Prologue: FASTEST BOY IN THE ALLEYS

The Guild Headquarters was filled with the chattering of a lively crowd this morning.

The traffic of adventurers coming and going through the headquarters' wide lobby

was always at its peak between sunrise and noon. Of course some were visiting their

adviser before heading into the Dungeon, but most of them spent their time reading

notices that had been posted on the Guild's announcement bulletin board overnight

or talking with fellow adventurers.

Most of the notices contained information about new items on sale from the

mercantile Familias or requests for specific drop items from the Dungeon. However,

announcements about the strength of each Familia as well as sightings of rare

monsters in the Dungeon were posted as well. The Guild posted all of this to assist

adventurers in their travels.

What the adventurers learned today from this notice board could determine their luck

tomorrow, not to mention their pay. Obviously, they couldn't afford to ignore it.

Bathed in the strong sunlight coming in through the high windows of the Guild lobby,

many races of human and demi-human swiftly went about their business.

"Whew… So many adventurers showing up today."

"We're working now. No time for small talk."

Eina Tulle gave her coworker Misha Frot a light warning without getting up from her

chair at the counter window.

Just as Misha said, more adventurers than usual were visiting the Guild on this

particular morning. Eina and her coworkers knew that this was no accident;

something had spurred the adventurers into action. She herself had been busy since

early that morning and was just now able to catch her breath.

Usually around this time, adventurer traffic would be slowing down to the point that

some of them would try hitting on the cute receptionists at the Guild. Most days the

girls would just roll their eyes, but today the would-be suitors were mercilessly shot

down and shown the door so that those needing advice could come to the front.

"Denatus is coming up, so it looks like adventurers who leveled up are waiting

around… But it has to be the news about you-know-what—that Minotaur that showed

up on the ninth level."

"…Yes, it certainly looks that way."

Three days ago, there was an announcement that had made Level 1 adventurers' eyes

lose color.

It read: MINOTAUR SIGHTED IN UPPER LEVELS.

The notice, issued by Loki Familia, sent waves of fear through more than half of the

adventurers in Orario. Demands for more detailed information had been coming in

nonstop ever since.

Monsters appearing on floors where they weren't normally seen was nothing new. In

most cases, the monsters were encountered two floors above or below their recorded

origin point. But this Minotaur was spotted on the ninth level, meaning that it had

somehow journeyed up from the Middle Fortress. The earliest floor where Minotaurs

were usually encountered was the fifteenth, six floors below.

The fact that this was not the first time a Minotaur had been seen in the upper levels

was what really made the adventurers' blood run cold.

It had been about one month ago—the day that Bell met Aiz—that the beasts had been

spotted much higher than normal.

That particular incident had been caused by an accident during Loki Familia's return

from an expedition. Guild employees had explained this many times, but adventurers

were not that easily convinced. Some adventurers claimed there had been a change in

the Dungeon's design that allowed Minotaurs to be born in the upper levels.

Eina and her coworkers were unable to dismiss it as an exaggeration.

For Level 1 adventurers, this was a matter of life and death. If monsters from the

Middle Fortress were roaming the upper levels, they couldn't work. Understanding

their fears all too well, the Guild accepted the fact that many would panic and did their

best to quell the adventurers' fears.

…Haven't heard from him since that day, either. Is he all right?

Eina hadn't seen Bell during the rush of adventurers, and it made her extremely

nervous.

It had been less than a week since his last visit to the Guild, so she knew it was too

early to be anxious… But Bell had nearly been killed by a Minotaur recently. Just

hearing the monster's name might make him take more precautions than necessary,

though she couldn't blame him.

Thoughts of Bell running through her head made Eina feel restless, an uneasy pulse

throbbing in her chest.

"Ah, Eina's favorite adventurer spotted, twelve o'clock."

"!"

Her friend's needlessly long-winded voice caught Eina's attention, and she looked up.

Sure enough, the boy's signature white hair stood out from the crowd as he weaved

his way toward the reception counter. Once he noticed Eina's gaze, Bell blushed a little

as he flashed a toothy grin.

"What's this—doesn't he look like he's in a bit better mood than usual?"

"…"

This time Misha's words rolled in her left ear and out the right. The warmth of relief

ballooned within Eina, her pinkish lips curling into a smile before she took a deep

breath and pulled herself together.

Watching Bell maneuver through the crowd like a rabbit through a meadow, she was

a bit irritated that the boy had made her worry. However, relief won out.

"Good morning to you, Miss Eina!"

"Morning, Bell. It's been a while. I probably don't have to ask but… Working hard in

the Dungeon?"

"Yep! Giving it my all! Although it's been a few days!"

"Heh-heh, breaks are important, too. The body needs to rest, so a few days sounds

about right."

An even bigger smile bloomed on Eina's face as she talked with Bell.

Sitting next to her coworker, Bell's infectious good mood made Misha grin as well. She

left her chair at the counter to give Eina some space. Sitting down at her desk, she set

to work sorting the documents on it.

Eina's eyes softened as she asked another question.

"So, did something good happen?"

"H-how did you know?"

"One look at you and anyone could tell."

Eina giggled for a moment as Bell put a hand to his reddish cheeks.

She knew from the look on his face that Bell couldn't wait to talk about whatever it

was that had happened. Eina blinked her emerald eyes slowly and nodded her head,

as if to say, "Go ahead." The boy nodded back brightly. He hadn't looked this happy

since the day that he'd officially become an adventurer. Just behind Eina, Misha fought

back a smile by biting her lip. The human girl backed away from the mountains of

paperwork on her desk and slowly stood up, inching ever closer to the conversation.

He really can't tell a lie, thought Eina as she waited for Bell's next words. A calm, warm

feeling swelled within her; it was as if she were looking at her own younger brother.

"W-well, you see…"

"Yes?"

Then Bell flashed his teeth again in another happy smile and a twinkle in his eye before

saying, "I'm Level Two now!"

Misha's paperwork fell to the floor with a great swish sound.

The human girl froze like a statue, her back toward Eina and Bell.

Misha had seen Bell's paperwork on Eina's desk before, so she knew that Bell hadn't

been an adventurer for even two months yet.

Eina smiled.

It was a beautiful smile.

A moment later, shock took over her face as she, too, froze.

To be more precise, time had stopped.

It was as if the two ladies were in a bubble; the usual noise of the lobby couldn't reach

them.

"…huh?"

Did I hear that right? That was the only thing she could think of to explain what she

just heard. A dumbfounded smile still stuck on her lips, her head tilted to the side as

her mind raced to find answers.

A corner of her mouth started twitching.

"Like I said, I'm Level Two! Me! Since three days ago!"

In too good a mood to notice Eina's state of shock, Bell happily repeated himself, loud

enough to be heard over the din.

The tension in her body that had built up passed her breaking point, causing her to

shudder in her chair at the counter.

"Level Two?"

"Yes!"

"Three days ago?"

"Yes!"

"And that's the truth?"

"Yes!"

"Bell, when did you become an adventurer?"

"A month and a half ago!"

Bell's words hung in the air.

The human and half-elf shared a smile, the conversation fresh in their minds.

Another wave of adventurers had arrived and stood in line behind Bell, looking

agitated and impatient as they waited.

Since Misha hadn't budged an inch, the reception counter had become gridlocked.

Squeak! Eina shot up from her chair—and exploded.

"LEVEL TWO IN SIX WEEKS?!"

Her shrill scream cut through the commotion of the lobby.

Every Guild employee sitting in the office behind the reception counter suddenly

jumped to their feet as Eina's voice thundered through.

Taking the brunt of the blast, Bell broke out in a cold sweat as he leaned away from

her