Volume 1 Chapter 55 Reaching The Lower Layer
"Good grief! What a place! We should get out of here right away!"
Just a moment ago, Chester, who had been complaining about not wanting to walk in a place soaked in water after finally catching his breath, suddenly started walking quickly towards a passage leading deeper into the place.
"Chester-san seems to have suddenly gained energy..."
The three of us watched Chester's back as he walked ahead alone.
"I don't really understand, but it seems so..."
"I think what Chester-san said is right. It might be better not to get too close to places where water accumulates. There might be large monsters attacking us again."
Saying that, Mel glanced at the pond where the Sea Serpent had disappeared.
Certainly, ever since we arrived at Aquaflow Cavern, most of the monsters that attacked is came from the water.
I don't have a problem fighting monsters myself. But Mel and Chester might not feel the same way, and there are a limited number of potions that can instantly restore magic power.
It's a bit late, but let's make sure to avoid getting close to things like ponds and just hurry through.
"Hey, are you guys okay?"
"No, it's nothing."
We met up with Chester and started walking down to the lower layer.
"However, Fatina-san, your sword skills are really amazing. You completely cut the head of that Sea Serpent in half. I would hire you for our merchant guild."
"Um, I don't really understand it myself, but it's like... I can kind of figure out what to do."
I can understand why Chester would say that.
Fatina's sword is incredibly accurate. Sometimes it gets deflected by the enemy, but I've never seen her miss an attack since she was at level 1.
After becoming an adventurer, if she hadn't teamed up with he, she would have surely been promoted to S Rank right away.
I glance at her, talking to Chester.
Come to think of it, I feel like I've been relying on her for help since we met. It would be nice if there was something I could give back to her.
Speaking of which, I don't know anything about Fatina's favorite food or hobbies. I didn't even ask why she decided to follow me. I didn't think about asking.
"Um, Ark-sama, is something wrong?"
"Oh... It's nothing."
Fatina noticed my gaze and turned her face towards me. There wasn't any ill intention, but somehow, she quickly turned to face me.
After that happened, we walked for a long time, and suddenly a fork in the road appeared.
Until now, it had been a straight path, but suddenly it split into three.
But the scenery didn't seem to change much. The walls were still made of stone, and everything was still flooded.
"It looks like the road is splitting... which way should we go?"
"Ah, it seems like both roads are sloping downwards a bit."
"Wait a moment. Let me check..."
Mel took out a book from the bag hanging on her shoulder. It was a thick book with a brown leather cover. She opened it and started reading through the pages.
The writing in the book seemed to be in a completely different language from what people usually see in their daily lives.
"If the ancient documents are correct, the path in the middle leads to the lower layer. The other two paths go downwards, but they seem to be different."
"I see... so that means the place we'll teleport to with magic from there is the real lower layer! As expected of Mel-sama."
"We're lucky to have Mel-san with us!"
So, it seems that the path going downwards is actually designed to be a wrong path.
"Thank you, Mel. Thanks to you, we didn't get lost."
"Oh, no. This is the least I can do."
Mel blushed and awkwardly packed the ancient document into her bag, seemingly flustered by our words of gratitude.
Following her instructions, we proceeded down the middle path and arrived at a slightly larger room.
The room was empty, surrounded by stone walls on all sides. There was no way forward, just a dead end.
There was something different about the atmosphere here, somewhat distinct from the rest of the dungeon.
"Huh? It looks like there's nothing beyond this point."
"Yes, that's okay. Chester-san, please stand in the center of the room and try using the teleportation magic as you usually do. There's no need to actually use it yet."
"Understood. If Mel-sama says so... let's give it a try."
According to Chester, teleportation magic couldn't be used inside the dungeon. Therefore, with a skeptical expression, he stood in the center of the room and closed his eyes.
Then... he suddenly opened his eyes and exclaimed, "Wow!"
"It's true! I shouldn't be able to use teleportation in the dungeon, but I can use it here!"
