"So, this is a Dungeon Card."
Rei sat on the sofa in his room, looking over the Dungeon Card he had just registered at the guild. Elena sat across from him, taking out her own card and nodding in agreement.
After finishing the registration and buying a dungeon map, they had returned to their room at the inn. Naturally, Elena had followed him inside with an expression that suggested it was only to be expected. Rei didn't have any particular reason to complain, so the two of them ended up sitting face-to-face in his room.
As for Tsufal, he seemed determined to behave strictly as a driver. Even though Elena was alone in Rei's room with him, the man offered no protest, instead focusing entirely on his duties—including the care of the warhorses. Iero was currently playing or napping with Seto in the stables, meaning the two were completely alone.
Despite the privacy, the conversation showed no signs of turning romantic, focusing entirely on the dungeon instead. It was perhaps a testament to how unaccustomed both Rei and Elena were to matters of the heart.
"Apparently, it's a magic item created by alchemists from ancient times. I'd heard stories before coming to Exil, but... seeing how convenient it actually is feels almost surreal."
"Indeed. After all, this card automatically records how many floors you've descended. Even better, you can use a device enchanted with teleportation magic to move straight back to that floor whenever you return."
Rei stared at the Dungeon Card, internally marveling at what a piece of over-technology it was.
"To look at it, you'd think it was just a regular Guild Card in terms of size and thickness."
The information displayed was minimal: the owner's name, the floor reached, and a section for special remarks. In Rei's case, the remarks mentioned his rank; for Elena, they noted her status as a member of a ducal house. It was a simple item, yet it performed a role far more advanced than most magic items.
(Teleportation magic that can be used freely—even if it's restricted to the dungeon—is incredibly convenient. I bet there'd be a massive profit in analyzing how this works.)
Rei thought this to himself, but in truth, many had tried to analyze the teleportation magic items installed in the Exil dungeon before. Nearly all of them had failed, and these days, almost no one dared to try. Occasionally, an eccentric scholar, alchemist, or mage would arrive hoping to crack the secret, but it was safe to say that none had produced results.
"To begin with, it isn't even known for certain who created these magic items. ...Does your knowledge offer any clues, Rei?"
At Elena's question, Rei silently shook his head. The only alchemist in Rei's inherited knowledge was Estha Nor of the Zephyle Clan, but even in her era, teleportation magic items like the ones in Exil were already ancient artifacts, existing only in small numbers.
(It’s probably just one of those things from the ancient magic civilization.)
Rei mused internally. Occasionally, ruins yielded high-performance magic items that simply could not be replicated by modern means. In fact, the communication magic item that Rei and Elena were currently hunting for in this dungeon was exactly that kind of relic.
"At any rate, being able to teleport to any floor we've already cleared is a blessing. This dungeon is incredibly deep, and since the Dungeon Core has never been destroyed, it's still expanding even now. Not having to start from 1F every single time we enter is a huge help."
Rei nodded at Elena’s words.
"I heard 1F isn't particularly dangerous even for rookie adventurers, so that really does save us time. Moving through and clearing out small fry every time would be a chore. But if these teleportation functions exist, shouldn't dungeon exploration be further along?"
"Most ordinary adventurers prefer to play it safe, earning their living on floors they can handle comfortably. I've heard there are adventurers who seriously aim to conquer the dungeon, but they are a minority faction."
"Even with the teleportation function?"
"I suppose most people prioritize their lives over honor or gold. Though, I suppose that is only normal."
Elena was implicitly acknowledging that they themselves were not "normal," and Rei couldn't find a way to deny it. He was, after all, a type of artificial lifeform, and Elena was practically inhuman herself, having merged with an Ancient Dragon Magic Stone during her Ritual of Inheritance. If they tried to claim they were ordinary, they’d likely be met with a chorus of objections from all sides.
"Our goal in the dungeon is to obtain a communication magic item. I don't intend to leave until we have one. ...Though, we'll likely have to return once winter approaches."
"For me, it’s about the magic stones. I need them for Seto and Death Scythe’s growth. I also heard there are plenty of practical magic items to be found, so I'm hoping for some of those along with the communication magic item. ...By the way, Elena, don't you want any of the materials from the monsters we kill?"
The thought occurred to Rei suddenly. Elena shook her head, indicating it wasn't an issue.
"As I said before, my primary goal is the communication magic item. I have a sufficient income from my work as a general. As for other things... Well, perhaps you could buy me a gift with the money you earn from selling those materials, Rei?"
"...A gift?"
"Umu. Well, you see, with the two of us..."
She trailed off, remembering Tsufal's presence nearby and faltering for a moment before continuing.
"At any rate, we've come all the way to Exil together. Think of it as a memento of our journey."
"Well, if you're okay with that, I don't mind... Ah, actually, wait. How about I use the money I earn in the dungeon to pay for the inn? I’d feel awkward being entirely dependent on you, Elena. If I pay for the lodging with my dungeon earnings, it won't hurt your pride, right? It’s... well, a matter of my own pride as a man, so to speak."
