As Miyoyu and Len approached the massive, ancient stone door leading to the dungeon, Len felt a strange mix of excitement and dread. The air was thick with tension, and the eerie silence of the forest around them made every rustle feel like an omen. Len's nerves were clear, but his confidence hadn't wavered completely—after all, he had made it this far.
Len "Uhm, so… how do you open the door again? Do you like, need a spell or something? Some chant or… a secret knock?"
Len tried to play it cool, though the sweat on his brow betrayed him. He stared at the large stone door adorned with runes, each glowing faintly with an ancient energy.
Miyoyu, ever so nonchalant, leaned against a nearby tree with a lazy grin, twirling a strand of his hair between his fingers.
Miyoyu "Not necessarily. You just need to knock once on each rune in a certain order. But honestly, I'm way too lazy for that, so I just use a spell."
Before Len could try the sequence, Miyoyu casually flicked his wrist and muttered something under his breath.
Miyoyu "Lihok nah."
The runes on the door flared to life, pulsing brightly before the massive stone door suddenly opened, a violent gust of wind pulling Len in without warning.
Len "YOU BASTAAAAA—!"
His scream echoed through the air as he was sucked into the dark abyss of the dungeon. Miyoyu chuckled to himself, clearly pleased with his prank.
Miyoyu "Always gets him."
Len landed with a thud, less than gracefully, on what felt like soft grass—only it wasn't grass at all. He looked down and realized he had crash-landed onto a massive, wriggling plant monster. As it groaned beneath him, the surrounding foliage stirred, and soon, a host of plant creatures, with roots for legs and vine-like arms, began crawling toward him, their grotesque mouths gaping open.
Len "You've gotta be kidding me…!"
The plant monsters let out ear-piercing screams, alerting more of their kind. The once calm forest floor was now teeming with movement as the horde surrounded Len. Thinking quickly, Len dug into his pocket and retrieved his magnifying glass. His heart pounded in his chest, but he knew he had no other choice.
Len "Okay, okay, focus… focus…"
He held the magnifying glass up to the dim light filtering through the ceiling of the dungeon, channeling a burst of light energy through it. The glass began to glow, brighter and brighter, until it unleashed a concentrated beam of light, cutting through the plant monsters like a scorching laser. The creatures screeched in agony as the beam burned through their leaves and vines, reducing them to smoldering ash.
Len "That's what you get, suckers! HAHAHA!"
For a moment, Len stood there, crazed with the thrill of victory, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins. But his moment of triumph was interrupted by a familiar voice in his head.
Miyoyu (via telepathy) "Ooo, now this is the side of you I like. Keep that energy up, and it'll be smooth sailing from here."
Len, snapped out of his victory dance, rolled his eyes.
Len "Ahem, ahem. Yeah, well…"
Miyoyu "And another thing, if your glasses are prescription, couldn't you have laser vision? Why buy that magnifying glass?"
Len, suddenly realizing the absurdity of the situation, paused.
Len "Uh—wait… I mean, I thought of that but…"
Before he could finish his sentence, the ground rumbled. A massive shadow loomed over him, and his eyes widened as a gigantic figure emerged from the earth. The towering creature resembled a Dryad, a feminine figure wrapped in thick, green vines with glowing white eyes filled with wrath.
Len (gulping) "Wait… is that what I think it is?"
Miyoyu, unfazed, spoke nonchalantly.
Miyoyu "Yup. That's a Dryad. You know, the one that messed up California for a decade."
Len "WAIT-!"
Before he could react, roots shot out of the ground, aiming to impale him. He barely dodged the first one, stumbling backward. In the chaos, Miyoyu appeared out of thin air, casually pushing Len out of harm's way just before another root struck.
Miyoyu "Can't have you dying on me now. I didn't expect this particular Dryad to show up, though. Brings back memories."
Len, still catching his breath, yelled out.
Len "OKAY, ENOUGH REMINISCING! WE HAVE A COUNTRY-BREAKING MONSTER AT OUR HANDS!"
Miyoyu gave him a sly grin.
Miyoyu "Relax~ I'm just here to make sure you survive. You're the one killing it, not me."
Len "WH-WHAT?!"
