Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Vol. 9

by Fujino Omori

  Our path will become clear once we figure out what that is.

  Adventurers…No, explorers?

  At some point long ago in the Ancient Times, insanely brave people who ventured into the Dungeon, coming face-to-face with the “unknown,” started being called adventurers.

  Now we, too, are entering the Dungeon to make a new discovery. There’s no choice but to follow in our forebears’ footsteps.

  “……”

  All of us look to our goddess, Lady Hestia.

  She hasn’t said a word all this time. Returning our gazes, she slowly nods, telling us to go.

  We nod, accepting her divine will. It’s official. We’ll do the mission.

  “Everyone, I’m so sorry…This is all my fault.”

  After a few heavy moments…

  Although I can’t look at my friends, I apologize to them.

  I know rescuing Wiene was the right decision. I won’t let myself think otherwise. She’s still hiding here, and I know in my heart protecting her was the right decision.

  However, as a member of this familia, as their leader, I have to apologize.

  They have to bear this weight on their shoulders now because of me. Lilly warned us this could happen, and she hit the nail right on the head.

  I put everyone in danger.

  That’s exactly what a leader is supposed to avoid. I failed.

  I guess I wasn’t cut out for this position, after all.

  It’s that endless guilt that’s preventing me from looking everyone in the eyes.

  My trembling hands form fists on their own.

  “Master Bell.”

  Just then…

  Haruhime, who was standing close by, reaches out to hold my hand even though my eyes are still glued to the floor.

  “I beg of you. Please do not regret coming to Lady Wiene’s aid.”

  My head snaps up with a start. She’s pleading to me with her eyes.

  Taking my fist in both hands, she lifts it to chest height and squeezes.

  “I would not be here today were it not for my rescue by you and Miss Mikoto—thanks to everyone, I am happy once again. Lady Wiene is no different. We rescued her, so that’s why…!”

  Her dazzling green eyes glisten with tears; her voice overflows with passion.

  Her message is clear: Don’t deny the good things that have happened, no matter how dire our situation is now.

  I feel my eyes widening as the first tears fall from hers.

  A few heartbeats pass until Haruhime realizes she’s still holding my hand and jumps, blushing on the spot.

  Lilly walks up behind Haruhime with a half-lidded glare and gives her fox tail a hard yank.

  “Wha—!” she squeals.

  “You’ve got nothing to apologize for.”

  I break out in a cold sweat as Haruhime disappears from my line of sight and Welf speaks up.

  “This is what familias do, right? Support one another,” he says. “Or have you already forgotten what I put you and Hestia through during Rakia’s invasion?”

  He shrugs, grinning at his own lighthearted comment.

  “Stir up all the trouble you want. I’ve got no room to complain.”

  “Welf…”

  I can’t say another word. Suddenly, I see Mikoto smiling at me.

  “We appear to be in the same boat.”

  She says this with the conviction of a Far Eastern warrior adhering to a strong sense of justice.

  Her violet eyes soften in a tender expression, too. I meet her gaze for a few moments before glancing over at Lilly.

  Haruhime is next to her, whimpering and stroking her tail. As for the prum, she’s also wearing a relaxed smile.

  “Lilly will go anywhere with you, Mr. Bell. She is, after all, your supporter.”

  The whole familia is smiling at me.

  My trembling fists start to relax in the calming warmth.

  “…Thanks.”

  Rather than apologize…

  I tell them I’m grateful.

  “……”

  Hestia watched her familia’s conversation from a step outside their circle, unable to contain the smile growing on her lips as their bonds strengthened right before her eyes.

  It was short-lived, however. Her gaze once again fell onto the mission document.

  Her eyes first skimmed the characters spelling out the order to go to the twentieth floor. Then they passed over the vine-like patterns that covered the page.

  The shapes looked like a mere decoration at first glance, but they were much more.

  The design was a second message hiding in plain sight, written in characters that Hestia knew very well—hieroglyphs.

  COME TO THE FOURTH BLOCK OF THE CITY’S SEVENTH DISTRICT ONCE YOUR FAMILIA HAS GONE. NO HARM WILL COME TO YOU.

  That was the divine scripture’s message.

  Hestia heard that when Bell received the parchment from Eina, she told him to make sure that his goddess saw the document as well.

  One purpose of this mission was to separate her from her familia before making contact.

  The goddess narrowed her blue eyes.

  Could it be the one pulling the strings behind the scenes is…?

  Hestia tensed as she reread the message that was intended for her alone.

  I ascend a flight of stairs cast in red light by the setting sun.

  Looking out the window, the sun has almost disappeared. The whole sky is burning crimson in the early evening twilight. As for me, I’m putting one foot in front of the other, ascending one step at a time.

  We decided to accept tonight’s mission after a long discussion, and everyone has gone their separate ways to prepare.

  Lilly went into the city to replenish our stock of items for the middle levels. Welf collected all our armor and weapons before shutting himself up in his workshop to make sure everything is in peak condition. Mikoto and Haruhime were put in charge of preparing food and water for the journey and left a little while ago. Even the goddess said she had something to take care of and went out. With Welf in his shop, the only ones inside the manor are me…and Wiene.

