The day following the eventful dinner between Rei and Elena arrived.
Despite the lingering tension, the party—two humans and two beasts: Rei, Elena, Set, and Ielo—made their way down the main street toward the dungeon.
As expected, their attitudes toward each other were somewhat stiff following the previous night's events, but it was not nearly as suffocating as the intimidating aura they had projected during their meal.
(I suppose that's a small mercy.)
As they walked, exchanging idle conversation to dispel the awkwardness, the now-familiar sight of the skewer stall soon came into view. Although not much time had passed since they arrived in Exil, purchasing a Lizardman skewer had already become a routine meant to boost their spirits before a dive. They each began to tuck in.
Even though it was small, Rei felt a slight sense of cognitive dissonance watching Ielo, a dragon, eating Lizardman meat. However, he quickly reminded himself that humans regularly ate the meat of monsters that were nearly humanoid, such as Orcs. Deciding not to worry about it any further, he savored the skewer, which was heavily seasoned with spices.
"Are you all heading into the dungeon again today?"
The stall owner spoke up, looking at Rei and Elena with a concerned expression.
Even as he spoke, he was already skewering and grilling meat scraps—pieces he couldn't serve to customers—as a treat for Set and Ielo. It was an impressive display of hospitality.
"Of course we are, but isn't it a bit late to ask? We've been diving into the dungeon every day since we arrived in Exil, except for the first day."
"Well, that's true, but... actually, I heard this from an adventurer customer a little while ago. It seems there's some kind of trouble occurring in the dungeon right now."
"...Trouble?"
Rei, having a hunch about what those words meant, questioned the stall owner just to be sure.
"Yes. Apparently, monsters far more powerful than what you'd expect to find on certain floors have been appearing. The guild is supposedly issuing warnings."
Listening to the stall owner's words, Rei felt a sense of internal confirmation.
Those powerful monsters were likely the Queen Bee of the Sword Bees or the Stone Puppet that Vihera had defeated.
(They move fast... No, perhaps it's to be expected? Considering Exil is a labyrinth city, it's only natural that any information regarding the dungeon would be disseminated immediately.)
While thinking this, Rei made eye contact with Elena, who was eating a skewer beside him. They reached a silent understanding.
The two of them were truly impressive in this regard. They were communicating perfectly, showing none of the subtle tension that had lingered between them since leaving the inn.
"Could you tell me more about that?" Rei asked the stall owner after finishing his Lizardman skewer.
However, the stall owner shook his head slightly.
"What I heard is just hearsay. If you're looking for details, you'd be better off going to the gate in front of the dungeon, Rei-san."
"...The gate?"
"Yes. Apparently, the people checking dungeon cards are handing out flyers with information about it."
Hearing those words, Rei let out a sound of realization. Since it was information necessary for the dungeon, it made sense to provide it right before an adventurer entered.
Rei and the stall owner were unaware that this information was also being posted prominently at the guild.
As expected of a city that had flourished as a labyrinth city, their response was incredibly swift.
"I see. Then we'll check out those flyers immediately. Elena, shall we go?"
At Rei's prompting, Elena nodded, paid the stall owner, expressed her thanks, and headed toward the dungeon.
Once they were sufficiently far from the stall, Elena whispered softly so that only Rei could hear.
"I am curious to see what information is written there... though I doubt there will be anything beyond what we already know."
"I wouldn't be so sure. Precisely because it's a labyrinth city, the guild in Exil moves incredibly fast regarding the dungeon. They probably spent yesterday gathering information from researchers, experts, or high-rank adventurers who are familiar with this place. If that's the case, there's a good chance they've included details we don't know yet."
"Do they really move that fast?"
"Yeah. Since it's a labyrinth city, everything in Exil revolves around the dungeon—even the economy."
"...Well, that is certainly true. In fact, most of Exil's exports are magic items or materials from monsters found in the dungeon. In that sense, it could be called a rival to Gilm. ...Ah, I see. It is exactly as you say, Rei."
Elena seemed to understand Rei's point even as she spoke. She nodded slightly and agreed with him.
Since Exil was a labyrinth city centered on the dungeon, any anomaly within it would inevitably affect the entire city.
While both were slightly surprised by how naturally they were conversing again, they eventually arrived at the gate leading to the dungeon.
Unlike the previous times they had passed through, many adventurers were gathered in groups outside and inside the gate, discussing something in hushed tones. Seeing them holding flyers, it was easy to imagine they were talking about the anomalies.
Ignoring those adventurers, the group showed their dungeon cards to the gatekeeper as usual. As expected, they were handed a piece of paper.
"There is currently a problem inside the dungeon. We won't stop you from diving, but please do so with the understanding that it is more dangerous than before."
"Understood."
Rei nodded and immediately skimmed through the flyer.
The contents were exactly as Rei had predicted.
It stated that monsters that were neither rare species nor high-ranking species had been appearing, and most were fundamentally stronger than the normal monsters found on their respective floors. Furthermore, these monsters would tentatively be called Anomaly Species. It also noted that rewards would be paid to anyone who provided information about these Anomaly Species to the guild.
While most of the information was as expected, there were a few pieces of data that were new even to Rei and Elena.
