Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

A chill ran down my spine reflexively.

The male adventurer was likely about to face a miserable end, but in the next instant...

A massive explosion occurred in another direction.

(What happened this time?!)

I couldn't keep up with the rapidly changing situation, and looking back in a bit of confusion... this time I was truly speechless.

The bar counter... the originally horizontal, slender table had been transformed into a V-shape. The customers sitting at the bar all had their mouths slightly open.

The bar counter sank into the floor in the very center, and all that could be seen was Aunt Mia clenching her fist and swinging it downwards.

Miss Lunova and the others were all startled.

"If you want to cause trouble, go outside. This is a place for eating and drinking."

The shop was completely silent. Miss Lunova and the others averted their gaze from the giant dwarf and sneaked back to their work.

Aunt Mia finally looked directly at the adventurer, whose face was ashen and who stood frozen in place.

"Alright, you idiot over there. Take those morons lying on the ground and get out of here. If you cause trouble again—I'll bury you all under this shop."

It's not a good idea to bury it under the shop. While I was sweating profusely, the man didn't say a word, just nodded vigorously.

He hugged his companion tightly and staggered toward the exit.

"You brainless idiot! Pay up before you leave!"

“Yes, yes!”

After Aunt Mia's angry shout, the man seemed to have left all the money he had on him. The bag, stuffed with a large amount of Fali coins, was placed on the floor.

After the adventurers scrambled out of the tavern, the guests gradually returned to their boisterous ways, as if nothing had happened. The cheers of the dwarves (Palum) as they resumed their drinking filled the entire establishment.

A tavern where even a level 2 party has to run away barefoot...

I could only watch from the sidelines...

"Sorry, I've ruined this precious celebration."

"No, it's okay, it's alright..."

"Hehe, Lord Ryu's martial arts are indeed superb... Lily's stomach hurts from where she was kicked."

Unlike me, who was still somewhat embarrassed, Lily casually praised Miss Ryu, who apologized to us.

Am I the only one who's not used to this kind of scene...?

The brawl caused an awkward atmosphere, but just then, Miss Seele stood up and clapped her hands.

"So, shall we start over?"

...This young lady is quite formidable.

Seeing Miss Seele order new drinks and hand out the glasses to everyone with a smile, I gave a wry smile.

This incident made me realize once again just how formidable the staff at "Abundant Mistress" can be.

Later, we enjoyed the delicious food and wine until late at night.

●

The sky was a clear, azure blue, and a gentle, comfortable breeze was blowing.

The celebration lasted a night, until morning.

I shielded my eyes from the bright sunlight and slowly looked up at the building in front of me.

The white tower. This is the "Tower of Babel".

In order to purchase equipment, I plan to visit the weapon shop of the Hephaestus Familia again.

The quality of the weapons sold here is guaranteed, needless to say. I don't have the expertise to judge them, and there's no need to pretend to know and get ripped off at other shops. The main reason is that I've been there before with Miss Eina, so I won't feel embarrassed to come back.

As for the price, let's not worry about it too much today. Anyway, I've already saved up a lot of money... and a few days ago I exchanged the Minotaur's "magic stone" for 50,000 falies. The people at the exchange were also surprised. I think that Minotaur must be quite special... after all, it was equipped with a greatsword.

In short, I had a budget of over 100,000 falies at hand. I walked through the gates of the Tower of Babel with a broad smile on my face.

Instead of taking the magic stone elevator, I climbed the steps myself to the eighth floor of my destination.

From the few windows that are open, you can see the beautiful blue scenery of Orario, which is pleasing to the eye.

(arrive.)

Eighth floor.

The elevator leads to the central section of the top floor, which features an open design, with shops arranged in a circle around it. Signboards depicting various weapons such as swords and guns are hung above the shop entrances.

I stopped to look at each shop I passed, and finally came to a store that sold armor.

The light armor I used to protect my body is completely destroyed, so buying new armor is the priority.

The store was still the same, a veritable forest of armor. It just felt like the colors of many of the armor pieces on the mannequins had become more subdued compared to my previous visit—black, gray, and the like.

(I think everyone can afford the armor on this floor now... right?)

I checked the prices one by one... 21,000, 35,000, 64,000... Hmm, I should be able to afford it. However, I'm not just here to buy armor; I should be more careful with my spending.

Not long ago, I couldn't have imagined such a day would come.

(...Is it no longer available for sale?)

From simple and durable to gorgeous and dazzling, there are so many high-end armors to choose from in the store, but I'm still searching for the work of a blacksmith.

I wore that light armor until the Minotaur destroyed it. As for the name, well, "Pyonkichi" is a bit of a name... but the armor was both light and sturdy, and most importantly, it fit my body perfectly.

I explored every corner of the store. When I first discovered that piece of armor, it wasn't displayed; instead, it was piled up in a box in a corner of the store along with other armor parts, so I peeked into the box as well.

The result... was nothing.

"..."

I have a feeling of indigestion. Although I don't necessarily have to buy that person's work.

