The Dungeon... or more precisely, the settlement that had sprung up spontaneously around it.
Inns, shops selling weapons and armor, tool shops, food stalls, taverns, brothels—all manner of establishments lined the area surrounding the Dungeon.
It was more bustling than your average village, drawing crowds of people from all over.
That was likely due in part to the fact that winter was just around the corner.
Many wanted to earn what they could before the cold set in, planning to ride out the season in Gilm.
Of course, even in winter, it never snowed inside the Dungeon.
If anything, certain floors were warmer and more comfortable than the frigid world outside.
Even so, hardly anyone considered spending an entire winter within the Dungeon's walls.
Being inside the Dungeon naturally meant monsters were present.
In other words, living inside the Dungeon meant living with the constant threat of a monster attack.
Naturally, if one possessed high-level detection abilities like Set, or had enough strength that the Dungeon's inhabitants posed no real threat... then it would be a different story.
However, those who possessed such abilities were, understandably, not very numerous.
...Even so, there were a handful of people, short on coin, who did consider wintering inside the Dungeon, though they were very much a minority.
If one had confidence in their abilities, this Dungeon in particular featured an internal forest, meaning vegetables and fruit were not hard to come by.
As for meat, as long as monsters roamed, one could secure more than enough.
Only those very few individuals would end up spending the winter inside the Dungeon.
"Whoa... it's changed a lot compared to when I was last here," Rei murmured, surveying the surroundings through the carriage window.
Two carriages that one would not normally get to see very often... and a gryphon walking alongside them. This party stood out remarkably.
However, since Rei was accustomed to drawing attention and receiving curious stares because he traveled with Set, he was completely unfazed and had the composure to look around at his leisure.
The same was true for the other members.
Elena, the Princess General; Marina, the beautiful Guild Master; Ara, who constantly drew attention as Elena's attendant; Elk, an A-Rank adventurer and Alias Holder; and his wife, Min.
For almost all of them, walking alone would have been enough to turn heads.
That was precisely why everyone was used to being the center of attention and paid no particular mind to the stares around them.
Though, the fact that they were inside carriages probably had something to do with it as well. ...Even if Elk and Ara were sitting in the driver's seats.
"That's true. The Dungeon hasn't been conquered, but there are adventurers who can reach near the lowest floor. Merchants have probably increased in number seeking the materials those parties bring back, right?" Marina murmured as she observed the area, and Elena nodded.
"Since winter is near, this must be the busiest time for the merchants as well."
"You're right. What Elena says is also true. If one stays here during winter, they'd be half-confined. ...I suppose you could leave if you really wanted to, but stepping outside into the snow would carry a high risk of losing your life."
"...Well, there are no walls here to keep monsters out, either."
Walls existed in many towns, starting with Gilm.
The presence of walls to prevent monster attacks served as a source of mental security for the people living there.
In a place without such walls, if monsters were to attack during winter, fending them off would be difficult.
For merchants who possessed almost no combat prowess of their own, spending the winter in a place without such walls was a situation they wanted to avoid at all costs.
As they advanced while talking like this, the inn where Rei and his party had stayed before eventually came into view.
It was the most high-class inn among those situated around the Dungeon.
As such, its security measures were solid, and the theft of horses was practically unthinkable.
The lodging fee was expensive, but considering the financial situations of the members present, that was not an issue.
"Then, I will go complete the procedures," Elena said.
"Yeah, I'll go too. This is technically under my jurisdiction, so I think they'll accommodate me to a certain extent. Besides... I don't know if they have any rooms available, after all."
Since winter was approaching, many merchants were hurrying to purchase materials obtainable from this Dungeon, and naturally, inn rooms were filling up fast.
That, of course, would make securing a room difficult even at a high-class inn like this.
However, for an establishment of this caliber, it was standard practice to keep a few rooms available at all times in case of emergencies.
...That is, so they could be used if guests like the Guild Master of Gilm, a famous high-rank adventurer, or a symbolic figure of the Noble's Faction were to suddenly arrive.
Understanding this, Elena nodded in response to Marina's words.
Then, along with Ara, who had come into the carriage from the driver's seat, she stepped out.
After seeing Marina off, Rei and Elena also exited their respective carriages.
"At this rate... it looks like heading to the Dungeon will have to wait until tomorrow," Rei said.
"Indeed. I would have liked to enter the Dungeon today if possible, but... we've been traveling by carriage, so we must have some degree of fatigue. If so, there's nothing better than being fully prepared. Our opponent is an S-Rank monster, after all."
"Huh?"
Interrupting the conversation between Rei and Elena, a voice reached them, and the two turned toward it.
At the end of their gaze was a man in his twenties with an honest look about him.
(Hm? Last time, a kid showed Set to the stables, though... well, it's a high-class inn. I suppose they have plenty of staff.)
He was a face Rei hadn't seen during his previous visit, but several years had passed since he was last here.
Naturally, the staff would have turned over in that time.
In the first place, this was right next to the Dungeon, and unlike Gilm, which was protected by walls, it was highly dangerous.
Under normal circumstances, one wouldn't want to keep working in such a dangerous place for long.
Putting that aside, bothered by the words the man had just spoken, Rei addressed him.
"You said 'Huh?' Is something the matter?"
Asked by Rei, the man finally realized that he had made it blatantly obvious he had overheard their conversation... or rather, that he had been listening in.
