Adventurer A's Report:
I'm a Bronze-rank adventurer, but in terms of dungeon exploration, I'd say I'm not inferior to a Silver. Out of curiosity, I went into the Sein Dungeon to see how it had changed. What I found was beyond my expectations.
I've crossed poisonous swamps before—more than once—but I've never seen poison this virulent. Foolishly, I didn't think to prepare antidotes for my pets, and they died shortly after entering. Losing them crippled my scouting ability.
The swamp terrain itself isn't complicated. In fact, it's fairly straightforward, but because the scenery is so uniform and repetitive, it's easy for the directionally challenged to get lost. Beneath the swamp, the ground is treacherous. Sometimes you step into deep pits, sometimes into sharp traps. Neither inflicts much damage, but both cripple your movement.
And once you're slowed in this place, you're as good as dead—the monsters beneath the water swarm like piranhas. That's how I died: I stumbled into a pit and couldn't pull my leg free before they dragged me under.
Adventurer B's Report:
To hell with that swamp. To hell with those skeletons. To hell with those fishmen. To hell with those gargoyles. To hell with those damn giant rats!!!
I'm never coming back. I'm done. I'm going back to the countryside to farm turnips. Goodbye forever!
Adventurer C's Report:
A monster researcher hired my party to investigate whether Sein Dungeon's mutation had produced any new species. He paid handsomely, so we were unusually well supplied—which turned out to be a lifesaver.
A Floating Spell scroll we bought as a joke ended up being invaluable. My companions and I never touched the swamp once. The monsters had almost no anti-air capability—aside from a few skeleton archers. The rest threw mud at us like angry children. A basic magic shield was more than enough to shrug it off.
After some time surveying, we really did discover a new species. It looked like an oversized frog—but its ability—
The rest is exclusive information. If the lord wants to know, he'll have to show some sincerity~
Adventurer D's Report:
Oh man, oh man, oh man, that was wild! There's this monster in there I've never seen before—frog-shaped, with two giant eyeballs that nearly scared my soul out of my body! It breathed on me, and I dropped dead instantly. That black smoke? I swear it kills you on the spot. So creepy… but thrilling! I'm definitely going back to face it again.
Oh, and get this—my wife opened a treasure chest and it exploded! Hahaha! Who the hell hides an Explosion Spell in a chest? Blew her up instantly! Later, I found another chest and blasted it with Fireball from a distance. Guess what? It was normal! I destroyed the treasure myself! Not a single coin left!
Investigator's Note: This adventurer appears to suffer from mental instability.
Adventurer E's Report:
Get lost.
Investigator's Note: This adventurer insulted a noble and has been detained by guards.
Miner's Report:
Uh… I didn't mine any Blood Crystal today… I won't have my pay docked, right? No? Oh, thank you, thank you! My whole family thanks you!
What? What did I see in the dungeon? Let me think… there were "walla-gaga" monsters, "hoo-ah-hoo-ah" winds, "jili-guala" swamps, and "gada-gada" skeletons.
Investigator's Note: Utterly incomprehensible.
A Certain Dungeon Worker's Report:
In this line of work, the older you get, the heavier the regrets. I've made too many mistakes, disappointed too many people, and watched too many lives slip away. I don't have the face to enter another dungeon. I just wander the outskirts now—don't ask me for more.
Investigator's Note: This man provides Sein Dungeon sightseeing tours to out-of-towners. In other words: a guide.
Charon's Report:
I'll submit a full report later. Don't bother me right now. Where's Vilde? Why hasn't he come back yet?
Investigator's Note: Young Master Charon seems to be in poor spirits.
(***)
"How does it look, my friend? Do you think you have the confidence to clear this place?"
Sali entered with a steaming pot of black tea, pouring the reddish-brown liquid into a porcelain cup. The fragrant aroma drifted through the room, immediately drawing the girl's attention.
He dropped two sugar cubes into the tea and, smiling, stirred gently. Sitting across from her on the sofa, he folded his legs neatly together.
The girl studied him for a long moment before speaking softly. "I have a name."
"My mistake. Sorry—Elsa."
Sali shifted, realizing his posture looked too stiff. He crossed one leg over the other instead, trying for elegance. "Remember our deal? You help me claim the position of family head, and I'll become your companion."
"Mm." Elsa nodded.
"If I can surpass my brothers by clearing the dungeon first, I'll gain an edge. So, Elsa, please help me conquer this place."
Seeing her agree, Sali could barely contain his grin.
After a year away from home, Elsa was his greatest discovery—a lone hero, innocent and earnest, seeking companions. Winning her trust had been laughably easy.
He had staged everything perfectly: hiring thugs to pose as bandits, arranging for her to "rescue" him, and using that as a pretext to grow close. From there, he learned her story.
An orphan, her home slaughtered by demons, she had awakened as a Hero. Since then, she had devoted herself to demon-slaying, with the ultimate goal of killing the Demon King.
She believed—naïvely—that like the heroes in fairy tales, she needed to gather loyal companions before facing the final battle.
In truth, heroes weren't so rare. Anyone with burning hatred for demons, talent, and the right sense of justice could awaken as one. At one point in history, there had been twenty-three at once.
But only the one who slew the Demon King would be remembered in history as the Hero.
Sali clenched his fists, his arms trembling and sore from overtraining. He could barely lift them.
Why? Because if he was to stand at the Hero's side, he at least needed strength. So even as a pampered young master, he had thrown himself into harsh physical training.
Cunning though he was, Sali was a man of his word. He truly believed Elsa could help him rise to family head.
"These next two days, I'll help you get familiar with the area. Once we have more intel, we'll make our move. How does that sound?"
Elsa sipped her tea in small, quiet mouthfuls before giving a slight nod.
Then suddenly, she lifted her head. Her small nose twitched, and her brow furrowed.
"What is it?" Sali asked, noting her sudden change in expression.
"There's a foul smell," Elsa murmured in distaste. She shook her head. "It's gone now. Probably my imagination."
Sali's face flushed red. He had just quietly released a fart.
He swore to himself he'd start wearing stronger perfume.
Out in the corridor, a tall figure strode past their door, the lamplight catching his features for a brief moment.
Someone very familiar.