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Finally, after navigating through rough stone corridors and endless battles, the three of them set foot on the eighteenth floor—The Safe Zone.
As soon as they stepped out of the last stone staircase, the gloomy atmosphere typical of the Dungeon abruptly transformed. A soft blue light illuminated the entire area from a massive crystal embedded in the high ceiling, highlighting a vast landscape that seemed impossible to exist underground.
A small forest with lush trees spread across various corners, their fresh green leaves swaying in the cool breeze. In the distance, a neatly arranged small town could be seen, built around the roots and trunk of a gigantic tree—this was Rivira, the most famous resting place for adventurers in the Dungeon.
Their footsteps now treaded a smooth, slightly winding dirt path leading directly to the settlement. The air here felt cleaner, almost like the surface world, and the occasional chirping of underground birds could be heard from behind the bushes.
Lefiya, walking in the middle, let out a light exclamation, "How about we take a short break? Before we continue with the coral gathering."
Aiz gave a small nod. "Agreed. It's better to replenish our energy first."
Shirou also responded, turning to the two of them, "That's probably for the best. When I took the quest yesterday, Misha, the Guild receptionist, also suggested we rest on the eighteenth floor first."
However, as Lefiya stepped closer to Shirou—perhaps intending to stand beside him—her expression suddenly changed. She sniffed once, then frowned.
"Ugh... what's this smell?!" she exclaimed, sharply turning her head toward Shirou.
Aiz stared at Shirou for a moment before calmly pointing to the slightly crumpled outer part of his red sleeve.
"Here," she said. "There's a bloodstain..."
Shirou lowered his gaze to his sleeve and explained, "Oh, right. This... is Minotaur blood from earlier. Probably when I blocked the blood spray with my projection."
Lefiya looked at the stain with a guilty expression. "That... was my fault, wasn't it?" She lowered her head slightly and offered softly, "Do you want me to clean it for you, Shirou? At least... so it won't stink too much."
But Shirou shook his head lightly, his expression still gentle.
"No need to trouble yourself. This is just a projection from my Magecraft. These clothes aren't real fabric. I'll just reproject them later—they'll be clean in no time."
Lefiya fell silent for a moment, then finally let out a small laugh, lightly tapping her own cheek. "Right... I sometimes forget you're not a normal guy..."
Shirou simply smiled, and Aiz, though silent as usual, seemed to let out a faint sigh of relief. The eighteenth floor welcomed them not only with tranquility but also with time to recover.
As they leisurely walked along the path leading to Rivira, the rustling of leaves and the sound of their light footsteps became a peaceful backdrop for the three of them. The cool breeze of the eighteenth floor blew gently, carrying the scent of damp soil and fresh foliage. The blue crystal light from the ceiling illuminated the dirt path cutting through the wild grass.
Amid the calm, Shirou finally spoke, "I'll excuse myself for a moment. I need to reproject my clothes. I won't go far... just behind that tree."
Lefiya immediately nodded and raised her staff as if standing guard. "Don't worry. I'll keep watch. If anyone dares to peek, I'll blast them away with magic."
Aiz simply looked at Shirou briefly before giving a small nod, saying nothing more.
Shirou stepped to the left side of the path, heading toward a large tree with a wide trunk and sprawling roots. He placed his supporter's bag beside the tree, then circled around the trunk so his back was turned to the two girls, who now stood at a safe distance.
Behind the tree, Shirou raised his hand and began focusing his prana. His signature red attire, complete with the thin black armor on his chest and shoulders, began to glow faintly. The fabric fibers trembled and faded into particles of light, disappearing from his body in a gentle swirl.
At that moment, Aiz's calm and straightforward voice came from the other side of the tree.
"Shirou... have you ever forgotten to renew your clothing projection? Doesn't it only last for three days?"
Shirou paused briefly, then nodded slightly. "I usually remember," he replied casually as he projected a new layer—clothing of the same design but cleaner and neater reappeared on his body, layer by layer.
However, Aiz's next comment came without hesitation, blunt and emotionless: "If you forget... does that mean you could end up naked?"
Lefiya, who heard this, immediately stiffened. Her face turned as red as a ripe tomato. "A-Aiz!!" she half-shrieked, covering half her face with her hands.
From behind the tree came a small cough.
"Cough," Shirou cleared his throat awkwardly. "Don't worry... the outer clothes are projections, but the underwear I wear is always real. So I'll never actually be naked."
Lefiya lowered her head even further, hiding her face, which was now burning like a stove. "P-Please don't elaborate any further..." she whispered, barely audible.
Aiz, as usual, responded with only a small nod, seemingly unaware that her words had nearly caused an elf to faint from embarrassment.
A few moments later, Shirou finally emerged from behind the tree. His signature red attire now looked clean and neat, free of stains or scuffs. The thin black armor on his chest was perfectly projected again, gleaming under the bright light from above. With one hand, he slung his supporter's bag over his back and walked leisurely toward Aiz and Lefiya, who were still standing by the dirt path.
