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

"that……"

On the bustling street, the luxurious red-brick hotels stood out conspicuously, while I entered one of the wooden inns clustered on the desolate street. The two-story shop, standing alone in the shadows with a sign that read 'INN,' looked rather inexpensive, though somewhat rude.

I opened the creaking door and saw the middle-aged shop owner, who seemed bored as he read a newsletter behind the counter, looking at me.

"Ah, yes. I'd like to stay here temporarily..."

"800 Valis per night. Meals not included."

—800 Wallis!?

Wow, that's expensive! It's completely different from what I expected!!

Although I think based on what the villagers who went out to buy supplies said, it's at most two or three hundred valis. Is this the market rate for a metropolis, no, a labyrinth city? ...Because it's the 'center of the world', right?

What should I do? Even though I'll have less money, it'll be the same if I stay somewhere else...

"Three days would cost 2000 Valis. If you don't want to stay, then leave—"

"Ah, then I'll leave it to you!?"

"--ha?"

Faced with the owner's generous offer of a discount if I paid for three nights' accommodation, I immediately accepted.

The other person, with a cold expression, looked up from behind the information newspaper. I stared intently at him and said thank you very much, while the shop owner seemed a little uncomfortable, swaying his body and once again looking at the information newspaper.

I took the key from the counter and ran into the room on the second floor.

Although the only household item was a bed, it was enough. After accepting the discount and securing a three-day supply, I suddenly felt much lighter and, without even taking a break, decided to go out on the street again.

I left all my belongings except the money in the room and ran downstairs.

"Um, I'll be right back!"

I called out to the counter and left the inn. Although the indifferent innkeeper didn't respond, I didn't care and started running faster on the cobblestone street.

To become a true adventurer of my dreams, I must go to the guild headquarters to complete the formalities, which means I must belong to a [Family]. However... before that, there are still things I want to do.

Because there's one place I've already decided I absolutely must visit if I come to Orario.

After asking around on the street, I learned that the place was located in the southeastern part of the city, very close to where I am now. Because there was a slum called Maze Street, I was advised to be careful—and with that kind of advice, I arrived at my destination safely without getting lost.

It is a cemetery with countless graves lined up.

"..."

The First Cemetery, also known as the Adventurers' Cemetery, is the cemetery of Orario. It is the final resting place of adventurers who perished in the dungeons.

Descending a long staircase along a narrow path, I finally reached a mortar-shaped space where no one else was. Facing the countless white stone tombstones, I made a sound in my throat as I walked deeper into the cemetery.

After a while, what I saw was a huge, dark monument.

Unlike other tombstone styles... the tombs of heroes from "ancient times".

"This is the life of heroes..."

I stared wide-eyed at the towering, 5-meter-high, pitch-black monument.

"Dungeon Oratorio" was my favorite book when I was a child. It tells the story of heroes woven into the history of Orario.

I stand here now before the graves of those great heroes who risked their lives to defend against the attacks of monsters rising from the earth and save countless lives—her graves that stir my heart with longing.

"……、"

The names of the heroes I knew from the story were engraved on black tombstones. I checked all the names with my eyes, my body burning with excitement, and for some reason, I felt as if I were about to shed tears.

Numerous flowers were placed in front of the monument. Many people today also express their heartfelt respect and pride for the heroes.

Feeling dejected at having brought nothing suitable for the occasion, I straightened my posture and closed my eyes.

From now on, I will also become an adventurer in Orario.

Even though I'll never become a hero or anything... I want to try my best, even just a little bit, to get closer to the people I admire.

Watched over by the clear blue sky, I offer my silent prayers along with my wishes.

☆

It was already the second day in Orario.

I immediately began searching for a "family" that could accept me.

The "Divine Grace" I received from the faction's chief deity is a [stat]. Those who haven't had this inscribed cannot call themselves adventurers in the labyrinth city. Gathering my courage and energy, I visited the headquarters adorned with the faction's emblem.

...However, it was just a visit.

"Rejected again..."

It was past noon, and having suffered ten consecutive defeats, I sat down in the semi-circular square facing the street.

Sitting on the stone steps, I hung my head in disappointment.

As expected, things didn't seem to be going as planned. Contrary to my enthusiasm, the members of the [Family] were very indifferent.

Basically, as soon as they saw my appearance, they turned me away.

His attire and demeanor clearly indicated his rural origins, and his previous profession was nothing more than farming. He ended up empty-handed, without even a weapon. He looked every bit the naive country bumpkin who would likely cause trouble for the [Family], and yet he was rejected. His first impression was undoubtedly the worst. Of course, there was no chance of any persuasion or enticement from factions.

If it were someone who did manual labor, or a craftsman like a blacksmith, their treatment would definitely be different...

"Race is also related to this..."

After my tenth consecutive failed attempt to recruit a [Family], the fairy male who visited the headquarters, whom I passed by as I was leaving, was welcomed with open arms.

Turning around, my face twitching, I saw something called a racial barrier.

