After talking it over, we decide to try going to the dungeon.
Just as we thought, monsters generally can’t go through staircases and hop onto different floors. And since we can use our cards to register in the floors we have been to and move there automatically later, we are going there mostly just to check it out this time.
Unlike Majolica’s dungeon, people can freely move between floors by using the pillars that are on landing areas of staircases that connect floors. But there aren’t any items that can be used in case of an emergency, like return stones, so you always have to use this landing area to go back.
Incidentally, this dungeon goes down, so technically we should describe it in terms of ‘basement floors’.
“I really didn’t think we’d be going to another dungeon.”
“Me neither, but this is a more controlled dungeon. At least that’s what it sounds like.”
“Can they pick the monsters that appear?”
Asks Rurika, because it feels like only monsters that are convenient for people here can appear. And apparently there aren’t any superior species from the first to the sixth floor.
Does that mean that the minotaurs that appeared on the seventh floor are irregulars?
“Oh, Sirk? Is something the matter?”
After we leave the room and go down the stairs, we see Sirk.
He shakes when Yuini talks to him, and his suspicious behavior makes Sahana sigh.
But before Sahana can speak, Sirk talks like he’s on to something.
“I-I’m worried so… A-are you all right?”
I’m sure that’s directed at Hikari.
“B-be careful out there.”
He says before running off somewhere.
“He really can’t just be honest, can he? I’m a little worried about him, so I’m going after him.”
Sahana says before bowing and walking after her brother.
Despite everything she says, she does worry about him.
Hikari is looking in the direction where they went, but stops when Yuini starts walking.
“Are you worried too, Hikari?”
“Not really…”
She’s not so honest either. Or maybe she really doesn’t think it’s a big deal.
It can be hard to read Hikari’s unemotional face.
We eventually reach the first floor, and stand in front of the big door on the other side of the entrance door.
Once we enter, we see a large empty throne, and when we go around it, we see there’s a door behind the throne.
“The dungeon is beyond this door.”
Once the door is opened, we see a pillar like in Majolica’s dungeon, and a strong looking door. We hand our cards to the soldiers guarding it, and they’re registered.
“I can’t go any further, but I think someone should accompany you. Is anyone free?”
“…Maybe Dutina can go?”
“Y-yes.”
Alfriede looks around, and names one person.
Dutina responds, sounding nervous, and introduces herself with a stiff expression.
“My name is Dutina. Nice to meet you.”
She seems really nervous. Is it because a princess is here?
“Thank you for your help.”
Yuini’s words put an incredibly bright expression on Dutina’s face.
The princess and Alfriede leave, leaving us with Dutina, who is clearly still nervous.
“W-well then, let’s go…”
A heavy sound echoes as the door opens and reveals a world full of nature.
It’s not that surprising, because we’ve all experienced a dungeon before, but it does feel strange to see buildings in a dungeon.
“Do people live here?”
“N-no. Well, hum, yes. Not everyone, but we take turns staying here.”
“Miss Dutina… Are you a soldier?”
“Please don’t call me miss. I am a soldier at the service of the castle. I haven’t been here for long, but I come to the dungeon a lot, so ask me any questions you have.”
Apparently most people working in the castle are descendants who have dragon blood in their veins. Dutina is one of them.
Actually, people with dragon blood generally lead long lives, and races with long lifespans tend to have a distorted sense of time, meaning Dutina is probably a veteran from the point of view of a human.
It makes sense. People from outside are technically guests of the royal family, and they can’t have a complete newbie leading them around.
The first two floors, as they explained to us before, are full of people farming and taking care of livestock.
Everyone looks at us with surprise when they see us, but still greet us with smiles. However, in most cases, that soon goes away when their eyes turn to Hikari and Mia.
The number of people drastically goes down when we reach the third floor. There are only a few men around.
“Not a lot of people work here, because it’s an area generally not related to people’s livelihood. But sometimes people dig up precious ore, so there are regular investigations.”
Dutina says that they generally get their ore from outside, but they keep investigating because sometimes they find mithril.
Also, this dungeon’s floors change along with their geography if people don’t visit for a long time, so they need to send people to stay here and work from time to time to prevent that from happening.
“So this dungeon doesn’t change as long as there are people here?”
“Y-yes. In particular, this space will act as a defensive point if monsters ever go berserk, so we are careful not to let it change.”
Is that why I saw something that looked like a fortress when we came down from the second floor?
I ask her, and she says it’s just to buy time to evacuate the first and second floors.
“Monsters appear from the next floor onward. I think it will be fine, but be careful.”
Says Dutina, as she stops before the stairs to the fourth floor and looks at us in turn.
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Thanks for the treat. 🖖
So down to the 4th floor that was fast will probably reach the tree in tomorrow’s chapter