“I saw her this morning too, but Ao is really strong, isn’t she?”
“Even so, she’s still holding back quite a bit.”
Sylvia-san, watching the match from the food stall just like me, spoke with a hint of excitement as she shared her thoughts. It seemed that a swordsmanship match—so different from yesterday’s magic duel—had gotten her even more thrilled.
“Man, your slime is seriously strong. No doubt a top contender for the championship.”
“That is, if things keep going smoothly.”
“Yeah. By the way, I’ll take five rice balls, please.”
“Of course, thank you very much.”
And since the crowd knew that Ao was working at the stall, people swarmed over as soon as the match ended. Honestly… this was going to be tough.
“I’m back! Ao won!”
“The crowd is incredible!”
“Good work, Ao, Shiro, Fran. Sorry, but head inside the stall right away.”
““Okay!””
At that moment, Shiro and the others returned from the match. I felt bad asking so soon, but I had them step inside the stall.
“Oh, you’re back from the match.”
“That was an amazing fight.”
“You were so cool!”
“Do your best again tomorrow, okay?”
This is bad.
With Ao back at the stall, even more customers surged forward. She tried politely waving her tentacles at them, but it was becoming impossible to keep up.
“Ten meat sandwiches over here!”
“And twenty rice balls over there!”
“Ehh—!”
Shiro and Fran’s voices echoed from inside the stall, but seriously—who had placed that many orders?
I glanced toward the reception area.
“Sir, what are you doing?”
“Oh, just a little treat for the tournament staff.”
“I-I see… thank you as always…”
The culprit was the Margrave himself, accompanied by his guards.
I almost said something, but wisely held my tongue. And since it was a gift for the tournament staff, there was no way I could complain. So I hurriedly got back to grilling the meat.
“All events for today have concluded. Tomorrow’s matches will begin at nine in the morning.”
Sigh.
“I’m exhausted… I wonder how much meat I’ve grilled today.”
By the time I had been cooking nonstop, all the matches were over. It had been far busier than yesterday—nothing like the preliminaries.
This was what the main tournament felt like.
“I’m a little tired too. I thought I had plenty of stamina, but…”
Even Sylvia-san looked a bit worn out.
Well, if you spend the whole day cooking like that, it’s no wonder. Somehow, Ao looked a little floppy too. The attendants also showed signs of fatigue, so it was clear just how many customers had come.
“There were so many customers today.”
“Right?”
And Fran and Horn… how are you still so full of energy?
They’d been dealing with a huge number of customers all day, too.
“Now then, we’ll be returning to the manor to pay our respects to the Margrave.”
“We’ll go with you.”
With the cleanup finished, we decided to join the attendants in greeting the Margrave. While we were at it, we decided to stop by the medical team’s tent and bring Sue and the others along.
Just as we approached the tent, though…
Zusha!
“Boohee!”
“Honestly, enough already!”
Just as I thought a man had been blown out of the medical tent. Then came Horn, storming along in full anger mode. It was rare to see Horn get angry at anything other than sleep deprivation—but then, even more furious, Sue emerged from the tent behind her.
“Ugh… ughghgh!”
“You… you were hitting on us yesterday, and today you’ve done it multiple times again. And you even tried talking to Horn-chan!”
Ah—so that’s why he looked familiar.
He was the same idiot who’d been flirting yesterday. Honestly… this guy seemed to be willingly sentencing himself to execution. Quite the masochist.
The flustered, flattened pick-up artist was restrained by the guards and led away.
I’m sure he was being taken to a lovely little vacation home they call, jail.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
When I told him that the three girls had cleared the dungeon on their own, Ark gave the two of them that instruction, his expression unusually grave.
“?”
“What are you planning to do?”
Tilting their heads in confusion, the two nonetheless obeyed without protest. Then, without warning, Ark raised his spear and dropped into a combat stance.
“—!”
Instantly, Fana and Anje reacted.
The staff and adventurers who had been in the middle of cleaning up froze, their hands stopping as they took in sharp breaths at the sudden, dangerous turn of events.
Yet neither side moved… and in the end, it was Ark who relaxed his stance first.
“No mistake about it. …Both of you have already surpassed me completely.”
He nodded as if arriving at some realization, then stated it flatly.
“W-what!?”
“You’re saying those two are stronger than the Guild Master!?”
“No way… the Guild Master used to be an S-rank adventurer!”
“And didn’t he say he’s been in just as good shape lately as he was in his prime?”
As disbelief rippled through the room, Ark began to walk.
“Come with me. There’s something important we need to discuss.”
We followed as instructed and were shown into the Guild Master’s office on the top floor.
“…Now then. It’s hard to believe, but it seems you truly did clear the dungeon. If possible, could you tell me a bit more about how it happened?”
In response to his request, the girls gave a detailed account of everything along the way to the seventy-fifth floor—what the journey had been like, the boss’s traits, and exactly how they had brought it down.
When they also laid out the materials dropped by the boss—
“What is this…? Just looking at it, you can tell it’s dangerous.”
“Looks like it could be used to forge a weapon, doesn’t it?”
“What kind of weapon are you even planning to make…?”
Ark let out a weary sigh.
“…Honestly. You lot never fail to casually step far beyond common sense. Still, let’s set that aside for now. I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately, because of the rules, this will have to concern only you two—Fana and Anje—but… would you consider taking the S-rank promotion exam?”
At those words, Fana and Anje both drew in sharp breaths.
“S-rank…”
“Us… at the very top of all adventurers?”
“That’s right. I never imagined two candidates would appear at the same time, but… in terms of ability, you more than qualify.”
Ark said it with a wry smile, giving them his wholehearted endorsement.
“Hm? What about our master?”
“Of course, that baby over there—and the beastman as well—have strength to spare for S-rank… but as I mentioned earlier, there are rules. To become an S-rank adventurer, you need at least five years of documented achievements.”
He gave a clear answer to Fana’s question.
“Five years… There’s no way a baby could meet that requirement indeed…. And Lill has only just become an adventurer.”
“So that means I’d have to be at least five years old to become S-rank.”
“An S-rank at five years old would be completely unprecedented…”
Well, it’s not like I’m particularly attached to adventurer ranks anyway.
“Where will the exam be held?”
“Oh? Sounds like you’re motivated.”
“Mm. It sounds fun.”
“Yes. I’d very much like to take the challenge.”
