Chapter 2

Part 1

With the elevator, they quickly arrived at the 13th underground floor.

That sort of cheat didnt exist in this other world.

In regards to travelling, it was austere no matter where they went, and was a pallid, unkind design like old Western video games.

Really, there is reality even in another world.

What was written on the first underground floors inner door was This is not a Flag Battle, but an Elimination Battle.

It was in Japanese in the game, but it seemed that it was written in this worlds language. With Diablo being unable to read it, Rem read it out loud.

Diablo explained.

When all of the monsters on this floor are defeated, a staircase will appear in the back. Though I say monsters, they are all low leveled.

Horun nodded several times.

But, there are also some hidden monsters, so it was pretty difficult -ssu.

Rem asked a question.

UmAs I thought, Diablo, you knew about it, didnt you?

Mu?

About this dungeonBut, why are you so well-informed about it? Even in regards to the former Demon King territory, it seemed that you knew many things about it. However, being from another world, Diablo, this should have been your first time visiting this land. Even with the dungeons location, without Horuns guidance, it seemed as if you didnt know where it was.

It couldnt be helped if she thought it was strange. To know about the mechanisms inside even though he didnt know the dungeons location

He pondered over what would be a clever excuse.

But if he could come up with something like that, his hardships with communication would(rest omitted)

It is because I am a Demon King.

Is that so.

Rem looked like she wasnt fully satisfied. That was reasonable.

Diablo turned his gaze towards Lumachinas direction. She didnt have time.

Right now, it would be best to hurry on ahead.

Yes

Rem is rational and wise. She immediately withdrew.

They stood at the mazes entrance.

Several thin stone walls formed a complex maze.

On the first underground floor, only the monsters levels were low, but it had become a searching around quest to find out where in the complex maze the monsters were.

Since the location of the monsters were random, even Diablo didnt know where they were.

Some would be camouflaged into the ground and walls, while there were some that stuck onto the ceiling and fell on top of Players that were passing by.

As the producer, he had a feeling of wanting to be upfront with it and enjoy it but

Unfortunately, we dont have the time right now.

Diablo turned towards the darkness, and prepared his Staff of Tenma.

Lumachinas legs were slow, and they needed a few more days than they expected to reach the dungeon, but thanks to that, his MP had recovered.

Right now, it was at about 30%.

It wouldnt be a problem even if he used a somewhat largish magic.

Virus Cloud!!

A curtain of wind sprung forth in front of his eyes. On the other side of it, dark clouds spread out. Black air spread out to the back of maze.

The presence of the monsters that wandered about in the dungeon vanished.

Rem asked a question with a frightened sounding voice.

Diablo, that is?

It is Poison Magic.

It was level 110 Wind and Darkness Attribute Magic. It would annihilate the low level monsters in an enclosed space like the dungeon. It would have no effect on monsters that did not breath though.

P, poison, is it.

It is beca

use there is no need to fight fair and square against the hiding and lurking monsters.

That isBut, will we be alright going through the path?

Be at ease, the effective time is short.

In the game, it was 60 seconds, but in this world, there were many cases where the scale of distance and time were different. In the end, the dark cloud of poison lasted for about five minutes.

At the back of the dungeon, a *gakon* sound was made.

So the staircase has appeared.

It seems that the monsters were annihilated.

As the producer, I dont really like cheating like this though.

They continued onto the next floor.

Part 2

The stone staircase that looked like it was carved out of bedrock continued down in a spiral-shape.

This part was a part omitted in the game.

Rems eyes went round.

This is magnificentI have never seen a structure this splendid.

I know right

Shera was also impressed, and stroked the wall.

Horun nodded once again.

I was also super surprised when I first saw it -ssu!

Even the grand chapel in the royal capital isnt this well made. It might be possible that it isnt a building made by the people of the Races.

Rem and the others nodded at Lumachinas words.

That is possible. It might have been created with powerful magic just like Zircon Tower.

The Zircon Tower that was the symbol of Zircon Tower City was constructed with precious stone that had a sense of translucence. It couldnt be cut with common methods, and it was said that the people of the Races didnt even know how to create it.

