The group went over the contents of the quest as well as their combat strength.
Their stock of weapons and items, the composition of the formation’s front and rear lines, and basic strategies were all discussed. This might be a one-time-only affair, but Aiz was still counting on these adventurers to watch her back.
The men and women of the party introduced themselves to Aiz, and she did the same.
“We no longer have any choice. All of you, hold nothing back until this quest is complete—especially you, Lulune. I expect you to work yourself to the brink of death.”
“I will, I wiiiiill…”
Every member of the party nodded in response to Asfi’s call, though Lulune’s reply was almost inaudible.
Lastly, Asfi turned to face Aiz.
“Having you fight alongside us is a great honor, Sword Princess. It might only be for a short while, but we’re glad you’re with us.”
“Happy…to be here.”
Asfi flashed a grin; Aiz, too, showed the hint of a smile.
They shook hands. Now they were allies who had come together to complete a quest—members of two familias with the same goal.
Aiz was now officially part of Hermes Familia’s party.
“But please don’t tell anyone about our circumstances.”
“Ah…I won’t.”
Asfi issued a quick warning before leading the group out from The Golden Cellar.
After briefly visiting a few shops in Rivira, they set off for the twenty-fourth floor.
“Fels.”
A booming voice echoed through the chamber.
The space embodied the image of the inner sanctum of a holy site built during the Ancient Times. Four torches ablaze with bright-red flames provided the only light in the stifling darkness.
Located directly beneath Guild Headquarters, this was the Temple of Ouranos.
The physically imposing deity, clad in a hooded robe, sat on his throne that doubled as the altar. Four torches ringed him as he directed his piercing blue gaze at the figure below—Fels.
“Why did you involve the Sword Princess?”
Several hours had passed since Aiz was brought into the quest. As soon as all the arrangements had been made, Fels had returned to the temple and did not so much as flinch under the questioning.
The god’s somber and unyielding tone made their meeting feel more like an interrogation. The deity presented a strong case, recalling Fels’s statement that it would be wise to avoid Loki Familia after the goddess had personally paid them an unexpected visit.
Ouranos asked if directly contacting Aiz was worth the risk.
The robed individual standing in front of the altar replied evenly, “I have been told that the Sword Princess displayed an unusual reaction to the orb.”
Fels passed along the information acquired from Lulune during their brief conversation before the newest quest had been issued. In fact, Aiz had nearly keeled over after encountering the fetus-like organism in the orb.
Hearing that, Ouranos raised his eyebrows.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a yet-undiscovered connection between the orb and Aiz Wallenstein. This might be the only opportunity to bring that connection to light.”
Ouranos kept silent as Fels finished explaining. However, the deity’s mind was hard at work, and he passed the time in contemplation.
Fels broke the silence with an “Also…,” drawing the deity’s gaze. “While we did manage to contain the incident in the thirtieth-floor pantry, Lido and many of our allies suffered heavy casualties. They cannot shoulder any more duties at this time.”
The thirtieth floor—the place where Hashana had first retrieved the orb.
The voice continued from beneath the hood masking the figure’s face in darkness.
“There were no ‘guards’ present on the thirtieth floor, but the enemy is sure to take more precautions this time. Examining all the gathered information, I assembled a team able to contend with that danger by including the Sword Princess.”
“Guards, you say…So that tamer might appear again.”
“Most likely,” answered Fels as Ouranos closed his eyes.
“I shall speak to Hermes myself.”
“My apologies, Ouranos.”
Like Aiz, Hermes Familia was at risk of sustaining serious damage while carrying out this quest. Ouranos would handle the follow-up. Fels sounded sincere as the darkness beneath the hood rose to face the deity.
“I have sympathy for the Sword Princess, but we cannot allow this situation to continue unabated.”
The voice was thick with determination.
It was a spacious cavern deep in the Dungeon, far from the surface, on a lower floor in the middle levels.
A stench hung in the moist air.
It wasn’t a natural result of nearby monsters, nor was it blood. Even the putrid odor of a dragon’s intestinal tract couldn’t hold a candle to this foul aroma—the kind that drew in maggots and insects from far and wide. The scent of rotting flesh.
No adventurers came close to this corner of the Dungeon, inundated with the smell of death. Even the howls of monsters were nowhere to be heard. It was almost as if this cavern were completely isolated from other events in the labyrinth.
Amid the eerie stillness drifted the sounds of many people walking about, mixed with the echoes of mysterious squirming and far-off howls that sounded like the ring of broken bells.
Bloodred light illuminated the interior of the dim cavern.
“……”
Crunch. A mouth tinted crimson took a bite out of an oddly colored fruit.
A long shadow spread across the floor. There was no doubt from the curvy form and ample breasts that it belonged to an enticing woman.
Sharp green eyes peered out from beneath bangs that reached her cheeks; hair the same color as the red light swished from side to side.
There was no mistake. She was the one Aiz had referred to as the red-haired tamer.
Sitting on the ground with one knee up, she showed no signs of moving anytime soon.
