"Oh, you guys are back."
"Bors, how are the adventurers here holding up?" Finn asked.
"Hahaha, can you believe it? Not a single death after the attack. There were a few injuries, but non life-threatening," Bors replied, his voice full of excitement.
It was truly a miracle that no adventurers had died despite being caught off guard. In a normal situation, at least a fifth of them would have perished, even with the presence of the Loki Familia.
"No one died? Are you sure, old man?" Tiona asked skeptically.
"I'm not old! We counted every person present in Rivira during the gathering. Except for those who ran away-the mage and his companion-no one's missing. Hey Finn, who was that mage? I've never heard of him before."
"Just someone I happened to meet," Finn replied, his gaze shifting towards the 17th floor.
"Now, Bors, gather everyone. We'll help with the evacuation back to the surface," Finn ordered.
"Alright, I'll do it right away." Bors quickly left, while the members of the Loki Familia prepared to assist people in moving their belongings.
'This is going to be a complicated issue to handle,' Finn thought. 'Cleaning up this mess and reporting to the Guild is going to be exhausting. And that red-haired beast tamer... her knowledge about Aiz's mother is still a mystery.'
"Hey, Finn." A voice interrupted his thoughts. Riveria was sitting nearby, watching him intently.
"Are the recent issues bothering you?"
"Yes. But don't worry, we'll deal with that when we reach the surface. You want to ask about Accelerator, don't you?"
"You can't hide anything from me," Riveria smiled. "Yes, I want to ask about that mage. Do you know him?"
Finn smiled faintly. "Not really. Recently, Loki asked me to investigate him." The curiosity about a mage's magic was only natural.
"So, what have you found?" Riveria asked, her expression turning serious.
"Actually, there's nothing particularly special about him. The only surprising thing is that he hasn't joined any Familia and doesn't have a Falna," Finn said calmly.
Riveria was clearly surprised. "No Falna? So he hasn't joined any Familia since arriving in the city?"
"No, he hasn't joined any Familia. He only arrived in the city recently. Don't tell me you think he went from level 1 to level 5 overnight," Finn teased, standing up from his seat.
"But that kind of power, without being in a Familia..." Riveria stood up, following Finn.
"Hahaha... I don't know." Finn looked up, seeing that everyone was ready. "We'll figure that out when we return to the mansion."
...
It's been some time since Accelerator returned to Orario. The dungeon exploration work to repay his debts continued as usual. Recently, he reached the 27th floor, and the giant waterfalls inside the dungeon left him in awe. After thoroughly inspecting it, he found the water to be completely ordinary. Whether the water was created by the Dungeon itself or came from underground springs remains a mystery. He wondered where the water flows to, as the lower floors were completely dry.
The research on finding a way home hadn't made much progress. Holding a round orb in his hand, inside it was something like a strange crack that constantly shifted its form. This was the rift of chaos, a bizarre energy region that always changes, where reality and chaos intersect.
'It's so hard to control this.' Even with vector manipulation, he could barely grasp it after all these years. Letting out a sigh, he quietly placed it carefully back into the black box.
Some other things had happened at the tavern recently: Ayla decided to live at the tavern with Chloe and had become an official staff member of the Hostess of Fertility. He spent an entire afternoon warning the perverted adventurers about what would happen if they dared to touch her. After that, Ayla and Chloe kicked him out of the tavern amidst Qliphap's laughter.
So now, the house only had him and Qliphap living together. It was peaceful, without the child causing chaos anymore. He was back to the days of old once again.
"Good."
This was fine. It was always what he wanted. The child could live independently with others in this world. But it felt a bit empty.
Still, Chloe and Ayla occasionally came by his house when they had free time. It was annoying when Chloe started asking about the functions of every modern item in his house. Both of them were fascinated when they heard stories about his old family. He told her some information about his former family: Last Order, Worst, an annoying parent, and a sloth. Those were just memories with his old family that had nothing to do with the dark past he had with them.
That was truly one of the few times he felt comfortable.
Quietly closing his journal and tidying up the research notes scattered around, he stepped out of the underground room. The black boxes of A.A.A were strewn about as he walked past them. The most important components of the weapon would be crafted by him personally; he wouldn't let his technology be revealed to this world.
"Aneri, clean them up."
"Yes, Master."
He stepped into an empty room, where a giant magic circle lay at the center. Stepping into the middle of the circle, he activated the spell.
"Kefitzat Haderech."
With a blinding flash of light, in the blink of an eye, he appeared back in the basement of the rundown wooden house. He opened the door and quickly returned to his home. "Kefitzat Haderech" was not just a simple teleportation spell. It encompassed his research on various spatial transportation methods, from warping space between two points, 11-dimensional instant travel, traveling between dimensions and timelines, to even twisting the entire world... All forms of teleportation magic he discovered were condensed into this. A futile effort, but one he couldn't abandon.
Who knows when he would find a way back to his world? Accelerator rubbed his head with a sigh. His head ached after many sleepless nights. The dark circles under his eyes were heavy, but he still stood up and walked into the kitchen. Drinking the coffee he made himself, he glanced at the watch on his wrist.
It was nearly dawn. He returned to the living room and started preparing his gear for today's expedition.
Qliphap emerged from her room, her face drowsy. Wait. Did she need to sleep? Not keeping him waiting, Qliphap quickly transformed into the familiar black cat form.
"I thought you hated this form."
"I did at first. But then I realized being a cat isn't so bad. Being able to stay with Master directly is a worthy trade." She said while grooming her fur. It seemed she had grown accustomed to this form. Fortunately, she had stopped making those annoying noises when transforming into a cat. It made communicating with her via telepathy less of a headache. Donning his red and black coat, he and Qliphap set out for the Dungeon once more.
As Accelerator made his way down the wide hallway, he overheard some adventurers discussing something about the Sword Princess. That wasn't his concern.
He ran into Misha on his way to the bulletin board. A brief exchange of words took place. Luckily, she mentioned that the Loki Familia had stopped seeking information about him. But that also meant they had found out enough. After bidding her farewell, he returned to check the board for any intriguing leads.
Scanning the board again, an old quest caught his attention.
