Sousetsuka

 11





Afterward, nothing in particular happened for the next 12 days.

Besides taking a day off twice, Lecan and Arios kept going into the dungeon every day before coming back a day later. In other word, they have a habit of staying overnight in the dungeon whenever they go in.

The three <Grindam> members appeared to think <Willard> were biting off more than they can chew.

That's only natural. In this dungeon there's absolutely no danger in turning back to the stairway and going outside from there, so if a party goes out of their way to stay overnight in a dungeon, they must be doing protracted battle. Meaning they must be fighting on floors that necessitate drawn-out tactic in combat.

Nark himself had stopped asking Lecan and Arios how far they have gone to. Not like he'd believe the answer anyway. Hence he won't even bother asking.

Both of them are agreeable guests, they don't ransack nor dirty their rooms. They seem to enjoy the comfort this inn offers, and seem to like the food here. Arios would verbally praise the taste, and while Lecan wouldn't say anything, he always savored the food served and never left any on his plates.

They paid for their stay, and paid for bath fee and liquor without fail.

Thanks to <Grindam> and <Willard>, all five of the rooms are fully booked. Many high-ranking adventurers tend to act like they own the place, but neither <Grindam> nor <Willard> are the type that throws their weight around.

<Grindam> sometimes eat out instead. That's inevitable as they also have other acquaintances outside the inn. When that happens, they will eat their share in the next morning. It cost the same as dinner, but they pay for it without complaining, and Nark himself has no problem with it.

As an innkeeper, this status quo is really desirable to him.

On top of that, his wife is in a good mood.

There should be nothing weighing down on his mind.

But the night that day, 26th of month 1, a conversation between <Grindam> and <Willard> greatly bothered Nark.

The impetus was Tsuinga's question.

"By the way, you guys. Which floor are you two exploring now?"

"We're on floor 90."

Nark spewed out the water he was drinking behind the counter.

"Wait, is that for real. That's the same floor as ours though."

"It really is. Wow, didn't expect that."

"What's your highest floor yet?"

"We just got to floor 90 today."

"Kakaka. I see. Just a warning, the Giant Variants on Floor 90 are pretty tough."

"Yep. We got to floor 92 ourselves. Wanna aim for floor 93 together once you two catch up to us?"

"Haha. That sounds nice. What do you think Tsuinga?"

"Kuhakaka. I mind not."

Nark shouted in his head as he listened to their conversation.

(Oy!)

(Yer' just gonna believe 'em?)

(Those guys haven't even spent 20 days in the dungeon, y'know?)

(Ah.)

(Guess <Grindam> folk have no idea 'bout that.)

(Must think they been exploring long before.)

(Staying someplace else before getting here.)

(That's wrong!)

(These folk only started exploring this dungeon after coming to this inn!)

"Lecan-dono. What do you think?"

"Fumu. Since you asked and all, we'll be sure to tell you once we reach floor 92."

"Ooh! You do that. Kakakaka."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
(Is this their goal?)

(Was cooperative diving with <Grindam> their goal all along?)

(S'that why they stayed here?)

(But then what're they planning on doing to <Grindam>?)

(Rather, they can't do cooperative diving if they don't reach floor 92 for real.)

(Which means they're on floor 90 for real right now?)

It's everybody for themselves in dungeons. A cooperative diving between two parties mean that the responsibility falls equally between every members of both parties. Since Nark isn't a mediator for the cooperative diving, there's no need for him to fuss over it. And yet he just can't overlook it when he considers the possibility of bad things befalling <Grindam>.

(I should at least leave some words to <Grindam>.)

Thus Nark decided in his head.

The dine-in customers eventually went home, and the five went back to their rooms.

The next morning, both <Willard> members went out early.

Bruska came down afterward.

Nark spoke to Bruska when he brought him breakfast.

"Those <Willard> peeps arrived at this town on the eighth this month."

"Eighth this month? Ah, you mean that was when they booked rooms here."

"No, I mean they started exploring Dungeon Tsubolt on the ninth this month."

"Hee. Really now."

"Don't ya give me that. They can't have blown through all 90 floors that quick."

"Ahahahaha. No of course not."

"Ain't it."

"They must have dived in this dungeon before that."

That's not how it looked like.

Considering the conversation that night, Lecan and Arios had never explored this dungeon before then. But how do Nark go about explaining that.

"That Lecan guy is not your ordinary man."

"Well yeah, figured."

"Arios is also quite something himself."

"Yea."

"Have you ever caught him standing still in the yard in the morning?"

"I have."

