B2F of the dungeon—a place still considered part of the shallow "upper layers" intended for beginners. Near the stairs leading back up to B1F, the Magic Circle pulsed with light. A moment later, Rei, Elena, Seto, and Iero materialized.
"Heh, so this is what teleporting into a dungeon feels like. I got a taste of the exit teleportation yesterday, but since it's the same Teleportation Device, the sensation is basically identical."
"Guruuu."
As Rei finished the teleportation and flexed his hands to test his grip, Seto looked at him and let out a trill.
The griffon seemed strangely proud of itself. Rei didn't catch the meaning at first, but then it clicked.
"Right, I forgot. You've been through this before, Seto. You got caught in that teleportation from the Bestia Empire's Teleportation Stone."
"Guru!"
That's right! Seto chirped boastfully. Watching the exchange, Elena tilted her head slightly while scratching the neck of Iero, who was perched on her left shoulder.
"A Bestia Empire Teleportation Stone? You mean the ones the Bestia Imperial Army used to launch their surprise attack on our main camp during the Spring War?"
"Yeah. Back when a Bestia Empire Operative was working in the shadows in Gilm, Seto interfered when they tried to escape using a stone. Seto ended up being the one teleported instead of the agent. I was frantic back then."
"Gurururuu."
Seto nodded along as Rei spoke, chirping as if to say, "Yes, it was quite a time."
From Seto's perspective, it had only intended to stop an enemy from escaping, only to find itself suddenly dropped into an unfamiliar cave. It had been a confusing ordeal.
Rei went on to explain to Elena how Seto had searched the area, eventually reunited with the Members of the Scorching Wind, and finally made its way back to him.
"I see, so that was the story. As for those Teleportation Stones, I hear the Kingdom of Mireana is researching the ones they captured during the war, but progress is slow. Apparently, mass-producing them is an immense challenge."
"Hm? Does that mean they've managed to make some?"
"Yes. However, the costs are astronomical, and their performance is severely lacking compared to the originals—especially in terms of range."
"Even so, if they've gotten that far, mass production shouldn't be much further off, right?"
Elena met Rei's comment with a wry smile.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. It's just... even with you, Rei, there are things I can and cannot say. Please, take the hint."
"Ah, right. I get it."
She was a Duke's Daughter and a high-ranking general known as the Princess General; it was only natural that there were state secrets she couldn't share with Rei, who was technically associated with the Neutral Faction. Rei gave a small nod and turned his attention to the corridor.
"Anyway, let's head for the stairs to B3F."
"Agreed. Yesterday, we took the left path at the crossroads to get our bearings. We should make some real progress today."
"Then we'll take the right path today toward the stairs."
"That's the plan. However, we're still without a Thief. It shouldn't be a major issue in these shallow layers, but we must still proceed with caution regarding traps."
Rei nodded in agreement.
"Should I just use Faint Flame? I doubt the traps this high up are complex enough to hide from it. We'd find them instantly."
"I would advise against it," Elena said after a moment of thought. She shook her head firmly. "If we were the only ones here, it might be different. But with other adventurers around, using magic like that would cause an unnecessary stir."
"Good point."
Rei conceded immediately. He could already imagine the rumors: Strange! Flames Overflowing in the Dungeon Passageways. If they were unlucky, someone might report it as a new species of undead.
While they could potentially clear it with the Guild beforehand, that felt like an invitation for even more bureaucratic headaches from other directions.
"Alright, we'll do it the old-fashioned way. We just have to be careful."
"Umu. We'll use the same formation as yesterday. You and I in the van, Seto in the rear."
"Kyu!"
Iero chirped from Elena's shoulder, as if demanding to be included.
"Iero, you can ride on Seto's back. That work for you two?"
"Kyu!"
"Guru."
The two familiars chirped their consent. With the plan settled, the group stepped away from the magic circle and deeper into B2F.
They cut down a few monsters along the way—hardly a struggle—and reached the crossroads they had visited the previous day.
"Right side today, for the stairs, right?"
"Yes. But stay sharp. We didn't hit any traps yesterday, but that might only have been because the child, Vyune, was disarming them ahead of us. I don't expect anything lethal this far up, but still."
"Right. We'll be careful."
The group slowed their pace, scrutinizing the ground and walls for any signs of pressure plates or tripwires.
Because of this, their speed through the dungeon dropped to half—no, a third of their usual pace. In truth, almost nothing on this floor could actually kill them even if they triggered it. However, if they were going to keep diving without a Thief, they needed to get used to spotting traps themselves. This was as much a training exercise as a dive.
