#32. Dungeon Exploration (1)
Equipment is required to conquer dungeons.
Thanks to Professor Hephaestus from the Production Department, I was able to obtain the protective gloves, but I had to prepare the other equipment separately.
‘I also have some pocket money from my uncle… … I don’t think I’ll have to worry about money.’
If I hadn’t received any allowance, I would have had to enter the dungeon without proper equipment.
Feeling grateful to Kaisel, I headed to the weekend shopping district.
Because there was a pretty big ranger gear store there.
But, the moment I stepped into the store… … .
“Why are you here?”
“That’s what I’m supposed to say.”
My eyes met with Helios’s as he was organizing the store items.
It wasn’t the uniform I saw at the academy. She was wearing clothes that made it obvious at first glance that she was a clerk.
“Are you working part-time here by any chance?”
“…….”
Helios frowned at my question.
“Commoners like us have to earn not only tuition but also living expenses. It’s different from you nobles who have everything provided by your families.”
“I didn’t receive a single penny at home either.”
“what?”
“The house is ruined.”
“…….”
“Because my father failed in his investments, I have no home to return to now.”
Helios’ eyes wavered for a moment.
And he turned his head with an uncomfortable expression.
“Oh, really? I didn’t even know that……”
It was an unexpected reaction.
I wonder if he actually has a kind heart.
“I don’t have to worry about money because I received a lot of scholarships.”
“This kid is really…….”
Helios glared at me with an angry expression.
“What on earth are you doing here? Picking a fight with me?”
“You must have come to the Ranger Supply Store to buy Ranger supplies.”
“Why you?”
“Because I got the temporary ranger qualification.”
“……!”
Yes, that’s right.
As of yesterday, I had become a ranger.
Now I can enter and exit the dungeon as I please.
“Did you get a letter of guarantee from Professor Kaisel?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“That’s right……”
Helios sighed and scratched his head.
“Okay. What do you need?”
“Well, I don’t really know. I was going to ask the clerk.”
Just as it is difficult to learn specialized magic from books, it is also difficult to acquire Ranger-related knowledge from books alone.
It is said that there is a lot of information that is shared only among the rangers who are working in the field.
“Okay, then I’ll take a look.”
“you?”
“My family has been doing ranger work for generations. I already have ranger qualifications.”
“I didn’t know that.”
I didn’t know that among the freshmen there were already Rangers.
“First of all, you’ll need basic protective gear to enter the dungeon. But we can replace that with our uniforms.”
“Is our uniform enough?”
“It’s a masterpiece made by the production department to respond to various situations. Its performance is better than most protective suits.”
“then…….”
“The next most important thing after protective clothing is shoes. You need shoes that can handle different terrains.”
Helios explained things surprisingly kindly.
He showed us various equipment, including shoes, and explained in detail why such equipment was necessary.
As expected, he was from a ranger family.
“This should be enough for now. Considering your budget, you can buy the high priority items first.”
“Then I’ll buy everything you recommended.”
“I told you to buy the high priority items first!”
“It’s okay now because I have a lot of money.”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t get a single penny because your house was ruined? With just the scholarship…….”
“I got some pocket money from my uncle a while ago.”
“This kid is really…….”
Helios glared at me with scary eyes, but soon sighed and slumped his shoulders.
“Tsk, you’re a guest, so I can’t say anything more.”
“Do you usually work at these hours? I was planning to come next time when you’re there.”
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“Don’t come!”
Helios did the math while grumbling.
“But you’re also qualified to be a ranger, so can’t you just go into the dungeon and earn money?”
“There’s no one to go in with.”
“Who wants to go in together?”
“The rule is that at least two people must form a team to enter the dungeon. If we, the noobs, try to enter alone, we’ll be stopped at the entrance.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of that…….”
“All sorts of unexpected events can occur inside a dungeon. You need at least one companion to cover for them.”
“hmm…….”
“Once your skills are recognized to a certain extent, you will be allowed to go on a solo expedition.”
Now that I think about it, it seems like in the novel, he first went in with his colleagues.
“I think there was a scene in a novel I read before… where the main character broke his leg and escaped a dungeon with the help of his colleagues.”
“Yeah, actually, in that situation, if there are only two people, the whole party will be paralyzed. So it’s better to have three or more.”
Anyway, is it impossible to enter the dungeon unless there are two or more people?
“Helios.”
“why?”
“When do you finish your part-time job?”
“Why do you ask that?”
To Helios, who was looking at me with a dubious expression, I made a suggestion.
“How about going into the dungeon with me?”
“no!”
Helios flatly refused.
* * *
“Damn… why am I with a guy like this.”
Helios grumbled beside me.
Helios initially refused, but eventually gave in to my persuasion and entered the Labyrinth with me.
As a high school student with little money, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to enter the dungeon and make money.
“Anyway, there’s no other ranger who knows besides me.”
“Isn’t that the same for you?”
“That’s why we have to become partners and go in together.”
