'Take a right here, then a left at the third corner, and then go straight ahead for about a hundred meters, then take the narrow passage on your right, and you'll find the stairs at the end of it.

　Each time I stepped through the labyrinth, I was able to see pretty far ahead.
　The accuracy in reading the intentions of the creator has also improved, and thanks to that, it is possible to break through each level in a few minutes.

''It's no longer a 'clairvoyant' skill.......''
Clairvoyant?

　I ask back, curious about Heera's mutterings.

''Ha, yes. What's more, they can see a thousand miles away.''
'Heh, I didn't know you had such a useful skill. I'd love to learn it.

　Currently, I am able to detect places that I can't see with my eyes because of things like magic power, air flow, and sound echoes.
　Although each has its own advantages and disadvantages, the ability to ignore obstacles along the way and sense distant beings is still largely due to the magic power.

　Regardless of whether it is inorganic or organic, everything emits magical power, and all of its vibrations are unique to it.
　The current range is only a few hundred meters, but if they can improve their ability to sense magic power, they may be able to grasp it a thousand miles away.

''Hmm, we've come a long way.

　Be that as it may, we had already dived down to the forty levels, which as far as we knew was the record for the highest ever reached.

　From this level, the demons became even more powerful and the traps became more and more troublesome.
　Many troublesome traps were also becoming more and more troublesome.

　For example, there are doors that can only be opened by defeating special monsters placed at various levels, and you have to go back and forth to the next level.

　Thanks to this, it took me nearly twice as long as before, but once I reached the 50th level, such tricks were gone.
　The number of traps also decreased.

　However, on the other hand, the demons became more vicious.
　They didn't just get stronger.
　The number of demons that use troublesome magic and special attacks has increased, and they attack in organized groups like an army, or take advantage of the structure of the dungeon to attack, so it's not a simple matter.

'Well, we'll just crush them from the front.
You're on the straight and narrow...




　When I got to the fifty-seventh level, I encountered an oddity.

'The demon is dead?'

　For some reason, the corpses of demons had fallen all over the passage.
　From the looks of it, it didn't look like much time had passed yet.
　In the first place, demons that died in the dungeon would be absorbed by the dungeon and disappear after a few hours or so, so it's not strange that the corpses are fresh.
　........if this is a shallow layer.

　The shallow layers are filled with people who challenge the dungeons, so the corpses of demons killed by them can be found lying all over the place.
　Basically, it's because you only get the materials you need and leave the parts you don't need.

　However, after passing the 20th level, such corpses were rarely seen.
　This is because there are almost no people diving that deep.

"But do you mean to say that there were other people besides us who came this deep...?
From the looks of it, it doesn't look like a human did it.

　A close examination of the bodies revealed that they were all cruel.
　They were torn to shreds by what looked like fangs or claws, and some of them seemed to have been bitten off.
　With a human opponent, it would indeed not be a corpse like this.

　Eventually, when I went out into a large room, I came across the true nature of the mutation that was happening on this level.

''Hee.''

　Heera let out a twitching voice.

　What was in the great hall were the corpses of countless demons.
　Their number lightly exceeded fifty bodies, and the smell of blood was pervasive.

　And on top of the pile of corpses that were piling up.

''Monkeys?''

　There was a mysterious creature.
　It was probably about the size of a human child or goblin.
　It had four limbs, a curled back, and a small head.
　In terms of silhouette, it's close to a monkey.

　However, it wears an aura of evil darkness, and the body is not clearly visible.
　It was as if a shadow had been condensed into a single entity.

　It seemed to be fearlessly devouring the corpses of the demons lying at its feet.
　As soon as it thought it had easily torn off the red troll's thick arm, it bit him vigorously.
　Is the sound of rivulets sounding because it is chewing the whole bone?

''Nah, what is this........''

　Heera moaned with a shiver.
　Then a mysterious monkey heard her voice and turned to me.

''Kishaaaaah!''

　Immediately afterwards, he leapt at a terrific speed.


　　　　◇ ◇ ◇


　There was once an entity known as the Demon King.
　He was feared by all creatures as a disaster that would bring destruction to the world.

　But for some unknown reason, the Demon King was defeated by the warriors whom the humans called "heroes.
　The humans called him "Hero".

　But the Demon King was not completely destroyed.
　He divided his body and soul into several categories and stored them in different parts of the world.

　One of them was me.

　Because I had divided my body and soul into smaller pieces so that those abominable heroes would not find me, some of them might have lost the battle for survival or been lost in a tragic accident.
　But I was fortunate enough to survive.

　Even more fortunate was the discovery of this dungeon.
　There was a never-ending supply of food here.
　No matter how much food I ate, new ones would be born from the dungeon.

　And the deeper you go, the livelier food you will find.
　If it can become my blood, my sustenance, then these guys will love it.

　Of course, they have resisted the bait, trying not to be eaten so easily.
　There have been a few close calls, but I've been lucky.

　My body is now more powerful than that of a dragon.
　Although my body is still far more fragile than it once was, I'm sure I'll be able to regain my strength in the not too distant future.

　Oh, and it's delicious nonetheless.
　This muscular troll in particular is my favorite.
　I tear off its arm and bite into the bone.

''What, what is this........''

　Then I heard a voice and I turned my gaze to it.

　Humans?

　There were two human beings there.
　Furthermore, I looked at one of them and marveled.

　What a delicious human being!

　At first glance, his physique looked slender, but his muscles were incredibly dense.
　On top of that, it was covered in immeasurably dense magical power.

　If I eat it, I'm sure I'll be able to gain even more power.

"Kishaaaaah!

　I was driven by an intense appetite, and I found myself throwing off the arm of the troll I had been devouring and pouncing on that human.

　Zang!

　....What?
　Something about my vision splitting to the left and right....

　My consciousness was cut off there.