Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle: Episode Lyu

by Fujino Omori, NIRITSU

  Copyright

  IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON?

  FAMILIA CHRONICLE: Episode Lyu

  FUJINO OMORI

  Translation by Dale DeLucia

  Cover art by NIRITSU

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  DUNGEON NI DEAI WO MOTOMERU NO WA MACHIGATTEIRUDAROUKA FAMILIA CHRONICLE episode RYU

  Copyright © 2017 Fujino Omori

  Illustrations copyright © 2017 NIRITSU

  All rights reserved.

  Original Japanese edition published in 2017 by SB Creative Corp.

  This English edition is published by arrangement with SB Creative Corp., Tokyo in care of ­Tuttle-­Mori Agency, Inc., Tokyo.

  English translation © 2018 by Yen Press, LLC

  Yen Press, LLC supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact the publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

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  First Yen On Edition: June 2018

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Ōmori, Fujino, author. | Niritsu, illustrator. | Yasuda, Suzuhito, designer. | DeLucia, Dale, translator.

  Title: Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon? familia chronicle episode Lyu / Fujino Omori ; illustration by Niritsu ; character design by Suzuhito Yasuda ; translation by Dale DeLucia.

  Other titles: Dungeon ni deai wo motomeru no wa machigatteirudarouka familia chronicle episode Ryu. English | Episode Ryu

  Description: First Yen On edition. | New York : Yen On, June 2018.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018006599 | ISBN 9780316448253 (paperback)

  Subjects: CYAC: Fantasy. | Kidnapping—­Fiction. | Adventure and ­adventurers—­Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.1.O54 It 2018 | DDC [Fic]—­dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018006599

  ISBNs: 978-0-­316-­44825-3 (paperback)

  978-0-316-44826-0 (ebook)

  E3-20180524-JV-PC

  Contents

  Cover

  Insert

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Crush the Grand Casino!

  That Is a Benevolent Tavern: ~Girl Meets Girls~

  Afterword

  Yen Newsletter

  FUJINO OMORI

  ILLUSTRATION BY NIRITSU

  CHARACTER DESIGN BY SUZUHITO YASUDA

  CRUSH THE GRAND CASINO!

  1

  “The Benevolent Mistress? No way. Why even go to a place like that?”

  In the corner of a dark, dismal tavern, a ­grimy-­looking human man sat at a small round table drinking cheap ale.

  “The place has great food and booze for sure, plus the staff are real easy on the eyes, but it’s ­expensive—­and if you start any kind of trouble, you’ll get tossed out in an instant and wind up at the healer’s.”

  The surrounding patrons’ voices were low and gruff. Amid the din of rowdy laughs and shouts, the man was sitting on a creaky old chair as he always was.

  “…Huh? Did you ask who’ll thrash you? That’s obvious, isn’t it? The girls who work there!”

  He grabbed one of the dried pieces of meat from his plate and tore into it. Chewing loudly, the man with a new scar on his face ­half ­smiled.

  “That’s not a place for small fries like us. Especially considering that dwarf mistress; words can’t even describe how scary she is.”

  He took another swig from his mug to hide a shudder. The chatter of the other drinking patrons got louder, swelling like a wave. Drinking like he was trying to dunk his face in his ale, the man suddenly smiled as his cheeks reddened.

  “But you know…if you’re ever looking for help wherever you can, and really, truly, have a problem…buy a drink there and try crying into it…”

  When someone asked why, the man wiped his mouth and responded, “Because she’s there. Even compared to the other ridiculous workers at that shop, it’s terrifying how strong she is. The woman is way too serious, insanely demanding, and as beautiful as a real fairy…”

  As he trailed off, he suppressed his smile. His shoulders shook, as if laughing in ­scorn—­or perhaps trembling in ­fear—­then he lifted his head and whispered so low that it seemed no one else would be able to hear him.

  “She’s a strange elf in Orario who still holds on to some sense of justice. If you ever get wrapped up in something dangerous, go check it out. She might help you…”

  The man left it at that and raised his mug again, drowning himself in his cheap ale.

  2

  In a certain city district, the moon had already set, but there was still no trace of the sun. A flurry of wind could be heard in the early dawn. The ­high-­pitched gusts sounded over and over, trembling in the air for a moment like a birdcall or a reed pipe before the darkness returned to silence.

  A slender elf woman was swinging a wooden sword nearly as long as she was tall. Her movements were swift and sharp as her elegant arms whipped the sword from overhead straight down with impeccable form. An instant later, she reversed the edge, slicing diagonally upward with a speed rivaling any ­quick-­draw technique. If she were in an actual fight, her opponent would probably have run away in the face of such deft skill.

  Her dyed, pale green hair swayed as her sword flashed. She wore a light tunic and short pants that fluttered when she moved. Her fair skin stood out under the dark sky.

  “…Is it time?”

