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The town with the Dungeon that the Lester Family used to manage.
The town with the Dungeon now managed by the new Count Lester.
Even if the lord changes, the lives of the people don’t. But, unlike when Father, who had no interest in governing, was in charge, the number of guards I saw in town had increased, and the faces of the knights guarding the Dungeon entrance had softened, making me feel the passage of time.
“Young ladies, our eyes cannot reach deep inside, so please don’t venture too far in…”
“Thank you. But it’s alright. We’re used to it.”
I wonder if there’s another reason why these young knights are so kind…?
Having provisionally registered as an adventurer, Aria and I entered the large-scale Dungeon together.
“…Nyaa.”
Correction. Kitty was there too.
She hadn’t shown herself at the Adventurers Guild, but the moment we entered the labyrinth, the black cat leaped onto Aria’s shoulder… Well, it doesn’t really matter, but her “cat imitation” is quite elaborate.
Even though we’re inside the labyrinth, if it’s near the entrance on the first basement floor, you can see a fair number of adventurers.
Of course, the truly skilled adventurers would quickly descend to the lower floors, so the ones lingering in a place like this are probably a hopeless bunch.
Being two women, I can feel some rather unpleasant gazes from that sort of crowd.
Children with a lot of mana grow quickly. Adults with a lot of mana age slowly.
There are theories, like one suggesting rapid growth to prevent the Magic Stones forming in the body from becoming a burden, or another about slowed aging due to becoming closer to elven demi-humans. In any case, our current appearance made us look about sixteen, a year or two older than our actual age.
The reason our growth rate has slowed compared to when we were younger is that the age at which growth promotion switches to delayed aging is said to be around twenty for men and around seventeen for women, and we’re approaching that age. That’s why…
“Aria, you’re beautiful.”
Enough to needlessly attract the gazes of men. But still, you look even more beautiful drenched in blood.
“Stop talking nonsense and let’s decide on a capture route.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Nyaa…”
Giving a noncommittal reply to Aria and Kitty, who were looking at me with exasperated eyes, I checked on some of the gazes that had subtly vanished and chuckled softly.
Ah… I wonder whose blood you’ll be stained with next.
A large-scale Dungeon that, until now, has only ever been conquered through the brute force of noble wealth.
I was wondering how Aria, who said the two of us and one animal would conquer it, planned to do so, but…
“In the end, isn’t this just brute force too?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem for us, right?”
Aria nonchalantly replied to my complaint.
Adventurers can’t conquer it because they can’t sustain the necessary supplies and combat power to reach the lowest floor.
Nobles can only use brute force because the only way for them to reach the Innermost Sanctum with their forces intact is by sheer numbers.
But we’re Chigau. Our fundamental “conditions” are Chigau.
Without making any detours, we aimed straight down for now.
Ordinary adventurers can reach around the tenth floor, so there’s less danger and more information available. Since we especially don’t need to collect materials or Magic Stones from Monsters, we were able to descend to the third floor without a single fight, just with Kitty’s light Intimidation.
“Shall we rest a little?”
“…Alright.”
When I said that after about an hour, Aria agreed with a dubious look. Honestly, has this girl forgotten I’m still recovering from an illness?
Well, in truth, I wasn’t tired enough to actually need a break. With my mana capacity, for Physical Enhancement at a walking pace, consumption and natural recovery almost balance out.
If I got thirsty, I didn’t even need to take out a water flask; I could just drink directly from my hand using the Utility Magic, Water.
The reason I wanted to rest, even so, was because if we proceeded too quickly, they wouldn’t be able to catch up, right?
“…You brought something like that too?”
“Oh, Aria. Hydration is important, you know?”
Aria looked exasperated when she saw the tea-making set I took out from my Shadow Storage.
It was a second-hand military surplus item I bought from a street stall in town; you could boil water by placing a kettle on a small oil lamp. I put tea leaves directly into it, poured water using Water, and was about to light it when…
“Don’t use ‘fire’.”