"It's really amazing. I can tell. That guy is not some run-of-the-mill master of the craft."

"Well yea that might be true, but there ain't no way they got through 90 floors in 18 days."

"Of course that's not possible. So they must have visited this town many times before."

After getting told that, Nark who's a poor talker couldn't find a word to reply back.

"What are you worried about, Nark-san. It'll be fine. We've got three people, they've got two. We can simply cancel the cooperative diving if it looks like things aren't going well together. Besides, those two are no villains."

"Yeah I don't think they're bad people either."

At any rate, he said his part. He can only watch over what's going down next.

Then <Grindam> also went out.

That day, <Willard> didn't return, then evening the next day, they got back quite early.

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 10





The next day, Lecan and Arios headed for the dungeon after having their breakfast.

The three <Grindam> members went downstairs afterward.

They looked somewhat lifeless as they brought their meals in their mouths.

Wonder if it's piled up fatigue.

Bruska came and talked to Nark who was sorting things out behind the counter.

"The guests at room 4 and 5 got back last night, didn't they?"

"Hm? Yea. They did."

"They've gone out already?"

"Yea. They have."

The three quietly had their meals. Even after they were done, they stayed on their chairs absentmindedly.

"Okay. Should be about time."

Mage Yoana spoke.

A three-person party cannot explore floor 92 on their own. They must have made an appointment with another party.

Nark lightly sighed as he watched the three leaving the inn.

"Better to take a break and get a change of pace when yer' tired though."

'Hope nothing bad happened to them', Nark was worried that day.

However, the three were all cheerful when they got back in the evening.

"We're back, Nark-san."

"Yea."

"Get the bath ready for me please."

"I too shall get in."

"Me too."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"Sure."

The three hopped in the bath, took seats on the dining table and toasted with white wine.

Nark found out the shift in their situation without him asking.

They went up and explored floor 90 today.

And two Grace Gear were dropped.

They went straight to the trading facility and got paid handsomely for it.

Lecan and Arios didn't come back that day.

Evening the following day.

The three <Grindam> members had started drinking early.

Then dine-in customers came by, livening up the dining hall.

(The pot is gonna run out soon.)

(Okay now, should I leave some for Lecan and Arios tonight, or not.)

Lecan and Arios returned as he was thinking that.

"We're back, Nark-san."

"Yea."

"Is there still meal for us?"

"Yeah sure, left some for ya."

"Thank you. But it looks like there's no table with two seats open."

All four tables have customers sitting around them. Two have four each, other two have three each, Lecan and Arios would have to sit on different tables.

"Hey you two, come sit over here."

Bruska called out to them.

There's one empty chair left on <Grindam>'s table. Bruska brought over another chair from the next table.

"Just got to squeeze a bit."

Bruska urged his friends, Tsuinga and Yoana to open up some space.

"Thank you."

Arios said his thanks, and let Lecan took his seat before taking his own.

"You two are guests in room 4 and 5, right?"

"Oh yes, this Lecan-dono here is staying in the room right by the stairs, and I'm in the room next to that one. Please call me Arios."

"I'm Bruska."

"Tsuinga is the name."

"And I'm Yoana."

"Pleased to meet you all. Shall we have a toast to commemorate then?"

All five toasted and started chatting.

Tsuinga and Yoana who were tottering around unsteadily from fatigue and booze bounced back up and went wild.

"It has been a while since I last witnessed a man taller than me."

"You got him beat on chest thickness though."

"But really, it's rare for other adventurers besides us to stay at this inn. What made you decide to?"

"Oh it's cause the building had this sense of comfort to it. And the field in the yard looked well cared for too, so we figured the food here should taste good."

"Kakkakka. You possess good eyes. Powers of observation are important for adventurers."

"Lecan. Here, brought you more drink."

"Yea, appreciate it."

The dining hall would always be bustling during dinner, but that table was especially lively. Even when other customers went home, those five kept drinking for a while. Nark would bring them snacks many times over.

<Grindam> eventually went back to their rooms, followed by Lecan and Arios.

Nark found out a few things from their conversation.

Lecan and Arios's party name is <Rainbow Stones (Willard)>. There's two other members in the party, but they're acting independently right now.

Lecan is a swordsman. Which isn't really surprising given the sword hanging on his waist, but due to the information about him being a <Recovery> user and how he used <Appraisal> right in front of Nark, it was a bit hard to process.

Arios is a swordsman as well. Nark had long figured that out already.

Lecan and Arios have not gone to any facility including the information desk after purchasing their permits in the first day. They only went to stores that sell food.

