The nobles of the Kingdom of Holfart were originally adventurers.
Therefore, being an adventurer is a respectable profession managed by the state, and nobles also become adventurers once, following the example of their ancestors.
In the Academy, normally, regardless of upper class, everyone registers as an adventurer at the Adventurer's Guild, and there is a valuable lesson to learn about the hardships of their ancestors.
Well, reasons aside, for children of poor nobility, the adventurer business is a way to earn pocket money. It's a popular class at the Academy, and many students earn money as adventurers during holidays and long vacations.
Apparently my father and second brother earned quite a bit as adventurers.
The thought that that money is spent on socializing expenses like tea parties with girls makes me sad.
I'm not troubled by money, but when I hear “dungeon,” I still get excited.
In this otome game world, it's probably one of the things that piques my interest the most.
—Or so it should have been.
Mid-May.
The day when the first-year students become adventurers and are about to challenge the dungeon in the capital. I look around and am troubled by a sense of being out of place.
“Daniel and Raymond, even though their friend is in trouble, they ran away. No, I'd run too if I were in the same situation. But I would!”
Next to me, dressed in typical adventurer gear, is Olivia-san, also in typical adventurer gear. She looks at me apologetically.
“I-I'm sorry. Angelica-san insisted that I participate no matter what.”
I look at the troubled Olivia-san. Well, I know that complaining to her won't get me anywhere.
Today, the day we challenge the dungeon, I've been assigned to an incredibly high-status group.
A tall, slender man with blue hair and eyes who looks serious is clad in equipment that pursues only fashion, and I have no idea how he intends to protect himself. He has only a single sword at his waist.
A capture target, the serious front-line swordsman—or rather, in game terms, a swordmaster. Son of the Sword Saint of the Kingdom of Holfart, Chris Fia Arclight.
He is from a court noble family, the heir of a count's house that rose through the ranks with just a sword.
On the other hand, a muscular man with red hair standing on end, wearing a sleeveless outfit, carries a spear.
A rough man who says practical experience is more important than lessons, he has challenged dungeons since before entering the Academy and has defeated many monsters.
A capture target. A bold front-liner, and his family home is a count's house of the feudal lord nobility.
He's sleeveless, but he's a rich boy.
With his red hair and tanned, wheat-colored skin, he doesn't look like a young master at all.
His name is Greg Fou Seberg.
According to the game setting, he doesn't get along with Chris, but I think there was a friendship event partway through. It wasn't necessary for clearing the game, but if you did the friendship events, the later parts felt easier.
Julius Rapha Holfart, Jilk Fia Marmoria, Brad Fou Field, Chris Fia Arclight, Greg Fou Seberg—these five are the capture targets, the ones who become the protagonist's partners.
In the game, I fondly remember the order: black, green, purple, blue, red from top to bottom.
Normally, there would be another, an elf bishounen named Kyle, who would be added.
Kyle is a slave that the protagonist purchases—a personal servant.
He's a convenient character who normally takes care of her daily needs and tells you affection levels, and in battle supports you with magic.
He's supposed to be in the cute younger brother position, but I only ever felt like he was the protagonist's errand boy.
Incidentally, in Holfart, the middle name Rapha indicates royalty, Fia indicates a court noble, and Fou indicates a feudal lord noble.
The five are gathered, and among their entourage, those with strong arms are surrounding them. And among them, Olivia-san and I are mixed in.
One reason is the five's interest. Olivia-san is a scholarship student, and I am an adventurer with achievements… From the Academy's perspective, they probably want me to act as an escort for His Highness the Crown Prince in the dungeon.
Using the knights and soldiers brought from home would be considered boorish, and those around would see it as using their family's power. But if there's someone like me, a peer with outstanding achievements, it seems they can just say we were simply acting together.
I don't really understand it, but bringing strong knights and soldiers without permission would be a problem, so they probably settle things with students.
The Academy's intentions, Angelica-san's recommendation, and various other things overlapped to result in this situation.
Or rather… the place we're about to enter is the most basic of the basics. Having this many escorts is overprotective.
His Highness also seems bothered by it and had a slightly disgusted expression. Come to think of it, he said in the game that he hated this sort of thing.
