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

"I'm so sorry—Mr. Bell! I've troubled you to come all this way to help me!"

"I was brought here specifically because of you! You're ignoring my personal wishes!"

I yelled at Miss Seele, who was running and apologizing to me with her hands clasped together.

I just fell into Miss Seele's trap and was forced to help wash the dishes.

"I had a ton of work piled up, and then I skipped work without a word... uh, I mean took a vacation, and as a result, Mia's mom scolded me and made me handle a whole bunch of chores!"

"I was completely dragged into this!"

And didn't you just say "skipping work"?

However, Miss Seele, who was running around in the kitchen, did indeed look very busy.

She moved among the waitresses, handling her work, and bustling between the restaurant and the kitchen.

"Hey, give the cat a good beating, you white-haired idiot."

"The boy was betrayed by Seele, meow. Give up, meow."

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

With the shop assistants, Ms. Anya and Ms. Chloe, bossing me around, I frantically kept washing the dishes.

Of course, I still feel a little uneasy, but... after all, she took good care of me in the past, and she even made lunch for me every day, so I should just accept this little thing.

But I really didn't want to repay her in this way, I thought to myself as I frantically took over all the chores for Miss Seele.

"..."

Besides, being able to devote myself wholeheartedly to this endless task seems just right for me right now.

Because if I'm not focused on doing something, I might start thinking about that person again.

I didn't say a word, and silently polished the plate.

"Are you alright, Mr. Crannie?"

"Eh...?"

"This portion is excessive. Let me help."

Suddenly, a shop assistant stood next to me.

A slender body that seems to be broken at the slightest touch, and pointed ears.

The person had a pair of mesmerizing sky-blue eyes; it turned out to be Miss Liu, the elf.

"No, I'm sorry to have troubled you to help me..."

"No, to be honest, it's all Seele's fault. And failing to make up for Seele's negligence is my fault as a colleague. I'm the one who should apologize. I'm really sorry."

"Uh, no, no, no, why would you say that!"

Ms. Liu's overly formal and rigid manner made me panic as I washed the dishes. I had always thought she was a very polite person, but she seemed to be exceeding my expectations.

Or perhaps it should be said that she is a very well-behaved elf.

"What happened?"

"Huh—"

"Perhaps I'm being nosy, but you seem a bit frustrated."

I stood there dumbfounded, watching Miss Liu, who was looking down at the kitchen counter and washing dishes with practiced ease.

Elves are a race known for their exceptional beauty. She was no exception; her profile was remarkably symmetrical, and though tinged with a hint of coldness, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to listen to your story."

"..."

"I feel bad for asking you to help me here. If you don't mind, please don't hold back and feel free to say what you're saying."

To be honest, Ms. Liu's subtle kindness made me want to reveal all my innermost thoughts.

But I can't do it. I don't want to.

I am so weak, so unable to catch up with the person I admire, and I suffer a miserable defeat. How can I bear to expose this version of myself to others? In some corner of my heart, I am still pathetically clinging to my pride.

I felt useless again, but instead, I wanted to ask a question.

After hearing about Miss Ais's "upgrade" today, I have a question that I really want to understand.

"Um, Ms. Ryu... were you an adventurer before?"

"...Yes. I used to call myself an adventurer. Why?"

I first made it clear to her that I had no intention of digging into Ms. Ryu's past, and then asked her:

"How can I increase my LV... to [level up]?"

I used to think that as long as I kept gaining experience points, that would be enough, but something just didn't feel right.

I sensed a tremendous power gap between LV.1 and LV.2... there was a high wall between them.

I began to feel that in order to "upgrade," there seemed to be tall and treacherous walls that I had to overcome.

After hearing my question, Miss Liu looked at me for a moment before slowly saying:

"Achieving great feats is enough."

“…Huh?”

"You need to accomplish great deeds. Deeds that will be praised not only by the mortals, but also by the gods."

Great achievements, magnificent accomplishments...?

"Defeat opponents stronger than yourself...gain higher-level [experience points], exceeding a certain amount. This is the condition for leveling up."

Gaining higher-level [experience points]... In other words, even if you defeat many beings of lower rank, you cannot [level up]. This achievement will only be reflected in your abilities.

Unless one defeats an existence far stronger than oneself, or even emulates the great achievements of past heroes, one cannot reach a higher level.

