by Fujino Omori
“Then, Bell-san will be buying stuff by himself tomorrow?”
“Probably, since it became like this.”
“If that’s the case, can I come with you?”
“Eh!?”
After listening to Seal-san’s proposal, I could not help but cry out loud.
Beside me, Lili was also shocked and lifted her eyebrow. This was a threatening atmosphere……
“W…Why must you……”
“It is almost time for me to buy stuff……Although it will trouble you, if it is Bell-san, I believe it is okay. I also wanted to wander the streets and buy stuff together with you.”
“Not possible, Bell-sama! Seal-sama must be planning to find a convenient porter! Ehehe, Lili has completely seen through her trap! If this continues, Bell-sama would be completely eaten till even the bones would not remain, please reject her!”
“T…There’s no need to say it to this extent……”
While letting out cold sweat towards Lili, who forced herself over, I stared in the direction of Seal-san.
She was completely unmoved by Lili’s words and was still smiling at me. “I won’t do such a thing!” This is what her light gray pupils seemed to be saying while it was becoming increasingly gentle.
W…What should I do……?
Letting her accompany me to buy stuff is not a problem. However, refusing her one-sidedly was somewhat awkward……Ah, but Seal-san also had a criminal record before. At first when I was invited to this wine bar……And before, I also helped out with washing dishes.
Just when I was in a dilemma between Lili’s protests and Seal-san’s slight smile, a banging sound came out of nowhere.
Behind Seal-san, a large shadow appeared.
“Don’t be silly!”
“UWAHH!?”
The plate swung downwards, Bacha, it hit Seal-san’s head.
It was Mia-san. She mercilessly beat the back of Seal-san’s head and was overlooking her, who was clutching her head.
“If I easily allow you to rest, then how would I manage this side, you ungrateful girl. Don’t get carried away!”
“Skipping work without discussing with me, what are you thinking of!” Mia-mama continued to speak.
On the back of her head, her light gray hair was tied up like an onigirl and revealed a tiny ponytail. Right now, she had her back facing us. Although I could not see her face, she was probably protesting about it with angry eyes. This point was extremely easy to see.
“Even if you look at me like this, it is useless. I am the law here. Ryuu, tomorrow look over Seal.”
Mia-san used her nose to snort and without waiting for Ryuu-san’s response, she headed back to the other side of the counter.
The other guests’ happily bustling sounds that seemed to surround us, was silent.
The awkward silence lasted for a while and Seal-san finally turned her head back towards us.
“Bell-san, I’m… hurt. Could you rub my head and comfort me?”
“Okay Bell-sama! No matter what, you must find some good products by yourself tomorrow! Lili is looking forward to it!”
I was worried whether or not Lili and Seal-san’s relationship would be in discord.
“Cranel-san, what about after that?”
“Eh?”
“I am talking about, what do you plan to do after you prepared some good equipment?”
“What……do you mean?’
“That is also true, then I’ll ask it bluntly. Cranel-san and Arde-san, when you are planning to continue to raid the Dungeon, are you planning to immediately head to the
After hearing these words, I finally understood Ryuu-san’s intentions.
After I exchanged a glance with Lili, who formed a party with me, I looked at her once again.
“First, I plan on confirming my body situation at the 11th floor. If I could easily raid there, then I plan to continue and venture further into the 12th floor.”
“Ehehe, this is a wise decision.”
I told her, I planned to confirm my strength after
Probably, Ryuu-san was currently worried about us.
“Although it may be somewhat nosy……but I feel that it is still best to not venture into the Middle Floors. At least after I have looked at your situation, this is what I believe.”
“In other words, Ryuu-sama believe that Bell-sama and Lili is not an opponent for the Middle Floors?”
“I did not say that. I only wanted to say that the Upper Floors and the Middle Floors are not the same.”
Although she should not be saying these words, Ryuu-sama continued to speak.
“This is not about the problem of each person’s ability, but rather it is not a place where a single person can cope. The Middle Floor is a place like this. I do not know how much help Arde-san can bring, but if Cranel-san is alone, he would not be able to deal with the monster and the terrain of the Dungeon.”
“Then, Ryuu-sama……”
“Yes. You should increase the members of your party.”
Based on raiding the dungeon, a three-man cell is the basic formation. At least, this is what the guild recommends.
A three-man party……In other words, attack, defense and support, a system where all of it could be activated mutually.
When the vanguard prepares for an attack, the middle defender would prepare for defending against the enemy’s counterattack and would ocassionally play a role of supporting the vanguard. The rearguard would perform long-range support attacks and perhaps would be responsible for treating the two people at the frontlines.
When they received an attack, it was the same. If the rearguard has the ability to counter the monsters, then even if they were attacked by numerous monsters at the same time, the vanguard and the middle defender must hold on and take advantage of it to break through the situation.
