Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Vol. 12

by Fujino Omori

  “I chose this spot randomly off the map, but it’s pretty nice!” Lilly says. She’s taken off her heavy backpack and is breathing in the deep-green air with relish.

  On the way here, we took a break on the eighteenth floor at Rivira—the 335th-generation post town has already been repaired since the Xenos destroyed it—but maybe because we’re finally able to relax our tense nerves, everyone seems exhausted. Still, there’s a feeling of accomplishment and relief in their long sighs.

  In order to spend the night here according to time up on the surface, we quickly set to work preparing our camp and getting ready for tomorrow’s exploration.

  Haruhime and Cassandra got Ouka to help them set up camp, and they’re romping around clapping their hands like kids. Mikoto and Chigusa are in charge of cooking, and Aisha is guarding the entrance. Lilly and Daphne are discussing our route as they look at a map.

  Since our party is so small, all our gear fits in our backpacks, so while it’s nothing like a Loki Familia base camp with cargo and supplies lying around, our rest point is still starting to look like a real camp.

  “Hey, Bell, let me do that one, too.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  I accept Welf’s offer and hand him the Divine Knife in exchange for Hakugen, which he’s just finished sharpening. Whetstones, hammers, and even a miniature furnace in a box surround him. He seems to have brought all his smith’s tools on the expedition. Thanks to our High Smith, we’ll be able to keep our weapons at peak performance and not lose any of their edge. It’s incredibly helpful, since we can’t return to the surface during the course of the expedition.

  “It’s such a luxury to have a smith in your familia. I doubt that even famous factions like Loki Familia have someone like that on hand all the time,” comments Daphne, who’s finished up her work.

  “How’s that new weapon working for ya, Bell?” Welf asks.

  “It’s amazing. The blade feels so good it keeps surprising me…It even cuts right through metal monsters…”

  “That’s ’cause I used an insanely valuable drop item that would make a healer or a mage scream if they found out. Oops, don’t tell Li’l E! She’ll yell at me for treating you special.”

  The smith’s eyes are fixed on the Divine Knife, but he’s grinning like a mischievous little kid who likes to play tricks. I smile back at him wryly and look down at Hakugen. The unusual white blade flashes brilliantly. I can sense that compared to the Ushiwakamaru series of weapons, which I’d been using until recently, it’s far more powerful. More than that, the edge is much keener. And the best part is how light it is. The handling is incredible.

  Perhaps it’s not so well suited to defense or fending off attacks…but overall, I don’t have any complaints.

  Since it’s custom made, the grip is molded to match to my fingers exactly. Even though I’m using it for the first time, it feels like an extension of me more than anything I’ve used before. Welf is clearly gaining mastery over his skills. I feel so proud and happy to be working together with him like this, adventurer and smith, polishing each other’s abilities to ever greater heights.

  It’s probably thanks to Hakugen and all the other weapons and gear Welf has made for us that we’ve made it to the twenty-fourth floor.

  …The twenty-fourth floor…

  I mull over the number once again.

  We’ve made it from the surface to the twenty-fourth floor in about a day. That’s an extremely good pace.

  No, considering the fact that we used to have trouble even reaching the twentieth floor, you could say it’s too good.

  I’m a bit afraid that things are going so well…

  Why is that?…It’s strange how calm I feel.

  It’s not simply that I’m no longer terrified of the middle levels after I reached Level 4.

  It’s more like…I’ve crossed blades with things much more terrifying—and much stronger—than anything I can expect to run into around the middle levels.

  The violent hunters, for one, and my great rival for another. Those experiences have affected both my body and my soul. I’m realizing that once again as I stand here on the twenty-fourth floor of the Dungeon—which is not at all an easy place to be—and listen to the calm, measured sound of my own heartbeat.

  The same goes for my improved sense of courage and my thoughts, swirling inside my head at this very moment.

  I return Hakugen to its sheath and look up.

  “Hey, Welf. The Divine Knife is made of mithril, right?” I ask him slowly.

