Volume 4 Chapter 4 Escape
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Camilla’s master is strong. Based on what I saw a year ago, he’s likely a battle-hardened vanguard¹. Considering he was on the seventeenth floor, he’s probably Level 46 or 47, with an A-rank growth rate putting his Ability Scores around 2,800.
I’m currently Level 67 with an Ability Score of 2,680. Putting the averages aside, there’s a high chance he’s got me beat in STR, VIT, or both. The gap isn’t exactly “despair-inducing,” and I’m confident I have the edge in other categories. If I can force a long-range magic duel, it’ll be a cakewalk. (But… that might not be enough. He might not accept the loss. I need to beat him at his own game. To some extent, anyway.)
I won’t lose when it comes to Swordsmanship Skill levels. As long as it doesn’t devolve into a raw contest of strength, I should be fine. The real wild cards are any unique Skills he might be packing. If I used Ground Shrink, I could end this before he even knew what hit him, but I’d rather not show that off to a crowd. Unless I’m backed into a corner, I’ll stick to Flash Move. Should I aim for a win that overwhelms him with sheer speed and technique? No… if I overdo it, I’ll expose just how high my Swordsmanship level actually is. I need to dial it back. (Man, talk about a lot of restrictions.)
Ideally, we’d avoid a fight altogether, but I doubt that’s in the cards. If you had your property snatched away out of the blue, anyone would be pissed. The reality is a bit more nuanced than that, and I’m acting on Camilla’s wishes, but from his perspective, “stolen” is exactly how it feels.
* * *
We slept until the following morning with Camilla still clinging to me like a shadow.
There didn’t seem to be any movement during the night.
Compared to the number of adventurers who enter the dungeon, it feels like we barely ran into anyone.
I guess that’s because there isn’t just a single set of stairs for every floor.
The stairs are pretty far apart, and since each landing has its own Safe Zone, other parties were likely tucked away elsewhere.
With Camilla in tow, I didn’t see much point in going out of my way to scout.
Once Camilla calmed down a bit, I left her with Rin so Liese and I could prep breakfast. “Prep” is a strong word for just grilling Orc meat again. Liese looked thrilled, and Camilla seems to be a fan of meat too. She’s finally stopped crying while she eats, and she looks like she’s actually enjoying the flavor.
Rin didn’t have any complaints either. That said, Camilla is basically glued to my side. She won’t let me get an inch away if she can help it. Every so often, she mutters, “Big bro… Daisuke-sama.” She’s definitely projecting her brother onto me. They must have been close. (If he’s still alive, I’d love to reunite them, but… I wonder.)
* * *
It’s been a day and a half since the Dungeon Upheaval started, and we’re still stuck inside. Getting bored, I decided we’d hunt some Wolves to give Liese some training and let her blow off some steam.
Liese isn’t quite at the recommended level for Wolves yet, so I had her take them on one-on-one. It’s still risky, so I stayed on standby nearby. I left Camilla in Rin’s care to wait further back. Apparently, Camilla was only ever used as a porter; her level is incredibly low.
”Liese, Wolves are fast,” I said. “Don’t let them bait you. Keep your eyes on them!”
”Yes!” Liese replied.
She handled a single one well enough, but finishing it off took time. Still, the fact that she’s holding her own against an enemy two levels higher is a testament to her talent-something you can’t just read on a stat sheet.
(Impressive. Seeing is important, but maybe it’s time I had her learn some Perception or Detection skills? My Level 10 Appraisal can’t tell me how many Skill Points she needs to unlock them, so I’ll have to talk it over with her later. If she can get them for cheap, it means she’s got the aptitude.)
She eventually took the Wolf down, but it drained her, and it just took too long. A bit of struggle is good for the soul, but the XP efficiency is terrible.
”Liese, the efficiency is a bit low here,” I said. “I’m thinking of handling about half of them the same way we did the Orcs. You okay with that?”
”Understood,” Liese panted.
Liese knows her Ability Scores aren’t up to par yet, so she didn’t object. After that, I did a bit of power-leveling for her, but our encounter rate started dropping, so we didn’t gain much ground. Unlike the usual respawn rates, the dungeon wasn’t replenishing the mobs. It looks like Wolves might be on the chopping block for this specific Upheaval.
