Chapter 20 [Dungeon 4-1: The Maze of No Return (Part 1)]
Five individuals standing in front of Romulus's dungeon are a party known as heroes in this world. Tasked with a request from the vigilant Balen's adventurer guild due to adventurers disappearing in the dungeon, their mission is to investigate the new dungeon and assess its danger. With confidence, the heroes enter the dungeon.
"It's a cramped dungeon. There is hardly enough space to walk."
"Yeah, it's a freshly made dungeon. Don't expect much in terms of treasures."
"Kite, Duncan, take this seriously. Even if the dungeon looks shabby, it's still a dungeon. Underestimating it could lead to injuries."
"But seriously, Maria, is this really a dungeon? I've never seen such a cramped one, even if it's newly made."
"Well, it's definitely a dungeon. You can tell by looking at the walls."
"Indeed, it's not just a regular rock wall. It doesn't even get scratched with a light hit."
"But, other than that, there doesn't seem to be anything dungeon-like... Oh!"
"Flyn, are you okay? Watch your step. The footing is uneven."
"Yeah, I'm fine. But, we've been walking for about twenty minutes, and there's no sign of monsters, traps, or even other animals. It's a bit concerning."
"True, with all these twists and turns, Goblins should have ambushed us by now. But there's no sign of anything."
"Caution is essential. Let's proceed carefully."
"Speaking of caution, here's another turn. While Gil scouts ahead, let's step back and wait. If we keep doing this every corner, it'll take forever."
"Well, being the scout is not a bad role, but doing it too often, especially if it's fruitless, can be mentally exhausting."
"Perhaps that's the intention. Don't let your guard down."
...
"Hold on, another fork in the road."
"Again? How intricate is this dungeon? Is it really newly made?"
"It appeared in a location without any previous records, so it's definitely new."
"Gil, how's the mapping going?"
"No good. It's impossible to map this with all the ups and downs."
"The thread we extended as a marker is our only lifeline."
"That's bad news for you. The thread is already used up."
"Seriously? What do we do?"
"... Let's turn back. This dungeon is too intricate. Going further without a marker is reckless."
"Too bad, but there's no other choice."
...
"Hey! The thread disappeared! No trace left!"
"This can't be a joke! Getting lost in a place like this!"
"Darn, this dungeon is tricky. Maria, can you sense the flow of magic?"
"No, it's impossible. The magical energy in this dungeon is subtle but unstable. Following the flow might lead us into unknown dangers."
"In that case, our memories are the only guide..."
"What about footprints? Are there none?"
"No, I checked earlier, but not even a trace of footprints."
"The light is getting dim, and it's becoming uneasy. Let's conserve and proceed."
"If only a monster or something would show up. We could follow it and find a path."
...
"Look, we've reached a plaza."
"There was no plaza like this when we came. Does that mean we took the wrong path?"
"Even if it's a different route, as long as we can get out, it's fine."
"But here, we can stretch our legs and rest. The path so far was rough, with poor footing, not suitable for resting."
"Let's take a short break here."
"We could rest as we are, couldn't we?"
"True... let's set up a lookout and camp for a bit."
"Do we really need a lookout? We haven't seen a single creature so far."
"They might be nocturnal."
"It's been like night all along here..."
"Crow-sama, the heroes have entered that hollow, as expected."
"Well, they conveniently decided to camp. Quietly introduce carbon dioxide; we don't want them to hear it."
"Understood. However, this carbon dioxide? It can cause death so easily."
"Yes, it's colorless and odorless, making it hard to detect, a perfect way to kill cleanly."
Carbon dioxide, although common in nature, poses dangers when concentrated. In the Earth's atmosphere, its concentration is only about 0.036 percent. However, at five percent, it causes headaches, palpitations, and throat irritation, while at ten percent, it leads to ringing in the ears, tremors, and loss of consciousness within a minute. Crow had brought a gas cylinder in the form of a bomb from Earth since there was no suitable volcanic vein near the dungeon location. The decision now is whether to synthesize it with magic or replace it with a different poisonous substance.
"Now, heroes, where do you intend to go next?"