“Then I’ll grant you the qualification to sit for it. Among the many guild masters out there, only a very select few—including myself—are authorized to issue eligibility for the S-rank exam. As for the location… it will be held at the headquarters of the Adventurers’ Guild Association.”
“The Adventurers’ Guild Association?”
“It’s an organization that most adventurer guilds belong to. They establish various guidelines for guild activities—and in fact, they’re the ones who set the standards for adventurer ranks. To become S-rank, you need their approval. But because of the chairman’s eccentric tastes—ah, I mean, his preferences—the headquarters is located in a rather remote place.”
Ark pulled out a map and pointed to the spot.
It lay far to the north of Vegaltia, in a stretch of desolate, ravaged land.
“Hardly any vegetation grows there. It’s just endless stretches of bleak, rocky terrain. It’s also so vast that it earned the name the Infinite Wasteland. It’s the most dangerous great frontier on the continent. And near its outskirts, in a place inconveniently remote even by those standards, you’ll find the headquarters of the Adventurers’ Guild Association.”
“Huh. So that’s where it is.”
The Infinite Wasteland was once a region ruled by several particularly vicious demon tribes. It was also the place where, in my previous life, I hunted them down one by one and succeeded in wiping them out completely—an achievement that would later earn me the title of Great Sage.
“Honestly, just reaching it is a trial in itself… but for you lot, it should be no trouble at all.”
After that, Ark prepared their examination qualification certificates. They were issued on special paper infused with the creator’s mana, making forgeries easy to detect.
“By the way, you should know this—only registered adventurers are allowed to enter the Association’s headquarters.”
“Then Karen has to register as an adventurer first. Oh, right… there’s an exam involved.”
Karen, having only just arrived from the eastern lands, hadn’t even registered as an adventurer yet.
“Mm, is that so? What kind of exam is it?”
“There’s a written test and a practical one. The practical shouldn’t be a problem, but the written exam might be tough to clear right away… The East and West have very different common sense, and more importantly, Karen, you’re not exactly the brightest…”
“Indeed, my intellect is somewhat lacking—wait, that was rude, was it not!?”
“Well, don’t worry. I’ll just feed you the answers through telepathy.”
“Hey. Don’t openly talk about cheating right in front of me! Sigh. But you cleared the dungeon together with Fana and Anje, didn’t you? In that case, that fact alone is more than enough. By the authority of the Guild Master, I’ll approve your exam pass and promote you to A-rank.”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
While I was thinking about all that, the match had already begun.
No helping it—I’d have to watch while grilling the meat.
“Now then, the first match will begin. She has already more than proven her abilities. The miracle mage, Ao!”
“Wooo!”
“Do your best!”
“Ao—go for it!”
The cheers for Ao were even louder than they had been during the preliminaries.
Shiro and the others were cheering her on with everything they had.
Ao, too, responded with her whole body—wriggling and waving her tentacles as she answered the crowd’s support.
“Next, the adventurer who fought his way through the preliminaries wielding a greatsword—Zontark!”
“Good luck to you too!”
Facing her was a handsome, bearded man with short-cropped hair. A long sword slung across his back. He raised a hand to acknowledge the cheers, though it felt more like he was riding the wave of support meant for Ao.
“Although Ao-senshu is registered as a mage, she has chosen a swordsmanship match for this battle. She will be using a wooden sword, hardened through the use of magic.”
“Whoa! An item box!”
In a way, that was so very Ao.
She’d chosen her weapon to match her opponent. When Ao smoothly produced the wooden sword, the crowd’s excitement surged even higher.
Ao and the adventurer crossed their blades once, then stepped back to their assigned positions.
“Then, let the first match begin!”
“Hah!”
Swish—clang!
Clang, clang!
“Oh! Right from the start, both fighters clash fiercely at the center of the arena! They’re already trading blows!”
“Waaah!”
The sudden, intense exchange sent the crowd into a frenzy.
But from where I was watching, it felt like both of them were still testing each other, even as their blades met.
Step back.
“Now they’ve created some distance between them!”
They broke off the exchange, Ao and the adventurer backing away from one another. Yet there was a clear difference in their expressions. Ao looked completely at ease, while sweat streamed down the adventurer’s brow. The pressure Ao was exerting was clearly the greater one.
Dash.
“Unable to hold back, Zontark-senshu lunges at Ao!”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
“Whoa! Ao-senshu dodged and dodged it again! Zontark-senshu’s sword can’t even touch her!”
“Woooah!”
Ao easily evaded his strikes, and the adventurer looked visibly flustered. Ao herself wasn’t even moving at full power yet, and it felt like this match was about to be decided.
“Hah… hah… d-damn it. The level difference is insane.”
“Zontark-senshu has pulled back to create some distance. He’s drenched in sweat—will he be okay?”
“That slime… she’s unbelievable.”
“Not only magic, but she can wield a sword too?”
“Ao! Go for it!”
“““Go, Ao!”””
That adventurer had clearly realized the level gap between himself and Ao—he seemed completely out of options.
The crowd was starting to notice it too.
Shiro and the others were still bouncing up and down, cheering for Ao with all their might.
Oh—Ao was putting a little more force into her next move. Was she trying to finish the match?
Swish—clang!
“Ah!”
Whirl—clatter.
“Whoa! Ao-senshu moved in an instant and knocked Zontark-senshu’s sword flying!”
“Incredible! I didn’t even see it!”
“She did the same thing yesterday… that’s not normal slime movement!”
Ao slipped inside the adventurer’s guard and sent his sword flying. He reacted for just a moment, but there was no way he could block her attack. Even the crowd couldn’t follow the speed of Ao’s move.
“Hah… no good. I give up.”
“And with that, Zontark-senshu surrenders. The winner—Ao!”
“Wooo!”
The adventurer had accepted defeat almost immediately.
No matter what he tried, there was no way he could have won against Ao.
Shiro and the others bounced up and down, clearly thrilled at Ao’s victory. Ao and the adventurer shook hands and stepped back, signaling the end of the match.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Even after waiting for a while, it did not revive, nor did a second boss appear.
“These feathers… must be the drop items, I guess.”
Scattered across the floor were several jet-black feathers, seemingly shed from the boss’s wings. Infused with considerable magical power, these feathers would likely serve as excellent materials for crafting weapons or armor, granting strong effects.
“You did it, you three. The dungeon is cleared safely.”
I spoke to the three girls, still exhausted from the fierce battle.
Even so, I hadn’t expected a strategy like narrowing an entire vast chamber just to restrict the boss’s mobility.
