Dungeon Harem Volume 1, Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Thunder

　When entering a dungeon, you are obligated to state the number of people in your party and their names.

　This also serves as a pledge. ――Of the kind that says you won't complain if you die or get injured.

　There was also the obligation to pay the entrance fee.

　What Mars has signed up for is a plan to stay in the lower levels of the dungeon for a whole day.

　The idea was to go around the lower levels and look for things to sell.

　Even though he was in a dungeon, the plan included mercenaries to guard him, simple lodging, and even food.

　If you were to convert the currency of this world to modern Japan, the entrance fee would be 15,000 yen per head. Mars always thought that this was a reasonable activity.

　In addition, there is the possibility of earning enough money that it would be ridiculous to work diligently.

　――Well, it's a bait-and-switch, isn't it?

　The purpose is to give you a taste of what a dungeon is all about.

　While signing for Lilia, Mars read the smile on the receptionist's face.

　He knows why this unprofitable plan, which includes mercenaries, lodging, and even meals, exists.

　Unlike other people, Mars has knowledge of the modern economy, and he was thinking about running a [Dungeon].

　Even if the world is different, if capitalism is prevalent, the logic is similar to some extent.

　Mars was impressed by the fact that there are people who are good at making money in any world.

　The main customers for low-level exploration are nobles, apprentice adventurers, and merchants who don't have the money to buy from adventurers.

　The entrance fees they pay are used to maintain the city, pay for maintenance, and pay the mercenaries.

　The important thing is to let the noblemen, or noblemen as they are called, explore the dungeon.

　This is the raison d'etre of this low-level plan.

"Oi! I'm talking to you, kid! Don't bring that monster here!"

　The kinked voice finally caught Mars' attention.

　Turning around slowly, he saw a silver-haired man glaring at him sullenly.

"――Are you talking to me?"

　The silver-haired man in white armor also sneered at Mars, who replied.

　Behind him was a dark-haired woman and several men who seemed to be his companions, and they looked as if they were annoyed by the haughty man's attitude.

　The woman, who seemed to be a companion of the silver-haired man, had black hair that reached just above her shoulders and was wearing a robe.

　One of her bangs was so long that He could only see her eyes properly on the right side.

　The girl looked frightened, giving the impression of being somewhat timid.

　She is simple, but I sense something shining in her. Mars was convinced that she was the type of girl who would suddenly become popular once she learned how to put on makeup and become more sophisticated.

　She was the type of girl who was serious until she entered the university, but as soon as she entered the university, she got a boyfriend and changed into a different person.

　Mars remembers feeling like a cuckold even though they weren't in a relationship.

　Black hair is rare. Her face was also vaguely Japanese, Mars thought.

　When he first came to this world, he was surprised to see the inhabitants with hair color like cosplayers, but after seeing them every day, he could only get used to it. After all, Mars' creator in this world had blue hair.

　He wondered what kind of genetics he had, since he had black hair.

　The woman seemed serious at first glance. Mars thought she looked like she could be a committee chairman or something.

　She looked about the same age or a little older, seventeen or eighteen.

　Inside the robe, she was dressed in light black.

　She was wearing a robe that was all black and light, with a pleated skirt that was a little above the knee, and his eyes fell on her shapely white thighs.

　She was dressed as a wizard with a small wand. It's not like she's a sword-wielding fighter, even with her slender figure.

　――Her boobs are small, but her face is cute. Her face has a loli-like air to it, but she might actually be a little older than that?　

　Unlike Lilia, she's a girl who puts all her eroticism into her lower half. ......

　He is not interested in men who talk to him. Mars's gaze went straight through the woman.

　The man, who seemed to be screaming even more as Mars didn't turn his head, looked at him irritably.

　――What is he talking about?

　That's a handsome guy I don't like. I don't like him even more because he's handsome. ......!

　Mars overreacted to one of the phenomena that existed in every world, 'handsome men with women'.

"Can you please not take a monster into the dungeon with you? You might get stabbed in the back, you know."

