Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka - Volume 03

by Fujino Omori

  He, then, asked a question towards Aizu.

  “Aizu, why did you ask such things? Based on your reply, my answer may change.”

  “……I.”

  The reason why she asked was very simple.

  In order to allow herself to think of a method to guide that boy.

  It has already been 6 days since she had took the initiative to teach Bell. Although she originally wanted to investigate the secret of his , but unconsciously, she had become concerned about how to train him.

  Why was she so passionate in thinking about the topics for training, Aizu still did not understand the origin of her feelings. However, there was no doubt that she was affected by Bell’s desperate attitude.

  The boy was straightforward in a good sense.

  Facing the training of Aizu that could not be described by another word other than harsh, he had insisted over and over again. Continuously stepping into the suffering whirlpool in order to learn.

  Without holding any doubts, at worst, he could be described as stubborn. However, because he was so focused, so he was able to master it so fast.

  He did not master it well, but fast. The origin of his honest and straightforwardness was sufficient to compensate for the inefficiencies.

  Thus, Aizu was constantly racking her head every day and thinking hard. In order to allow Bell, who was eagerly devoring the training, to continue to devour onwards. In order to reply to the will of that boy.

  Only right now, she was his master.

  (If Finn was to know about it……)

  In any case, she must not let the relationship between Bell and her to be revealed.

  Was it the mistake of her leaving the by herself yesterday, or was it the surprise attack from the mysterious group??Speaking of which, there was absolutely more than one candidate that had that degree of fierceness.

  Even said that, in order for her relationship with Bell to not be suspected, she must also hide the secret about being attacked here.

  “……Probably, I was curious.”

  “……Forget it. If that’s the case, let me think about it. Although it is an extreme argument.”

  Finn’s golden hair valiantly glowed as it swayed.

  He remained silent, then he expressed his own ideas out.

  “The things that are necessary to an Adventurer when they must take risk. Wouldn’t training those kind of things be the answer you are seeking for.”

  Aizu silently accepted the answer she was given. Shortly after, she expressed her gratitude by saying thank you.

  Finn shrunk his shoulders back. Then, he leisurely stood up.

  “Although it is best to avoid going through danger, but perhaps to Aizu, it may be a good opportunity. Even if it involves another faction, I will not stop you. Although I do not have any confidence in acting like a fool, but shall I keep it a secret from Loki?”

  “……”

  “Only, actions that exposes us (Familia) to danger is absolutely prohibited. Only that point I will still warn you.”

  Please. Towards Finn’s back, who walked out of the reception room as he laughed, Aizu only watched.

  As expected, she could not lie towards Riveria and that petite leader. This vague idea came from inside her chest.

  “However, however, Aizu recently looked very happy.”

  “……Very happy?”

  Facing Tiona, who escaped from the side where Riveria was and said without any omen, Aizu asked back.

  “When Aizu is not inside the Dungeon, she is either in a trance or is maintaining her weapon. However, right now she is humming, un un, and racking her brains.”

  Looking at the pair of golden eyes that was stunned, Tiona also smiled.

  “Thinking about something, emerging some ideas. Because Aizu, who wanted to do something and attempted it, right now, she looked happy.”

  “……I…Is that the case.”

  “Yes. Aizu looks happy.”

  The feelings that she had not been able to understand was pointed out by this confident girl.

  Aizu, slightly, revealed a pleasant smile.

  * * *

  The bustling noise nearby sounds so distant.

  As if my body was rooted underground, I could not move as I stared at the paper in my hands.

  I muttered in a daze.

  “Lv.6 ……”

  Many names were listed according to the Adventurer’s list. After I read the section about ’s update, I was temporarily in a state where my soul was sucked out.

  “Really now, it was some time ago. The incident about Wallenstein’s was publicly revealed……”

  Eina-san’s words currently entered from my left ear and exited from my right ear.

  The person that I was trying to chase after had once again opened an unforeseeable gap. This fact had brought a shock to me.

  After finishing with the Dungeon Exploration, I went to the guild’s headquarters on the way back.

  In front of the hall, on the bulletin board that was normally not be specially used, I personally witnessed the report about that person’s stuck on it. Thus, I immediately looked for Eina-san to confirm it.

  “I heard that she defeated a Floor Boss by herself. In the of the Dungeon, which was even further below the Lower Floor Area……”

  Floor Boss……

  Requiring a massive team of Adventurers in order to defeat it. In other words, a Boss Monster.

  This huge and powerful existence is unmatched by other monsters. It was said to be the last difficulty that prevents from increasing the Achieved Floors in the Dungeon.

  If you were unlucky and met up with a Floor Boss dwelling in the , there should only be a few that had the ability to defeat it.

  ……But just by herself, she was able to defeat this kind of existence?

  “I said, Bell-kun. Although it may just be nonsense, but it is best not to be too concerned about this incident. Being able to defeat a Floor Boss by herself, I have never heard of this before either. I believe that Wallenstein……is special.”