  “Yeah. It’s a great material because of how easy it is to work with. On top of that, it conducts magical power really well. Mithril weapons are common for fighters who combine magic and ordinary combat ability.”

  Welf replies while he gently turns over the black blade etched with hieroglyphs.

  “But just because it conducts magic easily doesn’t mean it’s enchanted,” he continues. “Even if you beat magic into a regular knife, it just seeps out and disperses. Anyway, why were you asking?”

  “Uh, I just…”

  Sitting next to Welf, who’s immersed once again in his work, I stare down at my right hand. Very softly, so that no one will notice, I start to sound the chime. A few particles of white light converge on my hand.

  The pitched battle I fought and ultimately lost at the hands of my rival has made me more diligent. Before, I simply used my magic and skills. Now I study them.

  Especially Argonaut.

  I’ve been conducting a kind of secret test ever since I entered the Dungeon today. There are quite a few things that I’ve learned already. First, the maximum charge time for Argonaut is four minutes. It used to be three minutes, so I’ve gained an extra minute by advancing to Level 4. The power raised by the charge increases wherever the particles of light gather, up to my action limit for attacks. This applies for slashing, punching, and magic, but I can initiate the charging at only one place at a time.

  Charges and Concurrent Charges are zeroed out if an enemy attacks me or I get distracted. When that happens, the physical and mental strength that I’ve been amassing disappear as well. This seems to be similar to what happens with a mage’s chants. Even right now, if I will the particles of light to disappear from my right hand, I instantly feel overwhelmed by exhaustion. I can restore my energy using recovery items, but it’s best to save those for crucial moments and avoid constantly charging.

  What I’ve been most interested in as a result of these tests is convergence, which is the most outstanding attribute of Argonaut.

  It’s—

  The high magical conductivity of the knife…The convergence of my skill…

  I’ve realized something about myself.

  I’m not smart enough.

  To make up for that, I’m currently relying on Lilly and some of the others. Without the support of my companions, having me be the leader of anything would be ridiculous. My title would be worthless.

  I’ve got to use every last bit of my insufficient brain.

  If I don’t, I, Bell Cranell, will not amount to anything.

  I won’t ever be like Aiz, who’s constantly adding new sword skills to her repertoire. I won’t be like Finn, who spins out countless inspired strategies. I’ll never get to the other side of genius.

  If I don’t use every last idea in my head, I’ll never be able to invent anything new.

  So I’ve been thinking and thinking until I can’t think of anything else—then right when the flash of possibility shoots through my mind—

  “Everyone, dinner’s ready!”

  “…!”

  Lilly’s voice rings out from the tent.

  “You heard the little lady. Let’s go, Bell. I’m done with my maintenance.” Welf hands me the Divine Knife.

  “…Okay!” I answer, setting aside my thoughts as I stand up.

  Welf and I head toward the center of the room, where Lilly and the others are waiting.

  There’s just one last thing to do before the even
ing—or rather, night—meal. We take out our knives and longswords to shave the green Lamp Moss from the walls and ceiling, toning down the amount of light in the room. After we finish, the plant-filled green space takes on the atmosphere of a forest at night.

  One reason we do this is to help adjust our internal clocks to match the time on the surface, but it’s more important as a measure to prevent monster attacks. Though there is variation depending on the species, most monsters are wary of areas in the Dungeon where the light is different from usual. In this case, we’ve made the room dimmer than normal. At least that’s what Aisha and Daphne, who have been on many expeditions, are explaining to us as we hurry to follow their instructions.

  We gather the shaved-off Lamp Moss and stuff it into jars, setting them in the middle of the room. They’re like lanterns lighting up our night camp.

  “Well, guys, let’s eat! There’s plenty for seconds, too!”

  “I-I hope you like it…”

  We gather around the pot set next to the lanterns and begin to eat. Mikoto and Chigusa prepared risotto—or rather, an Eastern porridge dish. We’re all drooling over the thick gruel studded with glistening golden threads of egg, finely torn dried meat, green herbs, and a scattering of nuts and fruit. They scoop the steaming mixture into wooden bowls, and we dig in with our spoons.