Miyoyu smirked, crossing his arms.
Miyoyu "Stop yelling~ you're making my ears hurt. It's easier than you think. With your abilities and the dungeon's natural weaknesses, it's going to be a cakewalk. Now shine bright, flashlight boy."
Len, unamused.
Len "Don't ever call me that again—"
The Dryad, enraged, let out a deafening scream as it swung its massive vine-like arms at Len. He immediately raised the magnifying glass, focusing the light once again. His body glowed as the beam concentrated, firing a powerful blast directly at the Dryad. The creature shrieked, its glowing white eyes blinded by the intensity of the light.
Its screams echoed throughout the dungeon, far louder than the earlier plant monsters. The sound was so overwhelming it caused Len's ears to ring, but he pressed on, maintaining the beam until, finally, the Dryad let out one final scream and collapsed, lifeless.
Miyoyu "See? Dryads don't do well in enclosed spaces or one-on-one fights. The only reason this one nearly took down a country was that it tapped into the world's natural roots. Thank the gods it didn't fully mature."
Len stood there, panting heavily, staring at the massive corpse of the L-class monster. His initial excitement was quickly overshadowed by pain as he realized his ears were bleeding from the Dryad's screams. His vision blurred, and before he knew it, he collapsed to the ground.
---
Len awoke to find himself in what looked like a luxurious apartment. It was an upgrade from the run-down hotel they'd stayed in earlier. As he sat up in the plush bed, he noticed the large windows overlooking a bustling cityscape. Confused, he walked to the window and peered outside.
Len (murmuring) "W-woah… are those… people?"
There were people—hundreds of them—wandering the streets below, looking as lost as he felt. But there was something off about them. They moved strangely, like they weren't fully human.
Miyoyu's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Miyoyu "Those are the beings you've killed. They exist here now, in this subspace. You can fight them, manipulate them… whatever you want. They're yours to command."
Len turned around, bewildered.
Len "Wait... Explain more?"
Miyoyu stood leaning casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed.
Miyoyu "Think of it as your own little pocket dimension. Every soul you take in a dungeon is trapped here. You can summon them to fight for you, replay battles, or even make them serve you."
Len "But you said the space can't be fixed up naturally… How can they help?"
Miyoyu "They're part of the place. They can't fix what's broken, but they can make changes. Rearrange the furniture. Clean up. Whatever."
Len shook his head, still trying to grasp the concept.
Len "Okay… I'll keep that in mind."
Miyoyu "Good. Oh, and here."
Miyoyu tossed something to Len. It was a badge, shaped like a delicate silver flower.
Miyoyu "This is the Forest's Heart. It's the reward from the dungeon."
Len examined the artifact, his eyes widening.
Len "You're… giving this to me?"
Miyoyu "You earned it. I just picked it up while you were out."
Len "What does it do?"
Miyoyu "It lets you talk to monsters and animals, makes you some kind of Disney princess. Plus, it enhances your senses and lets you know where everything is in a forest. Oh, and if you're about to die, it'll teleport you to a random forest to be healed by fairies. After twelve uses, though, it breaks."
Len blinked in surprise.
Len "How do you know this…?"
Miyoyu, with a cheeky grin.
Miyoyu "Trust me, bro."
Len sighed.
Len "...Alright, I will."
The two ventured downstairs to where the ghostly figures of the plant monsters—now humanoid and transparent—wandered aimlessly, the echoes of their footsteps reverberating off the halls. After the encounter with the Dryad and Len's near-death experience, Len found himself both exhausted and exhilarated by the trial they had passed. However, the subspaces mysteries were far from over. ventured deeper, they reached the lobby. At its center stood a towering figure—a womanly creature with grass-like fur, glowing white eyes filled with restrained fury and ancient wisdom. She moved slowly, every step rustling with the sound of leaves. This was Miranne, the Dryad, the one that they defeated earlier.
Miyoyu smirked knowingly, while Len tensed, still shaken from the last battle.
The Dryad's eyes locked onto them, then softened as she recognized Len. She bowed deeply, her posture humble and reverent.
Miranne "You… you are the one who defeated us, correct?"
Len, taken aback, stammered a response.
