Chapter 79
When they saw it, Wald and the two others couldn’t believe their eyes.
The newly emerged dungeon in the Yuguru Great Forest.
The reason the trio had come here was to chase the monster “Pathless” that had appeared in “Fáfnir”.。
They were on guard, expecting some sort of action, but their caution was betrayed in a different way.
「What a sight… this is quite something.」
Wald couldn’t help but mutter.
It was hardly surprising.
Because what they saw was a scene hardly fitting for a dungeon.
Merchants, adventurers, travelers, bards.
People and demi-humans were coming and going to the dungeon non-stop.
They had heard that the teleportation gate on the first floor connected to the northern and eastern countries, but they hadn’t thought there would be so many people using it.
Looking around, near the entrance of the dungeon, there were even stalls set up.
They were selling weapons, food, and all sorts of daily necessities.
But the prices were high. They were definitely taking advantage of the situation.
The sellers were probably fellow merchants, but even so, the bustling scene was surprising.
「Ma-master… this is the entrance to the dungeon, right?」
Unable to believe the sight before his eyes, Wald asked the elderly demon next to him.
Beldi, who was standing next to him, was gaping, her one eye wide open.
They had come to chase a powerful monster, but they were taken aback.
「Well, there’s no mistake. But what a sight, eh. It’s not as impressive as ‘Fáfnir’, but it’s rare to see a dungeon with this much human traffic. Even I’m surprised…」
The elderly demon chuckled cheerfully.
「Well, let’s go in and see. We’ll talk more later.」
「Well, I suppose so.」
With that, Wald and Beldi pulled their hoods down.
The two of them were wanted internationally.
Of course, there weren’t many adventurers or knights who could capture the two, but they had to avoid unnecessary confusion and uproar.
The elderly demon also put on his hood.
Unlike the two, his face was not exposed, but he did it anyway.
「But couldn’t we have found some larger clothes? This is tight…」
Beldi, with her hood on, grumbled.
The outfit Beldi was wearing under her hooded cape was a bit tight, revealing her body line clearly. Moreover, her navel was completely exposed.
There’s a saying about hiding your head but not your buttock, but in her case, it was the navel.
Beldi, who usually favors revealing clothes, complained about this.
「Can’t help it, right? The only thing they had for sale at the nearby shop was this. …Did they grow bigger again?」
Wald said, looking at a part of Beldi’s body.
The overwhelming chest, unlike her sister’s.
If her sister, Paldi, were alive, she would undoubtedly have envied that chest.
「Hmph… I’m past my growth spurt. Breasts are just a hindrance in battle. I wish I had small breasts like Paldi.」
Beldi shook her chest defenselessly.
The adventurers and merchants nearby were captivated by the sight, but Wald preferred small chests while his master preferred butts.
Beldi was also indifferent to such gazes, so the three of them didn’t notice the meaning of the gazes directed at them.
The S-Rank trio, sensitive to hostility and malice, were indifferent to such gazes.
With all said and done, the three of them entered the dungeon.
「Wow, this is impressive… I had heard rumors about it in Endymion.」
Wald was surprised for the second time that day.
The view from under his hood.
It was like a marketplace.
The central plaza, a little walk into the dungeon.
The area was mapped out, and while looking at the map that their master had bought from the Endymion Adventurer’s Guild branch, they were swept by the crowd and somehow ended up in the central plaza.
And there was a marketplace.
The variety of races and countries was diverse.
The merchant selling black iron steel in the distance must be from the Holy Kingdom of Harshalud.
The fruit next to it. That’s a persimmon. It must be from the Wano Country.
There was also a stall selling a weapon called a Katana, unique to the Wano Country.
In the back, there were even tents set up for lodging.
Among them, you could see a tent where something like a gambling place was operating.
Wald was surprised that such a thing already existed.
Furthermore, the staff of the Adventurer’s Guild of Endymion who had explained to them before is now working as a receptionist near the stairs going down to the next floor.
According to a person nearby, guild staff from various countries were dispatched to this dungeon.
「Is this really a dungeon?」
Beldi voiced her opinion quietly.
It was a sentiment Wald shared.
They’d seen many dungeons that deviated from common sense, but this was something else entirely.
At this point, it wasn’t a dungeon anymore, but rather a marketplace.
The word “trade city” came to mind.
While it was far from being a city, it already had the foundation of one.
「Well, it’s a dungeon, no doubt.」
Wald glanced at the stairs leading downwards, teeming with adventurers.
They were probably also here to conquer the dungeon.
「So, Master, what are we doing? We’re just diving into the dungeon, right?」
「Yes. But it’s just you two. I’m heading towards the forest.」
「Eh？」
Wald was taken aback by the response.
He had assumed they would all go together.
「The only thing I can determine from my divination is a rough location. It pointed to the Yuguru Great Forest, but whether it refers to this dungeon or somewhere else in the forest, I’m not sure. So, from here, we should split up and search. Understood?」
「Mmm, I don’t mind at all. Are you okay with that, Wald?」
Beldi nodded at her master’s words.
「Um…」
For some reason, Wald seemed hesitant.
「Hm? What’s wrong?」
「Well, Master, you aren’t by any chance heading towards that gambling place we saw earlier, are you?」
The elderly demon’s shoulders jolted.
Just as Wald thought.
That’s right, this old man. He’s a gambling addict.
Moreover, he always loses. Despite being a demon, he’s an easy target.
And he’s the cream of the crop at that, complete with pot, ladle, and side dish.
「Aha! I knew it! You shouldn’t do it, Master, you’ll just lose and get everything taken away from you――――」
「Shut up, you idiot apprentice!」
「GUHAAA!」
With a shout, a fist flew, and Wald was sent flying, burying himself in a wall as he spun in the air.
The surrounding people didn’t pay any mind.
Those who’d dare to face a dungeon or conduct business within it wouldn’t be the type to make a fuss over such a thing.
Thus, they ignored it, and Wald became a delightful piece of modern art.
「Get into the dungeon quickly! We’re going our separate ways from here on! Understood?」
The elderly demon forcibly made his point, disappearing into the crowd towards the tent.
They decided to ignore his cheerful cries of “Woohoo!”
After all, he was their master, older and far stronger than them.
He’d even once waged war on a nation by himself.
「Well, let’s go, Wald.」
Beldi, with an unperturbed face, extended her hand towards Wald.
Rather, she pulled him out of the wall.
Yes, Wald was fine.
「Ugh… You never learned, do you?」
With a sigh, Wald and Beldi headed towards the stairs leading down.
Then, inside the dungeon――――
To cut to the chase, the difficulty level wasn’t anything significant.
They were both S-Rank, after all.
The golems that came towards them were numerous, but not enough to take them down.
They swiftly moved along the already mapped paths, and in no time, they reached the seventh floor.。
「Phew, at least now we can take off our hoods, right?」
「That shouldn’t be a problem. There’s barely any human presence on this floor. No one’s watching.」
「But what time do you think it is outside? It’s hard to tell when you’re inside a dungeon」
「It’s been about half a day since we went in. It must be around dawn by now.」
「I see. I guess by now, Master has been stripped clean.」
「It’s going to be tough when we get back…」
As they spoke, they removed their hoods.
Their faces were revealed, but there was no one else in the dungeon.
It shouldn’t pose any problem.
However, they shouldn’t have taken off their hoods.
Because a dragon was watching them exactly at the moment they revealed their faces.
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