Still flopped on the sofa, Inari suddenly sat up as if something had occurred to her. She reached into her robes and pulled out the small magic stone.
It was the one that had come from a goblin. This softly glowing gem, she had heard, was used as a source of energy in various ways in the modern age.
“Magic stones, hm… To think such things have replaced coal and oil…”
To Inari’s senses, the energy inside wasn't exactly youki, nor was it divine power—it felt like something in between. Something more pure and elemental.
She could feel the same presence within those mysterious tools called artifacts. Most likely, they operated on the same principle—or so she judged.
In contrast, the goblins and other "monsters" seemed to carry energy that was much more muddied. That, she would indeed call youki.
Yet magic stones derived from such beings were inexplicably pure in nature… which led her to one possibility.
“Fighting in dungeons cleanseth the wicked power… and those who partake grow stronger in return. In other words, dungeons exist to help people grow stronger?”
But if that were true—who set them up, and for what purpose?
Inari already knew they weren’t a natural phenomenon.
After all, when she destroyed that first dungeon, someone had communicated with her through those strange windows. That alone proved the presence of an overseeing will.
“And whoever that is… what doth they intend to do, strengthening mankind? Even attempting to strengthen me, of all beings? Surely, this be not the work of the Takamagahara deities. Such convoluted schemes are not their style.”
Could it be the gods of another country, then? No… that didn’t feel quite right either. So who?
Still mulling it over, Inari began rolling the magic stone around in her hand.
“Hmmm… Thinking on it alone shall get me nowhere, it seems. Mayhap the best course is to play along for now, aye?”
Saying this, she thought for a moment—then popped the stone into her mouth.
“Oh! Why, it tasteth of strawberries!”
She let it roll around in her mouth for a bit. The moment it fizzed and melted away, a small surge of energy flowed into her body.
[Magic has increased!]
“Oh?”
Naturally, the floating system message was visible to Inari as well. Thanks to her prior tutorial, she knew what to do next.
“Status!”
Name: Kogami Inari
Level 1
Job: Fox Shrine Maiden
Stats
Attack: E
Magic: A
Physical Defense: F
Magic Defense: B
Agility: E
Luck: F
Skills
Kogetsu Summon, Divine Power Lv. 8
“...Doth appear unchanged. Ah, right. ‘Tis a fuzzy system, or so I recall—numbers only reflect general ranges, aye?”
Indeed, the numbers shown in the system were only rough categories.
For example, two people might both have an Attack rating of E, yet in a real fight, one could overwhelm the other. There were differences—like an E that was almost a D versus an E that was barely above F.
No one really knew why the system worked that way, but it was generally treated as a margin of error.
“Hm. Still… if eating magic stones increases magic power, surely someone else has tried it before. Mayhap it does upset the stomachs of mortal folk?”
If eating magic stones could raise magic power, then having an A rank wasn’t so special. And yet, people treated magic stones carelessly—like something not meant to be eaten. Which, in fact, was true.
Most humans who tried to eat them became sick or bedridden, and nothing ever changed.
It was much like eating a battery and expecting electrical powers—it simply didn’t happen. And that had become the accepted truth.
So the fact that eating one had worked for Inari was far from normal… but she had no way of knowing that.
“Well, no matter. If eating magic stones boosteth magic, then devouring more might be the fastest path to unraveling this dungeon mystery, aye?”
The stronger her power grew, the more she could do. And that would bring her closer to unveiling the truth of this world.
“Why, mayhap destroying another dungeon might show me something new…”
[Please refrain from destroying dungeons]
“Hmm? Art thou watching me?”
[Special monitoring has been activated to deal with unforeseen circumstances]
“Then, wilt thou not tell me? What is a dungeon?”
No reply. As expected. Inari hadn’t thought they’d answer anyway.
So she changed her question.
“Then who art thou? Some god from a distant land, perhaps?”
Still no answer. But even so, Inari was now certain.
Somewhere, someone had created this situation… or at least ensured it could be managed.
And that someone possessed will. Which meant they also had intent.
“Very well, then. I shall play thy game for now. I shall grow stronger… and uncover thy design. Wait for me, O thou who claimest to oversee this world—I, Inari, shall find thee soon enough.”
And so, this became Inari’s goal in this new era—Her vow.