Ihoujin, Dungeon ni Moguru

In ancient times.

Shortly after the era of the gods had ended and the history of humans had begun.

There was a king who ruled over the beastkin.

His name was Ra Guzuri Duin Oruosuouru, the King of Beasts.

In every world, man and beast have always been at odds with each other, the only difference being who the victors and losers are.

And this time, humans were the losers.

As they were being wiped out, their king at the time prayed to the gods and gained the power to destroy the beasts.

Malignance, the power to alter substances through human prayer. The king put a curse on silver that made it burn the flesh of beastkin.

And then, he killed the King of Beasts, oppressed the beastkin, and created the world that exists today.

That's the story of the beasts and the silver coins that I first heard.

History is often riddled with falsehoods.

According to the king of adventurers, the real beastkin had the physique of giants.

Humans were absolutely no match for them.

In order to overcome them, those who would later be called heroes resorted to using a horrific power.

They drank the cursed blood, became a different kind of beast, and wiped out the old beastkin.

Ra Guzuri Duin Oruosuouru.

In truth, that’s not the name of the King of Beasts.

It's the name of the great King of Hemu, the founding king of Elysium.

He made his cursed and unclean name the King of Beasts', and assumed a false name for himself.

Very few people know this true name.

Even fewer have survived after reciting this true name.

This is, as I understand it, the true story of the beasts and the silver coins.

I believe that this story ended with an internal struggle within Elysium.

After the old beastkin had been wiped out, the king who was drowning in his unfathomable power brought about disaster and was assassinated by the princes. That's about it in a nutshell.

And those princes were also cursed.

The fact that the curse lingers in the blood and has been passed down through the generations by those called heroes only remains in oral stories that have been neatly hidden from the world.

However, there's one thing I cannot figure out.

Who is the real King of Beasts?

No, did the King of Beasts even exist?

Is it not possible that he’s no more than a contrivance used to hide the king's evil deeds?

In the first place, what’s the "Abominable Blood" and what’s its "curse"?

If the truth has not been completely reduced to ashes, then someone must have inherited the curse.

For example,

That's right,

The heroes of Elysium.

Representative hero, Khius Logret Londahl.

Also known as Khius, the indestructible.

He’s the representative hero of the Fourth Pope, whose position is currently vacant.

The person who had appointed him as the representative hero was the representative hero of the First Pope, the person known as the First Hero and also the hero that Zamonglass had described as terrifying.

Despite the difficulty in finding anything about Khius’ origins, the stories of his glorious deeds are very simple, and I managed to collect a lot of anecdotes about him in a very short time.

At any rate, he’s bold, compassionate, and has been lauded as a heroic hero by many people, regardless of whether they’re friend or foe.

It's said that he once carried a wounded old man on his back on a march, that he generously shares his wealth with the common people, that he bought an entire island for his innumerable adopted children, that he may or may not have a hundred mistresses, and that he never fails to present gifts to his late wife's tombstone.

He's also famous for his martial prowess, most notably, the duel he had with His Majesty's father, the former king of Ashtalia.

The result was a hard-fought draw.

It was a draw with injuries to both sides, but the former king of Ashtalia succumbed to the wounds he suffered in that duel.

After that, Khius became the only person to have survived crossing swords with the younger His Majesty. He was what made the name of His Majesty Dainsleif renowned throughout Elysium and among the Myriad Kings.

What can I say.......

Similar to His Majesty, he's a hero who "acts like one".

There's a world of difference between him and Varner, the beast hunter.

Well, in a way, that guy is a creature that rotted from all the dirty work that was foisted on him. The more I looked into him, the more I felt a little bad for him. It's really just a little though.

According to Arcane,

That hero, Khius-sama, expressed a desire to meet with me.

The reason he gave is simple. I'm the only survivor and witness of the Varner incident.

Even though King Lemuria had sent them a report, he said, "I won't know unless I actually talk to him!" in all seriousness and came directly to this country.

This hero is the type I have trouble with.

Dealing with greedy and dishonest people is easy. I know very well what they're thinking in their heart of hearts. There are many who mistakenly believe that dealing with the opposite kind of people is easier, but people with passion and convictions can sometimes ignore all reason, logic, and profit, and just come at you.

Those who are willing to give up their lives to get at you are the worst.

It might have been different in the past, but right now, I would much rather not have to deal with such people at all.

How should I fight it………………if possible, I'd love to stay clear of him, but he probably isn't that easy to deal with.

As I agonized and fretted, I made my way to the meeting place.

A short distance from Gladvain-sama's dormitory, in a vacant lot along the outer wall, stood a solitary ramen stall.

Though it was a food stall, it was different from the other stalls commonly seen throughout Lemuria.

First of all, it had a triangular-shaped roof.

And a noren curtain. [1]

Instead of a paper lantern, there was a large red lantern hanging there. Naturally, the word "Ramen" was written on it.

It had seats, though it couldn't accommodate more than five people.

There was a cramped but functional cooking area.

Its broth gave off an aroma that was different from those of the other ramen stalls in this city.

This is a ramen stall that I’m managing, and it has the look and feel of a traditional Japanese ramen stall.

