Thank you, Phil-sama and Saito-sama, for your reviews.
There’s a town with a dungeon managed by the Lester family.
A town with a dungeon managed by the new Count Lester.
Even with the change of lord, the lives of the people remain the same. However, unlike the days of my father, who had no interest in governance, the number of guards I saw in the town had increased, and the faces of the knights guarding the dungeon entrance had become gentler, making me feel the passage of time.
“Ladies, we can’t keep an eye on you inside, so please don’t go too deep…”
“Thank you, but it’s okay. We’re used to it.”
Could there be another reason why the young knights are so kind…?
I, who had provisionally registered as an Adventurer, entered the Large-Scale Dungeon with Aria.
“……Nyaa”
Correction. Kitty was also there.
He didn’t show his face at the Adventurer’s Guild, but as soon as we entered the labyrinth, the black cat jumped onto Aria’s shoulder… Well, whatever, but the “cat imitation” is quite elaborate.
Even though it’s inside the labyrinth, near the entrance of the first floor, you can see quite a few Adventurers.
Of course, the more capable Adventurers would quickly descend to the lower levels, so those in this place are probably hopeless.
As two women, we feel some unsavory gazes from such people.
Children with a lot of Mana grow up faster. Adults with a lot of Mana age slower.
There’s a theory that they grow faster so that the Magic Stones generated in their bodies don’t become a burden, and another theory that they age slower because they’ve become closer to Elven demi-humans, but anyway, our current appearance is about sixteen years old, one or two years older than our actual age.
The growth rate has slowed down compared to when we were younger because the age at which growth promotion switches to aging retardation is said to be around twenty for men and around seventeen for women, so we’re approaching that age. Therefore…
“Aria, you’re beautiful.”
Enough to attract the unnecessary attention of men. But still, you’re more beautiful when you’re covered in blood.
“Don’t say stupid things, let’s decide on the strategy route.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Nyaa…”
I gave a casual reply to Aria and Kitty, who were looking at me with exasperated eyes, and chuckled as I checked some of the gazes that had disappeared.
Ah… I wonder whose blood will stain us this time.
A Large-Scale Dungeon that has only been conquered by the brute force of noble wealth until now.
I wondered how Aria would conquer it, since she said that we would conquer it with just the two of us and a cat…
“In the end, isn’t it just brute force?”
“Isn’t it okay for us?”
Aria replied nonchalantly to my grumbling.
Adventurers can’t conquer it because they can’t bring the necessary supplies and forces to reach the lowest level.
Nobles can only use brute force because they can only gather enough numbers to reach the deepest part while preserving their forces.
But we are different. Our “conditions” are fundamentally different.
We don’t make detours and aim for the bottom for now.
Ordinary Adventurers can reach around the tenth floor, so there is little danger and a lot of information. In particular, we don’t need to obtain materials or Magic Stones from Monsters, so we were able to descend to the third floor without fighting even once, thanks to Kitty’s light Intimidation.
“Shall we take a break?”
“…Understood.”
When I said that after about half an hour, Aria agreed with a dubious look. Does this girl not remember that I’m recovering from an illness?
Well, I’m not actually tired enough to need a break. With my Mana Capacity, the consumption and natural recovery are almost balanced with Body Enhancement to the extent of walking.
If I’m thirsty, I don’t even need to take out a water bottle, I can just drink directly from my hand with the Utility Magic 【Water】.
The reason I wanted to rest was because if we advanced too quickly, they wouldn’t be able to catch up, right?
“…You even brought something like that?”
“Oh, Aria. Moisture is necessary, you know?”
Aria looked dumbfounded when she saw the tea-making tools I took out of my 【Shadow Storage】.
It was used military equipment sold at a street stall, with a small oil lamp on which a kettle could be placed to boil water. I put the tea leaves directly into it, poured water with 【Water】, and was about to light it when…
“Don’t use ‘fire’.”
Aria grabbed my wrist when she noticed that.
I have lost the fire attribute. The Magic Stone has become smaller because of that, and my physical condition has improved, but… it’s not like I can’t regain the fire attribute.
It would be like starting over from the beginning, but if I train hard, I should be able to generate Magic Stones again.
I don’t think there would be a problem with Utility Magic that doesn’t involve attributes, but Aria wouldn’t even allow that.
“Then, would you light it for me?”
“Understood.”
We drank tea in silence for a while. After some time passed and Kitty became bored and impatient, we started moving again.
Now… according to my intuition, I think it’s about time.
After a while, around the area where the stairs to the fourth floor come into view, Aria suddenly turns around.
“Were you waiting for this, perhaps?”
“Yes, of course.”
When I replied with a full smile to the dissatisfied Aria, she sighed deeply.
And then, as we approached the stairs…
“Ladies, this area is closed.”
About ten men were waiting for us in front of the stairs.
All of them were warrior-types or scouts, from their mid-twenties to mid-thirties, and they looked at us… especially at Aria, who was showing her face, with vulgar smiles.
It’s not particularly unusual. Even if they become Adventurers with dreams and hopes at first, they come to see their limits as they get older.
Even if they reach their limits, people who can train multiple Skills and do various things are called “veterans,” and those who can’t even do that become “dropouts” and learn to suck sweet nectar from others.
They should use that effort to become stronger… but it’s impossible.
Half of the men were Rank 3, but it would be a waste to say anything to those who couldn’t sense the strength of the enemy with their skin, without even Appraisal with a Mana Capacity of about 50.
“Could you please move?”
Aria said quietly without even using Intimidation.
“We can’t do that. It’s been hard to earn outside lately… Just be quiet. You don’t like pain, do you?”
The man who seemed to be the leader said jokingly, and the other men laughed.
I see. So they’re repeat offenders after all. Not beginner hunting, but they’ve been attacking women and Adventurers who look like they have money.
But, too bad for you.
To admit your crime in front of Aria.
“Nero. That’s enough.”
“Gaaaaaaah!”
At that moment, a jet-black beast that jumped out of Aria’s widened Shadow tore several men apart from directly below as if they were scraps of rag.
“What!?”
The leader turned around at the scream from directly behind. But…
“Is it okay to look away?”
Aria, who had instantly slashed and killed the two vanguards in front of the leader, who shuddered and turned forward again, was brandishing a Black Knife.
“Damn!”
Even though he was rotten, he was Rank 3. The man, who was the only one with a combat power of over 300, tried to receive the attack with his gauntlet in a hurry—
“—ッ!”
The leader’s head, with an expression of astonishment plastered on it, flew off, having his hard leather gauntlet, flesh, bones, and the neck beyond them all slashed in one blow.
It’s also due to her skill… but that’s Aria’s new weapon.
“What, what is that monster!?”
“Hyaaaa!?”
The surviving men, whose comrades were being killed in an instant, were coming towards me, who was dressed as a Magician.
Ah, good… if no one had come, it would have been a waste to have lured them all the way from the entrance.
A smile appeared on my lips.
Terror appeared on the faces of the men who saw it.
“—Lightning Strike (Digvolt)—”
The dazzling lightning released from my entire body entangled the men, and I grabbed the faces of the two stiffened men with both hands.
“—Ice Lance—”
The Ice Spears released from my palms pierced through from their mouths to the back of their heads, and the blown-away men were crucified on the dungeon wall.
…It wasn’t even a test for my comeback. You guys were unlucky too.
Because…
“The highest military power of this country is here, you know?”
I’m glad Snow-chan seemed to be having fun.