Meaning they have never sold their loot even once. Nark was surprised. So were the three <Grindam> members.

As that means they're not utilizing baggage keeping facility, these two must be carrying all items they have gotten so far.

Do they not replenish consumables too. Can you really continue exploring like that.

These two are such a bizarre duo.

Different from any adventurer Nark has ever seen in his life.

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 9





Lecan and Arios didn't come back that night either.

Apparently <Grindam> had that day off.

The following day, <Grindam> started their exploration in the morning and came back in the evening.

Evening meals were selling well.

"Nark-san. You still have food left?"

Asked by a customer, Nark peered into the pot.

"Sorry. We're sold out tonight."

"Oh really. Next time then."

In reality, there was still enough for two servings besides for himself and his wife. But for some reason, he felt like Lecan and Arios would be back soon, he couldn't bring himself to offer the last two portions to other customers.

But even after the three members of <Grindam> went back to their rooms, and the last customer who was there for meals went home, Lecan and Arios never came back.

(Tch.)

(Got some leftover eh.)

(No choice.)

(It'll be mine and Nell's lunch tomorrow.)

Just as he thought that, the door opened.

"We're back."

It was Lecan and Arios.

Nark was thrilled. But he kept that to himself and spoke sternly.

"Get in quick, and close the door. Yer' making warm air escape."

"Yes. My apologies."

"Ya guys eating?"

"Eh? You still have food left? That'd be nice. I had resigned myself to dried food tonight."

"Sit down if yer' eating."

"Yes. Come now, Lecan-dono."

"My oh my, you two are back."

"Ah, Nell-san. Yes we just got here."

"Okay, okay. Good to have you back. I'll get your meals warmed up in a jiffy."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"Thank you."

Nark took fermented Kizolt liquor and a metal cup from the shelf and brought them to Lecan before asking Arios.

"Ya drinking?"

"I shall have the fermented liquor tonight."

"Yeah?"

Nark handed him another cup, then Lecan and Arios toasted.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers."

The two knocked their cups together and drank down the booze.

Arios grimaced badly. The hard fermented drink burned his throat. However, the frown quickly turned to smile.

"Hee? Something good happened?"

"We got a sword drop, a really good one it seems."

"Grace Gear?"

"Yes it is. Lecan-dono. What was the name again?"

"Hm? Think it was Life Drain Sword (Vudscylla)."

The jovial Nark had a sudden mood swing for the worse once he heard that.

(<Life Drain Sword>?)

(Damn you and your bluff.)

<Life Drain Sword> is a sword with a stamina drain Grace attached. Doesn't matter if your opponent is a magic beast or a human, wounding them with that sword will drain their stamina to supplement the user's. Knights everywhere would pay handsomely for this Grace Gear. The drain rate differs from sword to sword, a specimen with a high drain rate can net some truly eye-popping sum.

And you have to go below Floor 50 for <Life Drain Swords>. Meaning these two are lying.

Lecan put his hand into his overcoat hanging on a chair next to him, grabbed a sword out and put it on the table right in front of Nark who was looking ill-humored.

"<Appraisal>."

"Eh?"

"Fumu. It is <Life Drain Sword>. Nice Grace. Probably gonna fetch for a good price. Arios, want to give it a swing?"

"Ah, I'm good."

"Don't you want to try this stamina drain Grace?"

"My father had a sword with that Grace so I've had my chances using one before."

"I see. I don't need it either, guess I'll find out how it's like tomorrow."

"No no. Let's have some rest tomorrow, okay?"

"Arios. We haven't stumbled upon a real challenge thus far, but the enemies are getting tougher the further down we go. Another 20 floors and we're not gonna maintain our current pace. We're pressing on ahead while we still can."

"Like I've been asking, why are we in such a hurry again?"

Nark stared at the sword left on the table in shock as he listened to the two's banter in passing.

(This is.)

(No doubt about it.)

(It's a <Life Drain Sword>.)

(Well damn.)

Way back in the past, Nark's father proudly showed off a sword like this to him once. They ended up selling the sword when his mother fell ill, but he knew the shape of the sword by heart. This sword is a genuine <Life Drain Sword>.

Which means these two really got to Floor 50 in four days.

That's absolutely inconceivable.

Perhaps this sword is a fake that's only got the same shape, and he's being deceived.

That thought crossed Nark's mind, but what's even the point of going out of their way to do all that just to deceive him.

Perhaps these two are some unbelievably extraordinary adventurers.

Or perhaps they're fraudsters. Is this some sort of elaborate fraud scheme. Are they making him into a witness of some kind for their ploy?