Anje had implemented her bold idea instantly, Fana had immediately understood the intent and used her wind magic to further limit its movement and expose the real target, and Karen had seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a single decisive strike.
Their performance had exceeded all my expectations.
“Mm… I’m hungry.”
“That’s the first thing you say? Well, I guess I am hungry too…”
“I was warned by Master that it was too dangerous… and yet, I went all-in with a once-or-never secret technique… but it worked! Though… the recoil’s left me completely exhausted…”
Karen lay sprawled on the ground like a flattened frog. It seemed that the secret technique had been unleashed on a whim, without any rehearsal.
By healing both inside and out, this spell could restore even someone like Karen, whose qi had been completely drained.
“Mm… stairs.”
“I wonder where they lead?”
“This should take us back to the surface. Some dungeons have a direct route to the surface that appears once the boss is defeated.”
The dungeon itself seemed eager for us to leave quickly—probably to prevent anyone from damaging the Dungeon Core.
The spiral staircase stretched endlessly upward, far above us. After descending all the way from the seventy-fifth floor, the climb back was a considerable distance, but there was no need to rush, so we ascended at a steady, relaxed pace.
Reaching the top, the staircase opened onto a corridor just inside the dungeon’s first floor, near the entrance.
As soon as everyone stepped into the corridor, the staircase leading to the boss room vanished.
“Corpses of monsters scattered everywhere… but it’s surprisingly quiet.”
“Yeah… none of the monsters are moving.”
Outside the dungeon, adventurers were busy dismembering and hauling away the fallen creatures. It seemed the cleanup operation was already well underway.
“You’re back.”
“Ark-ojiichan. Looks like the dungeon outbreak has settled down.”
“Yeah. That happened about five hours ago. As you can see, we’re still cleaning up the huge pile of monster corpses. The entire guild is working on it… but there’s so many that it’s nowhere near finished.”
“…Five hours ago?”
Since the three girls had defeated the boss only about thirty minutes earlier, it seemed the dungeon outbreak had already been quelled before that.
“All thanks to that beastman. As a Fenrir… with her in her human form, her power is probably far more limited than it should be, right? But still, she was that powerful…”
“Yeah. At least half her power was suppressed.”
“That’s terrifying… but you, the one who tamed such a monster, is far more terrifying than it is.”
Lill, who had been helping haul the monster corpses, noticed me and came over.
“Master, you’ve returned.”
“Just now. Seems that the monsters up to the fiftieth floor weren’t even a match for Lill in her human form.”
“Of course. No matter how many there were, they were no match for me.”
Surely, it might have been necessary to revert to her original form, but Lill she could have defeated even Belzebub on her own.
“Lill, you say? Effective today, you’re promoted to A-rank. Leaving someone like you at B-rank makes no sense.”
Ark shrugged and announced Lill’s promotion under his authority as guild master.
“That aside, given your nature, I expected you guys to have stayed a bit longer in there.”
“…What do you mean?”
“You said you were going to conquer the dungeon, didn’t you? Yet you returned awfully quickly.”
“Huh? We did manage to conquer the dungeon, though?”
“Huh?”
“We actually defeated the boss. As I predicted, it was exactly the seventy-fifth floor. The boss was a fallen angel, a formidable enemy with a disgustingly fly-like face.”
When I stated it clearly, Ark stood there for a moment, dumbfounded, and then shouted:
“N-n-n… you… you guys actually conquered the Great Vegaltia Dungeon—r-really!?”
His roar made all the staff and adventurers who were busy with cleanup freeze in place, their eyes wide with shock as they turned to look.
“Y-yeah, no mistake.”
“It was tougher than I expected.”
“I was the one who delivered the finishing blow!”
The room in the guild’s basement instantly buzzed with murmurs and astonishment.
“Wait, seriously?”
“This dungeon… no one has ever cleared it before, right?”
“Not a single adventurer has even seen the boss in person…”
Ark’s lips trembled as he stammered:
“I… I never thought anyone would actually clear it… and in such a short time… well, considering your exceptional nature, I suppose it’s not impossible…”
“Ah, of course, as I declared, it was just those three girls who cleared it. I didn’t intervene at all.”
“No waaay!?”
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
As I continued with the preparations, a small wave of cheers rose from the direction of the stage.
When I looked more closely, I saw that the members of the Margrave’s household had arrived, prompting voices of excitement from the crowd around them.
In that case… the opening ceremony must be about to begin.
“Shiro, Fran. You can head to the opening ceremony first.”
“Got it. I’ll let Horn know too.”
“Ao, let’s go!”
I couldn’t very well let them be late, so I sent Shiro, Fran, and Ao ahead toward the stage. I cast a quick glance at the medical team’s tent and saw that it was already crowded with visitors. At a glance, it didn’t look like anyone was there to flirt or cause trouble, which put my mind at ease.
“Shun-sama, the preliminary preparations are mostly complete.”
“Hmm. In that case… shall we start selling, even though the girls who attract customers and the main cook aren’t here yet?”
“Understood.”
There were plenty of attendants on hand today, and since Shiro and Fran were mainly there to call out and draw attention, I left customer service to the attendants. With Sylvia-san here as well, we decided to hold off on the slime grill until Ao returned, and opened the food stall.
Sizzle, sizzle.
“Hey, kid, you’ve opened up already? That slime of yours is over on the stage.”
“Yes. The opening ceremony is about to begin, but the matches themselves won’t start just yet.”
“I see, I see. Then I’ll take one meat sandwich.”
“Thank you very much.”
A line had already formed in front of the stall, and some customers had even noticed that Ao was already on the stage.
It was hectic right from the moment we opened, but once the opening ceremony started, things should calm down a little. Believing that, I focused on cooking and kept the food coming.
“Three rice balls here!”
“Four meat sandwiches for me!”
“Coming right up!”
…Sigh. This was a complete miscalculation.
The closer the opening ceremony drew, the more customers flooded in, and the stall became overwhelmingly busy. Judging by the bustle at the surrounding stalls, it wasn’t just us—everyone was swamped.
Sylvia-san and the attendants moved about frantically, each of them working at full speed.
And then, at last, the opening ceremony began.
“Silence please. His Excellency, Margrave-sama, will now give the introduction.”
“Ahem. The preliminary rounds were fiercely contested, and now, at long last, the main tournament begins. This year, many promising competitors have gathered, and I’m sure you have all been eagerly awaiting this moment. And so, I hereby declare the main tournament of the Martial Arts Competition open.”