  “We added some ingredients found in the labyrinth that Lady Aisha said were edible…How is it?”

  “Tastes a little odd…but it’s good! I like the earthy flavor, and the fruit has an interesting tartness to it. At the very least, you won’t find this outside Orario.”

  “We don’t have this in the Far East, either. It’s a Dungeon original.”

  “Mr. Ouka, this is where you compliment the cooks…especially Chigusa!” Lilly scolds him as he and Welf make their comments while scarfing down the stew.

  “M-Miss Lilly, he doesn’t need to do that…! But I’m happy they like it,” Chigusa says, relieved to have succeeded at her task.

  Since Mikoto and I live in the same household, I know what a good cook she is, but Chigusa, who grew up under the same circumstances, appears to be just as talented. Welf and Ouka aren’t the only ones who have taken a liking to their handiwork, either.

  “You should quit adventuring and open a restaurant,” Aisha jokes, mixing a dash of teasing in with her compliment.

  Incidentally, we picked up the eggs earlier in the day when we stopped by Rivira. Bors, the head of the post town, gave them to us to celebrate our first expedition. Apparently, some of the residents brought a few chickens down from the surface. For adventurers starving for more familiar fare, they really could be called golden eggs. The only problem is keeping them fresh.

  “Um, is it okay that we used so much water…? They say having enough potable water makes or breaks an expedition. We wouldn’t want to turn back because we ran out…” Cassandra says, worried about the supplies we used for the meal.

  “There’s so much water on the floors below us that you’ll practically drown in it. Nothing to worry about. Anyway, this party isn’t as big as the Apollo Familia parties you used to be part of. There’s no way we’ll end up fighting over water.”

  Aisha responded while waving her hands carelessly as if to brush off Cassandra’s concern.

  Perhaps because they’re remembering rough past expeditions, or perhaps because Aisha has nailed their concerns, Cassandra and Daphne—who are former Apollo members—both groan.

  In the end, Cassandra is right. Conserving water may be the most crucial thing in the Dungeon.

  Clear streams like the one on the eighteenth floor are generally few and far between in the labyrinth. Planning out water collection at accessible sources on specific floors is the foundation of a successful expedition. Before we set up camp here in the Colossal Tree Labyrinth, Aisha and Mikoto went to draw water at some springs, so we’re okay for now. Maybe Aisha’s relaxed confidence that even extends to matters beyond fighting is due to how many expeditions she’s been on.

  “I think Bell Cranell is suited to the center of the formation. When I first heard about charge attacks, I was like, ‘Huh?’ but with that level of power, he could easily be in the rear, too. And he’s plenty fast,” Daphne says.

  “In terms of personality, I don’t think Mr. Bell is cut out for for the rear guard…” Lilly says.

  Dinner is over, and the party is sitting in a circle talking about the day’s events and each member’s particular interests.

  “Now that you mention it, he does have trouble standing still…And by the way, good job with your leadership so far.”

  “Thank you.”

  Since when did Daphne and Lilly develop this master-and-pupil relationship? They’re sitting around bobbing their heads at each other.

  “Unlike last time, no one got a level boost. The magic swords are still waiting to be used, too,” Welf says.

  “Well, we have more people this time, so our coordination and responses are faster. Of course, there’s also the fact that Master Bell and Lady Aisha are supporting the formation…” Mikoto answers.

  “We’re all covering one another’s weaknesses…That’s how party exploration should work,” Ouka says.

  “And there I am doing nothing and holding everyone back…Ugh…” Haruhime sighs.

  Next to them, Chigusa and Cassandra are having a surprisingly animated discussion about healing and first aid. The hastily put-together party seems to be getting along just fine. Everyone is chatting pleasantly.

  “Hey, Antianeira. I’ve never been to the twenty-fourth floor before, but is this what it’s always like? I’m worried we’ll get careless because things are going so well,” Daphne says.

