Chapter 46: Reckoning
DM expected Barney to try resetting the dungeon, moving it to a new location and removing the current dungeon master. If that happened, DM would most likely cease to exist. He wasn’t sure what would happen to Grummanonth, but Olivia would surely get transported alongside Barney. Although Barney had said he wasn’t planning to harm Olivia, DM doubted the assassin would bend over backwards to help her if they ended up in some god-forsaken wasteland after the dungeon was relocated. Barney would surely chalk up her demise to an unfortunate accident.
Of course, there was a decent chance the dungeon would end up somewhere survivable for both of them. There was still a likelihood Barney would eliminate Olivia of his own accord regardless. Even assuming Olivia was able to return home without too much difficulty, DM’s demise would cause some other problems. Chief among the concerns were his five adopted children of sorts.
In truth, the girls had come a long way. They were almost entirely independent despite their rough upbringing from before they met DM. Bandit was developing into a competent Guild Agent, sure to thrive if her luck didn’t run out. Vulp was already adopted into a noble family, knighted pending a formal ceremony in a later year, and developing into a respectable young woman who would surely grow into her responsibilities.
Kat was a rare healer who was on good terms with both the Guild and the Church. Her unique abilities would make her valuable wherever she went, whether adventuring or doing something else. Lupy had gotten in with a rough crowd but she could handle herself. Worst come to worst, the other girls could advise her so she wouldn’t make any big mistakes.
Shiba was perhaps the most challenging of the girls to consider. Although she was now a capable black mage, considering DM’s assistance, her other specialty was necromancy. Necromancy wasn’t a sought-after skillset by any means. If she went off on her own she’d be employable, but DM hoped she’d maintain close ties with the other girls either way.
From the bit of eavesdropping DM had performed on Daphne before he lost control of his abilities at the hands of Karen Burger, the young elf seemed to be recovering with the help of her kin. She’d grown considerably as an archer in the short time since she first made a small fool of herself in the dungeon, and DM had no doubt she would lead her comrades to greater heights. While he enjoyed keeping an eye on Daphne and helping her out (or teasing her), she didn’t need him.
Similarly, Sasha and Ardreth didn’t need DM’s help. They were all on friendly terms, and DM felt like he shared a friendship with both of them, but he could afford to disappear without harming either of them. They were already looking to re-form their party and adventure more in the Empire. Given Ardreth’s stand-out performance in defense of the Emperor during the recent rebellion, the pair would be treated favorably in anything that came up. Even if they returned to the Holy State, Sasha’s energy and Ardreth’s wisdom would lead them in the right direction. DM even considered the small debt they owed him, if anything to begin with, fully repaid.
Even if all of DM’s close acquaintances could manage without him, he knew the Guild would be disappointed about having lost their access to a well-regulated training environment. Perhaps Grummanonth would be spared and he could take the reins.
“Grummanonth, if Barney resets and moves this dungeon, what will happen to you?”
“Hm, I do not know, DM.”
“If I were to disappear and you gained control of the remaining dungeons, what would you do?”
“I would ensure those you worry about are taken care of. I would also find Barney no matter where he was hiding.”
“You wouldn’t like, go berserk in a draconic rage and raze half the continent?”
“DM, if that’s what it takes for you to challenge this threat head-on, then yes, that is what I will do, or die trying. Do not give up.”
DM returned his attention to Barney, who had descended a floor, one small step at a time.
“Remember, any funny business and she dies, just like that,” Barney reassured the morphling who was leading them deeper into the dungeon.
The dungeon’s monsters were moved out of the way, a little at a time, to make way for Barney and Olivia. DM had Grummanonth dismiss the monsters from up north that had reinforced the Lower Gordu Dungeon back when DM first contacted Grummanonth from the Empire. This incident wasn’t going to be settled with mobs. Unfortunately, Barney was right: None of DM’s monsters were skilled enough to disable Barney before he could kill Olivia.
DM’s root attack was his most effective tool for stopping Barney. Unfortunately, even that wouldn’t instantly disable the target, especially one wearing lots of defensive equipment like Barney. Judging from DM’s recent experience in the care of Ms. Burger, the best time to target Barney would be when he was distracted by the console. This method carried considerable risk; DM didn’t know what procedure Barney would use to issue the command for resetting the dungeon. If DM was too slow, Barney would succeed. If DM was too impatient, Barney would be expecting the attack and would exact his revenge immediately on Olivia’s throat.
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If DM was super-quick about casting healing magic on Olivia, it was possible he would be able to restore her before it was too late. If Kat and Shiba were here, that would also increase the likelihood that Olivia could fully recover from such a situation. Unfortunately, the girls were still returning from the east. DM was forced to assume Olivia wouldn’t survive if Barney had the opportunity to slash her.