  The sound of one last, particularly sharp practice swing echoed as the ­elf—­Lyu ­Leon—­finished her morning practice.

  Inside the giant city walls, her eyes narrowed once the sun started to reveal itself in the eastern sky. Her body glistened with a thin sheen of sweat as the early morning air cleared.

  This was the Labyrinth City, Orario. It was a ­well-­known metropolis that prospered as the Center of the World, sitting atop the only underground dungeon in the world. Lyu was employed at one of the taverns in the city, The Benevolent Mistress.

  She was an early riser. The restaurant’s preparations started early in the morning, but she swung her wooden sword in the dark every day well before that, when the sun had yet to climb above the horizon. Even as a former adventurer who had washed her hands of delving into the Dungeon, Lyu was still meticulous in her training.

  Perhaps it was because the elf warrior had found herself in peril several times since she had arrived in Orario, but regardless, she had not forgotten to be diligent in her
studies.

  Frankly, one should pursue ­self-­improvement and similar ideals until they become habit.

  The tavern’s courtyard was wide, surrounded by wooden structures not connected to the main building. Originally there were plans for another expansion, so the area had been cleared out and part of the ground was paved with stones. The shop’s outdoor storage shed was also in the courtyard. Already sweaty, Lyu looked down at her slender arms.

  “This isn’t enough…”

  Her true feelings unconsciously escaped from her lips in a whisper. Once, she had invited her coworkers, who were plenty strong themselves, but they refused to come a second time. Apparently, she had not controlled herself enough. They had called her a training junkie and complained that she did not hold back. She was always overdoing it. Remembering the abuse that had been hurled at her in the past, Lyu unconsciously sighed.

  “Maybe I should ask Mr. Cranell to join me next time.”

  Looking up at the slightly dark sky, Lyu thought of a certain adventurer. She had only just gotten to know ­him—­though it had already been two months since they met. He was a young human boy, still wet behind the ears, but he was also making progress at shocking speed, both figuratively and literally. For a number of reasons, he had caught Lyu’s eye. He seems to be working toward some kind of goal himself, so training together could work out well for both of us.

  But after thinking that far, Lyu suddenly shook her head. No, I couldn’t do that to Syr. The boy was her friend’s sweetheart and perhaps even a future lover. Spending her early morning practice alone with him while knowing that would be dishonorable. At least, that was how Lyu felt.

  On the other hand, I don’t have any ulterior motives. If it was only training, then…Her thoughts drifted, but as she imagined Syr’s face, a sense of guilt welled up in her heart.

  Conflicted, Lyu cleared her mind and headed toward her room among the wooden buildings. First she had to clean herself, then change into her uniform. The sun had already cleared the city wall, and dazzling light was starting to shine on the city as Lyu prepared for another day as a waitress at the tavern.

  It was another bustling day at The Benevolent Mistress.

  The ­three-­story stone building gave the impression of a tidy little inn that was bigger than it seemed from the outside. Its location on West Main Street made it convenient for customers to come and go.

  During the day, the clientele was largely female and consisted primarity of regular city residents, while after dark, the bar and tables were usually filled with adventurers returning from the Dungeon. It managed the different groups of customers well: The menu changed as morning became evening, charging adventurers who had more money to burn with higher prices.

  As the restaurant’s dwarf owner, Mia Grand, liked to say, “We’re treating them to our delicious food and drink, after all. If they can’t pay, then they don’t get any!”

  In reality, a great deal of adventurers were regulars who visited often, many obsessed with her special fruit wine (which was guaranteed to taste amazing).

  “The morning is better, though, meow…”

  “When it gets late, the ­beer-­starved adventurers swarm us…Ugh, it’s depressing, meow.”

  “Hey, kitties, you’re being slow. Mama Mia is going to yell at you.”

  The former ­top-­tier adventurer Mia had gone into ­semi-­retirement and opened The Benevolent Mistress, where several women lived and worked. Lyu was one of them.

  The catgirls leaning on the counter were Ahnya and Chloe, while the human warning them like always was Runoa. Lyu didn’t pay them any mind as she carried a fruit tart on a platter.

  “Two guests coming in!”

  The girl with light ­blue-­gray hair guiding the two new customers was Syr. She was the only employee who didn’t room at the tavern. She was a human girl with standout looks; the tavern used her as a cute salesgirl to lure in traffic from the street. Unlike Lyu, who was brusque and difficult to approach, Syr graciously treated everyone equally. She had won the adoration of the male patrons as a straightforward, honest local girl. Even rowdy adventurers who had too much to drink calmed down when confronted with her surprising stubbornness and fearless smile. Thanks to the tavern owner Mia, as well as Lyu and the rest of the employees, The Benevolent Mistress was running smoothly like always.

  The inside bustling with ­demi-­human women made for a picturesque sight as sunlight shone through the windows. It was almost noon, and traffic on the street outside was picking up when the shop’s moment of peace was shattered.

