"Why don't we take a little trip into the dungeon today? We'll go as shallow as we can. I've got to make some money. In fact, I'd say I'm almost broke if I pay for this inn."
"Yeah. As far as I've heard, the two of us can easily win the lower levels alone. I'm still very strong, you know. We'll make some money quickly."
When they woke up in the morning, naked as usual, kissing and making out, Daniel said it a little hard to say.
Daniel had a strong sense that men should pay for dates, and it was hard for him to admit he didn't have money.
This sense also came from the fact that he had been a virgin back on modern Earth.
Sophia responded with a small gut pose, without even a trace of disgust.
The response was stronger than he had expected, and Daniel had a frank question.
He knew she could fight, but he hadn't expected her to be strong.
"Is that so? Even though you're so pretty?"
"I don't think there's any connection between looks and strength... Master does not treat me as such, but I am an elf. Due to my race's advantage, I'm better at magic than humans. There is an overwhelming difference in the amount of magic we are born with, and since we live longer, we have more time to learn. There is nothing inferior to the weak humans. Oh—except for you, Daniel."
Sophia defended Daniel as she remembered.
The two of them left the inn and headed for the dungeon in the center of the city.
They were in a city called Sekhmet, a [Labyrinth City].
It was a new city built around a dungeon called "Sekhmet" by the previous inhabitants of the area.
The dungeon was cave-shaped.
This was the most standard type, and the difficulty level was estimated to be lower than the others.
As far as they knew, the level of the demons was not high.
However, the dungeon was still impregnable, and even if the level was low, it was difficult for an ordinary person to break through.
All of the people who had conquered the dungeon so far had been famous adventurers or heroes.
It took a combination of talent, experience, and thorough preparation to conquer one.
There were many things unknown about the dungeon itself.
What was known: there were huge rewards for those who made it through, there was always a way forward on each floor, demons inside were stronger than those on the surface, and there were traps.
And dungeons closer to artifacts—like palaces or mansions—were far more difficult. Looks didn't always match what was inside. Even if it resembled a mansion, inside it was a true labyrinth.
The city of Sekhmet bustled with activity.
As a hastily built city, the roads weren't well maintained, but people and goods flowed endlessly, and the atmosphere was like a big city's shopping district, as Daniel remembered from Earth.
Every day felt like a festival.
The only difference was that everyone carried dangerous equipment.
Most of the townsfolk were adventurers, merchants, or guards. Those without weapons could be immediately judged as nobles or rich people.
Daniel thought the sight of people carrying swords like umbrellas was something he'd never get used to.
Slaves existed, ethics were different.
There was no such thing as a "sword law violation" here. Since few had firearms, no such law could exist.
The two walked through the crowd, careful not to get separated.
"I want to buy you a new bow when I get the money," Daniel said.
"It's fine like this. In human society, there's even a proverb: 'Elves do not choose the bow.'"
Sophia puffed her chest a little proudly.
Daniel thought it was cute how she acted high-handed.
"It's like you can't choose your brush, huh? But wouldn't you want a magic bow or something?"
"If I had to say, I'd want something lighter… my archery's different from most, so heavy arrows are a little hard to handle."
"You've got big boobs. Maybe a side-firing bow would suit you better."
Sophia held her bow horizontally, her chest in the way of normal form. Despite that cramped style, she had high accuracy.
"Even if you bought one, magic weapons are expensive. It's fine for now. Your equipment is more important. Hand-me-downs are enough for slaves. That's the way of things—our lives are valued differently."
"Not for me. Everyone's life is worth the same."
Most of Daniel's savings and equipment had gone into purchasing Sophia. He had only a cheap dagger for daily use.
Even the money he earned afterward went into her clothes, accessories, food, and lodging. Daniel had no assets to call his own.
On Earth, he had died without spending his savings. In this world, he no longer cared much for hoarding money.
The life Daniel wanted now was simple: marry early, have kids, build a home, spend time with friends on holidays. The very life he once mocked.
—Savings mean nothing when you die.
His Earth savings had gone to the government, unappreciated and unseen. He knew this truth well.
That's why he let Sophia be as extravagant as she liked.
"I'll buy you clothes and cute, erotic things. We'll eat lots of good food. I want to try the sweets you mentioned too."
"That's nice ♥… but aren't you spoiling me too much? I'm a slave, you know?"
Sophia seemed more mindful of status than Daniel was.
"You don't like it?"
"No, I do… I'm just a little scared. I don't know if I could survive without you."
"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."
—That's why I need the [Forbidden Magic Book].
Daniel's real obsession was magic. In a tasteless world, what gave it color was Sophia and the dungeon.
Especially the [Forbidden Magic Book]—a power out of the ordinary, like a cheat.
If he could wield it, maybe he could extend his life.
He couldn't tell Sophia, but he didn't want to leave her behind. He didn't want to die first.
—Not alone anymore. Never again.
Sophia studied him curiously.
"You're a strange person, Master. You don't know the obvious things, but you know weird details. You don't know much about elves, but you understand equipment… it's strange."
Daniel just smiled faintly.
He hadn't told anyone he was reincarnated. He didn't want to stand out, not in a world so dangerous, where even slavery existed.
Later, as Sophia spun in place to check her revealing adventuring outfit, Daniel's nose twitched.
"You look super cute. Honestly, cute no matter what you wear."
Her clothes showed too much soft skin. It was more like lingerie than armor.
Daniel thought to himself: That's baby-making wear, not dungeon gear.
His eyes lingered on her cleavage, her navel, her thighs.
