The sixth underground floor.
While we were exploring, Alette and her group defeated the floor boss, unlocking the seventh underground floor.
I'm gazing at the olive-green gemstone I'm holding in both hands — a peridot.
We've settled into a cozy room we found inside the cave and are taking a break.
It was our second day tackling the Dungeon, and we had already gathered plenty of Monster materials and Magic Stones.
In the end, we still hadn't opened the treasure chest we'd found first.
"Could it be a coincidence?"
Looking at the two gemstones, their shapes were identical.
It seemed like I could get a good price for them, but there was something oddly unsettling about the fact that the contents of a treasure chest that had suddenly appeared were identical to the gemstone we'd found first.
Around me, Aria and Eva were resting, and Clara had also settled in for a break.
The lantern cast its bright glow across the dim room.
Novem and May were keeping watch, so I tucked the gemstone away and settled into a seated position, resting my chin in my hands as I fell into thought.
(The August birthstone, connected to bonds and things like that, huh. From what Clara told me, I heard it was supposed to be fragile…)
Perhaps because it had been infused with magic, the gemstone had become harder than it should have been.
I was hopeful that if I had it appraised, it might fetch a price beyond my expectations.
But even so, I had a nagging feeling about something at the same time.
Aria and Eva were catching some sleep.
Clara was also asleep, dozing in a seated position.
I touched the Jewel and tried seeking the opinions of the Successive Heads.
The voice I heard belonged to the Sixth Generation.
"It might be a coincidence. But thinking about it now won't do any good. When you head back, ask that knight called Alette whether large quantities of peridot have been found."
Figuring I had no choice but to ask, I used Skills [Map] and [Search] to check on Alette's location.
After defeating the boss on the sixth underground floor, it seemed she had returned to the base within the Dungeon.
(...A bit early, but maybe we should call it a day.)
The only ones who had advanced to the seventh underground floor were Albano's group and Marina. The other parties still hadn't set foot on the sixth underground floor.
(Well, I guess asking will clear things up.)
I leaned my back against the wall and closed my eyes.
After resting.
Having finished our meal, we headed back down to the fifth underground floor and spoke with Alette and her group.
When I mentioned returning to the surface.
"In that case, that works out perfectly. Could you deliver a letter to my subordinates on the surface?"
That's what I was told.
It wasn't exactly small talk, but I went ahead and confirmed the treasure I had discovered.
While Alette wrote a letter to her subordinates, I asked her.
"Come to think of it, I found a treasure chest. I discovered some gemstones, but there's something I'm a bit curious about... Are the treasures in this Dungeon mostly gemstone-related?"
There do exist Dungeons like that from time to time.
If that were the case, it would trigger an obligation to report it to the Guild.
Alette's pen stopped for just a moment, but it quickly started moving again.
"No, I haven't heard anything like that. It's probably best not to mention such things to other parties."
Hearing that, I learned that the contents of the treasure chest weren't particularly skewed toward any one type.
"...I was a little curious. Finding the same gem twice in a row like that..."
Alette had just finished writing her letter and was waiting for the ink to dry.
She checked the contents, nodded, then looked my way.
"Well, if you've been an adventurer long enough, you're bound to get lucky like that now and then. What is it? If you're offering a gift, I'm happy to accept anytime."
Alette teased with a laugh, and seeing me at a loss, the knight serving as her deputy stepped forward.
"If you take it, you'll get the wrong idea, so please don't. Our captain here is actually quite innocent when it comes to matters between men and women — it'd be a whole hassle."
Saying that with a smile, she held out an empty envelope to Alette.
Alette snatched it away, folded the letter and tucked it inside, then sealed it.
And then she handed it to me.
"Leave it alone! W-well, it's nothing worth worrying about. Rather than appraising it here, I'd recommend taking it to a Guild-certified appraiser's shop. There are plenty of swindlers out there, so be careful."
I took the letter from a red-faced Alette and offered a wry smile and a nod.
(Even if I sell it, it'll have to wait until I'm back in Baim.)
Once we return to the surface, I'll have to deal with forming the party again, splitting up the income and rewards from this run — the thought of it all made me sigh.
Just then, a blood-covered woman hauled a massive bundle up to the fifth-floor base.
I panicked, thinking she was injured, but Alette just let out a long breath.
"Marina, buying again? You could just go up to the surface yourself, you know."
The blood-soaked woman replied:
"Too much hassle. I pay the commission to Alette and the others, and that's that, right? I don't mind if it's a little steep — just sell me medicine and preserved food."
She dropped the heavy bundle on the ground and shook out her long, messy black hair.
Blood splatters around.
She had red eyes, and when she set her large bundle on the ground, it made a wet squelching sound.
Alette stood up from her chair and started chattering away.
"Good grief, at least try to take care of your appearance a little. Someone, prepare some hot water. And bring medicine supplies and preserved food too. Marina, how much do you need?"
