Dungeon Harem Volume 1, Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Labyrinth City

"This is the magic steel ...... more beautiful than what I see in the illustrations in the book ...... What can I say? Black butterfly wings wet with water, black butterfly wet feather color......"

　Lilia looked at the obsidian-like looking thing that had come out of the wall and said with a fascinated look on her face.

　――Would she be happy if I gave her jewelry or something?

　Mars does some budgeting in his head.

"The surface of the gasoline spilled on the ground is that kind of color. You'd never know."

"Ga-sorin? Master sometimes says things I don't understand, aren't you Language is meaningless if it is not understood, you know?"

"I'm not sure if that's the right word for me. ...... I got more than I thought I would, so let's take it to my room for a spin."

　With a borrowed pickaxe, the two of them dug into the wall incessantly.

　What they were looking for was a black mineral called magical steel.

　It can be used to cast magic, and is in demand for weapons and daily necessities. The largest one is about the size of the palm of his hand.

　It can be found outside of the dungeon, but it is more efficient inside the dungeon. The purity is different. Assuming that they would bring them back and sell them, these were also very cost effective, considering their size and weight.

　He packed them in a bag and carried them to a room in an inn carved out of a cave, and then returned to the room.

　Most of them were sold off to merchants who had dived into the dungeon. He plan to take as much as he can of the remaining items and sell them to arms dealers.

　As a cave dungeon, the lower levels looked like a cave with bare earth.

　It may have started out as a straight line like a normal cave, but due to everyone cutting down the walls, it now resembles a large hall.

　Mars felt that it was no different in any world to keep digging until the natural materials withered away.

"Even so, there are surprisingly few demons, aren't there? The forest in the village has more potential than this."

　Inside the hall, there are only people moving about in a hurry. Demons are encountered only occasionally, and when they do appear, they are quickly defeated, so it is excessively safe.

"There are a lot of mercenaries and adventurers coming in and out of the lower levels. Are there that many demons in the area where Lilia lived?"

"Yes. After all, elves live in the forest. In addition to demons, there are many other animals. This is one of the reasons why the elves have a certain level of fighting ability. They have a long life expectancy, and their personalities are more relaxed than those of humans."

"In my village, there were demons that appeared about two or three times a year. Mostly during the change of seasons."

"It sounds like a cold. ......?"

　The demons they encountered after entering the dungeon were all small animals, even if they were demons in the category. They didn't want to kill them, so they just drove them away.

　The only thing they don't like is the giant worms that come out when they are digging in the walls. They are as thick as a human arm.

　It is a derivative of a demon called a dungeon worm.

　They are not harmful, but they are simply disgusting.

　Mars had the values of a modern person, so he was not comfortable with killing living things, even demons.

　It was the same reason why ordinary humans couldn't kill a dog or a cat.

　The only ones that can be killed are obviously dangerous demons that cannot be left alone, or demons like insects.

　As the two of them were digging through the wall in their routine work, the silver-haired man from earlier, Xerius, came over to talk to them.

"Hahn! You talk so much sense to me, but all you do is pick up rocks?"

　He is as arrogant as ever.

　Mars's not sure how he can be so bold after exposing such an abomination.

"Again,  Pudding-san. What are you doing here? I thought you were here to attack. Why are you in the lower levels again?"

"Pudding is ...... that demon! That red, slimy stuff!? Don't mess with that thing!"

"I-I didn't know there was a demon with that name. ...... I always thought it was a slime. I've been thinking it was a slime for years. It's so big and subtle.――I'm talking about the pudding, the one with the jello friend."

　The pudding that Xerius refers to is a red, fuzzy, jelly-like monster that can be found between grass and rocks.

　It moves slowly and looks like a strange strawberry-flavored jelly moving around.

　Despite their appearance, they are vicious, carnivorous monsters that grow larger by dissolving the prey they take into their bodies.

　If you touch it unexpectedly, it will dissolve, and there is no end to the damage it can do to even the most seasoned adventurer.