"The singing in the Dungeon quest still hasn't been resolved." Looking at the quest he had previously ignored, Accelerator created a copy of it in his hand. This time, he was determined to solve it. Solving mysteries had become a new source of entertainment for him, helping clear his mind after complex research. Now he understood how Yoshikawa must have felt, focusing on trivial things during her free time.
"Meow..." Qliphap, perched on his shoulder, mewed as she reached her paw towards another notice.
"Investigate the mysterious mist monster on the 12th floor. Isn't this..." The notice explained that occasionally, the mist on the 12th floor would thicken more than usual, followed by the sounds of monsters being torn apart before it vanished once more.
He and Qliphap exchanged a glance, both already guessing what had happened. His magic certainly couldn't have lasted this long. The monster's continued existence was likely due to the dungeon's unusual state. The mist was an automated magic based on the Bandersnatch monster. The magical formula had been programmed like the beast, continuing to function as long as there was magical energy. It had probably been consuming magic stones to survive. With its mist-like nature, the stone consumption was slow, which was why the monster only appeared occasionally.
Rushing to the 12th floor, he and Qliphap focused on detecting magical reactions around them. Since the magic needed to consume stones to continue existing, a large amount of them would be gathered in a hidden spot. Given that Bandersnatch was often described as a jaguar- or lion-like creature, it would likely hide in shadowy corners along the walls.
'There it is.'
Behind a rocky outcrop, he felt immense energy flowing in that direction. The mist grew heavier and denser with each step he took. Sensing movement around him, Accelerator stopped as the mist began to disperse.
'Is it hiding?' That must be why it had continuously evaded the adventurers. Due to the mist's scattered nature, he couldn't capture it with vector manipulation. Quickly taking out some magic stones, he inscribed runes from his own world onto them. Throwing the stones into the mist, he chanted a spell.
"Ansuz, Thurisaz, Isa. Reveal your form to the knowledge of mankind."
The magic stones glowed, sending a wave of power through the mist. Slowly, the mist condensed into a fixed shape. It resembled a lion with a pure white mane. Its face was slightly flattened, with a wide mouth filled with sharp rows of teeth and a long tongue. Its body had faint gray spots in some places, and its long tail ended in a sharp tip. It seemed to have been blended with bits of various legends.
The creature stood over two meters tall, even on all fours. Altogether, it formed a terrifying monster for any rookie adventurer-if it hadn't shrunk back and tried to escape.
"Meow..." Qliphap jumped off his shoulder and approached the monster. The creature shook its body violently. It seemed like it wanted to dissolve back into mist but was unsuccessful.
"Meow. Meow. Meow." The monster stopped, as if it understood Qliphap. This showed it had developed a certain level of intelligence, like an AI program that consumed information around it to grow smarter.
"Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow. Meow." The conversation grew more lively. Since Qliphap wasn't using telepathy with him, Accelerator could only stand there and wait. It felt like reading a book printed entirely with "Meow" inside.
After a while, Qliphap jumped back onto his shoulder, lazily lying there. The mist monster slowly approached him as well.
"What did you say to it?"
"Nehehe... I just told it that you're the one who created it and gave a little introduction about you." The mist creature tried to lick him, but its unstable body dissolved when it came into contact with the reflection. It immediately jumped back, trying to keep its distance from him.
Feeling tired of the situation, Accelerator pointed his staff at the creature. The beast flinched in fear, expecting an attack. No offensive magic was cast. Instead, the creature looked up in surprise as it sensed energy flowing into its body. Accelerator was feeding mana to the creature.
"You need mana to survive, right?" The creature nodded in agreement. Seeing that he didn't pose any danger, it cautiously approached him.
"I'm the one who created you, so I'll take responsibility for looking after you." Accelerator raised his hand and 'touched' the creature's head.
"If you don't have a name, it will be inconvenient. From now on, I'll call you Bandersnatch." The creature seemed delighted with the name. Meanwhile, Qliphap squirmed on my shoulder.
"Nehehe... Master's really lazy when it comes to naming things."
"That was its name from the start," he replied.
"Nehehe... But it's too long. From now on, we'll just call you Ban, okay?" The creature nodded, showing its approval. Accelerator looked at Qliphap with disdain. Didn't she just shorten the name he gave?
"Nehehe... But carrying around mist or even the creature itself seems a bit inconvenient, doesn't it? Leave it to me, Master." Qliphap hopped off his shoulder and approached the creature. She seemed to be casting some kind of spell. After a moment, Ban transformed into a white left glove. Qliphap bit it and climbed back onto his shoulder.
"Nehehe... How do you like it, Master?"
"You just wanted to see me wear a glove, didn't you?" Complaining wouldn't help since Ban seemed comfortable with the situation. After making a few adjustments to Bandersnatch's magic, allowing it to sustain itself by absorbing mana from the environment, he put the glove on his left hand and walked away.
...
Accelerator walked along a path filled with vegetation. Floors 19 through 24 were called the Great Tree Labyrinth. The walls, ground, and ceiling were made of wood, making it look like the interior of a gigantic tree. Instead of glowing lights, luminous moss grew across the floor, emitting a faint green glow. The diversity of plants on these floors often provided ingredients used for crafting healing items, leading to many resource-gathering quests in the area.
The twentieth floor was an overwhelming green labyrinth, leaving adventurers in awe as they walked through its hallways. Their faces were illuminated by the dreamy, steady green glow emanating from the moss-covered walls.
The monsters here were more varied. One such creature stood in front of him, known as a lizardman. Standing upright and wielding weapons in both hands, two of them attacked like adventurers. The lizardmen were wielding "terrain"-natural weapons supplied by the Dungeon. These metallic flowers grew straight out of the Dungeon's walls. Plucking the flower stem produced a round shield with a diameter of 50 celch. Moreover, each petal could be individually detached from the flower, becoming wide daggers like swords, deserving the nickname "cutters."
The natural weapons he had encountered so far included root clubs and stone tomahawks, but this was the first set of equipment that provided monsters with attack and defense capabilities equivalent to adventurers' swords and shields.