Olivia wasn’t just another Guild employee; she was DM’s liaison. While she was within or proximate to the Lower Gordu Dungeon, Olivia was DM’s responsibility. She was also one of the first people to recognize DM as anything other than a monster. Despite being a bit of a ditz, she was a caring person who worked hard for her own charges. DM absolutely didn’t want to see her fall victim to Barney today.
And so, he wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks. He’d bide his time and act only when chances were most in his favor. As great as that sounded, Barney had already descended two more floors and was making surprisingly good progress—even though he had to drag Olivia along each step of the way.
The challenge would be creating a path through the water level. DM obviously didn’t have time to prepare for Barney’s visit, so the dungeon was still arranged to challenge adventurers. The water level required transiting the water itself. DM was limited in his ability to modify floors when adventurers were already exploring nearby.
“Make a path,” Barney demanded.
“…Hold on. I’m working on it right now.”
“Stop stalling. Even if I don’t kill her, I could test the firmness of her neck against the sharpness of my blade, you know.”
After another minute, DM reached a conclusion and addressed Barney again. “…I can’t move all the water out of the way. You’ll need to cross this portion from here.”
“You think I can swim with a hostage? Guess you don’t care about her…”
“…I have an idea. Wait a few more seconds.”
Barney tightened the grip on his dagger, keeping his eyes peeled for any surprises. A few moments later, two sharks swam over to the pair, coming to a stop at the edge of the waterway with their dorsal fins sticking up out of the water.
The morphling stepped from the pathway onto the back of the first shark, turning to face Barney. “…We will need to ride these sharks in order to cross.”
“You sure yer shark there will be steady enough? If I slip, she dies right then and there.”
“…It’s the best I can do, given the circumstances.”
Reluctantly, Barney forced Olivia on to the second shark’s back and stepped on behind her. A real shark couldn’t be used in this manner, but the monster sharks were apparently suitable.
Both sharks eased their way across the waterway, being careful not to roll or turn too abruptly. Fortunately, Barney was able to maintain his balance and support Olivia without losing his grip. The three debarked their sharks at the other end.
“Let’s go.” Barney resumed his march roughly, bringing Olivia along as always. They were nearing the end of the dungeon.
DM needed to buy as much time as possible without setting Barney off. He shut the doors to his chamber and stood right next to the console where Barney would almost certainly demand to approach. Barney was nearing the final stairway down to DM’s level.
“Grummanonth, this is going to be a photo finish.”
“I do not know what that is, DM, but I am waiting to provide whatever you need.”
“If I don’t make it, tell—“
“Absolutely not. Worry about yourself, or even the path to victory will elude you.”
Perhaps that is what DM needed to hear. “Very well. They’re at the top of the stairs down to my level, it won’t be long now.”
Barney forced Olivia down yet another flight of stairs, arriving at the door to the boss chamber. He turned to the morphling. “Open them.”
DM had hoped Barney would assume he had to open the doors himself, wasting precious time, but that didn’t pan out. DM entered the command, and the doors creaked open.
Barney paused at the threshold, looking around the room very carefully. “Even if you have those invisible chameleon things attack me, they won’t be able to stop me from killing her.”
DM had already figured as much from the get-go. He really was the only monster in the chamber aside from the morphling now.
“Move over there.” Barney gestured toward the far corner of the room.
“…Do you promise not to—“
“Move!” Barney repositioned his knife closer to Olivia’s jugular as she winced.
DM slithered away from the console, making a point of doing it slowly. Once he came to a rest, Barney and Olivia tottered over to the console.
“Grummanonth, I need a distraction that Barney won’t perceive as a threat! Now!”
“Five seconds, DM.”
Just as Barney turned his attention from DM and Olivia to the console, he noticed motion in his peripheral vision and looked back up. Standing there in the middle of the chamber was a white mage—Grace the Fearless.
“Wha!? A white mage…?” Barney puzzled over the girl who just appeared without immediately killing Olivia.
Grace turned her head, rapidly scanning the room. Her eyes passed right over Barney and Olivia as her gaze settled on DM. She jogged over to the towering monster and raised her staff.
“What are you—“ Barney interrupted his question as he came to understand the mage’s goal.
Grace brought her staff down on DM, striking him with much of her strength. What’s more, she raised it again, bringing it down for a second attack. Repeatedly, she whaled on him.
>7 damage.
>8 damage.
>8 damage.
DM ignored her and focused his attention on Barney. For a moment, he looked like a deer in headlights, but he recovered quickly and turned his attention back to the console.
>7 damage.
“I have no idea what’s going on, but in ten seconds it’s not going to matter,” said Barney. “Farewell, you abomination. May you rot in—“
>8 damage.
Separate from the sound of Grace whaling on DM, a sharp thud resounded through the chamber, stopping Barney mid-sentence. The knife slipped from his hand as he collapsed right on to the console, entirely limp. An arrow protruded from the center of his neck, buried deep into the vertebrae. The arrow’s feathers were of a traditional elven style.
A new person walked into the room while lowering their bow. “I hate that guy,” she said in a high-pitched voice.