For staff employed at a high-class inn like this, overhearing guests' conversations was naturally common.
However, making it obvious that one had overheard would displease the guests, so even if they listened, it was common sense to pretend they hadn't.
"Ah, um, I'm sorry. I just... couldn't help but overhear you talking about challenging the S-Rank monster, the Silver Lion."
"That's right. We're planning to head to the Dungeon tomorrow."
"I thought so... But, um, they say the Silver Lion in this Dungeon is incredibly powerful, you know? Um, many adventurers have challenged it so far, and every single one of them was struck down..."
The man trailed off at the end, but what had happened to the adventurers who had been struck down was clear just from looking at his pained expression.
"I would expect so. It's an S-Rank monster. We're well aware it has that kind of power. But we have a reason we absolutely must defeat it."
Muttering as he turned his gaze toward Elena's carriage, Rei's expression held the resolve to defeat the Silver Lion no matter what.
Vihera, who looked as though she were merely sleeping, had not opened her eyes even once since the day of that battle with the Unbris.
If it was to save her, Rei was willing to go as far as challenging an S-Rank monster without a second thought.
Since he had been inside the carriage until just now, Rei had taken off his hood, and seeing his face, the man must have decided that nothing he said would stop him.
But... even so, the staff member apparently couldn't stand the thought of someone dying needlessly, and he opened his mouth to speak.
What was unfortunate for this staff member was, first and foremost, that he was an ordinary person with no connection whatsoever to violence.
If he had even a shred of confidence in his own abilities, he might have been able to look at Rei and Elena and understand their level of skill.
And as the greatest misfortune of all, Set had been hidden behind the carriage and was out of sight.
"Gruu?"
Because of that, when Set, curious about the voices of Rei and the man talking, peeked out from behind the carriage, the man stopped mid-motion, about to say something.
His first thought was: what in the world was that monster in front of him?
A monster that exuded an overwhelming presence. ...In reality, Set was not giving off that kind of intimidating aura.
It was simply that the man felt that way upon seeing Set.
...Though, given that he was looking at a gryphon, that was understandable.
If anything, this man's reaction was the normal one. The fact that Set was treated like a beloved pet in Gilm was what was truly abnormal.
"Hii!?"
"Ah... don't worry. Set is gentle, despite how he looks. He won't attack as long as you don't harm him."
Must be a guy who wasn't here when I visited last time.
Thinking that, Rei calmed the man down.
He did so while stroking Set's head to show that the gryphon was gentle.
Being suddenly frightened by the man was probably a sad experience for Set.
But seeing him purring happily as Rei stroked him, the man couldn't comprehend what was happening right before his eyes. Eventually, hearing Set let out a pleased cry as Rei petted him, the man's eyes went wide.
To the man's eyes, the creature Rei was petting could only be a gryphon.
Yes, a gryphon—an A-Rank monster.
Under normal circumstances, it was a monster that would never become this accustomed to people.
"Eh? Huh? Umm..."
Seeing such a gryphon purring like a kitten with Rei, the man was bewildered.
While stroking Set, Rei spoke in a calming manner.
"I told you, didn't I? Set won't go on a rampage as long as we don't do anything to him. ...More importantly, I want to take Set to the stables. Can I just head over there myself? There's the issue with the horses, too."
Prompted by Rei's soothing, instructive tone, the man finally seemed to snap back to reality.
He hurriedly bowed his head and spoke.
"I'm very sorry. I'll go fetch the person in charge right away, so please wait just a moment."
As they watched the man's retreating back, Min emerged from the other carriage.
"Rei, maybe you shouldn't tease people so much?"
"No, I really didn't intend to tease him at all."
"...You mean you did that seriously? Well, rather, since you're always with Set, maybe your senses have gotten numb to that sort of thing."
Rei only gave a small shrug in response to Min, who muttered with a hint of exasperation.
Just as Min said, he hadn't done what just happened on purpose.
That being the case, he had nothing to say in return.
As if to rescue Rei, Marina and Ara returned from the inn.
"We managed to secure rooms. But, as expected for this season, we could only get two rooms..."
"Hm? In that case, do we split up as our group and Rei's group? Or a men's room and a women's room?"
"That's... let me think."
At Min's words, Marina turned her gaze toward Rei.
Marina's honest feeling was that she would welcome sleeping in the same room as Rei.
However, she also felt it would be a bit wrong to do so given that Vihera's consciousness had not yet returned.
Elena felt the same way; her cheeks faintly flushed at Min's words, but she shook her head.
"Indeed. I think a men's room and a women's room would be better."
"I agree with Lady Elena."
Ara nodded at Elena's words as well, and with no objections from the others, they ultimately decided on the safe option of splitting into a men's room and a women's room.
"Then, we'll need to carry Vihera and Rhodos."
"Being carried by a man would be unpleasant for her in various ways, so I'll carry Lady Vihera."
"Well, it's only right that I carry Rhodos."
It was decided that Ara would carry Vihera, and Elk, who had stepped down from the driver's seat, would carry Rhodos.
At a high-class inn like this one, they could have easily had the inn staff carry them.
However, Rei and the others had no intention of leaving Vihera to others.
It wasn't that they distrusted the Inn Staff; it was more that they didn't want strangers touching her more than necessary.
Watching the staff from the inn arrive to guide them with the carriages and horses, Rei steeled his resolve. It was finally time.