These weapons were proof that the Dungeon was constantly evolving and adapting. The lizardman lunged at him, but Accelerator dodged with subtle movements. He quickly disabled his opponent: stepping on its sword handle, blocking the shield with his left hand, and, with a powerful punch from his right, he pierced the lizard's chest, taking it down in an instant. Though victorious, he realized he still relied more on strength than technique.
'I'm still using strength more than technique,' he reflected. Indeed, without vector manipulation, his foot would never have been able to pin down the monster's sword. He pondered, realizing he hadn't made much progress in combat skills.
He had developed an interest in martial arts after seeing warriors fight on the battlefield during a festival. It had become an enjoyable way for him to relax.
'Should I ask Chloe for help?' he wondered.
For martial arts, hands-on training would be far more beneficial than learning from books. That could quickly improve his skills. Feeling that there was no further benefit to training here, he swiftly slaughtered the remaining monsters.
Reaching the center of the twentieth floor, Accelerator stood still, observing the surrounding landscape. This floor was a massive tree labyrinth overflowing with plant life. Its walls were covered in bark, with vines and mushrooms growing everywhere. He could feel vibrations in the air, a sound coming from deep within the Dungeon.
The Dungeon was an immensely vast place. Maps drawn were based on adventurers' explorations inside. Therefore, there existed places called "Frontiers," unexplored and undiscovered areas of the Dungeon. The Dungeon was too vast to map completely. People often overlooked branching paths in the endless void during their exploration of the Dungeon. He passed through dense, overgrown roots, climbed a hill, and pushed through lush shrubbery.
Until, finally... He arrived at a rectangular room, about ten meters wide, with a ceiling made of plaster. Bark covered the walls and ceiling, just like every room he had passed through, and all were carpeted with luminous moss. Green grass and various small white rings combined into flower beds rising from the floor like a patchwork garden. However, that wasn't what caught his attention first.
Quartz... Perhaps because a storage area was nearby, deep green quartz crystals, resembling emeralds, protruded from the floor, walls, and ceiling in every direction.
He could hear a clear and steady melody, forming a tune that evoked the image of the ocean under a quiet night sky. Stepping deeper into the cave, he found a beautiful quartz block. At first glance, it seemed like a solid mass... but then he spotted a faint void between the crystals. The song had grown louder, to the point that even the quartz was vibrating lightly to the rhythm.
He lightly flicked his fingers at it. The quartz shattered into fragments, crumbling like glass, revealing a hollow in the wall. He stepped through it as the crystal quickly closed behind him. The song vanished, as though it had fulfilled its purpose.
The quartz had served as both a guide and a warning to someone inside that there was an intruder. Worried that what he was searching for might flee, he called out:
"Qliphap, Ban, scatter and search. Remember, don't kill anything you find."
The left glove quickly turned into mist and dispersed. Qliphap faded from the physical world. Accelerator continued down the path, expanding his vector manipulation to search for any clues around.
...
Hurried footsteps echoed, distinctly different from those of humans running. A Lizardman with a worried expression glanced toward the cave's entrance. Holding a crystal in his hand, he spoke into it.
"Ranye, how's the evacuation going?"
A feminine voice responded from the other side.
"Everyone's evacuating. No issues so far. Damn it, this is all because of you, Ray-always singing nonsense."
A Siren beside him lowered her head apologetically and replied in a gloomy tone.
"I'm sorry for that. I just didn't expect not to detect the intruder until he destroyed the quartz."
"Keep evacuating. We'll monitor his movements," the Lizardman said into the crystal.
"Understood."
He disconnected the orb and immediately turned to Ray beside him.
"Does Fels have any information about this?"
"Fels said it's an adventurer investigating the mysterious singing in the Dungeon. As for details about this person, there are many inconsistencies. He shouldn't have been able to get this deep. It seems he's hiding his true strength. Fels is trying to learn more but hasn't found anything yet. Since it was unexpected, Fels is heading here as fast as possible," Ray replied in a hurried tone.
A grumbling voice came from nearby.
"Do we really have to run? Can't we just take him out?"
"Gros, we can't do that. We're not sure he's an enemy. If we do, we'll never be able to live in peace with humans. Plus, our agreement with Fels might collapse," Ray tried to calm her colleague's frustration.
"Ray, for years hunters have been killing our kind. How can you be so sure we can live peacefully with humans?"
"I..." Ray was overwhelmed by Gros's logic. He gave her no chance to think of a response.
"I don't trust him. We can't be sure if he's a curious adventurer or a hunter stalking us. Taking him down is the safest option," Gros said, his anger flaring.
"Gros-"
"That's enough, Gros," the Lizardman intervened before things escalated. "If he's not dangerous, we'll knock him out and let Fels handle it."
"And if he is dangerous, Lyd?" the Siren asked worriedly.
"Then we'll kill him," Lyd replied, gripping his weapon tightly to show his resolve.
From deep within the cave's darkness came a sound: Clang, step. Clang, step. Clang, step. The rhythm alternated between the steps of a human and a cane. All three monsters grew wary at the noise. Lyd asked his colleague:
"Ray, any word from the scouting team?" Before Ray could respond, something emerged from the shadows to answer. Almiraj and Goblin were bound tightly by vines. They weren't bleeding, but neither showed any sign of waking up.
The mysterious figure continued walking leisurely from the dark. His red eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. Using his enhanced monster vision, Lyd strained to see through the shadows.
It was an albino boy, with pale skin and snow-white hair. He wore a black and red outfit over a plain white shirt. His slow steps synced with the sound of a sword cane tapping against the stone floor. The boy had a face that could be considered beautiful, but it was utterly emotionless. His face looked like that of a saint, but his eyes resembled those of a terrifying creature. Together, they formed a strange harmony.
The killing intent Gros tried to project felt like a plastic knife compared to the real monster before them. The crystal orb trembled in Lyd's hand, and a surge of fear washed over him. He quickly took it out and spoke into it.
"Ranye, what's going on?"
Screams and chaos erupted from the other side of the orb. After a few seconds, someone finally responded.
"Lyd... We... are under... attack... Aghhhhh-"
But the voice was abruptly cut off, and the orb stopped transmitting. A cold voice drew Lyd's attention.
"Don't worry."
The albino boy had already reached them. His crimson eyes seemed to pierce into their souls. He spoke calmly in the tense, hostile atmosphere radiating from the monsters.
