Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side: Sword Oratoria, Vol. 2

by Fujino Omori, Kiyotaka Haimura

  The group made their way into the forest, beautiful moss-covered trees and intertwining streams reflected in their eyes.

  “I believe…it is the ‘afternoon’ now.”

  Riveria shielded her eyes with her left hand as she looked up through the foliage.

  Thousands upon thousands of crystals covered every inch of the ceiling just beyond the shady, wide leaves of the forest’s thinning canopy.

  A large group of white crystals in the center of the ceiling shone like the sun. They were surrounded by a vast sea of other minerals emanating soft blue light that spread out in all directions. Each formation emitted a glow that looked like mums in bloom, and all of it coalesced to create a “sky” deep underground. It was a mystery of the Dungeon that took many an adventurer’s breath away.

  This sky changed with the passage of time, creating “morning,” “afternoon,” and “night.” However, the intervals were not equal and varied slightly from the ones on the surface, meaning that there were times when the cycles were almost identical and times when they were totally different.

  It was safe to say that these crystals were the eighteenth floor’s most distinctive feature. They not only covered the ceiling, but also sprouted from anywhere and everywhere on the ground, trees, and rocks. Even the crevice in the floor running along Aiz and the others’ path was filled with indigo blue crystals.

  “Hey, hey. Any thoughts? We gonna go straight through to the nineteenth floor?”

  “We’re stopping at Rivira first. If we don’t sell the stones and items we’ve already collected, our inventory will be completely filled in no time.”

  The Amazonian sisters exchanged a few words as the battle party proceeded from the southern forest and toward the “town” in the western portion of this floor.

  The eighteenth floor was the first safe point adventurers came across in the Dungeon. The scenery was so beautiful that it was often called the “Under Resort.”

  Continuing north out of the forest, the first thing that came into view was an open prairie dotted with crystals of various sizes and shapes.

  In the very center of the floor was a colossal tree, standing proudly in the middle of the vast, blue-green plain. It was called the Central Tree, and some of its roots created the tunnel that led to the nineteenth floor.

  The northern region was a marshy wetland, while the large forest stretched from the south toward the east. A break in the plain lay to the west, a midnight-blue lake with a large island in the middle. This magnificent scene of nature, wrapped in a beautiful azure “sky” and decorated with magnificent crystals, was a sight that one could not find outside the Dungeon. This view had quite the reputation—great enough that wealthy people on the surface would hire adventurers to take them there so they could see it with their own eyes.

  The eighteenth floor itself was shaped like a big dome with steep cliffs forming the edges. It created the sense that one was inside a miniature display.

  Aiz’s party made their way to the edge of the lake and crossed a massive tree that had been cut down to make a bridge to reach the island. Each of them enjoyed the scenery as they made the climb toward their destination.

  “I can barely remember the last time I came here!” Tiona said as she made her way to the top of the island that looked as though it had once been part of the main continent and somehow wound up in the Dungeon. The town of Rivira was constructed on the top of its steep cliffs.

  Two connected wooden pillars and flags over the main path bore the words TOWN OF RIVIRA.

  Simply put, it was a relay town for resupply, rest, and transportation of goods, operated by upper-class adventurers who were strong enough to make it down here as they pleased.

  It was originally part of the Guild’s plan to make exploring previously unknown floors easier for all adventurers, intended to serve as a frontline base. However, constant waves of monsters coming in from other floors required a considerable commitment of manpower—including hired adventurers who were Level 3 or higher—and of course, everyone needed to be paid. The cost of keeping the station up and running far exceeded the benefits, so the Guild scrapped the plan. Adventurers, however, had had other ideas and moved in to create the Dungeon town of Rivira.

  “Um, I have always been curious about this, but…The number engraved into the wood, ‘three hundred and forty-four,’ does that mean…?”

  “It does. That number represents the number of times Rivira has been rebuilt. This is the three hundred and thirty-fourth version…which indicates that Rivira has been destroyed three hundred and thirty-three times before.”

  “Th-three hundred and thirty-three…”

  Lefiya couldn’t take her eyes off the numbers even as she followed the group through the wooden archway while Riveria explained.

  Monsters were never born inside a safe point, but this was the Dungeon. No one knew when an Irregular would appear. Rivira was wiped out whenever one of those unexpected monsters reared its ugly head.

  In the event one did show up, all adventurers would evacuate the town and return to the surface rather than stand their ground.

  As soon as the storm passed, they would immediately return to rebuild.

  That was the main difference between the Guild, which had been forced to maintain a constant defense, and the adventurers running the town now. Rivira had come to represent the tenacity of the shadiest adventurers. Some referred to it as “the world’s most beautiful rogue town” in a mixture of contempt and praise.

  “Well, let’s go inside already. I wanna lie down, not stand out here all day.”

  Tione urged the rest of the party to pick up the pace. They entered the main street moments later.

  The town was built on the east side of the island, atop a two-hundred-meder cliff that looked out onto the lake. They used the natural formations of crystal and rock to ring the town with a rough wall. While not the prettiest of sights, it was sturdy enough and tall enough to repel most monster attacks.

