Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? (14 page)

Don’t you dare!!!!

“……”

“……”

She gave a nod as a simple good-bye and disappeared into the crowd.

The remaining goddesses watched her leave before looking at one another. They exchanged an awkward laugh and a shrug.

“Freya really is the Goddess of Beauty… no respect.”

“She’s in control of love and desire. Someone’s bound to want her help…”

“She has a
Familia
. She just doesn’t see what is right under her nose. To think she might become a rival… makes me appreciate the children that much more!”

“She could recruit new members just by smiling…”

Hephaistos let out a deep breath and scratched the bandage covering her right eye.

It was a habit she’d picked up. Whenever she wasn’t satisfied or couldn’t accept something, her hand just went there on its own.

Hestia let out a small “hmm” through her nose, watching Hephaistos closely.

“Anyway, what are you going to do now? I’m going to walk around, talk to a few more people. Are you going home?”

A light snapped on in Hestia’s brain. Her shoulders jumped when she realized she had almost forgotten something very important.

“You could stick around for a while? Have a drink or two?”

“Um… yeah… well…”

Hephaistos’s expression changed when she saw Hestia start fidgeting. She’d seen that many times before.

Ignoring the blast of suspicion bursting out from under Hephaistos’s flaming red hair, Hestia made up her mind. She cleared her throat.

“I… um, have a favor to ask you.”

“……”

Hephaistos’s left eye narrowed, sharp as a dagger.

The carefree Hephaistos was gone in an instant. She was engulfed in a much more serious aura.

It was the same one she’d had when flat-out stating that she wouldn’t be lending any money.

“You ask now, after what you said earlier? Think back—what did you say?”

“Umm… What was it again?”

“ ‘I don’t need to eat from anyone else’s plate’ ring a bell?”

Hestia smiled and nodded, not arguing the point. She had said that, after all.

Hephaistos looked at her as though she had just climbed out of a toilet. While Hestia wanted to take back her earlier statement, she clenched her jaw and waited out the awkward silence.

This was the reason Hestia had come to the Celebration in the first place. She might lose a friend for it, but she had to try.

“… Okay, I’ll play your game. What. Is. Your. Request?”

Hephaistos stared down at the short goddess, her red hair and eye on the verge of bursting into flames.

Hephaistos was known as the Goddess of the Forge when she resided in Tenkai, the upper world. The
Familia
she created on Gekai didn’t rely on the income of adventurers in Orario to survive.

Even still, there was not a single adventurer in Orario who didn’t know the name
Hephaistos
.

She had created a brand.

Her
Familia
was home to many specialists capable of creating weapons so strong that even a hundred others wouldn’t measure up. These smiths forged high-quality weapons known around the world.

Hestia had come here today to directly ask the president of
Hephaistos Familia
for a favor. She took a deep breath and said in the strongest voice she could muster:

“I would like you to make a weapon for Bell… a member of my
Familia
.”

Chapter
5

“Byooua!”

“!”

Those claws missed by a mile. Just watched them go by my face.

I’m back in the bluish halls of the dungeon. This goblin is so loud, the echoes of his cries tell me where he is even when I’m not looking.

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 used 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.