Troublemakers

A 3-man cell is the most basic party formation for dungeon crawling. At the very least, that's what the Guild suggests. The three-man cell—a formation that allows for attack, defense and support roles.

One member focuses on attacking the front line while another member covers him or her from monster's counterattacks. The third member stays at long range, sometimes assisting the front lines with a ranged weapon, spells or healing items when necessary.

The same holds true when attacked from behind. If the person in the supporting role also had the ability to hold their own against monsters, then its possible to withstand wave after wave of attacks until the table turns into their favor.

Its easy to get surrounded when working in a two-man cell, not to mention solo. Conquering the deeper floors of the dungeon will be extremely difficult for solo adventurers without atleast one more party member to turn the tide in a pinch.

Adding a third person won't have much impact on individual growth, though it will make the efficiency exponentially stronger. Knowing all of this, Ryuu thinks that the 2-man cell of Bell and Lilly wouldn't be strong enough to survive in the middle levels.

"But wait a moment, Ryuu. Wouldn't it be easier for them to run away if it's just Bell and Lilly? The more people there are, the more likely someone is to be left behind, right?"

"While your reasoning is not flawed, Syr, the only time adventurers consider retreat is after being cornered. It is much more practical for adventurers to avoid such situations rather than plan their escape."

Listening to Ryuu's perfect arguments, Alex narrowed his eyes that has a vertical pupils which has the same color as his hair. Alex could now confirm that Ryuu was once an adventurer herself and a veteran one at that.

Considering that Ryuu was truly a veteran, her calculated words carry a lot of weight.

"You must prepare for everything. Find someone worthy of your trust and add them to your battle party."

Hearing her words very clearly, Bell starts massaging his temples.

"I don't know anyone who would join my party."

"Ha-ha! Having some party problems, 'Little Rookie'?!"

"Wha?" Bell was shocked to the sudden loud voice that he couldn't respond right away. While Bell was regaining his composure, a customer—a male adventurer, followed by his two comrades comes close to their table.

They stop directly across Bell and Alex, and right behind Ryuu's chair.

'These guys sure are large.'

Alex amusingly thought seeing their build along with the square faces that are covered with scars...enough to make someone cringe.

"We heard your troubles! You need allies, yeah? Then why don't you join us, you little bastard?"

"Eh?"

Alex noticed that Bell was surprised. Who would've expected a square-shouldered, red faced man that he had never met to invite him into his own battle party.

"E-excuse me?"

"This aint that hard. It's quite easy actually. One of my fellow adventurers have a problem, and so out of kindness of my huge heart, I'm gonna help you out. Hee-hee, doesn't that sound good to you?"

"Well I wasn't really..."

"Of course it does! It's called havin' your back, havin' your back! Consideren' it's you, we don't mind at all if you join us...Yeah!"

Seeing him, Alex began to wonder how drunk he was. A wall of alcoholic stench assaults across the table. Syr is grimacing next to Bell and Lilly has a look of absolute loathing in her eyes.

Ryuu is the closest one to them, so she should be the hardest hit by that smell. But she is just calmly sitting in her chair. Her stoic face hasn't changed a bit.

"Here's the deal! We'll take you to the middle levels, and in exchange let us have these ladies for a while?! I'm takin' this cute little fairy of an elf for myself."

The man in the middle is looking down at Ryuu, his buddies are eyeing Syr and Lily. They look strange, imagining something extremely perverted.

"That is not necessary and begone. You are not worthy of him."

Ryuu suddenly speaks out of the blue.

"...Ohhh? What was that little fairy? Are you insinuatin' that we can't protect that kid?"

"Precisely. Now leave."

"Hi-hi, you hear that guys? She's saying we'd hold the rookie back! Not the other way around, ha~ha~ha!"

Alex sighed knowing that he have to be the "man" here and thinking that this will be his first conflict against another adventurers.

"Listen, girly! We've been in and out middle levels for years. That's right, Level Two. The lots of us."

"Thank you for the information. Now, begone. The likes of you are not worthy of him."

Silence. The men who had been laughing until became quiet, then their faces contorting in anger.

"Girly, what are you tryin' to say? That we're trash, lower than that punk-ass kid?"