““““Woooh!””””
A tremendous roar of cheers echoed through the area.
Just hearing those voices made it clear how long the audience had been waiting for the main event to begin.
“Now then, we will proceed with the draw to determine the match ups. The drawing will be conducted in the order in which competitors advanced through the preliminaries. First, contestant Ao-senshu, please step forward.”
“She’s so cute!”
“She’s waving over here!”
“Do your best!”
As the very first competitor to clear the preliminaries, Ao headed toward the lottery box, wiggling her tentacles as she basked in the cheers around her. Ao had become especially popular with children and women alike. Even the customers at our food stall were calling out encouragement to her.
With a light hop, Ao jumped onto the table, rattled the tube-like lottery container and pulled out a stick.
“The result is decided. Ao-senshu has drawn number one. She will be competing in the first match.”
“Waaa!”
…Hey, for real?
The first match means she’ll be fighting almost immediately after the draw is finished, doesn’t it?
“Four fruit sandwiches, please.”
“I’ll take five meat sandwiches.”
“Yes, please wait just a moment.”
Even after the opening ceremony began, the rush at the food stall showed no sign of slowing down. At this rate, there was no way I’d be able to go watch Ao’s match.
“Shadow-senshu has drawn number seven.”
Oh—so if that creepy mage ends up facing Ao, it’ll be in the semifinals at best.
Either way, that would be on the third day of the tournament.
“Ten rice balls, please!”
“Eight meat sandwiches!”
“Coming right up.”
Yeah… it looks like I’ll have to fight my way through this battle with the food stall first.
Now then—what should I do about the stall?
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
I brought the Valkyrie’s hammer down on the crystal dragon’s head. Lightning coursed through its gigantic body, reducing it to ash.
The blinding flash seared my vision, and the deafening roar tore at my ears. Just the aftershock alone was enough to make me feel like I was about to pass out. Through the haze before my eyes, I caught sight of a strange figure—a blonde woman standing against the farthest wall. Her smile was gentle, yet tinged with a hint of sorrow.
“F-Freyja-sama…?”
I didn’t know why the name came to me so instinctively.
Vaguely, I remembered my dream—the same woman, encased in ice, exactly as she appeared now.
…Was she trying to tell me something?
“Uhm…”
The moment I let out a sound, my vision suddenly cleared. The light and smoke had vanished. With all my concentration poured into that single strike, those few seconds had surely stretched into what felt like much longer.
Before I realized it, the woman’s figure was gone as well.
I noticed then that I was falling.
“Wa-wa-waa!”
The world spun around me. I had jumped as high as I could to strike the dragon’s head, falling was the inevitable consequence.
T-this is bad!
Just as I closed my eyes, I felt someone catch me.
“Whoa! You alright?”
It was Mia-san. Nils-san was beside her, supporting me just the same.
Though their wounds must have hurt, they carefully lowered me to the ground.
The massive battlefield that had once been alive with chaos was now utterly silent. Pale light filtered through the large hole in the ceiling, and the distant roar of a waterfall echoed mournfully. The terrifying dragon, the summoned monster, none of them remained. Because I had been able to communicate with them, a small pang of loneliness crept in.
The scattered warrior corps, Safi, and Felix-san began to gather.
Surveying the injured around him, Felix-san rested heavily on his staff.
“We did it.”
I lowered my chin.
As I used White Flame to heal everyone’s wounds, a voice echoed in my mind.
――――
You have reached Level 27.
――――
I shivered because it had been a while since I’d last experienced such an increase.
“My level…”
“Leveled up?”
I bounced excitedly and answered Mia-san.
“Yes!”
Nils-san smiled.
“Well done. I never imagined you’d defeat a dragon of that magnitude…”
He raised both hands in a mock surrender. Shaking his head, his blonde hair swayed.
“I’m at a loss for words. Rion, you all make an incredible party.”
“Hey now, aren’t you part of the party too?”
Mia-san laughed and gave Nils-san a sharp pat on the back.
….That for sure stings a little.
Nils-san stumbled but then broke into a broad grin. His smile was so genuine and unguarded it, a look I have not seen on him before.
“Right.”
Felix-san cleared his throat.
“Now, everyone. This is undoubtedly a great victory, but we must remember our purpose. The people imprisoned as slaves have been rescued, and the obstacles in our way were removed.”
The ashes that stirred the monsters, the dragon that had disturbed the currents—both were defeated. Rescuing the masses is important but the secrets slumbering within the Flocia Dungeon remain.
Having reached the 13th floor, there is no ignoring them.
『The time has finally come.』
The voice of Sigris, the God of Medicine, trembled from the gold coin.
All eyes turned toward me.
“This way.”
I nodded and started walking straight ahead.
The unexplored area of the Flocia Dungeon was definitely there—at the wall where I had glimpsed the goddess’s apparition.
We crossed the vast chamber.
Then I came to a stop before a stone slab embedded in the wall. A single monolith, the size of a castle gate, seemed to float amid the jagged natural rock. Through the gaps between the supporter’s legs, the dwarf blacksmith Safi poked her head out.
“It’s an artificial wall. I can sense magical runes etched into it. There’s no sign that it’s ever been opened.”
It was, without a doubt, a true unexplored area.
The gods were surely watching over us through the gold coins.
I pressed both hands flat against the wall. It was cool to the touch. A shiver ran up my neck.
“Wake up!”
Golden light scattered, and the rock face shimmered. The stone shifted slightly, as if stirring of its own will. A gap opened somewhere, and a frigid wind swept through.
“Wha…!”
Cold. Bitter, piercing cold. It was the kind of freezing air that seemed to speak of the strength of the seal ahead—enough to make my lungs feel as if they would freeze.
『Let me help you. It’s dangerous with your wet bodies.』
A warmth, like sunlight, enveloped us.
“Thank you, Solana.”
I pressed both hands to the wall once more.
“Wake up!”
This time, the wall shattered. The fragments crumbled and vanished inward, as if inviting us to enter. A blizzard-like wind swept through, freezing the surrounding water. Yet thanks to Solana’s protection, it no longer felt bitterly cold.
We stepped inside.
“So beautiful…”
Safi whispered.
The place resembled the night sky. Though darkness enveloped everything, each shard of ice around us glimmered like a star. Thanks to their light, we could move without fear of getting lost.
We walked toward the deepest part, where a magnificent ice pillar stood.