"They're still alive," the boy said, his voice serene despite the tension.
"Can we talk?"
...
Ray was flying through the air, searching for her comrades in the hidden paths deep within the Dungeon. The mage had allowed one of them to go check on their companions. The supposedly secret escape routes had been discovered. Now, her only hope was that what the boy had said was true-that her people were still safe.
Flying along the narrow path, she finally reached a section of the road covered in thick fog. Ray shouted:
"Qliphap, Ban. Your master commands you to follow me."
Despite her shout, the fog did not move. Ray grew increasingly desperate. She feared the mage had lied.
Suddenly, the fog seemed to shift before her eyes. It condensed at a rapid speed, forming into the shape of a massive lion with gray spots on its back.
As the scene became clearer, she could see the bodies of her comrades scattered along the path. A black cat stood at the center of them all.
"Meow..." it called out, confirming its presence in her eyes.
Ray quickly descended to the ground, presenting a piece of paper and a magic stone in front of the cat. After reviewing the message sent by the mage, the cat called out to its companions. Ban approached her comrades and dripped its "saliva" onto their wounds. Ray rushed over to check on her people. Their wounds were healing at an incredible rate from the saliva. After confirming that her comrades were merely unconscious, Ray breathed a sigh of relief.
The cat took the magic stone into its mouth, causing the stone to glow. All of her comrades began to float into the air. The cat quickly walked toward the entrance of the "Hidden Village."
...
The atmosphere inside the Hidden Village was tense. Lyd and Gros were focused on every movement of the human mage. He sat on a nearby chair, calmly pouring hot coffee from a thermos while manipulating something on a tablet. Gryuu lay quietly next to him, his eyelids barely open as he watched the human who had entered their domain. Let and Arles sat opposite the mage, fearfully eyeing him.
Accelerator was analyzing the communication orb possessed by the group of monsters. It was quite an intriguing item, created by the abilities of a mage. Its functions included sending images, sounds, target location, and even knowing when the remaining orb had been destroyed. Quite convenient. The mechanism worked by transmitting signals from a broadcasting station rather than using the quantum entanglement effects employed by his earpiece. He considered whether to add a pair of military-grade glasses to his headset.
Typing his analysis into the tablet, he examined the orb placed on the scanner. Now, recreating the orb was within his capabilities. Closing the tablet while taking a sip of coffee, he observed the room's surroundings. It was a spacious chamber lit by magical lamps from above, indicating that these monsters cooperated with the Guild to survive. It was possible that only the Guild leaders knew of their existence.
'Perhaps even the god Ganesha as well,' he thought. The reason for the Ganesha Festival was now clear to him. The festival was held to promote reconciliation between humans and monsters, however small.
The monsters still held a tense atmosphere toward him. It was understandable, considering he had invaded their sanctuary.
The sound of rapidly beating wings echoed from the exit, and Ray quickly flew into the "Hidden Village." Landing in front of her comrades, she spoke to them:
"Lyd, Gros. Everyone is safe. No one was seriously hurt," Ray said happily. This was immediately proven true as the monsters, carried by telekinesis, were gently placed in the center of the room. Several high-ranking monsters slowly began to recover from the poison and Qliphap's needles. The black cat and large tiger followed closely behind. They quickly ran toward Accelerator.
"Aghh... My head hurts," Arachne complained as she tried to stand. Her body wobbled unsteadily. Other monsters also began waking up. Goblins and Almiraj rushed down to check on their friends. Accelerator decided to give them some space.
After a brief gathering, the Lizardman stepped forward, approaching him. Accelerator also stepped forward, with Qliphap on his shoulder and Ban behind him.
"Let's introduce ourselves, though our first meeting wasn't the best," Accelerator said in a commanding voice.
The Lizardman sighed at his response. Raising his hand to silence the murmurs of his comrades, he replied:
"Pleasure to meet you, mage. My name is Lyd. What's your name?"
"Accelerator. This is Qliphap, and the mist behind me is Bandersnatch, or Ban for short," Accelerator replied. Looking around at all the monsters present, he asked:
"Who are you?"
All the monsters turned to look at him. There were still suspicious, fearful, and hostile gazes fixed on him. A winged Siren stood next to Lyd and answered firmly:
"We are the Xenos."
...
After a brief exchange, Accelerator was now sitting near Lyd and Ray. They were the only two who could comfortably converse with him, while the other Xenos gathered on the opposite side of the room. This was understandable, given what he had done to them. Lyd spoke to him from beside him, taking a sip of some liquor.
"So, you're an adventurer tasked with investigating the mysterious singing in the Dungeon, right?"
"That's right."
"How did you find this place? It's well-hidden from the usual areas adventurers frequent. Even my singing isn't that distinct," Ray asked.
"I have an ability that allows me to detect the smallest vibrations in the air. But I think you're lucky this didn't attract top-tier adventurers. With their enhanced senses, they'd have found this place in no time," Accelerator replied bluntly to the Siren. His words earned her a few glares from other Xenos. He felt a bit sorry for her.
He glanced at all the Xenos in the room. An array of fruits and liquor was being served, with barrels engraved with the name Rivira being rolled out. The remaining monsters sat in a large circle.
They could all use various human tools, though some couldn't speak.
"Are these items from adventurers?" Accelerator asked. There had been reports from the Guild about monsters confiscating adventurers' equipment. Some even featured sketches of the monsters and their gear.
"Yes and no. The liquor was a gift, but those swords once belonged to an adventurer who unexpectedly attacked me," Lyd said, his eyes falling on the greatsword and longsword lying at his feet as he placed the bottle on the floor.
"But he dropped them and ran as soon as I fought back... I figured I might as well try them out. Adventurers take monster claws and fangs home after killing them, don't they?"
"Right."
"People seem to want their belongings back, even after they're dead, so we try to return what we can... But adventurers get angry at us for carrying their weapons. It's hard to know what to do." Lyd spoke with a nostalgic tone, as if recalling a specific event in the Dungeon. Accelerator said nothing in response.
"I have to tell you, the liquor's amazing, but the crafted weapons are something else! They cut better than the flowers over there and are much tougher. There's no way we could make something like that!"