Marina, grateful for Alette's quick response, thanked her as she spoke.
"Medicine, one set. Food... ten days' worth? Also, Frogmen have come out from the seventh basement floor. They don't have much bite, but there are plenty of puddles. They've got the home advantage and are pretty lively down there. Oh, and I don't need hot water."
Alette placed her left hand on her hip and pointed at Marina with her right.
"Go clean yourself up. Poor hygiene can slow the healing of wounds. But, the information is appreciated. I'll give you a good price."
Perhaps uninterested, Marina waved one hand dismissively.
"Having too much on me inside the Dungeon is just a hassle. But, let me rest for a bit. Have the amount ready after deducting the cost of medicine, food, and labor fees."
Marina, who was tall and wore a coat, was lightly dressed.
I couldn't help but shudder at the thought of whether she had fought Monsters bare-handed.
(Did she use magic? No, if she had, she wouldn't be that covered in blood... Besides, she has the aura of a warrior.)
As I was thinking that, Marina turned her gaze toward May, who had been talking with Novem.
Alette made a displeased face.
"Hey, don't start a fight here."
Marina scratched her head.
"It's not a fight, though. But there are sure a lot of strong-looking people here. It's giving me goosebumps. Hey, Alette... who's that kid next to you?"
Glared at by those red eyes, I almost reached for the hilt of my Saber in an instant.
A voice came from Jewel.
Third Generation.
"Lyle!"
It was a serious voice. Hearing that, I stopped reaching for my weapon and steadied my breathing.
I looked at Marina.
"Could you stop sending out killing intent?"
She looked slightly surprised at first, but then she started laughing.
"That's more like it! Kid, what's your name?"
(Being treated like a kid? It doesn't seem like she's that much older than me, age-wise.)
I introduced myself.
"I'm Lyle. Lyle Walt."
Upon hearing that, Marina handed her belongings to Alette's subordinate and headed toward the area sectioned off by curtains.
"I'll remember that."
She walked away looking rather amused, and she didn't exactly seem like someone who was harmless.
I turned back to Alette. However, Alette was looking at me with a serious expression.
"...Walt? There was a noble family with that name in Banseim. Lyle, were you originally a noble?"
After a moment of deliberation, I replied to Alette with a smile.
"It's bad manners to pry so deep into things, Alette."
Alette shrugged her shoulders.
"You're right. My apologies. Well then, I'll be counting on you regarding the letter."
By the time we returned to the surface, it was around noon on the third day.
We made it back relatively quickly and headed toward the building that housed the Guild, carrying our belongings.
Passing adventurers glanced sideways at us when they saw the Mini Porter loaded down with our spoils.
"Hey, is that the Porter everyone's been talking about?"
"So someone's already got one working."
"Must be nice. With just that one, imagine how much you could haul."
Rather than our earnings, it was the usefulness of the Porter that caught their attention, and they looked on with envy.
As the developer, I was quietly pleased about that.
Clara called out to me.
"Lyle, the town has gotten bigger again."
After even a short time away, the town's development seemed to have advanced further.
I agreed with Clara.
"Yeah. But I have to wonder — what exactly is the point of making it this big?"
Was it really necessary to go this far? I was mulling that over as we made our way to the Guild, where we would learn a surprising truth.
We headed for the building that housed the Guild's branch office.
Next to the building, in a marketplace-like area, merchants were purchasing Monster materials from adventurers.
The Guild was buying Magic Stones, and the crudely made signboard had a corrected rate written on it.
The purchase price had gone up slightly compared to before.
I spoke to the staff member handling the buyback.
"The price is higher than last time."
"Yes, there's been a change over at Baim. We need to match it here too, of course. So even if the rate drops in the future, please don't complain."
The staff member was giving a wry smile, probably because people complained whenever the buyback price dropped.
I was starting to feel sorry for them.
"Well, as long as the price is fair, I've got no complaints. Still, this place has really developed, hasn't it? Was it necessary to go this far?"
The male staff member looked at me.
"Ah, you haven't been around lately? Actually, there's a river nearby, and it seems this area is well-suited for settlement. Right now we're surveying the surroundings, but once the Dungeon subjugation is finished, we'll use this as a base for expansion. I just received orders by express rider from Baim to proceed with that policy…"
It seemed they intended to turn this place from a temporary settlement into a real town.
A small village like this could disappear at any time.
If nothing was done, the harvest would only keep declining. Besides, Baim had a population far larger than it could handle.
They had surplus labor, so they'd decided to push forward with settlement.
The Successive Heads voiced their exasperation, one after another.
Starting with the Third Generation.
*"Can't really blame them. The scale is completely different."*
*"But honestly, it's a surprisingly practical idea."*
*"If they're going to build something anyway, might as well reuse what's already there."*
*"…And while they're at it, they'll survey the area and have adventurers confirm it's safe."*
*"Well, there's the Dungeon subjugation too, so it's hard to argue against it."*
Seeing my surprise, the staff member smiled and said:
"Oh, this sort of thing doesn't happen that often. Normally, they just set up a minimal, simple structure and use it as a base. And when they're done, they'll make sure to demolish it properly so bandits can't use it afterward."