Within it, a beautiful woman was sealed, frozen in place, her right hand outstretched as if offering something.
『…It’s Freyja.』
Solana murmured.
『No doubt about it. She’s been waiting to be awakened.』
As if in response, the alarm horn, Gjallarhorn, vibrated.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Its powerful jaws, its baleful fangs, its eerily calm eyes—every single feature demanded attention, making it impossible to look away from it. Light streamed down through the shattered ceiling. Its pale blue scales and veil-like, translucent wings shimmered with an otherworldly glow.
I couldn’t help but recall a story I’d heard long ago, back when I was small—before Father was gone.
A tale of an adventurer who entered a cave and fought a dragon.
Our situation now is uncannily similar.
This is the thirteenth floor of the dungeon. A vast chamber without pillars stretched out before us, so large that its far edges blurred into the distance. The ceiling alone had to be at least ten meters high.
The crystal dragon slowly raised its head.
—Grrroooaaar!
The dragon roared again.
The air trembled, a violent vibration rippling through the space. If we were lucky, we might escape—if not, we’d lose consciousness on the spot. Faced with such overwhelming force, my feet retreated on their own.
Mia-san, Felix-san, Nils-san—and even the warrior corps and Safi—everyone was being crushed by the pressure.
A scream rang out from the warriors.
“G-gods…?! Can’t we have them fight in our stead?!”
With trembling hands, I pulled the alarm horn—Gjallarhorn—from my pouch. There was no response. It didn’t glow, nor did it vibrate.
Using the awakening power to rouse a god and have them slay this dragon would place an enormous burden on them. In areas where the seals were strong, even the gods couldn’t unleash their full strength without the horn.
“Not yet! But—!”
Raising my voice, I wrapped myself in the Golden Flame.
I clenched the horn tightly in my hand.
“Even without help… I know we can defeat it! B-because…!”
I am scared.
Terrified.
But there was a heat in my chest that burned even hotter than that fear.
“In the royal capital… in Alvis… whenever it truly mattered, the horn lent us its power. I think the god within the horn chooses the right moment.”
Remember the Royal Capital.
Remember Alvis.
When things were truly dangerous—when it was absolutely necessary—the horn had always answered. Within the awakening horn, Gjallarhorn, dwells the god Heimdall.
“So if the horn isn’t responding right now… then I believe it’s because the god inside trusts us—believes that we can fight this battle ourselves.”
Everyone snapped back to their senses and looked up once more at the pale-blue giant dragon.
Breathing steadied.
Postures straightened one after another.
“We will borrow the gods’ power. But the ones who fight… are us. I think that’s the kind of battle this is.”
I lifted my gaze and met the dragon’s stare.
Stay calm.
Observe it carefully.
Understand what kind of enemy it is.
Its head loomed five meters above the ground. Its neck was as thick as a log. The four legs planted firmly into the floor, and the veil-like wings that obscured the ceiling made it feel less like facing a living creature—and more like waging war against a fortress.
Even so, I was certain of one thing.
The god within the horn believed we could win.
—Are you the guardians of the goddess Freyja?
—If that is the case… something about you suggests that time flows a little differently around here…
The dragon rumbled deep in its throat and yawned.
—Well, in the face of the end, it all amounts to the same.
—Your companions. The countless rabble crawling about above. Friends and family alike—every last one of them… I will devour them all.
Across the dragon’s back, countless crystals reflected the light, as though it were clad in armor made of crystal itself. Each stone glimmered and flashed.
Then—countless points of light burst forth into the air.
『Undine…?』
At Solana’s murmur, the words slipped from my own lips.
“The stones on its back—don’t tell me they’re all spirit stones?”
So that’s why it’s called the “Water Crystal Dragon.”
Countless spheres of water rose into the air around the dragon. In the next instant, torrents of water slammed down like a rain of blows. We scattered as if struck by whips.
“Y-you say we can win, but—damn it!”
Mia-san clicked her tongue and spun on her heel. Innumerable spirits continued to unleash watery strikes at us—an unending rain that would be fatal if any of it connected.
At this rate… we couldn’t get close.
Moving just as swiftly, Nils-san raised his voice.
“It’s enormous! Or are all of your enemies this absurdly out of scale?!”
S-sorry about that!
Blond hair streaming behind him, Nils-san flashed a grin.
“…But that just makes it more interesting.”
With a swing of his sword, a water strike was cleaved in two.
“The power depends on the spirits themselves! There are a lot of them, but each one’s no stronger than a lesser dragon from the fourth floor!”
Mia-san deflected the attacks with her axe, Felix-san countered them with magic, and Nils-san cut them down with his sword. Each of them steadily neutralizing the water strikes in their own way.
Because we had scattered, the enemy’s aim was divided. And once we remembered, we’ve seen this attack before, all we had to do was repeat what we’d done back then.
“Let’s move forward!”
I shouted.
The crystal dragon snorted.
—Hmph!
A vast arena.
The crystal dragon beat its wings and rose into the air, pulling far out of our reach. It meant to wear us down, slowly, with the rain of water strikes.
“Fire Line!”
Felix-san’s spell slipped in through the opening. Steam burst from the water wall that intercepted it.
The dragon lifted its head high.
—Come forth, my kin.
From the hole torn open in the ceiling, multiple shadows swooped down. The ones it summoned were the lesser water dragons we had encountered on the fourth floor. Those water-wielding monsters were its subordinates.
“Everyone—fall back! Get close to me!”
Skill,『Divine Protection of the God of Medicine』was used. 【Valkyria’s Spoon】…… Recovery. Consumes magical power to expand the range.
Skill『Sun’s Divine Protection』was used. 【Golden Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Improves physical ability. Further effect for a limited time.
A sharp pain stabbed through my head. I’m now level 26. If I hadn’t grown this much, my mana would have been completely drained in an instant.
“Ugh…!”
Gritting my teeth against the drain on my mana, I spread the Golden Flame through the power of the God of Medicine.
Mia-san, Felix-san, Nils-san —and Safi and the warrior corps as well—everyone was wrapped in Solana’s blessing. Now no one would be outmatched in physical ability.
The time limit was three minutes. Casting it on this many people wasn’t something I could do more than once or twice.
In that brief window, we had to close in and defeat this enemy.
This fortress of a dragon.
“Kaaaah!”
Four lesser dragons lunged at us. Nils-san and Mia-san stepped forward, swinging their weapons. In the next instant, the dragons were cleaved apart, blasted away, reduced to ash.