  It was probably what Eina-san had just said.

  Even if it was like this, I could not stop the sadness from deep inside my chest.

  The backstreet scene from a few days ago, flashed through my mind.

  That person’s figure which did not allow even the experts within the city to take a step forward, and also her clear and powerful swordplay.

  Not being able to intervene in that battle was deeply engraved into my heart. It made me notice how small I was.

  Too far away.

  The distance that lies between me and that person, how far did it extend?

  The heights that I must pursue, is it ……really even possible to achieve?

  The overwhelming reality caused my heart to quietly collapse.

  “Bell-kun……?”

  “……Ah, sorry. I got distracted. Then, that’s it for today.”

  Giving a wry smile to Eina-san, who peeked over as if she was worried, I made some sort of an apology.

  I must continue to work hard tomorrow. I continued to mutter inside my heart as if it was for her, as if it was for me.

  While I waved at Eina-san, who frowned and forced a smile, I left the guild headquarters.

  (Although it might have been too strong and was overboard……)

  The impact was enormous.

  My body had entered a state of depression. It feels like if I was inattentive, I will fall down.

  The continuous sighs still had not stopped. I just hung my head and feebly walked through the Main Street Area.

  The dusk that is about to disappear, made the western skies extremely hazy. The city was gradually bustling. The bars were trying to attract the customers that passed through their doors. On the side of the street, a never seen before elf bard was currently playing a harp and was giving a tribute to the Orario Adventurers with a b
eautiful voice.

  He revealed a slight smile towards me, who stopped moving. However, what kind of expression and I wearing right now? With a muddled mind, I could only desperate smile and handed out the gold coins and then I escaped from there……Strong, great, Orario Adventurers, huh.

  I did not directly head back towards the headquarters, but instead specifically took a detour towards the Central Square. While I was being pushed by the Adventurers that returned from the Dungeon, I continued to gaze at Babel, gaze at the Dungeon. Moments later, I headed off towards the West Main Street Area.

  It feels like only I had escape from the surrounding bustling noise.

  “??Bell-san!”

  “Eh?”

  I suddenly heard a call and I raised my head that was staring at the stone floor.

  In a closer look, Seal-san, with her fine gray hair swaying behind, was currently running over towards this side.

  Ah, I had already reached nearby of ……

  Just when I confirmed the huge bar inside my field of sight, I thought about this sort of thing……Without any signs, my hand was gripped by Seal-san.

  “Ha?”

  “…….”

  The milky, white hands tightly grabbed onto my hand.

  While I widened my eyes in shock and was speechless, Seal-san only watched the holding hands in silence. As if she wanted to say, I caught you, and seemed to confirm the temperature that exists there.

  Just like this, my face instantly flushed red. Seal-san raised her head, with her cheeks dyed red as if she was excited, and, at the same time, she uttered the next sentence.

  “Bell-san, I wanted to see you…….!”

  “……”

  GachaGacha, I was currently washing dishes in the sink filled with water.

  Inside the kitchen, the catpeople cooks were hurriedly rushing back and forth inside the bar. I was currently quietly focusing on washing dishes.

  “Sorr??y, Bell-san! I specifically made you come and work for me!”

  “I was specifically pulled by you over here, right!? Or is there nothing else to say!”

  Facing Seal-san, who trotted over and clapped both her hands to apologize, words flew out aggressively as I cried out.

  Not so long ago, I was hit by Seal-san’s trap and fell into a dilemma where I had to help wash dishes.

  “If I do not greet others and was lazy……resting during work, I would not only be scolded by Mia mama, I would even have lots of chores being forced upon!”

  “Isn’t this completely unrelated to me!?”

  And I might as well say it, but didn’t you say “lazy” earlier?

  But then again, Seal-san, who was, patapata, walking back and forth from the kitchen, indeed looked busy.

  She was assigned the mission of helping out the waiters that were extremely busy and was walking repeatedly doing the actions of entering and exiting the space between the shop and kitchen.

  “I say, hurry and work nyaa, white hair.”

  “Boy, you were already sold by Seal. Just obediently acknowledge your fate nyaa.”

  “Uuuu……”

  While I was being ordered around by the shop personnel, Anya-san and Chloe-san, I was desperately washing dishes.

  Although I was naturally not relieved……but considering how I was taken care of in various situations, plus I was still letting Seal-san make lunch for me, so I decided to endure willingly.

  I really didn’t want to do this to repay my debt. While I thought about this, I desperately replaced Seal-san by doing her chores.

  “……”

  In addition, I do not know why I was secretly glad that I could empty my brain and completely immerse in this job that I do not know when it will be finished.

  If I do not bury myself into some kind of work, it feels like I was recall the matter surrounding that person again.

  I could only close my mouth and quietly wipe the dishes.

  “Are you alright, Cranel-san.”

  “Eh……?”

  “This amount is extremely ferocious. Allow me to also help.”

  Inadvertently, a female shop personnel came to my side.

