Mr Devourer, Please Act Like a Final Boss

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Chapter 23

From the count’s castle to the Primordial Core.

The short journey took less than a day.

Led by Niphrim, the 31 members of the Paimour Raid Force came to a halt only when the sun, led by Niphrim, reached beyond the horizon, leaving a faint trace.

A massive cave in front of them captivated everyone’s attention. Although it appeared to be an ordinary large cave, it emanated an enormous sense of oppression, enough to engulf most of the expedition force even though it was far from them.

A conspicuous sign hung by the cave entrance caught their eyes. The graffiti, roughly written in red ink on a description of the Primordial Core, seemed like a curse. The red ink represented the blood of livestock. Regardless of whose prank it was, there was nothing more effective in escalating fear.

“Niphrim, Niphrim! Look at this. They say no one who entered this cave has survived. If you die here, your soul corrupts, wandering the underworld for the rest of your life. Should we just turn back now? Should we?”

“Don’t act like a fool.”

“Come on, it’s just a joke! Even if we go back now, dying is inevitable. What’s there to be afraid of anymore?”

Niphrim shot a sharp look at Sylvia, who was unnecessarily making a fuss. No expedition members seemed swayed by Sylvia’s antics. Judging that lingering at the entrance was not a good option, Niphrim promptly headed into the cave.

It didn’t take long for the expedition force to reach the Primordial Core from the Earl’s castle.

As Niphrim led the 31 members of the Paimour Raid Force, they stopped only when the midday sun, hidden beyond the horizon, cast a long shadow.

The enormous cave in front of them captured everyone’s attention. Though it seemed like an ordinary large cave from the outside, it emanated a massive sense of intimidation, enough to engulf most of the expedition force even though it was far away.

A conspicuous sign hung by the cave entrance caught their eyes. The graffiti, roughly written in red ink on a description of the Primordial Core, seemed like a curse. The red ink represented the blood of livestock. Regardless of whose prank it was, there was nothing more effective in escalating fear.

“Niphrim, Niphrim! Look at this. They say no one who entered this cave has survived. If you die here, your soul corrupts, wandering the underworld for the rest of your life. Should we just turn back now? Should we?”

“Don’t act like a fool.”

“Come on, it’s just a joke! Even if we go back now, dying is inevitable. What’s there to be afraid of anymore?”

Niphrim shot a sharp look at Sylvia, who was unnecessarily making a fuss. No expeditionary members seemed swayed by Sylvia’s antics. Judging that lingering at the entrance was not a good option, Niphrim promptly headed into the cave.

Upon entering the cave, a room much larger than the entrance greeted the expedition force. The steep path descending from the entrance continued endlessly. The slippery slope gradually flattened as it descended about three levels deep. The dungeon, much larger than an ordinary cavern and therefore creating vague fear for those who imagined the Core arbitrarily, could be aptly called an underground world rather than an underground dungeon.

Although the slope’s angle made the interior slightly darker, it wasn’t pitch-black, thanks to the artificial lantern crafted by Sylvia, illuminating the interior brightly. It was a space larger than a dungeon room, each room forming a complete ecosystem for monsters.

“According to the information, this is the first room. I don’t see any living monsters… or do I?”

“Don’t judge based on incomplete information. Sylvia, any signs of life?”

“Wait a moment… I don’t sense any activity nearby.”

“It seems like it hasn’t regenerated yet.”

The voice echoed faintly. The room was so quiet that it gave the illusion that the dormant creatures in the cave were about to awaken. Niphrim casually scanned the surroundings. The room was indeed spacious, but there was no sound. Something crunched under the foot of one of the expedition force members as they cautiously walked. The member drew their sword with a surprised exclamation.

What the expedition force member stepped on was a demon-shaped corpse torn into two by an ambush—a monster called “Glacia,” with a strange appearance and claws that could crush rocks, once even referred to as a reaper.

“So, Glacia is in the first room… Indeed, it’s the 7th-layer dungeon.”

The member, who was initially startled and about to fall backward, nonchalantly muttered. The information that Glacia inhabited the first room was obtained beforehand, but the realization only sank in after seeing it, causing shivers in their flesh.

“There are probably around 50 to 60 of them. These kinds of monsters seem to be overflowing.”

Niphrim’s anecdote, mixed with mischief, echoed through the cave. Except for Niphrim and Monk, everyone’s shoulders tensed.

“Cowards. Don’t be scared of something so trivial. The fact that regeneration hasn’t occurred here yet means other rooms haven’t regenerated either. It’s good news.”

The most basic structure of a dungeon. The first room’s monster is usually weak.

The investigation revealed that the Primordial Core was no different. Even the fastest-regenerating first room hadn’t recovered yet, indicating that the path to the boss room in the current Primordial Core was empty. Of course, there would be “Blade Maid Renee” and “Death Knight Patrick” guarding the three branching paths, but choosing the route devoid of those two gatekeepers was the obvious choice.

The tentacle that guarded the path to the sewage system had already been killed by the Hishutalt expedition force.

Niphrim led the expedition force without encountering any monsters.

After crossing a short passage, the second room finally came into view. The size of the room was similar to the first. Although a nauseating smell wafted through the air, it was refreshing compared to the stench in the first room. The quiet sighs of a few members could be heard as if breathing became easier. Ignoring the trivial reactions of the members, Niphrim continued forward.

The structure was generally chaotic. Irregularly arranged and irregularly shaped stone pillars rose on all sides. Some of them were neatly cut. From the blackened traces on the ground to the colossal stone pillars connecting the floor and ceiling, signs of fierce battles were prevalent. Unlike the first room, no light penetrated, making it pitch dark without a lantern. Niphrim’s casual remark echoed in the cave with mischievousness. The shoulders of everyone, except Niphrim and Monk, hunched.

