20 azure gold coins.

That was the reward for all the giant turtle's materials.

Well, the meat was supposedly pretty tasty when grilled, but other than that, there weren't many valuable materials.

It's just that, even though most of the meat was destroyed by me, there was still a lot of it left...

Since the shell can further be used as a storage room or living quarters, there wasn't any penalty for destroying that part of the forest.

It was actually the opposite, the reward was higher because of the shell.

But the people still don't know what exactly they want the shell to be used for.

I actually tried if I could move that shell since they said I'm stronger than a normal human.

And indeed, I could lift it.

But well...

Only about half a finger's length off the ground.

And it fell back down right away.

I can't really reasonably move it either.

After spending the night at the royal villa, I wanted to meet Feldo and his party, but it seems they left the city a few days ago.

They were going on a monster subjugation quest to the mountains near some far away village.

I haven't seen these guys in a quite some time and since they were the first humans I met, I wanted to at least say bye.

But I can't really wait for them to return, I'm out of time.

And thus, we set sail to the sea.

It was quite a big ship considering it only needed to carry a few people.

Darius was the one operating the ship along with four other people from the port.

That guy really can do anything.

I can tell which direction we need to go, but I don't know how far it is.

Luckily, Darius had some tool he called 'compass'.

There was some little arrow, which kept pointing in the same direction even if he rotated the tool.

And as such, I didn't have to keep telling him the direction all the time.

|= two days later =|

These past few days on the ship, I got quite a bit closer to the others.

Namely, Dan the hero.

Being on the same ship as us, Blizzard somehow made him talk to us more.

He talked a bit about his original world, but not really too much about his own life.

Apparently his world doesn't have magic.

That sounds so weird.

How do they even live over there without it?

I can't imagine it.

Life over there must be really tough.

I'm not surprised he doesn't want to talk about his life.

It must be a painful memory.

But I guess it kind of makes sense.

After all, Dan had zero mana when he first arrived in this world.

That must mean his world really doesn't have any magic.

And even if he said his world is more technologically advanced, that's hard to believe.

How would they even invent any technology more advanced than what's here without any mana?

Anyway, Dan's mood seems a little better now, but he still refuses to talk about his past.

Whenever someone tries to bring it up, he frowns and looks away or tries to change the subject.

I guess we should stop asking him.

But even I talked about my past...

Is it possible for his life in the previous world to be even worse than the dungeon?

Who knows...

Unlike Dan, the princess still kept her distance.

Blizzard wanted her to drop the formalities and be more personal, but it seems that it's not that easy for her.

Well, I can't really understand what she thinks about.

The four other people, who were helping Darius to operate the ship, also barely approached me.

All they did, was introducing themselves at the start.

But other than that, I just saw them running around, manipulating with the sail, scouting the sea or similar things.

When I tried to approach them, they quickly ran away.

Well...that's the standard reaction...

All the other people here are just a little special.

Anyhow, it's the last day I have to return.

I'm getting a little worried...

If I don't find this island in time, the god might punish me like he did to that skeleton.

I thought I have plenty of time left when I left, but I guess I miscounted.

After all, my running speed on water is significantly higher than what this ship can manage.

Right now, I'm in the captain's deck with Darius readjusting our course.

I have actually spotted several small islands already, but with the status screen I confirmed they weren't my target.

Just when I'm having thoughts of just jumping off the ship and running, the mysterious ball of energy flies toward another one of the islands in the distance.

I couldn't see it very clearly, but I think it didn't fly any further.

"...I think this is it."

I point at the island in the distance.

Darius squints his eyes and tries to look over there.

"I can't see anything yet..."

"But I will continue in that direction."

"Please go outside to confirm whether it really is the one."

"...okay."

I walk outside and try to look more carefully into the distance.

After waiting for a bit, I activate the mysterious ball of energy again.

It flies directly at that island and after reaching it, it disappears.

That must be it then.

After informing Darius, I went to tell the others.

We gathered on the deck and looked out in the direction of the island.

It was silent for a while but then Blizzard finally spoke.

"So you are going to be leaving now..."

"Do you think we can somehow come with you to at least meet this god?"

"...I doubt it."

"He might dispose of you...if you force yourself in..."

"That's right, isn't it..."

She seems quite sad.

And Dan with the princess actually also seem a little down.

"Well, it can't be helped I suppose."

"But I hope you won't forget about what happened to you in these few days."

"I hope, that when you are done with that god's nonsense, you will finally get to enjoy life properly."

