Chapter: 175
The next day after conquering the 10th floor of Menestel.
Starting my exploration from the 11th floor, I felt that diving into the dungeon had become much more pleasant.
It wasn’t about the temperature. I hadn’t even put on the necklace yet, so how could I feel cool?
What I wanted to say was that the number of adventurers had noticeably decreased.
There could be several reasons for this. Not many had breached the boss guarding the 10th floor, and the rumors about the Menestel dungeon probably made people hesitate to explore.
Anyway, thanks to that, I didn’t run into a single adventurer all the way to the 20th floor.
If there were no variables in conquering the dungeon, then you know what would happen, right?
Having been stressed out from the heat the previous day, I gritted my teeth and did a speedrun.
To grab that feeling of coolness after breaking through the 20th floor.
Hah. Running to my death is tough business, you know.
“Is this really tiring? I still have a lot left to go.”
“I’m an informant, not a knight, you know.”
After swiftly making it through the shortest route of the dungeon and leaving the boss room battle entirely to Karl and Alsatine, I pulled out the necklace and put it on as soon as I arrived at the 21st floor.
Suddenly, the stifling hot air surrounding me vanished, and a coolness spread from the necklace.
That coolness seeped into my bones, carving a chill, but it didn’t seem like it would freeze me to death like when I wore it on the 1st floor.
Rather, the coolness outweighed it.
After a clash between heat and chill, the chill emerged victorious, causing a slight goosebumps, but having lived through two days of heat, I welcomed the cold.
Alright. Just this alone feels like some of the stress I’ve endured is being blown away.
Feeling energized, I approached Karl and Alsatine, who were playfully bickering.
‘Hey you two…’
“Hey, you shoddy folks. Not tired yet? Right? You’re not going to be weaker than a small girl like me, are you?”
“Of course not, Young Lady.”
“…Uh. Are you going to keep going?”
The two’s responses were polar opposite.
Karl, who was used to the hellish life of the Allen family, nodded as if it was natural, while Alsatine, who was relatively closer to a normal person, quivered his lips.
Alsatine, looking a bit worn out, huh?
It’s understandable. They’d been alternating between fighting and running for hours.
I had some time to rest, but these two had barely a moment, so it made sense for them to be showing discomfort.
But you know, going down quickly benefits you too, Alsatine.
Right?
So let me boost your courage!
“Really?♡ Were you weaker than me, a bug?♡ Of course, since you’re a shoddy from the back streets, I’ll understand with open arms♡ Puhuhut♡”
As I openly laughed in front of Alsatine, the veins on his forehead bulged.
“…No. I can do this.”
“If you can’t do it, it’s fine to say you can’t! Just admit you’re a weakling worse than a small girl!♡ It isn’t a wrong statement, so what’s the big deal?♡”
“I’m fine. I will try.”
You said you’d do it? I didn’t force you into it, okay?
So don’t call me a heartless boss later!
You get that?
*
Recently, one of the reception staff at the Menestel Adventurers’ Guild, Charze, was terrified of the approaching evening.
For him, the evening had originally been a happy time.
The sunset meant it would soon be time to clock out.
He considered that his daily joy, going to the tavern at night to drink two large mugs of beer while devouring skewers. How could one not be happy as evening approached?
However, recently, he had been fearing the evening solely because of one person.
With a bang, the door opened, and the gazes of adventurers congregated towards that direction, then quickly dispersed.
Not that they had no reason to be interested; it was just that they didn’t want to attract attention to the person who had just entered the guild.
“Why are you dragging this out? Did you rent the place out or something? Why are you hurrying when you come in late?” they shouted, bickering at the reception desk.
No matter who it was, they wouldn’t budge in their seats, except for this instance.
As if leaves scattered by the wind, adventurers parted to make way for the girl who walked in, and Charze forced a gentle smile.
“Whoa. Why do you look so beastly? I almost mistook you for prey.”
“I’m sorry for looking like this!”
Lucy Allen.
The only child of the hero Benedict Allen, who had made a name for himself across the continent, and a wild brat who would lash out at anyone who displeased her, regardless of whether they were a king or a noble.
Why she had come to conquer the Menestel dungeon was a mystery, but being assigned to take care of Lucy Allen had forced Charze to stomach the feeling of having his gut twisted every evening.
“Move faster, you slow brute. You do know what happens if you waste my time, right?”
The only silver lining was that Lucy Allen wasn’t nearly as vicious as the rumors suggested.
Sure, she had a horrible mouth and seemed to enjoy provoking others, but that’s where it ended.
She would only laugh at those trembling in fear and do no more than that.
Moreover, the fact that she had saved other adventurers in the dungeon the day before had led to rumors circulating among the guild’s adventurers that Lucy Allen was just a foul-mouthed individual but a decent person.
As one seasoned adventurer had said, perhaps she’d finally matured after living wild like a delinquent.
Of course, none of these rumors mattered to Charze.
Under Lucy Allen’s mocking comments and disdainful glares, he saw her as nothing more than a source of stress.
“Seriously, you’re denser than you look. It takes this long to settle the loot?”
