A massive wolf. That was the thought that came to me.
From the bottom of the chasm, we looked up at the creature standing on the upper ledge. It was enormous. Its forelegs alone were taller than an adult human, and from its back to the ground, it must have been at least five meters. Fur as pale and icy as moonlight covered its entire body, and its blood-red maw and gleaming white fangs were grotesquely vivid.
Fenrir—the giant wolf who had introduced himself—scanned us with golden eyes that reminded me of the moon.
“I am the chief of the Wolf Bones.”
His voice echoed through the vertical pit like a rolling drum.
There was another monster. A man descended from Fenrir’s back. His upturned eyes and jagged mouth brought to mind the monsters we had faced in the royal capital.
—Wolfbone Skoll.
Though this man from Fenrir’s back didn’t wear armor or wield a hammer, instead clothed in rough robes and holding a staff, he gave the impression of a mage—or perhaps a priest.
He spoke his name.
“I am Hati of the Wolfbones.”
I quickly exchanged a glance with Mia-san. She brushed her red hair back, her mouth twisting in a grimace.
“Damn… relatives of that monster, huh?”
The massive wolf Fenrir let out a deep, resonant howl.
“Well then, I have introduced myself. Gods, heroes… and you? Will you not give your names in return?”
The monsters’ eyes were fixed squarely on me. There was no choice but to stand tall.
“I am Rion.”
And with that, I drew forth the golden coin.
“Alarm!”
A brilliant burst of golden light erupted. From the coin and the horn, every god allied with us manifested. Fenrir squinted, a wicked smile curling his massive muzzle.
“What… a sweet and familiar presence…”
Solana appeared to our right, Heimdall to our left, each taking their stance. As the god of awakening drew his blade, the sun caught it, making it glitter with dazzling light. With the sun goddess nearby, the power of awakening surged even stronger.
Heimdall’s gaze was cool, his lips curved into a calm smile.
“There’s no need for formal introductions between us, is there?”
He chuckled, a low, amused sound.
“Kuku… indeed, you are quite right.”
Fenrir opened his massive jaws and exhaled deeply. Dust and dirt swirled around us, kicked up by the sheer force of his breath. The stench of blood and iron seemed almost to reach us.
“Fenrir!”
I raised my voice.
“…In the royal capital, we heard the distant howl from the west!”
“That was me. I brought you here for two questions I wish to ask.”
The colossal wolf’s voice rolled downward like thunder.
The other monster—Wolfbone Hati —stepped forward, positioning himself to shield Fenrir. Fenrir continued speaking from behind him.
“Why do you fight?”
For a moment, the question didn’t make sense.
“…It’s obvious. If monsters were to overrun the world, that would be the end, wouldn’t it?”
Fenrir’s throat rumbled, clearly unimpressed.
“Yes… hmm, indeed. But you should already be aware of Odin’s schemes.”
A wave of caution rippled between us.
Clearly, even the monsters knew of Odin’s schemes.
I scanned my surroundings carefully. If someone had shared Odin’s plans with them, there was only one person it could be. And that person might still be here.
“…Uru?”
I whispered.
A voice echoed in my head.
『I hear you, Rion.』
『Yes… his presence is here.』
God of Hunting Uru held his bow in the air, eyes sharp and unyielding as he kept Fenrir and the others in check. Only his voice resonated in my mind.
『Other monsters’ presence, too.』
『Something unpleasant is stirring among the creatures around you.』
If the enemies had summoned us here deliberately, danger was inevitable.
I activated my skill to detect the surroundings. Multiple side passages branched off from the chasm’s bottom, leading further into the dungeon. Beyond the darkness, a multitude of red glows shimmered.
The monsters’ magic radiated even to this far point, unmistakable and ominous.
『Still, there was no sign of Ymir.』
『This was likely a former stronghold, once used but now abandoned.』
That alone brought a measure of relief. If Ymir were here, we would have needed to retreat immediately.
Lu touched my back.
“…Oniichan.”
I smiled at my little sister’s whisper.
“It’s fine. As planned, Heimdall will keep you safe.”
“…Yeah! You be careful too, Oniichan.”
While exchanging words with Lu, Wolfbone Hati grew impatient. He slammed his staff into the ground, sending the entire chasm trembling. Stones rained down from the walls.
Fenrir howled.
“We are the Wolfbones! Wolves hunt in packs!”
The massive wolf fixed us with his gaze.
“You are a strong pack. A strong pack could ignore weaker packs and move toward a new world. Why do you not do so?”
Pack… he meant a party, perhaps. The gods, and we, were growing stronger by the day. And Odin had plans to bring the gods and “heroes”—adventurers strong enough to stand alongside them—to a new world.
Fenrir let out a mocking growl from deep in his throat.
“There is such a place, isn’t there? A new lair for the strong.”
I met the great wolf’s gaze without flinching.
“We won’t be going there.”
I would not leave this world—not the world I had lived in with Lu and the gods. Just as my father had handed me the horn, someone had to protect it, and someone else would inherit it in turn.
“…Hmph.”
Fenrir growled. His golden eyes rolled slowly, as if disappointed, though the sound carried a subtle respect.
