Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darou ka

It’s common knowledge that the Dungeon gets wider with each floor.

The fifth floor is about the same size as Central Park. However, the fortieth floor is rumored to rival Orario itself in size and scale.

While there are some floors that don’t follow this pattern exactly, most people have accepted the idea that the deeper you go into the Dungeon, the broader the floors become. The hallways and rooms within each floor also increase dramatically in size with each floor going down.

This creates an interesting problem for battle parties going on expeditions. These parties are typically large groups of adventurers that have come together to go as deep into the Dungeon as they can. It’s no problem to move together on the lower floors, but things get complicated on the narrower upper floors of the Dungeon.

A full expedition party on the first few floors is the very definition of a traffic jam. All the cargo crates, along with lines of people, make going forward nearly impossible.

Not only do monsters have to be dealt with in a smaller space, but it also blocks the movements of other adventurers in the area.

Therefore, several rules have been implemented to keep the peace. One such rule is that expeditions will go into the Dungeon in two or three groups and meet up at a predetermined point farther down.

Loki Familia was no different. They broke into two groups and made their way into the Dungeon.

“Hey, hey, Tione. Why are there people from another Familia coming with us? We don’t need that many supporters, and they don’t look the part at all…”

“Stupid Tiona. Have you already forgotten why we had to turn back last time?”

“?”

“They are smiths, Tiona.”

“Ah!”

Fynn Dimuna, the prum field general of Loki Familia, led a group of top-class adventurers through the winding halls of the lower-seventh floor.

Their party consisted of fifteen people, Tiona, Tione, and the elf Reveria among them.

“Our weapons failed us before we ran out of strength during our previous Expedition. The general was kind enough to find an answer.”

“As long as we have smiths that know the Forge skill with us, we’ll always have sharp blades! Nice one, Fynn!”

“It was unreasonable to bring another cargo box just for spares. Turns out Loki and the Goddess Hephaistos are good friends, and we couldn’t have set this up without her.”

“Come to think of it, isn’t it strange that we don’t have smiths with a Forge in our own Familia. It would be nice to have one, don’t you think?”

This was how Loki Familia’s top adventurers were before reaching the lower levels…The supporters took care of the monsters en route, and the strongest adventurers could only kill time until the group made it farther down.

They might have seemed carefree on the surface as they waited for their turn at the front of the caravan, but a large amount of vigor dwelled within each of them.

“Aiz! Hey, Aiz! You hear that? Some of Hephaistos Familia’s High Smiths are coming with us!”

“Yes…I heard. That’s great.”

“You bet it is! Now we can go crazy on the lower levels! This is going to be so much fun!”

“Just to let you know, even Hephaistos Familia’s High Smiths can’t fix a shattered blade. Don’t forget.”

Tiona had run up to Aiz and wrapped her arms around the shoulder of the quietly walking Aiz as she spoke. Aiz lightly smiled when she turned to face the young Amazon.

A big grin bloomed on Tiona’s face upon seeing Aiz’s reaction.

The vast majority of Amazons were not like her. Tiona would have been much more at home if she were born into another race. But her warmth and energy had succeeded in melting the wall of ice that was Aiz Wallenstein.

Tiona’s younger sister Tione was quick to warn her sister, but still sounded playful. Despite the three girls being absolute powerhouses in combat, they could still enjoy teasing each other as friends.

“All right. As long as these guys are from Hephaistos Familia, they ain’t gonna get in our way, even if they screw up. That’s a relief.”

“It was just a matter of time. Bete’s macho complex is at it again.”

Still clinging to Aiz’s shoulder, Tiona turned to look at her ally, a twitch in her eye.

“Got a problem?” Bete responded, glaring back at the girl and baring his fangs.

“Bete, why do you always say things like that? Does it feel that good to look down on others? Honestly, I can’t stand that about you.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’d be embarrassin’ to get all high ’n’ mighty by comparin’ myself to small fry like that! Just bein’ realistic, here!”

Bete jerked his head back toward the High Smiths and said, “Was payin’ ’em a compliment.”

“You must learn the power of your words. The way you said that makes me believe you want us to get the wrong idea.”