(Come to think of it, I should have let Camilla in on the power-leveling too. No, wait-if I do something weird with her, it might make the fallout with her master even worse. Best to hold off for now.)
* * *
After lunch, just as we were about to resume our sweep of the fourth floor, a wave of mana washed over us.
”Everyone, get close!” I shouted.
”Yes, Master!” Liese said.
”…Camilla, you too,” I added.
”Y-yes!” Camilla replied.
I’d briefed Rin and Camilla ahead of time, so they moved fast. We huddled up and hugged each other tight. Then came that nauseating sensation-Forced Teleportation.
(I don’t think this happens often, but I might need to look into some Resistance skills before the next Upheaval.)
When the world stopped spinning, we were outside, right near the dungeon entrance. Man, it felt like forever since I’d seen actual sunlight.
”Finally out,” I muttered. “Now we can actually get some real rest.”
”We certainly can,” Liese said.
”…Everyone is safe,” Rin noted.
”Whew… I’m so glad we stayed together,” Camilla added.
Rin and Camilla looked incredibly relieved. It was their first time being Force-Teleported while part of a group. Once we were out, we were checked in by the Guild staff and the Knights.
They can cross-reference the Guild’s active quest logs to see who went in, so by checking off everyone who made it out, they can identify who’s still trapped-and eventually, account for the casualties.
I was worried about the Gale Party and the party of female transferees, but I was told I’d have to check at the Royal Capital Guild for specifics. I’ll have to find out about Camilla’s master’s party there, too. They also wanted an immediate debrief on the state of the dungeon during the Upheaval, so they asked me to head to the Guild as soon as possible.
Apparently, the dungeon entrance is sealed shut right now. It’ll stay closed for several days for investigation even after the Upheaval subsides, so we’ve got nothing to do for a while.
* * *
When we arrived at the Guild, the place was a madhouse. Staff were running everywhere.
On top of their daily grind, a Dungeon Upheaval is basically a logistical nightmare. Materials that only come from the dungeon might go extinct for a while.
They have to freeze all requests until the post-Upheaval survey is done.
The old maps are probably garbage now, and half of their established know-how is likely out the window.
Well, that’s for the Guild staff to sweat over.
Dietlinde-san and the others have been good to me, so I’ll help out with the survey where I can.
I am a B-Rank adventurer, after all.
Anyway, time for the debrief. I’ll start by talking to Dietlinde-san at the counter.
”Hey, Dietlinde-san,” I said. “We finally made it back to the surface.”
”Daisuke-san,” Dietlinde-san replied. “I’m so glad you’re safe. You were on my mind.”
(Oh. Well, that’s a nice reaction. She was actually worried.)
”They told me to come here for a debrief. Where do I go?” I asked.
”We’ll use a private room,” Dietlinde-san said. “This way, please.”
Dietlinde-san looked exhausted, but she was as professional as ever. I followed her back. All four of us went in together. These rooms are usually for high-stakes noble contracts, but adventurers can book them if they have a good reason.
”Please wait here,” Dietlinde-san said. “I’ll go fetch the investigator.”
”Thanks,” I said. “Oh, wait-do you have a sec?”
The air hummed as I cast Great Heal and Refresh on her.
”This is…” Dietlinde-san started.
”Dietlinde-san,” I whispered.
I didn’t want the Refresh spell becoming public knowledge, so I pressed an index finger to my lips-the universal sign for our little secret.
”Thank you,” Dietlinde-san whispered back.
”Don’t mention it,” I replied. “Hang in there with the work. If there’s anything else I can do to help, just say the word.”
She gave me a bow and finally stepped out. A few minutes later, Bruno-san from the Appraisal Department walked in.
”You’re the investigator, Bruno-san?” I asked.
”That’s right,” Bruno-san said. “An Upheaval is an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Guild. Besides, the Appraisal Department doesn’t have much to do right now.”
Fair point. The Guild Master might seem like a hard-ass, but he’s efficient.
