“A complete ‘administrator key’…”
It still doesn’t have a physical presence, but it’s touching how the first one I get, is the one in this dungeon.
【Will you use the administrator key?】
“Eh?”
All of a sudden, a black window appears in front of me saying that.
Normally, we get unilateral notifications from the dungeon when we use skill orbs or stat boosting items. And in my case, they also appear when I use the Compression skill. And so, it surprises me because it rarely asks for confirmation like this.
Well, of course I want to use it, but…
First of all, since this key appeared after we took the boss down, it’s hard to imagine an even more dangerous boss will appear. If something else was coming, it would’ve probably come from the smoke that just dispersed.
Whether this is a reward, or exactly what it sounds like, a key to a room made for administrators… I can’t not use it.
I make that decision, and everyone gathers.
“What is it Shouta? You have a weird look on your face.”
“Did you find something?”
“Eh? Ah, yes. What did you see in that monster?”
“It was called Huge Rainbow Slime.”
“Its level was on par with what you would find in the middle floors of the high rank dungeon, but did you see something else, master?”
“Yes, ‘dungeon boss’ was written after its name.”
““““Dungeon boss!?””””
“Yes, and it skipped the trophies and treasure chests, and went right to dropping a key.”
Everyone is surprised. I assumed I was the only one who could see the key because it’s like that with trophies too, but I didn’t expect to be the only one who saw it was a boss.
“And also, I was just making up my mind because a message appeared asking if I want to use the key.”
“…And you were using it now?”
“Yes.”
Everyone looks at each other and nods.
“A key implies freeing something sealed. I will stand by and be ready to make a move whenever necessary.”
“Be careful with that thing.”
“My heart feels heavy, but I’ll watch over you.”
“Good luck darling!”
“Thanks everyone. Here it goes!”
【Confirming intention of the holder】
【Activating administrator key】
【Control nº777】
【Moving to dungeon core】
With that message, my vision goes dark.
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
“…Oh?”
All of a sudden, I’m standing in a white room all alone. So only the holder of the key gets to come here…
There’s a white altar with a panel within reach, but nothing else.
Actually, there’s a black hole behind me. It feels endless, like what I see when I open a gold treasure chest… Is that how I got here?
If it is, I should be able to go back through there.
I try casting True Appraisal, but it shows no information on either the panel or the black hole.
“Hm… I should check if I can use that darkness just to be safe, but I just can’t contain myself. I’ll touch the panel!”
I reach towards it, and a geometrical shape appears. But I can still faintly see through it, so it doesn’t seem solid. Is this a hologram? And what is this shape anyway? I’ve never seen it in any math textbook.
‘Welcome, administrator.’
“Eh, ah, hello.”
‘I am the administrator AI of this dungeon, the dungeon core. Please state your business.’
I say hello, and it doesn’t say it back. Business… What can I even do?
“Dungeon core… So its heart? If I destroyed you, would the dungeon disappear?”
‘Negative. It would be out of control, and monsters would endlessly spew out.’
“Uge. So what can I do?”
‘Confirming. Administrative power level one. It is possible to do what the level allows.’
“Are there conditions to level up?”
‘Proposal. Please attain access privileges to other cores.’
Access privileges… So basically, collect keys and enter spaces like this?
“What can I do if I do level up?”
‘Invalid. Administrative level too low.’
“Why did the dungeons appear?”
‘Invalid. Administrative level too low.’
“Why did more appear after one year?”
‘Invalid. Administrative level too low.’
“Are they going to keep appearing?”
‘Invalid. Administrative level too low.’
“Is there a way to stop their propagation?”
‘Invalid. Administrative level too low.’
“…Grr…”
It’s all invalid. But I am getting responses, so if I level up, I might be able to get proper answers to those questions.
“…Then tell me what I can do at level one.”
‘Confirming. It is possible to stop dungeon breaks in this dungeon nº777.’
“Seriously? By the way, how long does it have to be left alone for a dungeon break to happen?”
‘Confirming. Thirty of this world’s days.’
So it tells me that. And that’s a surprisingly short amount of time. I haven’t been here in about two weeks, but it got to that density in just half the time needed for a dungeon break…
“What if it’s not completely abandoned, and a few are taken down every few days?”
‘Invalid. Administrative level too low.’
Eeh…? You won’t tell me that…
“If it’s stopped, monsters won’t increase anymore?”
‘Invalid. Administrative level too low for propagation stoppage.’
It kind of gave me an answer there.
But even if I can stop breaks, they’ll still keep spawning… Is this another level issue?
“Anyway, stop dungeon breaks.”
‘Affirmative. Should a message about 777’s stoppage be sent to all dungeons?’
“Eh!? No, don’t do that!!”
‘Confirmed. Understood.’
That was close.
Then the whole world would know I did it.
…Ah…
“Are there others with administrative privileges?”
‘Affirmative.’
Oh…
“How many?”
‘Invalid. Administrative level too low.’
“Ah, I see…”
But I did get something. I know there are others.
Maybe they have higher administrative levels than me. Then I should be able to get more information.
I need to raise mine too… I should set my sights on the beginner dungeon and Heart Dungeon for now… The mid rank dungeon would depend on Ayane’s family, and the high rank dungeon… Isn’t possible yet.
Ah, I need to ask this too.
“If a key is split into several pieces, how do I put it back together once I have them all?”
‘Confirming. When all keys are gathered, the right to challenge the dungeon boss is unlocked. Please obtain the key after its defeat.’
“Ah, I see…”
There are no trophies in this dungeon, so I skipped that process.
I see I see.
“Is it possible for a dungeon to have multiple administrators?”
‘Affirmative.’
“Oh! Then someone else might have already gotten the trophies and keys. And the treasure chests respawn, right?
‘Unknown. There is no information about other dungeons here.’
“Eh…?”
That should be the case, but it doesn’t know. It’s like it doesn’t care about other dungeons. What an unreasonable guy.
…Anyway, I think I asked all the questions I had in mind.
“Can I go home through that darkness?”
‘Affirmative. I will be awaiting your next visit.’
…Is it implicitly telling me to leave? Whatever, I’m done here, so I’ll just go.
They’re waiting for me too.
“I’ll come back soon.”
I say before I jump into the darkness.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