Most notable was the fact that others besides themselves had encountered Anomaly Species.
The flyer stated that ten types of Anomaly Species had been confirmed, with one type still unconfirmed. This unconfirmed one was likely the Queen Bee of the Sword Bees that Rei and Elena had encountered, and one of the confirmed types was probably the Stone Puppet. If that was the case, it meant that nine other parties or solo individuals besides Rei's group had encountered these variants.
"I suppose it's impossible that we would be the only ones to encounter them. Considering that, this isn't particularly surprising."
"True. However, Anomaly Species are considerably stronger than the normal monsters on their floors. Given that, it seems there are other capable parties in Exil as well."
"Guruuu."
Seeing Elena murmur with a slight smile, Set let out a rumble from its throat to draw their attention.
At Set's voice, they looked around to find many of the adventurers in the plaza near the transfer device directing their gazes toward them.
It was obvious what those looks meant. They wanted Rei and Elena, who possessed powerful combat abilities, and above all, Set, a rank A Gryphon, to join their parties.
The recruitment attempts had calmed down by yesterday, but interest in Rei's combat power had surged again now that information about the Anomaly Species had spread.
"They just don't learn, do they?"
As Rei let out an involuntary sigh, Elena spoke while scratching the throat of Ielo, who was perched in its usual spot on her left shoulder.
"Their lives are on the line, after all. It is only natural they would want to bolster their strength as much as possible."
"That might be true, but there's no reason for us to go along with it, right?"
"Indeed."
Elena nodded, and the group continued toward the teleportation device.
Seeing this, several adventurer parties immediately tried to call out to Rei and Elena, but...
"Sorry, but as I've said before, unless you're a thief skilled enough not to get in the way of our combat, we have no intention of forming a party. Only those who meet that condition should step forward."
Rei spoke to the adventurers who were about to approach him, thinking that surely no one would qualify.
In response to those words, as expected, no one stepped forward... or so it should have been.
"Then what about me? I'm pretty confident in my skills, as you can see."
Stepping forward with a smirk was a man in his late teens wearing leather armor. Judging by his age, he looked older than Rei but younger than Elena.
His expression was filled with the confidence of someone who believed there was no better thief than himself. ...However.
"Save the sleep-talk for when you're actually asleep."
Rei spoke immediately, having noticed the man's incredibly clumsy footwork for someone claiming to be a thief.
"Wha—! Y-You... do you have any idea who I am!?"
"No, never seen you before."
The thief shouted, his face turning bright red.
He probably hadn't expected to be rejected so bluntly. Furthermore, the fact that he was dismissed instantly without even having his skills tested must have been a bitter pill to swallow.
He had implicitly suggested that he had backing, but for Rei, the only thing that mattered was pure skill, not a patron's name.
"Sorry, but come back after you've improved your skills a bit more. ...Elena, shall we go?"
"Hmph."
Nodding at Rei's words, Elena gave the man a single glance and followed after Rei as if she had no further interest in him.
"Don't screw with me! I'm someone serving House Rebisole! Do you think you'll get away with making an enemy of House Rebisole in this city!? You people should just shut up and follow my orders!"
The man shouted at the backs of Rei, Elena, and Set.
Ielo remained perched on Elena's left shoulder, indifferent to the noise.
Rei turned his head back slightly to look at the man.
Seeing this, the thief smirked, thinking Rei had finally decided to listen to reason.
However, the words spoken were completely ruthless.
"Save the sleep-talk for when you're actually asleep... is what I'd like to say, but in your case, even your sleep-talk would be a nuisance to those around you. If you can't talk to me using your own power, then go cry to your boss. At the very least, I have no intention of letting a small fry like you into my party."
"..."
Elena didn't add anything to Rei's words, but she gave the man a contemptuous look before following Rei. She did not consider him worth speaking to.
Born and raised in a ducal house, Elena felt nothing but disdain for a man who tried to force his will through a patron's authority rather than his own strength.
"Grrr, damn it! Just you wait! I'll make sure you learn exactly what it means to defy House Rebisole in Exil! Woman, I'm looking forward to seeing you kneel and beg for my forgiveness!"
After spitting those words at the departing group, the man left the plaza.
He remained completely oblivious to the contemptuous gazes directed at him by the surrounding adventurers.
Adventurers were, fundamentally, people who lived by their own skills. This tendency was especially strong in this labyrinth city. It might also have been related to the fact that the head of House Silwa was a highly capable adventurer himself. Because of this, those who used their employer's authority as a shield instead of their own strength were met with contempt rather than respect.
Unaware of the looks he was receiving, the man headed toward House Rebisole, plotting his revenge.
"You fool! I told you to follow those two adventurers and monitor their movements! What do you mean you just picked a fight and came back!?"
A wooden cup thrown by his employer, Lord Shafner, struck the man's forehead, causing it to split and bleed profusely.
"B-But, Lord Shafner, I..."
"Silence! Shut up, shut up, shut up! You incompetent fool! It would be one thing if you were just rejected, but what were you thinking, picking a fight with them head-on!?"
Shouted at with such fury, the man could do nothing but grit his teeth and endure the humiliation.
All the while, however, he allowed his hatred for Rei and Elena to fester.