It was judged as being created by the Demonic Beings.

Diablos group finally arrived at the second underground floor.

Transforming Maze

This place is a maze that changes with the passage of time. Monsters also wander about.

While talking and worrying about where to go, the wall at the back would open up and monsters would appearThat sort of pleasant event could also happen.

So the maze changes? It seems like memorizing it will be difficult.

Rem pondered over it.

Shera raised an uneasy voice.

If we get separated, it might be hard to return to the entrance.

We might not even be able to join together again. You could be eaten by monsters, die from starvation, or get caught in a trap.

Hii!?

It will be alright, Shera. You will be discovered by someone eventually. You might have turned into a skeleton corpse by then though.

That isnt alright at all, you know!?

Shera coiled herself around Diablos arm. Her large bulges pressed up against him.

I dont want to be left behind, Diablo!?

Being hit with a surprise attack, he unintentionally winced.

Demon King-like words that would soothe a frightened young girl in front of a dungeonHe couldnt come up with any in an instant.

At any rate, with his arm being held tightly, it would be hard to fight when monsters appeared.

Separate from me.

Uu

She made a face that looked like she was about to cry.

What should I do!?

At that time, Lumachina touched Sheras shoulder.

It is alright. Let us believe in Diablo-sama. With you like that, he will be troubled when danger approaches, you know?

Th, thats trueYeahIm sorry, Diablo.

Hmph.

Although he felt a bit disappointed when she separated from him and the soft, warm feeling left as well, but Diablo was relieved in his mind.

If those were pressed up against him, he would be nervous, and he wouldnt be able to capture the dungeon.

Horun spread out a parchment.

This is a map of when we came here last time -ssu. I think that it has already changed though -ssu.

Now that you mention it, Horun, you said that youve gone as far as the third floor, didnt you?

Thats right -ssu. On the third underground floor, there is a room that monsters come out from in swarms, and was really troublesome -ssu.

About how long is the length of the maze?

It took us about half a day -ssu.

That long?

Diablo found that to be surprising.

In the game, they should have come out in about 5~10 minutes but

Come to think of it, even going to Faltra City from the Starfall Tower should have taken 5~10 minutes in the game, but in this other world, it took about six hours.

It might be possible that it had become a far more vast and complex maze than Diablo thought it would be.

If they were to diligently capture it, there was a possibility that they would take more than half a day to do it.

What should they do?

Diablo looked at one of the walls. It was made from stone. Its thickness was about two bricks thick. Being able to move, they werent bulky.

Come to think of it, although terrain cant be changed with magic in the game, its possible in this other world, isnt it. I guess I should try it out.

Flare Burst!!

A thunderous roar resounded.

Explosions that had their focus narrowed down happened consecutively and destroyed the target.

Several walls were broken, and holes that lead to the back appeared one after another.

They were holes that they could pass through.

If even the location of the staircase to the next floor had changed, he would have ended up opening holes in the wrong directionbut going by what they had experienced up until now, although the distance was different, the direction was surely the same.

Yosh.

When he turned around

Rem and the others were flabbergasted with their mouths wide open.

Sheras eyes were sparkling.

Thats amazing! Itll be easy if we go forward just like this!

This much is only natural, for I am a Demon King after all.

He said that in a tone that wasnt particularly proud, but even he was surprised in his mind.

To think that it would go this well!

Although the games magic had a visual effect of gouging out the ground, in actuality, it wouldnt change it. It could happen since this was another world.

As expected of you, Diablo-sama.

Lumachina looked at the broken stone walls and was strongly impressed.

As usual, Horun was surprised and frightened. For an Adventurer, he was a timid fellow.

An earth tremor occurred, and several stone walls started moving.

Do not stray too far from me. It is not my fault if you lose sight of me.

When Diablo called out to them, Lumachina and Horun became flustered and went through the holes.

Part 3

On the third underground floor, F43 was written.

It was written in this worlds letters, but when it was this short, Diablo could understand it.

So it is written like this in this place.

