Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 245 : Kitsune-sama Challenges Gunma Dungeon No. 1 (2)

The structure of Gunma Dungeon No. 1 was simple. And for that very reason, it is troublesome.

The countless volcanoes could erupt at any moment. One might explode far off in the distance, only for the one closest at hand to erupt next, sending pyroclastic flows and firebombs barreling toward them. Out of these eruptions emerged Flareballs, while from the magma rivers spilled Magma Slimes and other molten creatures.

“Take this!”

“Boom.”

『Flying Torpedo!』

Inari’s arrow shattered a Magman, a humanoid monster formed entirely of blazing magma, while Shion’s airborne torpedo obliterated a cluster of magma slimes. No matter how many they defeated, the monsters poured out endlessly—until at last they subsided, and Shion exhaled a quiet sigh.

“So many monsters.”

“Feels endless, doesn’t it… Though perhaps good for farming.”

“Not really.”

“Mmm.”

Atsuage had been darting about collecting loot, but it wasn’t just magic stones. Mixed in were cooled lava rocks, pumice, and volcanic ash—most of it barely worth carrying. At the moment, Atsuage tilted its head while holding a lump of hot spring mineral deposits (yunohana). Most dungeon drops had some use as materials, but things like lava rock and yunohana were good for little more than souvenirs. (Though, dungeon-sourced yunohana was said to have stronger medicinal properties and sold decently well.)

Inari casually tossed the selected items into her Divine Concealment.

“Oh? You even picked up yunohana.”

The chunk of yunohana radiated with surprisingly dense magical energy before vanishing into storage. Then, the two looked around once more.

Gunma Dungeon No. 1 had a special clear condition.

Among the countless volcanoes lay caves. Inside some of them, one might find a blazing red orb known as the Flame Orb. Destroying it was the key to clearing the dungeon.

This method had been discovered by an awakener team some years back. The Flame Orb was thought to serve as the dungeon’s “boss-core.” Takeru had told them the same, and said he cleared the dungeon this way himself.

Shattering the orb would drop “Flame Orb Fragments,” items that radiated intense heat. In winter, these fragments were repurposed as heaters for public spaces in Kusatsu.

Thus, Inari and Shion searched cave after cave—yet found no orb. Some caves seemed promising, but none contained the Flame Orb. It was easy to see why this dungeon was unpopular: tedious, with long stretches of fruitless searching.

“No luck…”

“Mm…”

They had already checked several caves. Just as Inari began considering calling it quits—another cave appeared. It looked like a natural cavern, and the two exchanged nods.

“I’ll enter first. Then you—hmm!?”

From deep within the cave came a sudden flash. Inari instantly deployed a barrier, and in the next moment a torrent of searing flame roared outward, scorching the cavern walls as it surged forth. It was clearly an attack, hot enough to incinerate a person instantly. But the inferno scattered harmlessly against Inari’s barrier.

And then, floating from the cave’s depths came a glowing red, half-transparent sphere, burning with inner fire.

The Flame Orb itself.

So it wasn’t just the “boss’s core”—it was the boss.

Yet Takeru and the others who had destroyed Flame Orbs never realized this. Which meant… it wasn’t truly a boss when found alone. Sparks crackled around it, heat shimmered in waves, and molten rock bubbled as it melted everything nearby.

“Never heard of this pattern before.”

“I do seem cursed with these exception cases…”

Before their eyes, the orb drew in flames and molten stone, molding them into the form of a massive lion. The orb vanished within its body, and the blazing lion let out a roar that shook the air itself. This was unmistakably the dungeon’s true boss revealed at last.

And then—ZUDON!

A massive beam of light from Inari’s bow blasted straight through it, shattering the fiery lion in a single shot.

Of course. There was no reason to wait for it to finish forming. The battle had already begun the moment it attacked.

“Poor thing.”

“It struck first. No reason for us to wait.”

At least, allowing it to take shape might count as a final mercy.

From the lion’s remains dropped a dimmed, lifeless orb, which Atsuage quickly scooped up. At that moment, the system messages appeared.

[Boss] Fire Elemental Golem defeated!

Dungeon clear!

You have received a reward box!

Commencing dungeon reset: all survivors will be expelled.