CH 35

December 13th, 2022

Beta Reader: My_Own_Worst_NPC

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The entrance to the dungeon was a set of double doors over three meters tall.

Six Iwaos lined up in wedge formation at the front of the door with their large shields at the ready, and behind them eight elite soldiers, each adept at offensive magic, settling into formation.

The rest of the soldiers surrounded the shrine beyond the moat, with three soldiers on top of each of the four towers. For the final step, the bridge over the moat was removed.

“We will now commence Operation: Dungeon Raid!”

When Vice-Commander Lane gave the signal, the two scouts pushed the doors and quickly retreated behind the vanguards. With a dry, ancient groan, the doors swung inward.

…

…

……

……

All the soldiers were on high alert, eyes focused on the yawning mouth of the dungeon, but everything remained silent.

And it was at the moment when I was about to let out a sigh of relief…

!!

… two giant beasts jumped out from the door and pounced on the Iwaos at the front, forcing the massive stone golems backward. Iwao, who can lift 500kg, were losing a battle of strength?!

“Deploy counter measures!”

At Lane’s direction, the soldiers unleashed barrage after barrage of magic attacks; not just the elite troops, even the soldiers on the turret were firing their attack magic.

The monsters, their advance hindered by the Iwaos, finally dropped to the ground after being overwhelmed by attacks from all the soldiers in formation.

“Cease fire!”

Silence once again descended after Vice Commander Lane’s order rang out. The fallen monsters looked like a huge black wolf, easily more than four meters long.

Honestly, I couldn’t stop shaking. If something like that attacked me, I don’t think I would’ve be able to do anything at all, probably just end up as a shredded lump of meat in seconds. I could even see large ragged claw marks in Iwao’s shield. Even the heavy iron shields were gouged by those monsters.

In those moments, to me, anyone willing to enter the dungeon must’ve had a death wish. No amount of riches or wealth could change my mind.

“Okami, get your golems into formation, we’re going to move inside.”

Huh?

I can’t move. My legs… are shaking… I can’t even stand up straight… I can’t even move my mouth to speak. Unconsciously, I grabbed onto Gram’s arm and squeezed.

“S-s-s-sorry… M-m-my legs are s-still s-s-shaking…”

Gram looked perplexed but proceed to squeeze my hand reassuringly. “Y-y-y-you okay?”

Why is her voice shaking now?!

“I’m sorry. It seems I can’t stand properly without holding on to something.”

I know this sounds pathetic, but the monsters that came out from the dungeon were more terrifying than anything I’d ever seen before. They were bigger and more menacing than any lion or tiger, I’m sure other normal person like me would have also receive the shock of a lifetime.

I tried to take a step forward, only to end up almost stumbling down.

“Careful,” Vice Commander Lane said as she rushed forward to support my other side.

“…”

Since both of them were holding me tightly, I could feel their mounds on my arms, and another feeling began welling up inside me; the debilitating fear was overwhelmed by the exciting sensation of being sandwiched between these beautiful, powerful women.

It felt like my courage had been amplified a hundred fold! I was invincible.

“Iwao! Return to formation!”

I took a deep breath and straightened up a little. As instructed, the Iwaos resumed their wedge formation and advanced to the front of the door. Immediately behind the Iwaos, a scout soldier used a magic lantern (flashlight) to cast light upon the first room, which seems to be some sort of shrine.

“Reporting, no enemies in sight, we will proceed to secure the interior.”

“Roger that! Okami, please tell the golems to advance inside and take position at the door on the far side of the room.”

Soon a bridge was built across the moat, and the rest of the soldiers and officers had moved into the shrine.

“Have you calmed down now?” Gram asked while clutching my arm between her cleavage.

“Yes, thanks to you Gram-sama. Ah but please, let me stay like this a little longer…”

Since it’s a rare chance to be hugged by two beauties…

“Don’t worry, we’ll prop you up,” Vice Commander Lane said while holding me up on my left side.

They both looked a little flush. I think I must’ve look flushed too.

“Alright, let’s advance into the shrine like this.”

Eh? Wait, what?