  With a slender body that seems to snap when it was touch, and thin pointed ears.

  An elf with azure eyes that seem to swallow your consciousness if you watch them. It was Ryuu-san.

  “S…Sorry. I made you specifically help……”

  “No problem. It is also true that it is Seal’s fault. Towards Seal’s responsibility, the colleagues that sat idly are also wrong. It should be this side that apologizes. Our etiquette was ill and it feels guilty.

  “N…Nonono, there is no such thing!?”

  While I watched and listened to the overly serious Ryuu-san, I panicked as I was still washing the dishes. Although I already knew that this person had upright manners, but it may be far beyond my imagination.

  Probably, from another perspective, she was an elf that follows the rules straightforwardly.

  “What happened?”

  “Uh??“

  “I may be a bit nosy, but you seem to be depressed.”

  I was stunned and looked towards the side. At the same time, I looked at Ryuu-san who was neatly washing the dishes.

  An elf is a race that had an appearance that stands out from others. Even her face from the side was, without exception, perfect. Although I do not know where it exuded a cold feeling, but it indeed had a beauty that could charm others.

  “If you are fine with me, then can I listen to the details.”

  “……”

  “There is still some guilt that exists for leaving all this work here to you. If you do not mind, you only need to speak freely.”

  Truthfully, under Ryuu-san’s goodwill and kindness, I really wanted to come clean with the emotions inside my heart.

  However, I can’t do it. I don’t want to do it.

  The act of me suffering from the shock of how weak I was and being thrown back a few streets behind the person that I longed for. The current me can’t do it. Inside my heart, there was still a part of me that exists inside a net of pride.

  I once again understood how pathetic I was. However, as an alternative, I tried to put forward a question.

  After listening to Aizu-san’s , I wanted to clear the doubts that had been born.

  “About that, Ryuu-san……Were you once a Adventurer?”

  “……Yes. Before, I had also been labeled with the title of an Adventurer. What about it?”

  I did not plan on inquiring about Ryuu-san’s past and I asked her again.

  “Upgraded a Lv. …… , what do you have to do to get it?”

  Although I had always had a vague idea about how I just have to continue to earn , but it always seem to be a bit wrong.

  Just like the difference in power between a Lv. 1 and a Lv. 2……It was just like a wall.

  Then for a , is there also something that exists in order to surpass this towering and sinister wall, this kind of hazy thoughts emerged.

  After Ryuu-san had listened to the question, she looked at me and slowly spoke.

  “Just by earning an achievement.”

  “……Eh?”

  “You must earn an achievement. A feat that even the people and the Gods would praise.”

  Achieve…ment……?

  “Defeating an enemy stronger than yourself……Earning a higher rank . Once that passes a certain amount, that is the conditions for a Level Up.”

  Acquiring a higher rank ……In other words, no matter how many weaker existence I defeat, I will still not . The only thing that still has some merits is basic abilities.

  If I do not defeat an existence that is far more powerful than myself, or even worse, if I do not do an achievement that the heroes from the past had done……There is no way for me to reach higher heights?

  “Level Up and the strengthening of the body and th
e heart……it is equivalent to the material’s evolution. Also, the God’s would only give higher qualifications towards the people that passed through the trails.”

  “So if that’s the case, the basic abilities……”

  “Uhhh. In extreme terms, the basic abilities that are gradually accumulated will not be a cornerstone for earning an Achievement.”

  However, the basic abilities are also the hints for qualification.

  When basic abilities have reached 6 levels or above ?? Reaching D rank, then it is the first time achieving the qualifications of , she taught me this.

  “However, even if you fight against Monsters that are stronger than yourself……In a fight against a more powerful enemy, wouldn’t you normally lose……”

  The main reason is that because they are stronger than you.

  “Although technique and adaptability can also fill the gaps between it……I will introduce here a general opinion.??Forming a party.”

  “Party?”

  “Yes. Relying on mutual cooperation to complement each other to make up for the defects of a Lower Level and defeating the enemy. Orario Adventurers will all repeat this process numerous times and gradually become stronger.”

  Although at that time, the earned will be shared between the partners, but this method is the best means of the weak overthrowing the strong.

  “Cranel-san. If you really wish to become stronger, the presence of a team is essential. It is best if you keep it in your mind.”

  “Okay……”

  But, in that case, that person also……

  Using her own power alone, she defeated a floor boss, an extremely powerful enemy. The heights that person achieved, how far did it extend to……

  From start to finish, I was simply consciously bounded towards the existence of a goal. At the same time, I seem to understand our respective position.

  “…….The rest can be considered that I speak out of turn. Is that okay?”

  “Ah, no problem. Please.”

  As if it was a formal speech giving advice to me, who did not understand even if I racked my head, Ryuu-san said.

  “Cranel-san. As long as the number of people are different, it contains a different meaning of an Adventure.”

  “……?”

  “I do not know what kind of Adventure you will be taking in the future. However, please do not look away from that Adventure, from the meaning of that Adventure.”