Chapter 70

After defeating the Fire Dragon... After Sylphie defeated it, we searched for a spacious area in the fifty-first layer of the cave and set up a base camp to spend the night. Since my power had clearly increased after defeating the Fire Dragon, I checked my level before reading the book of the hero who had conquered this dungeon up to the eighty-seventh floor.

Name: Yuta Morin

Level: 80

Health: A

Magic: B

Strength: A

Intelligence: B

Dexterity: A

Luck: B

Unique Skills:

Language Comprehension

Pioneering Tools

Skills:

Life Magic

Hammer Technique

Night Vision

Ha ha, my level went up by thirty-five all at once. I’ve defeated a considerable number of monsters since entering this dungeon, but my power clearly changed after defeating the Fire Dragon.

The higher the level, the harder it is to level up, but I think I gained at least twenty levels from the Fire Dragon. Is this what they call a stroke of luck?

I’m sure I’ve become quite strong, but for some reason, I feel a bit strange with Sylphie around.

I’ll remind myself that there are always stronger people out there and try to change my mood. It’s a good thing that my level has increased, so I should be happy about it. Well, let’s read the hero’s book.

...

A harem life that’s enviable to the extreme. The book described a person who truly embodied the saying that heroes love beauty. It also contained information about the dungeon, and the intense battle with the Fire Dragon was a highlight in the middle of the story.

According to the book, after the fiftieth floor, the level of the enemies that appear normally increases, making it much more dangerous, though not as much as the forty-ninth floor.

On the other hand, the number of valuable items that can be obtained also increases. From the fifty-sixth to the fifty-ninth floors, the area is mountainous, and valuable herbs and minerals have been discovered. It seems that the first stage ends at the fiftieth floor, and the second stage begins.

I don’t know if there’s a hundredth floor, but if there is, the third stage would probably start at the one hundred and first floor.

“Sylphie, since it’s like this, let’s gather a lot of valuable herbs and minerals in the mountainous area and then return tomorrow.”

“I don’t mind, but aren’t you aiming for the eighty-seventh floor? If you surpass the hero, the guild master will definitely regret it.”

I thought about it, but that’s not the way to go. It’s too warm.

“Sylphie, if I surpass the eighty-seventh floor, the guild master will be surprised and regretful, but don’t you think it would be easy for him to apologize?”

“What do you mean?”

Sylphie doesn’t understand. It seems to be just a bad character trait of mine.

“To put it simply, if you surpass a hero, bowing to such a person is, in a way, easy. Everyone will think it’s inevitable, after all, you were bullying someone who surpassed the hero.”

Even if I only get criticized for lacking foresight, it would still be damaging. But that’s not all. If I’m apologized to, it will be my turn to be tested. If I forgive, it will be over. It’s a bit too easy to end it like that.

“But what if I only gather items from the mountainous area? If the guild master’s strategy to reach the forty-ninth floor succeeds, he won’t feel the need to apologize. He’ll endure and work hard, believing in the success of the strategy, even though he’ll be very regretful.”

“True. But if it succeeds, he’ll catch up.”

“The strategy will take time. What will the guild master’s heart be like during that time? Even if it succeeds, he might not catch up, and if it fails, the guild master will be in hell. As long as I’m ahead, the guild master of the dungeon city’s adventurer guild won’t have the materials from a specific dungeon brought to him.”

“You really have a bad character, Yuta.” “Yuta, are you a bad boy?” “Quu?” “That’s not good.” “Ku?”

I was scolded by Bell and the others. Sylphie’s words were more of a “there are people who think like that” kind of feeling, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I need to explain to Bell and the others.

“Everyone, listen carefully. As I said when dealing with the General Zombie, this is a battle for my, no, the spirit mage’s dignity. You heard how we were being mocked in the adventurer guild, right? Spirit mages are being looked down upon. In this dangerous world, we need to fight thoroughly.”

I’m a bit excited, but I won’t say that.

“Is that so?” “Quu?” “Hmm?” “Ku?”

“That’s right.”

I assert firmly. I can’t be confused here. Good. It seems Bell and the others have understood. It was close. Unlike Sylphie, Bell and the others are pure and good. I shouldn’t show them anything ugly. At the very least, I need them to recognize my righteousness.

What will happen if I can successfully raise a spirit mage? ...It’s starting to sound fun.

***

We emerged from the cave into the mountainous area.

“It’s really big. Is this still a dungeon?”

Why are there mountains inside a dungeon? It doesn’t make sense.

“Yes, as you read in the book, it changes from the fifty-first floor. It’s about five times larger than the previous floors.”

...Five times... I haven’t explored every corner of the previous floors, but it’s an unimaginable size.

“Hmm. I want to focus on gathering, but I don’t know where to go. If we head for the stairs, it would be clear and easy.”

The volcano had sparse vegetation, so the view was good, but the mountainous area is full of trees and grass, each claiming its territory.

“Since there’s no one else besides Yuta, shall we fly around and check promising spots?”

