Corruption in the dungeon

EP.10 Chapter 10 They're starting to ripen slowly

"Whew, this tingling sensation even in my fine hairs, it's clear. This must be the entrance to the newly formed dungeon."

Ariana trembled slightly.

Her exploration instinct was beginning to awaken.

It was a new dungeon that had appeared after a long time.

With no new dungeons appearing, she had been working on clearing already conquered dungeons more easily and conveniently until now.

Faster, easier.

She presented strategies for B-rank adventurers to clear A-rank dungeons.

She presented ways for C-rank adventurers to clear B-rank dungeons.

But even that had its limits.

No matter how much new content veteran dungeon explorers create, can it be better than truly new content?

'What could be inside?'

Just imagining it made her heart race.

It would be great if there were strong monsters.

Even better if there were dangerous traps.

Mazes were the traps she was most obsessed with.

"It, it looks ominous."

Fabre's voice, who had followed her, trembled.

It meant this place was dangerous enough for even Fabre, who lacked experience, to feel it.

"Is it B-rank? Or A-rank? I don't prefer designating by rank, but I'd like to determine it for this one."

Hehe.

She was already excited.

"Master, I think it would be better to get a support team before going in."

"Fabre, how can you say such weak words? An adventurer should know when to move forward. Now is that time!"

If she retreated here, her adventurer career would cry.

It wouldn't be S-rank.

At best, A-rank.

With her abilities, she should be able to conquer up to the middle of the dungeon.

It's not too late to send someone to the guild after that.

She couldn't miss the honor of being the first to conquer the dungeon.

"Let's prepare our equipment one last time before entering."

"Understood."

Ariana looked at Fabre as he packed his things.

Her disciple, who was scared but trying to hide his emotions with a resolute expression.

Still inexperienced, but he had the potential to become much greater.

'He seems to have become more reliable lately.'

She liked him in many ways.

Could she finally entrust her back to him?

He had grown a lot in a year.

"Tie the rope tightly."

"The rope is our last lifeline, right?"

"You know well."

Now he understands two things when taught one.

"Then let's go in."

"Alright."

***

A pair of two.

It was difficult to gauge their levels accurately, but at least the woman seemed much stronger.

'Master and disciple, huh.'

It seemed like quite an interesting scene could unfold.

What would happen if a respected master and cherished disciple entered the same room and inhaled aphrodisiac gas?

It would be interesting to see their minds gradually breaking as they try to protect each other.

It would also be fun to see them despair when they fail to protect the other.

I imagined the expression Fabre would make when I took his master from him.

How would his face contort?

I hope he would scream his master's name.

Just imagining it made my lower body harden.

If I wasn't wearing clothes, I might have shown an unsightly appearance.

Calm down. I just need to wait patiently until they fall into the trap.

I watched the two enter from within the shadows.

***

"...There's less here than I thought."

Ariana was angry.

She had expected a strong presence, but there was less than she thought.

No traps to make her heart race.

No monsters to fight life-and-death battles with.

Not even magic stones, the resources that can be obtained in dungeons, were visible.

"Is this really a dungeon?"

Ariana nodded at Fabre's question.

"Yes. It's definitely a dungeon. My instincts tell me so."

Although it was a cave with strangely nothing in it, it was definitely a dungeon.

This gloomy aura.

This ominous power that raises goosebumps.

And the unique stench of dungeons that only she could smell.

"Why is there nothing here?"

Ariana ran her finger across the floor.

Dark red dust dirtied her finger.

Soil mixed with demonic energy that only comes from dungeons.

"Let's go in a little further."

"Master, I think it would be better to go back and request support now. We should have the guild's priests check..."

"No. I know. This is definitely a dungeon."

"Master."

Ariana was impatient.

She hated the chilling sensation of her heart, which had been excited by the discovery of the dungeon, growing cold.

Like withdrawal symptoms after smoking.

She wanted to satisfy this rising desire just a little more.

"We'll go just a bit further. We'll go back later."

"...Alright."

Fabre, who had been trying to dissuade her, closed his mouth.

After some time passed.

"Master, there's a chest."

Where Fabre pointed, there was a small room.

With an iron chest placed right in the center.

It was the first room they had seen while exploring this dungeon.

Ariana's lips curled up in joy at finally having something to conquer.

It was just a basic room that would have been countless in a normal dungeon, but what mattered was that it was the first to appear in a dungeon that had nothing so far.

Starting with this, there should be challenges and adversities to conquer.

However, rushing in as soon as they discovered it was something only amateurs would do.

Adventurers conquering dungeons needed to be as cautious as possible.

Ariana examined the room.

Nothing was visible except for the iron-made chest.

"It looks like... a trap?"

"It does."

A suspicious room that anyone would see as a trap.

Fabre took out a small crystal about the size of his palm from his backpack.

The Light Step, now called an essential item for adventurers.

Meaning to illuminate footsteps, it had the effect of brightly lighting up the surrounding area centered on the crystal with light magic cast on it.