Competent adventurers who have been forged in other dungeons might be able to get to floor 50. But getting there in just four days is simply impossible. Each and every floor in this dungeon is abnormally vast. Reaching floor 50 in just four days is a tall order even if one merely traversed through them without fighting once.

(Hold it.)

(<Appraisal>?)

Lecan used <Appraisal> earlier. Would there really be adventurers who use <Appraisal>. And Nark didn't hear him doing preliminary casting either. Or perhaps he missed it.

"And here's your food. Put this sword away will you."

"Aa, my bad."

Lecan put the sword in his overcoat.

(Huh?)

(He stored the sword in for sure.)

(Yet the overcoat remains flat.)

(What's going on here?)

Putting a sword in a bag enchanted with <Box> will still make the bag distinctly swell. A <Box> with a sword inside can't possibly stay flat.

(I don't get it.)

(These two are full of mysteries.)

Either way, these two are paying customers of this inn.

(Alright.)

(I'm just gonna ignore everything 'bout these two's dungeon escapades.)

(Never mind it, no matter what they do.)

(These two are our inn's guests.)

(Just gonna put that mindset on.)

Thus Nark decided in his heart. Though he felt like he could hear whispers, 'Yeah, that prolly won't last', somewhere in his heart.

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 8





"I'm telling the truth."

"Don't joke around 'bout that. Didn't ya two just start out exploring <Dungeon of Swords> yesterday?"

"Yes."

"And yer' tellin' me ya got to floor 26 by evening the same day? Like hell that can be done."

"Is that so. Well I merely answered you back, I don't mind either way if you don't believe me."

Nark closely inspected Arios who said that while lightly laughing.

(Why'd he make up such a barefaced lie?)

(I thought this young man was among the more decent ones.)

Then, Arios's figure came up in Nark's mind.

His quiet standing stance in front of Hortis tree.

(No.)

(This guy's strength is the real deal.)

(Even reached a domain far beyond my ability to measure.)

(Have they really got to floor 26 on their second day?)

(No, impossible.)

(However...)

"What's the rat's name?"

"Come again?"

"What's the name of the rat you guys hired?"

"Ah, you mean guide. We're not hiring one. As we've no need for it."

"What? How in the heck ya could explore a dungeon without maps or rats."

"Please keep this a secret, Lecan-dono possesses an ability to locate where the stairways are."

"What'd you say?"

He's never heard anything like that before.

Nark was bewildered.

And then he reached a bold conclusion at the end of his bewilderment.

(Suppose this guy is lying.)

(What's in it for them getting me to swallow such a lie whole?)

(Then I can just take his words for now?)

(No wait.)

(I don't hafta believe him.)

(Just gotta postpone deciding the authenticity, and keep the conversation going.)

"Sorry for deciding yer' lying outright. It's just that unbelievable a story. No, to be frank with ya, I still cannae' believe it. But looking at it again, I got no reason to doubt yer' story. So I'm shelving whether to believe or not fer' now. To start with, nothing in it for me anywa, no matter which floor ya two got. My bad for getting angry."

"Oh no worries. It's nothing to get worked up about."

"But dang, Middle Walkers on your second day eh."

"Which floor does this middle layer start?"

"In Dungeon Tsubolt, Floor 1-10 are Upper Layers."

"Ah, makes sense."

If one has set foot on floor 11, they'll know how it's a whole different ordeal than floor 1-10. Hence Arios must have at least gotten to floor 11 from his reaction to that, thought Nark as he spoke.

"Floor 11 to 80 are Middle Layer, while Floor 81 to 100 are the Depths. You'd get called Upper Walkers, Middle Walkers, and Depth Walkers depending on which layer you've gotten to. Depth Walkers are pretty much first class stuff."

"Huh? Doesn't this dungeon have 120 floors?"

"Rarely anyone's ever crossed over the floor 100 wall."

"What do they call people who explore floor 101-120?"

"No particular alias, but those who manage to cross over floor 100 are heroes."

"I see."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"Any sword drop?"

"Oh yes. Besides potions, we have gotten nothing but swords."

"How many ya got?"

"Five swords."

They must have conquered up to floor 25 if they got to floor 26. Are five swords too few or too many for 25 floors.

If they're telling the truth about getting to floor 26, they must have fought almost nothing but Giant Variants along the way.

From floor 1 to floor 9, one variant on each floor, 9.

From floor 10 to floor 19, two on each floors, 20.

From floor 20 to floor 25, three on each floors, 18.

