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

"Ugh, those guys' faces are really ugly. Maybe what we should really be careful about is not turning our faces away... Alright, that short break is over. Here we go."

Miss Aisha made a final joke by pulling the large cleaver stuck in the floor.

Welf and the others were startled and turned around to see the group of crab monsters with blue steel shells emerging from the depths of the cave.

"Don't rush to show off just because it's the first battle for the 'lower levels.' Just fight the way you normally would."

Miss Aisha's advice, delivered as the defenders casually assumed their positions, became a signal.

We charged forward, the squad heading into the "lower levels" for their first battle.

The battle with "Metal Blue Crab," a monster classified as metal, ended peacefully.

Depending on the individual, these monsters have exceptionally well-developed pincers on either their left or right side. While their hammer-like attacks are a threat, as Miss Aisha said, with a calm approach, even Lv.2 Welf and his companions could easily defeat them by working together. Although their steel shells possess defensive capabilities surpassing those of giant bees, the seams are quite rough, making them easy prey for the agile Miss Fate and Miss Daphne. Honestly, the most shocking thing is probably the bizarre (and absurd) sight of them walking upright despite being crabs.

I've confirmed that White Illusion can cut through the steel shell of the Blue Crab, and I think this should be feasible.

"Suddenly I've acquired two 'Metallic Blue Crab Shells'... What a great start!"

Seeing the "dropped item" we were looking for appear, Lily was overjoyed, which made everyone else chuckle; we began to move forward in the Crystal Cave.

The formation continued the "middle layer" approach, with no change in position. However, to be on the safe side, I, at Lv.4, stood at the front. Miss Aisha, of course, was at the very back. We ensured our center-backs were at full strength, and as we walked through a passageway at least five meters wide, guided by Lily who held the floor map, we gradually chose the proper route.

"...mingled with the sound of the waterfall..."

"Yes, I can hear the sound of flowing water..."

Inside the crystal labyrinth, the sound of the "Giant Waterfall" outside could be heard continuously, like distant ripples.

Meanwhile, Miss Haruhime, shaking her fox ears, whispered to Miss Daphne, and the passageway changed.

"Water flow..."

Just as Ms. Chigusa murmured, there is a stream of water flowing parallel to the path we are taking.

This stream, which converges with other channels, could easily be called a river.

The water's surface, reflecting the crystal's colors and radiating a bluish-gray glow, possesses a unique and dreamlike charm.

"There are waterways throughout the maze. Basically, the areas with land routes are the proper routes, so there's no need to worry about swimming."

We stopped to watch, and only after hearing Miss Aisha's explanation did we continue.

The passageway… no, perhaps it should be called the riverbank now. We followed the landward path, keeping the water flow to our left. The current was as wide as the riverbank, and the water was quite deep. The current was also quite fast. If we mistook it for a river and slipped, we would be in danger.

"Uh, what should I do if I fall into the water...?"

"Getting ashore is the top priority. Falling into the water won't kill you immediately, but you'll get killed."

"what?"

"They'll be tortured to death by the monsters. Because the water is their world, it's what's called an 'overwhelming terrain disadvantage.' Let me be frank, even if someone who's not used to water combat wears a 'water sprite protective cloth,' it's just for peace of mind."

Upon hearing Miss Aisha's reply, Miss Cassandra's eyes widened and her face turned pale. The battle-hardened warrior shrugged and admitted, "Me too. Even though I've reached Lv.4, I still don't want to swim here."

"What I mean is, when you're on your way, you should think, 'If you fall into the water, there's no saving you.'"

Aquatic monsters unleash their overwhelming potential in water. Conversely, adventurers primarily engaged in land combat experience a significant drop in performance. Hearing the words of a Level 4, second-tier adventurer, the fear of "water" finally began to seep into the hearts of the party members.

I've heard that adventurers must learn a special "development ability" that grants them a significant advantage in aquatic activities in order to barely hold their own against aquatic monsters in their enemy's home turf. Of course, we haven't learned that development skill, so thinking about it is pointless.

Falling into the water will lead to trouble. This is the only thing you must remember.

"Miss Aisha, do all these waterways lead to the 'Giant Cang Waterfall'?"

"That's right. In addition, the flow direction sometimes changes over time. There are also some traps where geysers erupt from the zenith or the ground."

I asked Miss Aisha while keeping my gaze fixed on the rushing water.

According to the information Miss Eina gave me, all these water flows will converge with the "Giant Waterfall" in the center of the floor. In other words, once you are swept to the end by the water flow, you will be swept into the waterfall and smashed into the pool below. Furthermore, as Miss Aisha mentioned, the dungeon gimmicks in this floor area seem to be primarily water-based.