　Mars looked at the man with the pompous look on his face and frankly expressed his opinion with a puzzled look.

"I don't have any monsters with me. Are you sick?"

"Huh? I know she's in there.　Right there.――I mean, I'm sick?! Don't be ridiculous!"

　The man angrily pointed at Lilia.

　Lilia squeezed her mouth shut and glared at the man.

　There were even a few tears in the corner of her eyes.

　That expression on Lilia's face triggered a strong feeling of irritation in Mars.

　――I'm going to make this man regret what he's done.

　Lilia, who looked like she was about to cry, was hurt by the word monster that was said to her face.

　――Here we go again.

　Why should she be oppressed by a lowly human being?

　She haven't done anything to be oppressed.

　Lilia's heart fluttered with anger and sadness.

　She is forcibly reminded of the fact that she is a persecuted being, which she forgets when she is with Mars.

　Not only elves, but all sub-human beings are targets of oppression.

　They are persecuted because of their human-like appearance and their human language. They are persecuted because they have a strong sense of foreignness.

　They are often referred to as monsters.

　As far as elves are concerned, there are other reasons why they are persecuted.

　All eyes were on Mars, the man, and Lilia, and the man came forward as if he had been waiting for them.

　There were many people around who seemed to be aristocrats, and they were valuing the [Dungeon Adventurers] who gathered there.

　In order to appeal to them, the man made gestures as if he was acting, which attracted even more attention. His high-pitched voice was very annoying.

"My name is Xerius Lapierre! I am the [Thunder] who conquered the Northern dungeon of [Ganymede] a year ago!"

　He raised his burly sword to the sky and showed the crowd the bluish colored electricity flowing down the blade.

　It was as if he was wearing a visible form of static electricity, Mars thought.

　The crowd cheered for the man, Xerius.

　The magic of the sword was no magic at all. It is classified as elementary magic. Even so, with his track record of conquering dungeons, it's not surprising that the crowd thinks he has more power than that.

　――[Thunder] right?.

　He don't mean electricity or anything like that, Mars scratched his head lightly.

"Huh? You're a fool, aren't you? There's no way this cute Lilia is a monster. You might want to get some glasses or something before you go into the dungeon.　――You'll get hurt, you know?."

"A-Are you insulting me!?"

'You insulted me first, didn't you? Gelatin."

　Even though I know his name is Xerius, I don't feel like calling him correctly.

"I am Xerius Lapierre! I'm the [Thunder] who conquered [Ganymede]!"

　――I knew I might run into it eventually, but I didn't expect to run into it so soon. ......

"Oh, yeah? That's great. Congratulations. But that's not the same thing as you insulting Lilia. You can brag about it to your mother. Also, it's better not to say such things openly. Some people don't like it when people ask."

　Mars hooks a leg and presses it against Xerius' chest.

　The move is similar to the kogai-gari in judo. He doesn't grab his arm, because he doesn't want him to be passive.

　He falls on his buttocks with a thud, and Zerius collapses, screaming in disgrace.

"Ugh!……"

"You see? You'll get hurt if your eyes are bad. You'd better go home. I don't want to hear a man moan."

　There was a chuckle from the people around me.

　The man who, to the outside world, was pretending to be a hero had been easily defeated by a boy dressed like any other.

　Xerius, who noticed his defeat late, looked at the dirt on his palm and shivered, his face turning red with anger.

　――It's humiliating.

　The dark-haired woman who had been accompanying him came up to him and made Xerius get up with a worried look on her face.

　From the looks of it, the woman seems to be in love with Xerius.

　But as if to disregard such kindness, Xerius roughly brushed the woman away.

　――Why do women fall in love with guys like this?

　It's not that he looks strong, it's just that he bites without restraint.

　It's a good-looking guy thing. Bastard.

　Mars grew even more frustrated.

"Hey, hey. Isn't it dangerous to go to the dungeon with that kind of gait? If you have a fever, you need to go home and be pampered by your mother."

"You did this to me. ......!"

　Xerius didn't really believe that anyone would be so rude to the longed-for and trampled [Dungeon Ddventurer].

