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

"I'm so sorry about that time..."

Because I had acted recklessly at that time, I became a complete burden on the way back. When I apologized to her for this, she gently shook her head and said, "Don't say that," her thin lips softening slightly.

...I had a vague feeling that the distance between me and Ms. Ryu had narrowed a little. For example, her tone of voice sounded gentler, or her expression was softer than before, although these were just superficial feelings.

Although it was only a short period of time, was the opportunity for me to get closer to her through our cooperative battles in the dungeon?

"...Mr. Bell, you and Ryu seem to have become quite close?"

"Uh, yes?"

"However, peeping is wrong, isn't it?"

"You...you mean..."

Miss Seele stared at me for a long time, then raised her finger and brought it close to my eyes.

When she lectured me like that, all I could do was groan in response.

When I first told her I was safe, it seemed that Miss Seele had already asked Ryu about the spying incident. Well... she gave me a good scolding for seeing Miss Ryu naked, or rather, she reprimanded me severely.

I've never seen Miss Seele lose her temper like that before. Being lectured by someone older than me is enough to make me lose face. No, it's all my own fault...

I felt ashamed and regretful for the mistake I had made, and I huddled up in a ball with my face flushed.

"Seele, that was an accident. Please don't blame Mr. Craney."

"Ryujin, how can you be so sure it was an accident?"

"If he had even the slightest evil intention, I would have cut him down on the spot."

—Afraid of being hacked to death, I solemnly swore in my heart that I would never make the same mistake again.

"I heard from Ryu that you faced a very powerful monster?"

Just as my smile was twitching, Miss Seele suddenly asked me this question.

I realized she was asking about "Goliath," who had suddenly appeared on the 18th floor, so I replied, "Ah, yes."

"I heard Mr. Bell defeated that monster, is that true?"

"Huh, uh, no, that's... "

I wanted to deny it immediately, but Ms. Ryu gave me a look that said "please don't be modest," which made me swallow my words. I remembered her telling me not to belittle myself when we were taking a cold shower... so I nodded stiffly in response to Ms. Seele.

"Wow, that's amazing! Mr. Bell, you've really become a capable adventurer!"

"Uh, this..."

I could only smile wryly as I watched Miss Seele's cheeks flush with excitement as she clapped her hands.

Although the voices praising me and the respectful looks in my eyes make me feel comfortable and happy, I find it difficult to accept praise with confidence and a straight back.

I bet on it.

If I hadn't lost a single comrade-in-arms on that battlefield, I wouldn't be here. That's what I think.

Although I was able to deliver the fatal blow to the monster thanks to the [Hero's Wish (Skill)], the person who protected me from being caught off guard until the attack was none other than Miss Ryu and her group. Without waiting for the floor master to attack, I would have instantly lost my life if attacked by the surrounding monster army.

They were protected and assisted by many people.

Because everyone was able to overcome the barriers of clans and unite as one, they were able to achieve victory.

It should be said that we defeated it through the collective strength of everyone, and that is the correct statement.

"The tavern's patrons have become so famous, it makes me feel proud."

Compared to my reaction, Miss Seele seemed as happy as if it were her own business.

Her squinting eyes and smile made me a little embarrassed, and then she continued:

"If it's convenient, how about we celebrate again? Everyone finally made it back safely. How about we celebrate during dinner tonight?"

Following the precedent of previous rank-up celebrations, she came up with another idea this time.

I appreciate her kind intentions, but... at that moment, a certain person came to mind, and I couldn't help but politely reply:

"Please don't do this. I've caused everyone so much trouble, how can I possibly celebrate again... Um, I'm a little embarrassed to face Aunt Mia like this..."

I heard that Aunt Mia, the tavern owner, was furious that Miss Ryu left the tavern without a word to find us. She even scolded me harshly for sending someone from outside my faction (familia) to rescue me, saying, "Don't rely on others."

The terrifying expression on Aunt Mia's face when she got angry flashed through my mind, making me cowardly and timid.

"Hehe, as long as you tell me about your experiences in the dungeon, I think Mother Mia's mood will improve."

"Indeed, she loves hearing tales of adventurers' heroic deeds."

Miss Seele seemed to find my reaction amusing and smiled, while Miss Ryu calmly added her explanation.

Miss Seele gently asked me, "How was it?" I was very grateful for her kindness, but also felt bad about it. However, I still politely declined her invitation.