“I’m sorry, Lady Allen.”
Finally, it was over.
Once this person left, he could finally prepare to clock out in peace!
Charze, with a joyous heart, was about to hand over the money to Lucy Allen when suddenly he realized he had some important information to convey, halting his hands.
“What’s this, you brute?”
“Lady Allen, there have been continuous anomalies occurring in the dungeon recently. There may be unexpected dangers, so please be careful when entering the dungeon…”
“Pfft.”
Lucy Allen scoffed at Charze’s warning and looked at him as if he were a clown.
“Are you worried about me? Trying to get my attention? So you’re a pedophile who likes girls? Pervert. Beast. Gross.”
“No! That’s not it at all!”
“Wow. Your face is red. Such a shoddy brute being toyed with by a girl. Totally pathetic.”
After Lucy Allen giggled and left, Charze banged his forehead on the reception desk.
Hah.
I hate this.
I really hate this.
When is that person going to go back?!
The Menestel dungeon is notorious for being such a harsh environment that even noble sons tremble and turn back, so why isn’t she complaining?!
Just go back!
Act all picky as the rumors say, and go back to your territory!
As Charze sighed and rubbed his face, he felt someone tap on his shoulder and looked up.
“Hey, Charze. Are you really…”
“No! I’m not! I like people who come out and about!”
“Ah, so that’s why you can’t date.”
“It’s not like that!”
Charze’s desperate outcry slightly lighten the guild’s atmosphere, which had grown tense.
But that didn’t last long.
Once again, the guild door swung open, and silence hung in the air.
It wasn’t Lucy Allen returning.
This time, the visitor was Meg Georg, the eldest son of the Georg family managing Menestel.
With the arrival of a noble directly related to the guild, the expressions of those inside the guild stiffened.
Charze was no exception.
Just a moment ago, he had been shouting, but now he urgently saluted Meg Georg and swallowed hard.
What’s going on? Why is a guy who usually just lounges around in the family coming here?
“Lord Georg! What brings you here?”
The guildmaster hurriedly came out to greet Meg, but Meg’s expression remained indifferent.
What’s this? Usually, he would’ve made a fuss about the lack of proper respect.
That guy is notorious for having a bad personality.
“I have something to discuss regarding the dungeon’s rampage. I plan to form an investigative team.”
“Oh! Yes, that’s an extremely important issue! We have been preparing for it.”
“No. Details should be explained to the butler here. I have other matters to attend to.”
Meg Georg said this and then looked out through the guild’s window.
“Hey, Guildmaster.”
“Yes?”
“Who was that girl who just left? I’ve never seen her before.”
Seeing Meg Georg lick his lips, Charze felt a cold shiver run down his spine and chewed on his lips.
*
Menestel is the divide between adventurers and commoners.
Why, you ask?
Look at the environment of the Menestel dungeon! Would noble brats want to tackle this?!
Even I feel like I’m dying from the struggle, so what noble can endure that heat? None.
Of course, there are those noble kids aiming for a life turnaround by conquering a major dungeon, but they usually look for more pleasant places. They won’t come to such a harsh and unpleasant spot.
So, Menestel has an overwhelmingly lower proportion of nobles compared to other dungeons.
It’s only natural, but with commoners and adventurers as the primary customers, the shops and markets in this area are tailored accordingly.
Why do the restaurants in the academy district cater to noble brats?
They prioritize a luxurious, flashy, yet refined atmosphere.
That’s tasty and all, but if you eat that every day, there come days when you crave junk food.
The taste that hits hard, regardless of the ingredient’s original flavor—just pure deliciousness.
To satisfy that craving today, I searched out a restaurant on the streets of Menestel.
This area, being the commoners’ district, specializes in such food!
“Grandpa, Grandpa. Look over there! Isn’t that amazing?!”
Wow, look at that! The way they’re tearing apart that pig’s leg is so violent! It looks delicious!
[This isn’t really my type of place...]
“Grandpa! How long are you going to be stuck in the past? We need to enjoy new cultures!”
Just as I was eagerly waiting for my ordered food while making a fuss with Grandpa, a group came into the store.
A man dressed in expensive clothing adorned with various decorations and those who seemed to be guarding him.
That’s… the eldest son of the Georg family, isn’t it?
A trashy dude with a nasty personality who loves to womanize.
The one that caused headaches in stories relating to Menestel.
Why is he here?
He’s a noble and talented wizard who despises commoners and adventurers!
He has no reason to come to a place like this.
“Ah, there you are.”
As Meg scanned the inside of the store, he locked eyes with me and smirked.
…What the hell?
What’s that creepy grin and look?!
Wait! Why is he approaching me?!
Don’t you know Lucy Allen?!
She’s the crazy wild brat of the Allen family! If you touch her, you’ll get bitten!
Don’t come over! Don’t come over!
“Nice to meet you, beautiful lady. My name is Meg Georg, the eldest son of the Georg family managing Menestel.”
The pervert trying to sound cool greeted me in a condescending voice while looking straight into my eyes and grinned again.
Hah. This life is so freakin’ frustrating.
Why is it always the perverted freaks who approach me first?
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