Aiz approached first. She leaned slightly forward and sniffed quietly, her expression unchanging.
"...No more Minotaur smell on you," she remarked briefly, as if concluding a scouting report.
Shirou let out a small snort. "There shouldn't be. I made sure everything was gone."
Lefiya, who could now look at Shirou without her face burning red, asked curiously, "Then... where did the blood on your sleeve go?"
Shirou glanced back and pointed toward the large tree where he had changed. "It dried earlier. I just dropped it near the roots."
Lefiya blinked, then walked over to the tree. There, she saw a dark reddish stain on the soil and one of the protruding roots. She crouched briefly to examine it, then stood up with an amused smile.
"Well... at least it'll serve as fertilizer for the tree, right?"
With that, she quickly caught up to Aiz and Shirou, who had already started walking slowly toward Rivira.
The three figures continued their journey under the crystal light of the eighteenth floor, following the quiet dirt path toward the rest and supplies that awaited them.
After the long and battle-filled journey from the first to the eighteenth floor, the three of them finally arrived in Rivira—a simple town built by adventurers, for adventurers. Though it appeared calm and peaceful, this place held a long history of destruction and rebuilding. The asymmetrical stone walls, makeshift wooden roofs, and large fabric tents were silent witnesses to Rivira's repeated destruction by monster attacks and its subsequent rebirth.
Though modest, the atmosphere was lively. Adventurers from various Familias bustled about, carrying weapons and trade goods. The shouts of merchants, chatter, and rough laughter from veterans created a unique bustle. Shirou looked around with interest—he had only set foot here a few times, and the ambiance always made him feel as if he were in a different world.
Lefiya, noticing this, eagerly grabbed Shirou's hand.
"Come on! I'll show you the interesting spots here!" she said, pulling him forward through narrow alleys and merchant stalls.
Shirou was momentarily startled but allowed himself to be led, a small smile appearing on his face.
Aiz walked behind them, her golden eyes calm as usual. However—grrrkkk...—her stomach suddenly let out a soft but unmistakable growl. She paused for a moment, lowering her head slightly. Her face remained expressionless... but the tips of her nose twitched faintly.
Lefiya, who heard it, immediately stopped and turned around. "Aiz... are you hungry?" she asked, barely suppressing a laugh.
Without waiting for an answer, she looked around for a restaurant or stall selling warm food. But before she could take another step, Aiz pointed at the supporter's bag on Shirou's back.
"...The Jagamaru-kun you made earlier is enough," she said simply, her eyes fixed on the bag like a child staring at a lunchbox.
For a brief moment, a tiny bit of drool escaped the corner of Aiz's mouth.
Shirou, who saw this, could only raise an eyebrow, while Lefiya was already giggling.
"In that case, follow me," Lefiya said, walking faster. "There's a perfect spot to sit and eat."
Aiz and Shirou said nothing, simply following the elf, who now strode confidently toward a quiet corner of Rivira—the promised resting place.
Lefiya walked quickly ahead, her face bright with enthusiasm. She still held her magic staff, but her steps were light, as if she were at a festival. Shirou and Aiz followed behind, curious about where the young elf was taking them.
Before long, they arrived at a small wooden building in a corner of Rivira, nestled between an equipment stall and a healing tent. A sign above the roof read "Aether Blend," with colorful fruits painted around the letters. A faint sweet aroma greeted them as they approached.
"Finally, I'm here..." Lefiya murmured triumphantly. "I've wanted to try this place for a long time."
Once inside, they chose a table near the window. Bright light from the eighteenth floor's crystals streamed in from the left, reflecting off the glassware neatly arranged on the bar shelves.
The three of them settled at an empty table by a wooden window overlooking the cave forest. After sitting down, Lefiya turned to her companions.
"Does anyone want to order something?"
Shirou leaned back casually while glancing at the menu on the table. "Hmm... what do you recommend here?"
Lefiya confidently patted her chest. "This isn't just any juice shop. They use fruits that only grow on the eighteenth floor. Some ripen under crystal light, others can only be harvested at night. The flavors are really unique, especially when juiced."
Aiz, who was sitting with her hands folded in her lap, turned slowly. "Then... let's order three different flavors. So we can try them all."
Shirou nodded in agreement. "Good idea. I'll go with your choice, Lefiya."
Lefiya's face lit up like the sun emerging in the middle of the forest.
"Alright! Wait just a moment!" she said excitedly, then got up from her chair and hurried to the counter, her staff swaying in her grip.
Meanwhile, Aiz and Shirou exchanged a brief glance. No words were needed—just a comfortable silence between the two of them in a space that no longer felt like the Dungeon, but rather a hidden oasis of peace.
Aiz, who had been sitting quietly with her usual blank expression, suddenly turned to Shirou, her gaze direct but full of intent.