If anything, a floor where mistakes weren't fatal was the perfect training ground for playing Thief.
Rei and Elena moved down the corridor in focused silence.
"Gurururuu!"
Occasionally, a cry would echo from behind as a monster was silenced by Seto's Strike. They would stop just long over to harvest the Magic Stone before pressing on.
Two hours passed in this manner. Between the slow pace and the repetitive nature of the monsters attacking from the front and back, Rei was starting to get restless. Elena, with her military background, had more patience, though even she looked bored.
Rei was the first to break.
"Hey, want to take a break?"
"...Yes, let's. It's a little early, but perhaps we should stop for lunch?"
"Gurururuu!"
"Kyu!"
At the mention of food, Seto and Iero let out joyous cries.
Rei hesitated for a second, but now that the tension had broken, he realized he was actually quite hungry.
"Alright, early lunch it is. But let's stay alert. Keep an eye on the surroundings."
"Of course."
"Guru."
"Kyu!"
As they started to move toward the side of the passage to set up...
"Ah."
Rei spotted something and paused. Elena followed his gaze and let out a soft gasp of her own.
It was a switch. It was disguised to blend into the wall, but at this distance, it was painfully obvious. The question was why someone would put a trap right there.
"...What do you make of that?"
"It's likely placed near a resting spot to catch adventurers whose attention has slipped while they eat," Elena theorized.
"...Even though it's this obvious when you're standing next to it?"
"Exhaustion can do strange things to the mind. Besides, the monsters on this floor are mostly Low-Rank Monsters. It stands to reason the traps would be equally primitive."
Rei nodded. That made sense. If the "masterminds" of this floor were Goblins, a crude trap was about all they could manage.
"Most of the people on this floor are beginners, anyway. I'm sure someone falls for it eventually. Regardless, we weren't foolish enough to trip it. Let's eat."
Rei reached into his Misty Ring and pulled out the Magic Tent.
Most adventurers had to huddle in a corner and eat while constantly looking over their shoulders, but Rei had a tent that repelled monsters of Rank D and below. While it wouldn't work on the Rank C threats found deeper down, it was more than enough for B2F.
It wouldn't stop "adventurer hunters" or hostile humans, but Rei wasn't worried.
(If anyone is dumb enough to jump us, I'll deal with them. Besides, with my reputation and Seto by my side, very few people are stupid enough to pick a fight.)
Rei entered the tent followed by Elena, Seto, and Iero. The interior was surprisingly large—about ten tatami mats in size. Rei and Elena sat on the sofa and opened the lunch baskets Rei produced from his storage. Seto was given a whole roasted Bicorn—Rei had provided the materials to the inn—while Iero dug into a portion of perfectly grilled meat.
"I thought this yesterday, and I remember being impressed by your supplies in the Dungeon of the Altar of Inheritance, but having a portable room is truly a luxury. Your gear is evolving in a very strange direction, Rei."
"We were sleeping on the bare ground back then," Rei said with a nod, taking a bite of a stewed chicken and cheese sandwich. "Even for a camp, this tent is a lifesaver. No more waking up with a stiff back from the cold floor."
The Magic Tent was an old model and lacked amenities like running water, but it was still a House Larkus heirloom. For a commoner or a typical adventurer, it was an impossible dream. Even an A-Rank Adventurer would have to spend a fortune on one, and a B-Rank would have to save for years.
"The monster-repelling ward is the best part," Elena noted. "Though in your case, most monsters wouldn't dare approach with Seto here anyway. I find myself wanting a Magic Item like this for my personal use, rather than relying on my family's assets."
"You've got that carriage, though," Rei pointed out.
The magic carriage Elena had used to reach Exil was leagues ahead of the tent in terms of luxury. It had fine furniture, superior space, and enchantments that provided stealth, early warnings for hostility, and even reduced the fatigue of the warhorses pulling it.
(The only thing the tent has over the carriage is that it shrinks down to fit in a pocket. Though for an adventurer, that's the most important part.)
Rei kept the thought to himself. Since he had the Misty Ring, the portability wasn't even that big of an advantage for him personally, though other adventurers would have wept with envy at the sight of it.
They chatted as they ate, finishing their meal quickly. While a post-lunch nap sounded tempting, they both knew that would be pushing their luck inside a dungeon. Rei stowed the Magic Tent back in his Misty Ring, and they resumed their trek.
They continued their cautious, trap-hunting pace for the rest of the floor. In the end, they found no other mechanisms, finally reaching the stairs that led down to B3F.