The Banshee!
Chapter 60: The Banshee!
Shiro and others soon arrived in Rivira, the bustling town on the 18th floor.
Ais's letter to Loki had only mentioned her intention to undertake a commission about the 24th floor, without specifying the exact location.
So, the four of them decided to split up and gather information about Ais's whereabouts.
After all, with her fame in Orario, anyone who had seen her would undoubtedly recognize her.
Filvis chose to inquire at the stores, Bete headed to the taverns frequented by adventurers, and Lefiya went to a nearby purchase station.
Unsure of where to start his search on the 18th floor, Shiro sought out Bors.
"The Sword Princess? Yeah, she was here earlier," Bors replied, sprawled in a chair behind the counter of his shop, polishing a recently acquired weapon with a rag.
"She asked me to hold onto an arm protector for her and emphasized not to lose it. It's rare to hear her so insistent about something." He added, setting aside the weapon and retrieving the arm protector from under the counter.
It was a green, battered arm protector, clearly well-used in countless battles.
"This is... Bell's arm protector?" Shiro recognized it instantly, a realization dawning upon him.
Ais must have found the arm protector while entering the Dungeon and must have recognized it.
So, she probably left it with Bors for safekeeping until she returned.
But if that was the case, where had Ais gone now?
"Oh, so you know this thing. Then take it and get it out of my shop. It's taking up space," Bors grumbled.
Shiro stored the arm protector in his 'gift card' and asked again, "Did Ais say anything else? Like where she was going or when she'd be back?"
"Hmm... where did the Sword Princess go... I'm getting old, my memory isn't what it used to be," Bors drawled, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together suggestively.
"Maybe if I hear my favorite sound, I'll remember something..."
Swish~
A sword suddenly embedded itself in the space between his arm and body.
"Is this the kind of sound you like?" Shiro asked with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Ah... that seems to be it. I remember now. But could you please remove your sword first..."
Bors's forehead beaded with sweat.
Having spent considerable time on the 18th floor, he was well-versed in the art of self-preservation.
"The girl who was with the Sword Princess bought some items to attract monsters and clothes for camouflage." He revealed something useful.
Just then, Bete, Filvis, and Lefiya, having found nothing in their searches, came to Shiro one after another
After he relayed what he had found, they quickly determined their destination to a single location based on their experience..
After all, the 24th floor is a Dungeon Pantry.
This area served as a source of sustenance for the monsters.
It contains a huge quartz pillar that secretes a substance which monsters enjoy.
Experienced adventurers often placed bait there and wore camouflage cloth to avoid attracting unwanted attention from hungry monsters.
Knowing the location, Bete and Filvis immediately turned to leave.
However, as Shiro and Lefiya followed, Bors called out to them.
"Hey! Are you guys teaming up with the Banshee?"
"Banshee?" Shiro questioned, confused by the name.
Even the most eccentric gods wouldn't give an adventurer such an ominous alias.
"That's the nickname we adventurers gave her," Bors explained, noticing Shiro's confusion.
Lefiya, concerned about her fellow elf, asked timidly, "Did something happen to Filvis-san?"
"Everyone who's ever teamed up with her has died. Whether they were from her own Familia or others, not a single one survived," Bors revealed, his eyes darting towards the door, as if ensuring Filvis wouldn't return.
"Have you heard of the 'Nightmare on the 27th Floor' incident six years ago?"
It was a tragedy orchestrated by Evilus, a notorious group of evil gods and adventurers, during their reign of terror in Orario in the past.
They lured countless adventurers to a specific area on the 27th floor and then sacrificed themselves to unleash a devastating "Monster Party".
Not only monsters but even the Floor Boss were drawn into the chaos, transforming the scene into a living hell.
By the time reinforcements arrived, only a small number of adventurers remained alive, fleeing amidst a field of corpses.
It was one of the most tragic incidents in Orario's history, forever remembered as the "Nightmare on the 27th Floor".
"Filvis Challia was one of the survivors," Bors continued, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he recalled the harrowing event.
"I've seen countless adventurers, but I've never seen anyone look so utterly broken. I even thought she was already dead at that point."
With her tattered clothes, bloodstained hair, and pale complexion, she had wandered through the town like a ghost, dragging her injured body behind her.
She seemed to be searching for her fallen comrades, yet also resembled a deceased spirit seeking its next victim.
"After that, as if cursed, everyone who teamed up with her died without exception. We adventurers are superstitious about such things, so as her reputation grew, she earned the nickname 'Banshee'."
Adventurers shunned Filvis, fearing the death that seemed to follow her.
Even the members of her own Familia kept their distance from the tragic elf.
"I'm sure she hates that nickname... Anyway, be careful if you're teaming up with her," Bors warned.
"Don't worry, I'm not that easy to die. But thanks for the heads-up," Shiro replied with a shrug, leading a stunned Lefiya away from the shop.
To their surprise, Bete and Filvis hadn't left.
It looked like they were waiting outside, having overheard Bors's story.
"How can you still have the nerve to call yourself an adventurer? It would have been better if you had died back then," Bete spat, his words cruel and uncovering other's scars.
However, Filvis, who usually argued back with equal fervor, remained silent this time.
Her crimson eyes stared into the distance, a hollow smile gracing her lips.
"You're right," She whispered, her voice devoid of emotion.
Her smile held no joy for being alive.
It was a mask concealing a deep well of pain.
"That day, I failed to join my seniors in death. I survived and continued living in shame, a pathetic sight. So, how about it? Do you want to part ways here? Teaming up with me might get you killed."
"People like you piss me off the most," Bete snarled, disgusted by her self-deprecation.
"Acting like you've given up on everything."
He then turned and walked towards the plaza, leaving Filvis behind.
Both Shiro and Lefiya, familiar with Bete's temperament, could tell he was genuinely angry this time.
Loki had once shared Bete's story with Shiro while updating his status.
Bete was the son of the chief of a werewolf tribe, and he was taught by his father that the world was governed by the law of the strongest, with the strong being able to take what they wanted while the weak remained powerless over it.
At the age of twelve, his entire family, except for him, was massacred by the Lord of the Meadows.
Driven by vengeance, Bete joined the Vidar Familia.
And, after enduring countless hardships, he finally gained the strength to avenge his family and returned to his homeland to confront the Lord of the Meadows.
After achieving his revenge, Bete returned to Orario, only to be met with a devastating sight.
The lifeless bodies of his Familia members, including his lover, lay before him.
He learned from his god that the Vidar Familia had suffered a catastrophic defeat during a Dungeon expedition.
And the few survivors who survived the incident were too terrified to ever venture back into the Dungeon.
In the pouring rain, the furious Bete chased away the remaining members of Vidar Familia.
Once again alone, he encountered members of Loki Familia, who easily defeated him.
He then joined their ranks, despising weakness and embracing strength.
His alias changed from 'Fenris' to 'Vanargand'.
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