  I reach the third floor of our home and walk straight down the passageway.

  Arriving outside my own door, I quietly push it open.

  The girl with bluish-white skin is lying on my bed in the corner of the room.

  She’s still wearing the same robe as yesterday, and her cheeks are streaked with tears as she lies curled up into a little ball like a child.

  It’s just as Haruhime and Mikoto, who’s been using her Skill nonstop, told me. She cried herself to sleep and hasn’t set foot out of this room since.

  Almost as if she’s afraid of the outside world.

  “……”

  I walk up to the bed, careful not to make a sound.

  Doing my best not to disturb her, I take a seat next to Wiene.

  It’s quiet in here. Time flows peacefully, uninterrupted by the noise and commotion outside, and she’s far away from those who wish to hurt her. Only her quiet breathing reaches my ears.

  Given that we’re nearing summer, it’s still warm during the evening hours. But I don’t want to open a window. It would only disturb this space, interrupt our time together.

  This might be my room, but her scent is mixing with mine.

  It’s been only one week, but so much has happened. Her smell triggers so many memories that I see flashes of them every time I close my eyes.

  “……”

  There were a lot of problems.

  I’m pretty sure I cried out every day.

  Even so, I wouldn’t trade this past week for anything.

  My lips curl into a smile of warm reminiscence.

  I reach out with my left hand and gently stroke Wiene’s hair.

  The silver-blue strands are firm and yet smooth as silk.

  It feels so foreign to me as I softly run my fingers through it, just as I have every day since we brought her here.

  “…Ah, umm.”
/>
  Her blue eyelashes flutter as her eyelids twitch.

  Her amber irises slowly peek out from underneath. They flit around in a groggy daze until they find me. A smile blooms on her lips.

  “Bell…”

  “It’s me…Sorry to wake you.”

  She lightly shakes her head at my apology, saying it’s okay.

  Her wing, folded up over the torn robe on her back, moves right along with it.

  Keeping her head on the pillow, she takes my hand from her hair and places it on her cheek.

  Her skin is chilly, like a crisp breeze.

  Still not fully awake, the vouivre girl looks at me happily.

  “Wiene, I have something important to tell you, so please listen.”

  “…Okay.”

  She slowly sits up.

  We make eye contact, sitting side by side on top of the bedsheet.

  Our shadows stretch across the room, two silhouettes facing each other.

  “Tonight…?”

  “Yes. Together with Haruhime.”

  I tell Wiene about the decision we made with the goddess.

  Of course, I leave out a few details.

  I explain to her that all of us are going to the place where she was born. That’s the story.

  “……”

  “…You don’t want to go?” I ask as she droops her head.

  I can’t blame her for reacting this way. I haven’t told her anything about why we’re going into the Dungeon. This has to come as a surprise.

  The idea can’t be easy for Wiene to swallow. After all, the Dungeon is filled with scary things that tried to kill her.

  The problem now is how to convince her to go. I rack my brain for ideas, when—

  “No, no…I’ll go.”

  She didn’t look up, but Wiene couldn’t have made herself any clearer.

  I’m still struggling with disbelief when she raises her head.

  “Bell…Haruhime. Everyone is trying to help me, aren’t they?”

  My eyes go wide.

  The red jewel in front of my eyes twinkles in the last of the sunlight.

  “Everyone has always helped me before.”

  “Wiene…”

  “It’s scary…but not if Bell and everyone else is with me.”

  The last sliver of sun sinks behind Wiene’s head, but I can tell her whole body is trembling.

  The innocent, outlandish girl who only wants to be kind is putting on a brave face.

  She’s trusting us.

  “Sorry for crying so much…Thank you for protecting me.”

  Teardrops threaten to spill forth from her glistening amber eyes, but still she smiles from ear to ear.

  Then she leans forward a little before burying her face in my chest.

  “I love…Bell.”

  …No matter what.

  I must protect this girl.

  No matter what is waiting for us, I will protect Wiene.

  I won’t let her be alone. I won’t let her die.

  I swear on my soul.

  Now it’s my turn to hold back tears. Keeping my tear ducts in check, I wrap my arms around her.

  Making sure to include her trembling dragon wing, I pull her into a big hug.

  I hear light sobs from under my chin.

  The sun has set; the last of its rays coming in through the window cast my room in a golden red light.

  “A humanoid monster…That’s the one.”

  Dix adjusted his goggles; the corner of his mouth curled into a sneer.

  “Don’t remember anything about wings, though…The beast didn’t have any when you guys saw it, did it?”

  “That’s right. Just arms and legs like a person. Then again, vouivres are supposed to have snake bodies with wings anyway…”

  “True that…A beast is a beast whether it’s got claws or wings.”

  Thump, thump. Dix tapped the shaft of his red spear against his shoulder while listening to his underlings.

  They were in a dark room with no windows. Surrounded by the iron bars of cages, the men talked among themselves without fear of being overheard.

  “But you know all this went down on the day that god of ours went to pay him a visit…Is this what they call a Blessing? Perhaps our Lord isn’t as stupid as we thought.”