“Do… do I have to go too?”

“Well, naturally, since the golems are only listening to Okami’s orders.”

Uuuhh… it was exactly like Lane said, but I didn’t have to like it…

“Don’t worry, we’ll be by your side.”

Gram, I’m really happy to have my arms being sandwiched by your mounds, but this is a dungeon we’re talking about, you know? A place full of monster that can easily tear into iron shields?

Nevertheless, I ended up crossing the bridge while being led by the two of them. Maybe the water below the bridge wasn’t the moat, but instead the Sanzu River? [1] I can’t help but feel like I’ve crossed a bridge that shouldn’t be crossed.

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The door inside the shrine lead into something like an entrance hall, and I could see another door at the back. Once it opens, will more terrifying monsters pop out?

I had the Iwaos line up into two rows standing in front of the other door, while the soldiers were getting ready.

“Excuse me, how far should I accompany the team?”

I thought my job would end with opening the shrine door.

“I’m sorry we put you through such a frightening experience, but thanks to Okami, we’ve had no casualties thus far. We will prepare additional rewards, so I hope you’ll cooperate with us a little more. Isn’t that right, Gram-sama?”

“That’s right.”

Additional reward, huh. Maybe I can ask for something erotic from them as a reward? Argh, I really hate myself for not being able to say such a thing directly. Doesn’t help I’m really bad at saying no to a request. [2]

“I understand. But I don’t know if I can keep going, I’m so scared already I think I’m going to wet my pants.” As I honestly told them so, I can see both of their cheeks turned red.

When the soldiers were finally ready, the next door was opened.

Beyond us were five lizard-like monsters. They looked like a larger version of the Komodo dragon – a type of big lizard that lives in Indonesia – and were very scary. Despite their size, they were extremely fast when they started to move.

While the Iwaos were defending with their shields, the soldiers used both physical and magical attacks to annihilate them, so it was all good, but thinking about what would happen if they managed to slip through the wall of defense really made me terrified.

“Secure the room!”

“Secured!” The soldiers’ voices echoed through the stone walls.

Beyond the next door was a room of about 50 square meters, with a descending staircase visible at its center.

“Okami, position the golems around the stairs.”

I was still half-dazed by the fear, but the Vice Commander’s voice brought me back to the current situation. That’s right, if we don’t block the stairs properly, other monsters might come up.

“Iwaos, take up defensive positions around the stairway!”

Aren’t dungeons supposed to have only weak monsters at the beginning when you enter it? That was the case in the game I usually played!

“Somehow, doesn’t it seem like we’re facing strong monsters right from the start,” I asked Gram, who remained in close contact with me.

“Huh? Those are relatively weak monsters so far.”

On the other side, Lane also nodded.

“The deeper we go, the stronger the monsters will be.”

Wait, those monsters we’ve encountered are the weaker ones?!

“The preparations are ready,” one of the Junior Officer reported to Gram.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Eh?

“Okami, tell the golems to start advancing through the stairs.”

I could do that, but wouldn’t that mean I’d have to go too?

“……”

“Don’t worry, we’ll protect you. You may not know this, but Dianne and I’s magical powers are considered exceptional even among the troops. As long as you’re between us, you’ll be safe from harm.” While usually only conversing in short bursts, Gram’s encouragement was coming forth in full sentences.

“…alright…”

I’m still getting swept away by the situation around me, will my bad habit ever be cured? I ordered Iwao to follow behind the soldiers, but I still felt sick on the way.

Maybe the oxygen level here is lower?

I could smell something weird, as if the air was filled with something bad for the body. Maybe there was some sort of miasma?.

“Gram-sama… I… I don’t think I can go further…”

I fell to my knees as darkness began to creep into my vision.

“Cheryl, come here quick! Something wrong with Okami!”

Ugh. I think I’m going to throw up.

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1 Sanzu River: Crossing it mean you go on to the afterlife. Similar to River Styx, but without the ferryman.

2 Basically the origin of why he ends up in another world is because he can’t say no to his boss’ order to work during the weekend for free. And using money out of his own pocket for buying the equipment.