[Step back.]

“……!”

“What was that voice?”

“What, what is this?”

The sudden booming voice startled everyone around.

However, I was surprised for another reason.

‘Why… can I understand it?’

The voice echoing in my ears was an incomprehensible foreign language.

Yet, I clearly understood the meaning of the words in my mind.

It was an absurd phenomenon.

To be honest, I was quite taken aback.

‘Calm down.’

I collected my thoughts and considered.

‘The dungeon itself is a phenomenon.’

Creating a dungeon and the ability to force understanding of language were both phenomena.

In other words, the owner of the voice ringing in my head was probably—

‘The boss monster.’

A being capable of creating such a dungeon.

It wouldn’t be surprising if it could do something.

-Oho. I smell delicious blood from inside.

It seemed to affirm my suspicions as the baronet in the shadows spoke.

-The scent is slightly fishy, but it still feels like a delicacy…

‘Now that I think about it, it mentioned it could grow stronger by consuming high-quality blood.’

The fact that it referred to the scent as delicious was easy to interpret.

‘The monster inside is powerful enough to make a noble of the night salivate.’

At that moment, the voice echoed again from within.

[Why do you invade our territory?]

“Um. It asks why we are invading.”

“Invade? What are they talking about?”

“…Shouldn’t we answer?”

The soldiers hesitated a bit.

If these were mindless monsters, we could just fight hard and defeat them.

Since it was the first time a monster spoke to us, they were unsure how to respond.

‘Sigh. It can’t be helped.’

We were right in the heart of enemy territory.

There was no benefit in prolonging the standoff.

Moreover, 

‘I’ve always wanted to try talking.’

First, I decided to address the incomprehensible claim.

“Why do you say this is your territory?”

Claiming we invaded their domain was absurd.

[My people and I claim the sea. Your indigenous kind claims the sky.]

The response was short, but I roughly understood its meaning.

‘The underwater is their domain, and above it is humanity’s territory. Something like that?’

It was ridiculous.

“This city is originally the territory of humans, of the Republic of Korea. You’re illegally occupying another country’s land.”

[Heh heh… Do you wish to discuss legitimacy?]

I tried to counter the nonsense, but the reaction was a snicker.

[A country, huh? You are trapped in a well, unable to see anything properly.]

“What’s so funny?”

[Poor thing. Indigenous beings who know less about this world than I, an outsider.]

…This creature.

‘Does it know something?’

Our unit was trapped in Gangwon Province.

We didn’t even know what had happened to other cities in Gangwon, let alone the outside world.

Even as mere soldiers, we managed to survive and maintain the shape of our unit.

I had believed that the Republic of Korea still retained its form.

‘But the likelihood of that being untrue isn’t low.’

I wanted to hear more detailed information, but—

[If I’ve offended you, I apologize. However, your claims hold no meaning. We claim the sea, you claim the sky. Hasn’t this agreement been made over time?]

“Instead of spewing such nonsense, could you elaborate on what you mentioned earlier—”

[We also pay a price for our ownership of the surface. We protect you from external enemies.]

“……?”

I wanted to learn more about the situation regarding the country, but its statement was somewhat unexpected.

“You protect us from external enemies?”

“What the hell is this monster talking about?”

The humans of the city appeared displeased upon hearing that.

To say they protect the surface in exchange for taking it.

From their perspective, it must sound absurd.

But—

‘…I have a hunch about something.’

From our outsider's perspective,

What it said might not be entirely nonsensical.

[Indigenous beings, do you know how many of your kind survive beyond that wall?]

“What, what do you mean?”

“Surely they’re living fine, right?”

[Your indigenous population is less than a tenth of what it used to be. Most have become the dead, wandering the surface without being properly buried.]

“What, what did you say?”

Upon hearing those words, the awakened humans of the city widened their eyes and looked at me and the soldiers.

‘Is that true?’

Their expressions seemed to ask that.

Though I had mentioned that monsters had appeared outside,

I hadn’t felt the need to tell them how many had died.

I worried that bringing it up would only diminish their enthusiasm for going outside.

But this response—

‘The most shocking thing about entering the dungeon was the number of people.’

In this unique environment called a dungeon,

It was strange to see so many living humans here.

[It is because I am blocking the outsiders.]

Was this what it had intended to convey?

[Not only that. I also purified the plague that roamed this space. Don’t you think I’ve paid a sufficient price for taking the surface?]

The humid, filthy environment.

It had felt odd that the sickly were still alive in a place where diseases would have thrived long ago.

“That’s not even funny.”

At that moment, a man muttered with a voice filled with hatred.

“My fiancée was eaten alive by your monster kind. A price paid for taking it? Is this how the privileged live?”

[As long as you do not invade our territory, we have not attacked anyone.]

“Let’s be clear, fish head. It’s not that you haven’t attacked; it’s that you can’t. Once you come out of the water, you can’t even breathe properly.”

[…….]

It was Chang-soo.

[I know who you are. You’re the indigenous being who has killed the most children of my kind.]

“Honored to be recognized, indeed.”

[Even if you combined all the indigenous beings we’ve killed, it wouldn’t amount to half of what you’ve slain of my kind. Do you know that? All of the kin you’ve killed were children.]

“……That’s.”

[The reduction in your numbers is a fact. But most of it was caused by infighting among you.]

I had heard that before.

There had been a significant conflict among humans.

[Step back.]

The creature's voice changed slightly to a more dignified tone.

[We only need our sanctuary; we do not wish to invade anyone.]

“……”

[When you invaded our territory, we will respond, but we have no intention of being hostile. If you simply withdraw, I promise not to interfere with you. I’ve even tolerated the use of lines and needles to take the lives of those beneath the water. So please, step back.]

