Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 19
As planned, after spending three leisurely days sightseeing, we decided to begin our exploration of the dungeons surrounding the Imperial Capital.
The Imperial Capital was said to have one A-Class dungeon, one B-Class dungeon, two D-Class dungeons, and two E-Class dungeons. Since there were no C or F-Class dungeons, adventurers of those ranks would have to leave the Imperial Capital at least once. This characteristic led to a significant amount of comings and goings among adventurers both inside and outside the capital.
Needless to say, our party, “Soul’s Guidance,” could tackle B-Class dungeons with the ease of an assembly line. However, given the ample time we had and the distance between the dungeons, we took a day each to conquer the D-Class and E-Class dungeons. Although all the skills we gained were merely upgrades of existing ones, leveling up a total of 20 times across four locations was a significant boost. It’s worth mentioning that Sakurahime had already cleared the D and F-Class dungeons in the Imperial Capital, so she did not gain any levels.
The B-Class dungeon spanned 20 floors, and we managed to conquer it in a day and a night. When I put my full strength into it, I could defeat even the bosses in a single blow, so I focused on providing support while Shizuna and Sakurahime honed their skills. Of course, when three bosses appeared at once, I joined in the attack. As expected, the only gains were level upgrades.
Up until this point, Geshura had not participated, as she was busy researching magical tools at the inn. This was, of course, her own choice, and she intended to create magical devices related to rotational motion, as we had discussed previously.
The day after conquering the B-Class dungeon, we found ourselves at the guild, seeking information about the A-Class dungeon.
The A-Class dungeon had 25 floors, which was five floors fewer than the one in the Royal Capital. While this meant a lower difficulty level, it would still take more than three days to conquer under normal circumstances. However, several parties, including Princess Marishielle’s “Lion of Water Lilies,” had already cleared it, and the guide contained ample information.
“It seems the monsters that appear are basically the same as those in the kingdom’s dungeon. This should be a piece of cake, right?” Larni said casually as we gathered around the guide in the guild’s resource room.
Karma chimed in, her hands behind her head. “Not having the final dragon floor is a huge relief. That floor was a level of difficulty that would have forced us to retreat immediately without Soushi.”
“Considering the number of monsters we faced, it might be even tougher for us, right? The guide mentions two or three monsters, after all.”
“Even so, the challenge remains unchanged. But without that floor, we might be able to clear it in two days if we play our cards right. What do you think, Soushi?”
“That’s true. It would be a tight schedule, but if I take on all the compatible bosses along the way, it might be doable.”
“With that mace of yours, any boss would fall in a single strike,” Karma said with a wry smile. The others nodded in agreement, but Sakurahime frowned slightly, her expression tinged with concern.
“Due to my lack of experience, I would like to spar with each of the A-Class dungeon bosses once more… but is that too difficult?”
“Indeed. I feel the same way; I want to experience battles with strong opponents as much as possible. Watching Soushi’s strikes is thrilling in its own right.”
Shizuna added her thoughts, and the others echoed similar sentiments. After all, “Soul’s Guidance” had only entered an A-Class dungeon once.
“Then, since we have the time, let’s all fight together and see how far we can get in two days. If it seems feasible afterward, we can plan another day to aim for the lowest floor in one go. How does that sound?”
“I agree. It’s important for us to gain experience, so I think we should follow what Soushi says.”
“Absolutely. With the martial arts tournament coming up and the battles against the Kin of Twilight, we should definitely enter the A-Class dungeon several times.”
With the support of Freinir and Larni’s opinions, we decided to proceed with that plan.
The A-Class dungeon in the Imperial Capital was located about an hour’s run away.
Like the one in the Royal Capital, it featured a large shrine set in an ancient ruin-like field, and we entered through it.
As expected, the internal structure and the monsters that appeared were almost identical to those in the A-Class dungeon of the Vermilian Kingdom’s Royal Capital.
As discussed, I took on the role of the shield, focusing on enhancing the members’ abilities during our battles. I encouraged Shizuna and Sakurahime to step forward actively, allowing them to gain ample experience.
Thanks to Larni’s “God of Plague” and Karma’s “Synergy,” the number of monsters appearing was even greater than before. For instance, the Minotaurs that appeared on the first floor had previously numbered around eight, but now averaged around ten. With Geshura participating this time, “Soul’s Guidance” consisted of nine members, creating a combat scenario that felt more like a small army than a dungeon expedition.
Of course, this meant that unexpected damage could be taken by anyone, but Freinir’s “Life Attribute Magic” swiftly healed any injuries. Her healing abilities had reached an extraordinary level, capable of reattaching severed limbs. However, thankfully, no one had sustained injuries severe enough to test that capability.
On the fifth floor, we encountered the mid-boss, a four-legged metallic beast known as the “Metal Beast.” Four of them appeared, and I took down one while the remaining three were fought by three members each. Having battled these monsters before and with everyone’s skills and equipment significantly upgraded, we dispatched them all with ease.
We found four silver treasure chests, all containing “Elemental Silk,” a fabric that shimmered with a rainbow of colors.
“Huh? Don’t we already have some of this?” Larni pointed out.
As she said, we had already acquired several pieces of this material.
“I completely forgot about it. I believe this is the fabric that can be used to make clothing with high magic resistance.”
“That’s right. If we ask a tailor, they should be able to sew it for us. There are plenty of shops in the Imperial Capital.”
Nodding at Mariane’s words, I placed the “Elemental Silk” into my Item Box.
“Once we finish this dungeon attack, let’s head to a tailor. Mariane, could you look into shops that might be able to help us when we return to the guild?”
“Understood. I believe the Grand Master will have detailed information, so I’ll ask him. Also, please be aware that ‘Elemental Silk’ is considered the finest material for dressmaking.”
“I see, that makes sense.”
As I replied, I noticed Sfenia and Sakurahime fidgeting slightly. Being part of the fashion-loving group, they were likely intrigued by the prospect of dresses.
“In that case, it might be a good idea to gather a bit more fabric and create some dresses. If everyone is interested, think about what you’d like to make.”
Since this was not something a man like me should dwell on, I decided to leave it to the women.
Suddenly, Larni perked up, her ears twitching.
“Hmm, but wouldn’t it be nice to save it for a special occasion, like a dress for a big event?”
“A big event? Like the party we had the other day?”
“When it comes to a woman’s big event, you know what it means.”
At her words, a tense silence fell over the boss room, which was devoid of any bosses… but I refrained from probing further and urged everyone to move to a safer zone.