Our frontline—already utterly dependable—had been further empowered by the Golden Flame.
“T-this is—”
Nils-san glanced back, lowering his jaw in awe.
“It’s the power of the gods! Now, while we can!”
The crystal dragon seemed momentarily unsettled. Even I had grown through repeated level-ups, able to wield the power of the gods—Solana and the others—more fully than before.
—You!
—My kin, come forth!
More lesser dragons surged forward. Even the sirens and sahagins joined the fray.
Their goal was surely to buy time. Against them, we wielded magic, axes, and swordsmanship. Pushing through the horde of monsters, we pursued the dragon that had retreated deeper into the chamber.
The water strikes no longer frightened us. I could read and anticipate each one now.
“Everyone!”
We surged forward in a single line.
The dragon must have seen the wave of our frontline pushing up like a tide.
I moved in the center of the formation. Exchanging glances with those on my left and right, the party returned smiles and nods. Our plan had surely been understood.
“Alright, I’ll do it!”
Mia-san stepped forward. The water strikes converged toward her.
She met them all head-on with the Crimson Axe.
—Don’t come any closer!
A long tail swung through the air.
“Ha!”
Mia-san’s raised axe clashed violently against the dragon’s tail.
The Crimson Axe gleamed, converting the absorbed magic into a spiraling vortex that struck back. The force made the massive dragon stagger in place.
In that moment, Nils-san and Felix-sab leapt into the dragon’s vulnerable flanks.
『Haha! Using the frontline to pry open the gates of the fortress!』
Thor’s voice gave me a push.
『Slaying a dragon—that’s a hero’s job, isn’t it?!』
Before Felix-san, icy-blue runes flared to life.
“Ice Blade—Ibarak!”
A chill that sent shivers down the spine surged forward. Ice formed, freezing the surrounding water as it hurtled toward the crystal dragon.
—Tch!
Spreading its wings, the dragon tried to escape, wary of the icy restraints closing in.
“Dragon Severing Strike!”
Nils-san moved first. One after another, ice pillars sprang up, and he unleashed his swordmaster techniques upon them. The shattered shards of ice, still razor-sharp, shot straight toward the crystal dragon.
The blades pierced its scales and wings.
The crystal dragon halted its flight and slammed down onto the ground, shaking it with the impact.
With its wings spread wide, it became an even easier target.
“Got it.”
Felix-san planted his staff firmly. Ice magic wrapped around the massive, tree-trunk-like forelegs, holding them fast.
—How cunning…
The crystal dragon opened its massive maw with a roar.
Inside, its mouth glowed a deep crimson, while the crystals on its back shimmered a pale blue.
My magic detection warned that a tremendous amount of mana was gathering within its throat.
The god Uru called out,
『Dragon Breath incoming!』
Dragons can unleash devastating attacks from their mouths—fire, lightning, or other elemental forces. Because it’s like a breath weapon, adventurers call it Dragon Breath.
But—
“Wake up!”
I activated the crystal mounted on my left gauntlet.
From it, the fire elemental, Salamander, was roused and ready to act.
—Guuuoooh!
A torrent of water blasted from the dragon’s maw, sweeping toward Mia-san and Nils-san’ positions.
“Not on my watch!”
The breath collided with the fire elemental, generating a furious cloud of steam. Just as Loki had taught me, perhaps water truly possesses the power to bewilder.
Felix-san acted, quickly adding his fire magic to produce even more steam.
—A distraction?
I ran towards the dragon.
Faster, faster, faster!
Before everyone’s Golden Flame and this steam dissipate!
—The swordsman and the axe-wielder won’t be able to move for a while.
—And the child with the least magic… what can they even do?
The enemy’s vision is obscured by the steam, but surely it senses that I’m moving freely toward it.
I need to finish this in a single strike. If I pause to prepare a second attack, a counterstrike will come. And I must also account for the possibility that it puts distance between us—then I’ll need a follow-up strike.
—Huh?
—What is this… overwhelming power?
While the enemy underestimates me, even slightly—
Skill,『Divine Protection of the God of Medicine』was activated. 【Sigris’ Spear】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅a ranged support. The magical effect is channeled into the spear, delivering it to the target.
Skill,『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』was activated. 【Mjolnir】 ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Borrows the legendary war hammer from the God of Thunder.
In my left hand, I summoned the spear of the God of Medicine.
In my right, the hammer of the God of Thunder.
I combined the spear in my left hand with the hammer in my right. Thor’s war hammer, Mjolnir, now resided within the spear of the Valkyrie.
—The gods’… hammer?
The spear and hammer merged at the tip, forming a giant halberd full of divine power. Its destructive force, its ability to pursue a fleeing target, this combination could accomplish it all.
—Who… are you!?
With a running start and a leap, I faced the crystal dragon head-on.
The ancient dragon’s eyes widened at the sight of the thunderous halberd raised above him.
I shouted out the words that came to my mind,
“Valkyrie’s… hammer!”
Mjolnir, embedded at the tip, struck the dragon’s crown.
Thunder roared, lightning tore through its gigantic body, and the dragon was pierced by the raw power of the gods.
Blinded by the thunder roaring so close, my ears ringing from its shriek, I watched as the crystal dragon turned to ash and vanished.
Amid its disappearance, I thought I saw a beautiful goddess on a distant wall—Freyja, the same goddess I had glimpsed in my dreams.
The unexplored area of the Flocia Dungeon… it had to be there, waiting beyond.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Our morning training finished without incident, and after breakfast, we headed toward the plaza. Today, I planned to spend the day cooking at the food stall, as usual.
Sylvia-san is also going to help out.
“Sylvia-san, you don’t need to worry about me in particular.”
“Y-yes… t-thank you.”
She replied nervously.
I had told Sue about the morning training, and she quickly explained it to Sylvia-san. Her words were still a bit awkward, but I think Sylvia-san would soon adopt to it.
“Wow… so many people.”
“There are more than yesterday.”
“The plaza’s bustling.”
Even in the morning, more people had gathered in the plaza than had come for the preliminaries. It seemed that many were looking forward to the main tournament.
First, we headed to the plaza and went to the registration desk.
“““Good morning!”””
“Good morning. Ao-san, your registration is now complete.”
“““Thank you very much!”””
Shiro and the others cheerfully greeted the staff at the desk, while Ao waved her tentacles energetically. With registration finished, it was time to check the schedule for the day.