Searching the surroundings, Angelica-san, His Highness's fiancée, is also in this group. Things like this are gender-equal. It's decided that everyone enters the dungeon regardless of gender.
In terms of numbers, it's a group of about thirty people. It feels like a lot, but this time, the dungeon is more like a sightseeing trip. It should be fine with this many.
“Still, even though we were called, no one has spoken to us.”
As I look around, Olivia-san seems worried.
“Should we speak up from our end?”
“Hmm, I don't know. We'd be seen as being presumptuous, and it might be better to follow orders.”
If I'm honest, I'm curious about who among them will end up with the protagonist, but since I don't want to get involved, I'd like to keep my distance.
The teacher begins explaining to everyone.
“Now, please form your squads. This time, you will turn back after reaching the second basement level of the dungeon. Do not proceed any further.”
Even though we're forming squads, we'll be moving about thirty people. With His Highness and the others who mustn't get injured in the center, we're the group walking at the very front. Well, that's not a problem.
However, when it comes to squad splitting, a problem arises.
“I said, know your place!”
Angelica-san's voice, filled with anger, echoed through the dungeon.
When everyone turned around, Angelica-san was standing in front of Marie.
The teacher is young, and with a duke's daughter as the opponent, he's flustered.
Observing the situation, it seems there was a dispute during squad splitting.
Marie moves behind His Highness.
“Angelica, that's enough already.”
To His Highness who shields her, Angelica-san retorts back.
“Your Highness, will you permit this person's selfishness?”
Marie, behind His Highness, was looking down. She pinches the hem of His Highness's sleeve with her fingers, making a cute gesture, but it irks me strangely.
“Your Highness, I… I just thought I wanted to be with you. If it's a bother, you can refuse, it's fine.”
Angelica-san snaps at Marie, showering her with angry shouts.
“Don't get carried away! Your status is different from His Highness. I've been lenient until now, but if you take that attitude—”
I had the image of Angelica-san often getting angry. It's the same in the game. She's a character likened to an instant water heater. Well, she's the villainess who's the protagonist's rival, I guess.
She was probably envisioned as a short-tempered, painful woman flaunting her beauty and family's authority.
But, this scene… originally, it should be Olivia-san next to me being protected. Olivia-san is just flustered saying things like, “Wh-what's going to happen!?”
…This one looks oddly cute. Completely different from Marie.
I think about why it turned out like this, but there's only one possible cause.
“That woman Marie, isn't she a bit odd?”
Olivia-san ponders a little at my words.
“N-now that you mention it, recently the bullying is worse for her than for me. From what others say, there are rumors that she's the daughter of an impoverished viscount house.”
A viscount house is larger in scale than a baron house, but for some, debts and territory befitting the title are in the past, and now there are many cases of small territory.
As the two of us talk, the surroundings also agree with Angelica-san.
“Cozying up that much in front of her fiancé is unthinkable.”
“That girl, she was friendly with other boys too, right?”
“I can't believe it.”
Judging from the reaction of those around, it seemed that this woman Marie had stolen the protagonist's position. As I try to ask Olivia-san—
“Enough is enough!”
His Highness raised his voice, and the surrounding students shut their mouths.
Angelica-san has a surprised face. “Yo-your Highness?”
Stepping forward as if to shield His Highness was Jilk, who usually seems gentle. He stands in front of Angelica-san, with his right hand extended sideways, showing a posture of protecting His Highness and Marie.
“Angelica-san, I'd like you not to trouble His Highness too much.”
“Trouble him? You say I am troubling him? I am thinking of His Highness's best interests—”
Snapping at those words was Greg, who had been looking bored. He had his spear shouldered and narrowed his eyes.
“That attitude is what I call annoying. Don't bring outside relationships into the academy. Just watching it gets on my nerves.”
While the surroundings can't answer back to the words of the heir of a powerful noble, His Highness speaks to the teacher.
“I apologize. We'll pair up with Marie here. Please arrange the rest appropriately.”
The teacher flusteredly nods repeatedly. “Y-yes!”
While Angelica-san is stunned, I don't miss the fact that only Marie, with everyone not looking, grins smugly.
◇
The dungeon in the capital, how do I put it… it really feels like an abandoned mine.
