Episode 485 Divine Attributes

　Pass through the ruins of the fifth layer and descend to the sixth layer. The sixth layer was a desert, so I flew through it using a hover vehicle. The seventh layer was a grassy plain, but there were flying demons, so I started walking without using a hover vehicle.

　The meadow was covered with grass up to the waist level of adults. Belka led the way, pushing the grass away. A path was formed there, and Alisa and the others proceeded along the narrow path.

Are you sure you want to go this route?"

　The route Alisa and the others were taking was the one that would take them to the next staircase in the shortest distance. The map they had obtained from the Adventurers' Guild showed a safer route, albeit a long way off.

If it's a pack of black hyenas, Belka and I will take care of it."

　In this seventh layer, black hyenas were swarming. Individually, the black hyenas are weak, but when they swarm together, they become a troublesome monster. However, a living wizard trained in rapid-fire shooting had no problem with them.

　When Alisa encounters a pack of black hyenas, she activates her triple-activated "Pile Shot" in succession and skewers the black hyenas with D-particle piles.

　At times, there were D-particle piles that penetrated two black hyenas at the same time. When the black hyena that still missed the shot tried to approach Alisa and the others, Belka pounced on it and laid waste to it.

Really, Belka is dependable, isn't she?"

　Mihime said while patting Belka's head. Alisa looked around to make sure it was safe, then activated the "Magic Stone" and retrieved the magic stone.

　Alisa notices that the professor is tired and suggests that they take a break. Since there is no place to sit, he pulls out a hover vehicle and climbs in.

It would be so much easier if I could just keep flying."

　Mihime complains. However, there is a huge raven called a "Murder Crow" in the sky above this place, so it is dangerous to use a hover vehicle that is not designed for combat.

Professor, if you have already begun research on the nine-layer mural, I would like to hear your views.

　Alisa asked the professor.

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"I have learned from studying the pictures in the mural that whoever slays the giant dragon will be called 'the one who challenges God' and will be shown the way forward."

Is that it?"

No, it is said that those who challenge God are subjected to three trials."

　However, he can't tell what the ordeal is just by examining the photos. The professor said he intends to study the murals directly. He said that murals on archaeological sites are so weathered that some parts of them do not show up on photographs, so there is information that can be learned by looking at them up close and feeling their texture and atmosphere.

　Professor Nishijima is said to be the leading expert in dungeon analysis. However, it is not a field in which research can lead to the development of new technologies or be useful to human society, so universities and the government do not seem to provide much money for research.

　Because of this, it seems that they cannot hire adventurers and have no choice but to ask students for help.

But if it had been just the professor and Nitta-san diving in the dungeon, they would have died for sure."

I am acutely aware of that point." I was also convinced that the university did not give permission. But when I told them that the two of them had offered to help, they simply gave us permission."

　Mihime nodded in understanding.

That's because they know Alisa is a B-level adventurer."

I didn't know that. Are you famous?"

It is well known among adventurers in Shibupi City."

　Alisa looked at the professor.

Why did the professor draw your attention to the murals in the Green Tower dungeon?"

I noticed one thing while researching the dungeon."

What's that?"

The fact that the dungeon is recreating mythical magical weapons and items as drops and the information left behind in the dungeon suggest that the dungeon is showing great interest in what it calls God."

"Dungeon interested in God?"

Yes," he said. Sometimes it feels as if the dungeon is seeking God."

　Hearing this, Alisa began to wonder what it all meant.

　After thinking about it for a while, the professor suggested we leave. Alisa nodded, put away her hover vehicle, and started walking toward the stairs.

　We were able to reach the stairs in about 30% of the time it would have taken if we had taken the long way around. Eight layers down the stairs was a marshy area. Alisa opted to fly in a hover vehicle.

　Then, we arrived at the stairs to the ninth level and descended. The ninth layer is an area with a mixture of grasslands and forests, and the ruins are said to be located in the direction to the right. Alisa and her group flew in a hover vehicle through the grassland to the forest where the ruins were located. There, they got off the hover vehicle and entered the forest.

　As expected, we encountered many Orc knights, but Arisa and Belka defeated them in no time and proceeded. After about 30 minutes, the ruins came into view.

　It was a ruin like Angkor Wat in Cambodia. After climbing the stairs at the gate, there was an entrance to a temple-like building, from which one could enter.

　The ruins, made entirely of stone, were quite weathered. Some parts are crumbling, but the structure itself seems to be solid. It was cool inside, and the presence of demons could be felt here and there in the passageways.

　There were also Orc knights here, and they attacked us when we happened to encounter them. Defeating them as I went along, I arrived at the room with the mural.

Oh!"

　The professors were impressed when they saw the mural. While Alisa, Mihime, and Belka stood guard, the professors began to examine it in detail.

Nn......"

　The professor's voice sounded like a snarl as he examined the writing next to the picture. It was written in sacramental script. The parts that could not be discerned from the picture seemed to be readable when seen directly.

Professor, what did you find out?"

I don't know about the first of the ordeals, but apparently the second involves being given a huge amount of information and then having to process it."

"Processing information?　Sounds like an area where an analytical wizard would excel."

'Maybe so. I heard that the last ordeal was to choose an opponent and defeat him with divine authority."

Who's "Kamui"?

It seems to be the power of a divine attribute that those with divine status acquire. It is a special power that can destroy even immortals.

　Alisa makes a face that says it doesn't add up. What is the divine attribute?　Can even immortals be defeated?　Wouldn't that contradict the term immortality?　Or is there such a thing as limited immortality?