“What’s the schedule from here?”
“After the Margrave’s opening remarks, the match pairings will be drawn. The opening ceremony starts at nine o’clock, so as long as everyone gathers before then, it’s fine.”
“Thank you. Then we’ll finish preparing the food stall before that.”
“That’s a popular stall, isn’t it? I saw it being expanded earlier, so good luck.”
“Eh?”
When the registration staff mentioned that our food stall had been expanded, we all instinctively turned around. And… somehow, the stall had doubled in size. We hadn’t been told anything about this, so we hurried over to check it out.
“Oh, good morning, everyone.”
The head attendant greeted us.
“““Good morning!”””
Shiro and the others cheerfully returned the greeting, but first, we needed to find out why the stall had grown so much.
“Actually, during the main tournament, we always have a stall this large. The preliminaries were held on short notice, so a temporary layout was set up.”
The attendant explained.
“I-I see…”
“Don’t worry. There are plenty of attendants assigned, and a large amount of ingredients has been prepared.”
In other words, this was the stall’s intended size all along.
Still… with a stall this big, wouldn’t that mean even more customers would come?
“By the way, based on the usual number of customers, your sales are expected to be about double what they were during the preliminaries.”
And just like that, we were told with a smile that the crowd would definitely be twice as large.
H-hey… can we really make it through today?
“T-then… Shun-san, do your best!”
“Good luck!”
Sue and Horn then headed off to the aid tent.
I could understand why Sue was letting out a wry smile, but honestly, even I thought this was going to be tough. No matter what, I had to start prepping.
And so, we began preparing the ingredients, working steadily.
“Oh, that slime, huh? Good luck today!”
“I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of battles will happen.”
Occasionally, customers would call out to Ao. She responded while preparing the ingredients, waving her tentacles energetically.
“So Ao-san uses magic for cooking too?”
“It seems she helps with precise control of the magic.”
“I can see that clearly. The vegetables cut with wind magic are all perfectly uniform in size.”
Ao was impressive, but Sylvia would soon be able to cook using magic herself.
And just like this, we continued prepping as much as possible until the opening ceremony began.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
At the bottom of Vegaltia’s Great Dungeon, in the boss chamber of the seventy-fifth floor, awaited a monster with jet-black wings.
“I… am… Beelze…bub… the Sin..ful… King of Flies… Exiled… from the Heavens…”
A grating voice filled the air. It wasn’t a human voice—just listening to it made the skin crawl.
“Mm… did it just speak?”
“Disgusting… it doesn’t even have a mouth, so how is it making a sound!?”
“Is this the boss?”
The three girls braced themselves, alert and ready.
『The King of Flies… Beelzebub, is it…?』
(You know about it, Linlin?)
『…Just from stories. It’s said that a former high-ranking angel fell from grace and became a great demon… That is the King of Flies, Beelzebub. It’s a tale from the age of myths.』
Demon. An intelligent life form said to dwell in a world different from this one. It is said that to appear in this world, a demon requires some kind of vessel. A little while ago, we had even fought a cursed sword inhabited by a demon… but in this case, the dungeon itself was probably serving as the vessel.
“This monster is stronger than I expected… If things go south, I’ll have no choice but to join the fight myself.”
The King of Flies, Beelzebub, detached from the pillar and took to the air.
“…Fast!”
In an instant, it closed the distance and swung a massive scythe-like weapon, reminiscent of a death god’s scythe.
“!?”
“Ugh!”
“Gah!?”
The three girls tried to block it with their weapons, but the sheer force sent them flying.
“Fast… and strong.”
“Even though I blocked it, the force…!”
“M-my hand is numb!”
Beelzebub passed by them and immediately executed a sharp U-turn, lunging at the girls again.
“How about this!?”
Anje quickly raised a wall of earth, blocking Beelzebub’s path. But just before colliding with it, Beelzebub made an almost right-angle turn and effortlessly bypassed the obstacle.
With fly-like speed and agility, it charged at the girls once more.
At that moment, a gust of wind swept toward Beelzebub. It was Fana’s magic. Seizing the instant when its speed faltered, Fana swung her sword.
Gakiiiin!
“…Blocked.”
Fana’s strike was deflected by Beelzebub’s massive scythe. With Fana now exposed, Beelzebub plunged headfirst toward her.
“…Dodge, Fana-oneechan!”
Reacting to my shout, Fana twisted her body just in time.
A needle-like appendage shot from Beelzebub’s mouth, piercing the space where her abdomen had been moments before.
“Yagyū Shinnen-ryū, Swift Thunder!”
At the same time, Karen’s blade struck toward Beelzebub. But it leapt into the air with astonishing speed, evading the attack.
“…My fastest technique…”
“Wait, it’s attacking with that!?”
“Watch out! If that pierces you, it’ll probably drain all your blood!”
“T-that’s… terrifying.”
Some flies are bloodsuckers, like mosquitoes.
“And it’s not just the blood—it’ll likely inflict all sorts of dangerous status effects as well.”
“Flies are known carriers of plagues, after all.”
Then, before anyone noticed, Beelzebub had somehow perched atop the first pillar. Its abdomen suddenly swelled grotesquely.
What the hell… disgusting…
The swelling descended downward—and was expelled from its rear.
…Poop!?
No—fortunately, upon closer inspection, they were eggs.
“Eggs!? And in such huge numbers…”
Thousand, no, tens of thousands of tiny eggs spilled from Beelzebub. Each was barely the size of a pea, yet the sheer volume far exceeded the size of Beelzebub itself—physically impossible, but likely a result of its magical abilities.
The eggs instantly hatched, releasing countless flies. A deafening buzz filled the chamber as they swarmed, merging into a thick black cloud. From that cloud, a shape began to take form.
“A clone…?”
“The fly monster’s multiplying!?”
“W-what is happening…?”
The countless small flies coalesced into figures identical to Beelzebub. Including the original, there were now ten of them. Immediately, all ten Beelzebubs lunged at the girls at once.
“Mm… which one’s the real one?”
“I have no idea!”
“This one! Yagyū Shinnen-ryū, Ranu!”
The three girls had no choice but to rely on instinct, striking at the ten indistinguishable Beelzebubs.
“…Missed.”
“This one’s not it either!”
“There’s barely any impact at all!”
The fakes, composed of countless tiny flies, seemed to have a liquid-like property. No matter how they slashed or struck, they reformed instantly into their original shape.
“Ugh!”