It might take a while, but that might be good. I’ve already abandoned the romance of the dungeon when the undead appeared, and exploring such a vast area normally is unpleasant. I’ll save the romance for a more convenient time and take the easy route this time.

“Let’s do that. Let’s focus on areas with distinctive features.”

I asked Sylphie to create a wind cocoon, and we took to the sky. I asked Bell and the others to inform me if they found anything interesting and set off on their own. They each flew off excitedly when they found something amazing. Incidentally, Bell flew off on Rain. Are they exploring together?

“Yuta, there’s a village over there.”

Looking in the direction Sylphie pointed, there was indeed a village. Many huts were built by cutting into the mountains. It’s quite large.

“What kind of village is it? Not human, right?”

“Yes, there’s an Orc King. They’ve formed a large group. There are also Goblin King, Kobold King, Troll King, and Ogre villages scattered throughout the mountains. It seems they are fighting each other.”

“What about the Kings? Are they A-class?”

Even after the fiftieth floor, I can’t escape dealing with Goblins, Kobolds, and Orcs. And in groups, it’s a nuisance.

“Yes, A-class. Considering the group, it might be more difficult than the Assault Dragon.”

It seems like a Warring States period of monsters in the mountainous area of the dungeon. Hmm. I’m tired of dealing with large armies. If we’re found, I’ll fly away. They can’t fly, so I should be able to escape.

Exploring this vast mountainous area while fighting various armies would make my stomach hurt. I’ll fly around and look for promising spots.

“Sylphie, I’m not getting any ideas. How should we search? The book mentions magic herbs and universal herbs, which are very valuable ingredients for the highest-grade magic recovery potion and the highest-grade universal potion. Do we need to go down?”

The book says that the herbs obtained in the mountains helped the heroes prepare and advance further. These two can be obtained outside the dungeon, but they are extremely rare and caused a big stir when they were first discovered in the dungeon.

Further into the dungeon, there’s a divine power herb, which can be used to make a regeneration potion. The herbalists’ guild mobilized all their resources to study this powerful herb, and the regeneration potion was created. It was named the divine power herb because it has god-like power, but it doesn’t actually contain the power of a god.

“It would be easier to search that way. Shall we go down?”

“It seems like a good idea. Oh, Tulu is back. Did you find something already?”

“I found something good.”

Tulu’s first words. She’s smiling and a bit proud. She seems confident. Tulu led me to a place where the rock face is exposed.

“Tulu, what’s here?”

“A mithril vein.”

...Is this mithril? The super famous metal in fantasy. I want a mithril sword and mithril armor.

“Great job, Tulu. Thanks for finding something good.”

I pet her head and praise her. Mithril is a real treasure. I remember Tulu said she can’t extract minerals yet, so I’ll store the rock with the vein and have Nemos extract it after we make a contract.

“I’ll dig the vein, Tulu, can you guide me where to dig? Sylphie, can you keep an eye out for monsters and deal with them if they get close?”

“Okay.”

“Got it.”

Following Tulu’s guidance, I use a magical shovel to dig out the vein and store it. How much mithril is in this rock? Tulu is reinforcing the rock to prevent collapse, so I can dig aggressively.

It seems like we’re creating a maze-like area inside the dungeon. It would be better to fill it in after we’re done.

“Yuta! Yuta! Bell and Rain found something amazing. Come quick!” “Quu quu. Quuuu”

Bell and Rain, who flew in with a burst, are excited and making a fuss.

“Wait, Bell. I’m digging right now. Tulu, how much of the vein is left?”

“There’s still a lot.”

There’s a lot left. That’s good. We’ll get a lot of mithril.

“Okay. Let’s pause digging and check out what Bell and Rain found.”

“Okay.”

“Yuta, hurry!” “Quu quu”

“I’m coming. Bell, Rain, calm down a bit.”

Bell, excited to show her discovery, is flailing her arms and legs and flapping her fins. She’s so cute. I go outside and meet up with Sylphie, then block the hole with rocks. It would be troublesome if monsters got in. I calm Bell down and ask Sylphie to create a wind cocoon.

“Ready. Bell, Rain, lead the way.”

“Okay!” “Quu”

Bell and Rain take off with a burst. What did they find? I chase after them as they fly at full speed and reach a dense, slightly dark and eerie forest.

“Yuta, look here.”

Bell points with her short finger. There’s a large tree... Looking closely, there’s a hollow in the tree. I approach and peek inside...

“Wow, this is a treasure chest, and it’s really luxurious.”

Inside the hollow is a golden, luxurious treasure chest. It’s shiny.

“Great job, Bell. Rain. You found something amazing. How did you find it?”

“Bell is amazing!” “Quuuu”

The excited Bell and Rain, probably thrilled by the praise, start flying around the forest. Hmm. It will take some time to calm them down.

However, finding a hollow in a tree in the middle of a dense forest... Who would find that? Well, Bell and Rain found it, but it’s not something you’d normally find.

Well, what’s in this luxurious treasure chest? I’m really looking forward to it.

Thank you for reading.