I've heard somewhere that humans and dwarves are inferior to other races.

The fairies, beautiful and skilled in magic; the dwarves, powerful enough to fight lower-ranking monsters even without any "blessings"; the Amazons, with their various martial arts; and the orcs, with their keen senses—they might even have a tendency to be favored.

It's embarrassing to be an ordinary person no matter where you go.

No, most likely, it's me, with my rural air about me, that's the problem...

"……Um!"

After sighing for what felt like the umpteenth time, I slapped my face and looked up.

Even if I feel disappointed, it won't do any good! I should use that time to find a "familia" that even someone like me can accept.

After some investigation, I heard that large [familias] don't accept new members at all. It seems I should really try the still-developing factions of adventurers who are so busy they want to borrow even the hands of rabbits—no, even the hands of cats!

To fill my stomach, I bought something called "Fried Potato Balls" from an outdoor stall. For someone like me who was trying to save money, it was a very reasonable price of 30 valis, and since it was a potato dish, it was quite filling.

I had a feeling that I would be dealing with this cheap food for a long time to come, and thinking that I couldn't give up, I started running on the bustling Orari Street.

Then—two days later.

"Ugh, another total wipeout..."

Scorched by the rays of the setting sun streaming in from the west through the massive city walls that surround the city, I staggered back to my inn.

The town of Orario was incredibly vast; after days of moving around, my legs and body were exhausted. And then, I was completely rejected by any [Family].

Although I saw the posters on the street corner and went to the faction that was recruiting members to try my luck, I was still rejected after being compared with other people who wanted to join the group.

"..."

My dejected face flushed a dark red as I finally arrived at the hotel that had caused me so much trouble.

Since my room rental expired today, I asked the owner if I could extend my stay.

"...Including the update cost, it totals 2500 Valis over three days."

“Eh…”

"You initially said it was only for three days, right? We also reduced the number of rooms we booked to rent to other guests by one; this is a small fee to cover our troubles."

When I was surprised to be told the price, the shop owner said this indifferently.

"Is that so... The old man who runs the inn is right, isn't he?" I took a bag out of my bag and put almost all the money I had on me on the counter.

With a squeak, the uncle's elbow slipped off the counter. I tilted my head, puzzled, and went back to my room on the second floor.

I resisted the urge to eat dinner and climbed into bed.

"Not today either..."

He covered himself with a thin blanket and looked up at the wooden ceiling.

I'm out of money. If I can't join a [Family] within three days, I'll be left on the streets.

If the group members don't intend to deal with me, there's also the option of negotiating directly with the deity as a last resort. I've seen many male and female deities wandering around the city these past few days... but many are too afraid to approach them, shrinking back no matter what. This is probably because of the presence of guards; any clumsy attempt to get close will result in a glare. I've lost count of how many times I've experienced this.

Only once, a handsome guy who seemed willing to accept my application to join the group said something like, "On the condition that you become my crossdresser!" which I had absolutely no idea about... and I ran away.

"...Is it possible to encounter a decent god?"

As I pondered this, it became completely dark outside the window, and I recalled the adventurer's words before I entered the city.

Will I be able to encounter my welcoming family and the gods?

"..."

Arriving in Orario should have filled one's heart with hope and anticipation, and brought a sense of exhilaration to the body.

Now, that feeling has cooled down. My hands and feet feel cold.

Anxiety, insecurity, and loneliness.

I felt a loneliness that I had never experienced in the village, a loneliness that I had never known when my grandfather was still alive.

The city, surrounded by massive stone walls like a birdcage, filled me with a sense of indifference.

As night deepened, the light from the magic stone lamp flickered erratically.

The view of the ceiling as I looked up became slightly blurry.

"..."

……It doesn't matter.

Tomorrow, tomorrow I must...

however.

"Let's go back. We don't have the luxury of carrying any burdens."

It was as if it was mocking my self-comforting words.

"An adventurer? Pack your bags before you come back!"

I was met with a cold, icy gaze and was kicked out of the door.

"I'll consider it if you bring the money! Haha ...

And so, I couldn't find a faction that would accept me into the group.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

"...I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you up to today."

On a morning when my stay had expired, I greeted the uncle at the front desk.

I walked through the hotel entrance with a gloomy expression. Just as I was about to close the door, the middle-aged man who had been reading love newspapers at the counter suddenly started scratching his hair.

He stood up as if he were a little angry, but then took something out from under the counter, came to me in surprise, and handed it to me.

"...Take it."

“Eh…”

What the ground gave me was a bag full of black bread.

When I was at a loss and couldn't accept it, the uncle forced it into my hands.

"Hey buddy... you should also remember to be suspicious of others sometimes."

Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to survive, he said.

Shaking his black hair, the aloof middle-aged man said only these words.

As if she regretted it, she looked away and closed the hotel door with her back to me.

As I silently looked down at the bag in my hand, my eyes welled up with tears. I gripped the bag tightly and bowed deeply at the door.

With my back to the hotel that had taken care of me for just six days, I stepped out.