"It seems like we're in the right place after all. The normal [Teleportation Magic] skill can only take us to places we've been before, but this room is special, and it seems we can move to the lower layer."
"That's great, Ark-sama!"
"Yeah."
Everyone's faces brightened up.
Then, we gathered around Chester.
"Alright, let's teleport right away! Is everyone ready?"
In response to Chester's words, the three of us nodded vigorously. This seemed to signal Chester to close his eyes, probably to use Teleportation Magic.
After a while, the floor suddenly began to glow blue. Upon closer inspection, unfamiliar patterns appeared within a circle, emitting light. This must be some kind of tool or mechanism set up in this room.
Soon, just like before, our vision was covered in light.
And when the light disappeared, suddenly we were faced with a white wall and a door, contrasting sharply with the room we were in just moments ago.
It seems like we've successfully teleported to the lower layer.
"Whoa!? What the...!"
And almost at the same time, we heard someone's voice from behind.
"Huh?"
When we turned around, there was an unfamiliar man in a black robe, like the ones magicians wear, with the hood pulled deep over his head, inside the white room. The man, while looking at us, quickly moved to the corner of the room as if in fear.
"Um... who might you be?"
"Oh! Th-this guy!"
Chester suddenly shouted as he looked at the man.
"Do you know him?"
"I've seen this man before! He's a magician from the Wiol Merchant Guild hired to use [Teleportation Magic]!"
"Ch-Chester from the Clow Merchant Guild... why, why are you here..."
The magician looked scared when he saw Chester.
"I knew it, they were already exploring the lower layer..."
Mel murmured as she looked at the man.
There's only one reason why a magician hired by the Wiol Merchant Guild would be in this lower layer.
"Ark-san, what are we going to do with this guy?"
"W-wait! I was just asked by Boss Dolthos to come here and wait!"
"With a S-Rank party... really?"
"Y-yeah, I don't mean any harm!"
In response to Mel's question, the magician nodded repeatedly.
"Working with such a coward, what's the point now!"
"P-please, forgive me!"
Chester cornered the scared magician in the room.
We finally made it here, and I understood it.
On the way to the lower layer, it was Allen's party that defeated the monsters.
So, they are ahead of us.
"Are you staying here alone? Lucky you."
"Y-yes. I'm supposed to meet them here. After all, monsters don't come in here... And you're going to wait here too, right?"
"Don't compare me to a coward like you!"
"Ugh!!"
Chester punched the man's face hard, and he collapsed to the floor, seemingly unconscious.
"Phew... I'll deal with the rest later."
Rubbing his red fist, Chester returned to us.
"Let's move forward."
I pushed open the large white stone door in front of me.
Then, what came into view was a massive ruin with old buildings scattered around.
The ruins are mostly submerged in water. The buildings are mostly in bad shape, with broken pillars evenly spaced in places where it seems possible to walk. There might have been a path here before.
It's not constantly illuminated like the Emerald Green Dungeon, and it's generally dim.
"This... this is the true lower layer of this dungeon... It seems like not many people have entered here yet..."
"So, there's a key ahead, right?"
"Yes..."
Everyone looks around the surroundings and walks forward.
Somehow, I have a really bad feeling.
"I'll go ahead. Everyone, please follow me a little later. Fatina, I want you to protect the two of them."
"Y-Yes..."
If something were to happen, it would be too late for everyone to be involved. Thinking that way, I give a warning.
The lower layer, with its decaying ruins, is dimly lit. I walk ahead in such an environment.
And then──
"Flames, explode and destroy my enemies── (Explosion)"
Reacting as if to the voice that was heard, I quickly jumped back.
In the next moment, a tremendous explosion occurred, centered around the spot where I was standing, accompanied by a deafening roar.
"Ark-sama!?"
"...I'm fine."
I replied to Fatina, who had quickly come closer.
"Hmm... It seems that you're at least fast when it comes to running away."
A familiar voice echoed around me.
Emerging slowly from the darkness was a man clad in shining white armor──Allen, an S-Rank adventurer, and his party members.
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