If it was a two-man cell, then one side would have a great burden, fighting alone was even more of an exception. In short, if it was not a party with three or more members, raiding the dungeon could be extremely difficult.
Comparing to substantially increasing personal abilities, adding a member to the team would be more meaningful.
This is what Ryuu-san believes. The party with me and Lili would be overly burdened while raiding the Dungeon.
“However, Ryuu? If there is only Bell-san and Lili-san, then wouldn’t it be easier to escape? If there are too many people, then someone would escape slow, right?”
“What Seal has said carries some truth, if you are currently planning on escaping, then it means that you are already in a predicament. Instead of imagining that you would be forced into this dangerous situation, why not think about how to avoid this kind of situation from occurring? This is more constructive.”
I could not help but utter a sigh.
This is a past Adventurer’s experience. Right now, it carries a lot of persuasiveness towards us and was extremely easy to accept.
“You should expect to have a surefire plan. At the very least, you should ask one more person to join your team.”
I deeply understand what Ryuu-san was saying. Beside me, Lili also nodded her head and said that we would need to think over it.
However……The problem is that we do not have any candidates to join with us. If they have a goal, then they would have long joined another party. But precisely because of this, this is why she was telling us to “please find another person”……
Ryuu-san, who was in front of us, seemed to be hiding something, so we could not count her. The remaining person that I know of is Naaza-san from Miach-sama’s place……Ah, that won’t work. I cannot forcibly pull that person, who had a personal trauma with Monsters, to join my party.
As expected, I should do a bit of persuasion between the
I could not help but put my hands on my forehead.
“Hahaha, are you worrying about the things about your party?
Eh? Hearing this sudden loud noise, I could not help but call out.
Lifting my head to look around, it turned out that a guest at another table was drinking while yelling out to this side.
As my face froze, that guest——a male Adventurer brought his two companions over to this table. When they headed to the place behind Ryuu-san, they stopped their movements.
However……really rough.
The forehead and cheeks were filled with deep scars……This would make people to want to unconditionally retreat.
“I heard what you were saying. It seems like you are finding companions? If that’s the case, why don’t you join our party?”
“Eh!?”
This time, I was really surprised.
A person I have never seen before suddenly invited me to join their party.
“W…What is going on?”
“Nothing, it is all good intentions, good intentions. Because my peers are troubled and I am so~ kind, so I extended a helping hand. Hehe, I don’t look like it, right?”
“N…No, I did not mean it that way……”
“Right? This is to help each other, help each other~. So I would like to enter the hot topic now, letting you join our party is not a problem……right!”
“Nnn……!?”
A heavy alcohol scent……
His breath was overwhelming strong and nearly made me want to escape. Beside me, Seal-san also had a wry smile emerged, Lili even let out an undisguised look of disgust. Ah, right, she was overly sensitive to Adventurers……
Ryuu-san, who had the Adventurers behind her, should be the one suffering the most. However, it seems like she was already accustomed to it, her expression did not change as she sat on the chair.
“Then! We will bring you to the Middle Floors, correspondingly……”
……Eh?
The situation before seemed to have changed……?
“Lend these girls to us!? These beautiful fairies!”
……Uwahh, Uwahh!
“I also want to have an elf to pour wine for me, you understand right? I do not know how much money you spent, but sharing is the basics for being companions! Right!?”
Although I really spent a lot of money……but this was not the point.
Aside from the guy in the middle who was constantly speaking, the two people behind him, what should I say, were using very vulgar gazes to stare at Seal-san and Lili. Lili already has shown an disgusted expression.
……No, that was not feasible.
People, who look at females with such eyes, how could I cooperate with them!
Although I am still not used to dealing with such situations, Seal-san and the others are here, I must let them see my “macho-ness”……!
Although I have not yet finished thinking of what I should say, I should still first reject their request.
“No need. He does not need your help.”
However, someone said it earlier than me.
Ryuu-san, who remained silent, was the first one to speak up.
“……Oh? What did you see, elf-chan? Are you saying that we aren’t able to protect them?”
“Yes, so please head back.”
“Ahah, hey, did you hear that! A newcomer to the rookies seem to think that we are in the way! Isn’t it the opposite, haha!?”
The men laughed together. I lost the ooportunity to stand up and could not interrupt.
My butt was lifted half-above the chair, I do not know whether I should stand or sit back down.
“Little lady, we have been staying in the Middle Floors for a very long time?”
“Really?”
“Yes, and all of the members are Lv.2.”
“I know. Then hurry and leave. You are not good enough for him.”
The refreshing laughing expression the men have suddenly twitched.
The smile seemed to have disappeared from their faces for a moment, after which they laughed again. This time, it seemed like they narrowed their eyes and revealed a fake mask-like smile .
I also know that the atmosphere had become very tense.
“Little lady, are we really that unreliable? Are we still brats that are like trash?”
The male Adventurers took a step forward and planned to place his hand onto Ryuu-san’s shoulders.