In total 47 beasts.

The drop rate isn't too bad if they can get five swords from 47 beasts. Good, even.

"Any Grace Gear?"

"I believe so. Two of them at least. One has a Grace that raises speed, another raises strength."

"Hm? Haven't you got 'em <Appraisal>ed?"

"Lecan-dono is in charge of keeping the loot. We went straight to this inn from the dungeon, so we didn't get <Appraisal> at the trade shop. Ah, Lecan-dono. Good morning."

"Yea."

Nark turned around in surprise.

Lecan was climbing downstairs.

Nark, an ex adventurer couldn't sense this man going down the stairs at all. With that huge body of his.

He could feel cold sweat running down his back.

Lecan and Arios had breakfast and paid their 40-day stay at the inn.

"Lecan-dono. Shall we take a break on the dungeon and take a look around the city today?"

"No. We're delving in a bit further."

"Where are we going in such a hurry?"

"For the time being, the lowest floor."

"No uh, you're asking for the impossible."

They left through the door while having that conversation.

(Lowest floor, for the time being?)

(Damn tall tale.)

(Good grief.)

(Sure got ourselves some weird folk for guests.)

"Nark-san. Is something the matter? What's with the sighing and all."

"Uwoh. Ah, Bruska. Ya startled me."

"You must have been lost in thought. You were full of openings."

"I'm an innkeeper. 'Course I'm full of openings."

"Hahaha. If Nark-san is that, all other inns are free to enter for thieves then."

Seemingly due to his childhoold's impression, Bruska still believes that Nark is an adept adventurer even today. Even when he's retired working as an old man in an inn, Bruska keeps acting like Nark is still going strong.

In reality, Nark at his prime was not especially strong, which has degraded even further to worthless now. Bruska can't possibly not know that. In other word, he's just being nice to Nark.

"The guests in the fourth and fifth rooms are adventurers, aren't they?"

"Yea."

"Looks like they went out already. What kind of adventurers are they?"

Nark wasn't sure how to answer that.

Nark himself couldn't really get his impression on the two straight even now, they seemed both skilled and big liars to him.

"A big dude called Lecan, and a young man by name Arios. Arios would be a swordsman. Quite skilled at that."

"Hee! And now I can't wait to meet him. What about this Lecan?"

"Lecan's... Seems like guy can use <Recovery>."

"Eh. A <Recovery> user is it. How about in combat?"

"No idea."

"But one advance guard, and one recovery user aren't balanced at all. That Lecan can probably fight too. Wonder if he's strong."

"He's good enough I couldn't sense the guy coming down the stairs."

"Eh. He's pretty good then. Hmm."

Nark thought about telling Bruska how they proclaimed they reached Floor 26 on their second day, but he decided against it.

Bruska would come to harbor a bad impression on Lecan and Arios had Nark talked about that.

How Bruska is going to evaluate Lecan and Arios should be left up to him.

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6





<Grindam> left in the morning and came back in the evening.

Fighting magic beasts in <Dungeon of Swords> take a huge toll on the body. Even short term combat is intense. Anyone would be exhausted if they leave in the morning, engage in several combats during the day and only come back in the evening.

The three were especially exhausted that day.

They silently ate their early dinner, turned down tomorrow breakfast, and quickly went to bed upstairs.

Afterward, meal-only guests came, and just when there was only food for five left, or three servings for the guests, Lecan and Arios came back. It was past four of Water Buffalo (Sutlan) period, almost Yellow Frog (Touza) period.

"We're back."

"Welcome... oh it's you guys."

Arios and Lecan quickly got inside and quickly shut the door.

"Nark-san. Do you have rooms for two?"

"Yea. They're vacant. Got some food left too."

"That's great to hear! I'm starving over here. Ah, I see one open table there."

Nark brought two servings of meal to the table.

"Get me a bottle of fermented Kizolt."

"Ah, a bottle of red wine for me."

"Three silver coins for fermented Kizolt. Five big copper coins for red wine."

"By the way, does this inn have a bath?"

"Yea. But sorry, we don't boil hot water this late."

"Understood. I'll ask about it earlier next time."

"Firewood'd cost ya one big copper coin."

"I got it."

"Also, a party who's staying long term in this inn often uses the bath. They can get in first if they order it first, you guys can get in first if you order it first."

"Got it."

"So it sounds like this inn has a long term plan. How much is that?"

"Eight silver coins for 40 days."

"Oh that's really cheap."

"We ain't gonna give yer' money back even if there are days ya don't come back. Same if yer' canceling halfway through."

