n

n

n

nI'd just brought back the Ambrosia from the tea party.

n

"Wow! You found the Ambrosia!

"

n

"Wow, so much… That's plenty for the quest.

"

n

"Master! With so much around, it's alright if I eat one, right!? Right!?

"

nGo ahead, eat. One won't hurt.

n

"Delicious. Juuuuicy! Kinda makes ya feel energized.

"

n

"Should we try some too, Muzoh?

"

n

"Yeah, Uzoh. Let's share one.

"

nI decided to try one myself… It tasted pretty much like a pear. Sweet and delicious.

nThere's a bit of a medicinal flavor to it too… Like cough syrup?

nUzoh and Muzoh also swallowed theirs.

n

"Thanks for the treat. It really invades the body.

"

n

"Did you find anything other than Ambrosia? I wonder what that mysterious presence was.

"

nI pondered for a moment on how to respond to Muzoh's question.

n

"… Maybe a Dryad or some kind of plant spirit. I got the Ambrosia from them.

"

n

"A Dryad! I see, that makes sense.

"

n

"To think you could negotiate for Ambrosia. That's impressive.

"

nWell, it's mostly true. Core Number 219 was originally a plant-based monster, and being a Dungeon Core, it's something like a spirit. Ontentoo actually was a spirits. So it wasn't really a lie.

n

"Anyway, that way is a dead-end. Let's head this way.

"

n

"Hm, understood.

"

nWe headed towards the boss room recommended by Core Number 219.

n

"… Seems like there's a strong presence this time.

"

n

"Yeah, but apparently it's not too strong.

"

n

"Hm, you know about it?

"

n

"I'm told that it's just a bit stronger than an Ivy Giant, so we should be able to win. According to the spirit at least.

"

nUsing the spirit as an excuse came in handy here.

nOtherwise, it'd be like How do you know that? I mean, I could have just charged into the boss room without saying anything, but still.

nThe room was quite spacious—inside was a giant ball of tangled vines, bigger than our inn. A giant red flower bloomed on its front, about four meters in diameter. With stamens and pistils combined, it looked almost like a parabolic antenna.

n… Is that the boss?

n

"Ah, that is… a Giga Plant!

"

n

"You know it, Muzoh!?

"

n

"Yeah. That's a Giga Plant. It's one entity—well, no. It internally houses plant monsters, so maybe not just one? Anyway, it's a huge monster.

"

nGiga Plant. A giant plant that produces plant monsters.

nIt's a play on words with Plant as in a plant and Plant as in a factory plant—actually, it also meant Plant as in planters for growing plants, a triple meaning monster…!

nThough they shared the same etymology… I wonder if it's the same in this other world? Well, that's not important now.

nThe issue is that it's literally like a factory, producing Soldier Plants, Claymore Self-Destruct Weeds, Cannon Flowers, War Cacti, and Ivy Giants.

n

"… So it's an endless spawn of minions, then?

"

n

"That's about right.

"

nThen, as if the Giga Plant noticed us, a groan resembling the sound of machinery started.

n… She said it was okay to defeat it, so… shall we try? Well, if it looks like we're going to die, there's always my Super Transformation. If push comes to shove, I can throw everyone into Storage and run.

nIdeally, it'd let us escape for Rokuko's sake.

n

"Shall we run, Muzoh?

"

n

"Seems so, Uzoh.

"

nHuh?

n

"Eh, because there's nothing else we need to do ahead. Right, Muzoh?

"

n

"Right, Uzoh. We have plenty of Ambrosia already. There's no reason to fight.

"

n

"… Oh, okay. True.

"

nAs if the Giga Plant heard us discussing, it suddenly bloomed its flower in a panic. And just as quickly as it wilted, Ambrosia appeared on it.

nIt kinda seemed like the Giga Plant was proudly showing off its reward.

n

"… Look, it prepared some reward for us?

"

n

"No need, we've got plenty. Right, Muzoh?

"

n

"Getting greedy doesn't end well. It's crucial to know when to pull back. Right, Uzoh?

"

n

"… But I wanna eat that one.

"

nIchika's opinion was ignored.

n

"Life comes first…

"

n

"If we were the type to act recklessly here, we wouldn't be alive. Well, yeah, we were forced into recklessness in the Demonlands… but we had strong support from our comrades.

"

n

"You guys must've had it tough.

"

nWell, I never said we had to defeat it, neither did Number 219.

nThat was a close one. I almost ended up working for nothing…!!

nSo, shall we head back? Just as we were about to turn around, several flowers resembling trumpet guns bloomed wildly from the Giga Plant's body, shooting seeds at us in an attack.

nWow, it's like a battleship on land. I created a wall without chanting to block the seeds.

n

"Whoa, thanks, Kehma-san. Let's hurry and get away.

"

n

"Eh, did you just chant?

"

n

"I did, it's Stone Wall.

"

nWell, it's actually Stone Pile, but I modified it into a wall.

n

"Then, shall we go back? You remember the way, Muzoh?

"

n

"Yeah. Of course, Uzoh.

"

n

"Right, let's deliver the Ambrosia while it's still fresh… Master, can't you just quickly go and quickly defeat that thing and get some more Ambrosia?

"

n

"Don't be ridiculous. I can't do it alone.

"

nI could probably manage if I went all out, but I don't feel like showing that to the Uzoh-Muzoh bros or Number 219.

nI thought Number 219 might say something about not showing Rokuko something cool, but Rokuko probably doesn't want to see me fight anyway. If anything, she'd probably just be laughing heartily right now if she was watching.

nI know that running away in front of an enemy now won't make me disliked.

nBecause it's not for the sake of our Dungeon's defense. There's no reason to go all out.

nI only need to fight seriously when my sleep is disturbed or when I need to protect Rokuko.

nSo, sorry to disappoint Number 219's expectations, but we turned tail and ran.

nWe faced some interference on our way out of the dungeon, but we managed to escape without much happening.

nSo tired—

n

n