In the wide passageways, wooden pillars and beams are placed at regular intervals. Occasionally, ore protrudes from the walls, and that's also the treasure of the dungeon. Treasure chests also appear to have been placed at some point, but the cause hasn't been clarified. Probably it's for game-like reasons. There's no point in thinking too deeply.
Olivia-san is pulling out ore embedded in the wall. The ore she found is iron or something. Even the fact that ore like already refined iron appears is strange.
“Ehehe, I found it.”
Olivia-san looks happy, but when she wiped away sweat with her hand while engrossed, dirt got on the tip of her nose, making it dirty.
“Congratulations. This is definitely worth at least a hundred Dia.”
I receive the heavy lump of metal and toss it into the luggage bag.
The currency units are Dia and Dir. One thousand Dir is one Dia. Gold and silver coins also exist, but since there are notes and coins, they're rarely seen. Occasionally, high-quality gold coins that come out of treasure chests are said to have elaborate craftsmanship and be worth between fifteen hundred and two thousand Dia each.
Olivia-san looked around.
“What's wrong?”
“Oh, um… I was wondering why such phenomena happen in dungeons. I've heard there are treasure chests, and somehow it's strange, isn't it?”
I kind of feel like you shouldn't feel out of place about that. After all, it's a treasure house of materials and funds that has supported the kingdom.
“It's mysterious. Alright, let's move on.”
“W-wait! Don't you find it curious, Leon-san?”
I sigh.
“Not particularly.”
Olivia-san gets dejected.
“Leon-san is cold.”
We've gotten quite close, but… unfortunately, her origin is commoner. When she's eventually recognized as the Saint, she'll be an unreachable existence. Since I can't marry someone like that, it stops at friendship.
Really a shame.
If Olivia-san were a noble's daughter, I'd confess. Not for sweet reasons like her inner character—her heart—but realistically she's an ideal partner. She's from a rural remote island and seems to be thinking of returning to her family home in the future; she'd likely live in my family home without issues.
Truly a shame.
“Don't get down, let's quickly—oops, we'd better stop.”
The upstart and the scholarship student. There's no way we'd get along well with other squad members, so we're made to go ahead as a pair, but it's actually easier to move.
I push Olivia-san behind me, draw the sword at my lower back. It's not a sword but a broad-bladed katana. That Luxion guy said something like if I have a Japanese soul, a katana is best. I felt it was his way of provoking me, like “try using it if you can.”
…I'm not a descendant of a samurai or practiced kendo, but I gladly accepted. However, the katana that guy produced is a fantasy katana. It feels similar but different.
Olivia-san trembled behind me.
“That's… a monster.”
What appeared is a Giant Ant. A big ant with a body length of about seventy to eighty centimeters. But if its large jaws bite you, it's serious trouble. They often appear in dungeons in numbers. They're also called the dungeon cleaners, rumored to carry away fallen adventurers somewhere.
“In passageways like this, I can't use a rifle, so it's a pain.”
Even so, I'm rural-bred and my dad trained me. I remember him saying he'd at least teach me how to fight since I'd have to earn in dungeons in the future. He must have struggled in dungeons too.
The Giant Ants discover us and come at us one after another. Five of them.
First, I cut off the neck of the enemy in front. The monster disappears emitting black smoke, but I don't mind and attack the next.
Giant Ants are troublesome, but the joints between head and body are relatively brittle. The jaws and head are quite sturdy, so if you slash carelessly, you get deflected. So I aim for the weak spots.
“Alright, second one! And third!”
I keep splitting them with the katana in hand. I swiftly move to the side, swing down the sword repeatedly, and finally cut off the last Giant Ant's head, ending the battle safely.
In the game it's turn-based and you take attacks, but in reality, if you use positioning well you can avoid taking hits. Though the same goes for the opponent. If you get surrounded, you're really in trouble. Or rather, you die.
I shoulder my sword, and Olivia-san approaches. She's a little scared as the monsters emit black smoke and disappear.
“Leon-san, you were strong. You took down such scary-looking monsters one after another.”
It's true that Giant Ants are disliked by girls because of their appearance. But with a gun, one shot. If you hit, that is. And if you know how to defeat them, they're easier to handle.
“I know their weak points and such. Once you get used to them, Olivia-san, you can take them down easily too.”