"Yes, that sounds reasonable. Then I and Lecan-dono will be on long term plan from today on."

"Eh?"

"Is there a problem? The other party on that plan is a three-person party, right?"

"Y-yea."

Nark wondered how he knew about the number of people, but since there were two vacant rooms yesterday, he might have guessed it.

Arios glanced upstairs in front of Nark who was thinking that. As if he could see the members of <Grindam> sleeping on the second floor.


<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >


7





The next morning, Nark went to the field to harvest crops and got startled when he saw an unexpected individual there.

It's Arios.

Arios is standing in a corner of the field.

Standing still in front of a Hortis tree.

At first Nark didn't think there was anyone there since his presence was so thin.

As he got closer to see what he was up to, turned out the young man was staring at a wind-swayed branch on the Holtis tree.

His eyes aren't sharp. They're composed. However, his gaze is focused, his nonchalant bearing instead brought upon Arios's unworldly concentration on display.

He's both standing up casually and calculatedly.

Bending forward a bit.

His left hand is holding the sheath of his sword hanging on his left waist, with his right hand lightly gripping the sword's handle.

Nark had studied in the ways of swords for a bit. Hence he understood that a stance that looked like it had no strength put into it could afford a quicker draw instead.

(This guy's got skill.)

(And not just decent skill.)

Nark was unable to tell when the young man drew his breath in.

Arios is standing completely still, and yet he also looks as if he's slightly adjusting his body's center of gravity along with the swaying winds. In a word, it's fluid. He doesn't move yet he hasn't lost the softness either. Nark is aware that one must have undergone unimaginable training regime to attain such a form of stance.

Nark quietly harvested the crops as to not get in Arios's way and went back inside.

Once he was done washing the vegetable, prepared the amount needed today, and cleaning the dining room's tables, Arios came back.

"Got tea for ya."

"That's so kind of you. How much is it?"

"It's on us."

"Thank you."

Nark poured two cups of tea and brought it to the table.

He put one before Arios, and another on the table before sitting in front of it himself.

The two enjoyed their tea in silence for a while. Hot tea in a cold morning has this something that can really soothe the mind.

"Nark-san, you were an adventurer, weren't you."

"Yea."

Even while giving affirmation, Nark wondered just what did this young man see on him to work that out.

And then another quiet period passed.

This time, Nark broke the silence.

"Where'd ya sleep last night."

"In a vacant room in the dungeon."

"Coulda just go back and sleep tight here than in places like that."

"You think so too, Nark-san? Please tell that to Lecan-dono."

"Tell 'im yerself."

"Oh I did, lost count how many times I did."

"Guy wouldn't budge eh."

"Apparently Lecan-dono couldn't curb his excitement because it was his first dungeon excursion in a long while."

"How far did you two get?"

"We got to Floor 26."

"Yeah, right."

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 5





The following day, Lecan and Arios went down to have a meal at Lady Turtle (Fengel) period, and left the inn at two of Fengel.

Afterward, <Good-for-Nothing (Grindam)> left and came back in the evening.

<Grindam> is a three-persons party.

Shortspearsman, Tsuinga.

Dualaxeman, Bruska.

Mage Yoana.

These three members of <Grindam> have a slightly unusual personal history.

All three were born in Tsubolt, and became adventurers here, but Dungeon Tsubolt is too tough for beginner adventurers. Thus they each went to different dungeons outside town to hone their strength. At this point of time, none of them knew one another.

Eventually they all met at Dungeon Sotel. And formed a party together. Which was when they found out they hailed from the same city.

And every one of them also had the same goal, to go explore Dungeon Tsubolt one day.

They went home to Tsubolt together and began their exploration of <Dungeon of Swords>.

It's already been three years since they first stayed at <Rafin's Rock Terrace Inn>.

They have been slowly working their way deeper into the dungeon, and today they're one of the <Depth Walkers>. They're now first-rate adventurers whose fame is known throughout the city.

"It would please me if you could heat the bath."

Tsuinga tends to speak like an old man. Brawny and muscular with a bald head to boot, he looks 10 years older than he actually is.

"I'm taking the first dip, you hear me."

Yoana has a good physique for a woman. Her rather rough speech doesn't help her looking 5 years older than her actual age.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"Okay then, I'll go in after you."

Dualaxeman, Bruska has a medium build with no particular feature that stands out, but due to his awfully calm demeanor, he looks 7-8 year older than his age.

<Grindam> looks like a gathering of people in their 30s. However, they are all only 27 in reality, they've still got a long road ahead of them.