“Oh-ho-ho! Shut it! I’ve had it with you elves and yer teachings! Don’t go butting inta other’s conversations either, Reveria!”

The sharp, ash-gray fur covering Bete’s head and shoulders ruffled as he snarled back at the elf.

The lips around his jagged teeth softened as his cheeks relaxed.

“Who are ya ta talk, anyway? All ya high ’n’ mighty elves are thinkin’ the same thing. Can ya tell me straight that ya don’t get pissed when ya see some weaklin’ tryin’ ta run with the big boys?”

“Tione just stole everything from meeeee!!”

“Stop the strange accusations, will you…”

“While it would be a lie to say that I have never once felt pity for them, do not compare my compassion with your contempt.”

“Ya know what? Just by takin’ pity on wimps makes the high ’n’ mighty elves seem snooty—ya get me?”

Fynn let out a long, heavy sigh as Bete and Reveria continued their argument.

He knew that Bete was making a point about how elves in general interacted with other races, and not making a personal attack on Reveria. Then again, werewolf animal people were not known for their acceptance of others, either, particularly Bete.

Arguments like this were nothing new between these two; in fact, it was almost normal. Reveria often started them when Bete said something she couldn’t agree with.

Fynn and the rest of the group knew this as well, so no one tried to stop them. Even Aiz watched quietly a few paces behind them.

“I just despise weak trash. Actin’ all tough when they can’t do jack shit! Makes me sick just thinkin’ ’bout it!”

“All I hear is overconfidence from someone who once walked in their shoes.”

“She’s right, Bete, wasn’t that long ago you were weak.”

“Know your place, that’s all I’m sayin’.”

Tiona still hanging off her shoulders, Aiz quietly repeated “your place” under her breath.

She had some thoughts on that.

For her, it wasn’t pity, contempt, or disgust, but a clear question.

How did a boy who hated his place so much manage to rise so high since that time? What drove him?

Aiz couldn’t remember much about the first time she met him, just his ruby-red eyes about to burst into tears.

That’s when it happened.

Without warning, Aiz snapped to attention.

“…Maybe four?”

“What’s that, those rumored somethin’ or others?”

One by one, other members of the group found the source of a sound coming their way. Tiona shifted her weight to Aiz’s other shoulder for a closer look, as Bete’s wolf ears zeroed in on the oncoming intersection.

Echoes of hurried footsteps barreled around the right corner of the four-way crossing. Judging from the sound, they were panicked steps.

Supporters quickly jumped in front of their leader as shields against an ambush, but Fynn raised an arm and waved them off. He told them they didn’t have to move from their posts.

At last, the party of adventurers came around the corner.

“They seem to be in a rush. Should we ask why?”

“That’s out of the question. We can’t interfere with another party within the Dungeon.”

“Hey, you guys! Where’s the fire?”

Ignoring her sister’s warning, Tiona called out to the approaching battle party.

All four of the adventurers were running while looking over their shoulders, as if they were being chased. Tiona’s voice made them all stop on a dime and jump backward in surprise.

“W-what the heck are… ? Huh? An Amazon?!”

“Tiona Hyrute?!”

“Wait—Loki Familia?! An expedition?!”

All of them stopped, shaking in surprise and completely starstruck at the sight of the top-class adventurers before them.

Tiona flinched as one of them started screaming bloody murder, but Bete didn’t think anything of it and approached them.

“Right, quiet now. We’re askin’ the questions, you’re answerin’. What the hell were you doin’? Run into a horde of killer ants or somethin’? Abandon a supporter or two t’get away?”

“How dare you accuse… ?!”

“Oi, out with it.”

“…Compared to that, I’d take one hundred killer ants any day!”

The man spoke like the words were falling out of his mouth. Bete raised his shoulders in suspicion.

Looking at all of them in succession, Bete lowered his eyebrows as if asking for more information. The adventurers exchanged glances at one another before a human, most likely their leader, stepped forward.

“…There was a Minotaur.”

“…Yeah?”

“A Minotaur, I tell you! It’s walking around the upper levels!”

