"So, originally, we were just going to inform the captain, but then he decided to join us."
"Not bad. It's nice to have more people around; makes things more lively!"
Walking along the street with Tiona and Ais, Shirou listened to their stories and nodded slightly.
It was indeed much safer to have Finn and Riveria with them.
After all, they were two of the finest adventurers in Orario.
Shirou, Tiona, and Ais had just finished their shopping trip at the Dian Cecht family shop and were heading toward the central square under the Babel Tower to meet the others.
Earlier, the group of seven had split into three teams, going to different locations to make various preparations.
After all, a long stay in a dungeon with limited supplies required more weapons, equipment, and provisions than usual.
Being well-prepared for any eventuality was the proper attitude of an adventurer.
Therefore, the supplies bought by the three who went alone to the Dian Cecht family shop could have piled up like a mountain.
When they arrived at the meeting point, the others hadn't arrived yet; they were the first group to show up.
However, it didn't take long for Riveria, Lefiya, Finn, and Tione to arrive one by one.
Finally, everyone was there for the dungeon exploration.
"Looks like everyone's ready. Let's go."
"Wow, it's been ages since we explored a dungeon together."
"Geez, you're making me feel like I shouldn't even be here. Are you teasing me?"
"Yeah, sorry. I forgot Shirou is a rookie. He's almost level 4 now, but it seems like he's been here forever."
"Haha, that just proves Shirou is trustworthy."
"Hahaha!"
Amid the laughter, Shirou and his group of seven set off toward the dungeon.
This adventure was destined to be full of twists and turns.
---
At Twilight Manor, Loki looked around, searching for familiar faces.
Finally, she found Bete in the reception room, where the group usually gathered.
"Hey, Bete, are you alone? Where are Ais and the others?"
"They're in the dungeon with Finn and the others; they probably won't be back anytime soon."
"Eh?! You're abandoned?"
"No!"
Bete, enraged, immediately stood up to assert his presence, hiding his feelings.
But to Loki, who knew him well, this was childish behavior.
After a few comforting words from Loki, Bete fell silent again.
After a brief pause, Loki suddenly said, "Hey, Bete, could you come with me today?"
"Huh?"
Bete looked at Loki, confused, waiting for her to continue.
"There's something I want to investigate."
---
Shirou and his group departed from Babel Tower at noon, as planned.
Upon entering the dungeon, goblins and kobolds seemed to block their path, but for them, the presence or absence of these monsters made no difference.
Witnessing Ais and Tiona's skill at the forefront, even the monsters began to avoid them.
The other adventurers were even more cautious.
Soon, Shirou and his companions crossed the upper floors and reached the seventeenth floor.
"Ah, my Urga is really comforting."
"Has your weapon been reforged?"
"Yes!"
In response to Tiona's question, Tione effortlessly twirled the Great Twin Blades with one hand.
"The hard work of the Goibniu family is truly amazing…"
Watching the Urga in Tiona's hands, Shirou sighed.
A weapon of such magnitude would require several blacksmiths working tirelessly day and night.
A weapon of that scale was beyond Shirou's current capability.
"I remember you were experimenting with a magic sword. Want to try it here?" Lefiya asked Shirou as she collected magic stones and materials from the ground.
Hearing Lefiya's question, the others turned their attention to Shirou.
"Not now. The magic sword I'm making is meant to replace the Múspellsflamme arrows. The terrain here is still too confined and small for testing."
Since dungeons are generally conical in shape, the higher the floor, the larger the area.
Thus, the first seventeen floors, due to their size, are almost entirely labyrinthine.
Beyond the seventeenth floor, there are hardly any labyrinths—well, almost. The fifty-first floor is still a maze.
The passages on the first seventeen floors are extremely narrow.
Many paths were only wide enough for one person to pass. Using an attack on the scale of Múspellsflamme in such a place would be suicide.
"No, you can't test your magic sword here."
Testing here?
You'd really die.
"Haha, I wouldn't test the magic sword here, Lefiya, so don't be so scared."
Shirou gently pinched Lefiya's cheek and teased her with a smile.
"Lefiya, you're scared, aren't you?"
"Lefiya, you're such a coward!"
"Hang in there, Lefiya!"
Everyone couldn't contain their laughter at Lefiya's adorable expression.
Amid the laughter, the group quickly reached the end of the seventeenth floor, where the Floor Master resided.
However, there was no sign of him.
"The Floor Master isn't here. Has someone already defeated him?"
"It seems the adventurers from Rivera City came and defeated him, claiming he was obstructing the passage or something like that."
Since the Floor Master was no longer present, many Minotaurs roamed the area.
But before this group, these monsters were like ants trying to stop a carriage.
After all, the target of this expedition was the depths beyond the thirty-seventh floor!
The monsters on the intermediate floors proved to be quite intimidating.
After defeating them with ease, the seven descended to the eighteenth floor, one of the safe floors in the dungeon.
"This place is always beautiful."
"Indeed!"
Dense forests, majestic trees, and crystal-clear streams.
This forested environment was a favorite of the elves, and Riveria and Lefiya were delighted.
"What should we do now? Should we go straight to the nineteenth floor?"
"Let's go to Rivira City first. If we don't get rid of the magic stones and materials we collected along the way, our bags will fill up quickly."
With that, the group headed toward Rivira City.
---
(End of this chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."