Sunlight filtered through the canopy, the leaves overhead diffusing the harsh rays into a soft, dappled glow that fell across Rei and his companions.
Though it was midsummer outside the dungeon, the temperature on B17F felt like a mild spring day. It was remarkably pleasant, especially compared to the sweltering heat of Exil, where temperatures often soared above 35°C.
"To be honest, if this weren't in the middle of a dungeon, I’d want to settle down here. It’s a very comfortable place," Rei muttered, reaching out for a piece of fruit hanging from a nearby tree.
This was one of the harvestable materials unique to B17F. Eaten raw, it was incredibly astringent, but when heated, it became surprisingly sweet.
At the feet of the boy reaching for the fruit lay three corpses. Only minutes ago, these Kamaitachis—weasel-like monsters with scythes growing from their forelegs—had ambushed them. Their attempt had ended abruptly when Seto snapped their necks with a series of effortless strikes from his front paws.
"It certainly is comfortable," Elena agreed, though her gaze remained fixed on the distance. "Especially for Seto, given the abundance of prey."
She could sense presences watching them from the shadows of the forest. Whether they were waiting for a lapse in their guard or simply observing was unclear, but even with the thick foliage obscuring her vision, Elena knew they were being tracked by multiple sets of eyes.
Rei felt them as well. He gave a small shrug and replied, "I suppose. It would be even better if I were better at cooking, but all I can really manage is soup or grilled skewers. ...Iero, don't fly too high."
As he spoke, Rei kept a watchful eye on Iero. The small dragon was flapping its wings vigorously, struggling to pluck a fruit near the top of the tree.
"Kyu-kyu... Kyu!"
Iero finally succeeded in detaching a fruit that was a size larger than the ones Rei had gathered. However, its small wings couldn't support the sudden weight. Clutching the prize, the little dragon began to plummet toward the ground. Fortunately, it continued to flap with all its might, turning the fall into a clumsy glide.
"Guruuu."
Seto stepped in, catching Iero gently in his beak.
Rei watched the heartwarming display with a smile before touching the Kamaitachi corpses and storing them within his Misty Ring.
"Well, setting aside the monsters watching us, we should get moving."
"Are you sure?" Elena asked. "You don't want to clear out the ones following us?"
Rei shrugged again. "If we weren't in a forest, I might consider it. But since we don't know the exact location of the stairs to the next floor, we'll be in trouble if we don't find them before dark. We might end up forced to spend the night here."
Rei did have several Magic Items in his Misty Ring that were convenient for camping, such as the Magic Tent—a product of space magic—and the Dagger of Flowing Water, which could produce water using magic power. However, even a Magic Tent couldn't compare to the comfort of the Golden Wind Inn. It was simply unrealistic to expect a portable shelter to match the luxury of an establishment favored by nobles and great merchants.
"Anyway, let's find the stairs leading down. If we have time after that, we can hunt. Even if we don't find anything today, we can always come back tomorrow from B18F to look for specific monsters. This floor has a lot of variety, after all."
As Rei spoke, his eyes dropped to the ground. A vine was creeping toward them with the slow, undulating grace of a snake.
Elena had noticed it too. She drew her whip-sword, keeping it in its longsword form, and swung it down in a sharp arc. The vine was severed instantly. It retracted into the thicket, spraying a pungent, blue-tinged fluid as it fled.
"Should we chase it?"
"No, let's leave it. If it’s using vines, it’s likely a Treant-type. They’re nearly impossible to find once they mimic the other trees in the forest."
Seto’s five senses or his Sense of Smell Enhancement skill might have been able to sniff it out, but Rei was determined to find the stairs first. He moved deeper into the woods, though he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Treant-types often yielded valuable lumber, but for now, the stairs remained his priority.
While Rei's party was navigating the depths of B17F, a conversation was taking place near Exil's slum district between four people.
"Um... thank you. You saved us," Ecethesus said, gripping his spear.
Though he was expressing gratitude, his face was flushed. He was clearly flustered by Vihera's provocative dancer-like attire.
"Don't mention it. You're acquaintances of Rei, right? That makes it the perfect opportunity to put him in my debt."
"...You mentioned that before. Are you really his acquaintance?"
"I am," Vihera replied, her eyes growing soft and moist. "I consider him the greatest partner I could ever hope for."
To a casual observer, she looked like a woman deeply in love. The straightforward Ecethesus took her expression at face value, assuming she had saved them out of affection for Rei.