While the creature spoke at length, 

the summary of its message was simple.

‘A proposal for a truce.’

Unfortunately, 

there was no reason for me and my soldiers to consider the offer.

‘We must defeat the boss to escape the dungeon.’

We had no intention of living out our lives trapped in this dungeon.

However,

that was seemingly a concern specific to our unit.

“……Are you serious?”

I turned around in surprise at the voice coming from behind me.

“I’ve been afraid of being hunted by monsters. If they’ve been sparing us…”

“There’s no need to be afraid, then?”

“I guess the humans outside are dying in greater numbers.”

“Then the outside is a more dangerous place? So, is there really any need for us to struggle to get out like this…?”

I could see the city’s inhabitants murmuring among themselves.

Unlike us, they had adapted to the environment of this city.

Though it seemed ridiculous to trust the words of a monster,

if what it said were true, it was understandable they might waver.

In reality, the outside wasn’t exactly a hospitable environment.

“Bullshit…!”

“Do you really believe that monster’s words?”

Among those who remained steadfast, Chang-soo’s group was the only one.

“You all know, right? Fishing alone won’t feed the people of this city.”

Among them, Chang-soo, the leader, seemed to have regained his composure.

He stepped forward to persuade the others.

“If we keep this up, we’ll eventually run out of food. Staying here will only lead to starvation. If we want to survive, we have to go outside.”

“……With our current numbers, I suppose that’s true.”

“What did you say?”

However,

that persuasion didn’t seem to have much effect.

“If the number of mouths to feed decreases, we can survive on fishing alone.”

“You little… I hope I’m not thinking what you’re thinking.”

“We’ve raised our levels fighting against monsters. We’re better off than other humans who’ve only been hiding since awakening. If a war breaks out among humans, we could easily win.”

“Damn it. You’re really bringing that up.”

That persuasion had little effect.

“In fact, aren’t you in the best position? You’re the strongest people in this city.”

“Revenge is futile! What matters is surviving. It’s better to worry about your own survival than to push out unscathed by seeking revenge!”

It sounded somewhat plausible.

Ultimately, it was about killing the weak humans and having the strong survive.

They were supposed to replenish their ranks, yet now they were causing a backlash.

To even try to sway Chang-soo’s group, filled with resentment.

‘Tsk. It’d be fine if they just chose not to participate in the fight.’

If we succeed in defeating the boss, the dungeon would disappear.

They would have to face the outside world

 they didn’t desire.

In that case, 

‘They might attack us instead.’

The situation suddenly became complicated.

After a moment’s thought, I decided.

‘Tsk. Complicated thoughts are not my style.’

I moved forward.

Towards the door of the temple-like building.

“Hey there, soldier!”

“Stop right there! If you move any further, I won’t let you go…!”

As the city’s inhabitants tried to stop me—

“If you move, what will happen?”

A huge arm blocked their path.

“What, who are you?”

“I hear Sergeant Shin is going to move, so why not speak your intentions?”

The soldiers led by Private Jeong Kwang-il emanated an immense sense of pressure.

“Umm….”

“That’s not it; it wouldn’t be bad to have a little more conversation.”

“Ah, is that what it was? I thought you were going to use force!”

“…….”

“Surely no one would do something so insane. I must have been terribly mistaken. Hehe!”

Thud!

Kwang-il laughed and patted the backs of those who were trying to step forward.

Thanks to him, I was able to stand in front of the door without interruption.

I placed my hands on the door to open it.

[Can this be interpreted as a rejection?]

“Let’s see, you bastard.”

You won’t touch me if I back off?

‘What a joke.’

From the beginning,

it was absurd for them to act as if they held our lives in their hands.

‘You’re badly injured right now.’

The water level in the dungeon had suddenly dropped.

That meant it had sustained injuries severe enough to lose significant power.

The one who should be trembling was it.

Moreover,

[I don’t understand. I have not spoken falsely. Why would we refuse to do something good for each other?]

“What do you think our purpose for entering this dungeon right now is?”

From the outside, it was quite a large dungeon.

Normally, we would have waited until we were stronger to challenge it.

Yet, we decided to enter the dungeon immediately after discovering it for one reason.

“It’s expanding.”

[…….]

This dungeon—

was gradually growing larger.

The expansion of a dungeon is simple.

It meant the power of the being that created the dungeon inside was growing stronger as well.

“I’m not sure, but as time passes, your power is increasing, right?”

[…….]

“As you got injured and lost power, the water level in this dungeon dropped. So, conversely… if you grow stronger, the water level in this dungeon will rise, right?]

[Hmm.]

“Let me ask you something too. What will the scenery of this dungeon look like in 2 to 3 years?”

Kuwuuuuu…

With a tremendous rumble, the door opened.

The being lying within responded.

[Even the highest spire of this city will sink into the sea.]

“““……!”””

That was an obvious statement.

As the water rises, people will eventually have to abandon their buildings and flee.

By that time, the dungeon would have expanded, and they could just move to taller buildings on the outskirts.

But—

Would they easily allow that migration?

‘They’d attack as soon as you enter the water, claiming it as their territory.’

The sea and the sky.

Though it seemed fair to divide the territories this way,

if the sea were to gradually rise toward the sky, it would be a different story.

They claim they won’t attack as long as their territory isn’t invaded?

If they create a situation where invasion is unavoidable, then it’s over.

‘In the end, they’d aim to eliminate humanity by any means.’

What I said about the country was meaningless, but the creature’s talk about costs was also pointless.

Right.

Why complicate my thoughts?

The important thing is simply this.

“Only the strongest survive. That’s all.”

[Huff… Heh heh… Hahaha…!]

In the massive temple,

the giant lying in the center raised its body.

[You’re quite perceptive, aren’t you? A little insect.]