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

Declaration of victory.

The remaining earth spirits could no longer surround me. Because the lower-level monsters, with their diminished intelligence, were incapable of skillful coordinated attacks. At this point, I dissected the fourth one; two more remained.

It didn't take me long to deal with the last two earth spirits who were staring at me with fear in their eyes.

"Phew... We finally won!"

I plopped down next to the motionless Earth Spirit Group.

This is the first time I've dealt with so many enemies... Thankfully, we finally managed to take them down.

And he wasn't injured, so he performed quite well.

Perhaps there are better ways to deal with it. However, with no adventurers to consult, it's impossible for me to devise a solution I don't know.

[Hestia Familia] I am the only member. I can only fight on my own, without any seniors or companions. "Self-taught" sounds impressive, but I'm just a complete novice. To me right now, it just sounds incredibly unreliable.

If I were to risk my life, perhaps I should disregard everything and ask other members of the [Familia] for advice on combat methods... However, doing so would not only make me look bad, but might even make gods look bad, and I've heard that there are extremely complicated entanglements between [Familia].

After considering all these issues on the scales, you'll feel that it's best to try your best yourself.

Yes, "as long as I don't take risks," like this time, I can fight.

Within the dungeon, one must adhere to the rule of one-on-one combat.

We must never pursue this relentlessly.

Make effective use of the terrain.

The knowledge of dungeons that Miss Eina instilled in me has also become a part of my flesh and blood, just like this time.

"...Heave-ho."

I rose and walked toward the corpses of the earth spirits. The gruesome sight of their tongues protruding from their mouths as they died slightly damaged my mental fortitude, but I shook my head and raised my dagger once more.

With a swift stroke, I ripped open his chest. Hardening my heart, I ignored the convulsing body and the splattering blood, and removed the small, blue-purple shard located in the center of his chest.

This is the "Magic Stone".

"Magic stones" are magical crystals that can be obtained from monsters... That's what I heard. As always, I don't understand the details. Maybe I should listen to the gods and read more books.

In short, this crystal contains incredible power, and you can exchange it for money as long as you get it to the guild. To put it simply, this is money earned directly in the dungeon.

The "Magic Stone Lamp" in our headquarters is a good example. "Magic Stones" can be processed with human technology and used in various ways—such as ignition devices and freezers for preserving food—and are therefore considered a valuable resource. I've heard that the labyrinth city of Orario exports these Magic Stone products to other countries and reaps huge profits. However, in this case, it would be more accurate to call it a guild rather than the labyrinth city of Orario.

The magic stone obtained from the earth spirit should more accurately be called a "magic stone fragment".

It's only the size of a fingernail; from what I've confirmed, the magic stones on monsters in levels 1-4 are all this size. They're worth very little money. It seems the guild also determines the purchase price based on the size of the magic stone.

As I casually gazed at the blue-purple crystal in my hand, the earth spirit's body, from which the magic stone had been removed, underwent a change. First, it rapidly lost its pigment, then its head shattered, and finally its entire body turned to dust and vanished without a trace.

This is what happens to monsters that lose their magic stones.

According to Miss Eina, the magic stone is the "core" of the monsters; they operate based on it. Therefore, attacking the magic stone is an effective way to defeat monsters, which is what she taught me. Although you can't exchange a broken magic stone for money, in a life-or-death emergency, you probably won't be in the mood to be so picky.

I watched the entire process of the earth spirit turning into dust, and then began to repeat the same task. I remembered that I still had to go back to the two I had defeated at the beginning, so I didn't have time to daydream.

Raise the dagger, and slash, slash, slash.

"Um……?"

When dealing with the last corpse, among the flesh that should have turned to dust, only the right hand's fingernail remained.

I took the thorn out of the ash. I tried tossing it gently in my hand a few times, but the thorn didn't disappear.

It seems this should be a "dropped item".

Monsters stripped of their magic stones sometimes retain a portion of their original body shape, like this. It's said that this is an unusually developed part of the monster's body, possessing the power to exist independently even without the magic stone—in this case, perhaps it should be called magic power. Presumably, it must have been extremely effective as a weapon when the monster was alive.

This is also an item that can be exchanged for money. Specifically, they use it as material for weapons or armor. While not always the case, it's generally more valuable than magic stone fragments.

"How lucky."

I put the magic stone fragments into my waist pouch, and tossed the "Earth Spirit Nails" into the black backpack on my back.

This backpack is made using a special method and can hold more items than it appears; it's a magical storage bag... Of course, there's no way such a good thing could happen.

Once it bursts, the backpack will tear. Of course, the weight won't decrease at all. There really isn't that kind of convenient gadget we dream of.

These magic stones and dropped items were supposed to be collected and stored by a non-combatant called a "Supporter," but I was the only member of the [Hestia Familia], so I'll omit the rest. Therefore, since I was alone in the dungeon, I had to fight carrying heavy luggage meant for exchanging money.

Perhaps I should hire a freelancer. Besides, Miss Eina doesn't approve of my current situation.

But where would my "family" of immortals get this money...?

"Woohoohoohoohoohoohoohoo!"

"Gahhh!"

"...Continuous battles?"

Oh dear, let me rest for a bit!

The dungeon is filled with incredible phenomena, including the presence of magic stones.

This underground labyrinth, which is unique in the world, as I just mentioned, existed in the mortal realm long before the gods descended.

One theory suggests that the lowest level of the dungeon is connected to hell or the demon realm. The gods seem to know something, but they reveal nothing in particular.

"A dungeon is just a dungeon. What more can you ask of a dungeon?"

This is said to be a famous saying of the gods. Just how much do they love dungeons?