It might be good if he learned the Lifelia Kingdoms language eventually.

The third floors mechanism was a homage to a certain retro game butsince the retro game that was the source material wasnt in this other world, it turned out to be a floor with no hints.

It was made so that when Slimes of differing color were defeated in order, the staircase going down would appear.

Their stationing and movements were random.

However, the Slimes movements were slow, and since it wasnt a very spacious maze, they were able to clear it quickly.

The fourth underground floor

Do you want to go to the next floor!?

The moment they went through the door, they were engulfed in hot air.

Rems expression distorted.

Wh, what is this?

Hyah!? Rem, isnt that!?

Looking down from the cliff that acted as their foothold, Rem raised a scream.

What was flaming and burning was, lava.

That heat had changed this floors air into a scorching heat.

Rem was suspicious.

There shouldnt be, any volcanoes in this area. And we havent gone deep enough to see something like that. Isnt this just an illusion created through magic?

This hot feelingis an illusion?

Maybe because she was weak to heat, Lumachina dripped sweat and asked that.

Rem also wiped the sweat from her own forehead.

Certainly, this does not appear to be an illusion. But I believe there is no mistake that it is lava created through magic.

In any case, lets continue on ahead -ssu. If we stay here the whole time, it feels like well dry up -ssu!

Horuns words were reasonable.

When they continued on ahead, the cliff that was their foothold was interrupted before long. Below was lava. A wire rope stretched out to the opposite side.

There was a gondola hooked onto that wire rope.

Are we supposed to go to the other side with this?

So hot!?

Having touched the gondola that was made from iron, Shera made an uproar. Her fingertip turned red. It seemed that she was scalded.

Lumachina held one hand out.

Ara ara, please show some modest mercy to the great and honorable Gods follower that lives on this blessed landCure Light.

*Hou* Her hand shined.

Sheras scald was cured in an instant. Going *waa*, she let out a smile.

Thank you, Lumachina-chan!

If you are going to give thanks, send them to Kami-sama.

Un! Thank you, Kami-sama!

Rem breathed a sigh.

Even though you knew that things were heated up by the lava, why would you touch an iron gondola, you stupid Elf. Im sure that even Kami-sama is bothered by you.

I mean, I was wondering about how to move it!

At the very least, wear some leather gloves.

Ah, I see.

As for Rem, she had iron tekkou equipped.

She was a Summoner, but she could also manage close combat using her fists like a Fist Fighter. She possessed the tekkou as her weapon.

Lumachina asked a question.

Rem-san, isnt it hot?

That is, well, it is hot, isnt it.

I feel like Im dying -ssu.

The one that was the most exhausted was Horun.

To think that the Warrior-type man would be exhausted before the Healer woman, how pathetic! So not only was his outward appearance that of a child, even the inside was like that.

That being said, this heat was unexpected for Diablo as well.

Both the gondola and the lava were arranged by him, but in the game, there was only a graphic that made it look hot. In actuality, it felt as if they had turned into ingredients that were being cooked or something.

If we dont hurry up and clear this floor, well be annihilated from dehydration.

Everyone got on board the gondola.

After pushing the lever forward, it started to slowly advance forward.

It rumbled and shook.

Its shaking! Its shaking!

When Shera made an uproar, Rem glared at her.

Keep silent. What will you do if there are monsters? Do you intend on calling them out?

Uguh.

Diablo shrugged his shoulders.

Be at ease. Monsters have not been deployed in this fourth underground floor. However, you are not only going to be shaken around in the gondola. In fact, you could say that the true terror of this dungeon is going to start from hereon out.

Wh, what was that?

The gondola came to a halt.

Horun raised an agitated voice.

FuwaAah, it stopped -ssu! Were done for -ssu! Its so hot that were gonna die -ssu!

Shut it. If you find it hot, then take off that pointless equipment. Something like leather armor that hasnt been endowed with magic, it is nothing but dead weight against the monsters we will be facing against beyond here.

Uu

More importantly, concentrate on the incoming questions. They will come to you as well.

Eh?

