Volume 2 Chapter 17 Various Adventurers
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We stepped into the dungeon.
We avoid fighting the monsters on the first floor as much as possible.
Then, we head straight for the second floor.
Even if we defeat them, the reward isn’t worth it, and it’s a waste of time.
Along the way, I saw adventurers fighting skeletons.
They looked like a pair of beginner adventurers.
Two swordsmen were working together, but they seemed awkward and unstable.
With that teamwork, their chances of winning aren’t 100 percent.
Even if their chances are 99 percent, as long as they keep exploring the dungeon, that 1 percent will catch up to them one day.
Even if they manage to retreat without dying, I can see a future where they struggle with healing costs and repairing their gear.
The magic stone from a skeleton is worth 2000 Aurum.
Is that really a reward worth risking their lives for?
Don’t they have any other way to survive?
I can’t help but worry about them, even if it’s not my problem.
But it’s not my concern.
I only need to protect myself, Lifia, and Tifi.
As long as I can keep them safe, that’s all that matters.
We entered the dungeon in the morning and finished the first floor by early afternoon.
A normal adventurer would take a whole day to reach this point, but we’re light on our feet.
We have plenty of time and gear.
Soon, we arrive at the last room of the first floor, known as the “Guardian’s Chamber.”
This room used to be blocked by a gatekeeper who protected the second floor.
It was the boss, after all.
But that was a long time ago; it was defeated hundreds of years ago.
Now, no monsters appear in this room, and it’s used as a safe resting spot.
I heard that story from Tifi yesterday.
When we entered the room, all the other adventurers naturally turned to look at us.
Especially Lifia stood out.
With her blonde hair, blue eyes, and a mini skirt maid outfit, she was stunning.
Her thighs and garter belt peeking from her skirt caught all the adventurers’ eyes.
Most of the people in this room are men.
It’s no surprise this happened.
As the information broker said, the rumor about us, Iron Rank adventurers who took down the Sword Deer, has already spread among the adventurers.
They might know about it too.
We brush off the attention, pretending not to care, and pass through the Guardian’s Chamber.
The cave was dim, and I couldn’t see the faces of the adventurers around me.
”What do you think?”
I asked Lifia in a low voice.
”No one is here.”
Lifia replied softly as well.
It seemed the trio known as “Fang of Lead” was not around.
We continued down to the second floor.
I felt a bit relaxed since they weren’t here, but I couldn’t let my guard down completely.
The chance of an attack right now was lower, but other adventurers might hear about our actions and come after us.
”Let’s keep moving carefully.”
”Yes, Master!”
With Lifia’s response, we headed into the exploration of the second floor.
We landed on the second floor.
A giant tree towered in front of us, and a deep forest spread all around.
Mist swirled between the trees, blocking our view in the distance with a white haze.
Just like the last time we came, silence wrapped around us.
For now, we decided to head toward where we thought the third floor was.
According to Tifi, adventurers leave markers in the forest.
If we follow those, we can reach the third floor without getting lost.
However, I couldn’t see any signs around.
Maybe they were unique markers only our group would recognize.
Well, there was no need to rush.
It would be more efficient to defeat the enemies in this floor easily before moving to the third floor.
”Master, there are adventurers coming down from behind.”
Lifia reported.
”Are they from the hall?”
”Yes. They mean no harm, but they are coming this way.”
Hmm, are they following us?
It could just be that their break time ended, and they are starting their activities in the second floor, but it felt a bit off.
I decided to try stepping off the path.
”They are changing their course toward us. However, they are not closing the distance.”
I pondered Lifia’s words.
Since they had no hostility, they probably didn’t plan to attack.
But if they had no clear purpose, there shouldn’t be a reason for them to follow us.
Could it be…
I thought of a possibility.
”Alright, let’s hunt a Sword Deer. Find one.”
”Yes!”
Using Lifia’s Spirit Magic, we soon discovered a Sword Deer.
It’s a monster deer with sharp, big metal horns.
I draw my sword and quietly approach.
The Sword Deer notices me and snorts loudly.
First, Lifia makes the first strike.
A blast of wind hits the deer’s head, but it doesn’t go down.
It staggers but glares at us without falling.
Then, in the next moment, it charges at us.
”Over here!”
I step forward to lure its charge.
The Sword Deer charges with its sharp horns aimed at me.
I hold my ground until the last moment.
Then, I dodge to the side just in time.
As it passes by, I slash at the deer’s neck.
Using the force of its charge, my strike easily cuts through its neck.
The deer lets out a painful cry and falls down.
It lies still, not moving anymore.
”Yes!”
I can’t help but pump my fist in victory.
Even though Lifia helped, defeating this Sword Deer by myself is a big step.
I feel my growth and a smile spreads across my face.
”Master, that was amazing…!”
Lifia’s eyes shine with admiration.
Her words make me even happier.
”Yeah, thanks, Lifia. I couldn’t have done it without your support.”
Lifia nods modestly, but there’s a hint of shadow on her face.
Maybe she’s unhappy she couldn’t defeat it with just her magic.
I use her Spirit Magic to break off the Sword Deer’s horn at the base.
”Lifia, can the adventurers following us see what’s happening?”
”I don’t think they can see. It seems they’re relying on their senses.”
If they can’t see us, then it’s fine.
I activate the skill “Love Hotel.”
A red door appears as if growing from the ground in front of me.
I open the door and quickly toss the Sword Deer’s horn inside the Love Hotel.
Then I close it, and the door disappears into sparkling light as if nothing happened.
That makes 500,000 Aurum in sales.
Even though the Love Hotel makes it easy to earn, I wonder if it’s really okay to make money this easily.
The others fighting on the first floor only get 2,000 Aurum in magic stones.
There’s no point in thinking about it.
It doesn’t concern me.
”Alright. Let’s head deeper in.”
”Yes, Master.”
We leave the dead deer behind and move on.
After walking through the forest for a while, I ask Lifia.
”Lifia, what about the ones behind us?”
”They are stopped by the dead Sword Deer. It seems like they are working on something.”
”I thought so.”
They are probably gathering materials from the deer we left behind.
It’s what you call scavenging.
They must have known we left the prey and went for it.
Indeed, picking up materials from a monster someone else killed is less work and risk.
It’s their way of surviving, I guess.
Pretty clever.
Having them follow us is a bit annoying, but they don’t pose a direct threat.
They can do what they want.
Besides, while they are busy taking it apart, they will probably lose track of us.
We moved deeper in to earn more.
As we walk through the forest, Lifia suddenly stops.
She seems to sense something.
”Master, there’s a monster in the trees. I think it’s a Mercury Spider.”
Mercury Spider.
It’s a special monster that lives in the second floor of the forest.
It hides in the trees and spins thin threads, waiting for its prey.
The name comes from its threads.
Normally, they are hard like metal wires, but when cut, they turn into liquid like mercury and dissolve into the air before hitting the ground.
Once the thread melts, it can never be recovered, which is a real pain.
However, if we can defeat the spider directly, the threads will remain.
These threads are said to be valuable for magic tools, but they are hard to get.
The Mercury Spider isn’t as strong as the Sword Deer, but defeating it is a different challenge.
It spins its threads high in the trees, usually targeting bird-like monsters or small animals.
It rarely goes after humans, so adventurers don’t actively hunt them.
That’s probably why the threads are so expensive.
”Where is it?”
”Yes. Above us, on the high branch to the left.”
I look in the direction Lifia pointed, but the view is poor, and I can’t see the spider in the trees.
Since it’s up there, my sword won’t be much use.
”Can you aim for it?”
When I asked, Lifia thought for a moment and then nodded.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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