Satsuki-chan activated her floating skill mid-fall, gently reducing the force of our descent so that I was carried along with her. I had no idea how long we were falling. It felt like it could have been forever.
But endings always arrive without warning. Suddenly, a sensation returned to my feet—solid ground. I had no idea how many meters we had fallen, but it seemed we had finally reached a depth where we could release the floating skill.
“…I wonder how many floors we fell through…”
“Feels like we dropped down a hundred underground levels.”
Satsuki-chan had looked pretty gloomy just moments ago, so I tried to lighten the mood with a joke.
She let out a small, relieved smile.
Good. It looked like her mood had finally improved.
“Can you let go of my hand now?”
“…Ah! S-sorry!”
I had been holding Satsuki-chan’s hand the entire time without realizing it. It wasn’t like I meant anything by it—really. It’s just… it’s rare to hold a young woman’s hand like that. I guess I got carried away.
Man… I’m kind of gross, aren’t I?
> Can’t see… wait! Oh, it’s back!
> Connection was bad again for a second
> Are you two okay?
> You suddenly disappeared, what happened?
> Wait, did they fall?
> Where is this…?
> I’ve never seen this place before
> A temple?
> Shrine or temple grounds?
> Is this really inside a dungeon?
> This is straight-up a temple approach lol
> Where even is this lol
Still feeling a bit light-headed from the long fall, I finally had enough clarity to look around properly.
And just like one of the commenters had said—
A stone-paved approach covered in moss stretched out before us. That was where we were. About twenty meters ahead stood a heavy wooden structure, its roof layered in dark black tiles. A temple. No doubt about it.
Then there’s the main hall. All around us were dense green trees, making it hard to believe this place was inside a dungeon at all. Looking closer, I could even see a small garden beside the hall. A pond too—probably filled with expensive koi fish, their colors shimmering beneath the surface… probably.
From somewhere deep in the forest, the sound of wind brushing through the trees and distant birdsong echoed gently. It was strangely peaceful. Almost as if the dungeon itself had forgotten how to be dangerous.
“…Maybe… this isn’t even inside the dungeon anymore.”
“Could it be some kind of ‘shrine’ zone?”
“There’s no room like this. That’s clearly a real temple over there.”
Satsuki-chan pointed toward the main hall and let out a quiet sigh.
Apparently, it wasn’t a “temple room” or a “shrine zone” or anything like that.
“…But we can’t just stay here forever.”
“We don’t know what’s waiting for us, but let’s try heading to the main hall.”
It wasn’t far.
The imposing wooden structure stood only a minute’s walk away. We should be there soon if we just kept walking.
Still… I had no idea what awaited us. Not that I ever really did.
But this time was different. We didn’t even know if we were still inside a dungeon at all. The scenery was too calm—too natural. Birdsong drifted through the trees, and the rustling leaves made it easy to forget everything. That was dangerous.
Come on, Daishi!
The words earlier came to my mind.
Final Trial.
Something—whether it was a battle or something equivalent—was guaranteed to happen. Now wasn’t the time to relax. We need to be ready at any moment.
“…We’re here.”
“Waaah… it’s so impressive…”
The massive wooden hall stood before us, quiet and solemn. Standing right in front of what must have been the main hall, I let out an involuntary breath of awe.
I had thought it was impressive from afar—but up close, the sheer presence and severity of it were on another level entirely. It was as if history itself was pressing down on us. Each roof tile—twisted like senbei crackers baked too long—seemed to possess a will of its own, asserting its existence in silence.
There was no doubt about it. This was a deeply venerable, sacred structure.
“…Should we go inside?”
“It feels… almost too sacred to step into…”
But hesitation wouldn’t help us now. The entrance was right in front of us. We just had to steel ourselves and go in. The Final Trial was probably waiting beyond that door.
『—Wait. Not yet. Don’t enter. The final trial will be done outside.』
“…Huh?”
There it was again.
That voice. Clear as day—the same childish voice as before.
“W-we can’t open the door?! What does it mean, ‘do the final trial outside’—?!”
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Massive footsteps shook the earth—each impact heavy enough to crack the ground. A deep rumbling echoed from somewhere nearby.
Where was it coming from…?!
No way—
For a moment, I doubted my own eyes.
You got to be kidding me…
> It’s coming from over there!
> A giant race!
> From behind the temple!
> It’s huge…
> Wait, isn’t that a Buddha statue?
> Asura statue?
> No—Rāṣhtra… no, that’s Raijin?
> A god of destruction??
> That’s not a dungeon monster!
“Clairvoyance!”
There was no time to think. I need information.
| Species: Fierce God |
Eh? That’s all!?
That tells me nothing at all!
Useless! Clairvoyance is useless!
“…Ah.”
“Satsuki-chan!”
No good. Satsuki-chan had completely lost her fighting spirit. She collapsed right there on the ground. She couldn’t even speak anymore. If she stayed sitting there…
“Gubububu… I… am… Oni God.”
“…Wha—!”
It leapt.
From behind the temple, it vaulted over the entire structure in a single bound. Its landing point was unmistakable.
Us. It’s going to crush us underfoot!
I needed to grab Satsuki-chan and escape—but—
No. There’s no time.
BOOOOOOM!!
“Again… I …destroyed… yet another meaningless thing…”
“Damn it…!”
It’s heavy. Insanely heavy!
But—I held on. My stats are maxed out after all.
I’m not losing here!
Not in a place like this!
“What?!”
“Don’t underestimate me, you damn god—former salaryman strength, remember that, you bastard!!”
Fueled by that shout, I braced myself and stopped the massive blow of the stone statue—an Oni God, likely Raijin or some similar divine war form.
Then I grabbed the leg that had attacked us and hurled it back toward the stone approach as hard as I could.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com
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