Catgirls And Dungeons (Yuri)

Walking through a dimensional gate that leads to a dungeon…

What does it feel like?

Well, it's like passing through a thin, electric membrane that sends tiny tingling waves across my skin. A weird static shiver crawls over me, and for a brief moment, my ears pop—like when a plane suddenly ascends.

Then—

I take my first full step into Vanessa Dungeon.

And my brain breaks.

"WWWWWWHHHHHAAAAATT????!!"

I practically scream as my eyes widen, my breath stolen away by the sheer beauty in front of me.

Because this place…

It's breathtaking.

It's like stepping into a living painting, a vast winter wonderland straight out of a fairy tale.

Towering frost-covered trees stretch endlessly into the distance, their branches laden with thick layers of pristine snow, glistening like sugar-coated crystal. Some trees are massive, their ice-kissed leaves glowing faintly, as if infused with magic. Gentle gusts of wind pass through them, sending delicate snowflakes swirling in lazy spirals before they settle softly onto the untouched ground.

The air is crisp and sharp, biting against my exposed skin, but not in an unpleasant way. It's the kind of cold that wakes you up, making you feel alive, invigorated.

I take a step forward—

And sink slightly into the fluffy snow, its powdery texture soft yet firm, compressing beneath my boots with a satisfying crunch.

"Hah…"

As I exhale, my breath turns to a thin mist, curling upward before vanishing into the freezing air.

This feeling…

This sensation…

It's exactly like Canada!!!

Aaahhhh~~~

My heart is dancing with nostalgia right now.

The endless white landscape, the cold but refreshing air, the way the sunlight bounces off the snow, almost too bright—it's all so familiar. If someone blindfolded me and dropped me here, I'd swear I was back in some remote, untouched part of the Canadian wilderness.

But that's not the only thing that blows my mind.

I blink, tilting my face upward.

The sunlight shines down onto my skin, bright and golden, reflecting off the snow so intensely that I have to squint.

Wait… sunlight?

I tug on Eris's arm. "Eris, something isn't right. Why is the sun so bright?"

She tilts her head, amused. "What do you mean?"

I frown. "When we arrived at the dungeon entrance, it was already late afternoon, isn't it?"

Right…

Given just a couple more hours, it would have been sunset.

But here… it's like morning! Everything is so bright and lively!

Eris smiles, patting my head. "Good observation, Felicia!"

"Eh?" I turn, still have no idea what's going on.

"Well," Eris begins. "That's because time flows differently here. Day and night are flipped between this world and ours. That's why we started in the afternoon!"

"UOOOOHHHHH!!!"

My mouth drops open in amazement.

Back at the entrance, I had doubted a little bit if it's good idea to go into the dungeon so late.

But since Eris is an experienced adventurer, I was sure she had her own reason.

But now?

Everything makes sense!

Indeed, it's literally all according to Eris's plan!

Still… a completely different time system… just by stepping through a gate?!

It's like being in China one second and then the USA the next, except instead of changing countries, I just stepped into a completely different world.

Amazing!

"And not only that, you know?" Eris adds. "A full day in here lasts a whopping 72 hours, so we'll have plenty of time to explore!"

I nearly choke on my own spit.

"WAIT, 48 HOURS?! WHAT???"

"Yeah!" Eris nods like it's the most normal thing in the world.

WOW.

Not only is time flipped, but the days here are literally triple what they are in our world. That's even better than I imagined!

Now, I'm super excited!

I tilt my head, curiosity kicking in. "So… does every dungeon have its own time system like this?"

Eris shrugs. "More or less. Some dungeons follow a 72-hour cycle, some 48, some are only 12. And then… there are the weird ones."

"Huh? I tilt my head. "Weird ones?"

"Yeah," she nods. "Some dungeons are in perpetual daylight—the sun never sets. Others are trapped in eternal night, where the sky is always dark."

Whattt???

A world where the sun never sets?

A world where it's always night?

I can barely wrap my head around it. The sheer absurdity and wonder of it all makes my thoughts race.

And yet…

I want to see them all.

Holy shit.

This is insane.

This is amazing!

This—this is exactly why I wanted to be an adventurer!

Excitement thrums through my veins, making my hands clench into fists. My entire body buzzes with anticipation.

Let's go!

I can't wait to explore already!

———————————

A few minutes later…

"Okay, now let me see the map…"

Eris swings her bag around and pulls out a large, folded parchment. We unfurl it together, spreading it out across a flat, snow-dusted rock.

She taps a marked point on the map—an orange gate icon near the bottom. "Alright, we are here. Vanessa Dungeon, Zone A. This is our gateway back to our world."

I nod, following along. So far, so good.

Then Eris's finger trails up, tracing a path along the map. "To reach Lake Vanessa…" her finger slides further—way further—until it stops near the peak of a faraway mountain.

"We need to cross another gate. It's up there—on top of that mountain."

As she speaks, she turns and points toward the distant peak.

I follow her gaze.

And then—

Huh?

…

Chotto matte…

Wait.

Wait a minute.

WAIT A DAMN MINUTE!

I gulp as my stomach drops.

"E-Eris…" My voice comes out weak, trembling. "Y-you don't mean we have to… walk all the way there, right?"

Eris turns to me with a smirk, tilting her head slightly. "What? You tired of walking already?"

I stare at her, then at the mountain, then back at her.

"B-but… it'll take a whole day just to get there! Actually, no, even weeks!"

I mean… if it's Eris, she could probably cover that distance in a couple hours, no problem for sure. But me?

Absolutely impossible!

I would die long before I reach that gateway!

But for some reason, Eris doesn't seem to bother.

She folds the map back up and adjusts her gear. "Come on, let's get moving. Time is precious!"

"EhhhhHHHH???!!" I wail, feeling my soul leave my body.

I glance back at the mountain.

The peak looms in the distance, its snow-covered slopes stretching endlessly, mocking me with its sheer impossibility.

I swallow hard.

"Come on!" Eris calls out, already a few steps ahead. She glances back at me, her expression expectant.

Alright…

Taking a deep breath, I tighten my cloak, square my shoulders, and take my first step forward.

I trust Eris.

No matter how ridiculous her plans might be.

The snow crunches softly beneath my boots, my footprints leaving behind a delicate trail on the untouched white expanse.