Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

"Moving around in such a large group will be inconvenient for others. How about we go our separate ways from here and go wherever we want?"

Hermes opened his arms and made a suggestion, which everyone agreed to.

We stipulated that no one could act alone, and then everyone freely formed small groups.

"Okay, Belle, let's go shopping together! — But you're not allowed to come along!"

"Uh, God, um...!"

"..."

After the fairy gave Miss Ais a command, she took my hand, and we walked from the square into the depths of the town.

□

Rivera Town is based on nature, and the temporary huts built there are almost all shops.

Weapon shops, item shops, cramped inns, and a handful of taverns all cater to adventurers.

The streets were populated only by adventurers and a few supporters. These high-ranking adventurers were all heavily armed, top-tier equipment—and all were fully equipped, ready to fight at any moment—everywhere you looked there were people carrying two-handed greatswords, halberds, and even full-plate armor. Compared to the "Adventurer's Street" on the ground, this place exuded an eerie, chilling atmosphere.

After seeing this scene, I believe that apart from monsters, probably no one would want to attack the town of Rivera.

Why did you follow me?!

"Gods, gods, please calm down...!"

"Haha, isn't it great to have a lively and bustling atmosphere?"

Under the vast, crystal-clear sky, Bell walked through the intricate, narrow rock alleyways.

Ais, a huffy Hestia, along with Hermes and Asphie, admired the beautiful street scene. The town, with its varied terrain, was filled with lush vegetation and crystal pillars.

"Um, everything displayed in the store... seems really expensive?"

"That's the charm of Rivera..."

In Bell and Ais's line of sight, the weapons and items posted in each shop were priced one or two zeros higher than the same items sold on the ground.

As they browsed the shops, Asifi and Hermes provided explanations.

"Here, the prices of weapons, tools, food, and other items are several times higher than usual."

"Because it's not easy to secure supplies in dungeons, items can still be sold no matter how much the price is inflated."

Hermes is right. It is difficult to replenish supplies such as drinking water and food in this enclosed underground labyrinth. Therefore, the people of Rivera take advantage of the fact that adventurers cannot carry too many items, which is why they do business this way.

"It's the same principle as the value of water in the desert..."

Even if an item can be obtained at a low price or for free, its value will change once it is moved to a specific location.

Either they spend a lot of money to buy life-saving items, or they die because they can't bear to spend the money.

The people of Rivera make adventurers choose between the two options.

Everything here, including the magic stone lamp, is very expensive.

"Unbelievable! A backpack costs 20,000 falies... There should be a limit to such exorbitant prices!"

"The price of these whetstones is outrageous..."

Lily slung her newly bought large backpack back on and said angrily, while Welf looked at the whetstones for repairing weapons displayed in the store and muttered to himself.

Under the eaves where pedestrians passed by, not a single shop assistant was soliciting customers. Instead, they sat down in the shop with sneers on their faces.

They were also adventurers (in the same trade), and their fierce faces clashed terribly with the beautiful street scene.

"That's why we didn't stay in this town, but instead camped in the forest—"

"If we let so many people from the 'Expedition' stay here, they'll be ripped off for a huge sum of money."

Lily and Welf's faces flushed red and then turned pale, while Tiona smiled wryly with her hands behind her head; and Tione sighed with annoyance. Lily and the others lost everything they had on their way to the 18th floor and must now collect their equipment from each shop. The twin sisters, acting as their seniors, accompanied them and watched them shop.

"That's why Lily says she hates adventurers! They get so greedy when it comes to money, taking advantage of others without a second thought!"

"I do know a fellow Lilliputian who's equally stingy, and there are some things I'd really like to say to her... Little Lily, how about you open a shop here too?"

"..."

"Hey, don't actually consider it."

Those who try to buy things here based on local values ​​will undoubtedly suffer the consequences.

"Even the money exchange..."

"They really will do anything..."

