Chapter 42: Late-night "tryst" with Ryuu~

Chapter 42: Late-night "tryst" with Ryuu~

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That night, the moon hung bright and high in the sky, its pale glow illuminating the world below as the sun fully disappeared.

A soft blue hue blanketed the night sky over Orario, the Labyrinth city glimmering with the radiance of countless magic stone lights, dazzling like an overturned jewel box.

In the heart of the city, towering skyscrapers in the central square loomed over the vibrant streets, alive with drifting particles of light. Yet, in front of the north gate of one particular skyscraper, silence reigned.

The central square at night was a picture of tranquility. Most adventurers had returned home to rest, preparing for the grueling explorations of the following day. The space, now vacant, revealed scattered broadleaf trees standing in stillness, undisturbed by the bustling life elsewhere.

Leaning against the wall of the towering facility, Izzy idly gazed at the starry night. A silver-gray spear rested against his shoulder, a small adventurer's backpack slung over his back. This was unusual for him; typically, his dungeon expeditions occurred during the day. However, he'd chosen to rest earlier in the afternoon to prepare for a rare nighttime venture—a decision shaped by the unique circumstances of his soon-to-be teammates.

In the stillness, the soft sound of footsteps broke the quiet. A slender figure in a green hooded cloak approached. The cloak reached her waist, leaving glimpses of shorts and thigh-high boots that accentuated her lithe form. Peeking from beneath the hem of the cloak were a long wooden sword and two smaller blades strapped at her waist.

Clad in an adventurer's combat suit, she approached Izzy with her eyes lowered, the soft glow of her sky-blue gaze visible beneath her hood.

As she came closer, Izzy finally saw her face.

"You've changed completely, Ms. Ryuu," he teased with a grin. "You look like one of those thieves straight out of adventure stories."

"Even I would get angry if you compared an elf to those disgraceful thieves, Mr. Izzy," she replied, her tone sharp.

"Ah, my bad, my bad! But admit it, don't you feel amazing as an elf ranger now?"

"..."

After their brief exchange, the two passed through the gates of the Tower of Babel together.

Though the tower was one of Orario's most iconic landmarks, its security was remarkably relaxed. The reasoning behind this was simple. Above lay the domain of Freya, the goddess who ruled over Orario, while below was the entrance to the perilous underground Labyrinth teeming with monsters. Only someone with a death wish would dare cause trouble in such a place.

The entrance to the dungeon, located on the lower floors of the Tower of Babel, remained open 24/7, allowing adventurers to come and go at any hour.

As they descended the spiral staircase leading to the vast cave that served as the dungeon's entrance, the absence of the usual daytime crowds was stark. During the day, this place teemed with life, but now it was eerily empty.

Ryuu, walking a few steps behind Izzy, couldn't help but break the silence with a soft question.

"Mr. Izzy, why choose to enter the dungeon at such a late hour?"

"Hmm? Miss Ryuu, would you prefer to head into the dungeon in broad daylight, with countless eyes watching?"

Ryuu hesitated, momentarily speechless at his surprised expression before sighing.

"...Mr. Izzy, you seem to know an awful lot about... certain things."

"It's nothing special," he replied casually, holding up two fingers and pressing them together in the universal sign for "just a little."

"Just a little bit."

Ryuu's blue eyes drooped slightly.

She couldn't help but feel that Izzy often said one thing but thought another, his words always carrying a subtle undercurrent of sarcasm.

...

The Thirteenth Floor of the Underground Labyrinth.

The monsters' ferocious roars quickly turned to wails, their cries echoing through the dark cavern. The sharp, whistling sound of wind was followed by a chorus of dying screams.

Izzy's spear moved at such an extraordinary speed that it carved afterimages in the air, creating a battle that was entirely one-sided. With precise, fluid movements—lightly striking, sweeping, and stabbing—monsters like the "Hellhound" or "Unicorn Rabbit," snarling and baring their teeth moments earlier, were swiftly dispatched by his attacks.

