A heavy silence descended over the dungeon.
The only things left in the chamber were the Lizardman General, its torso severed neatly in two, and Elena, who stood alone after executing the killing blow with her whip-sword.
Elena watched her fallen opponent for a heartbeat as it expired, then gave her whip-sword a sharp flick to clear the blood from the blade before sliding it back into its sheath.
"…As expected, Elena-sama. That was magnificent," Ara was the first to find her voice.
Even with her absolute faith in Elena’s prowess, she knew there were no certainties in combat. She exhaled a long breath of relief, her voice heavy with genuine admiration.
"It was indeed a brilliant display of swordsmanship, but I must ask you to consider your station. You are not some common adventurer, Elena-sama; you are the daughter of the glorious House of Duke Kerebel. Duels against enemy generals are one thing, but to risk yourself in single combat against a monster…"
"Ahahaha! Kyuste, you said the exact same thing when our Queen dueled that general from the Bestia Empire, didn't you?"
"Vel! I do not offer these admonishments for my own amusement!"
While Kyuste and Vel bickered, Rei retrieved a clean handkerchief from his Misty Ring and offered it to Elena.
"You have some blood on you."
"Mm, thank you."
She wiped the spray of blood from her cheek and handed the cloth back to Rei. Her gaze swept over the rest of the slaughtered Lizardmen.
"Rei, I’ll leave the collection of the corpses to you. We can divide the magic stones and materials once we’ve left the dungeon. Personally, I wouldn't mind if you kept the lot."
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm sure your associates have their own interests to consider. I’d be happy to take them if it’s possible, of course, but I won't insist. This is a nomination request from Margrave Larkus, after all; the success reward is already exceptional."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Besides, I’ve had the chance to get acquainted with someone like you, Elena-sama."
"Fufu, perhaps you’re right. For me as well, the greatest find in this venture has been getting to know you, Rei."
Elena smiled at him, a radiant expression like a blooming rose that made it impossible to believe she had been locked in a death match with a monster only moments ago.
Rei found himself momentarily captivated by her smile, only to be snapped back to reality when Seto tugged on his dragon robe with its beak.
"Right, sorry. We don't have all day. I’ll get everything stored away."
Flustered, Rei moved quickly. Together with Seto, he began storing the remains of the Lizardman General, the other Lizardmen, and the giant spider—half of which had been charred to cinders—into the Misty Ring.
Watching this, Kyuste’s brow furrowed. He had overheard the exchange between his lady and the young man.
"Oh boy. Our Queen is something else. It’s only been a few days, and she’s already got Rei under her spell."
"Vel, I will not tolerate such disrespectful talk toward Elena-sama."
"Why not? I’m just calling it like I see it."
"…Vel."
Kyuste’s voice dropped an octave, losing its argumentative edge and turning dangerously low. His gaze sharpened, fixed on the scout.
Despite the warning, Vel maintained his nonchalant smirk.
"Think about it logically. She’s a beauty beyond compare with a top-tier figure, and she’s got a straightforward, noble personality. It’s impossible not to fall for our Queen, isn't it? Whether it’s romantic or just friendly is another matter."
"……"
"And Elena-sama’s minimum requirement for a partner is that they have to be stronger than her. Well… Rei fits the bill, doesn't he?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Vel felt Kyuste’s magic spear whistle past his cheek.
"Vel, not another word. I have no desire to run you through with this spear."
"…Fine, fine. If you’re going to be like that, I’ll drop it."
"Hmph."
Kyuste scoffed and pulled back his weapon.
"Really, you two. Are you trying to start a feud in the middle of a dungeon?"
Ara, who had been attending to Elena, looked back at them with pure exasperation.
"It’s not a feud. Just a minor difference of opinion."
"…Is it? I’m sure it’s just Vel saying something unnecessary again."
"Hey! Why is it always my fault?"
"Anyone who knows your usual behavior could figure that out, Vel."
"Ara, that’s enough. It wasn't the time or place for such a conversation. I’ll be more careful."
Kyuste cut in with a sigh, ending the bickering, and the group's atmosphere returned to its usual rhythm.
Once Rei finished collecting the materials, they continued their descent.
"So this is B3F. The environment is completely different from the floors above."
About ten minutes after leaving the site of the battle, the party arrived at a new section of the floor. Until now, the dungeon had looked like a typical stone labyrinth, but they now stood before what could only be described as a forest of giant mushrooms.
Fungi ranging from two meters to nearly five meters in height sprouted everywhere, filling the cavernous space.
"This is… certainly unexpected," Kyuste muttered, looking stunned.
Vel and Ara stood beside him, equally taken aback by the surreal landscape. Rei was also scanning the area with interest, though he seemed less shocked than the others.
"Guruuu?"
Only Seto seemed unfazed, tilting its head curiously at the towering stalks.
However, their sightseeing was cut short. Seto, possessing senses far sharper than any human, was the first to react.
"Gururuuu."
The gryphon let out a low, wary growl and tugged on Rei’s sleeve.
Rei noticed it immediately after. "Elena-sama, something is… wait, is that a voice?"
He had been about to warn her of an approaching monster, but the faint sound of human speech confused him. They had been the first to enter the dungeon that morning, and he didn't recall anyone passing them. Then, the realization struck. If the voices were getting louder, they were coming from below—heading toward the surface.
"Rei, what is it?"
"…It looks like a party that spent the night in the dungeon is heading this way. At first, I only heard footsteps and thought it was a monster, but those are definitely human voices."