With a *kan kan kan kan!*, a chime resounded.

Do you want to go on ahead!? O!!

That voice could be heard from nowhere in particular.

Diablo wiped the sweat from his forehead.

To think that he himself, moreover in a party, would participate in thisit was the worst.

From here on, the questions of a quiz will be asked! If you get it correct, the gondola will advance! If you get it incorrect, the wire rope will slacken! Heaven, or hell! The Lava Crossing Ultra Super Miracle Quiz!

When I made this, a quiz show was on TV. Moreover, since I had sleepless nights for about three days, I had a strange high tension going on.

Experiencing this objectively like this

How embarassing.

It was a dark history.

If it was possible, he would first construct this floor over again.

The reasons why he couldnt say that he himself had created this dungeon increased by one more.

All party members will answer in the quiz in turns!

Diablo gritted his teeth.

He himself made the setting for the quiz. No matter what maniac subject was brought up, he would be able answer all of the questions correctly.

However, there was a rule that all members of the party had to answer. If there was someone that was ignorant, they would end up dragging everyone down.

It was a friendship breaking type of rule.

Winners and losers would come out in the party, and this rule that made the losers become a bother to the others would produce criticism from their companions.

It was something like doing a large jump rope with the entire class. When even one person missed the timing for the jump, it would be treated as if everyone failed.

Revealing the partys excess baggageIt was that sort of devilish rule.

Well, if they are members that got along well and were able to consult each other on online chats or in real life, this wouldnt be much of a problem though. This floor at least

The problem was whether or not Rem and the others could clear the cult-like quiz related to Cross Reverie. This was another world, and there were no online chats, telephones, or people inside of them.

Question! Is the thing that is not effective on Cyclops Crocodiles, magic? Or swords?

Rem raised her hand.

It is magic.

To think that she would answer herself without any timidity in spite of the quiz having started quite abruptly. She had a comprehensive faculty and assertiveness that wasnt common.

There was a momentary pause.

The correct answer isMagic has no effect!! Splendid!

The gondola shook, and advanced several meters.

Rem nodded.

Like this, it looks like well be able to arrive on the other side if we answer correctly five times.

Umu

An easy victory -ssu ne! I will answer the next one -ssu!

Horun rolled up his sleeves.

Question! Is the habitat that the Madara Snake lives in, in water? In the trees? Or in a hole?

ErmIn, in a hole -ssu!

Bubu!! The correct answer is, in water!!

Wah!?

Horun held his head in his arms. Rem and Shera also screamed.

Diablo breathed a sigh.

Even without having to say it, criticism from the party would gather. This was the fearsomeness of the friendship breaking rule.

The gondola, goes down!!

The stretched out wire rope loosened, and with a *gakuh*, the gondolas position lowered.

Kyah!?

Diablo supported Lumachina who had her balance broken.

You had best be careful.

Th, thank you very much.

In the event that the others got scalded, they could be cured by Lumachinas miracles, but miracles couldnt be used on her herself. It could be cured if there were HP Recovery Potions but

When he had a substantial amount of HP shaved off in the fight against the Head of the Holy Knights, he used up all of the ones he had on hand.

*Fuwah* The heat increased.

It must have been because they got closer to the lava.

Rem took off her tekkou. And then, she took off the belt that she stored her Summoned Beast crystals in, and turned it into hand luggage.

Fuu

Its so hot!

Shera took off her shoulder cape. On top of that, she grabbed the hem of her skirt, and flapped and fanned it. That released some heat.

Even Lumachina took off the mantle that was put on her.

It certainly is hot, isnt itIt is dizzying.

UUu

While only Horun was dripping sweat, he didnt take off any clothes. Was it a manly show of endurance?

Even Diablo wanted to take off his mantle but

Due to his habit, since it wasnt Demon King-like, he stubbornly stuck through it.

Shera raised one hand.

Then, Ill answer the next one.

Question! In the Fortress City Faltra, how many gates are there? Four? Eight? More than that?

