Two mornings later, two days later, we were standing at the entrance of an underground dungeon.
　We were standing at the entrance of an underground dungeon.

Phew!　It's time for our adventure to begin.

　Amu, who had his hands on his hips, stood up in front of me.
　I couldn't help but point out to him, "Aren't you upset, Amu?

"Aren't you upset, Amu?
'What?　It's just normal, normal!

　And then he looks away, but it doesn't look very much like that. Even now, he has a subtle grin on his face, and he was excited all the time yesterday when he was shopping and deciding on the dungeon to go to.
　I didn't know if I was looking forward to it that much... and I looked at the entrance to the dungeon, a large cave.

　This dungeon, located at the foot of the eastern mountains, is called Asaya's Cave.
　The origin of the name is simple: it's a side hole in a shallow valley. There's no twist or anything.
　It was a very common beginner's dungeon with nothing special about the monsters that appeared, either.

　I feel like it's a boring place for Amu, but.......perhaps he's glad that the four of us can dive into the dungeon together.
　I'm sure there has never been an opportunity for those close to my age to go on an adventure together.

Okay?　Let me check again.

　Amu says in a subtly energetic voice.

The vanguard is me and Mabel, and the rear guard is Eifa and Seika. Don't leave too much distance between us. You must call out to them properly when the formation starts to collapse.
'Amu-chan, I know that already...'
Do I need to check now?
It's important to get these things right!

　I can't help but say to Amu, who is bent out of shape.

"There's no need to be so uptight about it, you could go to this kind of dungeon all by yourself.
It's not like that, not even for you.

　When I said that, Amu looked a little sulky.


I can do that.

　I answer honestly.

I'll just have to figure out a way to get the materials back.
It doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean anything.

　Amu said in a dumbfounded manner.
　'We might be able to work out a formula like that.......but at least that's not possible without knowing much about the actual work.

'Can't help it, we'll have to dive after all!
Why do you look a little happy about it?
No, it's just normal. Normal!

　Amu says with a cough.

'Okay?　Today we're just going to go through the motions. There's no such thing as a party that works well from the start. Let's adjust the details as we go through the actual adventure. Let's get going!

　Following Amu, Mabel and Yifa stepped into the dungeon.
　I followed them.


****


　The dungeon was much larger than the one in the basement of Rodnea.

　So far, the monsters we encountered were commonplace, such as goblins and skeletons, and the level wasn't too high, and we were able to progress without any problems.
　The level isn't very high, and we've been able to move through it without any problems.

''I thought...''

　Amu blurts out.

"You're pretty good at killing monsters, too, Mabel.
Yes.

　Mabel replied while dropping the head of the hobgoblin, which had been blocking its movement with shadow magic, with her battle axe.
　As it was, the throwing sword that was released in a flowing manner sewed the bat-shaped monster that was approaching to the wall. Another throw following the head of the struggling monster sticks out and holds its breath.

''I've done monster slaying training before, too.

　Mabel says as she pulls two throwing swords out of the monster's corpse.

'That was a lot of fun. We'd all work together and stuff.
I can get to most dungeons with four guys like you.

　Amu says in a dumbfounded manner.

'There isn't usually a heavy warrior who can use both magic and flying tools.
M....am I a heavy fighter?
You're an axe man.
I don't know. I want an assassin.
What kind of assassin would use such a flashy weapon?

　The two of them are very good at it, but they are sure of their abilities, and they take care of the monsters that appear one after another. Thanks to this, me and Yifa, the rear guard, basically didn't have a chance to play.

　I was thinking that I should have chosen a more challenging dungeon... as I continued on, I suddenly found myself in an open space.
　I felt a flow of power and sent the Hitogata of lights flying across the room.

　The next moment, a shadow flew in from above.
　I'm not sure if they were expecting it, but Amu and Mabel ducked it with plenty of time to spare. The wind pressure from the flapping of the shadow's wings reached me.

　I look at it as it flies around the wide space.

I'm going to have to say that.........that's a Murderbat, right?

　The giant bat-shaped monster seemed to have turned and aimed at us again.
　Yeah, it's finally our job to be the rear guard.

"Okay, I'll take care of it.
The wooden phase, the art of staking.

　The several white wooden stakes that were shot out pierced the giant flying bat.
　But the next moment.
　A swarm of thick icicles that flew in slightly later pierced the body of the Murder Bat.
　Then more blades of fire and wind attacked the dying monster.

　In an instant, the tattered Murderbat fell to the ground without power.
　The charred and punctured body no longer twitched.

''Oh, I'm sorry, Seika-kun!　I've got it covered........

　Yifa said slightly awkwardly.
　Apparently, Yifa also wanted to use spirit magic on the spur of the moment.

　However, she's also quite relentless.......

''Ya, it's too much........the excess of firepower is just as good, this.......''

　Amu said again in a dumbfounded manner.
　It's true that every time the rearguard's turn comes up, in this state of affairs, we won't be able to recover the materials we can recover. It would be better to do something about it........

''Oh, Amu-chan, aren't you hurt?

　Yifa said as if she suddenly noticed.
　When I looked, blood was indeed smeared on Amu's cheek. Did he cut himself with something when he ducked the attack earlier?

''Oh my God!　I'll fix you up now!
No, I don't want a scar. I'll do it. Just give me a strand of hair.


　Amu says, scratching his head.

'It's not what I thought it would be...'