Live Dungeon! Chapter 362: The Path Ahead

[What exactly am I expected to do now?]

The instant Tsutomu’s eyes fluttered open, the memories from the preceding day flooded back with an unwelcome, sharp clarity. A sigh, heavy with a profound sense of gloom, escaped him as he shut his eyes once more, opting to remain enveloped in the soft bedding like a child seeking refuge from the harshness of the world.

He had been aware of it since they arrived at the Black Gate on the ninety-ninth layer, but now, with the formidable Corroded Elder Dragon standing as a looming reality, the very act of waking up had transformed into a burdensome task. Although the ongoing exploration of the ninety-seventh layer offered moments of enjoyment through its variations from the Live Dungeon, the further they ventured, the more his mood plummeted.

[It’s been more than a year. I truly believed I had managed to forget just how terrifying it is, but man…]

Indeed, the vivid recollections of his demise at the hands of the Corroded Elder Dragon had largely softened with the passage of time, the sharp edges of fear gradually dulling. To be entirely truthful, what remained etched more vividly in his mind was the agonizing experience of having a gaping hole ripped through his abdomen during the battle against the Corrupted Shell.

[And on top of all that, there’s the matter concerning the party for the hundredth layer. Things might not unfold as anticipated… Although, in a strange way, they’ve been progressing better than I had dared to hope. Yesterday’s events truly caught me by surprise. It’s been an age since anything has genuinely astonished me.]

He had fully anticipated that Korinna would make the same strategic decisions he himself would have, had their positions been reversed. After all, he had diligently guided her in the foundational principles of being a Channeler, carefully nurturing her development as a Healer. He harbored the conviction that she would instinctively gravitate towards the most advantageous choices. At the very least, he had foreseen some degree of contention over the premium Attackers, such as Amira or Diniel, and he was certain that Garm would be secured.

However, to his utter astonishment, Korinna presented him with a decision that defied all his expectations. While he had harbored suspicions of her developing an emotional connection with Amira, he had never conceived that such a sentiment would extend to none other than Diniel. Furthermore, her suggestion to swap Daryl for Xeno as the Tank was such an astonishingly illogical move that he found himself staring at her, dumbfounded.

There were moments when he even entertained the notion that she might have discerned his subtle ploy to utilize her party as a form of expendable buffer. Consequently, he pondered if she had retaliated by deliberately weakening her own combat roster. Yet, there was no discernible sign of Leleia manipulating events from the shadows, and he could not fathom the meek Korinna orchestrating such a meticulously calculated response, let alone seeing it through to completion.

If anything, it seemed more plausible that her choice stemmed from a place of empathy or a desire to circumvent discord within the Clan. That much, at least, he found easy to accept. Nevertheless, an underlying current persisted: he recalled how, during several somber discussions regarding the unfortunate demise of brave Explorers, she had exhibited an uncommon degree of sensitivity. Even though she did not appear to grasp the full extent of Tsutomu’s profound fear of death, which far surpassed that of anyone else, the peculiar gaze she occasionally directed his way resembled the delicate concern one might offer to a fragile glass ornament adorned with a minute crack.

Moreover, Korinna was the sole individual who had recognized that her assigned team was specifically assembled and optimized for a Channeler’s operational style. All these subtle divergences between him and Korinna, which had only recently begun to surface, instilled a sense of profound unease within Tsutomu; this was particularly true with the hundredth layer, the solitary place where he had ever met his end, now ominously approaching.

[Does she possess knowledge of my strategic intentions? Or was she genuinely that… unperceptive?]

Still ensconced within the comforting embrace of his bedsheets, lost in this disquieting labyrinth of uncertainty, he was abruptly jolted back to the present by a gentle, tentative rap upon his door. A mere glance at the clock revealed, with a groan of resignation, that the customary morning run and exercise regimen had long since concluded.

"Tsutomu, are you quite alright?" Garm’s deep, solicitous voice emanated from beyond the confines of the door.

"…Yes, I am fine. I simply overslept, nothing more."

"I understand. Well then, shall I see you downstairs?"

"My apologies for the delay. I shall join you momentarily."

The distinct sound of receding footsteps descending the stairs followed, and Tsutomu exhaled a prolonged sigh. With a deliberate stretch to dispel the clinging lethargy, he finally rose, splashed cool water on his face at the sink, and prepared himself to confront the unfolding day.

He had barely taken a step into the hallway, intending to hastily peruse the morning’s newspapers, when the door of the adjacent room swung open with an almost synchronized click.

"…Ah."

"Ah."

Korinna, her long tresses of cream-colored hair flowing down her back, stood frozen, resembling a startled rabbit caught in the sudden glare of a predator’s gaze. Tsutomu, on his part, remained as rigid as a cautious feline, uncertain whether the small creature before him might either lash out or flee. For a few protracted seconds, neither moved.

Realizing the awkwardness of their frozen tableau, Tsutomu offered a somewhat strained greeting.

"Good morning."

"G-good morning!"

