Humans possess a physiological aversion, a natural repulsion, to certain things.
Regardless of like or dislike, anyone with a normal sense would feel disgusted by certain things.
As Joey walked down the stairs into the laboratory, she thought to herself that this place was the very embodiment of repulsion.
The air was filled with nauseating smells.
The scent of decaying flesh.
The bloodstains left by countless souls who had died here.
The indescribable smell of chemicals wafting from every corner.
If someone faint-hearted had come in here, they would have vomited at the sight. Joey tightened her grip on her staff.
The others, though not as unaffected, weren’t exactly relaxed either.
Arthur, who wasn’t as used to this kind of environment as Joey, tightened his grip on his sword.
Fabius, who had often faced death, clenched his lips tightly.
Prete, who was accustomed to fighting the forces of the evil gods, also stiffened his face.
Even Lucy, who usually charged forward without hesitation, was taking cautious steps now, given the gravity of the situation.
It wasn’t strange for Prete to maintain light steps while the others struggled with the atmosphere.
"Amateurs. If you go to the side, something disgusting will pop up. Don’t scream out in surprise."
The first thing they encountered upon entering the dungeon was something that filled the space before their eyes.
It was something that, when Joey had first encountered it, had been a creature they had to desperately flee from in order to survive. Just the fact that they had survived it had been a relief.
The creature, hearing their sounds, charged at them with a roar.
"Idiot."
As soon as Lucy called out, Joey activated her magic. There was no need to ask what should be done.
The Joey standing here now was completely different from the Joey who had waited for Lucy’s orders to survive. The current Joey was someone who could act decisively.
"Everyone, close your eyes."
In front of the charging monster, a flash of light erupted. The overwhelming brightness was enough to scorch the eyes.
The monster, with its countless eyes, could not withstand the blinding light and collapsed to the ground.
Lucy, seeing this, didn’t move. Instead, she gestured to Prete. Prete, who had been waiting for the chance to swing his sword, easily severed the monster's neck with an aura-colored blade.
The monster, once an opponent they could never have hoped to fight, was now defeated without even having a chance to act. Seeing this, Joey gripped her staff tightly with both hands.
It was different from before.
The helplessness of the past was gone. Now, with the people around her, there was no reason to fear this dungeon!
"Strange."
Following Lucy’s voice, Joey turned to find Lucy tilting her head in confusion.
It was a situation where they should have sighed in relief, yet Lucy was expressing doubt, which immediately triggered a sense of unease in Joey’s mind.
"What’s strange?"
When Prete asked, Lucy frowned and replied.
"It’s too easy."
"Too easy?"
"Don’t you think you should at least think a little? Did you see the thick smoke drifting away? Doesn’t that make you suspicious?"
Where had the energy of the Void Evil God, which had filled the forest, gone after it dissipated?
This was not something to think about. The power they had prepared to suppress anyone who entered the dungeon could only be concentrated in one place.
"All that noise, and yet this place is pathetic. It’s just as disgusting as before."
Prete, like Lucy, frowned as well.
Someone with a calm mind might have thought it was a good thing if there was nothing, laughing it off.
And then they would be caught off guard by something unexpected, adding to the stench of the dungeon.
But to conquer a dungeon, one could die from a moment of carelessness.
Especially when it’s a dungeon filled with the power of an evil god.
"Keep doubting. You never know when some dirty trick might be played."
Lucy spoke like that and took the lead again.
What was it? What’s waiting ahead that makes everything feel so smooth? The more the path ahead becomes easier, the more complicated my thoughts become.
I know what the Void Evil God’s powers can do.
Among the many powers of evil gods, the power of the Void is the most passive one.
Unless the dungeon conqueror makes a mistake, it’s hard for anything to happen.
Thus, a dungeon infused with the Void's power usually relies on mixing lies with truth to confuse the adventurers.
Just like in the forest.
But this place is different.
This place perfectly matches the dungeon where the alchemist resides.
The monsters, the structure, the traps—everything is identical to the dungeon I know.
So, they must be holding back, right? Saving their strength for later?
No. The Void Evil God I know isn’t like that.
That god, the more it gets thwarted, the more stubbornly it digs in.
There’s definitely something here.
Something.