”Alright, tell me everything you saw and heard inside,” Bruno-san said.
”Sure,” I replied. “Liese and I were on the eleventh floor when the first mana wave hit…”
I walked him through the timeline. Bruno-san poked and prodded with questions, and I filled him in on the dungeon’s state over the last two days. Since Liese was with me the whole time, she just added a few notes here and there. Rin isn’t great with words, so she struggled a bit, but I helped her fill in the blanks until we got the whole story out.
Camilla didn’t have much to contribute. She was warped to the fourth floor during the first jump and spent the whole time running from Wolves until I found her. She’d passed out after that, and then she was with us. I’d already told her to keep her mouth shut about the Revive spell. I told Bruno-san we just used healing magic to fix her up after the Wolf attack.
”I see… so there is a way to stay grouped during a Forced Teleportation,” Bruno-san said. “Thanks for the intel.”
”No problem,” I said. “But I’ve got three favors to ask. First, I need to know if some friends of mine made it out…”
I asked about the Gale Party, the Female Transferee Party, and those scary-looking guys. Camilla flinched at the last one. She definitely doesn’t want to see them. For the record, the girls’ party is called Yamato Nadeshiko, and the scary guys are Beast Fang.
”Gale, Yamato Nadeshiko, and Beast Fang are all confirmed safe,” Bruno-san said. “Actually, Gale left a message for you, Daisuke. Here.”
”Thank God,” I muttered.
I checked the note. We’re safe. Contact us once you’re out, it said. Definitely Ines. I scribbled back, Glad to hear it. We made it out too. Liese is safe. Talk soon, and handed it back to Bruno-san. There was also a message from Yamato Nadeshiko for Rin, but since she was heading straight back to the inn, she didn’t write back. She said she’d just tell them I was safe in person later.
”Thanks,” I said. “Second: I need to get a message to the Beast Fang party and confirm that Camilla is staying with us tonight.”
”I get the message, but what’s this about a confirmation?” Bruno-san asked.
”Camilla is a slave belonging to one of the Beast Fang members, and I have every reason to suspect severe abuse,” I said.
I laid out the details. She was emaciated, clearly malnourished. Her hair, tail, and skin were filthy. Her clothes were rags.
Since I’d healed her, there were no physical scars, so I had Camilla back me up with her own testimony. Sadly, making a slave sleep in a stable or them being “lonely” doesn’t count as a crime in this world. Back home, that’s an open-and-shut case of abuse. Here, it’s just business as usual.
”Hrmmm… That’s a messy one,” Bruno-san said. “It’s clear she’s taken a liking to you, Daisuke. Normally I’d have to report this to the guards, but how do you want to handle it? Want me to tell them she’s with you?”
”No, hold off on the guards for now,” I said. “I’ll mention she’s with me in the message.”
If I involve the law now, any chance of a peaceful resolution goes out the window. I’ll keep that card up my sleeve.
”Third: I want to book a private room and have a witness for the talk,” I added. “I’d prefer you, Bruno-san, but anyone who can testify to Camilla’s condition will do. I need a neutral third party.”
”Shouldn’t you ask the guards for that?” Bruno-san asked.
”I’ll reach out to them too,” I said. “Just covering my bases.”
”Fine,” Bruno-san said. “I’ll clear it with the Guild.”
I’ll bring the guards in, but not for the abuse-at least, not primarily. I want them there for something else. I reserved the private room for tomorrow afternoon. It’ll take a while for the word to reach them, but that should give them enough time.
—
Summary:
The ‘Dungeon Upheaval’ concludes with Daisuke and his group being forcibly teleported out of the dungeon. Back on the surface, the Guild is in a state of chaos, attempting to account for casualties and assess changes to the dungeon layout. Daisuke begins the delicate process of claiming Camilla by documenting her abuse to the Guild and setting up a formal negotiation with her current owners, the Beast Fang party.
—
Trivia:
- The dungeon’s failure to replenish Wolves suggests the ‘Upheaval’ involves a structural restructuring of the dungeon’s ecology.