Doing business discreetly in a secluded spot like this is the stall-keeper's own wish.

From what I hear, even the discerning kin of Gladvain-sama frequently come here to eat.

I've also heard that a certain group consisting of a pair of famous former adventurers and an active adventurer often drops by after a night of drinking as well.

Today, there was already one customer when I arrived.

「Hi, stall-keeper」

「Ooh! Boss!」

The Hemu stall-keeper in charge of this stall used to be a cook at Lemuria's royal castle. He had gotten down on his hands and knees and begged me to teach him how to cook, so I left him in charge of this stall.

He has a very diligent personality, and after I had taught him the basics, he had figured everything else out by himself.

To be honest, there's already nothing more I can teach him.

「Perfect timing, Boss. This customer here likes your ramen so much that he's already had five bowls」

「Well, thank you」

I responded casually and took a seat as well.

The large man next to me lifted his bowl of ramen, gulped down the broth, and……

「Stall-keeper, one more」

「Coming right up!」

……ordered his sixth bowl.

He ate as well as one would expect from a man of his size.

He looked like a towering boulder with stubble, and was probably in his late thirties. He was bent over in his seat at the moment, but he must be at least two meters tall when standing. His arms and legs were as thick as logs. His chest was thick with muscle. Even the flesh on his face seemed thick. Be it his eyes, nose, or eyebrows, he just looked thick overall. [2]

His hand was so big that it made the ramen spork look like a teaspoon.

As for his attire, he didn't look like a knight at all, perhaps because he was trying to be incognito.

He had on a cheap hemp shirt and pants. The great-sword at his side was impressive, but he looked like someone more at home with an axe.

How about changing careers from being a knight to a lumberjack?

While running his fingers through his short blonde hair, the man turned leisurely to look at me.

「I hear that Arcane has been causing trouble for you」

「Indeed he has, quite a bit at that」

The bitterness in my voice was palpable.

「He's got a lot of talent, but he's still young. He probably messes up a fair bit」

「Luckily, my party didn't suffer any casualties, but if we had………well, you get the idea」

「If a hero dies because of a grudge, then that's simply his lot」

A hero just like you did indeed die because of a grudge.

「I’m Khius」

A burly hand was held out to me.

I suppressed the complicated feelings I had and responded. f𝔯𝒆𝚎𝚠𝑒𝚋𝓃૦νℯƖ.co𝘮

「I’m Souya」

We exchanged a short, firm handshake.

I looked into Khius' eyes. They were the eyes of a huge predator. He looked calm at the moment, but he seemed like the type that would be impossible to stop once he went on a rampage.

This guy, he's strong

He's someone who's purely strong.

Can he be defeated using schemes and tricks, I wonder?

「You sir, have the eyes of a hunter」

It appears that my killing intent had leaked out.

I'll gloss over it as best as I can.

「A hunter, you say? It must be because I've hunted all kinds of beasts as an adventurer」

「Hmm, for example?」

「Well, my first was a pig」

「A dungeon pig? The pigs here in Lemuria sure are big and tasty」

「I've also hunted winged snakes and I've even hunted a dragon-tortoise together with my party」

「Snakes, huh? They don't taste bad, but I definitely prefer pork over them. So, how did the dragon-tortoise taste?」

How did it taste? That's what you're interested in?

「It was too fishy to eat」

「I suppose bigger doesn't always mean tastier」

「Also, frogs」

Actually, I've tried eating a frog from the dungeon behind my party members' backs. It was delicious, its taste similar to that of high-quality chicken. Because I was afraid my sister would find out and cut ties with me, I never ate it again though.

「Frogs, huh? They're very tasty」

「You've eaten frogs before?」

Even though you're a knight?

A hero?

「Yeah, in a battle against the Myriad Kings, we had our supply lines cut off, you see? We were running out of food, so I went into a nearby forest where I got completely lost. It was then that I ran into a mysterious elf. She told me that I could take as many frogs as I wanted, so I took back as many as I could. The soldiers also loved them, and I can still remember the taste to this day」

「A forest on the left continent……」

What's more, for there to be an elf there…….. Could it be that it's the forbidden forest near Ashtalia? For a hero of Elysium to be able to enter that forest, this guy sure is different from the other heroes. Is it because his nature is similar to that of the Myriad Kings?

「Here you go, thank you for waiting」

The sixth bowl of ramen was placed before him.

It was soy sauce ramen made with ingredients from the alternate world.

The noodles were straight and thin, and the ingredients were simple, just two thin slices of pork chashu, thinly sliced leeks, and a choice selection of boiled vegetables.

This stall was the only one that served soy sauce ramen as pork ramen was the most common type of ramen served in Lemuria.

Without missing a beat, Khius slurped up the noodles and drank the broth with gusto. 𝗳𝒓𝚎e𝚠𝒆𝐛𝐧𝐨v𝚎Ɩ.co𝓶

「Mmm………delicious! So, stall-keeper, I've been going around all the places that sell this ramen that's all the rage in this country, but your ramen is completely different. Especially this broth. Its taste is as clear as the morning dew, and it has a deliciousness that seeps into the body. The noodles are also thin and easy to eat. This is a wonderful delicacy. What exactly makes it different? I'm a tight-lipped guy, so how about enlightening me a little?」

A troubled look came over the stall-keeper's face and he left it up to me.