Their grins came back a moment later but their eyes...They're like the dark, dead eyes of a mask. The man takes a step forward and reaches out a hand on Ryuu's shoulder.

—Elves do not allow someone they don't trust to touch their skin.

"Hands off!"

In an instant, Ryuu's movements are all a blur. She reaches out and grabs Bell's nearly full ale jug with lightning speed, and slams it back over her shoulder toward the oncoming hand.

A heartbeat later, THUNK!

The man's hand is now crammed into the sturdy jug, his eyes wide in shock. A soft "Eh?" comes out of his mouth.

'I can't see her movement at all.'

Alex was inwardly shocked as even though he had become a level 2 already which should have enhanced his perception, he wasn't able to capture Ryuu's movements. With just that exchange, Alex confirmed that Ryuu had a higher level than him.

'A level 3...but she's most likely a level 4?'

Alex was in doubt. Even though he was certain that Ryuu was weaker if compared to Ottar that he had faced before, he still couldn't tell the difference as he was still weaker. Soon, the sound of the man's pain woke Alex from his daze.

Ryuu turns around and jumps to her feet, twisting the jug in the process.

"Ow-ow-ow-OWWWWWW!!"

The man screamed at the top of his lungs; his elbow points out an impossible angle.

"...You BITCH!"

"Frinkin' girl!"

"What the hell are you doin!"

The enraged men tried to converge on her. In no time, Ryuu has a short sword in her grasp. Alex wondered where she get that when she was just wearing her uniform. All three of the drunk adventurers move to attack her together but before they can—

"Ghaaah!"

SMASH! BANG! Two loud cracks from behind his buddies' head. Both of the men fell to the floor. Two cat people are standing behind where the adventurers once were, holding broken chairs over their shoulders.

"—Nyufufufu. Gotta watch yer back~nya."

"Men are such a pain~meow!"

Chloe is laughing like she's one of the gods herself, while Anya's ears are twitching back and forth out of annoyance.

'Those guys were all level 2 but in just 1 hit?'

Alex scrutinized them, not expecting that not only was Ryuu was stronger than him, the other beautiful employees of the tavern were stronger than him as well.

"Sir, our elf tends to be rather violent. Backing down now would be a good idea."

Bathed in a magic-stone lamp spotlight, the man reaches behind his back and draws a white blade. It's a shortsword. He was consumed by rage, then his body shaking when the staff of the Hostess of Fertility all have their eyes locked on him.

Just then— an explosion comes from a different direction. Every head in the tavern turn into a new direction. The counter....It was waist height just a moment ago but now its in the the shape of V. The customers sitting in the counter, their mouths are opened in shock.

Standing in the base of V is Mama Mia, her outstretched fist right in the center. Anya and all the other waitresses suddenly shiver with fright.

"If you wanna brawl, take it outside. This place is for eatin' and drinkin'."

Silence falls over the entire tavern. All the waitresses break eye contact with Mia and go back to work.

"And you, ya blockhead. Be sure an' take those idiot lumps on the floor out with ya. If ya try an' cause any more ruckus—y'all will wind up six feet below my bar."

A bead of sweat rolls on the man's face as he silently nods up and down. Lifting his fallen comrades up by their shoulders, he makes for the door with his buddies' feet dragging behind him.

"Hey, crap-fer-brains! You gotta pay first!"

"Y-yes, ma-am!!"

The man seems like he drops all of his money onto the floor in fear of Mama Mia's rage. A bag full of gold coins clinks as it hit the ground at her feet.

After they practically fall through the door, the usual din of the bar starts back up again. People starts drinking and singing as if nothing ever happened. The voices echoing through the building.

"My apologies, I have destroyed the atmosphere on your special night."

"N-no, don't worry about it..."

"Hee-hee, Miss Lyuu really is strong...Lilly's lower back is still tingling."

Tension is still in the air from what just happened earlier but Syr suddenly claps her hand together and stands up.

"Well, shall we try this again from the start?

She orders a new round of drinks of drinks and a moment later, they start clinking again. After that, they enjoy good food and ale well in the night.

However, despite the happy atmosphere...Alex grimly thought.

'A bar where a party of level 2 run away in fright. Yeah, this place is definitely scary!'