The next day, we continued exploring the remaining areas of Level 89. It only took half a day before we finally finished the investigation and were ready to move on.
But the moment we stepped out of the entrance to Level 90, a landslide suddenly erupted not far ahead of us. We stayed where we were and observed the theme of this level.
We watched while having lunch. By the time we finished eating, three landslides had already occurred—one every few minutes, each in a completely random location.
So the theme of Level 90 was landslides.
The location of the first landslide had already returned to normal. It took less than half an hour to fully restore. After that, our next job was to check if there were any animals on this level.
We spent a long time searching but didn't see a single creature. Naturally so—who in their right mind would live in a place where landslides happen constantly? That would just be asking to die. Still, we needed to confirm it anyway… it helped kill time.
After that, we used the teleportation circle to leave the dungeon. Lina had already gone through. Next was my turn.
The moment I stepped into the magic circle, rainbow-colored light flashed around me—and in an instant, I appeared somewhere else.
"…Huh?"
It felt wrong. Different from usual.
I was in a closed space, unlike the regular teleport destination. And right in front of me stood a giant statue.
I recognized it at once—one that was set up in every plaza across the city. It was the Goddess of Fate, Fatelis, the deity everyone worshiped.
But… why was I here?
That was when a cheerful voice echoed through the chamber.
"You finally came! I've been waiting forever!"
I looked around. No one.
Where did that voice come from?
"…Where are you?"
"No need to look around. It's me."
There it was again.
Was someone hiding? Watching me?
Maybe talking would reveal something.
"What do you mean, 'me'? Where are you?"
"Right in front of you—the statue of Lady Fatelis."
I stared at the stone figure and remembered what I'd heard about becoming a Brave. Only the chosen one could reach the lowest floor of the dungeon.
Then… this must be Level 100.
Which meant—
"I was chosen as the Brave?"
"How did you know?! Well, since you understand, this will be faster. I—"
I immediately cut in.
"Stop. Are you the Goddess of Fate?"
"I'm not Lady Fatelis! I'm just a god who committed a crime, that's all."
So the one inside the statue wasn't the goddess herself.
Who could it be?
I had only ever heard of one deity.
And what kind of crime landed her in here?
"Then what goddess are you? And what crime did you commit?"
"I am the disciple of Lady Timeos, the Goddess of Time. I violated a taboo, so I was sealed inside here to wait for the arrival of the brave—give them power—and finally leave this miserable place."
The disciple of the Goddess of Time, not the Goddess of Fate.
Well, first things first.
"Why was I chosen as the brave? Can't you pick someone else?"
"It wasn't my choice. And what's wrong with becoming a brave? You get money and fame."
"I don't want fame. Too troublesome. And I'll earn my own money—I don't want a single coin of the kingdom's funding."
Of course the kingdom would support the brave in defeating the Demon King.
But accepting money from the country always felt like owing them something. I hated that.
Opening the back door was fine… but not money.
"Whatever. That's your problem. I just want to get out of here! Hurry up and accept it already!"
This criminal god was surprisingly desperate.
If I refused, she'd have to wait another hundred years for the next brave.
By then the Demon King would be even stronger.
"I know, I know! Just let me think for a bit."
At least now I understood why no brave had reached Level 100 before.
Once someone was chosen, they didn't need to enter the dungeon anymore.
After thinking for a while, another question came to mind.
"Criminal god, how does the kingdom know the brave has appeared?"
"Stop calling me criminal god! I have a name! It's Tess!"
I didn't know her name until now—how was that my fault?
"You never told me. Now answer my question."
"Then what's your name?"
"Karen."
"…Karen? Hahaha! You're actually a girl, aren't you? Haha—!"
That was the most vicious laugh I'd ever heard.
Even children were nicer than her.
If she wanted me to call her by name, she'd be waiting forever.
"…I'm not calling you by your name, you criminal god."
"You little brat! Wanna fight?!"
Fight? Me? With a motionless statue?
I immediately mocked her.
"Can you even fight? You can't move at all. Ha."
She paused, realizing the truth, then made an excuse.
"Hmph. I'll be generous this time and not argue with you."
"Then answer my question already."