"...Lady Allen."
The perverted apostle, who had been keeping an eye on their surroundings, spoke as they descended one floor.
"That wall. Doesn’t it seem strange?"
Joey turned her head along his finger, but she couldn’t find anything off about it.
The wall there was exactly where it should have been.
Confused, she tilted her head, and the perverted apostle continued.
"That wall is less disgusting than the others."
Less disgusting. If someone else had said that, they might have called them crazy, but coming from the perverted apostle, this was serious.
No one could rival his sense of aesthetics. He would never have made a mistake about something like this.
That means...
"Heh."
I lowered my shield slightly and laughed. My voice, imbued with holiness, echoed through the disgusting laboratory.
"Did you think that if something was there, it would hide the disgusting stuff? Heh, you really are a fool. Hiding your head in the dirt, are you? You’re no different from those stupid idiots, are you?"
As I provoked, I felt a movement from beyond the wall.
The perverted apostle was right.
That wall was a trap.
If we had moved toward that wall without thinking, we would have definitely fallen into it.
I subtly glanced behind me, seeing my friends preparing for battle.
Arthur and Joey were preparing magic. Prete had charged his sword with magic, and Fabius was blessing us.
Their response was quick. This proved that all their training wasn’t in vain.
"Are you going to keep standing there? If you want to prove you’re a fool, just stay there. You look like it suits you."
"Such nonsense. You little brat."
The false wall crumbled, revealing the owner of this dungeon, the alchemist.
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The one who should have been waiting at the final spot was now showing himself.
With grotesque tentacles writhing beneath his long coat, he glared at me with deep red eyes.
"Do you want me to charge at you?"
"Isn’t it you who wants to attack with those disgusting, stinky tentacles? I know what you want. You trash, that’s all you’re good for."
I lowered my shield and laughed as if daring him to come at me, but the alchemist’s feet remained frozen.
"Are you so full of yourself, babbling nonsense? When you’re given a chance to approach, you’re too scared to come near. What a fool."
My provocation had some effect. His whole body trembled, revealing his growing anger.
Just a bit more. Just a little more, and I can make him lose control. I can drag him into our battlefield. If that happens, dealing with the alchemist won’t be too hard.
Unlike when I was taking the academy entrance exam, now, with my friends, we have the power to face this alchemist head-on.
"...So, your voice is dangerous."
Just then, the alchemist, who had seemed ready to charge, flinched. He then forced a calm tone and took a step back.
I knew why he regained his composure.
The swirling aura of the evil god around his head had forcibly calmed him down.
Seeing this, I smirked.
So, you’re going to try to handle my provocation, huh?
Ha. Go ahead and try.
I’ll make sure you can’t keep your wits about you.
"You’ll have to rely on something else then."
As the alchemist’s body began to disintegrate and seep into the ground, the dungeon started to tremble.
The change was instantaneous.
The surrounding walls crumbled, expanding the passage. What had been a normal hallway turned into a room, and what had been a room grew into a massive chamber.
After everything collapsed, two figures emerged in the center of the chamber.
One was a giant bear.
It was far larger than any normal creature, its fur as tough as iron, growling menacingly.
The other was something resembling a person, formed from intertwining tree roots.
Once the guardian of the forest, this creature now had nothing on its mind but to destroy everything in its path with its fists.
These were the forest’s masters, who had been corrupted by the evil gods.
They had become anchors for the dungeon’s creation.
And now, with their bodies modified by the alchemist, they stood before us.
Staring blankly at them, I heard the sound of the tree-like forest guardian preparing to strike the ground, and I raised my shield.
That movement was clearly preparing for a charge.
Now, it was getting ready to charge.
Something felt off.
As I looked at the tree-like creature, something didn’t sit right. It wasn’t like what I knew.
So, I broadened my senses.
I didn’t trust my eyes but relied on my instincts.
Then, I felt the vibrations from below.
It was coming from behind me.
The direction was...
Joey.
There was no time to speak.
I dashed toward her and shoved her shoulder.
Moments later, I felt a shock to my abdomen.
My body flew into the air, and I locked eyes with Joey’s dazed expression.
In the midst of this, one thought crossed my mind.
Ha. Damn it.
I fell for it.