised her voice and pointed. In the direction she pointed, there was something white and very fluffy moving around.

A Mountain Goat…..? No, it’s too fluffy. Then it may be a sheep?!

Ain: “Sia, we’ll take it alive.” Sia: “GAUu”

Ain: “When you answer, it’s ‘yes’ or ‘yeahー”. I taught you those words, right?”

Sia: “GAOー”

I guess we have a long way to go…..

Ain: “Okay, let’s get as close as we can without scaring it.”

Sia: “Uu”

Sia starts descending down the slanted slopes. I wonder if she plans to approach it from below?

I felt some wind blow from the top of the mountain towards us. I see. So she wants to be downwind.

We carefully….very carefully approach them without being noticed……..oh.

Ain: “That…..those are Horned Sheepoos.”

Sia: “Uoooーpoo?”

Ain: “They are Monsters. But they are comparatively more peaceful in personality, and they can be domesticated and raised on farms too.”

The wool of a Sheepoo is much softer than sheep, and they can retain more heat. On top of that, they are more durable as well, so they are used as materials for armor often.

If we have their wool, we can make sheep wool blankets too!

Ain: “So, now the question is how we’re going to capture it.”

Sia: “Uuu”

[Unbeeeeehhh]

Hm? Ain: “Sia, did you just make that funny sound? Sia shakes her head, and then her expression saddenly hardens in surprise.

[Unbehhhー]

Ain: “Hm?”

I heard the voice from behind me.

I turn around.

[Unbehhhhhー]

There, I saw a very fluffy face.

Ain: “AHHHHーー?!?!”

Sia: “GRRRRRRRRR”

[Unbehー]

HUGE! IT’S REALLY HUGE!!

Horned Sheepoos are already twice the size of normal sheep, but this one is one size bigger!!

Ain: “HーHorned Sheepoo!”

We were trying to approach them from downwind, and this one snuck up on us from even further downwind?!

This one…..he’s pretty smart.

Ain: “ThーThey have a calm personality, right? Look, we’re not here to hurt you. We just want some of your wool and milk.”

[Unbehhhhhーーー]

It’s kicking up dirt on the ground, and no matter how you look at it, it seems angry!

Ain: “I mean it! I won’t hurt you guys! In order for us to live, we need your wool and milk for certain!”

Sia: “GAU-GAU. AUUuu, GAU-AOOoo”

[Unbeh. Unbeh-beh]

……..Sia and the Horned Sheepoo began speaking to one another. Can the Beast Race understand Monster language?

They spoke for a while, and once they reached a certain point in the conversation, the Sheepoo pointed its nose at me.

It sniffed a few times to confirm my smell.

Mーmy smell……..

[UNBEHHHHHHHH!!]

Ain: “Ohhhh, sorry. Since we arrived at the island ー actually, since we came to that inn, we haven’t bathed once.”

It’s making a really disgusted face. I smell so bad even Monsters don’t want to come near me……

[UNGEEHH]

Ain: “Look, I’m sorry…...from tomorrow on, we’ll make a bath and wash ourselves clean so…”

[UNBEH…...UNBEH!]

Sia: “GAU? AH”

Whーwhat now?! What does it want now?

Sia grabs a bag off my backpack. She pulls out the carrot sticks I had for dessert, and she gives it to the Sheepoo.

[UNBEHH～]

I don’t really get it, but I think it was extremely happy just now.

Ain: “Hey, do you like carrots?”

[UNBEEEHHH～]

It’s eating it so happily.

Ain: “If you like carrots, we have more. We don’t have a lot, but we should have enough to give to you and the Sheepoo over there.”

[UNBEH! UNBEHHHHHー]

The Horned Sheepoo lets out a loud cry and then…

[UNBEHー] [UNBENBEHHー] [UNBEHー] [UNBEHーBEHー]

The Sheepoos that were above wind suddenly came rushing down towards us at great speeds.