——"C-Challenger wins! Congratulations on clearing the 300th floor, [Trial of Gods: Deus Discipline]!"
A slightly bewildered angel announcement echoed.
The massive Divine Beast before me retreated into the golden magic circle.
The trial's opponent was the Desert Gatekeeper Sphinx.
A giant lion-bodied, human-faced intellectual Divine Beast.
(Thank god it fought me with its power adjusted to the 300th-floor level…) (Eugene)
My eyes followed the magic circle as it dissolved into golden particles, along with my tattered exploration gear and equally tattered body.
I dropped to my knees, pretending I could no longer stand.
And then, without looking directly at it, I observed the round floating sphere in the sky…the Dungeon Eye.
Through the Dungeon Eye, news that I cleared the 300th floor should have already reached the other explorers.
(Once I return to the surface, things are going to be noisy.) (Eugene)
It was a record not broken for over 100 years.
But by tomorrow, something far bigger will happen.
Because the Dungeon City will collapse.
…Zuzuzuzu…
The surroundings changed.
A golden grassland, light-petals drifting all around…an ethereal scene.
A beautiful red-haired angel, wrapped in an aura even more mystical than the scenery, slowly descended.
She was the angel in charge of the 300th floor.
I confirmed the Dungeon Eye drifting away.
According to Rita, the Satellite System does not show images of the angels.
Meaning…right now, anything I do will not show on the surface…
——"Now then, I shall present the 300th-floor Gifted Divine Artifact…"
Before the angel could finish…
Pachi! Pachi! Pachi! Pachi!
Clapping echoed.
"You really did it, Eugene Santafield."
(So…she came.) (Eugene)
The one who appeared was a white haired girl wearing a blood red robe.
The magic around her was murky and tainted…completely different from the angel's pure aura.
She stared at me with a mocking grin.
"Fufufu, finally someone cleared the 300th floor! I knew my approach wasn't wr—"
Tan!
I kicked off the ground and slashed at the Dungeon Master.
"!?"
——"W-What!?"
Both the Dungeon Master and the angel's eyes widened in shock.
My White Sword tore through the red robe.
——"E-Explorer!? What are you doing!?"
"You… What is the meaning of this…?" (Anemoi)
Gogogogogo… The ground trembled.
Her expression sharpened, exuding a murderous aura.
"Anemoi Babel. Fight me." (Eugene)
I raised my White Sword.
That earlier surprise attack was just to anger her.
That's why I only cut her robe.
If I challenged her normally, she'd just brush me off.
(Now…will she take the bait?) (Eugene)
Anemoi Babel is short-tempered.
She told me that herself, and after living near her, I know it well.
"You think clearing the 300th floor makes you hot stuff?" (Anemoi)
Swords, axes, spears, scythes; blades of every sort spun wildly around her.
And for some reason, the blades were dripping with blood.
(Dungeon Magic…Iron Execution.) (Eugene)
It was a spell she often used when enraged.
——"S-Stop the Dungeon Eye cameras! Stop! Stop!!"
The angel was panicking.
I felt a little bad.
"Eugene Santafield. I actually looked out for you… If you apologize now, I might forgive you." (Anemoi)
Her expression was furious, but she was at least trying to be generous.
But…
(I really can't let her calm down.) (Eugene)
I need to beat the Dungeon Master here and recruit her as an ally for tomorrow's battle.
So the words I need to say are…
"What's wrong? Scared? If this is all a dungeon master amounts to, then there's no reason for me to explore any further." (Eugene)
Those words should hit her the hardest.
——"N-No, Explorer-san! That's bad! Apologize! APOLOGIZE!!"
The angel was panicking, forgetting to turn off her amplification spell.
…This isn't being broadcast through the Satellite System…right?
I was worried, but I kept my eyes on the Dungeon Master.
"You clearly need discipline! Dungeon Magic: [Iron Execution]!!!" (Anemoi)
In the next moment, nearly a hundred magical blades flew toward me.
Tan!
I easily evaded using Sky Walk.
"You think that counts as dodging!? Dungeon Magic: [Bloodthorn Chains]!" (Anemoi)
Red chains shot toward me from the air and ground, trying to bind me.
From 360 degrees…apparently inescapable.
I probably would've been caught my first time seeing this spell.
But I've seen this spell hundreds of times.
(Anemoi…always leaves her left-rear blind spot loose.) (Eugene)
I slipped through the slight gap.
"You… Not bad." (Anemoi)
She sounded a little shaken.
"What, is that all?" (Eugene)
A light provocation.
Her face twisted in anger.
(Sorry.) (Eugene)
I apologized in my heart.
I never wanted to say things like this.
Anemoi desperately wanted explorers to break records.
But I couldn't show that on my face.
"You'd better be ready to lose an arm! Dungeon Magic: [Thousand-Blade Storm]!!!" (Anemoi)
A thousand swords rained down from the sky.
——"Hyeee!!"