"Y-you're talking nonsense again! Anyway, I'm asking if you're playing with rocks while making fun of me!

"Well, you know. Today we're on the lower levels, earning our living. You're the one who came to conquer the dungeon, aren't you? You're the one who conquered [Ganymede], [Thunder]?"

　Mars says sarcastically.

"H-Hmph! We'll see about that today! I'm still a cautious man!"

"Hou. You're actually looking for sponsors, right? You're trying to make a good impression on the aristocracy here at the lower levels, and get them to give them the money and talent they need to get to the bottom. But since they can't do much here, they're too bored to get involved with us. Isn't that right? That's what you were promoting earlier, isn't it?"

"T-t-t-That's not possible!? I'm conquering [Ganymede], for Christ's sake! I have money! I've got the experience!"

　――It's so unnerving. .......

　Mars could hear the Kansai dialect coming out of his heart. Even though he wasn't a Kansai person.

　Xerius seemed to be a terrible liar, and he responded with an obvious rasp in his voice and a swim in his eyes.

　The raison d'etre of the low-level exploration plan is to get the nobles interested in sponsoring it.

　They want them to understand what a dungeon is, and to see firsthand how much return they can get on their investment.

　It will also give adventurers a taste. They want to make dungeons a part of our culture and profession.

　Thanks to their efforts, the world today is beginning to revolve around dungeons.

　The nobles don't want to conquer them themselves. They want what they can get in the dungeons, and they will never risk their own lives for it. The fact that life is the only thing that matters is common even in different worlds.

　That's why they let others do it for them. They invest their money in those who have the ability and receive what they get. And they get honor as well.

　The better the material they get, the more the rich want to invest in it.

　This is how the "labyrinth city" was born.

　Even in a world where magic exists, there is no difference in the fact that human greed drives the world.

　The plans for the lower levels are inexpensive, but if you want to dive into the middle and lowest levels of the treasure room, the entrance fee jumps up to several hundred million yen.

　If you can conquer it, you can expect more than enough return, but it could be said to be a gamble with your life.

　The name of the high entrance fee is the maintenance and management cost of the city. But in reality, the fee is being collected for a different purpose.

　If the dungeon is conquered, the reason to visit the city will disappear. The original purpose of the entrance fee was to prevent this from happening.

　――I don't want to be attacked if I can help it.

　In this era, [Dungeon Adventurer] was the dream of the people, but those on the side of having it do not want it.

　They want to make a continuous profit for a long time, rather than just a few hundred million yen in admission fees.

　They can make as much profit as they want while they are not attacked.

　Moreover, the source of the money, the dungeon, is natural. The money is as good as coming out of the ground.

　Since there are not many people who can conquer the dungeon, they can practically make a whole lot of money.

　Basically, there is no one to complain about. The reason is that the adventurer never come back alive.

　Mars feels bitter about this structure. A dreamless part of a dreamy world.

　But even so, he doesn't want to quit being an adventurer.

　In order to be with Lilia, he can't stay on the side of the supplier.

　If he start a business with modern knowledge, He's sure it will be successful. But he's not interested in what he can gain from it.

"Xe-Xerius. Stop it. W-Why are you going to make enemies like that? S-Since we're adventurers, why don't we just cooperate with each other?"

　The dark-haired woman approaches him and grabs Xerius' arm, as if it were very difficult to say.

　The frightening image grows more and more in Mars' mind.

"Hazuki, you stay out of this!"

"I-I'm sorry, B-But..."

"I gave you special permission because you wanted to accompany me, the conquer. I've even given you the honor of being my woman. Then don't interfere with my opinion!"

　Xerius drew his sword and pointed it at the dark-haired woman known as Hazuki.

　The sword sent electric shocks rattling through the air. Just touching it would have hurt a lot.

　All the irritation from his conversation with Mars was directed at the black-haired woman, Hazuki.

　She was the girl who had been behind Xerius earlier.

　She was pretty and she had thighs that he liked, so she was better remembered by Mars than Xerius.

*

　Xerius' mind was not at ease.

