by Fujino Omori
I can see it in his eyes. He’s frustrated. He’s coming back for more. One, miss, two, miss, three, also a swing and a miss.
Left, right… diagonal!
Here comes a sideswipe. Step back and he hits nothing but air.
As long as I keep my eyes open and this floor has wide hallways that make sense, I can keep dodging like this all day. It is surprisingly humid in here, though. I’m already soaked with sweat.
This goblin sure is a tenacious little guy. He just keeps coming after me, flailing his stubby little arms. I keep my own arms up and out of the way, let the rest of my body twist to dodge his attacks. My leg might not be at 100 percent just yet, but I’m more than capable of dancing with him.
“Gigiiiin… Jya!!!!”
“!”
I think I just saw something. Not the goblin—he’s shaking his fist in frustration.
Above!
There is a shadow stuck to the wall right there!
“Gega!”
It jumps in front of the light specks, casting a large shadow. Incoming!
“Naaaah!”
I roll backward just in time to avoid its surprise attack. My eyes are still a bit hazy, too much blood to the head… Looks like four legs, some kind of lizard, maybe?
Scaly brown skin, a tongue flicking in and out of its mouth—yep, this is a lizard. Including its tail, it might be as long as I am tall.
A Dungeon Lizard.
It shows up on lower Levels Two though Four, same class as goblins and kobolds.
“—ha!”
The moment I was waiting for! The goblin can wait. I have to finish off this one first.
It has sucker disks under its feet. It’ll climb back up the wall to line up another attack if I don’t take it out now. If it gets away… Ah, what a pain.
The goblin jumps in for another attack. Sidestep. I’ll take care of you in a moment. I’ve got to repay this lizard for his sneak attack.
Blast off!
“YAAHHH!!!”
“Guge—?!”
The Dungeon Lizard must have sensed my blade. It made straight for the wall. However, I’m faster.
Dagger to the other hand, jump forward, there! I plunge my blade deep into the lizard’s back.
It howls in pain, limbs thrashing. Did I hit the magic stone shard…? Hee-hee, looks like I just made a liz-kabob. In its last gasp, it bends backward, trying to bite my face. Not even close. A second later it falls limp on the floor. Its body is still here; magic shard is still okay!
“Gyaiiii!!!!”
Oh yeah, the goblin is still here, too.
Got my dagger out of the Dungeon Lizard’s corpse, good defensive stance… I’ve got an idea.
I unclip my backpack from my arm and hurl it straight at the incoming goblin.
“?!”
Projectile baggage, not bad. Wide-eyed goblin never saw it coming.
Time slows as I watch my bag slice through the air and slam into the goblin’s face.
“Hege!”
The sound of impact booms through the hallway. The goblin flies backward like a bug flicked off a shoulder.
My Strength has reached the point that I’m able to not only carry heavier drop items through the Dungeon but can also use the backpack itself as a weapon against lower-tier monsters.
He’s still rolling like a snowball, clutching my bag.
“… guuuu.”
Snap! Ouch, that crack sounds like it hurt… He’s stopped rolling, but his body is convulsing… and now he’s not moving anymore.
Don’t let down your guard just yet, Bell… Yep, it’s dead. Take a deep breath, relax those shoulders. Battle is over for now.
Flicking the lizard blood off my dagger, I slide it back into its sheath.
“… All right.”
Stretch out the arms and legs a bit. The knee’s not too bad.
I finally have my full range of motion back; still stings a bit, though. I don’t want to test it more than I have to.
I’m glad.
This means I’m stronger, right?
I mean, I’m in the lower fourth. Cleared out the monsters in this area, too. That last battle went very well, now that I think about it.
I didn’t have any trouble dispatching the Dungeon Lizard and the goblin, even though it was two on one. I even favored my good leg and still dodged all of their attacks with ease.
That alone proves it; I’m getting stronger. Just as the goddess said, I’m improving very fast.
… But am I catching up to Ms. Wallenstein?
From the bottom of my soul, I really hope so.
She’s Level Five, but I have no idea beyond that just how strong she is. There is a flame burning within me that keeps me going. It tells me I can get there.
That should be enough for today, though. I need to get the magic stones from the Dungeon Lizard and the goblin. I might be attacked on the way home, too, don’t forget. I made three trips up to exchange shards for money earlier today. My pack was too heavy to keep going. Time to start number four.
The path from lower Level Four to lower Level One has been engrained in my memory. Lots of twists, turns, and three stairwells sit between the Dungeon entrance and me.
I encounter a few kobolds and goblins on the way there, but they’re no big deal. It’s got to be evening by now. The sky should be turning orange.
I start seeing other adventurers halfway through lower Level One. There is only one entrance and exit, so I’m used to seeing a few on my way home.
Look at their armor! It’s amazing! That elfess, hers is so sleek and poised. And that dwarf, his armor looks like a mobile fortress. Then there’s me… in my crappy little “outfit.” Daahhhh… I should get through here as quickly as I can. Please don’t notice me…
I wonder if the goddess will come back today.