"I see. I’ve heard this floor is massive; even if the depth isn't great, traversing it takes time. That’s why we brought camping gear. Now, what is the protocol for adventurers in this situation?"
"Well… Elk told me that it’s customary to offer a polite greeting to show you aren't hostile, but…" Rei hesitated.
The adventurer guild accepted almost anyone. Consequently, there were always those of low character who would gladly murder fellow adventurers for their gear. In a labyrinth, a disappearance could easily be blamed on a monster. When Rei explained this to Elena, she nodded solemnly.
"Very well. We shall see how they carry themselves. If they are true explorers, we have no quarrel. But if they are the sort of bandits you describe, we shall teach them exactly whose path they have crossed."
The party waited in formation. Five minutes later, the sounds of walking and the clanking of armor became audible to everyone.
A moment later, four figures emerged from behind a three-meter-tall mushroom.
All were men. Leading them was a lightly armored man who looked like a thief. Behind him were two warriors—one carrying a halberd and the other a bastard sword. Bringing up the rear was a man with a giant backpack, clearly their porter. They all appeared to be in their twenties.
"Hmm?"
The thief at the front spotted Rei’s group and stopped in his tracks, his expression shifting to one of suspicion. The two warriors behind him immediately moved up to stand beside him, their hands near their weapons. The thief’s eyes darted between Elena and the massive gryphon.
"Rei, they are fellow adventurers. Handle the talking. But if they make a move, show no mercy," Elena whispered.
Rei nodded and stepped forward. His Death Scythe rested on his shoulder; he wasn't in a combat stance, but it was clear he could strike in an instant.
"Yo. Quite the coincidence, meeting here," the thief called out.
"I wouldn't call it a coincidence. We're all here for the dungeon. It’s only natural we’d run into colleagues eventually," Rei replied smoothly. "We entered first thing this morning and came straight down. What about you?"
"Hmm? Ah, we’re on a request for materials from the lower levels. The monsters we need only come out at night, so we’ve been down here since yesterday."
"Spending the night in the dungeon? Brave of you."
"Well, we’re a Rank C party. We’ve got some experience under our belts. …And what about your group?" the thief asked, looking for reciprocal information.
Rei glanced at Elena. She gave a small nod, allowing him to be truthful.
"We have business in the depths. I’m Rei, a Rank D adventurer. These people are the noble entourage that hired me."
"…I see. Nobles, huh."
The thief nodded, and Rei felt the tension in the air dissipate slightly. The other party had clearly been worried Rei’s group were bandits as well.
"Seems like we’re all just doing our jobs, then."
"Yeah. Though I have to say, I’m a bit curious about that gryphon and the incredible beauty you’re guarding…"
"Hey, Zack. If we’re done here, let's keep moving," the warrior with the halberd interrupted. "I want to get back to the surface so I can finally sleep without keeping one eye open."
"Alright, alright." Zack, the thief, laughed and gave Rei’s shoulder a friendly pat. "We're heading up, but watch yourselves. The monsters get nasty from here on out. Especially the undead on the 5F; they’re a nightmare if you don't have magic."
"We’ll be fine. Based on my gear, you can probably guess I’m a mage, more or less."
At that, the entire party opposite him spoke in unison.
"Wait just a minute."
The synchronized retort was so perfect that Rei couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle.
"No one’s going to believe you’re a mage when you’re hauling a weapon that massive around," the man with the bastard sword said.
"Exactly. Your footwork is that of a warrior, not a bookworm," the warrior with the halberd added.
Rei shrugged. "I suppose you’re right. More accurately, I’m a warrior who uses magic. A Magic Warrior, if you like."
"…I guess that makes sense," Zack muttered.
The porter, hunched under his massive pack, finally spoke up. "Can we go now? I want to get back to the surface, eat a real meal, and sleep in a bed where I don't have to worry about my life."
"Yeah, you're right. Well, we’ll be off. Like I said, watch out for the undead on B5F."
"Thanks for the tip. Most people keep that kind of intel to themselves."
"Don't mention it. Call it fate that we met down here. Besides, I got to find out what a 'Magic Warrior' looks like. Good luck with your exploration."
Zack and his party set off toward the stairs to B2F, while Rei and Elena’s group continued toward the descent to B4F.
"…So, what did you guys think?" the warrior with the halberd asked once they were a safe distance away.
"First of all," the man with the sword began, "that blonde woman was incredible. I’ve been around for over twenty years and seen my fair share of women, even high-class courtesans, but she was on another level. Honestly, she was so beautiful it was actually intimidating."
The others smirked. It was common knowledge that the man spent nearly all his Rank C earnings at brothels.
"I was more worried about the gryphon," Zack admitted. "That was my first time seeing a real one. They’re A-Rank monsters, the 'Flying Grim Reaper.' Even as a thief, I couldn't get a read on its strength. It was just… in a different league."
"The woman and the monster aside," the porter grunted, "did you notice they didn't have a porter?"
The others went silent as they considered the point. In a dungeon, a porter was essential to carry the loot and supplies so the fighters could stay mobile.
"…Now that you mention it, there was the kid with the scythe, two female warriors, a spear user, and an archer," the swordsman recalled.
"Exactly. Nobody dives this deep without a porter. It’s practically unheard of."
They puzzled over it for a while, but eventually, the exhaustion of the dungeon took over. They never suspected that the "Magic Warrior" they had spoken to was carrying an Item Box.
The men encountered a few more Lizardmen and Goblins on their way out, but they reached the surface safely. By the time they had turned in their materials, collected their pay, and fallen into a deep, safe sleep at their inn, the memory of Rei and his strange party had already begun to fade.