Excited words spilled from Lyd's mouth, filled with respect for humans and their creations. Many of the other monsters wore some form of combat attire, including Lyd, even if they didn't wear armor. Some dressed in regular clothing, like the scarf the red-capped goblin had wrapped around its neck.
Maybe they were trying to imitate humans, copying what they saw. Accelerator felt that each of them was growing more fond of the craftsmanship of surface dwellers for one reason or another.
"Lyd, stop this nonsense," a voice spat venomously from across the room. Sitting opposite them, a Gargoyle scowled, glaring in their direction.
"Don't forget what he did to us when he first got here."
Aside from the monsters who had welcomed them with Lido, there were others who had separated themselves from the group. A gargoyle, a spider, and an eagle, along with others, sat atop a nearby cliff. All of them stared at Accelerator.
"Gros, we're trying to make peace with him," Ray shouted at the group across the room. She then turned back to Accelerator. "Sorry about that. He's sensitive because of what we've been through."
"There's no need to apologize. I was the one who attacked you all when I first arrived. I sincerely apologize for that."
Qliphap, sitting on his shoulder, appeared proud of what he had done.
"Meow..."
Ray and Lyd were amused by his interaction with his companions. Ray extended her wing to pet the cat, and Qliphap enjoyed the soft touch of her feathers. She then jumped into Ray's lap, surprising the Siren.
"Looks like she likes you."
Ray's eyes widened in surprise before she smiled and stroked Qliphap's back. Lyd laughed at the development, patting Accelerator on the back and saying, "You've got some interesting companions." He glanced at Ban, who lazily lay above them.
"So, what are they exactly? They don't seem like humans, monsters, or Xenos. Could you introduce them to us?"
He looked at Qliphap, who was now cuddling up to the Siren, feeling exasperated. Turning to Lyd, Accelerator dropped the silly image of his familia.
"Qliphap is a stupid cat." A protesting meow came from behind him, but he ignored it.
"And Ban is... Ban." It was hard to explain Ban, given that he was created from magic. Plus, there was another lurking in the shadows of the cave.
"Huh?"
This piqued the curiosity of Ray, Lyd, and several other monsters. Many of them glanced behind Accelerator, eyeing Ray with interest. Stroking the mist lion, Accelerator felt like his hand was touching thick clouds.
"Ban eats the magic stones of monsters to survive until I came along and became his mana supply. That's why Ban sticks with me now. I don't know much else. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
Lyd stroked his chin thoughtfully. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the lion-shaped creature. Then, Lyd burst into laughter.
"Hahaha... Is that why you weren't surprised when you met us? That's even crazier than talking monsters!" Lyd's voice grew quieter.
He closed his eyes for a moment, as if deep in thought. Then, he turned his gaze to Accelerator.
"Hey, Accelerator. Do you think humans and monsters can coexist?"
The room fell silent. The monsters stared at him, waiting for his answer.
Accelerator looked back at Lyd. Hidden within his gaze was a plea for an answer. After a moment, Accelerator decided they would be disappointed by his response.
"I can't answer that question." Indeed, Accelerator couldn't answer it. He came from a different world with different conventions. While he could offer help, he couldn't determine the answer to this world's survival. The people of Genkai needed to find their own answer.
"People on the surface harbor a deep-seated hatred for monsters. For thousands of years, they've fought and killed each other. The instinct to fear and despise monsters is deeply ingrained in the beings that live on the surface."
That hatred was embedded in the very existence of surface dwellers. It would take a long time or a strong will for it to fade.
"I don't possess that instinct," he said, signaling to Qliphap. The cat instantly jumped onto his shoulder.
"For us, the existence of humans and Xenos is the same. That means we don't have the right to represent the will of any surface-dwelling beings."
When he finished speaking, the room became even quieter. Ray pondered his words, while Lyd rubbed his head and sighed.
"Looks like we still don't have an answer to that question." Then, Lyd turned to him. "But... can we at least be friends?"
"Sure. No problem."
After that, Lyd extended his right hand toward him, saying, "Our first meeting didn't go so well. But now that I know more about you, you're kinder than you seem. Let's shake on it."
Lyd extended his scaled, rough hand, protected by a metal glove, with sharp claws at the ends of his fingers.
Without hesitation, Accelerator reached out and clasped the Xenos' rugged arm.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Lyd."
"Accelerator. Nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine."
After a moment of silence, the room became slightly more lively, but no Xenos, aside from Ray, approached him. Lyd laughed, patting him on the back.
"Haha... Looks like everyone is still pretty scared of you. People often say first impressions matter. You might've made a bad one with them."
"Meow." The cat leaped from his shoulder and tried to approach the Xenos, but they all stepped away from her. It seemed Qliphap's attempt to ease the tension wasn't working too well.
"You're full of secrets. I doubt she's just a regular animal," Lyd said, glancing at Ban lounging above before turning back to Accelerator.
"What exactly is she?" Lyd asked.
"You could think of her as a spirit." Accelerator calmly sipped some coffee while eyeing the dark corner of the cave.
"Haha... A human, a spirit, and... Ban. Your group is stranger than ours. Mad Wizard." It seemed Lyd was getting tipsy after drinking so much alcohol.
"Mad Wizard?"
"Don't you see? It fits you perfectly. Mad Wizard." Lyd laughed loudly, taking another gulp of his drink. Accelerator wondered if Xenos could actually get drunk, but he couldn't help smiling a little.
'From chairman of a science city to mad wizard in another world. How ironic.'
"Is she really a spirit?" Ray asked, approaching and hugging Qliphap. Some Xenos, seeing she wasn't dangerous, came closer and touched the cat. Qliphap seemed perfectly comfortable with it.
"Yes. I made a pact with Qliphap when she was gravely injured." Accelerator then paused and directed his gaze toward the hidden part of the cave.
"And it seems someone else wants to join us."
"Oh, looks like I've been found out." A serious voice, without a hint of surprise or mockery, echoed through the camp. The Xenos, hearing the calm voice, turned toward the room's entrance to see where it was coming from.
"Fels, you've arrived." What they saw resembled a living shadow, wearing a long black cloak and black gloves adorned with intricate patterns. Lyd waved warmly at the newcomer, while Accelerator calmly continued sipping his coffee.