“What’s happening, Niphrim…? Something feels off.”

Sylvia held her staff tightly against her chest as she inquired. Niphrim, leading the way, remained silent and continued walking with determination. Relying on Sylvia’s magical lantern, the expedition force followed closely behind.

It was only about halfway through the shortest route to the next room that Niphrim finally stopped.

“Well, what do you all think?”

Seemingly a random question, but everyone, including Sylvia, understood the intention behind it.

This expedition force, under the renowned dungeon investor Paimour, though not numerous, was well-prepared under the banner of Paimour’s name. Naturally, they had ample information about the Primordial Core, and in the days leading up to this expedition, they thoroughly familiarized themselves with information about the Core. The entity that should be in the second room is the corrupted and decayed fairy, the Murder Fairy. A monster that takes several weeks for its corpse to fully decay. So, the second room should be filled with the corpses of Murder Fairies.

Of course, those expected corpses were missing.

The fact that someone cleared them away implies that the culprit wasn’t the Hishutalt expedition force, who recently visited. So, the culprit must be a monster—more precisely, an intelligent one. Why would someone clear away the corpses?

“Is it stupidity, or deception?”

Niphrim shouted ahead.

In response, echoing back was a voice.

“Of course, I’d like to say it’s the latter, but unfortunately, I’m not deceiving anyone. I just tidied up because it’s unpleasant to see the mess everywhere. I even cleaned up in anticipation of guests, so it’s disheartening to be scolded.”

“Sylvia, investigate properly.”

Awaiting Niphrim’s command, Sylvia cast the Lesser Magic
, and a radiant sphere floated into the sky.

Like a compressed artificial sun, the luminous sphere rose into the sky, scattering light in all directions. Incomparable to the lantern from before, the brightness illuminated the entire front of the previously dark second room. Only now, with the radiant light completely dispelling the shadows that concealed the monster, did Niphrim speak.

“Ah, it’s blinding.”

The sound of bones colliding mixed seamlessly with the voice. The hand holding the massive greatsword was a skeletal joint. The eye sockets looking down on the expedition force were eerily empty. As the brighter light revealed the monster sitting leisurely on the neatly cut stalactite, Niphrim spoke.

“Skeleton… You’re Patrick.”

“Well, it’s an honor to be recognized. I even prepared an introduction in case someone said, ‘Who is this guy?’ but all that effort went down the drain. Thanks a lot, you damn bastards. Now, I can’t even use the carefully crafted entrance lines I’ve been working on all day.”

Patrick sighed.

“Well, anyway, thanks for going through the trouble of coming all the way to this humble place without even being summoned. Nice to meet you all.”

Instead of a response, the sound of blades being scratched against scabbards echoed from various places. Patrick observed the expedition force with a gleeful expression.

Except for Niphrim, everyone had their weapons drawn and was adjusting their formation. From lightly gripped short swords to true two-handers – considering the guys who were scared stiff, their stance of holding weapons was surprisingly convincing.

“The reactions are quite fierce. First, everyone relax, and put your weapons away. The lady there, put away the staff, and the unarmed lady, put away your fists… Huh, does that sound a bit odd?”

“Rumors say the dead don’t have a lot to say, but I guess you weren’t one of them.”

“Even in death, I guess you can’t stop talking. What’s with this incessant chatter? There’s a saying that the sword speaks with the sword, but… it’s not as easy as it sounds. Unless it’s a genuinely talking cursed sword, you know.”

“Haha, you’re quite inexperienced. Non-stop talking is like begging for someone to tell you to shut up. If the Gatekeeper leaves his post and comes out to the second room, what do you think I’d be thinking? Even if a skeleton rolls its head, isn’t this the limit? I’ll make a guess. Everyone here, wiped out by the 5th room, right? Now, all that’s left is you, the Gatekeeper, Holmunculus, and Devourer. Am I right?”

“You shameless guy. Talking so casually about dying under the attack of millions of skeletons on the entire continent. And by the way, what’s with your tightly packed head; it’s like you’re begging to stop thinking. If the Gatekeeper leaves his post and comes out to the 2nd room, what do you think I’d be thinking? Is it possible for a skeleton to strategize? Let me guess. Wipe out everyone here up to the 5th room, right? Well then, Devourer, you’re the only one left, right?”

“I’ve heard that the great detective has an overflowing brain full of thoughts. But that’s not the case; it’s not that I was hiding it, and it’s not that there are three of us. I’m the only one left; they all went on vacation. Oh, I feel like tears are coming suddenly. Even though I don’t have tear ducts.”

“Ah, of course, now that you’ve heard this fact, you won’t be able to live even if you go back.”

That’s what Patrick said, scratching his chin with a sarcastic pose. Hearing Patrick’s words, Niphrim furrowed his brow slightly.

“Moreover, I have quite a few things I’d like to ask all of you. Thanks to my own sources, I know that you came to this dungeon with Paimour’s support as dungeon investors. However, the Paimour I know is a coward. Whenever he sends an expedition force to A-rank or higher dungeons, he always deploys over 50 personnel. Now, count your heads. How about it? Isn’t it strange? So, with my empty head, I’m speculating that ‘perhaps Paimour only lent his name.’ In reality, I’m wondering if there’s another force behind it.”

“You talk too much. I guess I’ll just have to kill you.”

“Shall I knock you out after the execution? Or should I make you unconscious and then knock you out?”

With the end of Patrick’s speech, he stood up. With a frightening stretch, the massive blade descended on Patrick. Still moving leisurely, Patrick, after evading the blade, picked up the lying sword with one hand. Tanabella’s guard headed towards the expedition force.

After dodging the blade and leaning to the side,

Clang!

The sound of swords clashing echoed.

“You lack manners. Not even giving me time to catch my breath.”

**