"...Wow, that's amazing!"

The building, decorated with images of bulls (Minotaur), blue and purple crystals, and more ornate than the surrounding shops, is a collection point for items such as "magic stones" and "dropped items."

Before the speechless Ming, Sakura, and Chigusa, a massive beast fang, seemingly belonging to a large-scale monster, was being traded. The adventurer (seller) who brought the item over cursed and spoke aggressively; however, the shopkeeper's adventurer (buyer) maintained a nonchalant attitude, as if to say, "If you're not happy, go somewhere else." In the end, the beast fang was sold to that shop, and the adventurer left the store with a flushed face.

Buying items like magic stones for less than half the price on the ground and then exchanging them for cash at the original price when bringing them back to the guild—this business model couldn't be simpler. Such purchase prices would normally infuriate adventurers (sellers), but carrying too many magic stones and dropped items would only be a hindrance. Therefore, they would sell their items here first before venturing into the dungeon.

For adventurers who run shops, since they can purchase these items without any effort, they can earn more profit than the difference.

"They really know how to rip you off..."

"Sakura-sama...you're right, but please have some self-respect!"

Raising the acquisition price will not trigger price competition.

Because the shop of the strongest—the one that can shut up other shopkeepers with brute force—has the highest purchase price in town.

A burly man carrying a stick and wearing an eye patch glared at them fiercely, and Ming and Qiancao pulled Yinghua away in a panic.

"Buy goods at low prices and sell them at high prices."

This is the motto of the purchasing station owners in Rivera.

"...But Hermes, what about the most important thing—money? Adventurers can't possibly carry that much gold into the dungeon, can they?"

Like Lily and the others, Bell and his group were also browsing through many shops when Hestia asked a question. She was holding a certain item... a bottle of perfume, staring at it with a furrowed brow.

Hermes pointed to a shop where the owner had taken out parchment and was asking the adventurer to sign it.

"Like that, write a contract. Have the adventurer (the person in question) sign the contract, fill in the [Family] emblem, and then collect the money."

In Rivera Town, transactions are conducted through barter and receipts.

Since no one would carry gold coins while exploring a dungeon, thus increasing their luggage, the shopkeeper would keep the customer's name and the insignia of their "Family" as a seal. Two days later, after returning from the dungeon, the shopkeeper would take the receipt to the customer's faction to request payment.

The opposite is true for purchasing stations. The store will issue a receipt and ask customers to go to their own station to collect the money.

Therefore, unidentified suspicious persons cannot conduct transactions in "Rivera Town".

"Hestia hasn't designed a badge yet, right? For Bell's sake, it's better to prepare one. Besides, faction badges are like ID cards. With a badge, you can get along well in many ways in the city."

"Hmm... the badge—that makes sense..."

Hestia crossed her arms and looked up at the blue sky below.

The immediate priority should be resolving the current situation of having only one member, but after hearing about their exclusive badge, Bell couldn't help but feel a little excited. With the badge, they would look more like a "Familia," he thought, glancing at the badge on Asphie's combat suit with its winged travel hat and sandals, and couldn't help but have pleasant fantasies.

Perhaps it was because I was distracted. Suddenly, there was a "thump"...

“Ah?”

"Ah...yes, I'm sorry!"

He bumped into the shoulder of an adventurer who was about to pass by.

Bell quickly apologized to the person striding confidently down the narrow path. Seeing the man's face, his memory was suddenly triggered. A fierce appearance with wounds on his forehead and cheeks… “Ah!” Bell remembered, and at the same time, the adventurer before him widened his eyes.

"You little rascal, you wouldn't happen to be...!"

"No mistake! Mordo, this guy is the brat from the tavern back then!"

A fierce-looking human named Modo, and two men standing behind him.

They were adventurers who were beaten up and kicked out of the tavern by Ryu and others when the "Fertile Mistress" held a celebration for Bell's upgrade.