Nakt, however, had the opposite reaction. As an adventurer who kept his ear to the ground, he knew exactly who this woman was. This voluptuous beauty was known as the Mad Beast, a battle maniac who lived for conflict. Her seductive appearance and clothing were merely bait to lure opponents into her orbit. He realized that when she called Rei her "best partner," she meant he was the ultimate opponent to fight.
Nakt's instincts screamed at him to get away from this dangerous woman as quickly as possible. Yet, his reason argued that if they could secure Vihera as an ally, she would be an invaluable asset—and might even help them win over Rei and Elena.
"So, Rei, huh? But doesn't he have that incredibly beautiful woman, Elena, by his side?"
"Oh? Are you saying I'm less charming than Elena?" Vihera asked with a bewitching smile.
Ecethesus shook his head frantically. "No, no! That’s not it! You’re just as... Wait, this isn't the time for this!"
The relief of surviving their ordeal had briefly distracted him, but Ecethesus suddenly snapped back to reality. They now knew their kidnapped comrade was still alive, but there was no telling how long that would last. They had to save Tibia as soon as possible.
"Um, Vihera-san... and the person over there..." Ecethesus glanced toward the young girl standing a short distance away.
"That's Byune," Vihera introduced. "Byune Flaut."
"Byune, huh? Thanks for the help earlier. I'm Ecethesus, and this is Nakt."
"Nn."
After Byune’s short acknowledgment, Ecethesus tilted his head, the name finally registering. "...Wait. Flaut? I’ve heard that name before."
"Sigh... She's a member of House Flaut," Nakt explained with a weary look. "One of the four families that used to rule Exil."
Ecethesus froze. He turned his head slowly, his neck making audible clicking sounds as he stared at Byune with his mouth agape. "The Flaut family?! Wait, is it even okay for us to be saved by a member of House Flaut?"
"I wonder," Nakt replied.
"Oh? Is there something wrong with being saved by Byune?" Vihera asked.
The two men were whispering, but Vihera's five senses were sharp enough to hear every word. They remained silent for a few moments, hesitant to speak, until Ecethesus finally steeled himself.
"The thing is... we're under House Silwa's protection."
"...Nn."
At the mention of House Silwa, Byune's brow furrowed ever so slightly. For someone who rarely showed emotion, it was a clear sign of displeasure.
Vihera noted the expression and nodded. "What do you want to do, Byune? I saved them because they know Rei, but they're tied to House Silwa."
Byune stared at Ecethesus and Nakt for several seconds before looking back at Vihera. She muttered a single syllable.
"Nn."
To anyone else, it was just a sound, but Vihera understood her perfectly. "She says she doesn't mind. You should be grateful to Rei... or rather, to Elena."
"Wait, what? I don't follow," Ecethesus stammered.
Nakt, however, caught on immediately. "She's saying they'll help us find Tibia. ...Are you sure? Even I know that House Flaut doesn't get along with the other three families."
"Hehe. If Byune says it's fine, it's fine," Vihera replied with a flirtatious glance.
Nakt felt the weight of her gaze, but he didn't let it distract him. He looked at his partner. "What do you think, Ecethesus? With these two, we'd definitely have enough power."
"I..."
Ecethesus knew they were cornered. Every second they wasted was a second Tibia might not have. But he hesitated because of Byune. He felt a pang of guilt at the thought of dragging a girl who looked barely ten years old into their mess.
Nakt seemed to sense his internal struggle. "I know she's just a child, and you're worried about involving her. But make no mistake, as a Flaut, her combat skills are elite. She's certainly more capable than I am right now."
Nakt was a skilled thief in his own right, but he knew he couldn't have deflected a longsword with a single thrown needle while ensuring the person he was protecting didn't receive so much as a scratch.
"Besides," Nakt continued, "even if her family has fallen, she still has connections. We need all the information we can get to save Tibia."
"Nn."
Byune's brow furrowed again at the mention of her family's "fall," but only Vihera noticed. Ecethesus still hated the idea of relying on a child, but his desire to save Tibia won out. He closed his eyes, steeled his resolve, and bowed deeply to Byune.
"Please. Lend us your strength."
"Nn," Byune nodded, signaling her agreement.
Nakt watched her, still wondering why she was so willing to dive into this trouble. Her connection to Rei was part of it, but it seemed there was more to it than that.
"Now then, let's go find Rei," Vihera said. "We'll need his help regardless."
Nakt blinked in surprise. "But Rei and the others said they wanted to focus on the dungeon. They made that clear at the Silwa estate."
"I'll explain that once we see him," Vihera said with a charming smile. "I'll also tell him why Byune decided to cooperate with House Silwa. But first, I have one stop to make. Let's hurry."