Vending Machine - 225 - The Dungeon Master

Chapter 225: The Dungeon Master

Link: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7583de/

Author: Hirukuma

Translated by Zzonkedd

Edited by Gumihou

“I’ll ask the first question,” said Hyurumi. “What exactly are dungeons and dungeon masters?”

It was a general question, but an excellent one. Even now, no one knows why dungeons exist in this world. The one widely known fact was that conquering the final floor would grant a wish.

『An excellent question. Well, a dungeon is, in essence, an artistic creation. No, no, it would be more accurate to call them amusement facilities constructed by ancient wizards to show off their magical abilities. Such creators are called Dungeon Masters.』

“Ancient wizards?”

『Long ago, further into the past than one might imagine, a great clan of wizards once ruled this world. They possessed absurd levels of magic and could bend laws of nature into their will as they liked… Well, for some reason, this great clan was wiped out, but that was a completely different matter. Not related to us at all.』

Woah, to be honest, I don’t know much about this world’s history. This was my first time hearing about this clan of magic beings. I wonder if it was common knowledge. A quick look around the table showed that everyone had frowns on their faces.

Ah, it looked like it’s not common knowledge?

“I have never heard of such a clan,” said Hyurumi, the frown on her face was especially prominent.

Well, if Hyurumi, the resident know-it-all, doesn’t know, there’s no way the average person would.

『There were various reasons, and… circumstances. It’s possible that the history of that time had been deliberately erased and buried. This place is likely little more than a sandbox for the gods. After all, people from other worlds are brought here with alarming frequency.』

The Dungeon Master said this meaningfully, while staring right at me.

While I would certainly like to know more about the history of this world, we have more pressing matters at hand. So, let’s forget about it for now.

“So, these great wizards built dungeons and competed with one another to… show off their creations. Is that about right?”

『Indeed, that is certainly a decent summary. These wizards would send enslaved people or subordinates into each other’s dungeons and enjoy themselves watching how the dungeons were ‘conquered’. Naturally, they would brag about how their own dungeon was superior. Other wizards would retaliate by sending challengers to other dungeons, and so the cycle continued.』

So, it really was created for entertainment. In the modern Japanese context, these Dungeon Masters would be game developers who create games, obstacles and challenges for others to play while they enjoy the spectacle.

“Is that so? Well, here’s my real question. Is it true that any wish can be granted upon reaching the deepest floor?”

Hyurumi finally asked the key question that really mattered.

While the history and origin of the dungeon were interesting, there was a reason why we all worked so hard to conquer it.

The expressions of Leader Keyroil’s family turned grim as they waited for the answer. After all, they had bet on everything, betrayed friends, just on this.

『Indeed, it is true.』

The party nearly cheered at this flat statement.

『However, there are limits.』

The mood instantly dimmed.

Ah, well. I suppose even great wizards aren’t all-knowing and all-powerful. I had my hopes up, so this was a little disappointing.

“Dungeon Master, is it possible to remove my son’s negative Gift?” Leader Keyroil interjected, unable to hold back any longer.

The Dungeon Master glanced at him and smiled.

『Indeed. I can use my magic to remove an unwanted Gift.』

“O-Oh! Then, p-please remove the Corrosion from my son!”

Leader Keyroil was practically pleading, but the Dungeon Master raised a hand.

『Do be patient. I have not yet explained the terms and conditions for the wishes.』

That’s right, we still have no idea how the wishes worked, or how many would be granted.

『First, there is no limit to the number of wishes you may make. So long as it is within the set conditions, I can grant as many wishes as you like.』

A collective intake of breath followed.

Still, since the wishes were conditional, it was better to hear the entire explanation before celebrating.

『For example, if you wish for gold, silver or treasures, I can give you any amount of magic tools and gems I have accumulated over the years. Like this.』

With a casual wave of his hand, a mountain of gold and silver appeared beside the throne. Coins, massive gemstones the size of human fists, extravagantly decorated weapons and armour. It was far more wealth than any sane person could process.

Everyone’s eyes lit up at the sight of the unreal amount of wealth in front of us.

『For wishes that go beyond the ordinary, such as removing a Gift, consumes magic. As such, it would be limited to my abilities and magic power.』

“How much magic are we talking about?” Hyurumi asked.

『All the magic that powers this dungeon. Once that power is spent, the dungeon will collapse』

So that was why dungeons vanished after wishes were granted.

Still, that was a huge amount of magic. Just how many wishes could he grant before the dungeon actually collapses?

“Then, how much magic would it take to remove Ash’s corrosion and turn Hakkon back into a human?” Hyurumi asked, glancing at me, then back at the Dungeon Master.

The Dungeon Master stared at me intently. He still had that tired middle-management aura, but his eyes felt strangely piercing.

『Hmm, it is just barely possible. However, doing so would exhaust all other magic-based wishes.』

I could… really become human again? I mean, I had hoped for it, but the wish had been something I had left at the back of my mind, but to actually hear that it’s possible was…

It made me wish I had cheeks so that someone could pinch me.

“Oooohhh! For real! Did you hear that, Hakkon?”

