When I returned from exploring the dungeon to save the world, I found out that my lover had been stolen, and I was blamed for the failed expedition. Enraged, I quit Japan's strongest party—only for them to self-destruct on their own. - Chapter 32

“Oh? A human? …You smell delicious.”

The speaker was a young man, dressed entirely in black, with dark skin, pitch-black eyes, and jet-black hair.

He slowly walked toward us.

Where the hell did he come from?

And no—it’s not because I was so overwhelmed by the divine taste of my Mythological Delicious Orc hamburger that I let my guard down.

He slipped past my awareness entirely.

That could only mean one thing…

Teleportation.

The same technique I use.

“Y-You are… No, that’s impossible…”

Effie, who had been speaking so condescendingly to everyone up until now, was stunned.

She even called him ‘you’ in a respectful tone.

That’s new.

“A Zanma Spirit? I didn’t expect you to be mingling with humans, but I suppose it’s a good strategy for fighting monsters.”

“You’re… not angry?”

“I’m not so small-minded. One should use what’s useful—that’s basic common sense. …Now, that—could I have some?”

“…Here.”

Effie handed him a bowl filled with hamburger meat.

I didn’t see the harm in it, so I handed him a fork.

Wait, why am I treating this guy so casually?

What the hell is going on?

“Hmph, thanks… This is incredible. Did you make it? I’ll give you credit for this.”

“Oh, uh… yeah.”

I still couldn’t sense the depths of his power.

And yet, I instinctively refilled his plate, handed him a drink, and even served him ice cream.

What the hell am I doing?

“Hmm, that was delicious. Thanks for the meal.”

With an air of elegance, he took his time savoring every bite before finally finishing his dessert.

That’s when—

“You bastard!”

“Hm?”

The leader of the World Dungeon Association unit, who had previously collapsed after eating the hamburger, suddenly stood up.

Hands on his knees, gasping for breath, he glared at the man in black.

So, they know each other?

“You bastard! You dare show yourself here?! Die!”

He charged with his sword drawn.

…No way.

There was no chance in hell he could take down someone whose strength I couldn’t even gauge.

I wanted to stop him, but…

My body wouldn’t move.

“I don’t like making a mess right after a meal.”

With a flick of his hand, the five explorers collapsed.

Instantly.

No bl00d, no visible damage—just incapacitated.

“I’ll spare them. Just for your sake.”

Then, he turned to leave.

“Wait.”

He paused.

“Who… are you?”

“Me? Well…”

A slight smirk appeared on his lips.

“You might find this shocking, but…”

He pointed at Effie.

“To her and the monsters, I’m called ‘Demon God.’”

“…What?”

Demon God?

That sounds… important.

“Ahaha, judging by your face, you have no clue.”

Correct.

“I am a Demon God. Some call us ‘fallen gods.’”

A fallen god…?

“Did you hear that from your Zanma Spirit?”

“I heard something like that.”

“Then yes, you’re on the right track.”

“…Then why is a Demon God here?”

“No grand reason. I was just curious.”

Then he added—casually, as if it were nothing—

“I was also the one who teleported the Emperor Mantis.”

…What?

“You moved it?”

He shrugged.

“Of course. That’s my role.”

This bastard was behind everything?

“You… why?”

He sighed.

“You cleared a high-level dungeon’s 100th floor before, right? And you reached the 101st floor.”

“…Yeah. I entered Tokyo Dungeon’s 101st floor, but I didn’t go further.”

“That was the trigger.”

Trigger?

“The monster shuffling across dungeons worldwide? That was me.”

“Why?”

“That, I can’t say.”

He smirked.

“You humans don’t even understand why dungeons exist.

Do you really think you’re entitled to know everything happening inside them?”

“…Fair point.”

Wait.

Was he manipulating me into accepting this?

I wasn’t sure anymore.

At first, I was terrified.

But that feeling faded.

Even though he radiated an unmistakable, ominous aura,

Even though he was literally called a Demon God,

I still felt compelled to listen to him.

“You… might actually be promising.”

“…Am I even human?”

He chuckled.

“You were born from a human womb, weren’t you? Then you’re human.

Simple as that.”

For some reason, his gaze softened.

What the hell does he want?

“Well, the dungeons were created and are being managed.

So, keep clearing them like usual.

Sometimes, things go out of control—but that’s your problem.

Since you get rewards, you just have to deal with it.”

That’s… not exactly reassuring.

And yet, I couldn’t argue with it.

So, he really did create the dungeons.

That’s the only new piece of information I got.

“By the way—how many floors does Tokyo Dungeon have?”

“Oh, I stopped counting after 100.”

“…Seriously?”

Damn it.

This isn’t some one-night stand body count conversation.

“Hmm? Oh? Are you defying me?”

Suddenly, Effie moved.

She jumped fast as lightning and knocked something away.

The Demon God had tried something.

“Were you trying to harm Koichi?”

“Not at all. Just testing something.”

He sighed.

“Oh well. I’ll drop it.

If you ever cook something tasty again, I might come back for more.”

“…Huh?”

Then, just like that—

He was gone.

Even though I knew he hadn’t actually threatened me,

I still felt sick.

Why the hell did I trust his words so easily?

It was disturbing.

When I turned around, everyone was silent.

The only ones who had spoken during the encounter were me, Effie, and the leader.

The others were completely overwhelmed.

With the tension gone, we finished the investigation and returned.

As for the 100th-floor boss,

It was called Unlimited Peach Orc.

So, obviously—

I sliced it thinly and made shabu-shabu.

And of course—

Only Effie and I ate it.

Their loss.

It was so good it felt like my brain was melting.