Live Dungeon!

“Ghh…! Gah…! […!”

As soon as Garm severed the fletching of the arrow embedded in Tsutomu’s leg with a small blade and carefully drew it out to prevent the wound from tearing further, Tsutomu let out a guttural groan. Gritting his teeth through the pain, he immediately cast his most powerful healing Skill and sealed the wound shut.

Injuries sustained outside the Dungeon usually warranted professional treatment, but with [, accessible only to White Mages who had reached level sixty, even a complex fracture could be completely mended on the spot.

Even so, it was not commonly used in medical settings. There simply were not many physicians who had reached that high a level, and even if they had, the skill demanded an immense toll on mental stamina. Most Healers who achieved that rank tended to follow the path of the Explorer, not a clinical one. As a result, most medically trained skill-users made up for what they lacked in raw power with old-fashioned techniques and extensive hands-on experience, earned through healing countless patients on the ground.

“…Let’s go.”

Once the treatment was done in the shadow of an alleyway, Tsutomu turned to the other two. Garm silently rose to his feet. Amy, still pale as a ghost, trailed behind them with sluggish steps, like a mourner following a hearse.

The mood remained funereal as the three made their way to the Guild. Without a word, they headed straight for the bustling reception area.

“Party of three tonight?” asked the bald-headed man behind the counter, who had served as their go-to receptionist for the past two years.

“Yes, please,” Tsutomu replied.

“Feels like reliving old times, eh? Why not take it easy for once and hit up the Beach layers? It’s practically a resort nowadays.”

“Heh, so I’ve heard,” Tsutomu said with a faint smile. “We’ll have to check it out someday.”

With that, they finalized their party contract and moved into the queue. Perhaps due to the late hour, the line was mostly filled with beginner Explorers. Tsutomu avoided eye contact with a few who looked like they wanted to approach him… but then, from behind, a familiar voice called out.

“You know… a resort visit DOES sound nice. I haven’t been invited to your Clan House much lately, and I’d really like to see everyone’s faces in person, not just through the Pedestals…”

“Just so you know, we’re not going there today,” Tsutomu said flatly.

Somehow, Camille, in uniform and definitely mid-shift, had sniffed out their plans and was now sauntering up beside them, eyes narrowed with exaggerated reproach. The Guild Master’s sudden public appearance drew startled glances from nearby Explorers, but she ignored them, addressing Tsutomu directly.

“They’ve been designing some rather fashionable swimsuits lately, you know? Wouldn’t mind if you got me one for my birthday. I’ll even model it for–”

“Not happening.”

“Harsh,” she sighed, then tilted her head. “But now that I think of it, it is unusual for you to be here this late. For a moment, I thought you’d come to walk me home after work. Oh, how I wish that was the case…”

“…”

From the look on her face, it was clear Camille had picked up on Garm and Amy’s unusual behavior. Something serious had happened, and she knew it. Tsutomu offered her a pained smile and kept shuffling forward in line.

“I’ll explain everything in detail once I’m back,” he said quietly. “But for now, could you let it slide? I’ll even buy you that swimsuit.”

“…You’re deflecting. I can tell you’re deflecting. It’d help me much more if you just told me what’s going on right here and now.”

“…Two swimsuits.”

“It’s not about quantity, boy…”

Their exchange managed to take the tension out of the air, if only slightly. Camille was still clearly suspicious, but something in Tsutomu’s demeanor convinced her not to dig too deeply or force him aside.

Then, just as the moment threatened to drag, a receptionist called for the next group. It was their turn to teleport into God’s Dungeon. The three of them stepped onto the glowing Magic Circle.

“Teleport to the first layer!” Tsutomu commanded.

“…The first layer?” Camille parroted, her voice tinged with confusion.

Those were the last words Tsutomu heard before the light engulfed him and he vanished.

▽▽

A gentle breeze swept across the Grasslands, rustling the tall blades in waves that shimmered beneath the sunlight. It was a strangely peaceful backdrop as the three of them arrived at the first layer, a place they hadn’t visited in some time.

Tsutomu commanded the God Eye to pull away from view, and then turned to Amy. She scrambled to open her Magic Bag and pulled out the paper card. Holding it in trembling hands, she began to appraise it.

“I-It’s the same as the other one,” she stammered.

“All right,” Tsutomu replied. “Then you should hold onto it, and hand it back to Diniel’s team.”

“…Right.”

At this point, Amy was utterly subservient, as though her every thought revolved around not being hated by Tsutomu. She was less like herself and more like a puppet pulled by guilt and fear.

