When I tried to enter the Hero Reception, Miro, a prominent adventurer from the guild with a stern face, blocked my path.
“What happened to Anju?” he asked, gripping his thick staff with a look that suggested he might unleash magic at any moment.
“I’m right here,” I replied. Nina, peeking her face out from her closed mantle, made him jump. He then relaxed, lowering his staff, and a relieved expression washed over his face.
“Don’t worry, there’s someone over there she doesn’t want to meet,” Nina said, gesturing towards the Magician’s Nest with her chin. Miro seemed to understand and stepped back.
“I apologize; I couldn’t see you,” he said.
“No, it’s fine. I understand how you felt, but we just discussed this yesterday,” Nina replied.
“I know, but I won’t make excuses. Please, go ahead,” Miro said, though he kept an eye on us from behind as we proceeded to the reception.
“Good morning, Heroes. Today you’re tackling the Main Dungeon, correct?” the receptionist greeted us.
“Yes. We’re just checking the situation, so we don’t plan on going too deep,” I replied.
“Then please present your Adventurer Cards.”
Nina and Clarice presented theirs. I presented my Hero Porter’s card. “Huh? Where’s Anju’s?”
“Anju, your Adventurer Card.”
“Where did I put it?”
“You don’t have it?”
“I think I made one, but… where is it?”
“Hmm, please wait a moment. I believe it’s over there,” Miro said, overhearing our conversation, and headed towards the Magician’s Nest.
“Hey! You guys, hand over Anju’s Adventurer Card!” he roared.
Whoa, he started beating them with his staff and kicking them away! They were so ruthless, scattering while searching something amongst a pile of trash in the back. It seemed all their luggage was piled up there. Miro returned after a while.
“Is this it?”
“Sorry, thanks for the help.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
It was a tattered Adventurer Card. It showed she was an Illusionist, ranked E.
“We can reissue it for ten copper coins,” the receptionist offered.
“Please do that,” I said.
“Certainly. Please wait a moment.”
For a moment, I wondered if the Illusionist’s staff might be in that pile of trash, but I remembered her saying she traded it for bread.
“If it’s alright, would you allow me to accompany you?” Miro asked.
“No, I understand your concern, but our methods involve many secrets,” Nina replied.
“Just for the first time. Please, I beg you,” Miro pleaded.
Still, a high-level Magician is quite appealing.
“If you’re willing to follow without joining the Party…”
“Par-muf-muf!”
Ah, it seems Anju has been gagged inside the mantle!
“…Well, alright. That will be fine,” Nina conceded. “We’re just observing the lower floors, and we plan to hunt many monsters. Do not interfere.”
“But if your stamina becomes an issue, please let me know. I can cast ‘Heal’ for you,” Miro offered.
“A Cleric? No, a Sage. Thank you,” Nina replied.
“I’ll wait for you. Go complete your reception,” Nina told Miro.
Nina said a word or two at the Hero Exclusive Reception, and Miro was registered as an accompanying person, not a party member. Indeed, Miro was an A-rank adventurer; he certainly lived up to his reputation.
“We await your safe return, Nina Starlights, and Mr. Miro,” the receptionist said as we headed into the Dungeon.
As soon as we entered, I let Anju out of the mantle, and she clung tightly to me.
“Anju, stay close until we’re done,” I said.
“…Yes, I promise. I’ll never leave your side,” she replied.
“Haha, you’re exaggerating,” I chuckled.
After a short walk, a few Alone Lizards approached us.
“Haaah!” Nina exclaimed, slicing through them with her Berserk Sword. We collected their Magic Stones, leaving the meat as it wasn’t tasty.
“…Hmph.”
Anju kicked at a corpse, perhaps thinking she was participating in the attack.
“Anju, you don’t have to do that; you’re already gaining experience,” I said.
“…Is that so? Derus, you’re smart,” she replied.
“Y-yes, thank you,” I stammered.
Miro was following us diligently. He could probably help with an area-of-effect spell if worse came to worst, but like Clarice, he seemed to have no work on this floor.
“Alright, let’s look for a group by the watering place.”
It was now past noon. We had a general grasp of the first floor and were currently resting in a large hole beside a cave leading to the second floor, which served as a break area.
“This is quite a spacious Dungeon. So far, the most exhausting part is the travel,” Miro commented.
“Finally, my turn. Here, ‘Heal.’ Is that alright?” Clarice asked, casting a spell.
“Ah, thank you. Oh right, I haven’t told you yet, Derus,” Miro said to me.
I was in the process of distributing Porter Biscuits to everyone, including Miro.
“Yes? What is it?”
“This Dungeon is basically too vast, and it seems there were no rest areas from the beginning,” I explained.
“Wow, that must make the lower floors difficult,” Miro said.
“That’s what I hear. Long ago, adventurers dug side holes in caves like this one to forcibly create resting spots. They are protected by barrier magic and extend to the lowest floors,” I continued.
“That’s good. So, you can probably stay overnight too, right?” Miro asked.
Miro waved his staff back and forth at her words.
“I would advise against it. The enemies aren’t just monsters,” he warned.
“Ah, I see. Is the security bad?” Miro asked.
“Unless you’re on a very deep floor with strong guards.”
Anju was already tugging at my hem, asking for another biscuit.
“Here you go. Make sure to drink some water too,” I said.
“…Yes, thank you. I like these,” she replied.
“I’ll give you something more delicious when we’re done,” I promised.
“Really?!”
“Yes, so let’s try a little harder, okay?”
Miro watched our exchange with a smile, like a father.
“My, Anju, why do you want to become an adventurer?” I asked.
“Because my papa and mama were adventurers,” she answered.
“But you don’t have to force yourself.”
“No, if I can’t meet papa and mama, I want to do what they did,” she declared.
“I see, I see. Okay, I understand,” I said.
That seemed like a sufficient reason. As I nodded in understanding, Miro spoke up.
“So, everyone, how will you level up Anju?”
“I can’t tell you everything, but it has already begun,” I replied.
“Oh? She doesn’t seem to be carrying any items,” Miro observed.
Indeed, she wasn’t even carrying a staff, completely unarmed.
“Just as you don’t completely trust us, Mr. Miro, we don’t think you’re someone we can tell everything to,” I explained.
“Is that so? That is unavoidable,” Miro conceded.
“Excuse me, Mr. Miro. I understand you’re worried about Anju, but there are lines we cannot cross, things we absolutely do not want to teach,” I added. If this situation of rapid level-ups became known, we might be pressured to train all the children from the Magician’s Nest.
“I understand. However, please allow me to watch over you until your return,” Miro said.
“Agreed. Anju, continue to be well protected by Derus,” Nina instructed.
“…Yes. I belong to Derus now,” Anju replied.
Seeing that everyone had calmed down, Nina stood up.
“Let’s go. They say Salamanders and Fire Turtles appear on the next floor,” she announced.
“Then I will participate in the attack with ice magic,” Clarice offered.
“I will continue to protect Anju. Anju, you need to watch carefully,” I said.
She nodded vigorously. Now, let’s hunt as many monsters as possible and earn lots of experience points.