"Well, sorry to trouble you, Lyd. Could you explain what's going on here?"
"It's no trouble at all." Lyd led Fels to a corner to explain everything. Meanwhile, Qliphap was being pampered by Ray and some others. A few Xenos even tried approaching Ban to pet the misty beast, and it seemed Ban enjoyed the attention.
It was understandable that no one approached Accelerator. Being the only human in a room full of monsters made him an oddity.
Suddenly, Accelerator felt a light touch at his feet. A small rabbit offered him a red fruit of some kind. He took it and bit into it. Since he was resistant to toxins, there was no need to worry. It felt like he was biting into thick, tender meat, but the taste was sweet and fruity, gliding smoothly over his tongue. Its texture was unlike any beef, pork, or chicken, and he could only describe it as the finest steak, surprising him.
"It's really good..." He looked at the small rabbit at his feet. Slowly, he reached out and patted her head.
"Thank you, little one." The child relaxed, enjoying his touch.
Accelerator felt a pang of guilt for having struck the child when he first arrived. Taking his cane, he used a bit of magic to make a gift for her. Grapes floated into the air, quickly freezing into ice. A gust of wind turned the frozen grapes into fine snow. A piece of quartz formed into a small, delicate cup. The snowflakes hovered in the air before he gently guided them into the cup. Fresh fruits decorated the top, completing a perfect snow ice dessert. The act reminded him of the times he'd used his abilities for silly things with Last Order and Worst.
The small rabbit's eyes widened in awe at the display. He handed her the cup of shaved ice. She carefully took it and tried a small spoonful. Her face trembled from the cold but soon broke into a smile. She happily savored the treat while Ray giggled from behind.
"Well, this is better than I expected." The voice of the phantom echoed as he returned with Lyd. It seemed the two of them had finished their conversation. Stepping in front of Accelerator, the shadow spoke to him.
"First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Fels. I serve as a liaison between Ouranos and Xenos-a messenger, if you will. I also take care of miscellaneous tasks when necessary."
Accelerator wasn't surprised by this. He could already guess that the Guild had allied with Xenos to help them. Although the entire world was essentially a chessboard for the gods, as far as he knew, Ouranos wasn't one of the bad ones. Turning his attention back to Fels, he introduced himself.
"I'm Accelerator. These two are my companions." Staring deeply at the mask, he could sense something missing underneath the cloak. "You know, even Xenos have a heartbeat deep inside their bodies. What exactly are you?"
"I was once human. You'll understand if I show you." The black-gloved hands reached up to pull back the hood.
Where there should have been eyes, there were only empty sockets. The skin had vanished, leaving perfectly aligned teeth protruding from an exposed jawbone. A skeletal, white skull stared back at Accelerator.
"Oh, so this happened because of a failed magic experiment, right?" The skeleton reminded him of some creatures from Crowley's Hazards. The "failures" that had taken the form of immortal monsters. He guessed Fels was in a similar situation.
"In a sense, yes. I was once known as the Sage. But I failed in my magic."
"So you're The Sage? The one who created the Philosopher's Stone in the Kingdom of Magic-the only one who ever successfully made an elixir of immortality?"
The Sage. The one who created the Philosopher's Stone, a magical artifact that granted eternal life to its user. Mastering the Mystery of Enhanced Ability, the Sage became the most powerful sorcerer in history. He brought his creation, the Philosopher's Stone, to his god, only to watch as the god shattered it on the floor...
Fels continued, with a hint of self-deprecation. "Since my story will be passed down to future generations... as it's still told today, I became disgusted with the god who destroyed my gem. I grew more determined than ever to pursue more knowledge, unlocking the secrets of immortality... and I became what you see now."
The skeleton recounted the harrowing experience with the god, pulling the black gloves back over the cloak, concealing the rest of his body.
"My methods had consequences, causing my skin and flesh to rot away from my bones. Now, I've become something more horrifying than a monster. I've forgotten what hunger feels like... I'm nothing more than a living ghost."
Fels ended by saying all his experiments had turned into a "curse." Hearing the other side of the story, lost to history, Accelerator sighed at the situation. On Earth, during the Middle Ages, many people sought wealth, so it was no surprise that countless fools had wasted all their resources researching ways to transform substances into gold-Alchemy was infamous for this.
At that time, rumors began to spread of a mysterious material capable of curing all diseases, granting immortality, and even turning metals into gold-the Philosopher's Stone.
The Philosopher's Stone was closely tied to Nicholas Flamel, an alchemist from Accelerator's world. Alchemy was a branch of magic, traditionally concerned with transmuting base metals like lead into gold and creating an elixir of immortality, with the ultimate goal of achieving the Magnum Opus or Ars Magna.
He had once created the Philosopher's Stone, with legends describing it as something that could grant any wish. But it did not satisfy what he was looking for. In the end, he sealed it away and hid it.
"Now, I go by the name Fels the Fool." The Sage concluded his speech. A fitting name for someone once known as the Sage, who had now become a mockery. Unable to express even the slightest emotion, the skeletal sorcerer could no longer even smile and now bore that name.
"...Can you explain why the Sage is in a place like this?" Accelerator couldn't help but be curious about the life of such a great sorcerer.
"You could say it's a long story. Let's just say Ouranos took me in, despite my miserable condition, after I arrived in Orario."
Fels responded openly, making his eerily indistinct voice sound friendlier.
"Now, I have a front-row seat at the 'center of the world,' witnessing the forces driving the changing era." Pulling the hood back up, Fels spoke as though satisfied with the state of things.
"So, what's Ouranos' deal with Xenos?" Accelerator asked directly after considering the matters at hand. Judging by their strength, he guessed they could survive on their own, even without the Guild's help. Surely, the Guild could assist them in remaining hidden and avoiding causing chaos in Orario, but that alone wouldn't justify the relationship between the two sides.
"We provide strength in exploring and delving deeper into the Dungeon for the Guild. And in return, the Guild supports us and fulfills our wish. That wish is..."
"To reach the surface," Ray finished Lyd's sentence. Then Lyd continued, "I have a dream. I dream of a red orb of light sinking behind a massive pile of stones... a sky that cannot be found here, burning red, red and so beautiful it brings me to tears. Redder and redder over time..."