"Fine, fine. After you leave here, I'll leave as well. Then I'll go to the sanctuary and deliver the oracle. They'll notify the king afterward."
The sanctuary, huh…
I wasn't fond of religion.
I didn't want anything to do with it.
"I see. Then… can you delay it until December 26?"
"Why?"
"Because the day before is my childhood friend's birthday. I want to celebrate with her before I leave. Oh no—she must be worried sick! What do I do?!"
Crap!
I totally forgot Lina was waiting outside!
How much time had passed?
I still had so many questions to ask!
How was I supposed to explain this?
Would Lina think I was hiding something from her?
Would she cry?
Oh no, I will dead!
While I was panicking about Lina's reaction, the criminal god interrupted.
"Relax. Time outside is frozen. When you leave from here, only one second will have passed."
Meaning that when I walk out, Lina would still look like she had just exited the teleportation circle.
No long waiting.
No misunderstandings.
"Thank goodness."
My heart finally relaxed.
Then the criminal god asked:
"Aren't you taking her with you to defeat the Demon King?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"Celebrating a birthday doesn't have to happen here. You could do it while traveling—unless… you plan to leave her behind."
I was stunned.
So she caught on.
Even though the criminal god sounded like an idiot most of the time…
she saw right through me.
"I didn't expect you to be that smart. Really didn't expect it."
"Hey! You said "didn't expect" twice! Do I look that dumb to you?!"
Hard to tell—because she was literally a statue.
I teased the crime goddess in a cheerful tone.
"All I hear is your voice. How am I supposed to "look" whether you're dumb or not?"
"Ugh—! You caught my loophole… anyway, forget that! Just tell me your reason!"
"Do I really need to tell you?"
"I'm curious, okay? What's wrong with that?"
Since it was just curiosity, I couldn't reject her—after all, I'm the same type.
I explained the goal I had since childhood: avenging the demon race attack on our village.
Originally, I had no such intention—until I learned about ancient magic.
If I had grown up without encountering ancient magic, I probably wouldn't choose revenge.
The power gap was too big; going would mean dying for nothing.
I once thought about traveling the world with Lina, and on the way maybe we'd encounter that demon so I could take revenge.
But now that I'd become a Brave, I had the mission to defeat the Demon King.
I couldn't bring Lina with me anymore.
I actually no planned to tell Lina I'd become a Brave.
I didn't want her to worry.
I'd leave using some other excuse.
All of this… is just me avoiding a truth:
I think Lina would be in the way.
I can't protect her perfectly—she could get hurt, she could suffer, and I don't want to see that.
So I can't take her with me.
I told the crime goddess about our past and my reasons.
Of course, I didn't mention ancient magic.
"Ohhh, I see. But do you think she'll accept it? You're basically dumping her and running off on your own."
"Probably not… but I think I've got a plan."
Maybe Lina will be sad, maybe she'll cry.
But I'll definitely return to her.
First I need a way to keep her in the capital, waiting for me.
"Hope it works. Otherwise, she'll beat you to death."
"Yeah. So… can you delay it?"
There were still three months before Lina's birthday.
No way I could defeat the Demon King in that time.
I needed to visit ten more dungeons around the world to obtain the Brave powers.
There might even be unexpected incidents along the way—so it was simply impossible.
"Sure. I am the disciple of Lady Timeos, the Goddess of Time after all.
Once I leave, I'll set the timing. The oracle will automatically activate on that date."
The powers of the time goddess… really convenient.
It's basically a scheduled message. Like an alarm clock.
"Also, can you NOT let the sanctuary announce it publicly? Just inform the king?"
I worried the sanctuary might go crazy with the news.
Maybe they wouldn't—but better be safe.
"You're so troublesome. But fine, fine."
Good—she agreed to everything. I thanked her.
"Really, thank you."
"Didn't expect that. I really didn't expect you to thank me."
She used "didn't expect" twice.
Do I look like someone who doesn't say thank you?
If someone helps me, of course I'll thank them.
But was she trying to mock me?
How naïve—watch me stab back.
"If someone deserves thanks, I'll say it.
You were trying to return my jab, weren't you? Too bad—you failed."
"Ghhh… you little—!"
Her frustrated voice echoed through the stone chamber.
As expected—kind of dumb.