"Whoa, this looks promising." Minerva sang, touching the mossy wall of the dungeon.
Ever since we entered the place, she was all cheer and chirps. Like a little girl in an art gallery. She would run towards everything new that she would encounter. No matter how little it was. Looking at her leaves a smile to my lips. Especially when she run around like that and her magnanimous boobs jiggles along her rigorous motion. Ahem. Cough, cough.
"Indeed. I find it amusing how on earth this cavern formed. I feel a trace of mana around everywhere here. Truly, how amusing." Elisha commented, letting her eyes wander. Honestly, I'm more concerned about the buttons of her uniform holding her chest area rather than the scattered mana. They looked like the button version of that friendly-neighborhood saving the train from absolute danger. Just how much force were those breasts of hers emanating? They looked suffocated under that tight uniform. They could snap at any time now.
"…"
And Gisselle? Well, she was the cold person in the group. Her expression remained. Like a frozen flower in the middle of the winter. She just let her blue eyes dart from one side to another, then thats it. Though, I could hint she was a little taken aback in such a new environment. If there was to comment about her? I'd praise her for not suffocating her buttons with her chest. I'm proud of her. Hers were justice. Sort of.
"You certainly look calm for a 'first-timer', Stasis." Edelweiss creeped near me. When I failed to reply as quickly, she giggled, and said, "Well, I'd be more surprise if you look flabbergasted because of a place you frequent."
"Dont say that loud, please." I responded.
She chuckled as she slapped my back lightly before going her way towards the tree ladies of our party. Now that I think about it, I was the lone guy in our party… ignore the fact the Elisha was with us, there were three wonderful ladies with me that never hated my guts!
C-could it be that my youth is finally kicking its start?! Could this be the beginning of my popular phase?
Nah… I'd die in embarrassment if I assumed things yet again.
Inside the dungeon was dim but it was not so dark that you would trip, no. Plastered at the walls of the dungeon were blue gems emanating cerulean light which faintly illuminating the ground and the path inside. Without such, we would need to cast a light magic for us to continue. The atmosphere here was quite cool. With how much moss were growing all around, one could easily tell how the temperature was humid. The floor was moist and the walls were damp. One trip and there you would need a change of clothes.
"This place is quite interesting, right?" Minerva said, finally settling down. She came to me while I was staring at the source of the light. "To think that such function was left here. It was as if the dungeon was inviting people to traverse it, no?"
"It is in fact doing that." I peeled my eyes from the illuminating gem and turned towards Minerva. "The dungeon was in fact inviting people to come and trek it."
"Hmm...? Why would it go down the trouble of doing that?" Minerva cocked her head, a little confused. Gah! The way she did it was just soooo adorable!
"Well, do you know how the dungeon never disappeared on their own?" I asked, prompting a nod from my lovely goddess.
"It sustains itself with mana, no?"
"Correct." I bobbed to her before continuing, "And with mana it could do all functions that for us, humans, seemed really impossible. It creates monsters using mana. Then, treasures to lure adventurers in. And with that, they'll have the adventurers defeat the monster which grew stronger with time. When the monster was defeated, the rich mana it contains would go back to the dungeon—and the process was repeated. The dungeon actually was just like a farm. It plants the monsters. Let them grow. When they were ripe with mana, the adventurers will harvest them for the dungeon with the treasure box as the reward. Then the process will be repeated until the gem from the deepest part of the dungeon was destroyed." I explained.
When I turned to Minerva, she was gawking at me in utter astonishment. Why?!
"I… I never thought you were this smart." Elisha said with a hint of incredulity.
For some reason, all of them gathered behind the stunned Minerva. Gisselle even took a note and a pen. She was nodding vacuously with my explanation. Edelweiss was covering her mouth as she silently giggled from behind.
"I can do without that comment, though." I told Elisha with squint.
"My! Stasis, you were so cool. To uncover the mystery of the dungeon with a single visit! You were studying by yourself all along?! How diligent. How amazing!"
Ugh… the way she sparkled as she said all that tells me I should take the fact that all I said was information I learned from games, animes, and light novels alike to the grave. Minerva's literally sparkling that she's blinding. I feel guilty and happy at the same time.
"O-of course. I can teach you about all these when I have the time." I said, escaping her blinding stare.
"Sure! I'll hold you promise on to that!" Minerva cheered, beaming.
For some time now, I can see Elishas frown getting deeper and deeper. What could it be that dissatisfied her that much? If she's that disgruntled, why choose to come with us in the first place?
I don't really get the way rich ladies think.
***
As its name suggests, Eternal Cavern was a dungeon of unknown number of levels. Jin's personal Adventurers party managed to delve deep past unto the 100th layer, but they cant seem to find the gemstone that serves as the lifeline of the dungeon.
As it may have said, the dungeon could expand to a thousand layer or could end with just tens. But the way they saw the Eternal Cavern, it was an endless stream of dungeon floors. The deepest floor to be uncover within this dungeon was the floor 112th; a record set by Alexandra.
Well, I said all that but all we needed to do this time was to climb down until the 5th layer. This was supposed to be our first dungeon visit and all. Though, I'm going to lie about this being my first-time.
I watched the three ladies as they worked their way on a party of humanoid golems. At first, they were surprised by the sudden appearance of the monster, but because we used this type of monster in our first practical exam, it was easily defeated by the three of them. I wasn't even given a chance to join the fray.
But, man… Gisselle's ability was really something else. When she freezes something, it would be irreversible. And if it broke, the thing she froze would shatter along the ice. Thats what happened to the golem that she held and destroyed by Elisha's shield-bash.
Just thinking about being the one frozen by her ice sends me shiver to my spine. I wonder why her ability was evaluated as an A-rank instead of something higher.
Minerva's fighting style was something to take note as well. She was a master of capoeira. She was going along with the other women without using her ability. As expected of my goddess.
They easily dominated the five golem that showed up. I was a prop on the background this time, that's for sure. So, when Elisha flashed me a meaningful smile, I could say nothing in return.
Instead, its a mans job to compliment women. I'll do just that.
"Man~, having you three as a groupmate was a huge boon. You were all stunningly amazing" I applauded them, "I didnt even have to chime in."
"Well, its a womans job to be complimented." Minerva grinned. "So, don't be stingy with your praise, got it?"
"Yes, maam!" I gave her a reactive salute. As you would ask, Your Majesty!
"Hmph. I will allow you to sing my praise. As that was the only thing you can contribute to our team anyway."
"If that would cause you a little smile on that alluring lips of yours, then so be it." I joked. I was expecting a retort, but when I glanced at the rich lady, she was as red as she could be. She escaped the embarrassment by jogging along to the front. Why?! Thats not the right reaction, is it now?
"I could see nothing but trouble with you and your smart mouth, Stasis." Edelweiss commented. She was enjoying our display if that smile on her face was the hint. "Tone down the flattery for a bit, got it?"
"Y-yes, maam…"
I turned to the other girl of our group.
"…" Gisselle was spacing out as a default, so I just flashed her a thumbs-up. She did not gave me any reaction, though.
Since weve already reached the third level, only two and were done for the day. We went our way to the fourth layer while following behind the stomping Elisha.
When weve reached the fourth floor; thats when the pleasant tragedy happened. The moment of painful bliss. The time that we meet Tentarou; the tentacle monster.