  “Then what? Are you saying you sold Anna?!”

  Lyu, the other staff, and all the customers in the tavern glanced over at a human couple Syr had just seated.

  “I didn’t sell her—she was taken.”

  “That’s the same thing, isn’t it, you idiot! That’s why I kept telling you to stop gambling…”

  The woman with her flaxen hair tied back had seen many years come and go, but she had not lost her beauty. She raised her voice as the man sitting across from her responded listlessly, an unkempt five-o’clock shadow noticeable on his face.

  “What kind of father puts his own daughter up as collateral for a bet?!”

  The mother shouted one last time before burying her face in her hands and bawling.

  An awkward wave of unease swept through the restaurant. Ahnya and Chloe, who were diligently going about their work, peeked their heads out of kitchen at the loud sobs. Runoa stopped in her tracks as she, Lyu, Syr, and the catgirl chefs all exchanged glances.

  The ­middle-­aged man noticed all of the gazes focused on their table, and finally looked up as he jumped to his feet, kicking away his chair.

  “What are you looking at?! This isn’t some spectacle! Just eat your crappy food, assholes!”

  “W-wait, stop that!”

  The woman tried to hold him back as he flew into a rage, but he would not be subdued. He clenched the glass of water that had been placed in front of him, flinging the contents everywhere. As he continued swinging it around, the customers nearby shrieked, followed by an immediate ­thump—­something caught his flailing arm.

  “Pardon me, sir, but if you are going to make a scene, could you please pay now and leave instead?”

  “What did ­you—­Oww?!”

  A sharp cry of pain cut off the question. Runoa had apparently approached without a sound, and she squeezed tighter. She seemed like any other girl her age, but her grip convinced the man his arm was at the breaking point.

  “Hey, who do you think cleans this floor, meow?”

  “A clown who wastes the food and water we prepared for him can go get cursed by the gods and drop into hell for all I care, meow.”

  More thumps echoed as a wickedly smiling Chloe and a visibly furious Ahnya came up from behind the angry man to grab hold of his shoulders. Then they whipped out one leg each, smoothly tripping their quarry. With his support knocked out from under him, he fell straight the floor.

  “Wh…what?”

  As soon as he hit the ground, the man’s body rose back into the air as the towering dwarf mistress of the establishment grasped him by the collar of his tunic. He was a ­full-­grown man, but she needed only one hand to hold him up. When he saw Mia’s dangerous expression up close, all the color drained from his face.

  “It’s pretty ballsy to call our food bad before you’ve even had any, don’t you think?”

  “Aaaahhhh…!!”

  “—­You’re annoying the other customers, you idiot!”

  The next instant, she tossed him in a smooth arc through the entryway and halfway into the main street, while the man screamed all the way. A carriage suddenly came to a halt, horse neighing, when the man rolled out of nowhere into the middle of the street. The throng was startled for a moment, but as soon as people recognized what tavern he had flown out of, everyone carefully avoided him and moved along as though they were used to it.

  The Benevolent Mistress. It was a pl
ace where the women Mia employed all had special circumstances, and most were accustomed to fighting.

  Adventurers who didn’t know better were often drawn in by the tavern’s reputation for sweet and beautiful girls. It was a familiar scene in the neighborhood to see customers who made foolish mistakes come flying out the door looking the worse for wear.

  As the shop calmed down, Lyu thought she had been too slow to react.

  “I’m sorry, it sounded like a bit of a distressing story, but…did something happen?”

  Syr calmly approached her, head tilted slightly, but the dumbfounded woman froze and was unable to answer.

  * * *

  “…Gambling with his daughter as collateral…”

  Lyu unconsciously furrowed her brow. After collecting the man, who had fainted in the street, she joined Syr in a corner of the tavern to listen to their story.

  The woman’s name was Karen and her husband’s was Huey. They were a couple who made their living day to day in the ­magic-­stone manufacturing business by helping out in a small store. They had lived in the city’s western district until that very ­day—­Huey liked to gamble, and had gotten involved in an incident as a result.

  “I had no choice…By that point, there wasn’t anything I could do. I had to. Why else would I wager my daughter, Anna…?”

  After coming to, the battered Huey lifelessly explained the situation as he sat in a chair.

  He had somehow ended up wagering the daughter he had raised with Karen as collateral in a ­gamble—­and lost. Lyu, an elf known for her strict standards, couldn’t hide the scorn and contempt in her gaze. Syr put her hand on Karen’s shoulder to comfort her as she held back tears. Ahnya was shocked, as were the others listening as they went about their work.

  “What was so unavoidable? This happened because you were playing with ­fire—­didn’t it?!”

  “Th-that’s…B-but, at first they were saying ‘it’s just a game.’ But when I kept losing, the atmosphere changed all of a sudden! They talked about kicking in the door of our home if it seemed like I couldn’t pay up what I lost. One thing led to another, and then I couldn’t undo it…”