"That's the sunset. Have any of you ever been out into the world?" The lizard warrior looked up at the darkness that concealed the Dungeon from the ceiling, but his gaze seemed to reach far beyond that.
"Not even once. That means, perhaps in a past life, I escaped this dark hell and lived up there for a while."
"Reincarnation, huh." Accelerator became pensive. But he could also imagine what had happened. The souls of monsters, after dying, returned to the Dungeon. The feelings of attachment and intense desire accumulated in each soul as it completed countless cycles. Eventually, it burst forth, forming a complete consciousness.
"You saw those things in dreams, right?"
"Hahaha... You're sharp. It seems you're familiar with this already. Mad Wizard, have you met one of us before?" Lyd laughed as he spoke to Accelerator, but he received no response. Knowing he would never get an answer, Lyd continued.
"Some of us can use language, but others can't utter a single word. Some know how to express themselves, while others don't. Isn't that strange to you?" Accelerator glanced at Ban and Qliphap, then thought of certain projects in Academy City. He said nothing, but his eyes were enough for Lyd to figure it out.
Lyd sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. "I forgot that you're the real anomaly, not us..."
Lyd went on to explain the differences between individuals.
"The really skilled ones can speak from the start. It's almost as if they're recalling something they already knew. Maybe they've been watching people for a long time... envying them, longing for them."
"A strong desire." Human desire could drive people to achieve incredibly crazy things-miracles, curses, impossible events. It had happened many times in his world.
Fels' voice interrupted his thoughts. "Every Xenos has their own thoughts and feelings. However, they all share one thing in common: an intense yearning for humans or the surface world."
Xenos remembered, in their dreams, their envy of those who lived under the sun and sky and their own desire to do the same. They had witnessed beauty amidst the violent hostility and killing.
Humans who were desperate to save one another. A brave dwarf standing tall despite countless injuries from head to toe. An elf on the brink of death, still holding onto pride until the very end. Or perhaps the humans who showed mercy, sparing a monster's life. Even simple things like a beautiful blue sky and the setting sun.
The Xenos recalled their "past lives" through different "dreams." And each one possessed a burning desire that gave them a powerful reason to keep living.
"I want to live in that world with the beautiful sunset once again."
"I want to spread my wings in a world filled with light, but in return, these wings will never be able to embrace... I want to be embraced by the one I love."
To be with people under the sunlight. That was their wish. What these men and women longed for. They were seeking to make that wish a reality with the help of Fels and Ouranos. All to achieve a goal that would have been so simple if Xenos were human. They were fully aware of how difficult the path ahead would be and how long they would have to travel it. Both Xenos fell silent, letting their words linger in the air.
"One day, that will become a reality," Accelerator said to them. Their desire resonated with him. He, too, had something he was searching for. Though it seemed nearly impossible at the moment, he continued to pursue it. Both Xenos looked into his eyes and saw something familiar. Ray and Lyd smiled at him.
Suddenly, a slight tremor echoed through the entire cave. Panic swept through the Xenos, who had far sharper senses than humans.
"What's happening?"
"Graoghhh..."
"This tremor is coming from below."
The panic spread as the tremors grew stronger.
Fels seemed to understand what was happening. He quickly approached Accelerator and said, "It seems there's trouble on the 24th floor. Earlier, a large number of monsters gathered and started rushing toward the surface. I sent some people to investigate, but things don't seem to be going well."
Accelerator looked straight at Fels. This guy hadn't told him everything. But there was no malice in him.
"So you want me to go down and help them, right?"
"Yes, as quickly as possible."
Although he didn't trust the guy, human lives were more important to him. Such tremors meant that the structural foundation of a floor had been seriously damaged. He needed to quickly head down to the 24th floor and then find the source of the tremors. That would be much faster than the usual route.
Accelerator waved his hand, signaling the cat, which jumped onto his shoulder, while Ban followed behind him. Since no one had yet seen Ban's transformation ability, there was no need to use it now. Glancing back at Lyd and Ray, he spoke to them. His red eyes seemed to glow in the dark cave.
"Although I can't answer your question," he said, striking the sword cane firmly against the ground.
"But if there exists a fake adventurer, who, despite being afraid, trembling, and anxious, still decides to shake hands with you..." The ground beneath his feet seemed to turn to water. Yet, he stood firm on top, not sinking at all. Ripples continuously spread out from his feet.
"Then at that moment, the friendship between humans and monsters will officially begin." Accelerator immediately dropped down below, with Ban instantly leaping after him.
A moment later, Ray and Lyd snapped out of their shock from Accelerator's words. They rushed to the spot where he had just stood. The ground had returned to its original state, showing no signs of his presence.
Ray stood there and complained, "Do humans always have to pull off such cool stunts, Fels?"
Fels floated closer from behind. "No, only he does."
"Hmmm. Seeing the ground restored like this makes me think of something," Lyd said thoughtfully.
"What is it?"
"Mad Wizard doesn't have any scent at all." Lyd's nostrils flared as he took a deep breath, sniffing the surrounding air.
"Fels, can you look into him some more?" Ray, also curious about the wizard, asked.
"Even if you didn't mention it, I was already planning to. A wizard hiding his abilities has appeared, so there's no reason not to thoroughly investigate him."
...
Accelerator swiftly descended to the 24th floor and immediately surged toward the source of the sound. Crushing every obstacle in his path, his vector shield would protect him from all harm. Accelerator's rapid movement differed from that of the saints. He couldn't actually keep up with the maximum speed he could achieve, so he would often calculate the destination before dashing toward it. For this reason, he couldn't rush too fast toward the tremor's source. If he exceeded the speed of sound, the surrounding Level 1 individuals would be crushed by the shockwave. Smashing through a wall, he charged into the cave.
"Boom!" An explosion occurred as he entered. It seemed someone had committed suicide using a bomb. Closing his eyes to everything happening, Accelerator accepted the will of those who had fallen.
Opening his fiery red eyes, the scene before him unfolded. Members of Hermes Familia were fending off giant tree monsters, protecting an elf who was casting magic from within. In the distance, the Sword Princess and a wolf were fighting someone. Looking below, a beastman from Hermes was being attacked by a monster. Accelerator raised his hand, and a massive whirlwind tore the monsters apart.
