Chapter 271 Lower Floor Team Return
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Gieze’s POV)
When we returned to the surface from the teleportation circle on the Third Floor, the sun was already beginning to set.
”I’m glad you made it back safely. How did it go?”
Lady Milia, the ‘Sage,’ welcomed us.
”I’ll explain at the guild’s branch office.”
I replied weakly, and she nodded, leading us to the branch office.
* * *
”First, our achievement was… the floor boss on the Second Floor. But due to my poor judgment… if it weren’t for Ms. Simona, who acted as our instructor, we would have lost some teammates.”
I couldn’t lift my head. I was filled with regret and unsure how to express myself while reporting.
”That’s enough. Good job.”
Lady Milia offered words of encouragement. However, I found it hard to accept them sincerely.
”──You all look so frustrated.”
Lady Milia glanced over all of us.
”I don’t know how you’ll be evaluated in the clan, but from the guild’s perspective and mine, you did well.”
Finally, I managed to lift my head at Lady Milia’s clear words. She was smiling gently, alongside Ms. Camilla, the guild receptionist.
”By the way, the ‘Rose Hip’ team, led by Helena, returned with two minor injuries. One other adventure party had one death… and the remaining two parties haven’t come back yet.”
”Huh, two minor injuries in Helena’s team…!”
Ms. Simona, who had been behind us, asked in a slightly flustered tone.
”Don’t worry. They’re just scratches. They’ll heal up with a little care… right?”
Lady Milia chuckled, and Ms. Simona’s expression relaxed with relief.
”About those two parties that haven’t returned yet…”
Mr. Gorge stepped forward and placed four ‘Adventurer Cards’ on the counter.
”These four… it seems they were attacked by monsters while camping… By the time we found them, it was already…”
Hearing Gorge’s report, Ms. Camilla had a serious expression as she compared the documents.
”They went in with a party of six… The absence of one Fighter and one Magician card means…”
Ms. Camilla looked up.
”Probably, before we found them… they had already died somewhere else.”
At this point, Mr. Gorge placed six Adventurer Cards he received from Ms. Liz and others on the counter.
”These are from our clan ‘Famière,’ from Liz’s team.”
Mr. Gorge explained while standing next to him. Ms. Camilla once again compared the Adventurer Cards with the documents.
”In the battle against the floor boss ‘Two-Headed Snake’ on the Second Floor… when Liz’s team went to provide support, five deaths had already been confirmed… and the leader, who barely managed to talk…”
Lady Milia listened to the explanation with a pained expression and turned to Ms. Camilla.
”They went in with eight people, including two Porters… ‘Romy Svailer’ and ‘Gunilla Leobendorf’…”
She traced her finger along the documents, naming the two who were missing their Adventurer Cards.
”That’s me! Romy Svailer!”
”That’s me! Gunilla Leobendorf!”
The two stepped forward, each showing their Adventurer Cards. Ms. Camilla checked the cards with a relieved expression.
”You two are safe, then…”
Ms. Camilla smiled, but her eyes seemed to glisten with tears.
* * *
”I see… So the party protected you and helped you escape.”
We sat at the table in the branch office, providing a detailed explanation. Since it was confirmed that today’s returning party was no longer there, Ms. Camilla also joined us. While I, Ms. Simona, Mr. Gorge, Gunilla, and Romy explained, the other members sat in nearby chairs.
”Well, we couldn’t go back to the Second Floor… so we escaped to the Third Floor,” said Romy. “We were scared and hid, but the people from ‘Famière’ helped us…”
Lady Milia and Ms. Camilla listened to Romy and Gunilla’s explanation, nodding along.
”…You all were really lucky. And to the Gieze team, thank you so much,” Lady Milia said, gently holding Gunilla and Romy’s hands and bowing her head to them.
”Challenging the labyrinth is like this. Five parties entered, and two were wiped out. Other parties also had casualties and injuries. Even though Ms. Simona lent a hand, you should be proud that you all returned without a scratch.”
Lady Milia’s words made me pause for a moment.
(That’s true… we were only regretting that we couldn’t reach our set goal…)
”Lady Milia’s right. We made mistakes, yeah, and there was a risk to our lives. That’s why I helped. But──.”
Ms. Simona stood up and looked at all of us.
”──The fact that you fought through without gettin’ hurt, that’s all on you. Liz said it too, right? ‘As long as you’re alive, you can reflect on your mistakes and use ’em next time.’ No matter what, if you’re alive, that’s a win.”
We nodded strongly, engraving Lady Milia and Ms. Simona’s words in our hearts.
* * *
We were told that the magic stones could be assessed and exchanged at the branch office, so we had them picked up. They turned into three gold coins and two silver coins. Lady Milia seemed particularly interested in an ‘ancient coin’ among the loot, and she exchanged it for two gold coins and several copper coins.
”It’s definitely a design I’ve never seen before. It’s not from any country or era… I’m really intrigued.”
She said, happily bouncing around. She seemed far too adorable to be someone praised as a ‘Sage.’
It seemed that the items (magic stones and loot) that Romy and Gunilla had were fine as their possessions. In any case, since the employer had died, the agreed-upon daily wage wouldn’t be paid.
”Just sell the loot and magic stones you have, and you’ll be able to cover your daily expenses.”
After Lady Milia said that, it seems I sold the magic stones I could cash in here and ended up with two gold coins and seven silver coins.
”With just this, we’ve already exceeded our daily pay!”
”What about the other ores and jewelry?”
”Those are yours too. It’s survival of the fittest.”
Lady Milia gave a light wink to the two who were feeling a bit confused.
”I’ll take the ores to Eluda’s shop. I need to appraise them, so it won’t be immediate.”
”W-well, Ms. Kazumi said the Zett Merchant Guild would buy the jewelry…”
Eluda and Karina called out to Romy and Gunilla.
”You can come to our Clan house tonight!”
”Yeah. We can show you the Zett Merchant Guild tomorrow.”
”But we’re renting a place…”
”If we go, will it be a bother?”
Romy and Gunilla seemed a bit hesitant about Lotta and Noriss’s invitation.
”Don’t hold back! Let’s celebrate our survival with a feast featuring ‘Famière’s’ special dishes!”
Everyone stood up and clapped in agreement.
”Sounds great… I’d love to join, but I have to stay here for a while…”
Lady Milia looked a bit disappointed.
”However… to have someone like Lady Milia working at the labyrinth’s outpost… the lord is either really demanding or very extravagant…”
I blurted that out, but when I heard my own words, Lady Milia smiled brightly.
”Well… I guess it’s a weakness of being in love?”
”──!”
(Lord Hiroya’s ability to charm women… must have been inherited from his father…)
”I-I understand, Lady Milia! In Sir Elberhardt’s adventure tales… oh, my father’s love stories were written so beautifully!”
”Right? Actually, they were even more scandalous than that!”
Karina was really happy, getting excited about Lady Milia and Lord O’Brian.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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