She left to go to a friend’s party two days ago. She said she’d be gone for a few days, so I’m not too worried, but still.
I probably miss having her around more than she misses me.
I wonder what she’s doing right now…
Ah, almost there.
A long, wide tunnel connects the upper part of the Dungeon with the outside world. Many people call it the Beginning Road. There is a large hole in the ceiling at the head of the road.
Unfortunately, I have to climb ten meters of a spiral staircase to get out of here. The hole’s diameter is about ten meters as well, just one giant tube.
I join countless groups of adventurers as they climb the winding silver staircase. After the last few steps, everything changes. The walls look man-made; even the smell is refreshing.
This is the basement of the white tower, Babel.
The room is like a giant wheel resting on its side, but with no spokes. Seriously, thousands of adventurers could be in here and still have room to breathe.
It’s hard to believe I’m standing directly above the most dangerous place in the world. The monsters are right below me. Maybe that’s why it looks like a giant shrine. If someone told me this place was supposed to be used as an altar in a ceremony to honor the gods, I’d believe it.
The walls are a mix of blue and white. They’re dotted with stone plaques inscribed with names. Probably adventurers from a time gone by.
There are many long, thick pillars scattered all around. I can’t count them all, too many. A grand mural covers the ceiling of the chamber from end to end. It is the most subtle and soothing picture of the sky I have ever seen.
I’m perfectly safe from this point on. I can feel adrenaline leaving my body. Unfortunately, it was keeping the pain from my injuries at bay… Gonna be sore tonight…
… Huh? What’s that?
All the adventurers and supporters are clearing a path… What’s behind them?
Isn’t that a cargo box…? It’s very large; several people could fit inside. It’s on wheels with a long handle wrapping around the front. There’s another one! A whole row of them!
Aren’t they use
d when groups go on “expeditions” to the lower floors?
I suppose they would be handy to carry food and supplies. It takes a long time to come back up.
Did that one just move?!? I heard it!
The adrenaline’s coming back…
Okay, calm down. Let’s watch it, see if I’m just hearing things…
It moved again! Something inside is alive and trying to get out. Should I go take a peek?
Wait… What if…?
The cargo box looks more like a cage. Now why would there be a moving cage? Unless…
There’s a monster inside it?
I just hear a soft growl coming from within the box. It has to be a monster.
Is it okay for a monster to be… here?!?!
The Guild manages this tower. They control the lid of the Dungeon. In ancient times, the monsters would emerge almost every day—I’m sure that caused a lot of problems! So this tower was built to keep them down there. It’s our guard tower.
Nowadays, adventurers have Falna, so we go and hunt them. On the other hand, they can still come at us in waves. I’ve heard that the Guild is very strict about the tower, their base. They do many things to keep us safe.
So they would never allow anyone to bring a monster out of the Dungeon.
Monsters should not be in here, ever.
Here comes another cargo box, coming up the spiral stairs! This is insane! What do I do? What do we do?
“They doing that again this year?”
“Monsterphilia, yep.”
“Is there a point to it? I’m surprised people haven’t gotten bored.”
“Yearly freak show… Pointless.”
“Ganesha Familia puts a lot into it. Even the Guild goes along with this, every single year.”
“Sounds just like Ganesha, doesn’t it?”
All these voices in the crowd. They’re not frightened… they’re bored?
Monsterphilia…
So the monsters that are being pulled up here one after another have something to do with this fair?
All of the people pulling the cargo boxes are wearing an emblem with an elephant’s head. Looks like I’m not the only one interested—everyone’s eyes are on them.
Wait a minute… Isn’t that Eina?
Mid-length brown hair, pointy ears…
Yep, that’s my boss standing over there. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
She looks really serious. Ah, another Guild worker. I guess they’re talking about where these monsters need to go?
She must be on the job.
She’s even got paperwork in her hand. I’d better leave her alone.
If that guy I overheard was right, the Guild is in charge of these cargo boxes.
The fact that Guild workers like Eina are here proves that something is going on, but it’s under control.
There are so many things I want to ask her, but I’ll wait for another chance.
She’ll be angry at me if I get in the way. Don’t really want to ask anyone else around here, though… They’ll just laugh at me for not knowing.
I should just go. I can get answers later.
Besides, I probably smell horrible. My clothes are still soaked with sweat.
With one last glance in Eina’s direction, I go up the stair and to the showers.
“Thank you for your hard work today.”
A Guild receptionist saw me off as I left.
After my shower, I made the trip to Guild headquarters to exchange my magic stones and drop items for money.
I knew Eina wasn’t there, so I got in and out as fast as I could.
“The sun is already going down…”
Golds and reds fill the evening sky.
From the front, headquarters really looks a lot like the basement of Babel Tower, now that I think about it. One step out the door and the noise of Main Street is already surrounding me.
Going around the monument on the front lawn, I pass through the front gate and into the throng of people already outside. There’s a good mix of races out on Main Street tonight.
Actually, there are eight Main Streets in Orario. Every one of them starts at Babel and stretches all the way out to the city wall. I like to think of the city as a big cake with eight slices.
