Chapter 39: Beneath the Surface
ㅤ”――Normally, there’s only one staircase per floor in a dungeon.”
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ㅤArne-san said gravely.
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ㅤ”Eh, is that so?”
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ㅤ”It is. Of course, not all floors of the countless dungeons out there have been fully explored, so I can’t say there are absolutely no exceptions. But, both ascending and descending, there’s never been a confirmation of more than one staircase on the same floor.”
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ㅤ”So, right now, there’s no way to go down to the third floor?”
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ㅤ”That’s what it comes down to. If I knew this would happen, I should have come with you.”
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ㅤ”I-I’m sorry.”
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ㅤ”Why are you apologizing? Minato, you made a significant discovery.
ㅤBut, we’ll stop here for today. Our original objective was to choose a campsite and create a sanctuary. We shouldn’t be too greedy.”
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ㅤ”Um… but if I’m the one who made the discovery…”
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ㅤ”If you want me to keep quiet, I will, of course… but don’t you want a reward?”
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ㅤ”For me, not standing out is the best reward.”
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ㅤ”I-I see…”
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ㅤArne-san gave a slightly strained smile.
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ㅤ――And so, my first ever dungeon exploration with a party came to an end.
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ㅤThe news that the person in charge of the Magician’s Guild had created a sanctuary at the campsite spread like wildfire through the Dungeon Front Plaza.
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ㅤThe three guilds jointly issued a special quest for setting up the camp, and the adventurers, delighted with the unexpected income, transported the mountains of materials piled up in front of the dungeon to the campsite.
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ㅤThe first floor of the dungeon was suddenly bustling with activity.
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ㅤHowever, there were a few people who didn’t join the flow.
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ㅤTaking advantage of the fact that her existence wasn’t widely known, Minato, a novice thief and magician, was ahead of the other adventurers in exploring the second floor.
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ㅤThere were reasons for this on the guild’s side.
ㅤWith the Special Envoy Knights breathing down their necks, they were finally able to set up camp, but it would be problematic if the path ahead was a dead end.
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ㅤOfficially, the Adventurer’s Guild was independent from the royal authority, but that was just for show. They were always struggling to maintain a power balance with the ruling power.
ㅤIf the guild couldn’t contribute anything to the prince’s crisis, their influence within the country would weaken.
ㅤAs the Special Envoy Knight had eloquently put it, there was a risk of debate arising about whether it was necessary to grant privileges to useless adventurers.
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ㅤTherefore, a competent adventurer who knew both Shizu, the representative of the Thief Guild, and Marianne, the representative of the Magician’s Guild, and who could keep a secret――in other words, Minato, was chosen for the task.
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ㅤHowever, the guild’s request to Minato was minimal.
ㅤThey simply asked her to explore the second floor in advance, which was something Minato intended to do anyway.
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ㅤSo, while the camp was being set up, Minato was exploring and mapping the second floor with the guild’s approval, investigating the inhabiting monsters.
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ㅤOf course, secretly from the guild, Minato was also verifying the Difficulty Change and collecting drop items.
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ㅤWhile these activities were happening beneath the surface, there were other movements happening beneath a different surface.
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ㅤLate at night, there was a discreet knock on the door of the stable with barracks built on the edge of the Dungeon Front Plaza.
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ㅤ”Who is it, at this hour?”
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ㅤInside the barracks, in the office, was Cretias Abygee Ziltemea, also known as the Complaint Knight.
ㅤCretias was struggling with the report he was writing to the royal capital, illuminated by the dim light of a cantera lamp.
ㅤHis mounting frustration contorted his handsome features into a grimace, and he challenged the visitor in a sharp voice.
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ㅤ”Who is it? Identify yourself.”
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ㅤWithout waiting for Cretias’s reply, the door opened, and a beautiful woman with red hair, clad in leather armor, entered.
ㅤIf Minato had been there, she might have thought to herself, “Oh crap.”
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ㅤCretias looked up and frowned openly.
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ㅤ”…Latifa? You bastard-born whore. I told you to stay away from me.”
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ㅤ”Oh my, that’s quite cold, brother.”
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ㅤ”Don’t call me brother. I have no sister like you. You should have just stayed married.”
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ㅤ”To that boring Marquis? No thank you. You only live once. I want to dream bigger.”
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ㅤ”Is crawling through dungeons with rats your dream?”
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ㅤ”Of course not. I’m not a woman who would end up in a place like this. And neither are you, Special Envoy Knight Cretias-san.”
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ㅤ”…What do you mean?”
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ㅤ”Our family home, the Loft Count House, isn’t exactly what you’d call an influential noble family.
ㅤEven you, despite being recognized for your swordsmanship and becoming a Special Envoy Knight, are looked down upon due to your family background and can’t get the promotion opportunities you desire.
ㅤDesperate, you latched onto the position of Special Envoy Knight, claiming it was to cure the Prince’s illness.
ㅤIt was also quite convenient that a dungeon entrance opened in your family’s Loft Count territory, wasn’t it?
ㅤIf you successfully bring back the Cockatrice beak, your achievement in saving the Prince’s life might be recognized, and you could potentially secure a key position within the Royal Guard…”
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ㅤ”…What are you trying to say?”
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ㅤ”It’s simple. Why don’t we join forces?”
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ㅤ”…What?”
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ㅤ”I’ll obtain the Cockatrice beak on the third floor of this dungeon. I’ll use the men I’ve gathered as shields and get it no matter what.
ㅤAnd then, I’ll present the Cockatrice beak to the Prince. I’ll say it’s an item obtained at the cost of my dear comrades, please accept it.”
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ㅤ”So you’re going to play the tragic heroine and get close to the Prince.
ㅤAnd you want me to mediate?”
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ㅤ”It’s not a bad idea, is it? Since we’re siblings, after all, it would be a heartwarming story if we said we worked together to obtain the Cockatrice beak.”
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ㅤ”What’s in it for me?”
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ㅤ”I heard one of your companions was killed by a trap during today’s exploration.”
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ㅤ”!”
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ㅤ”An elementary trap that a Thief, no, even a moderately experienced adventurer, would never fall for.
ㅤYou think you can proceed beyond the second floor while suffering casualties from something like that? No adventurer would cooperate with you because of your usual behavior.”
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ㅤ”Shut up!”
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ㅤ”You always say that when you’re cornered. Aren’t you becoming more like your hated father?”
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ㅤ”I said shut up!”
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ㅤLatifa ostentatiously shrugs her shoulders at Cretias, who is shouting with a red face.
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ㅤ”Think about it calmly. We’re even offering to overlook all the mistreatment we’ve received from you and cooperate?”
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ㅤ”Get out! Who would work with a slut like you—”
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ㅤ”Think carefully about what you’ll gain, Special Envoy Knight-san.”
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ㅤLatifa left the barracks after giving him a final sneer.
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ㅤCretias slams his fist on the crude desk.
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ㅤ”…Damn it.”
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ㅤHe gulps down the strong alcohol that was on the shelf and takes a deep breath, turning back to the report for the Royal Capital.
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ㅤ『
ㅤThe dungeon exploration is proceeding smoothly.
ㅤWe have secured the cooperation of adventurers on-site, and we are currently leading the exploration with them.
ㅤThe adventurer Latifa is my younger sister. Her status is not insignificant.
ㅤUpon hearing of the Prince’s plight, she could not stand idly by and offered her full cooperation.
ㅤThe first floor has already been conquered. We have built a camp and are about to embark on the conquest of the second floor.
ㅤI am confident that we will achieve good results soon.
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ㅤRoyal Guard Special Envoy Knight Cretias🔹Abygee🔹Ziltemea』