"Wilf Crozo"

(...I'd better ask anyway.)

Still not giving up, I walked toward the counter inside the store.

Logically speaking, there should be many better suits of armor here than the previous one, but I can't let go of it.

Before I knew it, I seemed to have become a regular customer (fan) of that blacksmith.

"Why... then...!"

"?"

I took two steps forward, and just as I came into view of the counter, a roar reached my ears.

There are two counters in the shop, and at one of them, a staff member from the Hephaestus Familia seems to be arguing with a customer. They appear to be arguing about something.

"Why always...that kind of corner...!...What prejudice do you have against me...!"

As you get closer, the sound becomes clearer.

A human male stood before the bewildered shop assistant. He was dressed in a black kimono casual outfit... actually, it looked more like tattered clothes.

He had bright red hair reminiscent of flames, seemed older than me, and was also taller than me, with a medium build.

On the counter sat a box full of light armor parts. Judging from his constant complaining, he must be an adventurer. Did he buy some defective armor?

"I'm risking my life in this line of work! Can't you guys be a little more careful?!"

"But this was the boss's decision...we should at least wait until it sells better..."

"You! You actually dare to use this as a pretext! In that case, you should—!"

The adventurer, dressed in casual kimono, continued his protest in a gruff voice.

The shop assistant at the next counter also looked extremely annoyed, but then noticed my presence. She smiled and said, "Welcome."

Although I was a little curious, I still walked over to the counter next to them and wanted to ask the clerk in front of me.

"Do you need anything?"

"Yes. You're not selling Mr. Welf Crozzo's works anymore...?"

—The sound stopped abruptly.

The shop assistant who had just seen me stared in disbelief, and the two people who had been arguing nearby were also dumbfounded and turned to look at me.

Huh...wh-what's wrong?

Being stared at from three directions made me shrink back in fear.

"...Um, are you looking for works by Welf Crozzo...?"

"Yes, yes. I want to use the armor crafted by Mr. Welf Crozzo..."

The shop assistant asked me nervously, and I stammered in response.

Then, it wasn't the shop assistant who reacted next, but the young man who had just protested.

"Heh... Hahahaha! You've all embarrassed yourselves now! I at least have one customer!"

The man first laughed loudly, then turned to the shop assistant he had just argued with and slammed his hand on the counter.

The shop assistant seemed to have nothing to say and looked around awkwardly.

I didn't understand what was going on, and as I was struggling to hide my confusion, the young man quickly turned to me.

"Yes, adventurer. Welf Crozzo's armor is right here."

“Eh!”

"This is it."

He pushed the box containing the armor onto the counter in front of me.

Inside was a set of light steel-colored armor that shone with a white luster.

This is very similar to the armor I used before.

Although there are some slight variations in the shape and details... I can't be mistaken, this is the real deal!

"So, would you like to take it and use it?"

"Huh? But... isn't this yours...?"

I don't know what he thought about my question, but I saw him blink a few times and then chuckle like a child.

Then he grinned at me.

"Yes, this is mine... It's my creation."

“—Huh?”

"In that case, I'll give you my name: Regular Customer (Fan) Number One. My name is Welf Crozo, and I'm currently just a low-ranking blacksmith in the [Hephaestus Familia]."

I stood there, stunned, staring intently at the reliable young man who seemed like an older brother to me… Mr. Crozzo, who smiled and said, “Want an autograph?”

○

"So, you're that 'rising star'! The world's fastest white rabbit, rewriting records!"

"Wow, that's too loud... And what's the world's fastest White Rabbit...?"

I was completely confused and asked Mr. Crozzo in front of me to keep his voice down.

This is a small rest area set up on the eighth floor. I'm talking to Mr. Crozo in this space near the magic stone elevator.

After we talked in the store, he asked me if I wanted to chat and asked me to come here.

I heard that Mr. Crozo's work had only been sold twice before, and I not only bought one of his pieces, but I also came to select his armor. Mr. Crozo said that this made him very interested.

He talked about all the hardships he had endured so far... The management team all praised his work, but when he brought it to the store, he was treated unfairly. Customers would always return the products after buying them. And his colleagues at [Family] were all treacherous people... Anyway, I heard him talk a lot.

Seeing his guest appear seemed to have made him unusually excited. Mr. Crozzo frequently greeted me with a somewhat mature smile. Although we had only known each other for a short time, he already gave me the impression of a straightforward, demanding, and professional craftsman.

"You really are younger than me. Oh no, you can't judge adventurers by their age, can you?"

After I finally had a chance to introduce myself, Mr. Crozzo tilted his head slightly. His red hair swayed in sync with the movement.

His handsome features were more like those of a tough guy than a pretty face, and he was full of arrogance—like a craftsman whose word was his bond. His eyes and resolute eyebrows were particularly handsome to me, a person whose attitude was often negative.

His physique wasn't quite steely, and one could even say he was rather thin, but befitting a blacksmith, one could glimpse his well-trained neck and chest from his open shirt.