Aria, noticing this, grabbed my wrist.
I’ve lost my fire affinity. My Magic Stone has shrunk by that much, and my physical condition has improved, but… it’s not like I can never regain my fire affinity.
I’d have to start over from the beginning, but if I train it up, a Magic Stone should form again.
I don’t think it would be a problem for something like Utility Magic that isn’t affinity-related, but Aria wouldn’t even allow that.
“In that case, would you light it for me?”
“Understood.”
For a while, the two of us drank tea in silence. After a little time passed and Kitty started getting bored and restless, we began moving again.
Now then… according to my intuition, it should be about time.
After a little more time, around where the stairs to the fourth floor came into view, Aria suddenly turned back.
“Could it be, you were waiting for this?”
“Yes, of course,” I replied to a displeased Aria with a beaming smile, and she let out a deep sigh.
And then, as we approached the stairs…
“Hey, young ladies, this area is off-limits.”
About ten men were waiting for us in front of the stairs.
Ranging from their mid-twenties to mid-thirties, all of them either warrior-types or scout-class men, they looked at us… especially at Aria, whose face was uncovered, with lewd smiles.
It’s not particularly unusual. Even if they start as adventurers full of Dream and hopes, as they age, they begin to see their own limits.
Even when they hit their limits, those who can train multiple Skills and do various things are called ‘Veterans,’ while those who couldn’t even manage that become ‘Dropouts’ and learn to leech off others.
They should have channeled that effort into becoming stronger… but it’s impossible for them, I suppose.
Half of the men were Rank 3, but with mana values around 50, without even Appraisal, and unable to sense an enemy’s strength instinctively, it’s pointless to say anything to them.
“Would you move aside?” Aria said quietly, without even using Intimidation.
“Can’t do that. Haven’t been able to earn much outside lately… Just be good girls, alright? You don’t like pain, do ya?”
The man who seemed to be the leader said this jokingly, and the other men laughed.
I see. So they’re repeat offenders, just as I thought. Not preying on beginners, but they’ve probably been attacking adventurers accompanied by women or those who look well-off like this.
But, how unfortunate for you.
To admit your crimes right in front of Aria.
“Nero. You can go now.”
“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”
In that instant, a jet-black beast leaped out from Aria’s spreading Shadow and tore several men to shreds from directly beneath them, as if they were mere rags.
“What?!”
The leader turned around at the screams from directly behind him. But…
“Is it okay to look away?”
Before the eyes of the leader, who flinched and turned back to the front, Aria, having cut down the two vanguards in an instant, was brandishing her Black Knife.
“Damn it!”
Rotten as he was, he was still Rank 3. That man, the only one with a combat power exceeding 300, instinctively tried to block the attack with his gauntlet—
“—Hk!”
The hardened leather gauntlet, flesh, bone, and the neck beyond it were all sliced through in a single blow. The leader’s head, an expression of utter shock plastered on it, went flying.
Her skill plays a part, but… so that’s Aria’s new weapon.
“Wh-what is that monster?!”
“Hyaaaah?!”
The surviving men, whose comrades were being slaughtered in the blink of an eye, turned towards me, the one who looked like a Magician.
Ah, good… If no one had come, all the effort of luring them here from the entrance would have been for naught.
A smile played on my lips.
Seeing it, terror surfaced on the men’s faces.
“—Digvolt—”
A dazzling flash of lightning erupted from my entire body, ensnaring the men. I grabbed the faces of two paralyzed men with both hands.
“—Ice Lance—”
Lances of ice shot from my palms, pierced through their mouths and out the backs of their heads, sending the men flying and crucifying them to the Dungeon wall.
…This wasn’t even a decent test for my return. You lot were unlucky too.
Because…
“What you have here is this country’s greatest fighting force, you know?”
It’s good that Snow-chan seems to be having fun, isn’t it?