  Her voice echoes with terrible loudness through the room. Everyone looks at her, which is probably what she intended. Aisha, who’s sitting on the floor with one knee propped up, shrugs.

  “As long as you keep an eye out for attacks that inflict irregular ailments and you have enough people, the Colossal Tree Labyrinth isn’t too big a deal. I mean, it might be tough if you only had Level-Two people…Coming down here unprepared would also mean getting totally wiped out by traps and weird goblins that aren’t up in the Cave Labyrinth. Aside from that, obviously, it’s the amount of resources.”

  The twenty-fourth floor is the lowest of the middle levels, and most consider a Level-2 status the minimum requirement to justify going there. But I’ve heard that the Guild sets those basic standards with an eye to preventing deaths caused by first-timers being caught off guard. Of course, the monsters also have more abilities at their disposal than they do on the seventeenth floor or higher.

  The main thing that sets apart the Colossal Tree Labyrinth that starts on the nineteenth floor is the huge number of Irregular attacks, like ones that involve poison. Monsters also appear with greater frequency than they do on the upper floors.

  But the scariest thing in the Dungeon is the limitless amount of resources it can draw on. You have to watch out for that no matter what floor you’re on.

  “Below this floor…you could probably squeak by as a Level-Two adventurer down to the twenty-seventh floor. From there on, the problem is the terrain. They say that’s the reason it’s considered a separate zone that we call the ‘lower level.’”

  According to the battle-hardened second-tier adventurer, that tricky terrain is also the reason that the standard for the lower floors, starting at the twenty-fifth, is Level 3.

  “The thirtieth floor is where you really start to need a high level and status. There are swarms of bloodsauruses and other dangerous monsters down there. It’s like the middle level for Level Ones…They’re the kind of things that a Level-Two party has no way in hell of defeating.”

  Everyone is listening to Aisha with serious expressions.

  “…The thirtieth floor, huh. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like, considering we still have to get through six more floors,” Welf says.

  “Speaking of which, the Guild doesn’t publish any det
ailed information about the lower levels, does it…?” Mikoto asks, tilting her head curiously.

  “The Guild restricts information about the lower levels and the Deep Zone…especially everything below the fiftieth floor,” Lilly says quietly.

  “Why would they do that?” Mikoto asks.

  “Everything is so different down there…If people knew too much, they might lose heart. That’s what I hear,” Lilly replies. Everyone falls silent.

  “Ha-ha-ha…No way—” Cassandra says, trying to laugh it off. Aisha cuts her off curtly.

  “Well, as far as Ishtar Familia goes…We didn’t get any information about the fiftieth floor or lower, either.”

  All of a sudden, Lilly’s account takes on a ring of truth. It seems that things are set up so no information about the Deep Zone is released until you get close to those floors and are qualified to access it.

  “If you believe the rumors…dragons leap between floors down there. And that’s not the worst of it. There are herds of monsters all as strong as floor bosses.”

  “…Th-that must be a lie!”

  “Who knows? But even if it is, it’s a sign of how bad things are at that level.”

  Chigusa gulps audibly, and silence descends on the camp. Everyone shudders as they imagine the still-unknown abyss of the Dungeon while picturing the bottomless extent of the labyrinth.

  The lanterns illuminate the tight-lipped faces of the party.

  “Damn…You spineless chickens are getting the shakes all the way up here?! That stuff is way in the future,” Aisha says in an attempt to lighten the mood. “Haruhime, bring out the drinks!”

  “What? Lady Aisha, I didn’t bring any alcohol…!”

  “Maybe not, but I snuck some into your backpack!”

  The shocked Haruhime paws through her backpack and finds…exactly what Aisha said would be there.

  A buzz runs through the party at the sight of the liquid in the thick bottle.

  “Hey, boys! You’ll have a glass, right?”

  “…When an Amazon is egging you on, all you can say is yes.”

  “Mr. Welf!” Lilly says reproachfully.

  “It’s okay, Li’l E, I’ll just have a sip! Think of it as a nightcap. Big Guy, you’ll have some, too, won’t you?”