Before he knew it, spring had come round again; it had already been nearly two years since he first arrived in Orario.
Isagi had long grown accustomed to life here.
For the past month or two, Isagi had been shuttling back and forth between two things: venturing into the Dungeon, and traveling back into the past to instruct the senior members of the Astrea Familia.
The days passed quite fulfillingly, all in all.
"Isagi, Isagi! Here, take this!!"
"What's this?"
"The intel you wanted. That fellow Hedin just finished compiling it, so I brought it right over to you."
"Ah—but—"
Across the thick sheets of paper, dense rows of characters were written in the graceful hand peculiar to Elves, and there were even diagrams—so painstakingly proper that it hardly seemed real, making one can't help but wonder whether the whole Elf race possessed some sort of "artist's" gift.
As the only executive of the Goddess of Beauty's Familia who was relatively easy to talk to (probably) and also responsible,
Hedin's intel was indeed extremely detailed.
Isagi told Heith to find herself somewhere to sit, then climbed up out of the warm, soft living-room sofa.
This was the Demeter Familia's farmstead outside the city.
Spring had arrived, after all.
Mama Goddess was about to enter the busiest stretch of her year, while Goddess Astrea and the girls of the Familia were mostly off helping at the burger shop. With nothing to do himself, Isagi would come here to rest.
Lazy sunlight still spilled into the room through the window opened on one side.
Golden and glittering—even a touch too dazzling.
Perhaps it was a matter of angle.
Just now, while he had been lying on the sofa, all he could see beyond the window was a stretch of azure sky; now that he had sat up, the fields of mingled green and tawny brown came into view, and now and then a horse-cart or ox-cart passed by, carrying the "clip-clop, clip-clop" of hooves.
Isagi looked carefully over the intel Miss Heith had handed him.
It concerned his own special Dungeon.
Because the current expedition involved himself, the Loki Familia, and the Freya Familia all exploring together, it was only natural that they would exchange intel with one another afterward—Alfia, after going twice, had said she would only come again once they reached the deeper levels; which made sense, since the present lower floors were a bit too easy for her.
And word was that she was about to leave the city.
So Isagi had handed over to her the pitch-black greatsword of Zard that he had obtained back then, intending to fulfill the man's dying wish—namely, to lay this weapon to rest over in the "Black Death Desert," the place that had been formed when Behemoth was slain and the land was polluted by its remains.
Come to think of it, that had been well over half a month ago, and he had no idea where Alfia was now, or when she would return.
His thoughts turned back to the pages before him.
As for the exploration of the [Lower Floors], everyone had now made five trips and gathered a considerable amount of intel.
First of all.
Corresponding to the "lower" region as designated by the Guild, the so-called [Hunting Grounds] did not merely cover floors 25 to 27, but actually spanned all of floors 25 to 36.
Within it were two forces. One could basically be confirmed as the floor's native monsters—the "Prey";
and the other, NPCs from the 37th floor—the "Hunters";
All of the "Hunters" could be spoken with, but whether they were friend or foe was uncertain.
As for the "Prey," no NPC that could be conversed with had yet been found among them.
Moreover, the goal of every Hunter seemed to point straight at the "Divine Miracle" on the 27th floor—but it appeared to be in some kind of hidden state, for at least when Isagi and the others reached the 27th floor, they had been unable to find it.
Most likely, some sort of "puzzle-solving" was required.
After passing through the 27th floor, one could reach the 28th floor's [Elf Garden], a place everyone had likewise visited before—indeed, it was where they had encountered the [Avatar of the Dungeon].
This much could be confirmed.
As a safe floor, no monsters appeared there; it was, in a sense, neutral ground.
At its center grew something resembling the sacred tree of the Elf race, and circling around it were a kind of "Elf"—or rather, something like a "Spirit"—about the size of small birds, with little wings. They spoke some sort of language, but neither he nor anyone else could understand it.
Over this stretch of time, through Miss Riveria's research—including recording it with an eye-crystal and giving it to Fels and Asfi and the others to listen to—they had even consulted Marie and the other Xenos.
It could basically be confirmed that it belonged to no known language in the world; it ought to be the Dungeon's own "original" creation.
Isagi reckoned it would still take triggering some kind of story event.
And in the intel the Freya Familia had shared this time, they mentioned discovering a "hidden room" in the [Elf Garden].
They had been led there by a certain "Hunter" after befriending him.
The Dungeon labeled it the [Hunter's Black Market]. Not only did large numbers of NPC Hunters exist within it, but one could also buy all sorts of odds and ends inside.