Each Main Street is named for the direction it goes from Babel Tower, like North Main or Southeast Main. The goddess and I live under a church between Northwest Main and West Main. The Benevolent Mistress, where Syr works, is located on West Main. The Guild headquarters is here, too, so most people on this street are adventurers.
Adventurers and their supporters need the Guild for many things like paperwork, the Exchange, etc. I’m in here a few times a day, everyone else at least once a day, I’m sure. Out of all the Main Streets, West Main has by far the most adventurers.
Therefore, there’s a lot of competition for shops and bars to get a spot on this street. Adventurers need supplies and a good place to relax, and they have money. This street is lined with weapon shops, armor shops, item stores, and lots of bars. The places off of Main Street are a little shady, but you never know what you’ll find in one of them. There are a few hotels here and there as well.
Adventurers are going in and out of shops all over the place. I’ve got some time to kill, let’s see what’s around. The goddess isn’t home, so no rush.
“Hm? Oh, if it isn’t Bell?”
“Ah! It’s nice to see you again!”
A person walking toward me on the stone road called out.
Tall with a strong chin and a high nose, the young man has the look of royalty. His presence feels different from a human or demi-human, even in a plain gray robe.
His absolute perfection sets him apart from everyone else on the street. Anyone can tell immediately he’s a god. He’s the only god I know personally—other than Hestia, of course. His name is Miaha. I’d better bow and say hello properly.
“Hello, Miaha. Are you out shopping?”
“Yeah, picking up a few things for dinner myself today. What are you up to?”
“I’m just looking around… I don’t have any money, so I’m window-shopping.”
“Ha-hamm, I can relate. Everyone in a small Familia has to work hard, even the god.”
He smiles at me from above two large paper bags, one in each hand. His smile is very soothing; he’s an all-around cheerful god. Add in his ocean-blue hair, and he’s an attractive man. I have to admit it.
The gods all look different—some very young, while some look almost middle-aged—but one thing they all have in common is an absolutely perfect face. A lot of us are jealous of them because of it; include me, just a little.
His wide smile is infectious, just like Hestia’s. Wait! Maybe he knows something about her.
“Can I ask you a question, Miaha? Do you know where Hestia is right now? She went to a friend’s party two days ago, and she still hasn’t come home.”
“Hestia… hmmm. No, I’m sorry. I haven’t seen her, either. I don’t think I can be of much help.”
“It’s okay. Please don’t worry about it.”
A god apologized… to me? And he lowered his head! No no no. Head down, now!
“Two days ago… That’s most likely Ganesha’s Celebration. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the event myself. If I had, I might have more to tell.”
“Miaha, were you not invited to attend?”
“Ah, no. I got an invitation. But my Familia is struggling for money at the moment. I can’t leave them at this stressful time, it wouldn’t be right. I was hard at work creating a new compound. No time to go to a drinking party anyway.”
I’ll be frank when I say his Familia is a lot like mine, struggling to make ends meet.
That’s half the reason I know Miaha—we are both in bottom-of-the-barrel Familias.
“Bell, I’d like you to have these. It’s a sample of what I was working on the other night.”
“Are you sure?!”
Transferring both bags to one arm, he
casually reaches into the fold of his robe and takes out two small test tubes filled with a dark blue liquid and hands them to me like it was nothing. I take them almost as a reflex.
The syrupy potion slowly swishes around in the vial. Looks like deep ocean molasses.
“Miaha, are you sure this is okay?”
“What’s wrong with giving a neighbor a cup of sugar? It’s no problem.”
He ignores my bewilderment and lets out a hearty laugh.
He pats my shoulder with his free hand and steps to the side.
“Well, I hope to be seeing you at my Familia’s shop again real soon, Bell.”
He waves one more time before turning around and continuing on his way.
Did that really just happen? I’m so happy! There he goes, into the crowd. I bow one more time as a send-off.
These potions recover physical strength. I’m sure they’ll come in handy. Now where to put them…? Ah! My leg holster would be good. There we go.
Miaha’s Familia makes items like this. Their store is very small, but they are a very specialized group.
I don’t know too much about what goes on behind the scenes, but I know that each Familia in this business has its own recipe. They constantly look for new ways to get an edge on the competition. I like Miaha Familia’s potions. I go there when I have enough money to pick one up.
His Familia is a good example, but there are many Familias doing the same thing with other items and weapons.
Some Familias produce items, and some are filled with smiths who make armor and weapons. I even heard about one that brings in fresh fish from the ocean. At first, I thought that Familias were just groups of adventurers, but that’s not always the case.
Gods need to make a living. How they do it is completely up to them.
The god chooses exactly what their Familia is going to do. That decision in turn affects the market they go into. “Gekai’s food is delicious, so I’ll open a restaurant!” Kind of like that. They could even start their own country. They can do almost anything.
But competition among members within a Familia and from other Familias is also very strong. Fights tend to break out. Without some strong adventurers to keep the peace, a Familia can fall apart. It might not even get off the ground. Familias need strong leaders, and adventurers fill that role pretty well.