Seeing the lack of color in the man’s face, Bete looked back over his shoulder at the rest of his own party.

Fynn and the others hadn’t joined in the conversation, but heard everything. Each wore a sour expression.

Even though no one was looking at her, Aiz’s right hand started to shake.

“You don’t think…Could it be one of the ones that got away from us?”

“Not possible. We got every single one, didn’t we?”

“It would be very strange if it was one of ours, even if we did overlook it. A month has passed since that expedition. If a Minotaur were lurking up here, there would have been an appalling amount of casualties among the lower ranks of adventurers. That kind of information has yet to reach my ears.”

“…My apologies. But would you mind explaining what you saw in detail?”

“Ah…sure.”

Fynn approached the other party’s leader and asked him face-to-face. The leader began talking about what happened.

He said that they were on a usual route when they saw two figures at the end of a long hallway: a Minotaur and a white-haired boy.

The boy’s screams and the Minotaur’s howls echoed through the hall and scared them half to death. They had been running full-out ever since.

The leader then added that the Minotaur was equipped with a cleaver.

“A cleaver—?”

“Not a landform?”

“Y-yes…There’s no doubt.”

“…Had you heard anything about a Minotaur before seeing it today?”

“Hell, no! You think we’d come down here if we did?”

“General… ?”

“Yeah…this sounds really fishy.”

While the members of Loki Familia were able to confirm it was not one that they were responsible for, it only raised more questions about this new Minotaur.

Fynn, whose intuition was usually spot-on, suggested that this was a prank by some god with a grudge.

At the very least, a god had to be involved in this incident. There was no other logical explanation.

The rest of the expedition party had caught up to the conversation and came to a halt.

“Where did you see the Minotaur?”

Amid the mass of humanity, one blond head moved forward.

Her voice was soft as she walked just within earshot of the party of four.

“Huh?”

“On which floor did you see an adventurer fighting a Minotaur?”

“The n-ninth…if they haven’t moved…”

The instant she heard the number, Aiz shot off into the Dungeon.

“AIZ?!”

“What the heck are you doing?!”

“Hey you guys, we’re on an expedition here?!”

“……Fynn?”

“Yes, I know…The party will advance! Take the shortest possible route to the lower eighteenth! Raul, you’re in charge!”

“S-Sir?”

“‘In charge’…Which means you plan to investigate personally?”

“Just until I get back. I want to see this through. Reveria, don’t tell me you’re planning to stay with the expedition?”

“…If your feelings are telling you to go, Fynn, I shall accompany you whether you like it or not.”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Members of Loki Familia and Hephaistos Familia stood in stunned silence as a small group of top-tier adventurers took off into the Dungeon.

The small group was on a new quest—to find answers on the lower ninth.

Gramps’s face.

I don’t want to see my grandfather’s face.

With my parents gone, he was the one who raised me.

He’d always get this funny look in his eye and say things like, “Sure would like to save some cute girls and score!” or “Serving the ladies is the definition of romance!” or “Nothing wrong with playing the game!” and even “Just don’t go cheating, you hear?” He said some other things that I didn’t understand, too, but he was always upbeat and cheerful.

He often told me stories about heroes that were so vivid, it was like I was actually in the party with them.

It was a long time after he died that I found out that he drew all of the pictures in the book he gave me for my birthday all those years ago.

—They’re really something else!

—Any one of them can stand up to an enemy even stronger than themselves.

—Not possible for a geezer like me.

While claiming he was nothing compared to them, he always did so with a big smile on his face.

But it was a lie to say he didn’t do anything heroic.

Gramps was legendary.

When I was a kid and a goblin was about to kill me, he charged that monster like a bolt of lightning, armed with nothing but a garden hoe.

He always wore loose clothing, but at that moment I realized how big his muscles were, how powerful he was. He shone like a warrior that day.

Even when another two goblins showed up, Gramps stood his ground and shielded me. I still remember his arms, thick as tree trucks as he wielded his “weapon.”

And then he embraced me. I’d never felt safer than when I could feel his big hands on my back.

Now that I think about it…

The first hero I idolized was my grandfather.

If you’re in danger, run.

If you’re scared, get away.