Garm, who had been listening silently, reached into his own Magic Bag and retrieved the paper card Tsutomu had entrusted to him. He handed it to Amy, who received it and gave her approval before passing it back to him. Then it was time to pass it to Tsutomu… but Garm paused at the last moment.

“…Tsutomu. You still intend to return to your original world, don’t you?”

“…Yeah.”

“…!”

Garm opened his mouth as if to protest, but in the end, he swallowed his words and handed over the card. The moment it touched Tsutomu’s hand, the Black Gate shimmered white. A path home had opened.

“Thank you, both of you,” Tsutomu said, looking at them in turn. “I couldn’t have made it this far without your help.”

“You don’t have to say that!” Garm snapped, tail bristling, voice tight with barely restrained emotion. “Just go before I change my mind. There’s still the chance that the Guild Master might show up down here. So go…”

Even now, Garm did not want him to leave. But he also knew that he had no power to stop him. Not when he himself had no home to return to.

“I’m going back to my original world,” Tsutomu said, his voice low but firm. “Because if I don’t, I won’t be able to go on. Knowing I have a way back, but choosing to stay here… it would feel like I was running away from reality.”

“…”

“But you know, I’m not going back to forget. I’m going back because I need closure. Once that’s done… I want to return here. More than anything. I know it sounds selfish, but… that’s how I feel. I don’t want this to be goodbye. I… WE created Absolute Helix, and I owe it to all of you to make it the best it can be.”

At that, Garm’s ears twitched, and a flicker of hope sparked in his eyes. But he kept himself grounded and proceeded to ask the obvious question.

“…But is there even a way for you to come back?”

“…I don’t know. Even if one exists, it could take years to find it… and yeah, I know that’s selfish too. I know it’s unfair to ask you to wait. But this is the only path I could think of that lets me be honest. This world… it truly feels like a dream, but each moment I spent here was real.”

His voice faltered as he squeezed out the words, ultimately trailing off under the pressure of Garm’s increasingly serious expression.

“…Yeah,” Garm murmured. “Maybe you ARE being selfish. Giving someone false hope can be cruel.”

“You’re right. Then–”

“Heh,” Garm suddenly let out a dry, almost ironic chuckle, prompting Tsutomu to blink in confusion. “Ah… sorry. Not all the Clan members may feel the same, but I, at least, will wait for you. What I said was just… me lashing out.”

“…”

“And you, Tsutomu… you don’t have the right to make that face. The situation may have been out of your hands, but we’re the ones suddenly losing you. Do you have any idea how hard that hurts? Especially when I’m the one who has to explain to everyone why you vanished? Honestly, what a mess. I know I owe you a lot, but still…”

“I know. Really, I do. I’m sorry, but I’ll be leaving Absolute Helix in your hands for now. I left everything written out in my room.”

“Until you come back, right?”

With that, Garm extended a hand, and Tsutomu took it in a firm handshake.

“If I make a public announcement that you went back to your hometown, I can probably bluff it for a couple of years.”

“Yeah, guess that’s best. I’ll do everything I can to come back by then. Who knows, maybe you’ll find some clues here too. If there’s anything that can bring me back, don’t hesitate to use it… let’s see… in about two years from now.”

“If it turns out to be on the two-hundredth layer, it’ll take more than a few years, though.” Garm said with a faint smile. “Still, I’m glad this isn’t our final farewell.”

His grip tightened briefly before he released Tsutomu’s hand. Then, still smiling, he stepped back.

Tsutomu turned to Amy. She looked startled when he addressed her, as though she had not expected to be spoken to directly.

“Make sure you don’t let this incident end your relationship with Diniel, all right? Maybe she had a bit of personal grudge when she shot me, but more than that, I think she was acting out of concern for you.”

“Y-Yeah…”

“And give it time. I think things will settle eventually. Anyway… I’ll see you later.”

“A-ah…”

Tsutomu thought of Shirasaki who, after breaking up with him, had hovered around him like a shadow for nearly a year. By the time he saw her last, it had become her private shame. He hoped Amy would not follow that same path; he wanted her to move forward.

[I hope time moves slowly in my world. A two-year gap on my résumé would be hell to explain.]

That practical thought in mind, Tsutomu stepped through the glowing white gate. As he crossed the threshold, radiant particles bloomed from his body, just like when one died within God’s Dungeon. His form began to dissolve into light.

“……”

[Wait, why are they–]

When he turned back for a final glance, he saw something that gave him pause.

Amy, he could understand. But Garm, who had smiled so bravely just moments ago, was crying.

Tsutomu tried to speak, but no words came. The moment passed… and then he was gone. Vanished from the God’s Dungeon, leaving only light in his wake.