It would be a disaster if the former base ended up as a hideout for bandits.
Once everything was finished, they'd probably clean it up and head back to Baim.
"So that means adventurers get those kinds of requests in Baim too? Things like investigating the surrounding area?"
The clerk nodded while continuing with the paperwork.
"Quite a few, actually. Until the fifth basement floor opens up, plenty of adventurers are willing to take on requests to fill the gap in the meantime."
The money earned that way flowed down into the city.
In reality, after earning serious coin here, how much savings would most adventurers have when they returned?
(It looks like they earn it just to spend it.)
That was my impression.
"If you're not planning to tackle the Dungeon, why not try taking on a request? In a little while, people bringing slaves will start gathering in force to begin the real push for expansion."
Thinking that things were moving remarkably fast, I—
(Slaves? They're bringing slaves here and putting them to forced labor?)
That's what I was thinking.
—Seventh basement floor.
The moment Albano's party found a treasure chest, they immediately checked for traps.
The corpses of Monsters floated in the surrounding water, and Albano and his companions were submerged up to their knees.
They were frog-shaped beings wearing chest plates, wielding spears and shields.
The Frogmen floated there, covered in wounds, staining the water red with their blood.
One of Albano's party members spoke up.
"No traps! And while we're at it, this one's a beauty—it's gem-related. I caught a faint glint. This is some serious loot, Boss!"
Albano watched the party member who still insisted on calling him "Boss" with a bitter expression.
"It's Leader. Get it wrong one more time and I'm cutting your share. More importantly, gems, huh… We've finally hit the jackpot after coming all this way."
The treasure they'd found so far had been rare metals—metals imbued with magical power, but nothing more than copper or iron.
They weren't cheap, but they certainly couldn't be called extraordinarily valuable either.
(To break out of this life, money is essential no matter what. I'd love to get my hands on some real treasure, but...)
One of his companions dug the treasure out from the wall.
But what lay there was—
"...Huh? Just iron? That can't be right—ow!"
Albano slapped the back of his companion's head and yelled at him.
"It is just iron! You got my hopes up about gems and whatnot. Damn it, we're calling it a day. We're heading back down to the fifth floor, and I'm borrowing a spot from the boss lady to sleep. We already found the boss room anyway. We'll head back up and have some fun later."
When the others heard that, they started making a racket.
"Now I can drink!"
"Hey, anyone wanna hit the gambling dens with me?"
"I want women!"
Watching his companions obey their baser instincts, Albano forced a smile on his face, but inwardly he clicked his tongue in bitter frustration.
(Damn it! Every last one of them, content with the way things are... We went from the absolute bottom of the barrel as bandits, and now they're satisfied being bottom-tier adventurers.)
Albano and his crew had been thieves from the day they were born. Children of thieves, they'd been taught to pick locks and steal long before they'd learned to read, write, or do arithmetic.
One of his companions was still tilting his head in confusion.
"But I really saw it, though. It was a yellowish-green glow—I was sure it was peridot..."
Albano stared at the companion he'd just hit in exasperation.
"Come on, let's move it. If you keep dawdling like that, I really will cut your share."
"W-wait, come on. I've got tabs to pay. If I can't settle up, I can't go have fun, Albano."
Albano kicked his companion.
"Then hurry up!"
Deep inside him,
(Every last one of them — booze, women, gambling... Someday, I swear, I'm going to break free from this bottom-of-the-barrel life.)
Albano's wish — to walk a proper path. Reaffirming that resolve, he took the lead toward the fifth basement level, his companions in tow.
—Back at base, Lyle's party had returned.
At night, Novem woke alone and stepped outside.
She looked up at the moon, and her breath turned white.
The cold was growing stronger. She worried it might even snow.
"We should warm things up. We might need to buy some firewood, too."
Novem gazed up at the moon, thinking it would be terrible if Lyle caught a cold.
Around her, adventurers were rowdy in the tavern, gambling and shouting.
Win, and there was joy. Lose, and there was anguish.
The voices of adventurers who'd bought the company of prostitutes could be heard as well.
Novem didn't find any of it annoying.
Aria sometimes complained about flushing and being unable to fall asleep. Clara, too, would sometimes look drowsy.
Shannon had been told by Miranda to go to bed early, so she looked confused.
Eva chatted with her fellow elves, and May enjoyed visiting the stalls.
Monica was her usual self, regardless of how noisy things got around her.
You couldn't exactly call it smooth sailing, but even so, Novem still found the current situation preferable.
Miranda appeared to be on guard, but if that was for Lyle's sake, then Novem was glad of it too.
What did concern her, however, was—
(That Peridot… she's probably telling Octo that we're being watched)