As Bell was feeling surprised, Mordo's expression twisted with anger.

"What are you doing here, you brat...!"

Mordo seemed to still harbor resentment over the embarrassment at the tavern and made a move to grab Bell.

However, he froze when he saw the Fiora (Ais) next to him.

Modo's eyes twitched, his mouth agape, and he shrank back at the expressionless girl's golden eyes. After clicking his tongue, he left with his companions.

"Hey, Bell. You're not being targeted by adventurers again, are you?"

"Uh, that's not quite right..."

"So, do you have any past grievances with them? The atmosphere just now seemed a bit off."

Caught between Hestia and Hermes, Bell explained the situation with a touch of helplessness.

After the group heard the whole story, Hermes looked up. "Oh," Hermes said, raising his head.

"They see Bell as a thorn in their side..."

He stared intently at the figures of Modo and the others growing smaller and smaller at the other end of the road.

◆

From the town square, one can gaze upon the magnificent view of the 18th floor. Beyond the railing lies a sheer cliff, stretching down to a distant lake; a fall would be catastrophic. No adventurer would dare jump from here.

After finishing the small group's operation and reuniting with Lily and the others, I left the group alone and came to this square.

Hermes said he was treating us, and the two gods are currently enjoying the "Dungeon Sandwich," a specialty of the 18th floor, which is a bread dish made with a lot of the 18th floor's specialty fruits... When I heard that cloud fruits were also in it, I immediately ran away without saying a word, which is why I came here.

Incidentally... because the dungeon's terrain self-repairs, the townspeople can't destroy the land to build houses; they can only utilize caves and other geological features. However, it seems some adventurers (strong individuals) bring materials from the surface and, combining them with the dungeon's (underground) terrain, create handcrafted stone kilns. Whether it's out of enthusiasm, adherence to principles, or simply being too idle... well, anyway, it's said that thanks to these people, the town of "Rivera" thrives by selling bread and various other delicacies.

"A town located at the deepest point in the world..."

A town run by adventurers.

The front line of the actual underground labyrinth.

Only those who can continue to advance to deeper levels can set foot on the "deep layers," the forefront of the campaign. Only then can they be allowed to call themselves second-class or first-class adventurers.

That was her place. It was a place I could only look up to and yearn for at that moment.

Standing before the railing made of rusty swords and broken gun handles, I gazed into the distance, taking in the magnificent scenery for a moment.

"what……"

I sensed someone approaching, and when I turned around, I saw... Miss Ais walking this way alone.

I stood frozen in place. She stopped in front of me, then looked behind me at the view from the 18th floor.

"What are you looking at...?"

"Ah, uh... I'm looking for my way, trying to figure out how to get to the 19th floor!"

When she asked me that question, I didn't think I could answer it. By the time I realized it, I had already blurted out those words.

Miss Ais seemed to believe my offhand fabrication, stood next to me, and gently extended her hand.

"That central tree..."

"The largest tree, right in the center?"

"Hmm. There's a tree hole near the tree roots; you can go to the 19th floor from there..."

Miss Ais pointed straight at the huge tree standing in the center of the floor.

As if to prove her explanation true, several dark figures emerged from the tree roots and entered the 18th level. The monsters turned and looked around, then moved off to either the northern wetlands or the eastern forest.

"...Um, what brings Miss Ais here?"

"Because only you are missing... um..."

...She said she felt a little worried.

When I heard Miss Ais say that, I knew my heart skipped a beat.

It felt like I was only just realizing it, and my face flushed instantly. The golden eyes so close to mine, the distance between us so close that we could easily touch, made the heat within me begin to get out of control.

"...Did I get in your way?"

"No, no! That's not what I meant! I... I'm glad—no!"

I just got nervous and couldn't answer a word. Seeing Miss Ais's uneasy expression, I hurriedly tried to explain, but ended up revealing the truth. I raised my voice to try and cover it up, but it was too late.