“—Oi! Adventurers figured out something’s up with all the monsters romping through the Dungeon! You okay with that?”
Another person ran up to the woman.
It was a man wearing a large robe that completely hid his upper body from view, as well as a mask over the top half of his face, concealing his identity.
He raised his voice, but the woman’s tone was simply cold.
“Shut up. Stop flipping out.”
She spat out the unchewed fruit and crushed the other half between her fingers. The flesh of the mysterious fruit shot out in all directions, scattering like a brain stomped underfoot.
“I’ll lend you some violas,” she said, referring to the carnivorous plant monsters. “You all should handle the rabble.” She never even glanced up.
“Tsk!” Angrily turning on his heel, the masked man started off. Just as he disappeared into the reddish darkness, another figure emerged to take his place.
It was another man, the stark-white cloth covering his body tinted crimson by the light.
“Discovered by adventurers…Luck is not with us.”
The newcomer was also wearing a mask, except this one was an unaltered white skull of a monster, a drop item used as a helmet. The man’s features were hard to discern, and it gave him an ominous aura. There were no weapons anywhere on his tall frame.
The red-haired woman shifted her gaze in his direction for only an instant as the man stopped near her.
“Can we afford to leave this alone, Levis?”
The red-haired woman—Levis—looked back out over the cavern.
“I don’t give a damn how many adventurers know we’re here.”
“So you’re making the Evils do the dirty work?”
“Yeah. I ain’t lifting a finger.”
Levis’s gaze followed the numerous people moving in the dim light with absolutely no interest.
The masked ma
n looked down at her and strengthened his tone to get his point across.
“What if they’ve come for her again, like on the thirtieth floor?”
Thud! The light source swayed, casting its red glare back and forth.
“There’s reason to believe a faction of surface dwellers is watching our every move.”
Levis answered the man’s warning of a possible incoming attack bluntly.
“Just crush them.”
CHAPTER 3
A HIDEOUS BEAUTY
This could very well be the most uncomfortable party of all time.
Lefiya thought. Aloud, she said, “…Wh-what wonderful weather we’re having today.”
“You ever see the weather on the eighteenth floor change?”
“……”
With a strained smile, the elf forced herself to make small talk, but Bete shot it down instantly. Even Filvis, a mere step away, didn’t even dignify it with a response.
“Ugh…” The tension in the air made Lefiya moan and clench her stomach.
They had reached the safe zone on floor eighteen. The group had departed from Twilight Manor in order to catch up with Aiz. Thanks to their incredibly rapid pace, they had reached this point in only a matter of hours.
After dashing out of the tunnel that connected the seventeenth and eighteenth floors, they were already well into the forest that covered the southern area. Their gait slowed to a power walk with a few breaks here and there. With a top-class adventurer like Bete leading the party, it took a great deal of pleading from Lefiya to slow down at all—earning her one hell of a snarl from the werewolf at the same time.
Surrounded by the cooling presence of trees, the gentle sound of running water, and the soft blue light shining through the canopy overhead, Lefiya was reminded of her elven homeland every time she visited the eighteenth floor. However, even the memories of that pristine forest couldn’t sooth her current discomfort.
Lefiya was extremely aware that she wasn’t very good in these kinds of situations. The trip had been unforgiving on many levels—Bete hadn’t displayed even the slightest sign of friendliness, and Filvis’s stone-cold silence showed no signs of cracking. And she was stuck right between them, utterly useless.
The party had been suffocating in this unbearable atmosphere from the very start.
Although it could all just be in my head…
She had no idea that lack of conversation could make her feel so lonely. Lefiya was so used to Tiona constantly talking to everyone about anything at all that she felt like something was missing without her around. What she wouldn’t give to hear that Amazon’s carefree voice right about now!
Her heart heavy, she glanced over to the side.
She saw silky black hair and eyes like scarlet gems—elegant and dignified, the beautiful elf was most likely older than Lefiya. Her long, pointed ears were proof of her heritage.
Miss Filvis, was it…?
The elven adventurer who came with them on their journey to find Aiz had maintained a stout wall between herself and the other party members…although that could be considered normal behavior, since she belonged to another familia.
Filvis never initiated any interaction, maintaining her distance and shunning any attempts at conversation. Lefiya had tried to call out to her many times but was met with no success, as Filvis ignored her completely. At this point, she was afraid the other elf despised her.
Elves tended to give off the impression of being cold and aloof.
But…
On their way here, Filvis had protected Lefiya without a second thought. Their fast pace hadn’t allowed the time for the magic user to cast her spells, so she had been forced to fight monsters physically with her staff, something she had yet to master. She had been on the brink of being overwhelmed many times, but Filvis had stepped in more than once to take the brunt of the attack and kept her safe. Almost like she was taking care of her.
This elf was not a bad person. Of that she was sure.
“M-Miss Filvis, thank you so much for your assistance earlier!”
Lefiya made up her mind to try one more time.
