"Wow, this shows the inside of the dungeon, right?!" (Sumire)
Sumire was looking up at the giant monitor in the great plaza just before the
Last Dungeon and raising her voice.
"It is called the Satellite System. The state inside the Last Dungeon is
broadcasted not only here but through the nations in the South Continent.
You can tell just how far which country has explored." (Eugene)
"T-That's an impressive feature! But for what?" (Sumire)
Looks like it doesn't click for the otherworlder Sumire.
"First, it is for public order. In normal dungeons, it isn't rare for explorers to
cause trouble and perpetrate crimes between themselves. But in the Zenith
Tower, the dignity of explorers is quite high thanks to the Satellite System.
They are being watched by everyone after all." (Eugene)
"I see… Eh? I was on the verge of being attacked though…" (Sumire)
Sumire tilted her head.
"Aaah…as for you, Sumire, they must have thought you were a monster."
(Eugene)
It can't be helped.
She is the very person that turned the dungeon into a sea of fire.
I at first thought that Sumire was a monster or a demon and was on guard.
"I-I see…" (Sumire)
Sumire groaned, dejected.
"You are a student of this academy now, so don't worry too much about it. I
will kick the ass of anyone who says anything weird." (Eugene)
"Fufu… Got it." (Sumire)
Sumire's expression returned to normal.
"And so, the one other reason is because the South Continent's nations are
challenging the Last Dungeon with their pride on the line. That's why, no
matter what kind of methods the other countries use, they are all keeping
check with bloodshot eyes." (Eugene)
"Is there anything good for the country from doing dungeon explorations?"
(Sumire)
This really is a Sumire-like question since it has only been a week since she
has come to this world.
I decided to explain the historical background.
"Do you know that a warring era continued on in the South Continent 500
years ago?" (Eugene)
"I learned that in the lessons of Rin-sensei." (Sumire)
In the past, the relationship between the Empire, Sacred Union, and Blue
Waters Federation was not as peaceful as it currently is.
It was a bloodstained war-ridden history.
"The one who put an end to it was a single explorer. With a weapon found
from the Zenith Tower in hand, they defeated the army of the Empire,
Sacred Union, and the Blue Waters Federation." (Eugene)
"Alone?!" (Sumire)
"That's right. But well, he received an oracle from the Goddess of Justice,
Althena-sama, to stop the war, so he did it begrudgingly though. That's
why, even after stopping the war, he continued challenging the dungeon.
That's when the nations that were in war noticed…the fact that conquering
the Zenith Tower Babel would be far more profitable than winning the
war." (Eugene)
"So that's why all countries are desperate in their dungeon exploration."
(Sumire)
"Since then, dungeon exploration flourished to the point that it is called the
Great Exploration Era and wars stopped happening. They are instead
competing with dungeon exploration." (Eugene)
"I see." (Sumire)
Sumire nodded as if in admiration.
While we were talking about that, our turn at the reception of the dungeon
entrance arrived.
We give our student handbooks.
The process ended really quickly.
When I looked at my side, Sumire had a stiff expression from how nervous
she was.
"It is okay to take it easy. Then, let's go." (Eugene)
"O-Okay!" (Sumire)
We showed our student ID to the dungeon staff and stepped into the
dungeon.
◇◇
"Wow, incredible! Even though we are inside a building, it is as if we are
outside! Even if it is a dungeon, it isn't dark!" (Sumire)
Sumire was looking around restlessly while running.
It was plain to the eye that she is a beginner, but there should be no issues
with passing the 1st floor.
There's no monsters in the 1st Floor.
It is a safe area that has no dangers.
There's street stalls here and there for explorers.
It is a lively floor where there's a lot of touting.
"Hey, cute lady! Wanna check out my store?!"
"Oi, young girl, are you a beginner? In that case, you will really be needing
this magic item!"
"For a limited time, we will be having a 30% off sale! Oh, I met eyes with
the lady there, so I might bring it down 10% more just for you."
"U-Uhm…" (Sumire)
Sumire is flustered here.
This is a sight you see often in the 1st Floor of the Zenith Tower.
I pulled the hand of Sumire and moved deeper so that she doesn't get
caught in all that touting.
The deeper we go, the fewer stalls there are around.
"Hey, Eugene-kun, what's this big stone monument?" (Sumire)
"Aah, that's the list of the Record Holders in the dungeon explorations."
(Eugene)
We arrived at a giant stone monument that stands out in the grass-covered
plain.
An object that stands out in the middle of the 1st floor.