  The praise for their absent temperamental deity rang hollow.

  Dix chuckled at the thought.

  “You thinking what I’m thinking, Dix?”

  “Yeah.”

  His mind was made up.

  His red eyes narrowed behind the smoky quartz lenses of his goggles.

  “Keep an eye on Hestia Familia.”

  Dusk fell over Orario before finally shifting to night.

  The city was far from asleep. The exception was Central Park, which was filled with a tranquil silence.

  Hardly a soul passed through the area directly beneath Babel Tower. Lights from restaurants and bars formed a ring around the park, but few sounds reached the base of the white tower.

  It was near midnight. The clocks would mark the beginning of a new day at any moment.

  Bell led his familia to Babel Tower’s west entrance.

  He, Welf, and Mikoto wore salamander-wool cloaks over their armor. Lilly and Haruhime were equipped with Goliath Robes. Lastly, Wiene donned salamander wool as well but also had a slightly customized backpack strapped to her shoulders. The backpack had a hole in the inside lining to hide Wiene’s wing and disguise her as an ordinary supporter to any passersby.

  The vouivre kept looking over her shoulder at this strange apparatus hanging off her back as she walked. The party of adventurers surrounding her carried all sorts of weapons, and they strode forward with purpose. Their arsenal included a large shield, spare weapons of every kind, and even magic swords. The party had never looked so complete, and it was all thanks to Welf’s hard work.

  Pre-mission nerves were beginning to set in. Haruhime, Mikoto, and Lilly looked particularly anxious.

  “……”

  “Something wrong, Bell?”

  The party stood in front of Babel’s open doors, partially illuminated by the light pouring out from inside, when Bell suddenly turned around.

  Greatsword over his shoulder, Welf called out to him as the boy scanned their surroundings.

  We’re being watched…

  And there was more than one observer.

  Bell could feel their gazes originating from somewhere around the deserted park. They weren’t all that close, but they were definitely there, spread out all over.

  Either the Guild had dispatched people to keep watch on them, or—

  Bell’s stomach churned as that thought dredged up memories of Ikelos’s unnerving smile in the back of his mind.

  Turning around, his gaze fell on the girl hiding her true identity beneath a robe: Wiene.

  “Bell…”

  Anxious amber eyes peered up at him from deep underneath her hood.

  Bell took several light breaths, the two staring at each other in silence.

  Setting aside his own concerns, he smiled to put her at ease as much as possible.

  “It’s all right.”

  Placing his hand on top of her hood, Bell mentally prepared himself for what lay ahead.

  “—It’s time.”

  Snap. Lilly made the announcement as she closed the lid on her broken pocket watch.

  All eyes gathered on Bell. He nodded.

  “Goddess, we’re going in.”

  “Right. Just make sure everyone comes back.”

  Hestia had wanted to see them off and came this far to do so. Bell said a quick good-bye.

  The deity gazed at her followers, waiting for a moment before turning to Bell and opening her mouth to speak.

  “Bell…”

  “Yes, Goddess?”

  “…No, it’s nothing.”

  See you when you get back, Hestia conveyed with her eyes, tilting her head to the side. The boy nodded again before entering Babel.

 
; Their mission had officially begun.

  The party set off for the twentieth floor.

  CHAPTER 5

  HERETICS

  The white crystals covering the ceiling overhead go dark and bathe the entire floor in blackness.

  Blue crystals scattered about the forest and ponds start to glow in their place, producing a “nightfall” completely different from the surface.

  We’re on the Dungeon’s eighteenth floor, the Under Resort.

  “Night” falls on the safe point the moment we arrive.

  We traveled through the upper levels and middle levels at high speed while making sure to keep Wiene out of harm’s way. I think we pulled it off only because we used magic and items like there was no tomorrow. Then again, part of it could be due to our familiarity with the floors down to the eighteenth and knowing the quickest routes. It also helped that Goliath wasn’t there.

  We went straight north from the southern tunnel to the seventeenth floor, heading directly toward the massive tree in the center.

  Many magic-stone lamps sparkle from atop the island in the middle of the lake off to our left, but we ignore them. A quick stop in Rivira isn’t part of the plan. We’re going straight down to the twentieth.

  A few isolated encounters with small groups of monsters are all the resistance we find. We breeze to the middle ground and find the gateway to the nineteenth floor among the roots of the Central Tree.

  “Now for the hard part.”

  “Indeed. I passed through here once for the quest on the day we met Lady Wiene, but…”

  Wiene inclines her head toward Welf and Mikoto’s conversation.

  We can’t help but smile as we take our first and only planned rest.

  I doubt we’ll get a chance to catch our breath the rest of the way. Finding a secluded spot close to the entrance, we all try to replenish the energy we expended getting down here so quickly.

  The enormous tree’s roots surround us like a horseshoe, and we’re hidden safely in a hollow in its trunk. Thankfully, no one is going into or coming out of the nineteenth floor, since it’s “night” down here.

  Because hellhounds are no longer a threat, Welf, Mikoto, and I remove our salamander-wool cloaks. I feel lighter already.