"I'm sorry, I appreciate your kindness this time, but I have plans tonight..."

"Oh, I see?"

"Mr. Crannie, are you referring to Miss Erd and the others?"

"Yes," I nodded, somewhat happily.

As Ms. Liu said, I have already made plans with my companions (teammates) today.

◆

The setting sun sank behind the towering city walls, and the city was shrouded in the vast night.

Orario becomes even more lively as night falls.

Cheerful singing and music overflowed from the tavern and the square. Magic stone lamps shone brightly on the streets, and the place was packed with adventurers who had just returned from the maze.

Especially the downtown area located on South Street is very noisy.

A dazzling array of lights illuminated the avenue, a brilliance rivaling that of a starlit sky. The rows of shops along the bustling street were all tall, grand, and extravagant. Furthermore, there were numerous high-end taverns catering to the nobility, casinos, grand theaters, and other entertainment facilities not found elsewhere in the city. True to its name, "bustling city," South Street exuded a bustling atmosphere.

Turn a corner on this avenue and enter a corner of the back alley.

In one of the pubs, which was decorated with signs for birds, lions, and other animals, Lily, Welf, and I raised our beer glasses and clinked them together.

"cheers!"

The bubbles of ale burst forth along with smiles, spilling from beer glasses. Our noise echoed through the boisterous tables of adventurers around us, accompanied by the clanging of glasses.

The sign, adorned with a bright red bee resembling a clan emblem, marks the entrance to the tavern "Flame Bee Pavilion." It's a shop tucked away in a quiet alleyway of a bustling street. Welf says it's his most frequented tavern, and quite popular with some adventurers and blacksmiths. He's also heard that many people frequent it for days on end specifically for its signature product—a mead brewed to a vibrant ruby ​​red.

Being a shop tucked away in a back alley, the interior was perhaps a little narrower than that of "The Abundant Mistress." However, the numerous round tables, so many that they were difficult to move, the somewhat dirty interior, and the hearty laughter of the men, including the dwarves, all contributed to a strangely pleasant atmosphere. Compared to Miss Seele's fashionable shop, this place felt more like an adventurer's tavern.

The little girl waitresses in the Palum tribe were busy running around, and Lily and I laughed at Welf sitting opposite us.

"Congratulations on your [level up], Welf!"

"Now you are officially a master blacksmith."

"Yes... thank you all."

Welf, unusually, seemed a little shy. The smile on his lips was proof of his uncontainable joy at achieving his goal.

After the forced march through the middle levels a few days ago, and the multiple battles on the 18th level, Welf finally managed to [level up]—from LV.1 to LV.2. At the same time, he also learned a development ability called "Forging".

This morning, the goddess Hephaestus updated his [ability stats], confirming that he had [leveled up]. Welf was the first to rush into the headquarters where the gods and I were, beaming with joy as he told us the good news. We immediately told Lily the news, and so we decided to hold a celebration party for the three of us.

This was to celebrate Welf finally achieving his goal of becoming a senior blacksmith.

"So, does this mean Lord Welf can now freely use the [Family] brand?"

"It's not quite free yet. Only weapons approved by the goddess Hephaestus or her officers can be branded. After all, we can't allow inferior products to be sold and tarnish the reputation of that goddess (her mistress)."

Welf became part of the high-ranking blacksmiths and was also permitted to engrave the name "HΦαιστΟS" on weapons.

Although, as he himself said, it seems not all weapons can be engraved... I suspect, no, I know, that Welf's work will definitely become highly sought-after in the future. The brand name 【ΗΦαιστΟS】 is that famous.

The work of a master blacksmith is valuable enough on its own, and once the official announcement of this rank up is made, Welf's reputation as a blacksmith will surely spread far and wide.

While celebrating the good news of my important companion, I couldn't help but show a slightly regretful expression.

"But now... the team will have to break up, right?"

Welf joined our team to gain the "forging" ability. Now that he has become a master blacksmith, our agreement ends here.

Welf also has his own goals, and I cannot force him to stay because of personal feelings.

Just as I was suppressing my loneliness, and Lily was also silent because of her worries... Welf reached up and scratched the back of his head. Like an older brother taking care of his younger brother, he smiled wryly, trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Don't look like a abandoned rabbit."

Welf gently swirled the beer glass in his hand and then said:

"You are my benefactors. I won't just solve my problems and walk away."