If you’re about to die, call for help.

If a woman is angry, apologize immediately.

It’s not embarrassing to get made fun of or picked on.

The most embarrassing thing is not being able to make up your mind and take action.

Gramps was always saying that.

Even after he disappeared from my life, his teachings are still with me. Gramps was the one who gave me my drive.

His words led me to Orario in the first place.

But I don’t want him to see me like this. I can’t bear to see his face.

“M​R​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​O​!​!”

Gramps.

Right now, I can’t move.

“…N…ah.”

I lift my head up only to see a stream of saliva dripping out of the Minotaur’s mouth.

The monster is still a ways away from me, but it’s howling and brandishing its sword over and over, as though gloating.

I can see the beast’s whole body, its fur like heavy armor. Even after all those Firebolt impacts, there are no deep wounds anywhere on its massive frame.

The realization that my Magic won’t work makes me feel absolutely powerless, my body weak and empty.

I can’t win. I have no idea how many times those words have echoed through my head.

My arms and legs won’t move.

I get to my feet, but my knees are shaking. They could buckle at any moment.

“Hnnfff…!!”

“…… ?!”

I feel a chill in my spine as the monster’s eyes lock onto me again.

The cold fear that had enveloped me up to this point is replaced by despair, as all the muscles in my body go slack.

My mind is going full-speed, but my instincts tell me the end is near.

I’ll be pulverized by the next hit.

Both Lilly and I are as good as dead.

I have to move…!

My fingers start to twitch.

“MROOOOOOO!”

—I’m too close to the wall!

The second I see the Minotaur make a move for me, I get my ass moving.

That thing is so big that if my back is against the wall, I won’t be able to dodge or escape.

First priority: get into the open field. Running away from Lilly, I make a break for the middle of the room.

The Minotaur’s eyes follow my every move. It sees where I’m going and makes a sharp turn, its feet sending dirt flying as it charges in from my right side.

It’s coming up fast!

I can see it growing huge in my shaking eyes.

“MROOONN!!”

“—Grk!!”

It kicks the ground and goes airborne.

I have no choice but to do the same, to have any chance at avoiding the oncoming cleaver.

I just clear the blade, my body snaking out of the way of the cutting edge as I dive forward.

The shock wave from the blade’s impact behind me makes me lose my balance the second my hands hit the ground, shivers running up my spine. But I manage to tuck my chin into my chest and roll a few times before jumping up to my feet.

Spin around, back step.

The ground beneath my feet is cracked, the break starting back at the blood-soaked cleaver, still in the monster’s grasp. The beast glares at me as I put more space between us as fast as I can.

“MROOOOAAAAAAH!!”

But the moment it plants its massive hoof on the ground, the Minotaur instantly reduces the distance to zero.

My eyes are wide in surprise as it holds the cleaver in both hands, preparing for a full swing.

I feel my face turn a dark red.

Hearing the sound of wind being torn asunder, I fall to my knees and duck with all my might. I feel the power of the beast’s swing as the edge of the monstrous sword passes just above my head.

I feel like my shadow just got sliced in half—that’s how close it came to taking my head clean off my shoulders. It cut some of the hair off the back of my head.

“MROOOAH!!”

“Hnn?!”

Amid a small flurry of white human hair, my hair, the Minotaur swings the blade down on my crouching body. I roll forward as if my body were shot out of a cannon. BANG!

That’s where the onslaught starts.

The Minotaur swings down again and again, the blood-splattered sliver blade aimed right at my neck. No matter which direction I go, I can’t get out of the blade’s reach. Soon, punches and kicks graze my body. I can’t see where they’re coming from, but if I stop rolling, it’s all over!

Each heartbeat, each breath burns in my chest.

The realization that one wrong move means certain death clamps down on my brain like a vice.

The alarm bells in my head keep going.

My ears are going to shatter.

“?!…Guh?!”

By the time I notice, my body is a wreck. But what did I expect would happen after rolling on the floor that much, just barely avoiding killing blow after killing blow from the Minotaur’s rampage?

There’s no room for error, and how could there be? I’m so covered in cuts and bruises that I’ve practically got one foot in the grave already.