  After walking through the arch, Aiz and the others immediately saw lines of tents, wooden huts, and small shops that would pass for street stands anywhere else. Many had been built into the side of rock walls with cheap materials in order to reduce expenditure—and for ease of reconstruction. So many corners had been cut that hardly any of the structures in town could really be called a building.

  Despite the simplicity of this town, little more than a village, pillar-like crystals and small clusters of minerals reflected the rays shining down from above, making the light dance on everything. Along with the deep blue lake below and its beautiful vantage point overlooking the entire floor, it became much more stunning than the average town.

  Passing by taverns that had been established in naturally occurring caves, Lefiya inquired as to their plan moving forward.

  “We’ll exchange our magic stones and drop items for money, and then…?”

  “Where should we stay? Should we make camp in the forest like we always do?”

  “Hmm, maybe we should stay at an inn this time? We didn’t bring any camping supplies with us, after all.”

  “But General…Spending a week here is going to cost a considerable amount of money! This is Rivira, you know…”

  Apart from the weapon and item shops, there was also a place to sell hard-earned loot. It went without saying that a town composed solely of adventurers would only do business with adventurers. At the same time, prices were so high it was almost scary to ask.

  Simple packs of rations and pre-owned longswords carried price tags with more than four zeros. It was enough to make the average customer feel like they were being scammed and want to scream in frustration. But there was a reason that all these goods were all at least twice as expensive as they were outside the Dungeon: the sellers knew their customers didn’t have any other choice. That was the harsh truth behind adventurers selling to their own kind. They knew how valuable water was in a desert.

  Of course, the lodging business was no different.
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  “Tione, don’t be so stingy! It’s okay to live it up a little every now and then.”

  “Who you calling stingy?! You’re just careless with money!”

  Finn smiled as he listened to Tiona and Tione trade verbal blows before making a suggestion.

  “Why don’t we stay at an inn? I’ll pay for everyone. I know a few of you need to save up some money.”

  “…Sorry, Finn.”

  The members of Loki Familia had always passed through Rivira without stopping to avoid paying an arm and a leg for accommodations. Thanks to their leader’s generous offer, the group decided to spend the night this time.

  Knowing that Finn was referring to her, Aiz was quick to apologize.

  “Times like this are the only ones I get to spend money. So don’t worry,” Finn responded with a lighthearted smile.

  “…”

  “Riveria…?”

  Aiz thanked Finn just before looking up and noticing that Riveria had been silent all this time.

  The elf’s eyes were drifting between the beautiful white and blue crystals scattered throughout the town. She opened her mouth to speak.

  “It’s the town. Something feels off.”

  “Now that you mention it, the streets are much emptier than normal…”

  Lefiya took a look around as she echoed Riveria’s concern.

  They could count the number of people on the main street with one hand. The lack of travelers passing through the gate wasn’t cause for concern, but when the main square was just as sparse, they couldn’t help but feel something was wrong.

  Many adventurers used Rivira as a base of operations for traveling below the nineteenth floor for the simple reasons that monsters were never born at the safe point and that it was the only “town” inside the Dungeon. Equipped with shops, taverns, and places to sell loot or buy luxury goods, the town’s very existence meant they didn’t have to return to the surface for anything. It wasn’t perfect, but many adventurers were thankful it was here.

  Normally, the Dungeon town was bustling with people taking a break from the labyrinthine hallways and the dangers that awaited them on other floors. But now, it was practically deserted.

  In a plaza carved into a rock outcropping, surrounded by a small fence made from rusty old swords and spear shafts, Aiz met the gazes of Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya.

  “Well, um…What now?” Tiona asked.

  “First things first; let’s visit a shop. Talking to a local is the best way to gather information,” Finn answered. Spear balanced over his shoulder, the prum led the group away from the observation point and down the main street.

  Taking a closer look, they could see that many shop owners had up and left their stores. Eventually, they found a place that would buy their magic stones. The shop wasn’t much more than a tent, with a few pieces of wood for a counter, but the group made their way toward it.

  “You open for business?”

  “Huh? Ahh, Loki Familia, huh? You customers?”

  The Amazonian owner looked bored out of her mind as Finn approached her. “That we are,” he responded.

  Only the counter divided the inside of the “store” from the outside. An inventory of monster teeth that resembled elephant tusks, bottles filled with precious stones, and other items bought from adventurers were lined up inside the tent behind the owner.

  As Lefiya and Tione handed over the loot, Finn began questioning the Amazon under the guise of small talk.

  “The town seems different than I’m used to. Something happen?”

  “…Ahh, so you guys just came in, then.”

  The owner looked up from meticulously counting the magic stones and cringed.

  “There was a murder. An adventurer’s body was discovered in town.”

  Finn’s eyes went wide. None of them could hide their shock and surprise.

  Even without being asked, the Amazon scratched the side of her face and recounted what she knew.

  “They found it just a little bit ago. It’s a small town, so word travels fast. Now most people are up there gawkin’. No one’s died around here since that time two drunken idiots had one hell of a brawl and offed each other. That was quite a while ago, so this is big news.”

