Infinite Cube: Extra's Life in Another World-Chapter 38: Dungeon [1]

"Monster?" Kai repeated, his brows twitching.

Seeing the confusion in the other's eyes, Bethel stepped back, his lips trembling as he struggled to speak. "Young master, if I may ask... where exactly did you encounter this boy?"

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Why? Did the watch malfunction or something?"

Bethel hesitated but finally shook his head. "Perhaps, the tablet just isn't functioning properly."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

He forced out a smile. 'Yes, that must be it.'

But even then, he couldn't simply disregard everything he had witnessed and chalk it up to coincidence.

[UNREGISTERED ENTITY DETECTED]

[CANNOT CLASSIFY | ERROR CODE: OMEGA-NULL]

Kai smiled awkwardly and broke the silence. "So... do I get to keep it or not?"

Bethel nodded, replying to Kai with a strained tone. "Of course, young master, you may keep it."

Kai grinned widely, his gaze drifting from his bewildered companions to the perspiring butler. 'Weird man.'

[Maybe he discovered what you truly are.]

'As if that would ever happen. I know the entire plot of ICUWSA and never was it mentioned that Zeros had a function capable of reading strength,' he scoffed. 'That's just your imagination... I hope.'

Soon, Bethel started the car and they all proceeded through the door.

Elia leaned forward toward Kai and whispered gently into his ear. "Don't let them find out how strong you are."

Kai's eyes twitched, his irritation steadily rising. 'That brat,' he thought, glancing at the female figure who offered him a teasing grin.

He sighed and slid into the second cramped seat of the race car.

---

In less than five minutes, they had made their way through the main road and into a tunnel that lay directly beneath the train tracks.

Kai couldn't comprehend how it was constructed, as it was nearly imperceptible from above regardless of angle, but aside from that, it appeared fairly unremarkable.

'I think I'm starting to appreciate ordinary things.'

[But you know, your life can never be ordinary.]

'... I suppose you're somewhat right about that.'

The car pulled up next to a small opening that disrupted the otherwise cohesive architecture of the modest tunnel.

From it shimmered a faint sky-blue light that flickered the moment it sensed nearby presence.

"We've arrived, young masters and mistresses," Bethel declared.

Matthew nodded in approval as he exited the vehicle. The others followed suit, but just as Kai was about to step out, something grasped his sleeve.

He looked behind him at the man behind the steering wheel. "Yes?" he asked softly.

Bethel's voice dropped. "Take care of the young master," he added. "You see, the young mast..."

"No," Kai's voice cut in.

"What?" Bethel asked.

"I'm not that bastard's babysitter. I'll say it now, if he can't live up to expectations, he shouldn't count on me to do it for him."

Bethel was initially taken aback by Kai's words, but a smile soon surfaced on his lips. "Thank you."

'What is he even talking about?' Kai thought. 'Every word I said is true, and I don't even have tsundere vibes. Besides, I already have my life mapped out, even if it means turning everyone into my enemy, I shall accomplish my goals.'

[Just imagine the irony.]

'Shut up.'

Kai shifted his gaze to the gate now standing before them.

Blue energy formed an oval shape, flickering brightly in the unchanging darkness of the tunnel.

Faint sparks of light floated in the air, brushing against the seven figures standing before it, though it didn't harm them.

Bethel stepped back toward the car.

The group, sensing his movement, turned and waved their final farewell as he drove away.

"Is it usually this unguarded?" Elia asked.

"No, but my father had to reassign most of our forces to more perilous dungeons," he continued. "And since this dungeon isn't close to a break and has already been ranked Tier 7, I don't believe further investigation is necessary."

Elia nodded in response.

Kai pondered in silence, his gaze unwavering from the hypnotizing blue glow.

Strangely enough he felt a sudden urge to run into the gate and conquer, like it was an obligation he had to fulfill to his final breath.

Kai knew exactly what it was—The Call Of The Cube.

He also understood that gates were ranked based on the maximum strength of the Drifter within, typically acting as the boss.