"……"

She appeared every bit as tense as she had on the day she first took up residence in the Clan House, and Tsutomu found himself at a loss for words, unsure how to initiate further conversation. Just as he was contemplating what to say next, she suddenly blurted out,

"U-um! I truly am considering everything meticulously, so it will be alright! I’ll see you later!"

"Huh? W-wait–"

Korinna was already scrambling for the stairs, her movements hurried and unsteady. Tsutomu, concerned she might stumble, attempted to call out, but that only seemed to worsen her panic. In her flustered haste, she missed a step and nearly tumbled all the way down, landing with a thud on her backside at the bottom.

Garm, who happened to be nearby, turned towards the commotion, a puzzled look on his face.

"What was that about?"

"Ah… well, I believe you caught some of our conversation yesterday. We were discussing the hundredth layer. It seems she's still quite shaken."

"...I see."

It was hardly an ideal start to the day, but perhaps it was for the best. Tsutomu had intended to inform the rest of the Clan soon anyway. Seizing the opportune moment, he provided Garm with a concise explanation of the situation. Garm folded his arms, his expression growing serious as he listened. The disturbance must have drawn others as well, particularly on what was otherwise a tranquil holiday morning. Hannah, Leleia, and a few more individuals gradually appeared, drawn by the noise to see what was occurring. After Tsutomu offered a swift summary, Hannah's eyes brightened.

"We're finally talking about the hundredth layer!? I've been anticipating this!"

"I won't inquire about your discussion with Korinna," Leleia added, her tone cool and pointed, "but if your interactions continue to be… questionable, I will expect an explanation."

"I'll clarify everything shortly," Tsutomu responded, suppressing a yawn as he started making his way towards the breakfast table.

Nearby, Amy and Daryl, who had been listening attentively with their Beastkin ears, appeared visibly excited as they settled down for their meals. Diniel, in contrast, sipped her water with an utterly impassive expression, as if none of the unfolding events concerned her in the slightest.

Not long after, Amira wandered in, still looking drowsy from sleep, with a more composed Korinna following close behind. With most of the group now assembled, the breakfast table was soon filled with casual chatter.

Daryl, Garm, and Hannah engaged in conversation about suitable gifts for the orphanage they planned to visit later that day, while Leleia leaned languidly towards Amira, a disquieting smile playing on her lips, hinting at impending mischief.

At the opposite end of the table, Diniel and Amy were exchanging their perspectives on the monsters inhabiting the ninety-seventh layer. Occasionally, Tsutomu and Korinna would interject with small nods or brief remarks. The discussion soon veered, almost inevitably, towards the topic that had been on everyone's mind: the hundredth layer.

"So, have the party lineups been finalized yet?" Amy inquired brightly, her ears twitching with inquisitiveness.

"For this attempt, we're allowing Korinna to have partial input in the decision," Tsutomu stated. "She has developed into a sufficiently reliable Healer to manage such a responsibility."

"Whoa! Look at you, Korinny!" Amy exclaimed, grinning as she nudged her.

Flustered, Korinna drew her shoulders inward slightly. "W-well, I don't believe I can make the decision entirely on my own, so I was considering visiting Miss Pico today to seek her counsel…"

"I think that's an excellent approach," Tsutomu affirmed with a gentle smile. "Though I may have said a great deal yesterday, if the final decision is one you've genuinely considered after weighing all the opinions, I will certainly respect it. And I apologize if my words were overly harsh."

"N-no… It’s my mistake," she replied softly, her lips pressed into a firm line, her face shadowed with shame.

Amy offered a comforting poke to her cheek, attempting to ease the tension, but Korinna's strained expression showed little sign of abating.

"So, hey," Amira interjected between mouthfuls, "what lies beyond the hundredth layer, anyway? If there's more, does that mean the Dungeon extends all the way to two hundred?"

"It's difficult to ascertain," Leleia responded. "We won't know until someone reaches it. However, I've heard that even the Dungeon Maniacs are growing restless. If progress truly halts at the hundredth layer, there will be… consequences."

"The Ancient Dragon must be quaking in its boots then," Amira scoffed. "Depending on how events unfold, the Guild's operations might not endure."

Garm nodded gravely, offering his sympathy as a former Guild employee. "I can state with absolute certainty: if there is no further progression, it will pose a significant issue. It might not be immediate, but give it a year, and the cracks will begin to appear."

"You know, the upper echelons of the Pedestal could stagnate very quickly," Amy added. "People will grow weary of seeing the same displays repeatedly. Sponsors might withdraw their support as well."

"The Dungeon Maniacs are dependent on fresh intelligence," Korinna contributed, appearing to have regained some of her poise. "If new discoveries cease, so too will their influence. And what of the major Clans? There might still be a demand for Magic Stones for a period, but eventually, supply will surpass it. If the Dungeon truly concludes at the hundredth, what will your course of action be, Amy?"

"Hmm… Not entirely sure," Amy replied with a shrug. "But venturing into another Dungeon elsewhere could be rather exciting."