“Isn’t that great? You must try my cooking when you become human again, Hakkon!!”

“Fufufu… warmth of human… flesh…”

Ramis and Hyurumi clung to me suddenly, with Pitee sidling up from the back.

“Congratulations, Master!”

“That’s great, Hakkon. Now we can erase my son’s Gift without hesitation.”

Everyone gathered around me, celebrating as if it were their own victory. All sorts of feelings welled up in me to the point that I could not tell whether I was feeling happy or anxious. However, seeing the happy faces around me made me think that maybe becoming human really was worth it.

I want to touch them, feel them with my own hands. Ramis and everyone else… that’s right, no more hesitation!

『Apologies for interrupting, but please listen until the end. I do have enough magic to grant these two magic-based wishes, but the dungeon would collapse after that. Would that be alright? Naturally, you will survive, but everyone else within the dungeon would be buried alive.』

My friends, who had been celebrating earlier, suddenly stopped moving. They turned their faces towards the Dungeon Master.

In other words, granting my wish would mean the destruction of this dungeon and the death of everyone still inside it.

There was no way I could accept that.

“I really thought Hakkon could finally be human,” Ramis sniffed.

“Damn it, is there really no other way?” Hyurumi muttered.

I watched as my friends’ shoulders slumped and replayed the Dungeon Master’s words in my head.

Granting two wishes would drain the dungeon of its power in its entirety, causing it to collapse, leaving the residents with no time to escape.

Then, wasn’t the solution obvious?

『Oh? It looks like Hakkon thought of something.』

Could the Dungeon Master read my thoughts like Kikoyu?

“Wi-sh la-ter”

“C-an”

『Well, of course. I can remove the negative Gift first. Later, once the dungeon residents have escaped, you may return and make your second wish.』

Oh, good, looks like I was right. Sure, it meant that we would have to make the long drive here, but that was a small price to pay.

The important thing was getting Ash’s curse lifted. I really don’t mind not getting my wish granted.

『The Kind of the Netherworld may have sealed the entrance, but I can get it to open for a while. I did have enough power for both wishes, but much of my magic had been stolen.』

The Dungeon Master sighed as he dabbed at his brow apologetically. He really did look like an exhausted salaryman.

“If you are truly fine with that, Hakkon, we shall take you up on that offer,” Leader Keyroil said. “Are you sure?”

“Welcome”

I could have had my wish granted first, but it did not seem right to deprive desperate parents of this opportunity to be rid of a debilitating curse after suffering for so many years. It would be… inhuman, for the lack of a better word.

First, let’s set Ash free from this curse. Once everything had settled, I could take my time and regain a human form again. It would also be a good idea to use this time to sort out my feelings and clear my head.

『Very well, I shall remove the Gift of Corrosion from the child. Come forth, please.』

It would be great if this Dungeon Master fellow were someone who could be trusted, but there was no guarantee that he could have been lying about everything.

Ash most likely understood this as he carefully approached the throne with Sulrim.

『Removing an innate Gift would have required far more effort and magic, but since this Gift had been forced upon the child, it would not be as difficult』

The Dungeon Master said as he placed a thin hand atop Ash’s head. When he removed his hand, a dark, grey thing followed, as though it had been dragged out. The formless thing struggled violently, only to be mercilessly crushed out of existence when the Dungeon Master gently closed his hand.

『With this, the Gift of Corrosion is gone. You shall no longer be tormented by pain.』

Ash looked at his hands in disbelief, as though the words still hadn’t sank in yet. Sulrim stepped back, even when he was out of range of her Nullification power, she showed no signs of distress.

“It doesn’t hurt… it really doesn’t!” Ash whirled around with tears in his eyes to beam at us.

Red and White rushed forward, hugging him tightly. Keyroil held Felmina, quietly stroking his wife’s back as she cried silently. The brim of his hat was lowered, obscuring the view of his face as he stared at the ceiling.

Their most desperate wish had come true. We all watched as the family cried in relief, not wanting to interfere.

Next to me, Ramis and Hyurumi were smiling, tears brimming in their eyes as they watched the Keyroil family with a little envy.

Things continued like this for a while when Ash suddenly looked up, his eyes searching for someone. Then, he suddenly broke away from his brothers and ran towards Sulrim.

“Thank you… for everything, Big Sis Sulrim!”

She smiled sadly at him, “You’re free now, you don’t need to force yourself to be with me…”

Ash quickly interrupted her, “That’s right, I’m free now! I can choose to stay with you!”

Sulrim covered her mouth, her shoulders trembled, and then she embraced him tightly.

Their relationship had started off as mutual exploitation, eventually developing into a bond of sorts. Still, there was something unsettling about that woman’s expression as she hugged the boy…

Still, this marked the end of the Whimsical Fool’s most pressing issue. All that was left now was letting the dungeon residents know of the coming danger so that they could evacuate before the collapse, and then come back down here to make our final wish.

『Finally, the moment I have been waiting for!』

As if to mock my thoughts, a familiar jubilant voice suddenly echoed throughout the chamber.

[Gumihou: Haha, but of course…]

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