The angel fled in a panic.
Watching calmly, I raised my Black Katana.
◇◇
"You… You're lying…"
Anemoi's eyes trembled in shock.
My black blade rested against her neck.
A little pressure and that slender neck would fall.
——"S-So…strong…"
The angel's voice trembled.
Please turn off the amplification spell already…
"I win." (Eugene)
I said as calmly as possible.
Anemoi's expression twisted in frustration.
Tears welled in her eyes.
For someone so competitive, this must be unbearable.
So unbearable she might want to die.
"…Just kill me." (Anemoi)
She looked away, speaking in despair.
Seeing that, I felt self-loathing, but I didn't show it.
"I'm not going to kill you. But I need you to do something." (Eugene)
Her eyes widened.
"You want me to be your slave, explorer!? Don't be ridiculous!" (Anemoi)
Of course not.
"Dungeon Master, just listen…" (Eugene)
"Enough! I'm a failure of a Dungeon Master! I couldn't even push the record further, and now I lost pathetically to an explorer! The Destiny Goddess, Ilia-sama, will abandon me! Another Dungeon Master will be sent to replace me soon! I'll be disposed of! So just kill me now!!" (Anemoi)
The blade dug into her skin as she thrashed and screamed, drawing blood.
She didn't care and kept screaming.
(Just as I thought…) (Eugene)
I remembered a conversation with the future Anemoi.
◇◇
"Eugene. If you challenge the me from three years ago and beat me, I'll probably throw a tantrum and won't be able to talk." (Anemoi)
"Really? If I just explain properly…" (Eugene)
"Impossible. The only reason I can talk now is because the Red Dragon missummoning and three years living with you in the Zenith Tower made me reflect on myself. The me from back then? No chance of a conversation." (Anemoi)
"But without your power, we can't fight the Red Dragon…" (Eugene)
Anemoi grabbed my hand and put something into it while I worried.
"Use this. You can use contract magic, right?" (Anemoi)
What she handed me was…
◇◇
"Anemoi." (Eugene)
I called her name for the first time since coming to this time as I grabbed her right hand.
With my free hand, I pulled out the long red needle from my pocket.
"W-Wait, what are you…!?" (Anemoi)
Before she could struggle…
I pierced through both my hand and hers with the red needle.
"Eugene Santafield forms a [Life Contract] with Anemoi Babel! Duration: two days! During this period, we will risk our lives to protect each other!!" (Eugene)
I shouted.
A brilliant light enveloped us.
…Thump. My heart felt like it was seized.
Suddenly, Anemoi felt impossibly dear to me.
I withdrew the Black Katana and sheathed it.
Anemoi slowly stood.
The needle that pierced our hands had vanished.
"Y-You…" (Anemoi)
Her voice trembled.
"For the next two days, you and I are one. Just bear with it until tomorrow." (Eugene)
I turned my back to her.
"W-Wait!" (Anemoi)
She grabbed me.
As if the fight moments ago had been a lie.
She didn't attack me at all, and I didn't guard against her.
We trusted each other completely from the depths of our hearts.
(Amazing… So this is a Life Contract…) (Eugene)
It was a method the future Anemoi proposed.
She said…
"Since no persuasion will work on the me from three years ago, just force the contract. Using a magic needle made from my blood, you can form a Life Contract. I've pre-engraved a consent formula into the needle, so just stab both me and you with it and declare the contract." (Anemoi)
"Uh…is that really okay?" (Eugene)
"Of course. I consented, so it's fine." (Anemoi)
Her casual answer echoed in my mind.
"Eugene Santafield! Explain! W-Why am I…with you…" (Anemoi)
"Stop." (Eugene)
I covered her mouth.
My future memories probably synced with her.
She was extremely confused.
"Mmm…!?" (Anemoi)
"I'll explain tomorrow. Please wait until then." (Eugene)
Hearing that, she accepted it surprisingly easily.
"Tomorrow…you'll tell me?" (Anemoi)
"Yeah, I promise. I'll tell you everything." (Eugene)
"Alright. Call me if you need anything." (Anemoi)
With that, Anemoi used a teleport-like spell and vanished.
——"Um…Explorer-san, what should I do now…?"
The angel, who must have watched the whole time, asked timidly.
"Sorry for the trouble. I'm heading back, so you can return as well." (Eugene)
——"Y-Yes. Please be safe…"
Her voice faded.
The golden grassland turned back into a green one.
(That finishes the first part of my job…) (Eugene)
I wondered if everyone else was doing well.
I headed toward the dungeon elevator.
I was exhausted, but there was still much to do.
I pressed the button for the 1st floor.
Then I confirmed my next goal.
(I need to talk with Eri.) (Eugene)
Sumire should already be heading there.
But it won't be easy.
Her life experience is on another level.
Compared to Eri, Sumire and I are like infants.
But Eri's power…or advice…is indispensable to fight the Red Dragon.
I hurried toward the 7th Sealed Prison.