"Are you… wearing anything under that? I can't see."
"I am. Just strings. Easier to undo…"
"That's for nighttime! Guys will stare at you."
"Elves dress like this in the forest. It's what I'm used to. Easy to move in."
Daniel's thoughts, though, strayed to her body.
*********
When entering a dungeon, you are obligated to state the number of people in your party and their names.
This also serves as a pledge ―― the kind that says you won't complain if you die or get injured.
There was also the obligation to pay the entrance fee.
What Daniel had signed up for was a plan to stay in the lower levels of the dungeon for a whole day.
The idea was to go around the lower levels and look for things to sell.
Even though he was in a dungeon, the plan included mercenaries to guard him, simple lodging, and even food.
If you were to convert the currency of this world to modern Earth, the entrance fee would be 150 dollars per head. Daniel always thought that this was a reasonable activity.
In addition, there was the possibility of earning enough money that it would be ridiculous to work diligently.
――Well, it's a bait-and-switch, isn't it?
The purpose is to give you a taste of what a dungeon is all about.
While signing for Sophia, Daniel read the smile on the receptionist's face.
He knew why this unprofitable plan, which included mercenaries, lodging, and even meals, existed.
Unlike other people, Daniel had knowledge of the modern economy, and he was thinking about running a [Dungeon].
Even if the world was different, if capitalism was prevalent, the logic was similar to some extent.
Daniel was impressed by the fact that there are people who are good at making money in any world.
The main customers for low-level exploration were nobles, apprentice adventurers, and merchants who didn't have the money to buy from adventurers.
The entrance fees they paid were used to maintain the city, pay for maintenance, and pay the mercenaries.
The important thing was to let the noblemen, or noblemen as they were called, explore the dungeon.
But as they reached the dungeon entrance, a man stopped them.
"Oi! I'm talking to you, kid! Don't bring that monster here!"
The kinked voice finally caught Daniel's attention.
Turning around slowly, he saw a silver-haired man glaring at him sullenly.
"――Are you talking to me?"
The silver-haired man in white armor also sneered at Daniel, who replied.
Behind him was a dark-haired woman and several men who seemed to be his companions, and they looked as if they were annoyed by the haughty man's attitude.
The woman, who seemed to be a companion of the silver-haired man, had black hair that reached just above her shoulders and was wearing a robe.
One of her bangs was so long that he could only see her eyes properly on the right side.
The girl looked frightened, giving the impression of being somewhat timid.
She was simple, but Daniel sensed something shining in her. He was convinced that she was the type of girl who would suddenly become popular once she learned how to put on makeup and become more sophisticated.
She was the type of girl who was serious until she entered college, but as soon as she entered, she got a boyfriend and changed into a different person.
Daniel remembered feeling like a cuckold even though they weren't in a relationship.
Black hair is rare. Her face was also Beautiful, Daniel thought.
When he first came to this world, he was surprised to see the inhabitants with hair color like cosplayers, but after seeing them every day, he got used to it. After all, Daniel's creator in this world had blue hair.
He wondered what kind of genetics he had, since he had black hair.
The woman seemed serious at first glance. Daniel thought she looked like she could be a committee chair or something.
She looked about the same age or a little older,eighteenor nineteen.
Inside the robe, she was dressed in light black.
She was wearing a robe that was all black and light, with a pleated skirt that was a little above the knee, and his eyes fell on her shapely white thighs.
She was dressed as a wizard with a small wand. It's not like she's a sword-wielding fighter, even with her slender figure.
――Her boobs are small, but her face is cute. Her face has a young adult-like air to it, but she might actually be a little older than that?
Unlike Sophia, she's a girl who puts all her eroticism into her lower half...
He wasn't interested in the man talking to him. Daniel's gaze went straight through the woman.
The man, who seemed to be screaming even more as Daniel didn't turn his head, looked at him irritably.
――What is he talking about?
That's a handsome guy I don't like. I don't like him even more because he's handsome...!
Daniel overreacted to one of the phenomena that existed in every world: "handsome men with women."
"Can you please not take a monster into the dungeon with you? You might get stabbed in the back, you know."
Daniel looked at the man with the pompous look on his face and frankly expressed his opinion with a puzzled look.
"I don't have any monsters with me. Are you sick?"
"Huh? I know she's in there. Right there.――I mean, I'm sick?! Don't be ridiculous!"
The man angrily pointed at Sophia.
She squeezed her mouth shut and glared at the man.
There were even a few tears in the corner of her eyes.
That expression on her face triggered a strong feeling of irritation in Daniel.
――I'm going to make this man regret what he's done.
Sophia, who looked like she was about to cry, was hurt by the word monster that was said to her face.
――Here we go again.
Why should she be oppressed by a lowly human being?
She hadn't done anything to be oppressed.
Sophia's heart fluttered with anger and sadness.
She was forcibly reminded of the fact that she was a persecuted being, which she forgot when she was with Daniel.
Not only elves, but all sub-human beings were targets of oppression.
They were persecuted because of their human-like appearance and their human language. They were persecuted because they had a strong sense of foreignness.
They were often referred to as monsters.
As far as elves were concerned, there were other reasons why they were persecuted.
All eyes were on Daniel, the man, and Sophia, and the man came forward as if he had been waiting for them.
There were many people around who seemed to be aristocrats, and they were valuing the [Dungeon Adventurers] who gathered there.
Daniel froze.
The man wasn't talking about an actual demon. He meant Sophia.
The elf woman Daniel adored.
To the knight, it was just casual mockery. But those words would change everything.