061-080 · 069-ch62

Chapter 62: To Fear Though Unknown

"Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't understand why dungeons connect world to world. And assuming dungeons are passages connecting worlds, I have no idea what exactly uses those passages."

"You don't know!?"

At my words, Selene instinctively interjected, as if she couldn't help herself.

I had indeed said something earlier about how the truth would begin to unravel from here.

But unfortunately, I don't know.

If I did, I wouldn't be struggling so much.

"However, there are things I do know."

"...Such as?"

"In this world, connected to ours through dungeons, and in the worlds beyond the dungeons connected to this one. The human race has vanished without exception."

Having said that much, I corrected myself.

I realized that phrasing wasn't quite appropriate.

"No, that's not quite right. It's not that humans perished. Rather, the more accurate expression would be that they've disappeared."

"Humans... have disappeared..."

Yes, disappeared.

"The difference from 'perished' lies in how the cities fell into ruin. When humans are on the brink of extinction, they either struggle against it or riots break out. Well, I don't know what would happen, but I don't think pristine cities would remain. At the very least, there should be some decay. If humans fought against something, that is. But in Magnolia, at least from what I saw, there was no sign of that. The city remained beautiful, quietly decaying as if its inhabitants had suddenly vanished."

"Magnolia too, experienced such a thing..."

An uninhabited city has quite the horror-movie vibe.

Just a fun fact.

"That's why, based on what I've seen with my own eyes and information I heard from beings I met in this world, I'm speculating that there's a connection between these dungeon-connected worlds and the disappearance of the human race."

"Speculation, you say."

Of course.

There's no proof yet, and I have no evidence that the beings who gave me this information were telling the truth.

But I felt keenly aware of that possibility when I saw how deserted Magnolia was, yet how well-maintained its streets remained.

"There's no proof. But well, someday I want to find such a dungeon and verify it to the very bottom with my own eyes."

That's one of the goals I have in continuing to explore this world.

Well, I don't know which dungeon it is, but if I could meet the being who gave me that information again, they might tell me more.

At the time, I hadn't even conceived of the hypothesis that dungeons were causing humanity's disappearance, so I didn't ask.

What a waste.

"It's speculation. Just speculation. And flimsy speculation at that. But I've got this intense feeling that it's going to turn out to be true. That's why I want to keep it hidden from the people on the surface—that's my secret."

Well, at this stage, it's ultimately just speculation.

However, as a fact, this world has dungeons, and humans have vanished from this world.

And dungeons have appeared on the surface as well.

Those are undeniable truths.

"So the fact that you're thinking this far is also part of the secret?"

"That's right. Pretty unpopular, right? Even more absurd than conspiracy theories."

"...I don't quite understand, but I can tell you don't want your own speculation to be true."

This is why sharp people are troublesome.

They casually expose things others want to keep hidden.

"Don't say stuff like that even if you're thinking it."

At my words, Selene smiled sweetly.

"I did rule a nation, after all. I may have many immature aspects, but I'm quite good at understanding what people are thinking."

Hmm.

Perhaps I've underestimated her because I caught glimpses of her somewhat clumsy, un-queen-like behavior during our journey together.

"Besides, I too want to know the truth behind your concerns. As one who has lost her people, if there is a truth hidden in this world, I wish to uncover it. I believe that would be my final gift to my people."

"...Well, if that's how you feel, let's investigate it together from now on."

One who has already lost everything and seeks the truth.

And one who fears losing everything in the future.

There couldn't be a more suitable partner to join hands with.

"Yes."

At least from this conversation, it became clear that Selene displays appropriate dignity when the topic turns serious.

I don't plan to change how I treat her as an ordinary person, but depending on the situation, I'll need to be more mindful of my approach or it would be disrespectful to her.

"Well... for now, we should focus on organizing the books and items we brought back. Nothing can begin until that's done."

Now that we've finished talking, I stand up from my seat.

Serious, shoulder-stiffening conversation ends here.

The rest will be for another time.

When new truths or hypotheses take shape.

Actually, I have plenty of time to contemplate during my nights alone, but ultimately, without some kind of information, I can't move forward.

My speculation remains mere conjecture precisely because of this lack of information.

"You seemed to enjoy traveling, John-san. Will you continue to do so? Or do you plan to focus on uncovering the truth?"

As she stands up and follows me toward the basement, Selene asks.

I suppose that's something she would be concerned about.

"...About half and half. I don't plan to stop traveling as my way of life. However, now that I have someone who can decipher texts, I naturally want to reveal various information about this world."

Pioneering the unknown isn't limited to traversing it with one's own feet.

Gaining new insights through new knowledge.

That too can be called pioneering the unknown.

And that's my domain.

If so, wanting to explore it rather than leave it untouched is what an explorer does, isn't it?

"For now, I'll stay here for a few days after we finish organizing what we brought back. During that time, I want you to teach me the writing system. I'd also like you to read through the books I brought back from Magnolia."

"Understood. That's why I came along, after all. I'll properly fulfill my role."

Oh right, when I recruited her, I used some pitch about wanting a source of information about this world, didn't I?

That was certainly true initially, but after just a few days of traveling together, Selene has become something precious to me, second only to Robo.

Though it sounds strange coming from me, I probably fall into the category of people who are incredibly easy when it comes to relationships.

"Well... it doesn't have to be just that. I hope you can enjoy yourself in your own way."

At least, I wanted to make it clear that I don't intend to burden her with that role alone.

Declaring "You've come to occupy an important position in my personal relationships" would be far too embarrassing.

"Fufu, thank you very much."

"Why are you laughing?"

Selene laughed as if amused, so I couldn't help but ask.

In response, Selene deepened her smile and replied.

"I was just thinking that you're quite taken with me, John-san. I couldn't help but feel happy."

Apparently, to a queen, the actions of commoners are completely transparent.

"Sorry about that. Even though I like people, I've been acting like I'm pushing them away. So when someone comes along who can actually communicate and converse with me properly, I get a bit shaken."

"I think it's more than 'a bit,' but that's just my opinion."

"Shut up. I'll kick you down into the basement."

As we were talking like this, Robo, who usually lies lazily on the ground, unusually rose and approached us.

And then, he pressed his face against my chest as if rubbing against me.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong?"

I instinctively called out, but there was no response from Robo.

He simply kept rubbing his head against my chest, stomach, and neck.

"Fufu, perhaps he's asserting his territory, thinking John-san is being taken away?"

"What's that about..."

No, Robo, you never seemed that obedient or attached to me.

Well, I suppose we had a relationship where we could speak frankly with each other, like partners.

"Hey, wait, Selene, do something about this."

"I don't have the power to do anything about a Fenrir larva."

I sought help from Selene beside me, but she brushed me off so easily.

Not only that, but Robo started pushing me away from Selene with his snout, as if trying to separate us.

"Hey, hold on—"

I could use force to deal with it somehow, but without understanding Robo's true intentions, I don't know what the right way to stop him would be.

As a result, I end up being pushed around by Robo.

"I'll go ahead to the basement."

Selene calls out to me, so while dodging Robo's fierce assault, I reply.

"Sure thing. Don't fall again."

When I bring that up, Selene, who had been grinning while watching me entangled with Robo, suddenly turns red and shouts back.

"I'm not going to fall that many times!"

And with that, she enters the cabin leading to the basement.

But seriously, I can't help you if you fall, so please don't fall when climbing down.

Afterward, I ended up spending time with Robo, who was unusually affectionate toward me, until he finally let me go.

Incidentally, though Selene apparently didn't fall when climbing down, at dinner she splendidly slipped and nearly fell, and I had to rush to catch her—let the record show.