Friendly Reincarnator Chapter 96: Results of the Investigation and Secrets of the Planet

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　Heading towards the wall from where the Lesser Vampire was, there was an entrance to the 3rd floor.

　I entered through the entrance and went down the stairs to the third floor and started mapping, I found that it was smaller or smaller than I expected.

　The end of the hall was a square, and there seemed to be a square room at the end of the square.

　I wrote the maps of the second and third floors on a piece of parchment and headed for the square.

　In the center of the square, there was nothing but a ball of black haze.

　I was not stupid enough to mess with the haze, so I left it behind and entered the space at the back of the square, which was divided like a square room.

　The entrance was a normal-sized entrance without a door, and it was enough for one person to pass through, but once inside, it was a square space of about 20 tatami mats and about 3 meters high.

　When I turned on the searchlight, I found a light blue crystal ball floating in the center of the room.

　The size of the ball was one size smaller than a bowling ball, and it was gently rotating.

　I wondered if this was the dungeon core. It’s a very beautiful sphere, but…

　I heard that if you destroy it, the dungeon stops growing and it just remains a hole, I’m going to be teleported to the dungeon’s entrance, right?

　I held the crystal ball with both hands and the crystal ball flickered without breaking.

　The words flowed directly into my head.

　(Are you a dungeon user?) (Voice)

　“Who are you? How are you talking to me? What is a dungeon user?” (Louis)

　I returned the question to the voice echoing in my head. That’s the thing about returning a question to a question, but I have too little information to respond to a question asked of me.

　(I am the Dungeon Core. The one who nurtures and manages the dungeon. I am calling you directly. The slime on your shoulder can do the same. Those who use the dungeon are those who use the dungeon for the planet like me. Are you a dungeon user?) (Voice => Dungeon core)

　I see, they are speaking to me in telepathy just like Huey. I plan on replying politely. However, I don’t quite understand the meaning of their question.

　“I’ve been asked to destroy the core, and I’m confused. I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about what you’re asking.” (Louis)

　(What is your question?) (Dungeon Core)

　“What does it mean to use a dungeon for the planet?” (Louis)

　(They slow down the destruction of the planet by consuming the energy of the Dragon Vein. That is the role of a dungeon.) (Dungeon Core)

　What? The dungeon is slowing down the destruction of planets by making them consume energy?

　“I don’t understand! Are the dungeons consuming the planet’s energy? Are you saying the planet has too much energy?” (Louis)

　(Yes. The energy of the Dragon Vein accumulates in the planets but is not consumed. The accumulated energy will eventually destroy the planet. Dungeons are built to delay the critical point.) (Dungeon Core)

　Was the energy of the Dragon Veins enough to destroy the planet?

　Are dungeons created to consume it?

　Why? The, who is generating them? Is it Jupiter?

　This must be the planet’s great secret…

　I mean, aren’t dungeons like living things that grow? Like the core is the heart?

　I came back to myself and asked more questions.

　“What happens to the dungeon if I take the core out without destroying it?” (Louis)

　(It doesn’t change. The dungeon will stop growing for a time, but eventually, a new core will be born.) (Dungeon Core)

　“Well, can someone create another dungeon with the core taken out?” (Louis)

　(It’s possible.) (Dungeon Core)

　“What is the effect on the surroundings while one is being carried around?” (Louis)

　(We don’t think it will have any effect, but if you enter another dungeon, there is a possibility that you will be communicated with by that dungeon.) (Dungeon Core)

　A conversation with a ball is surreal. …hmm? Does that mean I can talk to other dungeons? The only way to take this one out.

　“Then I’ll carry the core with me. Let me hold off on answering whether or not to use the dungeon.” (Louis)

　(Understood.) (Dungeon Core)

　“Oh, I’ll carry you, the core with me, but you won’t be able to control the monsters currently here as soon as I take you out of this room?” (Louis)

　I don’t know if it’s right, but from the conversation we’ve had so far, it’s natural to assume that the core is creating programs or otherwise giving instructions.

　(If I give the instructions ahead of time, I can control it for a few hours.) (Dungeon Core)

　“I see. If that’s the case, please instruct the monsters in the dungeon not to move until their controller is gone.” (Louis)

　(Understood.) (Dungeon Core)

　Immediately after the reply, I received a short reminder, “I have given the instructions.” I threw the dungeon core into my Infinite Storage.

　Once again, I decided to return to the entrance and exit while defeating the monsters in the dungeon. I had to destroy the remaining monsters: the orc hordes and goblin hordes on the first level, the ghouls on the second floor, and the Vampire Bats on the third floor.

　I leave the room and head from the third level to the second level. I should get out of here as quickly as possible without taking too much time.

　The black haze that was there when I entered the third floor was gone.

　I went up to the second floor and searched for Ghouls, Vampire Bats, and Zombie Wolves, about 20 of them in all, but when I designated an area and purified it with Purification, the Ghouls and Zombie Wolves were purified and disappeared, and I killed the Vampire Bats, which was wriggling on the ground and could not fly, with my sword.

　After a few minutes, I went up from the second floor to the first floor, returned to the junction, and took down the orcs and goblins in turn with my short spear.

　I felt a little sorry for the monsters that just stared at me while not recognizing me as an enemy. Despite this, I was surprised to see a few chunks of orc meat drop.

　Since it was a race against time, I used my short spears sparingly, and also used my long spears on the high orcs to finish them off.

　After defeating all the monsters in the dungeon and taking out the core, this stray dungeon became a mere cave for a while. But I was told that the core would be restored later.

　Returning to the village, I submitted a map of the second and third floors to the village chief and explained the situation of the dungeon in detail.

　I also showed him the drop items [Scorpion Stinger], [Lesser Vampire’s Fangs], [Bell of Enchantment], and [Orc Meat Chunk] together and told him that the dungeon core had been destroyed and was now just a cave, but that the core would eventually be restored and the dungeon would be operational if a little weaker.

　In the end, the village issued a certificate that I had both surveyed and conquered through the dungeon, and I received 20 gold coins for the cost of the survey and for lodging since I had extended my stay at the village’s request.

　I felt a little bit guilty, as the reward was quite small considering the contents, but I also felt a little guilty because I had not actually destroyed the core.

　I urged the village chief to either have an earth magic user seal the entrance to the cave or fill it to a certain depth manually, as it might become a monster’s nest if the entrance was not properly sealed.

　The village chief agreed and settled the cost of the survey.

　I warned him that whether or not the dungeon was left unattended, new cores would be created and monsters would be born again even if the cores were destroyed, so I was persistent in requesting the guild or the government to manage the dungeon as soon as possible.

　Incidentally, I don’t think I made any money from the monster materials this time, but I felt I was getting closer to the secret of the planet, so I had no complaints.

　The next morning, when I left the inn, the village chief and the men of the village had gathered to see me off.

　I left Perche Village with a wry smile on my face as they spoke of their true feelings: “A child adventurer,” “You are a child, but you are quite mature,” “You are strong despite your small stature,” and “You did a good job despite the small fee.”

　My destination is Valmy, the royal capital of the Kingdom of Avrigny.