Chapter 280: A Man's Dream! (3)
The robot slowly walked toward us.
In terms of size, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was similar to adult Yongyong.
If the ceiling in this room hadn't been extremely high, the cave would have collapsed long ago.
"Whirrr!"
The drill began to rotate with enough force to create friction.
And simultaneously...
"Whoosh!"
It attacked us with its overwhelming size.
We kicked off the ground and dodged backward.
Then...
"CRASH!"
A huge crater formed where we had just been standing.
*That's definitely something we shouldn't get hit by.*
As expected of an attack filled with masculine fantasy, it had extraordinary power.
I couldn't help but think this might actually be the One Piece.
While I was watching with sparkling eyes...
"We need to get rid of that annoying weapon first, Mom."
"Yes. Let's destroy that weapon first."
Are they talking about crushing a man's fantasy?
But they're right, that weapon is too annoying.
So we need to destroy it immediately.
"Mom! I'll handle this!"
At that moment, Yongyong stepped forward, opening her mouth wide.
Then...
"Eat this!"
She breathed out a dragon's breath.
No matter how high-performance that robot might be, it's facing a dragon's breath.
The moment it hits, it should shatter into pieces.
Sure enough...
"BOOM!"
The robot's drill was completely destroyed by Yongyong's breath.
Hmm... I feel somewhat disappointed.
I was planning to destroy it anyway, but seeing it happen right before my eyes makes me feel a bit regretful.
There's a difference between knowing something intellectually and seeing it actually happen.
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate asks if you're feeling disappointed about something.]
"No, you're mistaken."
As I was trying to deny Fate's comment...
"Whirr!"
Suddenly, the robot began to vibrate like an aspen tree, and then...
"Reassembly complete."
The shattered drill part was restored to its original state.
It seems that people in this world, just like me, can't tolerate seeing their fantasies destroyed.
"Mom, Dad, Sis, can I handle this one alone?"
"Sure. I don't mind. But if it gets dangerous, I'll step in. Okay, Yongyong?"
"Got it, Sis."
"Be careful, daughter."
"I will, Mom."
Yongyong nodded and turned to look at me.
Her eyes seemed to say, "Aren't you going to say anything, Dad?"
Unable to tell her to be careful with her strength while fighting, I said...
"Be careful... and fight well."
I spoke in a deliberately calm tone.
She nodded with a brave face.
"Yes! I'll definitely smash that damn golem to pieces! Don't worry!"
With those words, she charged at Captain Lagan.
Damn. My Captain Lagan.
***
The battle between Yongyong and Captain Lagan was magnificent.
"RAAAAR!"
"WHIRRR!"
A fight between a robot and a monster that I'd only seen on TV as a child was happening right before my eyes.
What man wouldn't find this epic?
As I was enjoying this kaiju battle...
"How dare you get that look from Dad! I'll never forgive you! That's my exclusive privilege!"
Yongyong shouted in a voice full of jealousy as she swung her front paw.
Then...
"CRASH!"
Captain Lagan flew into the opposite wall.
However, Captain Lagan wasn't just taking the hits.
"How annoying..."
Just before Yongyong blocked with her front paw, Captain Lagan counterattacked with a punch.
The two exchanged blows one for one.
As I tried to hide my excited heart while eating popcorn...
"By the way, this room is quite interesting. No matter how spacious and sturdy it is, it's amazing that it doesn't collapse from the battle between these two massive beings."
Anje looked around the room with curious eyes.
Lien nodded in agreement.
"It is indeed strange."
"Hmm..."
As they said, there must be something special about this room.
Honestly, no matter how spacious it is, withstanding a battle between Yongyong and Captain Lagan is impossible.
The dungeon master must have taken some special measures.
"Well, it's not that strange. The person who created Captain... that golem, could certainly create a room like this, right?"
"True. Though the golem is losing to Yongyong, someone who could create such a robot could definitely make a room like this."
The two nodded in agreement to my question.
Just then...
"Whirrr!"
Captain Lagan began to use its drill in desperation.
At the same time...
"CRASH!"
The drill headed toward Yongyong.
If she were still a hatchling, she wouldn't have survived that attack.
However...
"Is that all you've got?"
Now an adult, Yongyong had not only grown in size but her scales had hardened considerably, leaving her quite unharmed.
In that momentary opening...
Yongyong used the opportunity to grab Captain Lagan's drill with both hands.
Then...
"CRACK!"
Yongyong crushed Captain Lagan's arm with her grip.
But Captain Lagan, as if anticipating this...
"Initiating partial self-destruction."
It detonated the shattered drill.
*Damn. It feels like my heart is being crushed too.*
Though I know it will regenerate, I can't help feeling bitter.
As I was feeling down...
"Stop annoying me, you scrap metal golem!"
Looking completely unharmed, Yongyong swung her tail.
But Captain Lagan, unwilling to back down...
"Grab!"
Caught her tail and tucked it under its side.
Then...
"Huh? What?"
It threw her down with a takedown.