"The rise of LV. is the strengthening of body and mind—equivalent to the evolution of capacity. And the 'blessings' of the gods will only be bestowed upon those who pass the test and are of a higher status."

"In that case, what about this so-called ability..."

"Yes. To put it extremely, the abilities we've accumulated so far are merely the foundation upon which we need to achieve great things."

However, ability ratings also serve as a way to demonstrate one's qualifications.

She told me that only those with an ability rating of level six or above—reaching a D—are eligible to be "upgraded".

"But fighting a monster stronger than myself... a much stronger opponent, I should generally be destined to lose, right..."

After all, the opponent is stronger than oneself.

"Therefore, you need to compensate with skills and tactics, but... let me give you a general idea first. You can form a squad."

"Squad?"

"Yes. A group of people whose strength is inferior to their opponents complement each other's weaknesses to defeat the enemy. The adventurers of Orario all repeat this method to hone their skills."

Although the experience points gained at this point will be distributed among each companion, she is right; this method is indeed the best way for the weak to defeat the strong.

"Mr. Craney, if you really want to become stronger, you'll need a team to some extent. I suggest you keep that in mind."

"Yes……"

But then, that person...

To defeat such a powerful enemy as the floor master all by oneself—that's an incredibly high level of skill...

I also know that I am too constrained by my goals, and at the same time, I realize once again the difference in our levels.

"...What I'm about to say is simply out of concern for you, is that alright?"

"Oh, okay. Please go ahead."

As if trying to persuade me, who was stuck in a rut, Ms. Ryu said:

"Mr. Craney. Every adventure has its meaning."

"...?"

"I have no way of knowing what the outcome of the adventure you are facing will be. However, please do not look away, but see your adventure clearly and understand its significance."

Before I could grasp her true meaning, Miss Ryu continued:

"You are an adventurer."

But that one sentence penetrated my heart and lingered deep within me.

"What you desire, I think, can only be obtained at the end of an adventure."

"Uh, oh..."

"...No, please don't take it too seriously. My intuition isn't very accurate."

For a moment, Miss Liu's seemingly faint smile made me widen my eyes slightly, but in the blink of an eye, she had already returned to her usual indifferent expression.

Seeing me rub my eyes, she looked at me and asked, "What's wrong?" I quickly told her it was nothing.

After that, we spent some time washing all the dishes.

"Well then, Mr. Crannie, please visit our tavern again if you don't mind."

"Yes, I will come again."

Ms. Ryu, who still had work to do, stood at the kitchen entrance and watched me leave. I walked out of the "Abundant Mistress" shop. After gazing at the noisy outdoor cafes outside for a while, I turned my back to the bar and prepared to return to headquarters.

"Mr. Bell."

"...Miss Seele."

When I heard someone call my name, I turned around and saw Miss Seele standing in front of me.

Perhaps because she had barely managed to interrupt her work as a waitress, her fair cheeks turned rosy.

"I'm so sorry about today... Thank you so much."

"Ah—no, that's not true. Although I said that at first, I've received a lot of help from Miss Seele after all..."

As I watched her bow deeply to me, my gaze drifted over the bun and ponytail tied at the back of her head, and I began to stammer as I spoke.

After hearing her apologize so sincerely, I felt bad blaming her.

Anyway, I never intended to pursue this matter.

"...Mr. Bell."

"...?"

Miss Seele looked up and stared at me with her pale gray eyes.

She parted her lips slightly, then closed them gently, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, which puzzled me greatly.

"I'm not an adventurer, so I don't know what to say, but..."

"Seele, Miss?"

"...It doesn't necessarily have to be risky."

The words uttered in a low voice made my eyes widen.

Miss Seele shifted her gaze slightly, lowered her beautiful eyebrows, and gave a wry smile.

"Please don't push yourself. That's all I wanted to say."

"..."

"...At this point, you're only now starting to feel afraid."

Miss Seele uttered these words in a low voice at the end, as if she herself did not know why she had such feelings, nor how to deal with them.

They probably overheard my conversation with Miss Ryu.

For an ordinary citizen like her, those words might have triggered a sensitive reaction in certain parts of her being, parts that we adventurers have become numb to.

"I'm sorry, I said something strange."

"Won't……"

"I'll prepare lunch for you again next time. Please continue to accept these gifts in the future."

"Don't force yourself," I said with a wry smile, as I understood the meaning behind her words.