Ah

Rem raised her voice. Diablo could understand the feeling but

Whoa there, in the event that there is an act that seems like giving a hint, it will be unconditionally counted as incorrect!

In a rush, Rem shut her mouth.

Diablo stared at Shera.

Notice! Notice! Notice!

Shera nodded.

Her eyes looked like they were saying Its alright.

Fufufu, there are two walls in Faltra City, and since each one has four gates, its eight!

The correct answer isMore than that!! There are a lot of gates! Castle gates wasnt said in the question!

Eh!? No way, thats sneaky!

It was a stereotypical trick question. The guy that created this quiz has a terrible personality.

Well, its me though.

The gondola fell once more.

It drew even closer to the lava.

So hot!

Finally, Shera started to take off her clothes.

Rem opened her eyes wide.

Wha, what are you planning to do!?

I mean, when its this hot, I get dazed, and it gets impossible to do riddles.

Certainly, that might be true. This is for the sake of capturing the dungeon.

Consenting to that strange reasoning, amazingly, even Rem started to strip.

Lumachinas face went red.

H, how shameless.

If youre an Adventurer, its life over shame. The capturing. Its the same as bathing it cold water. Thinking that its shameless is more shameless.

When she was seriously remonstrated by Rem, Lumachina also consented, going so thats how it is.

She also started taking off her hot-looking clothes.

Horun, who was still dressed in his lightweight armor,went *unyu*, raising a strange voice, and collapsed to the middle of the gondola. It seems that he went down from the heat.

Lumachina, who was now dressed in her underwear, tightly clenched her fists.

Is my turn next?

Question! Which among these is the biggest monster? The Sand Whale, the Green Behemoth, the Legend Dragon!

Diablo was flustered.

Of all things, she was hit with a question aimed towards the considerably high leveled people.

If it were games Players, they might have participated battles that were group battle events but

Most likely, Lumachina has probably never even seen any of them. She should have seen only the Sand Whale in Zircon Tower City though.

She answered.

According to the books in the royal capital library, it is the Legend Dragon.

The correct answer isThe Legend Dragon! You got the right answer!!

Yooray!! Lumachina-chan, that was great!

Shera hugged her.

After that, the two of them went *hot* and made strained laughs.

As expected of the High Chief Priest. She had extensive knowledge. It seemed that her power of miracles wasnt the only thing strong about her.

The gondola moved forward.

Beads of sweat surfaced on the girls skin. The drops went along the top of their smooth skin and fell.

Going *HaaHaa*, they panted.

They had flushed faces, and moist eyes.

While gazing at them, Diablo felt like he was starting to have a strange feeling.

Even though it should have only been hot, he had become somewhat embarrassed.

Has even my head suffered damage due to the heat?

He felt like he was about to involuntarily extend his hand out.

No, no, that was ridiculous.

The girls were party members, they were in the middle of capturing the dungeon right now, and they were stripping because it was hot due to the lavas heat.

Thinking that it was shameless was more shameless.

Shera let out a sigh.

NnuDiabloNext, is your turn, you know?

Rem wiped the sweat on her chest.

Please get it rightIf it becomes, any hotter than this, then it feels like we will have to take off even our underwear.

That is true. My underwear is already soaking wet.

Even though Lumachina was blushing, she pinched her wet underwear.

If I get it wrong, theyll be nude!?

Diablos heart pounded. A large bead of sweat fell from his forehead.

Question! Cross Reveries start is in, January? April? September?

A meta type question had come.

Rem and the others didnt even understand the meaning of the question and tilted their heads.

Naturally, Diablo knew the answer.

Nude.

Going *no no no*, he shook his head side-to-side.

Dont look down on me! I am a Demon King. The Demon King Diablo! MMORPGs are not just a game! I will not deny my own way of life!

It is September. The pre-opening was planned to be in April but it was postponed to September, and the true opening was in January of the following year.

That is correct!!

Once all of the members had a turn, they had more leeway. The remaining questions were answered by Diablo and Rem, and they arrived at the opposite cliff.

When they passed through the door leading to the lower floor, the heat of the lava disappeared and felt as if it were all a lie.