71. Dungeon Conquest Is A Matter Of No Carelessness, Isn’t It?

“All right, let’s begin our dungeon conquest. As it’s an unexplored dungeon, we need to be cautious. If anyone feels it’s too much, we’ll retreat, so be prepared.”

Everyone nodded back to Raidoc.

At the mention of an unexplored dungeon, Eva trembled slightly. It was unclear whether it was fear or a warrior’s resolve.

Then Raidoc placed his hand on Eva’s shoulder.

“It’ll be okay. No matter what happens, I’ll protect everyone.”

“Raidoc-shama…”

Eva’s tense expression suddenly crumbled.

“Hey!? Raidoc!?”

“Alright, let’s go! Soral and Camille will lead the way.”

“Oh! …Remember that later! Let’s go, Camille.”

Before Soral could bite Raidoc, Raidoc quickly gave instructions. With a dissatisfied expression, Soral started leading with Camille.

Unlike the forest, it was only natural for Soral, accustomed to dungeons, to lead the way.

But Raidoc. No, I shouldn’t say it. What a natural airhead! Get lost!

And so, our dungeon exploration began!!

◆

The sunset was beautiful.

We cleared the dungeon and savored the fresh air after a long time.

Leafan immediately started preparing for camping, so Raidoc and I laid the spoils on the mat.

“Not a bad haul, huh?”

“Yeah. It wasn’t that big of a dungeon.”

“It’s grateful to have gotten Mithril ingots.”

“It would’ve been better if it were a mine, but that’s too much to ask for.”

The dungeon conquest ended in three days. We would have recovered most of the treasures inside.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a large-scale dungeon, so we could explore to the very end without turning back.

Leafan stopped cooking and interjected with a bewildered expression.

“Both of you, the first-time dungeon conquest, what an incredible achievement!?”

“We were lucky!”

“I thought I was going to die when I entered the last room.”

“I was surprised by the Hydra boss.”

“Yeah. I didn’t expect the Hydra to be that big. I think it’s an upper-tier species.”

Guarding the depths of the dungeon was the Hydra. However, it was a completely different entity from the Hydra we knew in the marshlands.

Not only was it an enormous body. But it also had twenty-four heads, and when it spewed flames or ice breath, it chilled our spines.

“That one really gave us trouble.”

“If you say we had trouble with that, other adventurers would cry.”

“Yeah. Well, it only took ten minutes with Raidoc’s fierce attacks. Thanks to Leafan for properly defending us.”

“If we didn’t have Healing Potions, it would’ve been impossible.”

“That’s my job.”

“Raidoc-shama is amazing…”

Eva’s cool image had completely collapsed over these three days, and her eyes gazing at Raidoc were filled with hearts. Although Soral was glaring at her fiercely, she didn’t notice.

Well, let’s leave the lovebirds alone.

Until then, Eva, who had been melting like midsummer ice, composed her expression and turned towards us.

“I never thought we would clear the dungeon on our first try. It’s unbelievable.”

Clang!

Yeah. A bit late for that now.

“Oh, it’s all thanks to you three sisters.”

“Raidoc-shama’s party was too excellent. I don’t think we helped much.”

“That’s not true. Eva’s magic was versatile and able to handle any situation, and Camille’s exploration ability and precise combat support are commendable. Thanks to Marilyn’s healing magic, Bepp could focus on support magic, and I didn’t need to use attack magic. So I could focus on support.”

“Craft’s potions were amazing. Not only Stamina Potions but also Mana Potions were provided, so I could use magic freely. It’s not our ability.”

“We all used potions. It’s our ability.”

“Did I help Raidoc-shama?”

“I guarantee it.”

“Then… I’m glad.”

With hearts flying behind her, Eva’s expression quickly crumbled.

Soral! Stop sending killing intent this way!?

“Leafan, what do you think of this dagger?”

Raidoc took out the dagger found in the last room.

“Appraisal… Yeah. This dagger is definitely made of Orichalcum!”

“As expected.”

“Oh, really?”

When I looked at the dagger, I could feel a strange magical power. It was undoubtedly a magical metal.

When I picked it up and appraised it, it was a much more powerful weapon than a normal dagger.

“It’ll likely inflict damage even on undead types.”

“That’s amazing. By the way, let’s consider distribution later. How about Camille using it until we return to town?”

Raidoc twirled the dagger in his hand and offered the grip to Camille.

After glancing at Raidoc and me, Camille silently grabbed it and swung it a few times.

“At first glance, it looks like an ordinary dagger, but the weight balance is optimal. From the sensation of cutting through the air, the sharpness is very high. I don’t know about the magic power, but I’m sure it can deal damage to non-physical entities. That’s an amazing weapon. I’ll borrow it.”

“”Sure.””

Raidoc and I were so surprised by Camille’s words that we were at a loss.

I thought she was taciturn, but she becomes like this when she speaks. It’s surprising.

“Ohhhh! Camille’s voice is so cool and awesome!”

“Just shut up.”

“Okay.”

“By the way, Craft, did you figure out how to make Orichalcum with that dagger?”

“Unfortunately, no. It might be this type of ore.”

“If we find an Orichalcum mine, the economy will be turned upside down.”

“Well, not exactly a mine, but if we knew how to make it, ha ha ha.”

“Either way, it’s a big deal.”

Leafan, tiredly, threw in her two cents to Raidoc and me. She’s become quite the commentator lately.

To her credit, she was a big help in the dungeon.

Handling the walls with Moda, finding metals, and cooking. She might actually become a great wife.

Looks can be deceiving, but apparently, she’s older than me. I hope she finds a good person.

“Craft, aren’t you thinking of something rude?”

“Not at all.”

Because it’s not rude. I answered confidently.

“But… shall we have dinner?”

“Yeah! We finally emerged from underground, so I’ll treat you to a feast!”

“But you cooked inside the dungeon so casually.”

Now it was Eva’s turn to interject. Incomprehensible.

◆

The next day, relying on Leafan’s dowsing to roughly determine the direction, we were rushing forward when it happened.

Jitaro, leading the way, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

We also stopped and observed the surroundings.

“What’s wrong?”

“I feel a strange presence. Coming from ahead, it’s about to arrive soon.”

“Everyone, get ready for combat!”

Even though it wasn’t said, we had entered combat mode long ago. We formed a formation while keeping an eye on the front.

After a while, we heard the sound of rustling through the grass, and someone rolled out into our view.

“…Huh?”

“Beastman…? No, that’s not it. Doesn’t seem human.”

What emerged from the bushes was a humanoid demi-human.

The demi-human, sitting on his knees, seemed surprised to find us suddenly in the forest and looked at us with a bewildered expression.

It was a demi-human race I had never seen before, dressed in tribal clothing full of wildness and holding a homemade spear.

What stood out was his tail. A tail covered with reptilian scales stretched slenderly from his tailbone.

But what caught our attention more was.

“Are you okay!? Beautiful lady! Come on, let me grab your hand!”

“Huh? Huh?”

Yes, that demi-human was incredibly beautiful.

Well-shaped bust! Hips!! Healthy legs!!!

“…Craft, where are you looking?”

“I’m just checking if she’s injured!”

It’s not a lie! It’s not a lie, I tell you!!

I’m not thinking of her as a pair of breasts to rival Marilyn’s or anything!!

“Jitaro.”

“Don’t look at her like that! Anyway! Did something happen? You seemed flustered.”

Seeing that beautiful girl, I remembered something. The extinct lizardmen.

She had scales on the back of her hand and shoulders.

“Human…? What are you doing in a place like this?”

We had stumbled upon quite a big deal.