「It’s a secret」

Obviously.

「Come on, just a little is fine. I'm not going to steal the secret and sell it elsewhere. It's purely out of personal curiosity」

Well, I certainly can't see a hero of Elysium changing careers and opening a ramen store.

「The stock is different」

「What do you mean by “stock”?」

「It’s the bones」

「Now that you mention it, I've heard that the other ramen stores use pig bones to make their broth」

「This broth is made using bird bones」

「Which bird exactly?」

「Stall-keeper, give me one order of “that” from the secret menu」

「Coming right up」

He brought out one of the items on the secret menu. It was a seasoned chicken egg.

「It's the bipedal bird that laid this egg」

「A bipedal bird, huh………………」

Khius raised one of his thick eyebrows, but he ate the boiled egg in one bite.

「Woah, it's kind of syrupy inside. What's with this egg?」

「It's called a half-boiled egg. The egg isn't cooked all the way through, but removed from the boiling water when it's half done, and then immersed overnight in the elves' secret seasoning」

「Not cooked all the way through? Won't that upset the stomach?」

「Unlike chocho eggs, these eggs can be eaten raw」

「Raw, you say? I'm not in the habit of eating bipedal birds, but to think that they could be eaten in this way………」

It seems that the people of the center continent really don't eat bipedal birds.

This is apparently because of the Minerva sister gods, one of whom I'm contracted with, but I haven't paid it any mind and have been eating them freely. I haven't received any complaints from the god herself, so maybe it's just a misunderstanding on the part of the followers.

「Stall-keeper, give me one more of those eggs」

「I'm sorry, dear customer. The boiled egg is something that some people really look forward to, and if I don't leave some for them, well, please understand……」

He's talking about a certain group of three drunks, isn't he?

「It can't be helped then. This delicious ramen is enough to help me get over the disappointment」

What an understanding hero he is.

「And? Bones can't be the only thing, right?」

What's more, he's very perceptive.

「The elven seasoning in which the eggs are immersed is the key to this broth's flavor. It's called soy sauce and it’s made from the clear liquid of miso」

「Hmm, I have no clue what you're talking about. But it's delicious, so it's all good」

Well, that's not all there is to it, but I'll keep the rest a secret.

For a while, I watched as the hero ate his ramen.

Well, he looks like he's enjoying the ramen. I wonder who taught him to slurp up the noodles.

「When an elf girl taught me this vulgar way of eating that makes a lot of noise, I was skeptical, but I tried it anyway, and it's truly wonderful. It makes the aroma and taste fill my nose and mouth. Because of all the air also sucked in, the hot broth can also be enjoyed without any difficulty. It's very practical. Though it's vulgar after all」

And what kind of elf girl is that? I do hope it's not one who dresses lightly like beastkin women.

Back to the topic, the hero had finished off his ramen like he was at a snack bar.

「Alright, I've had enough without feeling overfull. Stall-keeper, how much?」

「Yes, thank you very much. That's 20 copper coins in total」

「Keep the change」

A large hand set a handful of gold coins down casually. It was enough to buy the entire stall.

「Wait, dear customer, I can't accept this much!」

「It's one thing if it tastes bad, but despite how I look, I'm a man of position, so I have to pay a fair price for delicious food. My reputation would be ruined if it spread that I had filled my stomach on the cheap」

「R, right. If you put it like that, then I'll gladly accept it」

「I appreciate it. I'll come eat here again」

After thanking the stall-keeper, Khius got up from his seat.

I walked away from the stall with him.

Walking beside him, I felt keenly that he was as huge as I thought he would be. He could probably send me flying above the roofs of the surrounding buildings with a single kick.

「Souya, let's go somewhere else」

Now, what will the hero have to say?

Or will I have to fight him right off the bat?

[1] A noren curtain is a traditional Japanese curtain or Japanese fabric divider of many sizes, cloths, colors, and designs. It’s typically used to divide rooms, or hung in doorways or windows. And while we’re on the subject, Japanese food stalls have a traditional look. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. (illus courtesy of vectorstock.com)

[2] I think it’s pretty obvious that thick doesn’t work so well as an adjective for several of the things mentioned. It’s sorta a joke by the author and it does work fine in Japanese because thick as an adjective also means “big/large” or “muscular” in that language. Also, the author is trying to draw a link to His Majesty, the one other character the author has done this to.

This representative hero is very different from Varner, isn’t he? Can you believe the author just spent about 90% of a chapter letting us get to know him? What does he know though and what does he really want with Souya? We’ll find out next time, so stay tuned!

Though I must say, the First Hero has been brought up again, huh? He has actually been periodically appearing all the time in small mentions throughout the story, but not as clearly as recently. And one thing not mentioned above is that Zamonglass didn’t only describe him as terrifying back in volume 3, but has also said that Souya is a lot like him…