Only,
the currency used for trade there was, of course, not the Valis that circulated in the city, but the "eyes of the Prey." According to the Freya Familia, ever since they had entered and come back out of the black market, killing monsters afterward gave a chance to drop this item.
"This black market might be an important story location."
"Mm."
"It mentions here that it seems you can only get in if a Hunter takes you along?"
"Yes. I wonder whether we could have Mr. Hedin and the others take us in, or ask the Hunter who took them in to take us as well."
said Heith.
The problem was that there were actually many Hunters in the [Hunting Grounds], but whether these fellows were good or bad was utterly impossible to tell.
Some attacked the moment they showed up, only to slip away partway through the fight;
some could be communicated with, would even hand out quests, and would even fight monsters alongside you—but no small number of them would turn traitor and stab you in the back partway through;
Honestly, the nerve!
And from what they could tell so far, some of these Hunters carried crucial "story events," so one couldn't just kill them on sight.
This was indeed exactly the sort of thing the Dungeon would do.
What a headache—
For now.
The earlier [Great Waterfall] region had, by and large, been fully explored by everyone.
On the whole, it was a labyrinth strung together from one "space" after another, where one had to find the correct path by following the guidance of the sound of water, descending all the way down to the passage that connected to the 28th floor's [Elf Garden].
And continuing downward,
one would arrive at the [Jungle Ravine] of floors 29 to 32.
This too was quite a complicated place—towering green trees filling the sky tangled together with ancient vines, swamps, lakes, and long rivers threading through them, home to many monsters disguised as plants, as well as "dinosaurs" from primeval ages.
By now, everyone had explored as far as there.
But the entire floor was simply too vast—
Isagi had already discovered that, just like the [Great Waterfall] region, it was all connected together—meaning that floors 29 to 32 had no concept of "floors" at all, but were one immensely huge space.
Every so often,
cliffs, waterfalls, the downward-stretching roots of giant trees, and the like would appear, making the paths incredibly intricate and convoluted.
A dense forest was already a place where it was hard to tell which direction was which.
And here, not only was it hard to make out east, west, south, and north, but one also had to figure out which way was up and which was down—an utter headache.
On that previous expedition,
just getting back out of the dense forest had cost everyone no small amount of effort, even giving them, at one point, the illusion that they were about to be lost inside it forever.
It made even Lefiya resolve that on the next expedition they would have to bring far more logistical supplies.
Still, judging from the intel Miss Heith had just handed over,
the black market on the 28th floor seemed to have a kind of item that could swiftly return you to the [Elf Garden]: after using it, as long as you were within the [Hunting Grounds], you would, after waiting in place for a while, be sent back—something like a return scroll, or… a hearthstone?
How to put it.
Could this possibly be the Dungeon's mercy?
Beyond that, in the intel Hedin had also listed many of the wondrous items he had seen, which began to make Isagi all the more interested in this so-called [Black Market].
"That's about all the new intel for now."
The pink-haired woman propped her cheek on her hand, sitting on the sofa on the other side, and went on speaking with a forbearing expression.
"As things stand, we have two objectives: to figure out just what those little Elves in the [Elf Garden] are saying, and to find that Divine Miracle—that is, where exactly the Two-Headed Dragon is hiding."
This was probably the "main quest" of the entire [Hunting Grounds], or rather of the lower region.
"Going by the intel Miss Riveria and the others obtained earlier,"
"all the Hunters want to escape the Hunting Grounds and return to the original [Sanctuary]—that is, the deep floors—and to get back they must defeat the Divine Miracle that is the Two-Headed Dragon, because it used its power to trap them all in the Hunting Grounds. That's roughly the gist of it."
Mm.
Isagi nodded as well.
Setting aside all those story events in the Dungeon, from his own standpoint as an adventurer—
raise his level, find the boss, obtain more rare materials, and then keep exploring downward to the deep floors.
Judging from their earlier experiences,
he and his companions did not, unlike those "Hunter" NPCs, have to kill the Divine Miracle in order to get back; rather, as long as they could find the path downward, reach that desert region they had visited before, and then keep going down all the way, they could find the entrance to the [Sanctuary].
What's more,
the gatekeeping boss had already been taken down, so if it were purely a matter of "running the map," one could say the way to the deep floors was now wide open and unobstructed.
"In any case, let's leave it at that for now."
Their exploration was progressing fairly quickly.