"I see…so these are the people that hold records here." (Sumire)
I observed the stone monument together with Sumire.
Cristo Gama (500th Floor)
Uther Mercurius Pendragon (451st Floor)
Bruno Rosenhain (437th Floor)
Leonhardt Rothschild (402nd Floor)
Orland Bakki (391st Floor)
Charlotte Marley (349th Floor)
Clark Romack (326th Floor)
Chester Macduff (303rd Floor)
Rosalie J Walker (300th Floor)
Media Parker (289th Floor)
...
...…
...
…
The legendary explorers.
The ones written in big letters here are the names of the explorer party
leaders. Below the respective names, there's small letters showing the
names of the party members.
By the way, the number one was solo.
Was he a monster…?
Having your name carved here is one of the greatest dreams of explorers.
That is also a path with a slew of hardships.
That said, there's the familiar name of the Academy Principal in the 2nd
place though…
He really is an outrageous guy.
The top 9 records have not been broken in around a hundred years.
As for the one standing in 1st place, it has been unmoving for 500 years.
(There was a time when I thought about carving my name here…) (Eugene)
Updating the exploration record of the Last Dungeon is the highest of
honors in the South Continent.
I thought it was the chance for someone like me, who ran away from the
Imperial Military School, to get back at my classmates.
But the walls of reality were tall.
My current record is the 9th Floor.
I am a low rank adventurer.
"Won't you aim to be a Record Holder, Eugene-kun?" (Sumire)
"…Never mind me." (Eugene)
I leave it vague and head to the center of the 1st Floor.
Several dungeon elevators are standing there.
10 in total.
There are lines for the elevators.
"Eeeh?! There's elevators?! In a dungeon?!" (Sumire)
Sumire reacted in shock.
"Convenient, right?" (Eugene)
"Rather than convenient…is that allowed?" (Sumire)
"You can only go to the floors that you have reached by your own strength,
so it is not all-powerful. Without this, places like the 100th Floor or the
200th Floor would be impossible." (Eugene)
"I-I see…" (Sumire)
"Then, from what floor shall we begin with? The 5th Floor you were in?"
(Eugene)
Sumire was found in the 5th Floor, so she should be able to go there with
the elevator.
"Hmm…there, huh. I kinda want to…I kinda don't…" (Sumire)
Sumire crossed her arms and groaned.
I myself am not in a hurry, so I thought about waiting patiently for her to
decide.
"No, you really gotta begin stuff like this from the 2nd Floor? But maybe it
would be better to check the upper floors to see what's awaiting… What to
do~?" (Sumire)
Sumire was switching expressions very actively.
This is her first exploration.
Taking your time in deciding things is also part of being a beginner.
Exploring ahead without thinking is more dangerous.
I continued waiting for her to decide.
At that moment…
"Oi, hurry up!"
We were suddenly shouted at from behind.
When I looked back, there were close to a dozen explorers standing there.
(Their explorer clothes have a blue and yellow shield crest. Explorers
affiliated to the Blue Waters Federation…) (Eugene)
"Mere students shouldn't be getting in the way of our progress! Give up
your turn!"
"E-Eugene-kun." (Sumire)
Sumire hid behind me, scared.
These guys…are ill-mannered.
There's a total of 10 dungeon elevators.
This isn't the only one around.
Moreover, there's still explorers who came even before us who are also
indecisive.
Why go out of your way to come here?
Seems like they saw us as a party of two young explorers and thought that
we would give up our turn if we were threatened.
How nasty.
Also, choosing the floor at the dungeon elevator is an important decision in
exploration.
Taking your time isn't a bad thing at all.
The only ones who hurry their order for the dungeon elevator are beginner
explorers.
…So they are newbies.
(Arguing would just be a waste of time…) (Eugene)
"Go ahead." (Eugene)
It would be stupid to even waste time with them, so I decided to just have
them go ahead.
"Hmph!"
The man at the front that seemed to be the leader passed by our side with
long strides.
"Students from the magic academy, huh. How nice to be worry-free."
"Are you okay with that equipment?"
"Only you two? Must be newbies."
The explorers around also passed by us as if it were natural.
"We will be getting through the 10th Floor today for sure!"
""""YEAH!""""
I heard the voice of that leader.
…Oi oi, all that spunk and they still haven't cleared the 10th Floor?
"So unpleasant." (Sumire)
Sumire muttered.
"Don't worry about it. If you are having trouble choosing, let's just take it
easy from the 2nd Floor." (Eugene)
"Okay!" (Eugene)
We headed to the stairs leading to the 2nd Floor.