- Daisuke’s use of ‘Refresh’ on Dietlinde is treated as a secret, hinting that his specific magic utility is beyond standard B-Rank capabilities.
- The mention of Camilla’s low level and status as a ‘porter’ setup the potential for her future growth under Daisuke’s wing.
- Daisuke’s reluctance to use ‘Ground Shrink’ in public highlights his ongoing strategy of hiding his true strength from potential rivals or enemies
—
Character Insight:
Daisuke has fully transitioned into a ‘big brother’ role for Camilla, who clings to him as a trauma-response tether. His relationship with Dietlinde-san shows deeper cracks of personal affection beyond a simple adventurer-client bond, evidenced by her ‘You were on my mind’ comment.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The ‘Dungeon Upheaval’ is a major world event that resets dungeon progress, invalidates existing maps, and potentially reshuffles monster populations. Forced Teleportation is a mechanic of the event that usually splits parties, though Daisuke discovers physical contact can keep a group together.
—
TL Notes:
The term ‘vanguard’ was localized as the RPG class role while maintaining its battle-hardened connotation. ‘Power-leveling’ is used to capture the isekai/game-logic genre flavor typical of the source material.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Camilla – A beast-kin slave rescued by Daisuke. She is emaciated, traumatized, and currently clings to Daisuke as a surrogate for her lost brother. A former slave recently acquired by Daisuke. Has a fluffy tail and a timid but affectionate personality. A fox-type Beastman with twitching ears and a fluffy tail. Formerly Gerta’s slave, she was rescued and healed by Daisuke after being mauled by wolves. The slave girl whose ownership was at stake in the duel. Previously mistreated by Gerta’s party. A fox-type Beastman child. Thin and malnourished from abuse. Formerly a slave to a B-Rank party.
• Liese – Dragonewt girl, 16, grey‑blue hair, thick horns, grey scales on neck and limbs, 170 cm tall, thin chest, tail that thumps when excited. Loyal disciple and Daisuke’s first slave, she wields a spear, trains on dungeon floors 3 and 11, Level 14, titled “Two Conflicting Dragons” sealing fire/water magic, loves meat and reading, and helps care for Camilla, especially bathing.
• Rin – Tall, large‑breasted high‑school‑type B‑rank adventurer with long shaggy hair and thick chest armor, projecting a cool‑beauty façade. Quiet and blunt, she wields ice magic for first aid, protects Camilla, and feels a debt to a rescued beast‑man child, dominating Daisuke’s group.
• Daisuke – Mid‑40s Japanese man, reincarnated adventurer, wears a ten‑year‑old watch and Radiant Iron gear. B‑Rank with high AGI/DEX, he uses Healing, Fire magic, Ground Shrink and Flash Move. Mentor to Liese, Rin and Camilla, he runs a growing household, cares for slaves, and gains fame after defeating Gerta.
• Dietlinde – Dietlinde, a slender sheep‑beastwoman with white curly hair and tiny horns, serves as a receptionist in the Quest Mediation Department of the Maultasche Royal Capital Adventurer’s Guild. She moves with quiet, low‑heel clicks, exuding cool beauty and a distant noble air. She greets Daisuke professionally, sees him off, and, though overburdened, keeps composed grace, admires unattainable cosmetics and soothes herself with calming scents, while personally worrying about his safety.
• Bruno – A middle‑aged, meticulous man in the Guild’s Appraisal Department, married and roughly the age the protagonist once was. During the Dungeon Upheaval he serves as an investigator and neutral witness for the Adventurer’s Guild.
• Ines – 170 cm tall, long green hair, voluptuous build; heavy armor with a feminine college‑girl look, blue eyes, goddess‑like smile masking shyness and low self‑esteem. Cool‑headed Gale Party leader and Leemans mentor, D‑Rank Level 21+ warrior using wind‑enhanced swordsmanship, formal ‘sumanai’ speech, safety‑first light‑drinker. Pouts and blushes easily, wears pants‑style outfit and sword on dates with Daisuke, her first girlfriend and Gale Party member, to whom she owes a professional debt. Innocent, naive, fiercely loyal—balancing warrior gravitas with tender vulnerability.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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