If these attacks keep coming…

Vague images of the future in my head now feel strange.

I dodged the final blow by a hair, again.

It’s just a matter of time. Even if I manage to dodge another, I can’t avoid death.

Run away.

Get out of here, there’s no choice!

If I don’t escape, no one can save me!

“Mister…Bell……”

My eyes snap to the sound. A small mound of earth flinches away.

It’s Lilly. Her whole body is unsteady, like she could fall at any moment. She’s looking at me, her eyes cloudy. She’s still bleeding, a red streak running down her cheek.

I scream with everything I have left in my lungs:

“Lilly, get out of here!”

My voice almost shrieks as a new shiver passes through her body.

Jumping back to avoid the cleaver yet again, I yell at her over and over to run.

But she’s not moving. She’s just standing there looking at me, about to cry.

Gah…This is so frustrating!

“Run…Get the hell out of here!”

She shakes her head no, tears streaming out of her eyes. Is she not thinking clearly? She’s acting like a spoiled child who’s not getting her way.

WHY?!

As long as you’re here, I can’t run!

Once you get away, I can escape!

Don’t you understand? Why don’t you get it? I’m begging you, wake up!!

“GET GOING!! NOOOW!!!”

Anger fills my voice as I scream at her again.

Tears pouring down her bloody face, she turns her back to me.

Tup, tup, tup. She takes off and disappears from the room.

Yes! Now I can make my escape!

Finally, I can get out of here!

I can leave…

Like hell I can…?!

If I’m gone, what’s to stop this bastard from chasing her down?

If this mad cow goes after her, Lilly will…Lilly’s going to…

“…DAMN IT!!”

I jam my right hand into my protector and pull out the baselard.

Coming up from one last roll and throwing my leg into the dirt, I face the beast head-on.

I don’t know if I want to be angry or if I want to cry. My mind is already a wreck from everything that’s happened, I can’t think straight.

I engage the Minotaur in combat out of desperation.

“MROOOOAAAAAAAHHH!!”

“?!”

I quickly get out of the way of a sudden punch and bring the baselard down on its wrist.

Feeling the backlash down my right arm, I jump back to dodge a slash from the cleaver. There’s no way the baselard could block that amount of sheer force.

I land and brace for the next attack.

My wide-eyed gaze locks with the beast’s sharp glare.

“ROAAA, WAOO, OOOOH!!”

“Gah!”

I continue to dodge blow after blow, dancing with death without any armor at all. The cleaver slams into the ground over and over, each time showering me and my wounds with dirt and rubble.

The Minotaur’s breath is heavy and ragged. Is it getting frustrated because it can’t hit me?

Meanwhile, my breathing is even, almost calm. Sure, I’m sweating like there’s no tomorrow. I feel like I could drink a lake right now.

Waves of power blast out of each of the Minotaur’s attacks again and again, but flow harmlessly out over the prairie. Every sound in the Dungeon right now is coming from this battle alone.

Two shadows dueling in a vast, grass-covered room, under one light on the ceiling far above.

“FOO…WWOOOOOOHH!!”

I can feel the beast’s rage in its howls.

Like it’s yelling, “Stand still!”

Only after working up the courage to face it with only the baselard for defense do I see that my Agility is of a level with the beast’s.

But I can’t press forward.

Each time an attack whizzes by my head, I get cold feet and take a step back. I’m still too scared.

Don’t advance.

Focus on the retreat.

Dodge, dodge, dodge. Buy as much time as possible.

Just as long as I can live to see another second, that’s good enough…!

Right… ?!

“Ha-ahh!”

I breathe hard as I duck under yet another powerful sideswipe.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen death pass by my face. I’ve got shallow cuts all over my cheeks from near misses. My heart feels like it’s being strangled by the power of the beast’s aura.

I may be trembling, but I’m still here, still running.

Managing to jump out of the way of a downward slash of the cleaver, I see a hole in the Minotaur’s attack pattern. With its body folded down and the sword out in front, it can’t attack to the side without me seeing it coming. A safe spot!

Just as I jump into the open area, the Minotaur’s eyes narrow.