Surrounded by as many as ten monsters, Izzy's silver-gray spear flashed with white light, leaving a brilliant trail in its wake. In an instant, the light vanished, and the creatures collapsed to the ground, sliced apart as if they were no more than melons or vegetables.

"Wuwuwuwuwu—"

A Hellhound lurking on the edge of the battlefield, readying a long-range sneak attack, was intercepted by Ryuu before it could make its move. The strike was so precise that the beast fell before its intentions could be fully realized.

Izzy pressed forward with relentless force, breaking through the enemy ranks from the front, while Ryuu roamed the periphery, eliminating threats with practiced ease.

Although this was their first time working together, the two displayed a remarkable level of coordination. In just a few hours, they had cleared the "upper level" and reached the "middle level."

This rapid progress was largely due to Ryuu's overwhelming strength, which bordered on unfair in the upper areas.

As a Level 4 adventurer—classified as a "Second-Class Adventurer"—Ryuu found the upper levels effortless. In fact, it was common for her to finish clearing out all surrounding enemies before Izzy could conclude his own battles. She would then quietly wait at his side, arms crossed, as if to remind him of the gap between their abilities.

Such a gap was not uncommon.

In Orario, Level 1 adventurers, referred to as "lower-class adventurers," made up the majority, accounting for over half of all adventurers. Without a powerful leader, the twelfth floor marked the absolute limit of their range. Any who dared venture further were courting death.

Adventurers at Level 2 or higher, having achieved great deeds and risen above the ranks, were known collectively as "senior adventurers."

Level 2 adventurers were classified as "Third-Class Adventurers."

Levels 3 and 4 fell under "Second-Class Adventurers."

Level 5 and above earned the prestigious title of "First-class Adventurers."

Each level represented an unbridgeable chasm that had crushed the ambitions of countless adventurers.

"Roar, woo, woo, woo—"

Up ahead, a Hellhound, cornered and desperate after suffering a series of defeats, crouched low, its upper body pressed toward the ground as it prepared a final attack. Flames began to build in its throat, the heat visible in the glowing sparks bursting from between its exposed fangs.

In a mere two seconds, it unleashed the accumulated flames, sending a fiery explosion surging toward Izzy at close range. The beast itself was thrown backward by the blast, but it barely had time to recover before a silver spear pierced through the fiery haze and nailed it to the ground.

Moments later, Izzy stepped out from the smoldering flames, completely unharmed. His black-and-gold gravel shield shimmered faintly as he casually pulled his spear free from the scorched ground.

"As I thought," he remarked, brushing soot from his armor. "I don't even need the Fire Fairy Protector Cloth."

Nearby, Ryuu, having finished clearing the remaining monsters, slowly approached. Hearing his comment, her lips twitched in mild irritation.

"Most people don't have such long-lasting defensive magic..." she muttered under her breath.

Throughout their journey, Izzy's strength had proven to be far beyond what she had initially imagined.

This kind of strength even made her question whether Izzy was truly a Level 1 adventurer.

Moreover, Izzy had previously displayed the ability to use multiple types of magic, an unusual trait for someone of his supposed level.

If not for the mask she occasionally pulled up to conceal her expressions, Ryuu worried she might fail to maintain her usual composure. Particularly with the defensive magic Izzy had cast on himself in the upper layers—it had lasted all this time without dissipating, its endurance nothing short of incredible.

"Hmm? Isn't it nice for a man to last longer?" Izzy quipped with a sly grin.

"You can save your dirty jokes for after we return to the surface, Mr. Izzy," Ryuu replied, her tone exasperated. "And please don't recycle the same lines you always use with Chloe!"

"Uh..." Izzy froze, momentarily caught off guard by her retort.

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NOTE: Sorry for not uploading regularly. I recently had surgery, and I feel terrible. The constant headache is unbearable, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to leave—maybe tomorrow or the day after. I'm hoping it'll be soon.