(Now then…) (Eugene)
I looked up at the outrageously tall tower that is the Zenith Tower Babel.
The tower is so big that you could even put a city in, and it is said that it
goes for over 1,000 floors.
And the reality is that there hasn't been anyone in history who has arrived at
the 1,000th floor.
Of course, this isn't something that a mortal could build. It is being called
the training spot from the Gods, or a place for trials.
Most popularly known as: the Last Dungeon, Zenith Tower Babel.
It is one of the highest ranked dungeons of the world located in the center of
the South Continent.
The magic academy I attend, no, even the city-states that have academies
are simply an extra for the Last Dungeon.
Many people gather, seeking the treasures of the giant dungeon. Stores are
created and cities are born around it.
The scale of the city increased more and more, and it eventually became a
city-state.
That was the birth of the city-state Caliph that's also known as a dungeon
city.
If an anomaly happens in the Last Dungeon, the explorers residing in the
dungeon city have the duty to prioritize this over anything.
The students are no exception.
There's currently dozens of explorers at the plaza located at the entrance of
the dungeon.
(So few…) (Eugene)
There's several thousands of explorers in the academy sector.
It seems like the high ranked explorers are out.
Well, the higher ranked the explorer, the more often they are adventuring,
so it can't be helped.
My explorer rank is D.
This is proof that I can explore alone.
Most of the people gathered here must be D Rank.
"Everyone, I am glad to see you gathered here!"
The one who is raising their voice is called a Dungeon Staff.
They mostly keep an eye on the Zenith Tower and aid the injured. Civil
servants of the city.
"A Dungeon Destroyer has appeared inside the Last Dungeon! This is an
emergency. Everyone, check the Satellite System!"
The explorers gathered there were all looking at what was projected in the
giant screen even without being told.
And they were all making bitter faces.
The 5th floor of the dungeon was a sea of fire.
(What's that…? The floors all the way to the 9th should originally be grasscovered plains and forest areas…) (Eugene)
The Last Dungeon has 1,000 floors in total, so it is a super gigantic
dungeon, and the scenery changes greatly every 10 floors.
I have reached the 9th floor myself.
That's why I can tell in one glance how abnormal this state of burning with
fire is.
"It is impossible for a fire of this level to happen naturally! Something has
set it on fire! We are currently trying to extinguish the fire, but it is not
showing signs of receding. I want everyone to investigate the source of
this."
The Dungeon Staff announced the details of the request.
"…Oi oi, don't be unreasonable here."
"…We would die."
"…Fireproof armor is expensive after all."
I heard those whispers.
This is a high difficulty case for low ranked explorers.
"We will be lending fire resistant robes for free. Make sure to bring
anything necessary. Also, you will be rewarded in gold regardless of the
results if you cooperate in the exploration…"
I slowly headed to the entrance of the dungeon after hearing that.
There's explorers hesitating and there's also others getting their fire
resistance robes and lining up.
Someone approached me.
"Eugene! You will be going?"
The one who spoke to me is an old man I am familiar with that's a Dungeon
Staff member.
"Yeah, it would be better to hurry, right?" (Eugene)
"That's a great help. A fire resistance robe…is unnecessary for you, huh,
Eugene."
"No need. I just need to sign here before heading out for the exploration,
right?" (Eugene)
"That's right. Okay, I have registered your participation. Ah, right. Take
this. It is a used one from me though."
The old man gave me a slightly tattered fire resistant robe.
"I won't be using it though…" (Eugene)
"Don't say that. Explorers have to be prepared first and foremost. Also,
there might be people who didn't manage to escape in time, so take it."
"Got it. Thanks, old man." (Eugene)
I thanked him and entered the 1st floor from the entrance.
There's nothing out of the ordinary here.
I head to the center just like that.
The center of the dungeon has the Dungeon Elevator set there.
The Dungeon Elevator is an ancient relic.
No one knows when it was there or how it moved.
Everyone simply uses it because it is convenient.
Its mysterious trait is that the user can only be transported to the place they
can reach with their own ability.
In my case, it only shows the buttons until the 9th floor.
I push the 5th floor button.
The Dungeon Elevator slowly goes up and eventually arrives at the 5th
floor.
When the door opened, I was welcomed by raging flames.
The area close to the Dungeon Elevator has a barrier set by the dungeon,
and the fire can't reach.
But everything else is covered in flames.
Many explorers have come to the 5th floor already…and have given up.
"Oi…we are going inside this?"
"I don't wanna go…"
"The vision is terrible. You wouldn't be able to react if a monster attacked
you."
"Is there a monster on the 5th floor that can endure these flames…?"
"Who knows. We are facing an anomaly here after all."
Everyone has stopped in place, unable to step into the roaring flames.
As for me, I headed in the direction where the fire was the strongest.
"O-Oi! You, what about your fire resistance robe?!"
"It is okay. I am a Barriermancer." (Eugene)
"N-No…even if you are a Barriermancer, look at these flames!"
"That's reckless! Come back!"
The explorers around were worried about me, but I waved my hand inside
the fire and showed them there's no issues.
"""…"""
Looks like they get it now.
I go deeper and deeper into the raging flames.
—The flames were roaring ferociously as I walked within them.
The carbonized dredges of trees crumbled like sand as I passed by.
I don't feel the heat thanks to the barrier around my body.
Even so, the sight of being surrounded in all directions by fire is not a
relaxing view.
Are there any living beings that can survive here?
There's an 8 out of 10 chance that a fire monster caused this.
A hungry monster from a higher floor probably came down to a lower
floor.
That said, I haven't heard of a monster that can pull off something like this
within the first 10 floors including the 10th floor boss…
At that moment…
*…Sob…Sob…Sob…*
I heard the faint voice of someone within the crackling sounds of fire.
(The crying…of a girl?) (Eugene)
Is it an explorer that didn't manage to escape in time?
Inside the flames?
I don't think this is the time to be crying though…
It is possible for a monster to imitate the voice of a human to bait them into
a trap.
I can't lower my guard here.
That said, I haven't heard of a monster on the 5th floor with that much
intelligence though.
Then, is it just a human?
A lot of things don't click here.
But I can't just not go.
I carefully move to where the voice is coming from.
(…Someone is there.) (Eugene)
I see the shadow of someone.
At the center of the fire.
The place where the fire is the most intense.
A single girl is crying there while sleeping