Exploring the fifteenth floor is really hard, mostly because we have a lot of trouble finding the staircase.
We end up finding it on our eighth day here. Our bodies are tired, but our spirits are even more worn-out. Being chased around by rock birds will do that to someone.
Worse yet is where we find the staircase. We decide to turn around and go back to the entrance, and find the staircase on the way there. If we had walked straight forward from the entrance, it would’ve taken us less than two days.
“So all that work…”
Rurika’s mumbling won’t leave my ears.
Everyone is also staring at the staircase with blank looks on their faces. Except for Hikari, who I guess is happy because we hunted so many rock birds.
We go back to the reception room, and I breathe a sigh of relief before reporting that we’re back and asking to have the monsters taken apart.
It’s just rock birds, but they’re surprised by the amount we brought back.
Usually, people either drive away rock birds or take them down with magic, which ruins their materials. Apparently it’s rare for people to deliver materials in good condition. The fact that people tend to avoid that floor also helps.
That means rock bird feathers have become valuable recently.
We deliver thirty of them, with twenty magic stones. We keep the meat from five of them and sell the rest.
We’re told it will take a bit, mostly because they have to drain their blood, so we wait. We could just come back later, but it won’t take that long. I actually don’t know exactly what method the guild uses to drain monsters’ blood.
They’re surprised that we’re taking five of them with us, but we have plenty of mouths to feed and don’t have to worry about the meat going bad.
We also take the parts that prove we took down the monsters and report it to the guild. Sera was the only one who did it until this point, but Rurika and Chris do it too now.
“When are you going to cook, master?”
Rock bird meat… Should I try deep drying it?
I don’t want to betray those expectant eyes.
As we wait, we see familiar faces coming out from the dungeon’s reception room. It’s Leila and her party, fully equipped.
Actually, there are about ten more people in that group besides Bloody Rose.
“Sora!”
Yells Leila when she sees us.
“Did you just leave the dungeon too?”
“Yes, just now. Have you been exploring too?”
I ask, just to check.
“Yes, we finally got a break from classroom lectures.”
Leila says with a really bright smile.
“It looks like you have more people with you.”
“Yes. We are just going to report, so don’t leave without us!”
You don’t have to tell me that.
They sure are full of energy considering they just left the dungeon.
Yor waves, and the others nod as they head to the reception desk.
The other people with them look this way with suspicious expressions, but there’s no point in thinking about that.
I guess there’s no way people aren’t going to be suspicious of a masked guy with slaves. Some of them have surprised expressions on their faces too.
“Leila looks well.”
“You wouldn’t think they just came from the dungeon.”
“I’m sure it’s because they know they get to eat something good now.”
Dungeon meals aren’t typically the best.
“It’s different with you, master.”
Thanks for that, Hikari.
“We’re done, master.”
“Sorry, but we just talked to Leila, and she asked us to wait here a bit.”
Apparently Sera already noticed that.
“What about you, Chris and Rurika? Do you want to go ahead and go back?”
“No, I’m curious to see what she’s like. Right?”
Says Rurika with a sly smile. She’s looking at Chris, not me.
And after waiting a while longer, Leila returns with the rest of Bloody Rose.
“It’s been a while. Hum, my name is Leila.”
I guess Leila just noticed Rurika and Chris, and they introduce themselves.
“I heard from Taliyah that you’re Sera’s childhood friends.”
I tell Rurika and Chris how Leila was the one who introduced Taliyah to me.
“But don’t you have to go back with the others?”
It looks like the people that came out of the dungeon with Bloody Rose are waiting for them.
“I guess we should. Can we come visit tomorrow? We have the day off from the academy.”
“Yes. Master’s going to cook something new tomorrow too.”
Hikari answers for me.
Don’t raise that hurdle too high.
“I can’t wait. Then we will be there tomorrow before lunch!”
And as Leila leaves, she says ‘it’s settled then, tomorrow’ just to be sure I guess.
“We should get going too.”
◇ ◇ ◇
The next day, let’s just say I made a ton of deep-fried rock bird.
But then, I ask Leila to give me some advice about the rocky mountains on the fifteenth floor.
“What do you want to talk about? And why does it have to be in your room?”
Is she a little embarrassed? I didn’t want anyone else to hear, but I guess maybe I shouldn’t have brought her here alone.
“It’s about this…”
I have magic ore, magic crystal, and mithril on a desk.
“Where did you get this?”
“I mined it on the fifteenth floor.”
“…Wha?”
Don’t look at me like that.
I lie a little, but tell her how I mined it all on the fifteenth floor. Obviously, I don’t tell her about Appraisal.
“You merchants sure have it all figured out. Though I tend to forget you’re a merchant.”
I’m well aware that I don’t act like one.
“But still…”
“What should I do?”
“You want to keep this a secret, right? But if so, why are you talking to me about it?”
“…You’re from this city, so I figured you’d have connections.”
“…All right. I’ll talk to someone who knows about this sort of thing. But they might ask more about it. Can I count on you if that happens?”
“Sure, no problem. But if I’m in the dungeon, leave a message with Taliyah.”
I don’t know what this choice I made will bring me, but I just hope it’s something good.