"THUD!"
Yongyong was properly slammed into the floor.
As if that wasn't enough...
"Huh?"
Captain Lagan started pounding like an MMA fighter.
Captain Lagan mounted Yongyong.
The next moment...
"Whirrr!"
It brought its drill to Yongyong's face.
That's dangerous.
While Yongyong's toughness is undeniable, her eyes aren't as hard as her scales.
*This is bad. We need to help.*
I wasn't the only one thinking this—Anje and Lien also showed signs of moving.
But it seems we didn't need to worry.
Because...
"DIE!"
Unlike humans, Yongyong could still attack while being mounted.
With Yongyong's breath...
"BOOM!"
Captain Lagan's drill and head were destroyed.
Normally, this would stop its functioning.
However...
"Whirr!"
Somehow still able to regenerate, its handsome face and drill returned to normal.
But...
"Now I've found your weakness."
The destruction of its face revealed its weakness.
While regenerating, Captain Lagan's important core was exposed in its chest.
Until now, with just an arm being destroyed, it wasn't noticeable, but regenerating the head seemed to consume considerable energy, making the core glow brightly.
"Danger detected. Entering final mode."
Like a robot from some children's cartoon, Captain Lagan prepared its ultimate attack.
Normally, waiting for the opponent to finish would be the unwritten rule.
However...
"DIE!"
Who is Yongyong's daughter?
None other than mine and Lien's.
Having learned from watching me, there's no way Yongyong would wait for such a fantasy-filled ultimate attack.
"BAM!"
Sure enough, before the ultimate attack could finish, Yongyong's arm struck Captain Lagan's core.
Simultaneously...
"CRACK!"
She completely destroyed it with her grip.
With a hole in its chest, Captain Lagan finally...
"THUD!"
Collapsed to the floor, unable to regenerate.
Looking at just this scene, it's like a villain defeating a hero.
No, wait. Since we invaded their territory, are we actually the villains?
It seems reality is where villains win.
Anyway...
"Good job, Yongyong."
"Yeah! It was nothing, ahem!"
As she said, it was nothing—Yongyong looked completely fine.
Well, the regeneration was annoying, but without that, it would have ended much sooner.
By the way, we defeated it, so when do we get the reward?
As soon as I thought that...
"Congratulations on overcoming the trial. Now you may take the One Piece I've prepared."
The dungeon master's voice echoed in my ears.
The next moment...
"RUMBLE!"
The cave shook as if an earthquake was occurring, and then...
"THUD!"
Stairs appeared from underground.
The treasure he prepared must be down there.
Just then...
"Hmm, something feels off."
"Yeah. Come to think of it, going down there just for a dress seems a bit..."
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate agrees with those two.]
If we knew nothing, their thinking would make sense.
It does seem silly to take a dangerous path just for a piece of clothing.
But...
"Since we've come this far, let's check it out. Even if there are traps, we have the strength to overcome them."
It would be too disappointing to leave without gaining anything.
And honestly, I'm curious.
After all, it's the treasure of an isekai person who loved anime so much.
"If that's what Lord Cain wants..."
"Alright. Let's go check it out."
With those words, we descended the stairs.
***
The dungeon master hadn't set any traps, contrary to our suspicions.
Thanks to that, it didn't take long to reach our destination.
When we arrived at the room...
"I'm opening it."
I opened the door without hesitation.
"Creeak."
I couldn't help but widen my eyes at what was inside.
Because...
"What? Is this it?"
"No way..."
"It seems we've been deceived."
The only things in the room were what appeared to be the dungeon master's corpse, a diary, and a crystal orb.
Despite our high expectations, all we found were a diary and a crystal orb.
If he hadn't already been a corpse, I would have made him one.
*Tsk. I should at least take that Captain Lagan upstairs into my inventory.*
Thinking that, I picked up the diary and crystal orb.
Then...
"Flip."
As I skimmed through the diary, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
*It seems he didn't leave behind only useless things after all.*
The diary contained his journal entries and the manufacturing method for Captain Lagan.
It would be good to make one in collaboration with Gazelle, the blacksmith.
*Let's put this in my subspace ring for now.*
After securing the diary, I turned my attention to the crystal orb.
The women in our party also seemed interested in the orb and approached me.
"Let's check it out, Lord Cain."
"Dad, hurry and check it! I'm curious!"
"Let's see what it is."
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate says she's a bit curious too.]
Even Fate is curious.
Without hesitation, I activated the crystal orb.
Then...
"Ahh! Kimochi!"
What appeared was an AV that was quite famous on Earth.
Moreover, it was a compilation of only the most important scenes.
"......"
"......"
An awkward silence fell between us for a moment.
The air around us seemed to have gotten hotter somehow.
"Ahhh!"
As suggestive sounds echoed and I was about to turn off the embarrassing video...
"Damn it! We're too late!"
Suspicious men in robes appeared, opening the door.
Then...
"Hand over the treasure there!"
Are they trying to take my precious One Piece?!