Conclusion

"Y-You wretch!? What is this—did you pass the curse onto them!?"

"… I don't recall doing anything of the sort."

"Then why have my Dungeon Eaters turned on me!? No matter how you look at it, this is your doing!"

Core Number 10 shrieked, bewildered, unable to make sense of what had just happened.

… Ah. I get it now.

Basically, Core Number 10 had embedded a curse into that black Dungeon Core—the Undead Core. A curse designed to dominate the one who destroyed it.

While I had already destroyed one myself, the [Divine Alarm Clock] or perhaps the [Divine Blanket] must have neutralized the curse. I never felt any effects, so maybe the blanket had deflected it completely?

And Dungeon Eaters… I'm guessing those must be the caterpillar-like creatures Soto mentioned. The name implied they consumed dungeons. They likely had a natural tendency to attack Dungeon Cores… Wait, when the hell did Soto even come across those? That could've been seriously bad.

At any rate, those caterpillar things called Dungeon Eaters had attacked and destroyed the black Core, getting cursed in my place. Then, when Core Number 10 issued a suicide command to the cursed target… the Dungeon Eaters obeyed and offed themselves.

That's the situation, then. Makes sense.

"Soto, you said Dungeon Eaters, plural, didn't you? So there was more than one, huh? Just in case, double-check to make sure there aren't any more lurking around."

[Roger that! It's one thing if I'm doing the eating, but if I'm getting eaten? Not cool! Niku onee-chan, please check every inch of my body!]

I whispered to Soto, making sure Core Number 10 couldn't hear.

Just to be safe, I'd take a stroll through the dungeon later while ringing the [Divine Alarm Clock]. Who knows if it'll work, but it's worth a try.

"Now then, Core Number 10. Are you going to run again, or settle this right here and now? I'd rather not get ambushed again. Your call—I'm fine either way."

"Kh…!"

Core Number 10 faltered. His trump cards—super-magic and domination curses—had no effect on me.

If he had nothing else up his sleeve, then my victory was already sealed…

… Though honestly, it might be safer if he did run so Haku-san could handle his dungeon herself. That'd let me get back to my relatively simple job of clearing out the Undead Cores one by one.

"… I'll let you go, you know? I'll turn a blind eye."

"Y-You… you accursed…!!"

Core Number 10 exploded in rage and lunged at me. But his presence was no more threatening than an old man swinging a cane.

I fired off [Elemental Burst]. A surge of light struck Core Number 10 directly.

"Guhh!! N-Noooo!!"

Core Number 10 tried to resist, summoning strength to push back. Even the warped barrier he'd used to deflect attacks seemed to have been nullified by the [Divine Alarm Clock].

"Damn you! How dare you mock me—ME!! DAMN IIIIIIIIT!!"

"Lance of light, pierce my enemy with holy power—[Holy Lance]."

I muttered a chant that sounded vaguely appropriate, and a white spear wrapped in divine energy launched at Core Number 10.

I was expecting some flashy magical spear effect, but what flew out was a very physical-looking cone-shaped lance, around twenty centimeterseight inches thick and two meterstwo and a half feet long. Core Number 10's eyes widened in shock.

"What is that—ghh!? Gyaaaaah!"

"Huh… that actually pierced him?"

The [Elemental Burst] had been deflected, so I was surprised. But I didn't stop.

"[Holy Lance]! [Holy Lance]! [Holy Lance]!"

"Guh! No—gahh—grrh!"

The white spears rained down relentlessly, impaling Core Number 10's limbs as he tried in vain to shield his head.

It might've been one of those elemental weaknesses. I mean, this guy did control undead, so he was probably vulnerable to the holy attribute. [Holy Lance] seemed to consume more mana than [Elemental Burst], but with the [Divine Blanket] equipped, it was a negligible cost.

"Kh… what is this!? This isn't the [Holy Lance] I know of!"

"Oh, it's not? [Holy Lance]."

"GYAAAAAAGH!!! M-My strength… fading…! … [Drain]! … Tch, fizzled…!"

He yanked a spear out of his arm and tossed it to the ground, where it vanished into shimmering particles.

Seems the way I cast it altered the spell from the original version—but if it works, who cares? I'm not stopping until you're dead.

"… This… this power… it's the Light God's… agh…!"

"Not going to run? Or is it already too late for that?"

"Damn it… I… I will ascend… become a true god…!"

At this point, the game was over.

Even if Core Number 10 ran, Haku-san would just destroy his dungeon and kill him. And if he stayed to fight me, he had no hope of winning.

"Well, I didn't really hold a grudge or anything… just bad luck on your part, Core Number 10."

"… Damn it… damn it all…!"

His arms hung limp, no longer shielding his face. I fired a [Holy Lance] aimed straight at his head.

"… Curse y—"

Thwack. The lance drove clean through Core Number 10's skull.

His body crumbled away like sand on the wind.

… That should be it. That should count as defeating Core Number 10. I'd use the [Divine Alarm Clock] to dispel any lingering curses, just in case.

I contacted Rokuko.

"Rokuko, collect the remains. Let Haku-san know—we've taken down Core Number 10."

[Kehma! Something's happening in Core Number 10's dungeon—a ton of copies just showed up!]

"… What?"

Wait, you're telling me this still isn't over? Don't tell me that one was a fake… or maybe a possession?

Fine. If that's the case—

"Alright, I'll head out to clear the next Undead Dungeon. Get me set up."

[… Huh? Shouldn't you be backing up Haku ane-sama?]

"I'll help once I've dealt with the Undead Dungeons."

It's not like Haku-san and the others are helpless without me. If she needs help, she can ask. I'm already keeping a bunch of Undead Cores occupied—that's contribution enough.

"If she sends a request, I'll respond. But I'm just one piece on the board. I'll do the job I committed to."

[That does sound like you. Alright, I'll send you to the next dungeon.]

"Thanks. And make sure Haku-san gets a full report—about the curses, the Undead Core, the Dungeon Eaters, all of it."

[Got it. Good luck in the next one.]

Rokuko teleported me to the next Undead Dungeon and I resumed my impromtu conquest.

And then, after conquering the eighth one, I finally got a message back from Haku-san—

"I've destroyed Dungeon Core Number 10. Victory is ours."

… Even then, the Undead Cores kept attacking us, so we worked together to take care of the remaining ones.

Only then—at last—did we claim complete victory over Core Number 10.