Olivia-san makes a troubled face as I sheathe my sword and suggest moving on.
“Leon-san, you're reliable.”
“It's a breeze around here. And only small fry appear. Ah, watch out for traps. Al～right, let's go briskly!”
I'm concerned by Olivia-san's complicated expression.
◇
The group Julius and the others are in is basically the middle squad following behind the squad that went ahead. Behind them are also squads, so they're well protected front and rear. However, in the dungeon with its intricate branching paths, monsters sometimes jump out. Traps can also be dangerous. The dungeon goes underground. If you let your guard down on the first or second basement floor, you can even die.
Julius, experiencing his first dungeon and real combat, is sweating a little. Next to him, Jilk seems tense trying to protect Julius. Brad, who usually makes sarcastic remarks, is also quiet; Chris, out of nervousness, hasn't taken his hand off his sword hilt. Greg is used to the dungeon, but he seems bored, perhaps uninterested in this academy play-level adventure.
Julius pays attention to the woman behind him—Marie.
“Is your walking pace okay?”
To his somewhat awkward words, Marie smiled.
“I'm fine, Your Highness.”
To Julius, Marie is a girl who gives a fresh impression, the type not present at the palace. He's also heard about her hardships, which stirs his protective instincts.
Greg clicked his tongue.
“I'm more worried about His Highness the Crown Prince than about Marie. Marie is strong, but palace-bred people are frail, indeed.”
Chris narrowed his eyes at those words.
“…A rough country bumpkin has some nerve. But I won't overlook disrespect towards His Highness.”
Immediately Jilk intervenes.
“You're too serious, Chris-kun. Right now we're students, so there's no need to mind.”
Greg laughed loudly.
“Excuse me. But, thinking back, even among feudal lord nobles, there are big-headed ones. My bad.”
It's obvious who he's talking about. Brad had a vein popping on his forehead, adjusted his glasses, and spoke with an irritated, sarcastic tone.
“Muscle brains always think with brute force. Marie, marrying that kind of man will be tough.”
As Marie forced a smile, Brad retorted back. His flustered state seemed like he was trying to clear up Marie's misunderstanding.
“Hey, don't lie! I won't make a woman who comes to me suffer. The woman who marries Brad, who's full of sarcasm, will probably get tired of his overly picky personality.”
The escort squad nearby heard their argument and looked awkward. There are also squads protecting Julius and the others, and among them is Angelica.
A noisy group. But immediately, the atmosphere changes as Greg promptly readies his spear with both hands.
“…Hey, everyone on guard. Giant Ant.”
Everyone hurriedly took up weapons. In dungeons, especially in passageways, friendly fire from guns is scary. So they're not supposed to rely on guns. For self-defense, Jilk and the girls carry handguns, but boys are not allowed to carry firearms.
Greg was slightly flustered. “Number… six of them. They're coming from a side path.”
Brad, a bit panicked, had a bitter expression. “What was the advance squad doing!”
Chris silently drew his sword and took a beautiful stance. “If they came from a side path, then the advance squad probably didn't encounter them. Even so, six is a lot. Your Highness, please step back.”
However, Julius glanced at Marie once, then took a step forward and took up his sword. (I can't show a pathetic sight here.)
Greg whistled. “Nice, Your Highness. That's royalty for you.”
Jilk was exasperated at Julius's fighting stance but also readied his handgun. Jilk is skilled with guns.
Then Angelica, who was in the rear—
“What are you doing! Protect His Highness!”
Surrounding them are two groups of six to protect Julius and the others. Normally dealing with monsters is their job. But Greg shouted.
“Stand back!”
Swinging a spear with red decorations matching his hair and eyes, Greg rushed out, pushed past the escort students, and brought his spear down as if to smash. As the crushed Giant Ant was enveloped in black smoke, two others closed in from both sides. As Greg lifted his spear, one was bisected by a slash, and the other was burned by flames. Looking, it was Chris with his sword ready. Behind him was Brad with a staff. Brad had cast the magic.
“Your movements are wasteful.”
“Definitely a muscle brain. If you weren't here, we could've taken down three at once.”
Right after, two gunshots. Two Giant Ants, shot through the head, were disappearing enveloped in black smoke. From the muzzle of the revolver handgun Jilk had readied, white smoke rose.