That meant a Tier 7 dungeon would generally contain Tier 8 and Quasi-Tier 8 Drifters, excluding the boss monster.

'But Bethel said the gates are behaving strangely. What if something like a rank fluctuation occurs?'

[For now, we don't have many options. As you said earlier, we've already come this far.]

Kai swallowed hard, locking eyes with Lilith, who was now putting on her blindfold and earplugs.

He noticed her trembling hands, only then did he realize that unlike the rest, Lilith wasn't particularly fond of dungeons or combat, but simply followed orders.

Kai stepped closer and whispered, "If it's too much for you, don't hesitate to ask for help."

Lilith flinched at his words, her lips curling up into a smile and her delicate palms gripping onto the blindfold tightly. "Thanks. Friends always help each other, don't they?"

Kai paused. Elia's words touched a nerve he didn't wish to acknowledge.

His hands twitched slightly, as he held in his surging emotions.

'Hell, that's what they always say, till they betray you for money or women,' he thought.

He nodded absentmindedly, masking his internal conflict.

"So, are we sleeping here?" he asked, directing the question at Matthew.

"Hmm..." Matthew considered. "That's not a bad idea."

Seeing Kai's face flush with frustration, he chuckled softly. Kai couldn't be angry at him this time.

'At least he knows when not to be a complete asshole.'

[Why aren't your words censored?]

'This days... I don't even know who's more irritating, you or Matt?'

[Don't worry. It'll surely get worse. Perhaps a perverted companion.]

'You mean Junpei?'

[No, perhaps a weaved creature... or something like that.]

'Do you think I'm into weird people? I'll have you know I've been diligently working on changing my preferences.'

[... Do you hate me?]

'What's with that melancholy tone...' Kai thought, facepalming himself.

The entire group, including blindfolded Lilith, looked at him in confusion.

'Why is he always doing that? Is it Chuunibyou syndrome?' Elia thought, studying Kai's behavior.

"I think that's enough talking," Matthew announced. "Why don't we proceed?"

He took the lead, with the others following, but then stopped abruptly.

He turned to face them before speaking. "I hope everyone brought their food supplies?"

Ikenna nodded, raising a nylon pouch. Seeing this, Matthew nodded back.

Elia looked at both of them before cutting in. "Why are you asking about supplies? And Ikenna, why are you nodding? Is there something I'm not aware of?"

Matthew looked at her, then briefly shifted his gaze to Kai, then pouted. "No fun. I wanted Kai to say it."

Lilith and Junpei agreed. Kai, lost in thought, looked at them confusedly, then at Elia who mirrored his reaction. "What have you infected me with?"

"Huh?" Kai asked, tilting his head.

[Kai, wait. Something's wrong.]

Matthew smiled and stepped into the gate.

'What was that, Alpha?'

As soon as the group entered, a sudden wave of dread overtook them.

Their legs trembled under unseen pressure, knees buckling.

Each and every one of them felt it, they were about to face the most harrowing first raid of their lives.

As Kai's gaze lifted slowly to the monster towering ahead of him...

The system chimed loudly in his ear.

---

SUB-MISSION

CODE RED 🚫 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE..beep...beep

SURVIVE THE MOLLUSK RIDER (TIER 6 DRIFTER)

TIME LIMIT – 6 HOURS

REWARDS – 1 RANDOM ABILITY

     – IMMORTAL FUNCTION

     – 52 STAT POINTS

     – 2 RANDOM VESPERS

WARNING ⚠️⚠️ – IF THE USER FAILS TO COMPLETE THE MISSION IN ALLOTTED TIME... INSTANT DEATH

NOTE: THIS MISSION EXCEEDS RECOMMENDED DIFFICULTY FOR CURRENT USERS CAPACITY, PROCEEDING IS NOT.

ADVICE: ⚠️⚠️ABHORT

Kai's body nearly gave out at the content of the mission.

'Mission Impossible.'

The world seemed to shatter for a second and soon the drifter took a step forward.