Len "Uh—uhm, yes, I did…?"
Miranne's voice softened, almost grateful, despite her fearsome appearance.
Miranne "I am grateful. Being trapped mindlessly in that forsaken place for eons… was unbearable. This place, though... it's peaceful. It could use some life, perhaps."
She shifted her focus, realizing who Miyoyu was.
Miranne "It is you… Young Master D—"
Before she could finish, Miyoyu's expression turned sharp, cold as ice. He cut her off with a voice that pierced the air.
Miyoyu "Who told you to speak?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. The very presence of Miyoyu now radiated authority, a weight that pressed down on everyone present. Miranne immediately recoiled, bowing her head even lower in submission.
Miranne "I—I apologize, Young Master. I did not mean to overstep…"
Len glanced nervously between the two, confused and unsettled by Miyoyu's sudden change in tone. The playful, carefree friend he knew was now an entirely different person, someone who commanded respect and fear from this ancient being.
Len "Wait… What's going on? Who is she talking about? And who are you really, Miyo?"
Miranne, trembling slightly, began to speak, her voice filled with respect but also a trace of fear.
Miranne "Might you be dense? To not know the great Seraphim of Lady Oubri herself? He is the holder of the legacy, the one that carry on the holy hymns of life and death!…"
But before she could say more, Miyoyu stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with an almost predatory glint.
Miyoyu "Miranne. I told you, didn't I? Not. Another. Word."
The atmosphere became stifling, suffocating even. Len could feel his heart pounding in his chest. It was clear now that Miyoyu wasn't just some chill guy from school who liked to use slang and mess around. There was something far more serious and ancient at play here. The weight of Miyoyu's authority as the legacy holder of his mother's teachings was undeniable, and Miranne was but a follower, completely at his mercy.
Miranne "Forgive me, Master. I did not intend to upset you."
Miyoyu's expression softened ever so slightly, though the coldness in his gaze remained.
Miyoyu "As long as you remember your place. I may tolerate many things, but speaking of her name—that is not one of them."
Len finally spoke, his voice quieter now, sensing the tension in the room.
Len "Lady Oubri…? Who is she? And why is it such a big deal?"
Miyoyu didn't immediately answer, letting the silence stretch uncomfortably long. He glanced at Len, his playful smirk returning, though it no longer seemed as carefree as before.
Miyoyu "You're not supposed to know, Len. It's safer that way. If you did… well, I'd have no choice but to deal with you."
Len gulped, unsure whether Miyoyu was joking or not. But something in his tone told him it wasn't worth pressing any further. The conversation shifted as if Miyoyu had completely brushed off the previous mood.
Miyoyu "Anyway! Miranne, I've got a job for you. You and your little plant friends here."
Miranne, relieved at the change in topic, straightened herself.
Miranne "Yes, Master. Anything you require."
Miyoyu smiled, snapping his fingers, and suddenly the plant creatures, including Miranne, were dressed in butler outfits, neat and formal, a sight that seemed so out of place in the dreary dungeon setting.
Miyoyu "Perfect. Now then, your job is simple. Maintain this place. Keep it clean, keep it running smoothly. And if anyone tries to mess with this subspace, well… you know what to do."
Miranne bowed deeply once more.
Miranne "Of course, my Lord. We shall protect this place with our lives."
Miyoyu chuckled, his earlier cold demeanor almost forgotten.
Miyoyu "Good girl. Now get to work. I want this place spotless by the time we leave."
As Miranne and the other plant creatures dispersed to carry out their duties, Len, still shaken from everything that had just transpired, shot Miyoyu a look.
Len "You seriously need to explain what's going on, Miyo. Like, for real."
Miyoyu waved off the concern with a light laugh.
Miyoyu "Don't worry about it, Len. Some things are better left in the dark, ya know? Now, let's go. We've got more to explore!"
Though the tension had lifted, the weight of the legacy Miyoyu carried remained palpable in the air. As they walked forward, Len couldn't shake the feeling that he had just scratched the surface of something far bigger than himself—something tied to Miyoyu's mysterious past. But for now, he would have to trust his friend and hope that whatever burden Miyoyu was carrying wouldn't lead them both down a dangerous path.