Ariana's specially crafted high-grade Light Step even had detection magic cast on it, making it perfect for finding suspicious traps with magic.

This Light Step was one of the reasons she became the best adventurer.

"I'll throw it."

"Throw it right in the center. Near that chest. There could be monsters or traps."

"Yes."

Fabre threw the crystal.

Roll roll.

Light spread from the crystal that landed exactly in the center, illuminating the inside.

There were no monsters or demons hiding.

"It seems there's nothing."

Nothing was caught by the detection magic either.

Really nothing?

Strange.

There was clearly nothing caught. But her instincts still screamed that this room was dangerous.

"Nothing is caught."

"Hmm..."

"Should we go in and check?"

"We have no choice. It seems we can't go further inside without passing through here."

Since we came in to conquer, we should produce results.

If she had just turned back because it was suspicious, her reputation wouldn't have risen this far.

"Maintain maximum vigilance."

"Understood."

Ariana and Fabre each drew their weapons.

The two slowly entered.

It was an ordinary room.

Still teeming with demonic energy.

No signs of monsters could be felt.

Really no enemies and just rewards?

"This is strange."

She picked up the Light Step that had fallen to the floor and shone it on the chest.

There was no reaction.

She had shone it thinking the chest might be a mimic, but there was no reaction.

"Is there really nothing?"

Is it this empty?

How excited she had been about a new dungeon appearing.

If there's this much of nothing...

'It means it's only an E-rank dungeon at best.'

Her excitement completely faded.

Maybe there's a room where the boss is sleeping if we go deeper inside.

But her expectations had completely disappeared.

Let's just open this chest for the reward and go back.

She'll report upstairs that a new dungeon has appeared and announce it.

Tell them to handle it themselves.

Ariana sighed and opened the chest.

It was probably an action she would never have taken normally.

Was she relieved because nothing came out?

Or maybe it was an impulsive action born from extreme disappointment.

Creak.

As the chest, not even locked, opened easily.

Beep beep!

The Light Step Ariana wore on her waist rang loudly.

Damn it.

"Fabre, quickly get out of this room!"

Thud!

But it was too late.

As soon as the chest opened, a door appeared from somewhere and closed firmly.

"Damn it."

She let her guard down.

She acted too carelessly.

"Master..."

Fabre's confused eyes turned to her.

"Let's find a way out."

There must be a way.

Surely.

The two didn't know, but the aphrodisiac mist installed by Yulia began to gradually cover the room.

***

"It worked properly."

I confirmed that the two had fallen into the trap made by Yulia.

An aphrodisiac trap where when the chest installed in the room is opened, the room closes and aphrodisiac gas fills the inside.

It was a trap where adventurers couldn't get out and were pickled in aphrodisiac gas.

Its characteristic was that it neutralized enemies and made them deliciously edible.

The only flaw was that the durability was a bit weak, so an A-rank adventurer could easily break through the door and get out.

I checked the trap.

The closed door had no abnormalities.

They're definitely not A-rank adventurers.

Now I just need to wait for the adventurers to ripen properly.

"This is inconvenient."

In the game, it used to give rough information about adventurers who invaded the dungeon.

I could know things like what state the adventurers were in, what their jobs were, and what their ranks were.

Unfortunately, there was nothing like the game providing information about adventurers.

"Yulia."

"Yes, My Lord."

"Is there no way to check inside?"

I called Yulia who was silently following behind me.

"There's a crystal ball I installed in advance. Would you like to see with this?"

She certainly handles things well.

"Thank you."

I checked on the adventurers trapped in the trap through the crystal ball.

It was like a high-quality CCTV view.

Looking down from above.

-Master, it's hard to breathe.

-Stay calm. There must be a way out. First, let's contact the outside.

-The communicator isn't working.

-Then add this to the communication crystal.

-It's not working.

-Damn it.

There were a total of 2 adventurers trapped in the trap.

One man and one woman.

As expected, a scene unfolded where the more experienced woman was taking the lead.

She seems to be using various tools to try to escape the trap.

'She should know it's useless.'

She won't be able to break through with her little tricks.

The aphrodisiac trap had weak durability, but in return, its structure was made very intricately.

If she tries to dispel it with magic, she'll be panting from the aphrodisiac effects before that.

Unfortunately for her, it wasn't a good match.

'She seems like a fairly skilled adventurer, but it's a shame.'

Of course, it's good for me.

"Will you wait?"

"Let's wait a bit more. It will take some time for them to ripen properly."

The adventurers in the crystal ball had noticed that aphrodisiac gas was spreading.

However, they were enduring with willpower without showing it to each other.

Not a bad scene.

It's only when they struggle desperately like this that the person who made the trap feels rewarded.

Probably the male disciple will be knocked out first.

At that moment when he crosses the line, intoxicated by aphrodisiac gas, after following his master who had been leading like that.

I'll go inside.

And I saw.

Above the male adventurer's head.

[Excited state]

A status effect.

They're starting to ripen slowly now.