　He thinks that he is to be respected and that he is only to be looked at with envy.

　This time, too, he thought Mars would apologize and bow. However, the reality was the exact opposite of what he had imagined.

　From Mars' point of view, Xerius' background is irrelevant. He would have done the same thing even if the other party was a nobleman.

　He knew that Xerius was a child, more than a year younger than him if he include his previous life.

　In addition to that, he was mocked Lilia, whom he doted on. No matter who it was, he would not let it go.

"Well, if you're going to pick a fight, choose your opponent. Your standards are none of my business. --Don't mock Lilia."

"Remember! The inside of the dungeon is my garden! I'll make you rusty with this sword!"

"That's a complaint I've heard a lot, but you should maintain it properly. If you let your sword rust, you're not a good swordsman."

　Mars tries to make fun of him.

　In fact, he was making fun of him.

"I-it's just a metaphor! You should know about it!"

"I know what I'm talking about. Why don't you just get to the registration desk?　We're about to leave."

"Kugh!……I'm gonna make you regret this.……！"

"Then don't worry. I've already regretted getting tangled up in that messy mess."

　He smiled and waved at Xerius' group as they left, glancing at Mars, and Mars sighed quietly, "sigh".

　――I guess we still need to have some level of clamor. ......

　It's a local environment with no internet, so this kind of thing is bound to pop up.

　No matter how much I didn't want to stand out, I was a little naive in my thinking.

"Master is strong, aren't you ......? That human is a dungeon conquer, overwhelmingly strong, right?"

"It's like a technique, it doesn't really matter how strong you are. And it can only be used once. That's why I can't use it on him anymore. Besides, I think he's pretty strong if he fights properly. He might even be able to call himself a breaker, though I doubt it."

"What? But you defeated him easily, didn't you?"

"The premise was that he didn't want to fight. He just wanted to make a fool of himself and get a mount. That's why he was so skittish. I don't think he had any idea that there were adventurers who would attack him. So in a way, it was inevitable that it turned out that way."

　Mars just caught Xerius in a false sense of security.

　The reason he can't use it a second time is because next time he'll be wary of him as an enemy.

　He can't do the same thing to a skilled opponent anymore.

　He may have underestimated Xerius Lapierre himself, but he did not underestimate his fighting skills.

　From Mars's point of view, Xerius seemed to be the strongest person in the area. --Except for one.

　Lilia thought that Mars, a boy who seemed cheerful and a bit good-natured, actually had a lot to hide.

　Lilia has had a number of questions ever since they first met.

　The reason why Lilia doesn't say anything about it is because she owes him.

　She doesn't want to offend him. Besides, Lilia has her own secrets, too.

"Well, let's just take it easy. I'm sure they're here to conquer, right? I don't think we'll run into each other, since we'll be making money on the lower levels. My purpose for attacking the dungeon is to get money to play with Lilia.."

"There are many things I don't understand, but - thank you. You were angry for me, weren't you?"

"Yes, I did. I can't forgive them. I love Lilia more than you know. I love you. That's why I won't tolerate anyone who makes fun of you."

"Master is strange. ...... But I'm glad. I never thought that liking humans would be a part of my life. I love you too, -Mars."

　Lilia smiled and grabbed Mars' arm, squeezing his arm between her large breasts.

　Mars' mouth loosened at the chubby, cool mass.

　On the other hand, Lilia's mouth was pointed as she looked down.

"I'll protect you. I'm sure that's what my power is for."

"What is the master's power ......? You can afford it, can't you? I can't believe you just did that."

"I don't want to brag too much like that guy, so I'll just show you what I can do. They say that a really good sword is always in its scabbard. ――Let's attack the dungeon. It's just a trial run for today, so we won't be able to conquer it."

"Yes! I'll accompany you wherever you go!"

　Standing tall, Lilia kissed Mars on the cheek.　

　――She was really glad that Mars had bought her.

　She never thought she would meet someone in her life who would be angry for her.

　Their slow dungeon-crawling life together begins.

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