Chapter 23: Preparing for Dungeon Exploration

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After building the brewery, we discovered the dungeon.

Orders for Horse King sake have been rolling in, particularly from the Bayerlein ducal family, who purchased a large quantity and agreed to buy it regularly.

Thanks to this, Father has been busy every day. Amid his bustling schedule, I made a request to him.

"You want to enter the dungeon?"

Since that day, all tunnels, except for the one we used as the sake cellar, have been sealed off. Inspections confirmed that none of the other tunnels had turned into dungeons. However, because we can’t predict when a dungeon might form, the tunnels remain closed, with periodic checks conducted by the lord’s military.

In the meantime, the dungeon has been opened to the public.

If left unchecked, dungeons will spawn and release large numbers of monsters. To manage this, we started allowing people to thin out the dungeon’s monsters.

The people who explore dungeons are commonly called adventurers, and several groups have already arrived. Merchants have also shown up to handle the materials adventurers retrieve from monsters. Although the adventurers are currently living in tents or makeshift shelters, I expect proper stores and inns will soon spring up around here.

"But Toma, you're only seven..."

"I won’t overdo it. I’ll ensure we have a wide safety margin in our exploration. So please, may I go?"

"...Very well. Toma, you are a Roxfall, and you carry the family’s legacy of fighting monsters. Facing monsters is inevitable. However, stay away from the deeper levels."

"Thank you very much!"

Whether or not I’m truly destined for this role, battling monsters is essential to leveling up.

Raising my level this much purely through skill usage alone has already been quite a feat.

"Armor? Check! Headgear? Check! Sword? Check! Dagger? Check! Bow? Check! Thirty arrows? Check! Provisions? Check! Water? Check!"

To prepare for the dungeon, I double-checked my equipment and supplies.

My armor consists of a breastplate, gauntlets, and shin guards. Since I’m still small, I can’t wear full metal armor yet.

The sword is a short one, about forty centimeters long, crafted by Ben’s father, Bowman, the blacksmith.

After a lot of practice, I’ve finally managed to stabilize my aim with the bow. Although I’m still a beginner, I can at least hit the target now. There might be monsters where ranged attacks would be beneficial, so I’m bringing it along.

The dungeon I’m about to enter is Ashud Territory’s first, so it’s been named the Ashud Dungeon. I wouldn’t tell Father, but it doesn’t feel as grand as Horse King.

"Well, here I go."

"Are you really going? You can still change your mind, you know."

I don’t mean to make Mother worry, but I must raise my level to fulfill my promise to the Nameless One.

"I’m sorry to worry you, but I must go. I promise I’ll return safely, so please let me go."

"Alyusha, send Toma off with a smile. Don’t worry; if he’s our son, he’ll be fine."

"...Alright. Toma, come back safe."

"Yes! I’m off!"

As I walked away from the mansion, I noticed Ben standing in front of the brewery.

"You’re late, Toma."

"Yeah, yeah."

When Ben heard I was going into the dungeon, he insisted on coming too.

Ben’s equipped with a spiked morning star, a small wooden shield reinforced with iron, armor similar to a kendo chest guard, leather gloves, shin guards, shoes reinforced with metal, and… a pot on his head?

"Hey, that’s literally a pot on your head!"

I couldn’t help but comment.

"My old man told me to wear this."

"I guess it’s better than nothing."

This is serious dungeon exploration, but maybe a little humor is good too.