Ah, the moment before I wanted to stand up, I recalled a phrase.
——To elves, if they do not recognize that person, they will not let them touch them.
“Don’t touch!”
At that moment, Ryuu-san’s actions could be described as swift as lightning.
In a blink of an eye, she stole the half-finished beer mug that I used and as if she was shaking her right shoulder, she swung it backwards.
The next instant, Kacha.
The hand that was about to be placed onto Ryuu-san’s shoulders was stabbed inside the beer mug, “Ah?”, the man’s eyes became round.
Then, Ryuu-san stood up while twisting the beer mug.
“IT HURRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTSSSSS!?”
The burly men’s arm was twisted in an unimaginable angle and issued out a tragic scream at the same time.
“No, sorry. This is my own willfulness and my own selfish thinking. I do not want to let Cranel-san join your team.”
Looking at the man screaming in pain in front of her eyes, Ryuu-san said this.
“And I also won’t let allow you to look down on him. He is my friend.”
She fiercely looked at the cowering Adventurer and twisted the beer mug again.
The screams became worse. Under the help of the companions of the person who was screaming out loud, the man was finally able to pull out his hand from the mug. Bang, he landed on the floor with his butt.
“……You, you!?”
“You bitch!”
“You actually dare to do such things!?”
Just when Ryuu-san’s words tapped heavily in my heart, the excited and angered men cursed.
Ryuu-san instantly lifted up a dagger. The three men were prepared to engage her, but before that.
DODON! A large blunt sound exploded behind their heads.
“ “AH!?” ”
The man’s companions was lying on the floor.
With a stiff look of surprise, behind the man was two cat-persons who were carrying a half-destroyed chair.
“——Nyaafufu, the back of the head nyaa was empty nyaa.”
“Men are really troublesome, nyaa”
It was Chloe-san revealing a bright smile and Anya-san, whose cat ears were twitching.
It was apparent that they attacked the enemy from behind……But a single attack!? Was enough to defeat a Lv.2 Adventurer!
“Guest. Our fairies can be brutal, so it should be best to stop now?”
Runoa-san, who was carrying a lot of dishes and beer mugs, quietly said to the remaining man.
With a glance, it seems like she was not in a state where she could fight, but in my eyes, it seems like she had already entered an alert state, is there something wrong with my eyes.
From the surroundings, sounds of “Ahhh, got defeated.” Came. The other guests seemed to know that this situation would occur, laughed, and continuously look at the man who was isolated.
“…….H…How is this possible, you guyysssssssssssssssss!?”
The man placed his hand to his waist. Under the light from the Magic Lamp, he pulled out a shining blade.
It was a Short Sword. It was unknown when the male Adventurer, who was distressed, would swing this weapon.
Looking at this, the shop employees of the
I reflexively felt a cold chill rising from my back.
This male Adventurer would probably meet a tragic end, just at the very next moment.
In another direction, a massive explosion occurred.
> (W…What happened this time!?)
I simply could not keep up with this dazzling development and I confusedly looked over……This time, I really do not know what to say.
The counter……Originally, it should be a elongated horizontal table, right now it has become a V-shape. The customers sitting next to the counter seemed to have opened their mouth in surprise.
Standing at the center of the counter, which was caved in, was Mia-san, who swung a fist down fiercely.
Runoa-san and the others all showed fearful expressions.
“If you want to cause trouble, then do it outside. This is a place where you eat and drink.”
The shop was quiet again. Runoa-san turned her gaze from the massive dwarf and quietly headed back towards her job.
Mia-san finally looked with a livid face to the Adventurer standing there.
“Hey, that idiot over there. Quickly bring the group of fools and leave. If you dare cause trouble again——Then I’ll bury you underneath the shop.”
Burying underneath the shop isn’t good. Just when I felt that I was letting out cold sweat, the man nodded without saying a word.
He carried his companions and hastily ran away.
“Idiot, pay your bill before leaving!!”
“Y…Yes!?”
After being scolded by Mia-san, the man probably left all his money behind. The moneybag that was filled with Varisu was placed onto the floor.
The Adventurer stumbled and crawled out of the bar, the guests were also gradually restoring the happy atmosphere. As if nothing had happened. The hobbit race once again began to drink and lively sounds rang out.
This bar could make a party of Lv.2 wet their pants and escape……
I could only look from aside……
“Sorry, the lively atmosphere suddenly had cold water poured on by us.”
“N…No, it does not matter……”
“Fufu, Ryuu-sama is indeed powerful……Lili’s recently kicked stomach still hurts.”
Directly opposite of me, who panicked, Lili even praised and calmly apologize to Ryuu-san.
Am I the only one who is not used to this kind of situation……
Although the atmosphere was somewhat awkward due to the chaos, Seal-san stood up and clapped her hands together.
“Then, let us begin again?”
……This person is also very amazing.