Over on the Loki and Freya Familia side, the growth in their stats and [Excelia] was downright astonishing; rumor had it that not only were Finn and Riveria and the rest close to reaching Lv. 7, but even Ottar was nearing Lv. 8.
How fast.
His own side was about the same.
Isagi reckoned that by next year he and Lefiya and the others should all be able to reach Lv. 8, and that with a bit more leveling around next year they could reach Lv. 9 or even Lv. 10?
By then, would they be able to go and challenge the Black Dragon?
His thoughts began to drift far away.
As afternoon drew near, Isagi had originally planned to sleep a while longer, and then, once Lefiya and Ryuu-senpai and the others came back that evening, to discuss together the intel that had just been delivered, as well as draw up plans for the next expedition.
But as it turned out,
thanks to Miss Heith's reminder, he only now recalled that when Cecil had gone out that morning, she had told him she needed to make a trip over to the Pure White Healing House that afternoon.
That is, the base of the Dian Cecht Familia.
Cecil had produced some sort of "result" over there with Airmid today, and wanted him to come take a look.
"Then let's get going."
He rubbed his face.
Isagi decisively got up from the sofa, went to the bathroom to wash up, splashed cold water on his face, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and only then left the farmstead together with the pink-haired woman, taking the reins of the horse-cart parked in the yard and heading for the city.
Soon, having passed through the city's northwest gate, just across from the Guild Headquarters,
Isagi parked the horse-cart to one side of the Pure White Healing House, watching the comings and goings as all sorts of adventurers, some being supported, some being carried, rushed into the bustling, clamorous healing house.
This place was busy no matter the hour.
Even Miss Heith, who had come along, was spotted by Airmid and dragged off to help, so Isagi was left to head into the back courtyard on his own, where he found Cecil sitting on a bench, blankly spacing out.
She seemed to be asleep.
Warm sunlight fell through the gaps in the tender green foliage, printing itself upon the girl's long sky-blue hair and her pure white Familia uniform.
That slightly chubby little round face was puffed up out of habit, making one want to give it a pinch.
But Isagi didn't do so.
Cecil was far too busy—especially lately, what with not only forging weapons for him but also upgrading the weapons and gear of the senior members of the Astrea Familia. Staying up all night and the like had become simply routine for her.
Let her rest a little, then.
Isagi sat down beside the girl, feeling her naturally lean her little head against his shoulder.
The wind blew gently, carrying the chirping of birds and the soft "fuwa, fuwa" breathing the girl let out now and then.
And a sweet, milky fragrance—
It was the scent of the girl's body wash.
Until—he had no idea how much time had passed—Isagi, in his drowsy daze, was likewise woken up by Airmid.
The girl seemed to have finished her work.
Or perhaps it was because Heith was keeping watch over things for her there, so her hands were free for the moment.
"Sorry, there were a few gravely injured patients just now—"
This was a common occurrence.
The slender girl's complexion was always somewhat poor, as though she hadn't slept well—which was caused by her casting too much healing magic on a regular basis, leaving her short on mental energy.
Isagi suspected she had been "chased out."
After all, spent mental energy could only be slowly restored through rest.
"Ah!"
And with Airmid's arrival, Cecil woke up too.
The first thing the girl did was wipe the corner of her mouth, then, rubbing her eyes, she looked over at him and foolishly reached out to wipe at his shoulder.
Sigh—he was used to it by now.
"Let's go."
Just what was it he was going to see?
Isagi was curious. As for the matter of forging his weapons, aside from the new [Moonlight Greatsword], Cecil had first repaired his cane-sword and forged a new shield for him.
As for the firearms and such that the Hunters used, she had even commissioned Captain Tsubaki of the Hephaestus Familia to make quite a few.
It was just that Ryuu-senpai and the others could never get used to them, so Isagi planned, the next time he traveled back, to have Senior Alise and the others give them a try.
So he thought.
When Isagi, following along with Cecil and Airmid, passed through the Pure White Healing House and came to the cluster of duplex cottages out back where the members of the Dian Cecht Familia lived,
he caught sight of the God Dian Cecht, clad in pure white robes, just coming out of one of the houses, while furtively hauling a very large box.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Airmid was none too polite toward her own unreliable deity.
Airmid's furious shout gave the old god in the distance quite a fright, and the result was that the large wooden crate in his arms went tumbling out of his grip all at once—whereupon the snow-white arm of a doll was exposed from within.
"?"
Isagi blinked, looking over at Airmid beside him, thinking: So this is the thing you two brought me here to see?
No, wait…
Having the girls make "dolls" seemed to have been a task he had given them in the first place!
____
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