Chapter 177 New Dungeon Exploration (Part 4️⃣)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Continuing the exploration in the afternoon. The corridors were either dead ends or connected to previous branches, so we walked around quite a bit.
* * *
”Big Sister Liz, this dungeon is really huge. We haven’t even explored all the places on this floor, but we’ve been heading pretty much ‘east’ since we came down.”
While Gièze and the others took care of 5 Goblins and 3 Wire Spiders in the hall, Martina, who was mapping the routes we had taken so far, let out a sigh.
”Just like ‘Sage’ Milia predicted, if the floors continue in a staircase pattern towards Mount Raetia, there should probably be stairs to the next floor at the eastern edge of this floor.”
”That’s right. But even after going this far east, there’s no way down to the lower floors. It’s really big here.”
From what I can gather from Liz and Martina’s conversation, this really is a ‘great labyrinth.’
”We need to go a bit further and find a hall to camp in.”
”With such a large dungeon, I think there’s probably a Safety Zone on this floor too…”
Even though I said ‘camping,’ I really don’t want to risk spending a night inside the dungeon. It would be great if there’s a Safety Zone.
Martina is staring at the map she’s been working on, trying to find a spot that looks like it could be a Safety Zone.
”With this many people, we could probably manage to sleep in shifts in the dungeon hall.”
As Kazumi said this, she was distributing tea that she brewed in a big kettle to Rena, Asuka, and Suu.
”T-t-thank you…”
”I’m sorry. We rookies should be the ones making the tea.”
”It’s fine. Gièze and Sister-in-law Karina are working hard in battle, right? Lotta and Noriss too, okay?”
Kazumi smiles as she hands the tea to Sister Karina, Gièze, Lotta, and Noriss. By the way, did Kazumi just call Karina ‘Sister-in-law’?
”Well, you’re going to be my sister-in-law in the future anyway. Right, Sister-in-law Karina?”
”W-well, Ms. Kazumi and Hiroya are engaged, after all…”
Sister Karina returns Kazumi’s smile gently. Though, the engagement isn’t official yet.
”…Well, who knows how many wives Mr. Hiroya will end up with?”
Gièze gives a sharp glare.
* * *
”The wire spider was such a waste,” the 3 sisters Aluda complain. They seem upset that they couldn’t gather any materials.
”This is the first time we’ve seen a wire spider in this dungeon.”
While listening to Aluda’s conversation, Dorothy speaks to Rena.
”They were with the goblin, right? It’s rare for completely different types of monsters to be in the same hall. …That wire spider might be a monster that slipped in from outside. There could still be an undiscovered ‘entrance’…”
Rena ponders while sipping her tea.
”This dungeon is so big. There must be stuff like that around.”
Asuka hands tea to Gorge and sits next to Dorothy.
”Actually, there were secret exits in the first floor of the Welnia Labyrinth besides the main entrance. Well, none big enough for a person to fit through──delicious!”
Asuka takes a sip of tea and can’t help but moan at its taste.
”I finally got my hands on ‘Elf’s tea leaves’ after a long time. Ms. Sasha brought a lot with her.”
Kazumi boasts.
”Even if there are secret exits too small for people, small monsters can still sneak in. I guess it makes sense that there are monsters that can blend in from the surface too.”
”That’s right. It’s not a major threat.”
Asuka nods at Rena’s deduction.
* * *
”Alright, let’s move a bit further!”
The rookie group, Gièze and the others, seem a little tired, but it looks like a short break and some tea have helped them regain their energy. They nod strongly at Liz’s words and stand up.
”Noriss, don’t overdo it.”
Noriss, who is leading with trap detection, is always on edge and even handling combat. He must be the most exhausted.
”I’m fine. I’m learning a lot from Ms. Martina.”
Noriss responds with a smile, but you can still see the fatigue on his face.
”Well, it’s not much further. Noriss, let’s do our best!”
Encouraged by Martina, Noriss responds with an even bigger smile than he showed me, saying, “Yes!”
”Mr. Hiroya…”
I turn around when my cloak is tugged and see a pouty-faced Lotta.
”Um… Noriss is really annoying. Ms. Martina is Mr. Hiroya’s girlfriend, right? …You should keep a good hold on her.”
”Hey, you too, Lotta. Don’t let Noriss get all flirty, okay?”
At my words, Lotta bursts out laughing.
”Right~?”
Since we both concluded that ‘Noriss is the problem,’ I decided to give Noriss a little ‘sword energy’ as a nudge.
Lotta and I waved at him with big smiles when he turned around with a scared look on his face.
Martina tilted her head in confusion, but it’s not your fault. I’m just letting the rookie Thief learn a bit.
* * *
In the end, after fighting 7 Goblins in a hall a little further ahead, we decided to camp there. Just to be safe, Rena set up a Protection wall at the entrance with her magic.
We probably didn’t need a tent, so Gorge and I used the tent to build a privacy screen in the corner of the hall.
”This side is for washing up… should we set up a screen for the toilet over there?”
”Yeah.”
We set up another screen in the opposite corner and dug a deep hole with a shovel for the toilet
By the way, when we were exploring, we dug a hole in a spot where no one could see us during breaks in the hall and took care of business.
Of course, after using the toilet, I would chant ‘Clean’ and fill the hole back up.
* * *
While Gorge and I were setting up the privacy screen, Suu, along with Asuka, Kazumi, and Rena, were cooking dinner.
They used several ‘Flame Stone Cooking Plates’ that we bought from Ms. Sasha, making it possible to cook real meals even in the dungeon.
”It’s nice that it’s not too cold in the dungeon. Especially since we can’t have a campfire.”
Once we finished setting up the screen, Gorge and I sat down casually. The temperature was just right with our cloaks on.
”If we had a sleeping bag or a blanket, we could sleep.”
That’s an important thing to report to the guild. Saying that, Liz took out a notepad and started writing.
* * *
For dinner, we had a beef stew-like soup made with vegetables and dried meat, along with some bread and salad.
”You have to eat your veggies, Sir Hiroya.”
Suu handed me a plate of salad that was a bit more than everyone else’s.
”Okay…”
She knows I’m not good with raw vegetables. Probably Ms. Stella taught her that back at my home.
The beef stew-like soup was a big hit. I enjoyed it too; it was delicious.
”Just being able to have such a delicious meal in the dungeon makes me really glad I joined ‘(Famière)’!”
”Yeah! It’s super tasty!”
Lotta and Noriss are also super happy, digging into the food.
”I’m so glad you all are enjoying it too!”
Our ‘Porter’ is just too amazing.
Illustration: The 3 dwarf sisters.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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