“Very well, then. Let us proceed to the second question.”
Those golden eyes widened.
We braced ourselves.
Here it comes!
The great wolf lifted his head and howled toward the sky.
—Uooooooooooooh!
The entire chasm trembled with the sound. Beside him, Hati drove his staff into the ground, anchoring himself.
Fenrir bellowed.
“Let us see the extent of your strength!”
Safi leapt up to the level of my head.
“This is bad! They’re trying to collapse the whole chasm!!”
A chill ran down my spine. In an instant, a blade of pure, honed magical energy cut through the air from straight ahead.
“Ugh.”
I met it with my short sword. The blade of magic dissipated harmlessly, but had I reacted a moment later, it would have surely cleaved my neck.
The attack came from straight ahead.
Where there had just been a wall, rubble now gave way to a yawning darkness—and someone stepped forward.
I drew in a sharp breath.
“…Freyr.”
The God of Fertility—and of betrayal—stood there, eyes drifting past me to fix on Lu. A faint, unsettling smile curved his lips.
Lu’s face paled.
Those eyes weren’t looking at her. They seemed to pierce something within her. The gaze ignored Lu herself entirely.
“Heimdall… please.”
I called on the god to protect Lu and positioned myself to block Freyr’s view. All the while, the chasm continued to crumble beneath our feet.
Freyr crouched slightly, ready to strike at any moment.
“…Solana, can you lead everyone out of the hole safely?”
Solana nodded.
“Alright. But if we do that, we won’t be able to investigate the dungeon… or find any clue about Ymir.”
“…Yeah, that’s true.”
If we retreated, we’d gain nothing.
Then… there was only one choice.
The collapsing vertical shaft seemed connected to the dungeon after all. Gaping side tunnels yawned open here and there. Our companions smiled at me, ready.
Mia-san hefted her axe with a clatter.
“Let’s do this, Rion.”
“I’m in too.”
Felix-san, staff in hand, gave a firm nod.
Lu’s voice rang out, determined.
“I… I can’t just keep running away!”
I raised my voice, projecting over the rumble of falling rock.
“Everyone! Follow the gods—take the side tunnels and get to safety!”
It was as if our decision had been the signal. From above, magic rained down like a torrential storm. I caught a muffled shout from Hati somewhere in the chaos.
Ancient spells echoed through the shaft, eerie and oppressive.
Dust and debris swirled, thickening with each moment. My vision narrowed, and through the haze, I noticed movement ahead.
“—!”
Reflexively, I raised my short sword—but Freyr’s blade struck it instead. He had rushed straight at me.
“Impressive reading.”
Freyr had clearly fixed her aim on me.
Through the dust, Lu’s voice reached me, calling out, fading with the distance. So did everyone else’s. This blinding storm of debris and magic—an obstacle meant to scatter us. The gods and our companions had each vanished into separate side tunnels, fleeing the chaos on their own paths.
“Ugh!”
From above, a massive boulder tumbled down. The collapse was accelerating! Between Freyr and me, a streak of golden magic flashed across.
“Rion, this way!”
Solana grabbed my hand.
I tumbled into one of the side tunnels with her, fleeing the choking cloud of dust and debris. We ran deeper and deeper, pressing on through the dark dungeon. In the pitch-black maze, Solana’s guiding light was a lifeline, showing the way forward.
“…Solana, do you think we’re safe once we reach here?”
“Mm.”
The collapse had lasted far longer than I expected. Perhaps Fenrir and Hati had intended to seal off the entire place with their combined power. It made sense—they were blocking what was essentially the shortest path to the heart of the dungeon. Trapping us in there would be tactically sound from their perspective.
Minutes passed, maybe even ten, before the roar of falling debris finally ceased.
“Hoh. You….”
I crouched slightly.
It was the worst possible situation for me—but, fortunately, this meant he hadn’t gone after the others yet.
“…Freyr.”
I spoke, and the god of harvest smiled faintly. From his tall frame, he drew his sword and held it loosely in a ready stance. As always, there was no opening, no flaw in his posture.
“So… you entered the same side tunnel as I did.”
Our swords were raised.
Solana, Freyr, and I stared each other down.
A rustling brushed past our ears.
Solana shouted.
“—Rion, monsters!”
“Yeah!”
A shadow blackened the ceiling above. On closer inspection, it wasn’t a shadow—it was a swarm of countless bats.
“Gigii!”
“Ggiggig!”
“Kii!”
Their screams pierced our ears.
The bats charged. Freyr and I sliced through them in perfect synch, our timing uncanny—perhaps a residue of the times we had adventured together. Once the swarm was repelled, I hastily turned back to Freyr—but he just gave a wry smile and lowered his blade.
“…The monsters Ymir left behind… they’ve awakened at Fenrir’s howl.”
Freyr shrugged.
“What will you do? I’d prefer not to engage in a fight-to-the-death here. Therefore… a ceasefire—and we aim for the exit together—how does that sound?”
I exchanged a glance with Solana.
Looks like this Blood-Red Sunset Dungeon was about to become a very unusual kind of challenge.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com
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