Chapter 56: Immense Damage

The instant my spell took hold and encased my opponent in ice, the frost surged outward, swallowing the entire dungeon.

Calling this "collateral damage" didn't feel quite right; it was something far more catastrophic. I had clearly poured way too much mana into the cast. I wonder if this is actually okay...

The entire forest was frozen solid. Any monsters hiding within my detection range had been snuffed out instantly. To put it simply, everything touched by the magic of [Niflheim] had been turned into a popsicle.

"...You overdid it, Reima," Lycoris muttered.

I had to agree with her. I’d definitely gone overboard. More importantly, there was a very real chance I’d accidentally flash-frozen Yamato-san along with the boss.

In my defense, it’s hard to pass up a flashy finisher after someone goes to all the trouble of setting the stage. Plus, failing to kill the thing after all that buildup would have been embarrassing. Still... looking at the wreckage, yeah, this was probably my fault.

"Hey, kid! You..."

A voice rang out through the frozen world.

Yamato approached me, his body dusted in frost, looking like he was deep in thought. His tone was heavy, and I felt a nervous jolt go through me. I braced myself for a lecture, but his next move was entirely unexpected.

"That was incredible! Are you really just a [Summoner]? Kid, you froze the whole damn dungeon!"

He started ruffling my hair with a heavy hand, showering me with praise.

It had been a long time since I'd been complimented by an elder—especially one I actually respected. He was the strongest man in [Japan], yet he didn't look at me with fear. Being praised by someone like that... it was embarrassing. I didn't know what to say.

"Aren't you... afraid of me?" I asked.

"Huh? Why the hell would I be afraid? That was just damn impressive, that's all."

I searched his face for a hint of lies, but all I found was genuine goodwill and surprise. It was the same way my [Shiki] looked at me. For the first time, I felt like maybe trusting him hadn't been a mistake.

"Even so," Yamato said, looking around. "What now?"

"I'm guessing clearing the dungeon like this was a bad move?"

"Nah, that part's fine. The reconnaissance already flagged this place as a high-level threat. But... take a look at the sky for a moment."

"...The sky?"

I looked up as he suggested. The entrance to this [Dungeon] led downward, and the layout usually featured a fake subterranean sky. But when I looked up now, there was a massive hole in the ceiling, and a distinct draft of cold air was blowing through.

"Ah. Oops... I mean, I'm sure there's no damage on the surface. Probably."

"I hope you're right. Anyway, looks like we've got company."

Someone leaped down through the hole in the ceiling. As soon as she landed, she shouted at us. She was a woman in a suit with pale green hair. She looked like she was very good at her job—an acquaintance I’d met recently.

"Wait, [Reima]-kun? And why is Gramps here!?"

"Kahaha! So it's you, [Saaya]! We just finished clearing the place."

"Don't 'just finished' me! A hole suddenly blasted open in the ground, freezing air started leaking out, and all the trees in the vicinity are covered in ice! Your report was late, [Reima]-kun, so I came to check on you, and then... this! What on earth happened!?"

This was [Saaya Kusanagi]. She was an A-rank [Adventurer] working for the government and my designated contact for handing over dungeon records. I’d planned to visit her after I was done, but the "abnormal situation" must have forced her to come to me.

"I'm sorry," I muttered.

"Huh? Why is [Reima]-kun the one apologizing?" she asked.

"No need to apologize, kid," Yamato grunted. "That's what it took to put the thing down."

"No, I'm sorry. I forgot to hold back. I got... a little carried away."

This was definitely my fault. I’d let the hype get to me. I'd probably have to melt the ice later or things would get ugly. Since this was an [Otherworld-type] dungeon, I could usually just walk away, but causing environmental damage to the surface was a different story.

[—The Night Tree Kingdom of the Vermillion Radiance has... b-been cleared. Um, isn't that a bit too much brute force?]

The [Voice of the World] wasn't supposed to have a personality, yet it sounded genuinely repulsed. [Saaya] looked bewildered by the unprecedented phenomenon, while Yamato just laughed. Is this really my fault? While I stood there reflecting on my lack of restraint, I waited for the system to continue.

[—At any rate, as a reward, the mana stone of the Vermilion Goliath... Huh? I can't give it to you?]

It was likely trying to teleport the loot to me, but the [Vermilion Goliath] was so thoroughly encased in my ice that the system couldn't extract the stone. The confused voice echoed through the dungeon.

"Oho! Now that's a rare sight. The [Voice of the World] is flustered. You don't see that every day."

"This is no time for jokes, Gramps! This is a major incident! Augh, what does it even mean for the [Will of the World] to be perplexed!?"

"I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry," I repeated.

"It was some damn fine magic, though," Yamato added.

[Um... the dungeon will disappear in ten minutes. Please return through the Warp Gate. It is located inside the withered tree. Also... please don't break anything else.]

Leaving nothing but chaos in its wake, the voice faded out. Yamato started humming a little tune about mana stones as he carved the prize out of the frozen [Vermilion Goliath]. He led us toward the [Warp Gate] and stepped through without a second thought.

"...I'll expect a full report later," [Saaya] sighed.

"Right. I have the report ready... though most of it is probably irrelevant now."

"I'll take what I can get. Also, if there's anything you can do about the ice outside, please do it."

Seeing the cloud of melancholy hanging over her, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. Even if it was my fault, I felt for her. This woman really had a hard life.