Wherever you go, there will always be water flowing.

Perhaps it's because this is the first water level in the dungeon.

"Oh, and... when walking along the water like this, you need to be constantly vigilant."

"what?"

Hearing Miss Aisha's nonchalant words, Miss Haruhime tilted her head; just then...

—Splash! The water made a loud, violent sound.

"Roar!"

"Ew, yaa ...

Suddenly, a giant fish, 160 cm long, burst out of the water.

The fish monster "Ambush Fish".

As the fish shadow approached, spraying water droplets and its sharp fangs gleaming coldly, Miss Haruhime screamed in horror.

"--In short, a moment of carelessness can lead to a monster attacking like this."

"Chirp!?"

However, the large broadsword, flipped over, and a Japanese sword sliced ​​the "surprise attack monster's" body into pieces, driving away its fangs. Miss Aisha, smiling and at ease, and Miss Mikoto, sweating profusely as she had Miss Haruhime hide behind her, fought off the monster.

Lily and the others, who were in the center-back position, were all terrified. I, Welf, and Mr. Sakura, who were standing in front, were caught off guard by the sudden attack from behind and froze in place with only time to turn around.

"The monsters are always lurking in the water, remember that. ...But I really admire your quick thinking, [Shadowless]. It seems this clumsy fox will be fine in your hands."

"You flatter me. It happened so suddenly, it was just my instinct... Besides, with Lord Bell's guard squad ahead, protecting Lady Haruhime has become my duty..."

Advisor Lily and sorceress Haruhime are both the core and the weakness of the team. Based on this, Miss Destiny considers it her mission to protect them at all costs, and seems to be more vigilant than the others.

Hearing this, Miss Haruhime was deeply moved and cried, "My dear!" before hugging her. Seeing the princess and the ninja's short love story (a little romance)... I mean, their friendship, we couldn't help but clap and applaud. "Eh! Oh, did I make a fool of myself?" Miss Mikoto said shyly, bowing her head in thanks.

Incidentally, perhaps envious of the scene, Miss Cassandra secretly tried to reach out and touch Miss Daphne, but was coldly brushed away by her. "Oops!?" she cried out.

"The fish will even jump out and lunge towards the land..."

"Indeed, attacks launched from the water are very difficult to deal with."

The group started walking again. Welf said impatiently, while Mr. Cherry Blossom tensed up. Hearing their conversation, I agreed in my heart.

Unlike the "Metallic Blue Crab" that can move on land, these purely aquatic monsters are said to be born by breaking through the crystal walls of rivers or from the seabed. Unlike on land where visibility is good and one can easily detect unusual things, the monsters that appear in the water are difficult to spot with the naked eye, even if one can sense their murderous intent or presence. The rushing water around you might even be hiding dozens of monsters.

I glanced at the water's surface, and the faintly visible dark shadow seemed to click its tongue before disappearing underwater.

It will probably be very mentally taxing if you're not used to it yet.

We carefully proceeded while keeping an eye on our surroundings, including the water flow.

"Hmm, that's...?"

At this point, Welf reacted to something.

We looked over there and saw tree-like objects growing on the crystal rock ground across the water.

The color was a vibrant pale red, sparkling like a jewel. I remember it was...

"...'Underground Coral'? It's a collectible item that can only be found in the 'lower levels'..."

"I knew it. I saw the material firsthand in the faction of the goddess Hephaestus."

As I explained the knowledge of the illustrated "Guild" dungeon guide, Welf's tone became somewhat excited.

"Hey, is it possible to get our hands on that? I heard it can be used as excellent weapon material."

Perhaps it was his blacksmithing nature, but during our exploration of the dungeon, Welf would frequently ask us to gather materials or find "dropped items." Since my personal blacksmith was asking me this, I really wanted to grant his wish…

"Please don't make such unreasonable demands, Lord Welf! Didn't Lady Aisha just talk about how terrible it is to be by the water? We can't take that risk!"

"That labyrinthine coral has a nice luster. If it were brought back to the surface, it could fetch a high price. And there are shells hidden inside the coral; those must be underpearl pearls, right?"

"Oh well... we have no choice! Let's go gather them!"

"Even with my good temper, I get angry sometimes, you know, Riko?"

Lily, who had initially been firmly opposed, immediately changed her mind upon hearing Miss Aisha's information. Welf, clenching his fists, and we, with dry laughs, decided to start collecting dungeon resources—one of the fun aspects of the dungeon.