“You're letting your guard down too much. —Your Highness.”
Then the last remaining one headed toward Julius. Angelica screamed.
“What are you doing! Protect His Highness quickly!”
To the screaming Angelica, Jilk said.
“It would be good to watch a little. Angelica-san, His Highness is not weak.”
Unlike Angelica who was flustered, Jilk was calm.
Julius dashed forward and raised his wide double-edged Western sword.
“Hah!”
With one downward blow, the Giant Ant was cleaved through head and body, disappearing in black smoke.
Julius felt sweat running down his cheek, wiped it with his hand, and noticed he was trembling. Then Marie, who had rushed over from behind, grasped Julius's hand.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
Julius felt relieved by the warmth of the delicate hand holding his.
(I feel relieved. Is this love? Or is it love?)
To Julius, Marie, who worries about him after the fight, was much more pleasing than Angelica, who tries to stop him when he tries to fight.
Angelica approached. At that moment, she pushed Marie aside as if to chase her away.
“Your Highness, I have brought a towel.”
But to Julius, that Angelica was bothersome.
“…I don't need it. More importantly, let's proceed.”
◇
The entrance to the second basement floor. If you go down the stairs from the first basement floor, it's the second basement floor, and once you arrive, today's class is over. To prevent students from getting carried away and going further, a teacher acting as lookout is waiting, and Leon and Olivia, who arrived, are to wait in a prepared room.
I look at the luggage I carried and smile.
“As expected of the capital's dungeon. When we were made to go ahead, I thought ‘All you noble brats, drop dead,’ but we got a huge haul of metal.”
Iron, copper, various others, but to have refined-like metal come out of the dirt—truly a fantasy world. I'm so grateful tears come out. And among them is a beautiful crystal called a magic stone.
Olivia-san picked up the crystal and looked at it.
“It's like a gem. So beautiful. What's it used for, I wonder?”
While calculating how much the treasure trove will sell for, I lecture about magic stones.
“Um, this and this makes two hundred Dia—ah, magic stones? Energy resources. Also, when smelting metals, if you toss them in the furnace, it seems to temper them nicely. I don't know the details, but it's some amazing stone. Since they sell for a high price, who cares.”
Altogether at least five hundred Dia. Since we went ahead and obtained them, they should be ours. The rich brats won't even glance at such treasure anyway.
“Even splitting this between the two of us, it won't even cover one tea party… damn, I've got to earn more.”
I have the tea set I bought last time, but if I buy tea leaves or sweets, a hundred Dia, two hundred Dia will be gone in an instant.
As I'm feeling down, Olivia-san talks to me. My consciousness keeps drifting to the future, so my responses are half-hearted. So I slip and talk about game knowledge and settings.
“Why do magic stones come out? I can accept metals because they're buried, but there's no mine that produces magic stones, and I've heard they only appear in dungeons, so I'm curious.”
“Ah～, that thing. That. When you defeat monsters, magic is released and accumulates in the soil. Then it becomes magic stones.”
“Is that so? I've never heard that? Um, the textbook says it's not yet clarified.”
“Trust me. I feel like I read it somewhere, so it must be right. Huh? Then, maybe treasure chests are also forms of accumulated magic? Magic, or rather, mana, is convenient, huh.”
For the next tea party, should I tailor it more to the partner? Then I'd need to buy a new tea set, but as an inexperienced me, wouldn't I look pathetic with just fancy gear? Damn, why is tea so deep? More importantly, I want a famous tea set. I'm beginning to understand how Japanese feudal warlords felt when collecting tea utensils. The tea parties in this world have something akin to the tea ceremony.
As I seriously ponder, Olivia-san peers into my face.
“…What?”
“Leon-san, you're knowledgeable. I'm surprised.”
Knowledgeable? That's wrong. Basically, it's a second life, yet my Academy entrance exam scores were mid-upper seventies. There are plenty of excellent students. But being praised makes me happy, so I'll be pleased. I'm a small person. But I don't hate that about myself.
“R-really? If there's something you don't understand, shall I teach you?”
She shows a beaming smile.
“Yes, please!”
Well, while searching for a marriage partner, looking after her studies shouldn't be a problem.