"It's not quite that simple, but... very well. If you insist, Rei, I won't stop you."
Rei let out a sigh of relief. He really wanted to avoid becoming a "leech" who relied entirely on Elena's fortune.
"Now that our goals are set... let's address the biggest obstacle to our dungeon dive."
"Indeed. For just the two of us to enter a dungeon like this would be nothing short of suicidal. We need..."
"A thief."
Their voices overlapped perfectly.
In a dungeon, a thief was an absolute necessity. Both of them had learned this the hard way during their small dive into the dungeon at the Altar of Inheritance.
But Vel was gone. Not just gone from the Kingdom of Mireana, but gone from this world entirely. He had died as a Beast Soldier during the war with the Bestia Empire.
They had bought a map for the first five floors, but rare magic items were almost never found on floors where maps were publicly sold. Such valuable treasures were only found in places that had yet to be fully explored.
"I had planned to hire a solo thief at the guild, but after today's commotion, that will be difficult," Elena muttered with a sigh. Rei gave a wry smile, agreeing completely.
Word that Rei was "Crimson" had undoubtedly spread through the entire adventurer community by now. It was a stroke of luck that the receptionist's realization only applied to Rei, keeping Elena’s identity a secret. However, Elena was an incredibly beautiful woman traveling with Rei; if she tried to hire a thief now, they would be swamped by people looking to ride Rei's coattails.
To make matters worse, since this was a labyrinth city, the population of thieves was much higher than in other guilds, which only complicated the selection process.
"So the plan is to clear the shallow floors with just us, Seto, and Iero, then wait for the fuss to die down before hiring a solo thief?"
"That seems the most prudent course. The problem will be if the commotion hasn't settled by the time we finish the lower floors."
"I have to hope it'll be over by then. ...Actually, I'm desperate for it to be over," Rei muttered, clearly lacking confidence in his own wishful thinking.
"Should we just ignore the noise and hire a thief tomorrow? Once we have someone under contract, it might stop further trouble."
"That's an option, but picking the right person from a crowd is tough. We just arrived in Exil; we have no idea who the skilled thieves are."
"...True. Then we'll go with your plan, Rei."
Rei nodded. Since it was his own suggestion, he had no reason to disagree.
(Worst case, I could use the Faint Flame I used at the Altar of Inheritance... No, that only senses traps on the floor or walls. It's not reliable enough. We definitely need a professional thief.)
He sighed and looked up.
"On the bright side, even if there are traps, if they were set by monsters, there should be a scent left behind. Seto’s sense of smell should be able to sniff them out to some degree."
"Iero is still immature in that regard. It's excellent for scouting, but little else."
"By the way, will Iero stay like that forever? It’s a familiar created through Dragon Language Magic, right?"
"Honestly, I don't know. The spell for creating the familiar was there, but the explanation of the magic was unreadable halfway through. Personally, I'm quite happy with how adorable Iero is now."
"You really took a gamble on that, didn't you?"
"Not really. It was certain to be a familiar. Besides, Dragon Language Magic is rare; I figured I should use whatever spells I could."
"Well, with your strength, Elena, I guess you could have handled it even if the familiar went on a rampage... but still..."
Rei was momentarily stunned by Elena's blend of boldness and lack of caution. Elena gave him a small, reassuring smile.
"It's fine. Even if I haven't mastered its power yet, I am the successor to an Ancient Dragon Magic Stone. If a familiar—even Iero—were to go out of control, I would suppress it. Besides..."
Elena glanced at Rei.
"Until I reunited with you..."
Just as she was about to continue, a knock sounded at the door.
"Excuse me. Master Rei, is the Young Lady with you? She wasn't in her room."
"..."
The voice from the other side was undeniably Tsufal’s. The "Young Lady" he was looking for was sitting right in front of Rei. Her expression didn't change, but the invisible pressure she was emitting suddenly spiked.
"It seems Master Rei is out as well. Very well. I shall look elsewhere in the inn."
It wasn't that he had sensed Elena inside; Tsufal simply muttered to himself and walked away from the door. Rei could see trouble brewing, but while he was a veteran of the battlefield, he was a total amateur in romance. He had no idea how to handle the "dangerous" Elena sitting before him.
Thinking quickly, he looked at the time.
"Uh... it’s probably about time for dinner. Why don't we head to the dining hall?"
True to its reputation as a high-class inn, there was an expensive magic item clock in every room. Rei noticed the hands were nearing 6:00 PM and blurted out the first excuse he could find.
It was the peak of summer, so it was still bright outside at 6:00 PM. In fact, for anyone standing in the direct sun, it would still be quite hot. Fortunately, the Golden Wind Inn used far more magic items than the Dusk Wheat Inn, keeping the interior perfectly comfortable.
"Hmph. Very well. I have high expectations for the meals here."
Relieved to have changed the subject, Rei followed Elena out of the room.
And so, their first day in Exil came to a close.