  The Amazon, wearing little more than a dancer would onstage, picked at one of the braids in her hair and sighed to herself.

  Finn decided to ask another question. “Are you sure someone killed this adventurer?”

  “I ain’t got a clue. All I know is what I heard as the droves hurried by. The details are beyond me.”

  “Do you know where the body was found?” Riveria asked.

  “Up the cliff from here, at Willy’s Inn. There’s bound to be a crowd of people up there by now. It’d be impossible to miss, so why not go and see for yourself?”

  The owner fell silent after that and focused solely on calculating the value of the items on the counter. Writing the number on a piece of paper, she placed it in front of the group. After the discount she had taken for the information, the figure was surprisingly low.

  Aiz and the others sold all their loot and left the tent behind without complaining.

  “…What should we do, General?” Tione asked.

  “Since we’re going to stay here, we can’t exactly pretend this isn’t our problem. Let’s go check it out,” Finn replied, beginning to walk.

  They followed the shop owner’s instructions, ascending the cliff past all the other shops crowded at the edge.

  Willy’s Inn was located at the top of the slope and opened toward the lake on one of the highest points on the island. Considering that Rivira was built on the flattest parts of the cliff face, visitors to the town had to deal with the steep gradient. Surrounded by sea-blue crystals and green foliage, the band climbed a stairway of wooden logs that had been installed by the town residents.

  Now that they were away from the center of town, they saw a large group of adventurers.

  All crammed into a rather narrow passageway, every one of them had gathered at the entrance to a cave. A billboard attached directly to the cliff wall read WILLY’S INN in big, bold Koine letters.

  This place matched their information perfectly.

  “Ah damn, how the hell are we going to get through all of them…?”

  “Is it really possible to go inside?”

  The mass of demi-humans created a living wall that had no obvious weak points. All their voices created a continuous din inside the passageway. Tiona and Lefiya strained their necks, trying to get a look inside, but Finn kept walking forward.

  “I’ll go have a look. All of you, please wait here.”

  The savvy prum made use of his small frame, quickly disappearing into the mob and vanishing from sight. “Ohh!” Tiona and Lefiya were thoroughly impressed, but there was one who couldn’t accept his decision: Tione.

  “General, wait for me!—Hey, all of you! Out of the way!”

  “Holy sh—! Loki Familia…?!”

  Tione’s threatening yells got their attention. One look at her clenched fists and the fire in her eyes, and the crowd hastily made a path for her right to the front.

  Feeling embarrassed for causing a scene, Aiz and the others quickly dashed through the opening and caught up with Tione. A few strong adventurers, serving as lookouts, stood in front of the main entrance. Apparently, Finn had made quite an impression on them, and they allowed the girls to pass without attempting to get in their way.

  Willy’s Inn was a natural cave that wound its way deep into the rock. The cavern itself was surprisingly wide and tall, spacious enough that the five girls could easily walk side by side. None of them felt the claustrophobia that normally accompanied entering a dark space like this.

  A counter was set up just inside the entrance, a reception desk of sorts. The walls were decorated with high-quality magic lights styled to look like lit candles. Three decorative daggers were hung on the walls like paintings. A rug with very thick fur was spread underneath their feet, most likel
y a drop item obtained from a monster that lived farther below in the Dungeon.

  The group knew, just by looking at the spacious entrance, that Willy’s Inn was one of Rivira’s best accommodations. The girls made their way past the stone walls and the glinting blue crystals that grew in their cracks as they caught up with Finn and went deeper into the inn.

  There were several wide holes on both sides of the path, with drapes hanging over them—the dark red cloth served as doorways to the guest rooms. Taking a glance behind one of the drapes, Aiz could see a bed and a few other amenities.

  It didn’t take the group long to find a room that was being guarded by three adventurers. They were let inside after exchanging a few words with the guards.

  “…!”

  Words left Aiz the moment she stepped past the drape.

  The room in the heart of the cave was dyed a deep red. The headless body of a man lay sprawled out on the floor, accenting the tragic scene.

  The body’s lower half was still clothed, the burgeoning muscles on his upper body giving contour to his dark, wheat-colored skin. The positions of his arms and legs spoke to the pain and suffering of his final moments. What was left of his head had been crushed underfoot, the remains looking like smashed fruit above his neck. There was no way to tell what his features had been before the incident. Small bits of flesh and brain tissue floated in the pool of blood that surrounded his body.

  “Don’t look, Lefiya.”

  Aiz refused to explain as she used her body to block the elf’s view of the room. After convincing the confused girl to stay back, she once again went inside to take a better look around.

  The rug that had originally been red was now dotted with dark black blotches. A wicker basket, a bookshelf, and the bed had all been splattered with blood as well. Magic-stone lamps that had been brought in to the rectangular room illuminated every bit of the aftermath of the atrocity.

  The crystals adorning the room looked as if they were weeping tears of blood.

  “Gory…”

  Tiona’s nose scrunched up as she made her remark. Two men who were already inside the room turned around as they suddenly realized they weren’t alone.