“I feel sick……”
Despite his continued grumbling, Helios did not say anything about canceling the party.
“Eriol, I tell you, I hate you.”
“I know even if you don’t say anything.”
“It’s because of that attitude that I hate you even more.”
I don’t really want to look good to Helios either.
Because Helios was the first to show hostility.
However, for now, we are moving together with Helios, considering the pros and cons.
“Okay. Let’s first register for admission.”
Helios entered the administration office located at the entrance to the Labyrinth.
And we went through the related procedures, such as submitting the certificate and receiving permission to enter.
“There will be requests from wizards posted on that bulletin board over there.”
“You mean, what materials should I get by what date?”
“Yeah, I know that well.”
The bulletin board that covered the entire wall was filled with documents containing request details stuck to the wall.
“Among the materials that wizards use for research, there are many rare ones that are not easily available on the market. Those things have to be obtained from dungeons one by one, but since it is often difficult for them to move them themselves, they ask the rangers to do it for them like this.”
“I heard that there are many wizards who are too busy to go home and have to settle for accommodation and food in the lab.”
“There are other requests like monster subjugation and map making, but… the most basic ones are requests to secure materials.”
As he said this, Helios stretched out his hand.
“Among the requests here now, the one that fits your level is… this one.”
The request that Helios pointed to.
There was a request written there asking for ’20 amethyst flowers’.
“The request to procure an amethyst flower is quite common. Because…”
“Because they wither quickly, you have to get them from the dungeon whenever you need them.”
“I know you well.”
I remember seeing it in a plant encyclopedia.
“Amethyst flowers are scattered throughout the dungeon, so you should be able to find them easily. This is a great quest to gain experience, so let’s do it today.”
“Is it okay if I write my Ranger qualification number on the request form?”
“Okay, then it will be registered that we are in charge of this commission.”
We wrote our qualification numbers with the special pens placed in front of the bulletin board.
Then, the request form started flashing and no one else could challenge the request.
“Then let’s go in. Did you prepare your equipment well?”
“It’s in the same condition you packed it for me.”
“Tch, this beginner has better equipment than me…….”
Despite his grumbling, Helios guided me well.
You may actually be the type of person who takes good care of others.
* * *
The entrance we entered was different from the one Professor Klein visited last time.
As we passed the cave with flowing groundwater, a grassy field soon appeared.
“It seems like there aren’t many monsters in this area. But don’t let your guard down.”
Helios said, looking around.
“Eriol, you don’t have any real-world experience yet, do you?”
“I have no experience other than the last mock match.”
“I’m telling you, actually fighting a monster is completely different from a mock battle. You probably haven’t even received any real training yet. If a monster appears, don’t fight it, but avoid it.”
“You have actual combat experience. Then there’s no need to avoid it.”
“I have to accommodate you now.”
After saying this, Helios started walking ahead.
“Helios, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Isn’t it necessary to pre-register for the request form?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You don’t have to register before entering the dungeon… If you just take the items, the quest will be considered completed?”
“What the heck…….”
“I think I saw it on the bulletin board earlier.”
I raised my hand in front of Helios, who was looking puzzled.
And he pointed to an ‘insect’ peeking out from between the bushes.
“I think there was a request to bring me that locust’s front leg.”
“……!”
Among the bushes, a giant ‘mantis’ was eyeing us.
Looking at the yellow stripes and the size of a person, it was definitely the ‘Deadly Mantis’ I had seen in the insect guide.
“Damn it, back off!”
Helios clicked his tongue and took a step back.
Deadly Mantis is a carnivorous monster that preys on other smaller monsters with its saw-like forelimbs. It also eats people, so if you happen to encounter one, it’s best to run away quickly.
“Hey, Helios.”
But I grabbed Helios’ arm.
“Why do I have to run away?”
“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? When a monster appears, don’t fight it, run away.”
“I never agreed to that in the first place.”
“what?”
“The first and second place winners of the freshman mock competition are here… Why should I run away from a monster like that?”
“……!”
Helios looked at me, holding his breath.
“Helios, since you are the experienced one, I will leave it to you to make the decision.”
“Eriol, you……”
“Do you think the two of us can’t catch that one locust if we fight?”
“…….”
While they were having that conversation, Deadly Mantis suddenly came forward.
It seemed like they were giving up on the surprise attack and going for a frontal attack.
“You really are… a guy I don’t like.”
But Helios didn’t even glance at Deadly Mantis.
He just looked at me and frowned.
“Hey, Eriol.”
At that moment.
A tingling, electric current crackled from Helios’ fingertips.
“I can’t take responsibility for your life.”
“don’t worry.”
He composed a drinking game while responding.
Draw power from the element of fire and prepare elemental magic.
“I take care of my own life.”
“Pretending to be so smart…!”
The moment Deadly Mantis leaps towards us with its insect-like movements.
Helios’ thunder magic and my fire magic exploded at the same time.