"Shirou," she said without preamble, "take out the Jagamaru-kun."
Her tone was as flat as ever, but her eyes were sharp, almost demanding. Shirou only chuckled softly, then nodded and began untying the straps of his supporter's bag.
From inside, he pulled out three wooden lunchboxes, all neatly wrapped in simple furoshiki cloth. He placed them one by one on the table. Among the three, one box looked larger and heavier—clearly Aiz's.
Without waiting for permission or a signal, Aiz immediately grabbed her box and opened the lid swiftly.
Click.
The savory aroma of sweet fried potatoes wafted out, filling the air around the table. The Jagamaru-kun pieces were neatly arranged inside, glazed with shiny red bean azuki sauce.
"Hmm..." Aiz murmured as she picked up a piece and took a slow bite. Her face remained expressionless, but her eyebrows rose slightly—a rare sign that she was enjoying the food.
"Azuki bean..." she muttered softly. "I'll start with my favorite."
Shirou opened his own box. Inside was a small bowl of clear soup with vegetables and meat slices, along with two onigiri—one filled with salmon, the other with umeboshi, wrapped in shiso leaves. Simple, but enough to replenish his energy after the long journey.
Soon, light footsteps approached from behind them. Lefiya reappeared, this time accompanied by a young waiter with an apron and a friendly smile. In her right hand, she still held her staff, while her left carried a tray with three tall, colorful glasses.
"Hey, wow! You guys started eating without me!" Lefiya half-protested but remained cheerful, her eyes immediately darting to Aiz's half-empty lunchbox.
The waiter deftly placed two of the three glasses in front of Aiz and Shirou. "Please enjoy," he said politely before stepping back with a small smile.
On the table now stood three tall transparent glasses, each containing a differently colored juice with a cute spiral straw.
The first glass, Shirou's, held a bright emerald-green juice with a faint blue shimmer—made from Lumina Berry, an underground fruit that only ripened under crystal light.
The second glass, Aiz's, was filled with a deep red juice with a strong, sweet aroma. It was Crimson Fig, a thick-fleshed fruit with a tangy-sweet flavor.
The last glass, still on the tray in Lefiya's hand, contained a golden-orange liquid with a thin layer of foam—Sunroot Nectar, a rare drink made from the roots of an underground fruit that only grew near warm water streams on the eighteenth floor.
Each glass had a curly straw with a rounded tip, adding a playful touch.
"Let's try them," Lefiya said, placing her glass on the table and sitting down. "If the flavors are weird, don't blame me, okay?"
The three of them looked at their glasses, condensation forming on the cool surfaces, making the drinks even more enticing in the cool air of the eighteenth floor.
Shirou was the first to taste his drink. He leaned slightly forward, lifting the spiral straw from his emerald-green glass, and took a slow sip.
Slrrrp.
His eyes narrowed briefly, then he nodded slowly. "It's refreshing... kind of like mint mixed with melon, but with a slight bitter aftertaste. Pretty unique."
Lefiya tried her orange-colored juice next. She sipped slowly, then her expression shifted from cautious to impressed.
"This is like a mix of orange, honey, and... ginger? It's warm in the throat. I like it!"
Aiz, who had been sitting quietly with the last bite of Jagamaru-kun at her lips, stared at her glass for a moment. She picked up her straw and sipped her dark red juice. After swallowing, she simply said, "Sour. But also sweet. Good."
However, her gaze immediately shifted to Shirou's glass.
"...I want to try yours," Aiz stated flatly, then, without waiting for permission, took the straw from Shirou's glass and sipped once.
Slrrp.
Shirou could only blink in surprise but said nothing. He was used to Aiz's straightforward nature.
But Lefiya?
Eh?! Her mind immediately went wild. T-That's... an indirect kiss!
Her cheeks turned bright red. Her hands trembled as she held her own glass. She stared at the straw Aiz had just used—and... lowered her head, biting her lower lip.
But her eyes kept darting toward Shirou's green glass.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally spoke up, "Umm... Shirou... can I try yours too?"
Shirou, still oblivious to the emotional turmoil beside him, simply nodded. "Sure. Go ahead."
With a half-panicked yet determined motion, Lefiya grabbed the straw from Shirou's glass—the same straw Aiz had used—and took a slow sip.
The minty melon flavor with a hint of bitterness filled her mouth, but her mind wasn't processing the taste.
So... I just... indirectly kissed Aiz... and Shirou...
Her face was now practically steaming, her cheeks as red as a fresh apple.
Wahhh... this is bad... It's like a scene from a romance novel... but I kissed both of them?! Her thoughts spiraled wildly, and vivid imaginations instantly surfaced: Shirou's warm smile, Aiz's expressionless yet close presence, and herself trapped between them, sinking deeper and deeper...
Meanwhile, Aiz continued eating her Jagamaru-kun calmly, and Shirou resumed drinking his soup, unaware of how Lefiya's world was being turned upside down beside them.