The members of Hermes rushed to save their comrade. His wall of fire appeared, blocking the monsters' path and quickly burning them to ashes.
Gently landing in the middle of the circle, his magic and winds supported the surrounding members. The captain of Hermes Familia turned to look at him.
"Accelerator."
"You're trying to protect that elf, right? Hold your formation, and I'll support you." Glancing at the elf behind, a large amount of magical energy was gathering. He quickly returned to the battle, swiftly eliminating the surrounding monsters.
Asfi gritted her teeth and rushed to the front lines.
"The rear is secure. Everyone at the front, hold your ground. Accelerator will support you."
The monsters grew increasingly frenzied as a large amount of mana concentrated in the rear. The tree monsters merged into a giant mouth and lunged forward.
"Dio Grail." A barrier appeared in front, halting the monster. The shockwave from it blew away surrounding rocks. The monsters split apart and attacked from different directions.
"Cold-Wet." A freezing storm was unleashed, turning the monsters into sparkling works of art. Sensing vibrations from below, Accelerator stomped on the ground, crushing the roots that tried to attack from beneath. Turning back, the young elf was staring directly into his eyes.
'Do it, kid.'
"My name is Alf! Rea Laevateinn." With a loud shout, a massive pillar of fire consumed all the monsters. Its brilliant light illuminated the entire battlefield. But victory wasn't theirs yet. The ceiling walls began to crack and collapse. Tons of rocks started falling directly toward the young elf, who lay exhausted on the ground.
"I'm sorry, Aiz." She closed her eyes, accepting her fate. But it never came. Opening her eyes, she saw the rocks suspended in mid-air. Looking further away, the rocks were frozen in place, as if time had never moved. A white-haired mage stood still, observing the entire battlefield.
"He is..."
"I'm not a miserable dog! I don't need your help!"
"What a pain. This is why I hate werewolves!"
"Everyone, retreat immediately. Leave anything unnecessary behind. We're leaving now." Asfi urged the surviving members to leave the area. Dodging the floating rocks, a figure ran up beside her.
"Viridis!" But the hand hesitated to reach out. She immediately grasped it tightly.
"I'm fine... Let's go."
As everyone left, the stone dome completely collapsed, burying everything inside.
...
Accelerator stood before the graves of the fallen members of Hermes Familia. Bouquets of flowers were placed down, and he stood silently in front of the tombstones.
"Thank you for coming, Accelerator," Asfi said.
"It's something I had to do." The weight of death was something he understood all too well. Asfi turned to face him, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Thank you for coming."
He said nothing, quietly nodding before walking away from the cemetery.
The dungeon exploration had ended, and everyone had returned to the surface. The wolf and the members of Loki Familia didn't say a word on the way back, except for the strange elf who kept looking at him, as if wanting to say something. When they parted ways with Loki Familia on the 18th floor, Accelerator helped Hermes Familia collect the bodies of the fallen.
Arriving at the front door, the day of mental relaxation he had planned was ruined. The events with Xenos and the incident on the 24th floor had drained him. Lying down on the sofa in the living room, he relished a moment of peace without being disturbed. His initial relaxation trip had gone wildly off course.
Qliphap and Ban said nothing as they rested on top of him. In that brief moment of tranquility, he quickly closed his eyes for a bit before diving back into his research once again.
...
A few short stories
"Nehehe... Master," Qliphap said, a mischievous grin on her face.
"What is it?" Accelerator asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Nehehe... When I named Ban, I thought of something. If we return and bring Aneri along, there's going to be a problem. You know... there will be two Aneris," she said with a playful expression.
"Hmmm... That's true."
"So, we should come up with a new name for her," Qliphap suggested, clearly excited.
The two of them began an enthusiastic discussion, trying to find a name that was linked to the old one but distinct enough to avoid confusion when both AIs were around. After some intense deliberation, they finally made a decision.
"Alright, from now on, we'll call her Irena," Accelerator declared, his tone sounding like he had just found the perfect solution.
Suddenly, a robotic voice echoed from the system. "Didn't you both just reverse my name?" Aneri - now Irena - calmly remarked.
Qliphap giggled, while Accelerator let out a small sigh, though a faint smile crossed his face.
"Nehehe... Come on, Irena sounds fine, doesn't it?" Qliphap said, trying to suppress her laughter.
"If that's what you both want," Irena replied. Though her voice remained calm as usual, there was a subtle undertone, almost like a hidden sigh.
...
"What are you doing, Ayla?" asked Marina, one of the tavern staff, as she glanced over at her roommate. It was already dark, but Ayla was still busy with something at the table.
"I'm working on some homework that Mr. Accelerator gave me," the child responded without looking up, fully absorbed in her math problems. "I want to finish early so I have free time for the rest of the week."
Marina thought for a moment, then smiled. "Maybe I can help you a bit."
She said this with pride. After all, before becoming an employee at the Hostess of Fertility, she had been a highly educated noblewoman. Unfortunately, due to some unfortunate events, she ended up as a slave, only to be saved and brought here by Syr. Still, solving a few basic math problems for a child seemed well within her capabilities.
"Let me take a look."
"Sure!" Ayla eagerly handed over the worksheet.
'It's been a while since I last did any math, but children's problems should be easy... What in the world is this?!'
As Marina skimmed over the worksheet, her body froze. The complex formulas and unfamiliar symbols flooded her mind, leaving her utterly paralyzed.
"Marina, are you okay?"
Shaken from her stupor, Marina blinked and asked, "Are you sure this is basic math for kids? This seems way too difficult."
"No, it's all basic stuff! Mr. Accelerator said he was solving much harder problems when he was ten," Ayla replied cheerfully.
It was basic math, but the kind of basic that came from Academy City-the city where Accelerator, a Level 5 esper, could calculate faster than 100 supercomputers combined.
"If you can't solve it, it's no problem," Ayla said with a bright smile, starting to pull the worksheet back.
"I... I..."
"Everyone has their own strengths." Ayla reassured her kindly before turning back to her work, leaving Marina standing there, still in shock.