　He was certainly bored at first. No great reason existed for him to look at Mars, because he had an elf with him, a person who caught people's attention.

　It was just a good way to make his presence known. As Mars had said, he wanted a noble sponsor.

　But Mars didn't do what he wanted, and he was even embarrassed.

　It takes money to conquer a dungeon.

　Weapons, equipment, provisions, money to hire companions, and a huge entrance fee.

　You need money to be sure of success. It's impossible to prepare these things on your own. If he could, he wouldn't be an adventurer and would live in luxury.

　Xerius is in a hurry. ――I want to have a record of the capture as soon as possible.

　His impatience became irritation, and he turned to his surroundings.

　Hazuki trembled with a frightened expression and dropped the long, thin staff in her hand to the ground. Lilia stared silently at the fallen staff.

　Hazuki's frightened demeanor was stronger than at first, and his face was pathetic.

　Hazuki knew exactly what Xerius would do when he was angry.

　It was not a turn of events that Mars wanted to see, even a strange woman being harmed because of him.

　Mars didn't mind if he was made a fool of.

　He can laugh and forgive that much. Even if he is angry at the time, he can quickly forget about it.

"Don't do it. The girl has nothing to do with this. I'm gonna be pissed too, okay?"

"Huh!? What the fuck does it matter if the kid's mad?"

"You're gonna die. Even if you get killed in the dungeon, you have no right to complain. Didn't you write that in the pledge at the entrance? Well, You're dead, so there's no way to tell. Dead men tell no tales."

"――What? What are you talking about? You are? Gonna kill me?"

　Mars put his hand on his sword with a straight face.

　It was not his daily dagger, but another long sword.

　Suddenly, a tense tension came.

　It was Lilia who thrust a spear into the tense atmosphere.

　Bash!

　After the sound of the strings plucking and cutting the sky, there was the sound of metal clashing with metal.

　It was the sound of an arrow hitting the shoulder armor of Zerius' white armor.

　It flowed along the circumference of his shoulder, creating a straight line of scars.

"Termites. I won't allow you to wreak any more havoc. Next time I'll shoot you in the neck. Just so you know, I won't miss unless I do it on purpose. ――I can overlook insults against me at worst. But I will not tolerate insults against my master."

　The usual adorable expression of Lilia has changed, and there is an unmistakable hostility in her light ice blue eyes as she glares at Zerius.

"Li-Lilia?"

　――I guess she's the type that scares people when she get angry. I'll be more careful in the future.

　Mars felt a twinge of fear inside.

"Tch!　――Let's go, Hazuki!"

"Ye-yes!　――I'm sorry! I'm sure he didn't mean it!"

"Okay. It's not your fault either way, so don't worry about it."

　Hazuki, walking behind Zerius, spun around and bowed to Mars and the others.

　――She's a disciplined girl. She didn't do anything wrong.

　It's not fair for a handsome guy. How can she fall in love with a man like that?

　If I think about it, neat and clean and yankee is a common combination. I can't figure it out. ......

"I'm kind of tired ......."

"That's right, ....... I think we should take the day off now. We've mined a lot more than we originally planned."

　Lilia said as she looked at the magical steel in the cloth bag.

　There are two bags of steel here, so I can say that I have collected enough.

"I guess. We'll be stuck in the dungeon until the evening tomorrow anyway, so we might as well get some rest. You must be tired from all the work. At this pace, we'll still be able to pick up more."

"It's a little early for that, but we'll have dinner on our own and stay 'close' until we're too tired to sleep. ......♥"

　With a seductive look, Lilia traces her finger across her lower lip. Her pink lips and white fingers are glossy.

　It feels good to be invited, Mars realized.

"That's an erotic way of saying the opposite. That's ......"

"I read in a book a long time ago that married women talk about their night life that way. I read something about it in a book once."

　After a brief battle-like atmosphere, both of their blood currents had nowhere else to go, and their emotional high led directly to their sexual desires.

　When they returned to their room, they threw their belongings in the doorway as soon as it was closed, and immediately began to hug and kiss each other.

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