The reason why Nark knows their ages is because Nark's father and Bruska's father are good friends, Nark's father even taught Bruska his adventurer's knowledge. Nark's father also gave dual axes he found in this dungeon's depth to Bruska. Due to that circumstance, Nark knows Bruska well, and since the other two are of the same age as Bruska, naturally he's ended up knowing theirs too.

The bathroom is connected to the dining room through a door in the back. The tub is barrel-shaped, you heat up the water by putting and kindling firewood below. As it's got walls, roofs and a door, you can get in even in winter. It's located in a secluded area in the yard, hidden away from the streets. There's a big open window inside the bath with a clear view on vegetable and flowers growing in the garden. <Rafin's Rock Terrace Inn> is an inn where you can take a bath.

"Nark-san. We've gotten to Floor 92."

"Hou! That's mighty impressive. Ya did great sonny."

"Thank you. But please stop with the sonny."

Nark is old enough to be Bruska's father and even knew Bruska when he was a baby. There were times when he taught him the basics of swords too. Hence he would occasionally call him like he was still a boy.

It was another cold night, <Grindam> members warmed themselves up in the bath and had a toast.

Lecan and Arios never came back.

Must have moved to another inn.

He thought they were planning to stay at his inn for a while, so Nark found it a bit unexpected.

"Oh dear, it's so lonely without Arios-chan around."

Nell murmured while doing the clean-up.

"Maybe, they're staying overnight inside?"

"Naw, can't be."

There is no one who stays overnight in the dungeon here.

No matter which floor you're exploring, going back to the surface is as simple as going in the stairway you came down from and then warping back to the surface from there. Besides, regardless if your goal is gathering magic stones, treasure chests or defeating giant variants to go deeper, after spending the whole day fighting inside, it's just more efficient to go outside and heal your wounds, restore your stamina, repair your gear, replenish supply and have a good rest to resume exploring the day after.

Though it's another matter if you're doing a protracted battle.

Protracted here means fighting magic beasts inside a room, then leaving the room to heal your wounds and stamina, and sometimes even having meals before going back inside the room to resume the fight.

Dunno how it's like in other dungeons, but at least in this dungeon magic beasts don't step outside their rooms. And the damage you inflict on them doesn't recover, or extremely slowly even if it does. Thus this tactic got established.

Of course, the only time you employ this tactic is when you're up against a giant variant. If a party has to resort to this tactic against common magic beasts, that means that floor is too early for them. And they'd consume more than they earn, so there's no point in employing that tactic. It's only meaningful utilized in the battle against giant variants in order to go deeper below.

Lecan and Arios had just started challenging <Dungeon of Swords> today.

They can't possibly end up in protracted battles on early floors. If a party resort to that just to get to the next floor, that party is too weak to tackle <Dungeon of Swords>. Additionally, as there are a lot of people who wish to challenge giant variants on shallow floors, you can't just monopolize them. The rat the two hired would surely inform them that.

That said, Nark just can't see those two getting killed on shallow floors.

As such, he believed they must have gone to another inn.

Only realizing that he was mistaken evening on the next day.

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4





"I'm back. Oh? What have we here, are you our guests?"

"Hello. I'm Arios. And this man here is Lecan. We will be staying here tonight."

"Oh my. You're so well-mannered. Easy on the eyes too."

"Nell. Get that foodstuff in the kitchen."

"Oh what are you huff-puffing about. Dear guests, hang on tight now. I'll cook up a storm for you."

Afterward, Nark and his wife stayed in the kitchen preparing dinner.

They eventually came back with the meal in tow.

"My word, this is simply superb. This vegetable must have been stir fried before being put in the soup. It's so aromatic. And with nice texture in the mouth. By the way, Nark-san and Nell-san are you two having meal after this?"

"Yea."

"Would you like to eat together with us?"

Nell replied back while Nark was hesitating what to say.

"My my, that'd be delightful. Can't believe such a nice young man like you would invite us."

The two brought their meals to the guest table.

"Do you have white wine?"

"Yea. We do."

"Then, mind if I treat landlord and landlady to some white wine?"

"Oh my, you're just too nice. Then I'll treat you two glassful of wine myself. Or maybe that's not good enough?"

"Oh not at all. It'll be my pleasure."

Four glasses of white wine got brought right away before they all toasted together.

The young man was knowledgeable in many topics, they all had fun chatting while eating.

The big man too, while taciturn, wasn't completely unsociable, it didn't feel awkward eating with him.

Far from it even, the meal was quite pleasant. Nark and Nell got treated to two glasses of white wine.