A massive scythe swung toward Fana from behind. She reacted instantly, twisting to dodge, but couldn’t evade completely—a spray of blood erupted from her right shoulder.
“So… that was the real one! Yagyū Shinnen-ryū, Swift Thunder! Uh—!?”
“Wha!? That was a fake too!?”
Karen immediately countered, but her blade only knocked a few of the tiny flies apart from the fake. They quickly reassembled, returning to their original form.
“The fakes can attack too!?”
“Yeah… and it actually hurts.”
“This is ridiculous!”
Surrounded by ten Beelzebubs, the three girls had almost no options left.
Hmm… perhaps this opponent is too strong.
It might have been impossible for them to handle this fight on their own.
“With the fakes attacking and the real one buzzing around, hitting it is nearly impossible… then I’ll make sure it can’t fly!
While shouting, Anje unleashed her magic. A massive wall of earth erupted, cutting across the vast boss chamber.
“I’m not done yet!”
Another wall appeared, parallel to the first. With the two walls in place, the room’s open space shrank to a fifth… no, a tenth of its original size.
“I see… so that’s one way to do it. But it can still move freely forward, backward, up, and down.”
Impressed, they realized that while clever, this alone wouldn’t completely neutralize Beelzebub’s mobility.
“Next, it’s your turn!”
“Mm.”
Sensing Anje’s intent, Fana responded instantly.
A fierce wind tore through the space. The violent gust swept through the narrow corridor between the walls of earth. Ten Beelzebubs were flung across the chamber, crashing into the far walls.
The impact blurred the outlines of the fakes. Unable to withstand the pressure of the wind, the bodies composed of countless tiny flies collapsed.
At last, the real Beelzebub was revealed.
“Now, Karen!”
“…Got it.”
Exhausted and grimacing from expending massive amounts of magic, Anje and Fana dropped to their knees.
Entrusted with their opening, Karen planted her feet firmly on the ground.
“Consider it done…!”
Karen surged forward, charging straight at the real Beelzebub.
“This perfect opening that the other two created… if I miss it, there’s no way we’ll defeat the boss! I absolutely cannot let this chance slip… But a normal strike probably won’t be enough… In that case, it’s all or nothing…!”
As Beelzebub raised its massive scythe in preparation to strike, Karen unleashed her attack.
“Yagyū Shinnen-ryū Secret Technique, Zetsunen!”
A desperate, all-or-nothing slash, channeling every ounce of her fighting spirit into the blade.
This was the very technique once demonstrated by her swordmaster, the old Yagyu Genzo, against the great serpent Yamata no Orochi. It’s a secret skill lying beyond even the formal mastery of the Yagyū Shinnen-ryū.
Karen, despite her advanced skill, had not yet fully mastered this move… but now, there was no other choice.
The strike hit Beelzebub squarely on the crown of its head, driving straight through its body down to the lower abdomen.
“Impossible… I… w-what… H-H-HaAAAAAAAGH!?”
With one final, strangled scream, the bisected body of Beelzebub collapsed, crumbling further as the copies vanished alongside it.
The boss chamber was soon swallowed by a heavy silence.
“They did it?”
『Master… why the foreshadowing?』
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
The next morning, before heading to the tournament venue, we carried out our usual training. Of course, Sylvia-san was invited to join us.
“So this is how mana circulation works… I’m learning a lot.”
Sylvia-san was clearly impressed.
First, I demonstrated mana circulation on my own. Sylvia-san watched closely and responded with visible admiration. Next came the two-person circulation exercise.
“Focus on circulating a steady amount of mana.”
“Y-yes… i-it’s… difficult.”
“At first, I struggled too. But after a while, you’ll get used to it.”
Sylvia-san grasped Sue’s hand and concentrated, struggling but steadily performing the circulation. It was tough at first, but with consistent practice, the effects became more and more apparent.
Next, we moved on to controlling mana.
Sylvia-san summoned a small orb of wind, carefully enlarging and shrinking it over and over, honing her control.
“If you compress your mana, you can unleash stronger attacks using less energy.”
“Yes… I experienced that firsthand. I’ll work hard so I can control multiple spells at once.”
Alongside Sue, Ao is also practicing mana compression. Sylvia-san still remembered how, in yesterday’s match, Ao’s compressed Air Bullet had pierced through her magic. Meanwhile, Fran and Horn continued their usual training with my guidance.
Next, Fina-san joined us for swordsmanship training. Despite her appearance, Sylvia-san was surprisingly strong, so she used the same short sword I wielded.
We immediately picked up wooden swords and began with basic swings, gradually moving into light sparring.
Clang clang clang clang.
“Um… I can’t possibly keep up with swings that fast.”
“You don’t need to copy them exactly. Let’s start with the basics.”
“Yes, that’s right. You can’t imitate that speed yet.”
“Y-yes…”
Sylvia-san nodded, taking it all in. Her eyes were fixed on Shiro and Ao, who were sparring while using physical enhancement magic. The speed of their exchanges left her completely stunned. Even Fina couldn’t help but chuckle at the display, but for those two, it was just basic training, and they focused on fundamentals without concern.
Meanwhile, Fran and Horn were receiving various instructions from Sue.
“Ha… so Ao-san was holding back quite a bit yesterday. I really thought she was just a normal slime.”
“Well, it does look like a small slime. But for today’s main tournament, I’m sure people will be on guard.”
“Yes… that makes sense.”
Sylvia-san gazed off at Ao, who was hopping about doing her cool-down exercises. Sylvia-san thought she had lost to a slime, but I’m sure Ao would be able to defeat even a seasoned adventurer or soldier.
Then, her attention shifted—and her next question was about us.
“By the way… why is Shun-san staying at the Margrave’s estate?”
“That’s because Sue-oneesama is the daughter of a baron.”
Fina-san replied without hesitation.
“Eh? W-what?”
Ah… Fina-san had answered honestly about Sue. Sylvia-san looked back and forth between Fina-san and Sue, clearly puzzled. By the way, Sue was doing cool-down exercises with Fran and Horn, completely unaware of the conversation.
“It’s true that Sue is a baron’s daughter. But while she’s adventuring, there’s no need to worry about it.”
“Yes. No matter what, Sue-oneesama is a wonderful person.”
Fina added.
“Y-yes… I understand.”
Sylvia-san nodded, finally reluctantly accepting the explanation. With that, the conversation ended.
I decided I’d tell Sue about this later, once we headed to the venue.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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