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 8
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- 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 8 - The Collapse of a Coward (Haruka’s Perspective)
A deafening roar shook the dungeon.
From the massive doorway beyond the Scorching Golem, something enormous emerged—no, it didn’t just emerge. The creature shattered the doorframe as it forced its way through.
A colossal dragon stepped into the chamber.
“Wha…?”
The clatter of metal echoed as Kazuno’s sword slipped from his grip. He stood frozen, staring at the beast in horror.
I felt the same shock.
It was that monster.
The one that had forced my brother to call a retreat on the 96th floor.
It towered like a building, its sharp fangs gleaming, its monstrous gaze filled with primal rage.
And it had followed us.
The ground trembled with each step it took.
The live chat exploded.
“What the hell is that?!”
“Why is it coming from deeper inside?!”
“Did it climb up from a lower floor?!”
“Kazuno, use Appraisal!”
“V-Violent Dragon?! What the hell?! Was this the one Kotone mentioned?!”
Kazuno stood there, muttering to himself as he read the appraisal results, trembling all over.
If he had that information, he should have shared it.
He was supposed to be our leader, yet he was wallowing in fear instead of doing his job.
The live chat was turning against him.
“Run! Run NOW!”
“This is impossible…!”
“Why is a monster like that here?! This is only the 60th floor!”
“Wait, Kotone mentioned this? Did they run into it last time? Is it chasing them?!”
“Oh, crap, does this mean Okita messed up?!”
“Are you serious?! This isn’t his fault! If anything, it’s insane that he got everyone out alive!”
I ignored the growing panic and immediately cast a Magic Shield to protect the party.
The Violent Dragon opened its massive jaws.
A breath attack was coming.
I had no way of knowing whether this was the same terrifying blast that wiped out the Scorching Golem earlier, but it was bound to be devastating.
The moment the dragon exhaled, the world turned white.
“GET DOWN!”
I dropped to the floor, but even so, the sheer force of the attack sent me flying.
Unlike before, where its beam had directly targeted the Scorching Golem, this time it tore through the ground itself.
The explosion shattered the floor beneath us, hurling me, Kazuno, and Yokota into the air.
The dragon advanced.
I struggled to move, my body aching from the impact. It was a miracle I was even alive.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
The Violent Dragon loomed over Kotone and Ayaka.
“No, no, no, no…!”
“Is it going to crush them?!”
“Get up! Run! Please, run!”
“Kazuno! Help them!”
“Somebody! Anybody! Do something!”
“Kotone! Ayaka! RUN!”
Kazuno, despite being perfectly capable of moving, stood there and did nothing.
He just shouted at them, making no effort to actually save them.
The Violent Dragon lowered its massive clawed hand onto the ground and brought its head down.
“STOP!”
“WHAT IS IT DOING?!”
Kotone stirred.
“Hnn… where… am I?”
Ayaka groggily opened her eyes.
“Huh…?”
The live chat went wild.
“They’re awake! Tell them to run!”
“Ayaka! Kotone! WAKE UP!”
“Kotone! Ayaka! RUN! LOOK UP!”
Still dazed, Kotone slowly tilted her head.
“Ugh… up? …Wait…”
Ayaka’s eyes snapped open.
“NOOOOOOO! SOMEBODY HELP US! HELP MEEEEEE!”
Kazuno’s cowardly warning only served to wake them up just in time to see their own deaths.
They were trapped.
Flailing in terror, unable to move.
The dragon’s overwhelming presence had locked them in place with sheer magical pressure.
They weren’t getting out of this.
I couldn’t move. My injuries made it impossible to heal myself quickly enough.
Kazuno was frozen in place, utterly useless.
I turned to Yokota—
But he was nowhere to be seen.
And then—
A sickening crunch filled the air.
“No…”
“Help…”
Their screams were cut off as the dragon’s massive jaws snapped shut.
Bl00d dripped from its mouth as it slowly lifted its head, chewing.
The chat exploded in horror.
“They… they were eaten…?”
“Oh god…”
“I can’t watch this…”
“Somebody shut off the stream…!”
“Kotone… no…”
“Ayaka was crying… she was begging for her life…”
“I feel sick…”
Kazuno’s eyes darted to the exit.
“Damn it, we’re retreating!”
Without another word, he turned and ran toward the open doorway.
The Scorching Golem’s death had left the entrance unlocked, allowing for an easy escape.
The chat was in shock.
“He ran away…?”
“He abandoned them… and now he’s abandoning Haruka and Yokota?!”
“What a piece of trash!”
“This is disgusting…”
The Japan Dungeon Association’s president, Akihito Kazuno, suddenly appeared in the chat.
“E-Everyone, this was an unforeseen accident! The monster was beyond anything we imagined—”
“SHUT UP! YOUR SON ABANDONED HIS TEAMMATES TO DIE!”
“T-That’s not true! You misunderstand!”
“MISUNDERSTAND WHAT?! HE RAN LIKE A COWARD! WE ALL SAW IT!”
A sharp pain ran through my body as I finished healing.
The Violent Dragon seemed satisfied after devouring Kotone and Ayaka. It hadn’t moved much since, still chewing.
Yokota was lying nearby.
No wonder I survived.
The way the dragon’s beam had hit us—it had clearly targeted me.
And yet, I was still alive.
Near me, broken pieces of a shield lay scattered.
He had protected me.
But he was still breathing—weakly, but he was alive.
There was only one person who could save us now.
I was sorry for dragging him into this.
But I had no choice.
“Big brother…”
The chat was frantic.
“Haruka, get out of there!”
“What is she doing?!”
“It’s over… all we can do is pray…”
“No… please, someone help them!”
I wondered if he’d be mad.
It didn’t matter.
I could accept my own fate, but I refused to let Yokota die.
Kazuno had fled. There was no one left to complain.
This time, my brother wouldn’t have to waste energy saving useless teammates.
I pulled out the charm he had given me and whispered.
“Big brother, help me.”
The moment I spoke, the air shifted.
A tear in space ripped open above us, a surge of mana pouring into the room.
The chat was stunned.
“What… what is that?!”
“Explorers, what’s happening?!”
“I don’t know! I’ve never seen anything like this!”
“A spatial rift? That means… whoever’s coming is strong enough to tear open reality.”
“Wait… someone’s actually coming?!”
“That’s suicide! No one can fight that dragon!”
A figure emerged.
“Big brother!”
“Haruka. You okay?”
His voice was calm.
His arms wrapped around me as he pulled me into a reassuring embrace.
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