In the meantime, more and more guests kept coming in for dinner. Nark and Nell prepared meals for 15 guests besides for themselves and the staying guests, and they ran out early.

The young man went back to his room after meal. 'I'd like to get some rest for today', thus he said as he retired.

Even when all guests who were there for meals went home, the big man stayed to drink fermented Kizolt liquor. The bottle has been almost emptied.

"Nark."

Called by the big man, Nark turned to him across the counter.

"How long does it take to get to the lowest floor without fighting?"

"What"

"I'm asking how long does it take to get to the lowest floor if you go down the stairs without fighting once."

What the heck is this guy spouting up, thought Nark.

Then he recalled something.

There are some dungeons outside that allow its challengers to get downstairs without fighting one magic beast.

"Ya see here now, stairways in this dungeon are located in rooms where the giant variants lurk."

"Rooms?"

"Yeah. The dungeon here is a cavern-type ya see, it's got passageways and rooms. Magic beasts dwell inside rooms. There are rooms without magic beasts too. You won't fight magic beasts if you don't enter a room. But the stairs down are in rooms where giant variants lurk, so yer' not gonna go down without fighting 'em. Well, ya can also slip past them without defeating them, but yer' gonna quickly hit a roadblock doing that. Besides, once you get to the middle layer, it's pretty much impossible to go down the stairs without fightin'."

"Hou? How come."

"You'll see when ya get there."

"Was planning to slip past shallow floors without fighting, I suppose that's not happening."

"Unlike other dungeons, there ain't no floors fit for rookies here. Ya got no other choice but to work at it piece by piece."

"I see. By the way, locations of rooms where those giant variants spawn are fixed then."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
"'Course."

"How many rooms with giant variants per floor, or, how many stairways there are on a floor."

"Think, around two? I dunno much either. But most floors prolly got two."

"Fumu. Then you'd also have to fight a giant variant if you're going upstairs if that's how it's structured."

"Go upstairs? Ya mean going up in the dungeon? Why'd you do that?"

"No, I'm not doing that. Just asking. I see. It's got passageways, rooms with magic beasts and boss rooms huh."

"Ah, boss rooms eh. You mean that. Yeah I guess they are boss rooms. Anyway, apparently this dungeon's structure is unusual. Might throw first timers for a loop."

"No. I'm very much familiar with this sort of structure."

The big man grinned and laughed ferociously.

"Well, just ask the rat if yer' hiring one. Get 'em bring you to the giant variant rooms. But if yer' exploring fer' real, you'd better fight the common magic beasts a few times on a floor to grasp their traits before challenging the giant variant."

"Hou. These traits can differ depending on floors huh?"

"Yea. Stuff like magic resistance, eh guess that got nothing to do with ya. Things like movement speed, or overall endurance change with each floors. Yer' not gonna manage going for the giant variant right away."

"I see."

"Well, do yer' best. And look out for Grace Gear Bearers."

"What's Grace Gear Bearers."

"The heck, yer' clueless 'bout that too? In this dungeon, defeating magic beasts bearing Grace Gear often drop treasure chests with that particular Grace Gear inside. Or rather, they say the drop is guaranteed if that item really got a Grace."

"What."

"Oy oy, that got ya' goin' eh. Grace Gear-bearing magic beasts are on a whole 'nuther level. Most folks who died at this dungeon were due to those magic beasts. Since Grace Gear Bearers show up even on shallow floors. Partly why this dungeon's impossible for beginner adventurers."

"Haha. I see, I see. So beating Grace Gear-bearing magic beasts net you that Grace Gear. I see, I see."

"Ask the rat which floors tend to drop what Grace Gear. Keep in mind that there's a wide breadth of those gear tho'. Just when you thought an exploding sword would drop, you got a sword that slows down when chipped instead, stuff like that."

"Fumu. Interesting. Is there a member limit in the boss room of the lowest floor, no, I mean rooms with giant variants inside?"

"Member limit? Naw, never heard of that. Don't think there's a room that limits how many peeps can go in, doesn't matter what floor. But these rooms got fixed sizes. Too many inside, and yer' not gonna move around well."

The big man gulped down his last cup and put it on the table.

"Got to hear some good stuff. This is thanks."

"Oy oy, ain't this a gold coin. I just babbled about stuff everyone here knew already, can't accept this."

"That's how much your information is worth to me. Take it."

After hesitating a bit, Nark took the gold coin.

He shouldn't have gotten a gold coin just by chatting. 'Guess I'll treat him to snacks once in a while', thought Nark.

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