Chapter 24: ... 3.. 2... 1

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[You have died.]

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[Respawning in 3...

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2...

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1

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[Ding! Welcome!]

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"Ahhh, my guts! It's spilling! It's spilling out so much—"

[It's not.]

My lips winced at the swift reply.

I jolted up from the rough ground I was laying on and quickly pat down my body. Aside from a large tear in my shirt and a few other cuts in my clothes, I was relatively okay.

Those and a new lingering trauma...

'That really was real. ' the state of my clothes confirmed I really had been gutted out before. In addition, there was a red glowing interface hovering before me.

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[Number of Lives left: 3 >> 2]

... The system message was glaring and my eyes twitched.

'Did...did i just respawn? Like a boss character? ' it sounded ridiculous, but I can still vividly recall being gutted.

Then it occured to me.

"Meta you sonavabitch! You had me killed in the most painful way, with my guts spilling out!!"

What was that about 'we need to escape' again before?? Huhhhh??!!

The bastard system lingered before responding flatly.

[That was an unforseen—]

"Bullshit!"

I don't wanna hear it!! First you seize control of my body, then after spouting some cool sounding claims, you get my gut sliced open!

What even was that silver knight monster?! That bastard was strong, too strong!

Is this the vast difference between ranks Meta was talking about before? That's what's at Hero rank?!

Haha...I chuckled self degradingly. I used to think I was strong...

[The opponent this time was just far beyond your level by leagues. You shouldn't be mopping around, and instead figure out how you're going to take it down.] Meta said and I shot an imaginary dubious look at her.

"The fuck are you talking about?! You want me to go up against that monster a second time? Haha, you truly do what me dead after all. Alright, let's go home." There was no way I'm playing tango with that monster a second time. I dusted my clothes and rose up to my feet.

[Home? You keep sounding like you haven't fully grasped the situation. Stop playing dumb already and accept the reality. There is now 'way home' if you don't face the Knight.]

I paused then said.

'What do you mean.' as if in response, a red screen reminiscent to my usual system interface popped up.

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[Number of Lives left: 2.]

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[You're in a dungeon. Full of monsters and trials. That teleport matrix from the cave must have been linked to a forgotten place like this long ago. It was an entry point, and the only way out is to find the exit.]

'Meaning? ' I frowned, growing tired of Meta's lengthy explanation.

Whenever she starts like this, means I have to do what I really don't want to do. That was why I hated when Meta led with an explanation.

[Dungeons are common aspects of this world, varying in types and structures. In order to find your way out, most cases require the participant to resolve all of the 'trials' assigned.]

"..."

[In order words, you have to clear the Dungeon in three trials. You've already lost a life, you've only got two more chances left. The dungeon system wouldn't let you out otherwise. It had already tried to interfere with my interface once as well.]

So the warning messages from before was because the Dungeon was trying to influence the system. More like...the dungeon has a system?!

I glanced back a the red screen and closely scrutinized it.

"It really is different..." I muttered as I raised a finger to tap the transluscent screen but to no avail. My finger just ran through it like it wasn't even there.

Since it was a system too, I thought if I could find some similarities with Meta, I might be able to gain some clues where mine comes from. But not only was the interface red and different, it wasn't even interactive and merely stood there like a health bar.

"So I can't leave without clearing the dungeon, huh. And in order to do that, I'll have to somehow take care of that Knight."

That... would be hard. Immensely so. And this was without considering if I could even clear the rest of the dungeon.

[It would do fine to treat the Knight as the Dungeon boss, and the chamber as the Boss's lair.]

Somehow, Meta had become well versed in rpg terms...

My prospects were bleak. But, pathetically, as always, I had no choice.

"Haha...of course I've got no choice. I never do."

Not now, not back on Earth either.

...I hate it.

[...There might be a way to escape the dungeon without needing to defeat the Boss.]

My eyes lit up at Meta's unexpected input.

'Oohh, Meta, I knew you would come around....more like, if you had one why didn't you say it sooner?! '

Nearly thought I would have to die to really 'escape the dungeon '.

"What is it?" I asked eagerly.

[The clues were already obvious the moment you stepped into the lair. Just sit on the throne.]

... What?

[Think back. The silver knight was positioned as a statue right next to the throne, enough so, not a single trace of its presence as a Hero ranked Monster leaked out. I have concluded that it's presence is like that of a guard. And the Throne, is the way out.]

"So it's guarding the exit like some kind of gatekeeper. "

I see. That made some kind of sense. I had mistook the Knight for a statue the first time. With the throne on an elevated platform, it stood out compared to everything else in the chamber that I had completely disregarded the main threat.

If I managed to sit on the Throne, then would the dungeon system automatically deem me as a participant which cleared the dungeon?

[Most likely.]

'Most likely?! '

I almost choked and tripped on my own feet.

'Didn't you just say—'

[It was a logical conjecture. I still require a certain degree more analysis to affirm this. The dungeon system has been proving an obstacle, making it harder to determine. But it's just a mindless complexity, I'll crack the thing soon.] There was a hint of pride, ego, and malice more than usual in her voice as she spoke about the dungeon system.

"And how long will that take?"

[Depends on how long you sit around here and do nothing.]

... Point received.

In order words, I had to explore the dungeon.

I turned around to face the three massive paths before me. When I died to the Knight, I had respawned back at the robust cavern with gems, like it was some kind of checkpoint.

"The center path leads to the giant passage way and the lair. Then where does the other two lead to?" Scratch that, I really didn't want to know.

But...

I cracked a dry smile on my lips.

"... What choice do I have?" I laughed emptily, resigned.

" Dammit, Meta. You better be done with that analysis quickly. " Muttering to myself like this, I resolved myself and went down the left tunnel path.

A dungeon that gives me three lives, huh, silently i mused in my heart.

Aren't I being too calm about all this? I was suddenly teleported away to who knows where only to discover I was in a dungeon. I had three lives and had been gutted open once by a merciless silver knight.

... shouldn't I be traumatized.

'Meta, I'm incredible right? '

[You're doing it again.]

'Doing what? ' I asked, raising an eyebrow in the dark.

The transition from the bright cavern to the dark underground cave momentarily almost landed me blinded, but I slowly adjusted to the shadows and advanced.

[Using sarcasm as a crutch. You're probably the one person who can casually laugh off threats of impeding doom with witty one liners.]

'.... Uhmm, thanks? '

That was a compliment... right?

As I felt the rough texture of the wall to my left, I pondered Meta's words.

Using sarcasm as a crutch... perhaps Meta was right. Looking back I'd always hidden behind self mockery and dry humor at the expense of myself, especially ever since transmigration. I hadn't noticed it, but maybe I really have been hiding.

But hiding from what? I asked myself meaningfully.

Does that matter, I responded as if having an internal debate with two voices.

I only wanted to live peacefully this time around, to avoid the blood shed and pains and regrets I accumulated during my time on Earth. I only wanted to be happy.

So if I really was running away and cowering behind self pitiful jokes, it was because i had no other choice. Like always I never did. This was just my way of coping with the stress and weight of the responsibility placed on my shoulders.

'Threats of impeding doom', huh. I chuckled.

I couldn't have said it any better.

***

A/N: How To Survive A Calamity is successfully contracted. Should I have a massive release soon...?