I briefly considered telling the two of them about my Relic, [the Tranquil One].
I couldn't very well tell them about [Banish], but this one should be fine.
Besides, I wanted them to know more about [the Tranquil One]in detail.
They were delvers, so maybe they'd already heard of it.
"As it happens, I have another Relic."
"Huh? Like me? You've got two?"
"What kind of Relic?"
"...It's [the Tranquil One]."
"[The Saint]!?"
"What did you say!?"
"Wh— no! Not that! It's the Still One— [the Tranquil One]!"
Well, it was only natural they'd associate it with the super ultra rare Relic [the Saint].
Even I had thought of it first.
Relic [the Saint] was connected to the supreme Relic [Hostia].
Possessing it would guarantee you a spot as a Class I delver.
At least, as far as was publicly known, no one currently possessed it.
Minheha let out a sigh.
"So what, is it a knockoff?"
"That's not it..."
"There's a Relic called [the Tranquil Person]— the Still One, as in a person."
Axe murmured.
"What does it do?"
"When you use it, you become calm for just an instant."
"A Relic that's useful... and also kind of not."
"Apparently it's handy when you need to stay calm—you can use it to settle yourself."
"Hmm. When you put it that way, I guess so."
It was true—being able to become calm even for just an instant made it useful.
It was perfect for delvers.
"Only for an instant?"
"That's right, that's what I've heard."
"Wof, what about your [Tranquil One]? What kind of Relic is it?"
"Um, it lets you act in a calm state for a set period of time."
There was also the part about hearing voices, but that was still unclear.
It probably enhanced your hearing or something like that.
"Wait. That sounds like—"
"—a superior version of [the Tranquil Person]."
Just as I expected. I decided to ask anyway.
"Um, as for anyone who possesses my Relic [the Tranquil One]—"
"Not that I know of."
"That's the first I've heard of it too."
"...Right."
Haah. Right.
Axe gave a thoughtful nod.
"This is an emergency situation and you asked, but it's not really something we should be spreading around."
"My [Spiral] is the same way—rare things make you a target."
"That's right..."
Especially since I wasn't a delver.
If it came down to it, I could eliminate anyone—but that would draw attention, and I didn't want that.
Besides, eliminating people was exhausting for the soul.
Using [the Tranquil One]might help with that... but I felt like I'd be losing something.
"Relax. I won't tell anyone."
"Me neither."
"Th— thank you."
Both of them seemed to have read my feelings.
I was grateful.
"Still, Axe. You sure know a lot about Relics."
Minheha said with a deadpan look. I'd been thinking the same thing.
Axe prefaced his reply with a caveat.
"I have my reasons. But Relics are essential to delvers. Even if you can't use them yourself, there's no harm in keeping the information in your head. If you ever need to deal with one, you'll be prepared."
Deal with. I understood what that meant.
Delver versus delver combat. Dungeons had no law.
Even if national law prohibited fighting among delvers—
It meant nothing inside a dungeon.
Anything that happened here was permitted.
Permitted. Perhaps that was the dungeon's law.
"—'Information is more powerful than anything,' that's what my master used to say."
"That's delver basics."
I'd remember that well.
Still, Axe and Minheha.
They seemed to be talking naturally.
They hadn't exactly become friends.
But I felt the animosity between them had dissipated.
Especially Axe—it was as if his aversion to Relics had faded.
Had something happened?
Well, regardless, it was probably a good sign.
"Anyway, where even are we?"
"A dungeon."
"I know that much. This isn't the third floor—the atmosphere is completely different. Wasn't this only supposed to be three floors?"
"Amateur thinking, but I can make a guess. I don't know how many floors there are, but this dungeon was originally a normal dungeon. Or rather, it was supposed to have spawned as a normal dungeon. However—"
"The dungeon's anomaly."
I couldn't help but chime in.
Axe nodded.
"Exactly. The anomaly's earthquake turned it from a normal dungeon into this."
"So all three floors became something like this?"
"That's just a guess. I'd need to investigate to say for certain."
"Then how did it end up like this?"
"That's probably because another earthquake struck."
I was the one who answered.
"An earthquake... come to think of it, there was one."
"I think that's what caused the dungeon to change again."
"Wof might be right. Right now, the anomaly subjugation is happening elsewhere. If you consider that another earthquake was triggered by that, it adds up."
"But do earthquakes normally work like that?"
My memories from my past life said otherwise, but this was another world's earthquake.
And this country—or rather, this continent—rarely experienced earthquakes.
Axe shook his head.
"It's the first time, so I wouldn't know."
"I don't either."
"Hmm. So which floor are we on?"
No one could answer Minheha's question.
I spoke up.
"All I know is that right now, our only option is to keep moving forward."
"Agreed."
"Yeah, that's right."
There was no other path.
We had no idea what lay ahead, but pressing on was our only choice.
Then I saw six red dots, visible through the wall ahead.
"There's enemies ahead—both of you!"
"What?"
"Is that from your Relic?"
"Yes. Moving red dots—six of them."
"That's a bit many."
"Wof, can you handle it? You take two, I'll take the remaining four."
"Hey, Axe—you're sending the hired hand out first?"
"...Got it."
I nodded.
Minheha looked at my profile with suspicion.
"Wof...? Can you actually fight?"
"Yes. I can."
I drew my knife and took my stance.