“Eh…”

"I'll be there whenever you need me, and I'll continue to venture into the underground city in the future."

So don't worry. Welf laughed heartily.

My eyes widened in disbelief at his smile, and Lily squinted at the same time. We burst into laughter again, and the three glasses clinked together.

Our team will not disband.

"But speaking of which, it's only been two weeks since Lord Welf joined the party... His [level up] is really fast. Lily thought it would take much longer."

"After all, I thought I had experienced quite a few close calls before teaming up with you guys. However, I didn't expect it to be this dangerous... I faced death five times in the 'middle level'."

“Ahahaha…”

Amidst the clamor of the tavern, we chatted non-stop about all sorts of things.

As we chatted, dishes were continuously served, including thick slices of charred ham and steaming sea bream with herb sauce. We chose "Flame Bee Pavilion" for our celebration at Welf's suggestion. He was right; the food and drinks were quite delicious, even comparable to "The Abundant Mistress"... but the price was probably cheaper. Incidentally, the goddess Hephaestus hadn't initially intended to miss the celebration. However, Hephaestus had asked Welf to warn her "not to be so oblivious"... so she was still working at the skyscraper facility (Tower of Babel) branch, crying as usual. I remember when the goddess congratulated Welf with a dejected look, Welf couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"Hasn't Bell been upgraded?"

"Hmm, not yet."

When Welf asked me about it, I told him honestly.

After staying in the middle level for about four days, my ability parameters have improved significantly, but my [ability value] has not yet reached the next stage.

"Compared to Lv.2, the baseline for gaining [experience points] and the total value required for leveling up are likely to be different. However... it's not hard to understand, since in the last battle, the experience points should have all gone to Lord Ryu."

To avoid revealing her true identity, Lily, who had transformed into a werewolf child using "magic," said while moving her animal ears. I agree with her.

The final battle... the decisive battle against the floor master (Goliath).

Not only us, but the adventurers of Rivera Town also joined the battle against the floor master. More than a hundred people directly engaged in attack and defense against Goliath. If we add those who bravely resisted the monsters summoned by the floor master, the number of adventurers involved in that battle was probably no less than five hundred.

According to the rules of team battles, the experience points gained will be distributed among all members who participated in the battle. In particular, Miss Asphie and Miss Ryu, who fought desperately in a prolonged close-quarters battle to stop Goliath—with Miss Ryu's performance being especially noteworthy—will likely receive a significant share of the experience points gained from the battle against the floor master.

Unlike me, who wouldn't have been able to deliver the final blow to Goliath without Welf and the others present. She relied entirely on her own strength.

To protect her companions, she single-handedly confronted a colossal monster… It was only now that I felt a sense of awe at that heroic feat, which seemed like something out of a tale of heroism. I vividly recalled Ms. Ryu's valiant fight back then, and my shoulders trembled.

"...After all this time, what exactly is that Goliath thing?"

Perhaps because the topic of the floor owner came up, Welf also mentioned the irregular situation we faced on the safety point.

Recalling that incident, we naturally huddled together and lowered our voices to avoid being overheard by outsiders.

"It can only be described as an abnormal situation... The fact that a floor owner was born on a safe floor is absolutely unprecedented."

"His abilities (strength) are also stronger than ordinary floor masters, right? High-level adventurers were blasted away like insects. If that kind of situation keeps happening in the future, we won't have enough lives."

"Well... um..."

The floor master is shrouded in darkness. The enhanced "Monster Rex".

Ignoring the floors that should have been there, and plunging us into an abyss of despair, it can be said that everything about it is beyond normal standards.

The situation is so serious that it cannot be dismissed with a simple "abnormal situation".

"The goddess Hestia seems to know something, but..."

The assassin used to annihilate the gods (himself)—that's what the gods said when they saw that black Goliath.

The dungeon sensed the presence of the gods and dispatched assassins.

Furthermore, in order to avoid being discovered, the gods generally do not enter the dungeon.

Based solely on the information gleaned from Hestia's pronouncements, I couldn't help but speculate that "the gods and the dungeons must have some connection." We all agreed that the omniscient, omnipotent gods must know something about the dungeons.

"Did the goddess Hestia tell you anything?" Lily glanced at me. I gently shook my head. After the battle, the goddess only apologized to me, avoiding any discussion of the direct cause of the anomaly.