"What do you say...will you come visit me when it's over?"

"...sure."

I really do hope I won't forget all of this.

When I was in that dungeon, I even forgot what life I had before getting trapped in there.

The princess then steps forward and makes a serious expression.

"It was nice knowing you..."

"I hope you will never become an enemy of the kingdom."

"...yeah."

Well, I don't know if I won't.

But I also hope that won't happen.

"U-umm..."

Dan averts his eyes as he scratches his head.

"I know my first impression was...err...quite bad..."

"But...um...please don't remember me as...like...that one hot headed guy..."

"I was just...trying to be a little...different..."

Different...?

From what?

...well, it's not like I hate him.

But other than lately, we didn't talk too much.

"...alright."

"Good luck on your journey."

"Thanks."

After saying that, Darius returned to the captain's deck.

As we slowly arrive at the island, I notice there is a magic circle on the ground over there.

I think it looks similar to the one I left the dungeon with.

So that will bring me to that god again?

I guess so.

"A magic circle?"

"Will that one teleport you somewhere?"

"Probably."

"Then I guess this is really a goodbye for now."

"I hope to see you again in the future."

...

Huh...

I just realized that I really don't want to go.

I really just want to stay here...

To be free...

...

But it can't be helped.

I have to go...

"Then..."

"Later..."

I jump off the ship and land on the island.

As soon as I land, the magic circle shines and I get the feeling of falling again.

I close my eyes to block all the light and wait for all of this to end.

After several seconds, a familiar smell enters my nostrils.

Then, I open my eyes...

I see a circular room with strange markings all over the walls.

Four magic circles spread out near the walls.

One of them isn't shining anymore.

And in the middle of the room, is the big crystal.

I'm back at the end room of the dungeon.

Except the tunnel through which I first entered here is gone.

Now the room is completely isolated.

I tighten my fist and get closer to the crystal.

Just like before, I take a good look at my reflection in it.

And then, he appears again.

Brown hair, white clothes and a stupid looking smile.

"Congrats!"

"One down, three to go!"

"You did really well back there!"

"It only took you 12 deaths this time."

"You know, I really-"

"WHY ME?!"

Releasing my anger built up within a few seconds of meeting him, I yelled at him.

"..."

"Sorry cutie, I can't tell you that yet."

...what?

"Well technically, you already know the reason."

"You just forgot."

I...know the reason?

"Ah but don't worry."

"After you beat the other three stages, I will make you remember again."

"But first you have to keep your side of the deal and entertain me for a little longer, alright?"

My side of the deal...?

"Well, that's it for now!"

"Good luck!"

"Byeeeee-"

He disappeared again.

...

Shit.

What the hell was he talking about?

We had some deal?

What deal?

And didn't he say I met him for the first time when I first got here?

How did I make a deal with him if I never met him before that?

Ugh...

Whatever.

I just have to do those three, right?

The first one was significantly easier than the dungeon.

That must mean the others will also be simple.

Compared to the time I spent in the dungeon, this should be done in no time.

Now then...

I'm sure it said there was some reward for completing this.

Status screen: open.

Quests:

Current quests: None

Completed quests: Save the Henduria port(claim reward here)

I focus on the 'claim reward here' part and a surge of information flows into my head.

...

Interesting...

Let's try it then.

I look at the crystal while gathering mana in my eyes.

Type: object

Name: ???

Materials: ???

...

It said it would display some information.

But looks like it doesn't work that well on the crystal.

Then how about the magic circles?

Type: object

Name: ???

Materials: ???

This isn't good either...

I guess I will have to try it later somewhere.

Well then...

It doesn't matter which one of those 'extra stages' I will do now.

I don't know which one leads to what anyway.

So let's enter this one then.

I enter one of the three magic circles and the light engulfs me again.

Closing my eyes, I let myself experience the feeling of falling once more.

Finally, when it's over, I open my eyes.

...

And then I find myself in an open wasteland.

Dry flat ground extending in every direction.

I can see some mountains in the distance, but not a single living thing.

It's quite different from the first one, and yet it feels similar.

Status screen: open.

Current quests: Steal the blessed chalice from Gundar's holy temple

Completed quests: None

...what...the hell?

Bonus:

This marks the end of the Human connections mini arc.

Next time: the second extra stage

"Woohoo!"

"I can't wait now!"

"Prepare for the same quality as the original dungeon!"

"...after she gets there!"

Why didn't you just teleport her straight into it?

"Well, getting there is also an exciting challenge, right?"