First, if you want to move to the rocky area on the other side, there is no other way but to cross the current.

We just heard Miss Aisha say that swimming across is not an option. Since there are a few crystalline rocks protruding from the water, it seems that if we use them as footholds, we might be able to jump across.

However, there was a faint scent of "trap" wafting through the air...

"Speaking of which, this squad doesn't seem to have any thieves. Do they have any scouts? Those kinds of jobs are handled by them, right?"

Scouts' primary duty is reconnaissance. This includes leading the team to check for monsters ahead or acting as bait to lure them to specific areas. Because their duties involve utilizing the terrain, they are also often responsible for collecting and mining dungeon resources.

The members of the Hestia Familia had never clearly defined their duties in this regard, so when Miss Aisha asked them, their gaze naturally turned to one particular person.

"...It should be me."

With her tied-up black hair swaying, Miss Mei also took the initiative to say that it was her. She can use the [Yata no Kuroga (skill)] to search for enemies, and can also use the "Ninja" ability to conduct reconnaissance or covert operations, which is very helpful in exploring dungeons.

The rocky terrain on the opposite bank was narrow, allowing only two people to pass at most. Miss Ming was automatically chosen, while I was selected to assist her because of my speed and agility.

"My Lord, is there any reaction from the [Eight-Span Black Crow]?"

"No... at least not the metallic blue crabs or the big fish (the ambush monster fish) we just encountered nearby. Of course, not in the water either."

"What if that rocky ground is actually a mimicry of a crystal turtle...?"

"Bell Craney's concerns are valid. Let's just shoot an arrow anyway."

We set aside our long weapons, limiting our equipment to daggers or short swords to reduce our burden, and took the backpacks to carry our gathering supplies, preparing for battle. After Mr. Sakura confirmed with the bow and arrows given to him by Ms. Haruhime that the rocky terrain was not a monster mimicking itself, Ms. Mikoto and I jumped across.

We kicked the top of the crystal rock and then jumped. Miss Fate got there first, crossing the water with the agility of a ninja, much to the amazement of Welf and the others who were waiting with arrows or ropes ready.

"This is the first time I've ever done a project with Lord Bell like this."

"Yes... they also quickly split up when it came to the [Ishtar Familia]."

We arrived at the Crystal Rock area and immediately began collecting maze corals.

Miss Ming used a dagger to cut the coral off by the roots, and I put it in my backpack. By the way, labyrinth coral is different from surface coral; it's a plant. And it's said to have a hardness comparable to minerals.

Lily shouted from the other side, "Please bring back the pearl too!!" We did as she said and found the fist-sized seashell hidden in the bushes.

We will collect the "labyrinth pearl," which shines with seven colors and is also known as the "rainbow gem," along with its pure white shell.

"Then let's go back. Being too greedy won't end well."

We carefully packed the dungeon's treasure into our backpacks, quickly finished our mission, and left the rocky area, which was still covered with maze corals, as soon as possible.

However, a dungeon is indeed a dungeon.

It couldn't let the adventurers who wanted to steal the treasure get away so easily—so it caused the water to "erupt" violently.

"What—it's huge!?"

"A giant water snake!?"

When we heard Welf and Lily calling from the shore, their long, large shadows made Miss Fate and me hold our breath.

It is the giant water snake monster, a large creature with light green scales and a snake's head. Its head, with its large fins, exudes majesty and even looks like a dragon.

According to information gathered by the guild, its length can reach up to ten meters!

"Roar!!"

We had just moved to exactly halfway through the current when a monster emerged from the water and blocked our path, stirring up waves, its eyes gleaming with ferocity as it opened its massive jaws.

Its head rose to almost touching the zenith, and it lunged at Miss Ming, who was walking in front of me.

"Miss Ming!"

"My life!?"

Time seemed to be compressed, and Miss Haruhime and I shouted at the top of our lungs.

However, whether it was Mr. Sakura and the others trying to shoot arrows from the shore, Miss Aisha trying to throw a large broadsword, or me raising my right hand to shoot a quick attack spell (fire and lightning), none of them were as fast as Miss Fate who was being targeted.

"!"

She landed steadily on the crystal-clear rock ground covered by waves, then leaped and spun around.

Miss Ming aimed her toes at the downward-swinging jaw of the large water snake and kicked it.

"—Goo-ga!?"

A right kick struck head-on, slamming into the face of the giant water snake and breaking two of its fangs.

I stared in disbelief, and it took me a few seconds to recognize that it was "ninjutsu"—the taijutsu of ninjas.