When I first heard about the dungeons, what surprised me most was that the dungeons were alive.

The claim that these walls are alive doesn't mean they will attack people on their own, nor does it mean the terrain of each floor will remain unchanged. The best evidence is that the guild sells floor maps drawn by adventurers who have explored the entire area (although it's said that the lower the floor, the more ridiculously large the area becomes, and some floor maps are incomplete).

The term "alive" means that the dungeon can "repair." Damaged dungeon structures will automatically repair themselves.

It is said that dungeons are composed of low- to high-level substances such as magic stones. The structure of labyrinths, however, remains unclear to scholars; we can only witness the phenomena that occur within them.

Furthermore, because it is a substance similar to magic stone, the dungeon is brightly lit despite the absence of sunlight. The first floor is especially well-lit at all times because the ceiling emits faint phosphorescent light, as if it were equipped with lamps.

Next, let's talk about monsters. They are born from the dungeons.

It sounds like a joke, but they do emerge from the labyrinth walls like little birds breaking out of their eggs. Many people have actually seen it. This is why they never get wiped out, no matter how many monsters adventurers defeat.

Furthermore, the types of monsters spawning from the walls on each floor are fixed. Sometimes some spawned monsters will climb up or down from lower floors. While such freaks do exist, the monsters appearing on each floor are generally consistent, and this should be fairly accurate. Incidentally, the monsters generally become stronger the further down the floor you go.

The connections between floors vary, sometimes using stairs, sometimes slopes. However, it's absolutely impossible to perform any absurd feats like teleportation. Of course, we're not gods. Monsters and we alike must move on our own two legs within the dungeon.

Monsters will only spawn in dungeons.

Therefore, as long as the dungeon is managed well, it will not be threatened by monsters.

For this reason, people established management organizations—guilds—as early as ancient times. However, I think the current situation is also inseparable from the benefits brought by the dungeons.

Although I was almost killed by goblins when I was a child, I think they must be descendants of monsters that came to the land before the guild was established. Monsters can also be occasionally seen in various parts of the world, far from Orario.

In other words, monsters can also reproduce.

The dungeon is a mysterious place, teeming with monsters capable of multiplying.

It's terrifying to imagine. I always feel that this underground city is actually an equal existence to the gods who created the humans and demi-humans of the lower realm.

Of course, even if my mouth were torn apart, I could never tell any god or anyone else such thoughts...

"--drink!"

"Crunch!"

I delivered a flying kick to the goblin standing in the middle of the passage.

Hit the big belly. The goblin's slightly plump body folded into a "<" shape, its eyes wide open as if they were about to pop out. It was sent flying.

That hateful green thing that once left a scar on my heart can now be dealt with instantly because I received a divine "blessing". It just feels weird.

When I first encountered it in the dungeon, I was so terrified that I trembled all over. Now it feels like that was a long time ago.

"Ah, another item dropped."

This time it's "Goblin's Teeth".

After I reached behind me to put away the props, the heavy backpack dragged my body to the ground. I seemed to hear a heavy thud behind me.

Hmm—the backpack should be able to hold it all… but it might affect my movements?

Ah, but if it's like before, dealing with opponents like goblins, this weight isn't much—

"Jigaaaah丨"

"Eek! Ah, whoosh!"

—Correction. It's better to deal with the luggage first!

Although it was a sudden attack, I should have been able to dodge it!

The goblin, which had seemed to be hiding behind the wall, was now baring its teeth and claws to intimidate me. I kept my eyes on it and put my backpack on the ground.

Yes, we can't be careless. Even without taking risks, the dungeon is fraught with danger. As Miss Eina once said, the accumulation of "never mind, it doesn't matter" is the most dangerous thing.

Let's go back to the surface first. Exchange your loot for money, then come back. Don't think it's too much trouble.

I wanted to deepen my relationship with Miss Wallenstein. Although I don't know exactly what I should do, I do know that what I'm doing now isn't enough!

I thought of the blonde, golden-eyed woman who had saved me. My growing infatuation with her felt like a fire burning within me. I also had a date with Miss Seele's shop today, so I had to earn more than usual.

I will repeat the same actions until the agreed time; I must get through half the day today.

I'm going to turn this place upside down.

"In short... I'll repay you double!"

"Bubei!"

Crush!

✟

Bell Craney

LV.1

Strength: I82→H120 Durability: I13→H42 Dexterity: I96→H139 Agility: H172→G225 Magic: 10

"magic"

【】

"Skill"

【】

"...Huh?"

evening.

After finishing today's dungeon exploration, I returned to the hidden room in the church and wondered if I had seen things correctly.

Because the updated [ability value] record paper received from the gods showed an astonishingly large increase in proficiency.

"God, God, is this copied incorrectly...?"

"...Do you think I can't even read and write?"

"No, how could I dare! That's not what I meant... it's just..."

But...aren't the numbers written on the paper a bit too exaggerated?

While rejecting the barbed answer from the divine words, I kept my eyes glued to the record sheet.

I did work very hard today, and I was definitely more diligent than ever before; I'm confident in that.

But this number is a bit much... A total proficiency increase of over 160, is that even possible?

In that case, what has all my efforts over the past two weeks amounted to...?

"God, God, but I still feel something's off! Look here, the 'Endurance' stat! I was only hit once by the enemy today!"

"..."

The only damage I took today was from that one goblin attack. I dodged everything else safely. But my "Durability" increased by 29... the value more than tripled in one go.

I've been beaten up by a whole bunch of monsters to finally get back to my previous stats. No matter how hard I try, my proficiency shouldn't have increased so much just from taking one attack.

"So I still think there's a problem... uh, um, the gods?"

"..."