Their journey was far from over, and they couldn’t simply overpower monsters with brute force on the deeper floors. There might come a time when teamwork would be required to survive.
Above all, Filvis was her kin. Elves always looked out for their own. It was Lefiya’s urge to establish this bond that led her to continue her attempts to engage her in conversation.
“You stopped that Minotaur’s advance…To be honest, I have quite a great deal of trouble dealing with them…”
“……”
“Do you fight on the front lines, Miss Filvis? You use both sword and staff, right?”
“……”
“Are you, perhaps, a magic swordsman? I-i-if so, I hold you in even higher esteem!”
“……”
“Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha…Wh-what do you do in your free time?”
Lefiya’s voice grew more and more strained with each passing moment as she tried harder than ever. Unfortunately, she received only the same silence in response. Filvis kept walking, her eyes glued to the path ahead.
Lefiya’s spirit was on the verge of crumbling, but she had seen the fortitude of the other girls firsthand for so long that she urged herself to keep going. Don’t give up! This is nothing, don’t be discouraged! Finding strength, she tried topic after topic.
“Give it a rest already, would you? I’ve had enough of your yakkin’.” Bete snorted before continuing. “We can cut her loose the moment she’s useless. What’s the point in trying to break the ice?”
Filvis’s eyes flashed at the werewolf’s unnecessarily loud remark.
“Uuuuuoh…” Lefiya moaned again, on the verge of tears as the mood took a turn for the worse.
Most likely, it was Bete’s propensity to stir up fights that kept ruining the atmosphere.
“I, too, have no interest in becoming anything more than a reluctant acquaintance of yours, lowly werewolf.”
“So you can talk, devious elf. Now you can sing monsters to their grave with your Magic.”
Verbal jabs cut through the air of the crystal-filled forest. Even the distant howls of monsters didn’t slow them down.
All this negative energy was taking its toll on Lefiya as Filvis quickened her pace. Not wanting to waste any time, she found the quickest path to the Central Tree’s roots, which led to the nineteenth floor below.
“Oi, moron! We ain’t got a clue where Aiz is headed. Rivira should be our first stop.”
Bete called out to Filvis, insisting that gathering information took priority, but she didn’t turn around. Getting fed up, he reached out and grabbed the back of Filvis’s collar.
She whipped around in a flash, drawing her sword and swinging it forcefully.
“—Don’t you dare touch me!!”
A high-pitched, metallic clang echoed through the forest.
Time stood still as the tip of Filvis’s blade came to a stop—directly in front of Lefiya, who was frozen in place.
Bete had easily deflected the blow with the gauntlet strapped to his arm.
“Ahn?”
The metal armor still rang from the impact, just as Bete’s eyes reflected his growing bloodthirst. The tattoo on his cheek warped as he seethed at the sudden attack.
One wrong move and blood would be shed—but Lefiya quickly intervened.
“M-Mr. Bete, please stay your hand!”
Arms opened wide, Lefiya stood with her back to Filvis and desperately tried to make Bete understand why she had reacted that way.
“It is elven custom to not allow members of other races to touch our skin! This was…how should I explain…a reflex!”
It was part of elven culture and their way of life. To be more precise, they didn’t allow others to touch their skin without consent.
This custom was believed to have originated from their exceptionally high level of pride as a race. However, how strictly thi
s was observed varied by region or sometimes by whether the individual doubted its necessity, meaning that not all elves had the same reaction to physical contact.
Lefiya’s birthplace was located deep in a forest often frequented by travelers, so she grew up without this custom being part of her daily life. Compared to other elves, she’d had more contact with members of other races as a child. Consequently, she carried little to no prejudice against the outside world. On the contrary, she wanted to see it all with her own eyes.
It took a few long minutes, but Lefiya managed to convince Bete.
Of course, she thought drawing a sword was an overreaction, without question. But that didn’t stop her from desperately defending Filvis.
“Keh,” Bete spat, though his rage had subsided before the efforts of his familia member. “Even so, that’s goin’ too far. Ain’t it just something wrong with her?”
Bete berated Filvis for her reaction that was out of hand, even for elves, then turned his back on the two and set off westward, toward Rivira.
“……”
The forest went quiet, as if it agreed with the young man’s words hanging in the air around them. As Lefiya turned uneasily to look at the other girl, Filvis clamped her mouth shut and fixed her gaze firmly on the ground.
The three adventurers entered the town of Rivira.
Adventurers gathered at this small town, built on the front lines of Dungeon exploration, for all sorts of reasons. But this party had come for a singular purpose: to figure out Aiz’s destination. The letter she had sent home stated only that she had accepted a quest on the twenty-fourth floor, and it contained no details.
Loki had inferred the quest was to investigate the source of the unusual number of monsters. That was their only lead, so the three split up to question as many people as possible and gather information quickly.
“Sword Princess? Yeah, I saw her.”
“Y-you did?!”
“Pretty damn sure. She was walking with this group of weird-looking guys in hoods. A whole mess of them, really.”
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side: Sword Oratoria, Vol. 3 Page 7
