After a few hours in a maze of dense jungle in the Ancient Forests of Bestia, the pair was making excellent progress.
“Hm... I’m doing better than I expected,” Yuri said as he flung the monster blood from his black sword with a forceful swing.
✦ ✦ ✦
Their current location was the tenth floor, which they had managed to reach without much incident.
“Even so...when we’re proceeding downwards, it’s strange for there to be a sun overhead.”
They were undoubtedly descending through the dungeon. However, a blindingly bright ball loomed overhead, releasing an insufferable heat as it illuminated the space.
According to Haring, the dungeon’s “floors” each connected to a certain region on the continents and, technically speaking, were outside of the duel city. As they were danger zones, those on the continent were forbidden from entering. It was only through duelists hunting the dangerous beasts that the people of the continents were protected from threat.
“Mr. Haring, are the materials from that monster valuable?”
“Mn? It’s all small fries around here. You won’t get anythin’ sizable unless you hunt an army of them.”
“...So you say, but you still collect them anyway, I see.”
“’Course I do. It’s not much, but money’s money.”
With the hands of an expert, Haring dismantled the monster Yuri defeated, separating off the pelt, the bones, and the horns. And, opening his Proof, he stored the materials away.
When a Proof was set to dungeon mode, it was possible to use its Field to store materials. Perhaps medicinal herbs would be otherwise manageable, but for the parts of monsters far larger than one’s self, and ores far heavier than they appeared, simply transporting them would require time and effort. Not only did temporarily storing materials in another dimension release the restriction on carrying capacity, it additionally allowed them to be transported while preserving freshness and condition.
“Anyways, quit wastin’ time around here. The plants you’re looking for grow on the deeper levels, no use in loafin’ around at the entrance.”
In the dungeon, the floor number was simply the number of times one was warped to a new location. Each warp would gradually send one to areas with higher and higher levels of danger. According to Haring, this was because it sent them deeper and deeper into untamed lands.
“Oh... Incidentally, how many floors does the dungeon have?”
“On the official record, you can apparently warp up to one hundred.”
“T-That many of them!?”
“Truth of the matter, I hear you can go even further than that, but I’ve got no clue what’s beyond there. Floor fifty and onwards...the deeper levels have some annoying monsters, loads of crazy strong enemies just prancin’ around. I doubt even that Beheader you fought made it all the way to floor one hundred.”
While Elias did lose to Yuri, he was still a skilled fighter everyone recognized. His rank was Adamant, second from the top, and having fought him personally, Yuri understood his strength better than anyone...which meant even someone of his strength hadn’t managed to make it to the furthest depths of the dungeon.
“But thanks to that, the materials you can get in the deeper levels are rarer and more valuable. The earnings are great even if you avoid battle and just go for the materials.”
Mixing in some explanation, Haring finished his dissection and lurched to his feet.
“And if you don’t hurry up, you might run into another duelist.”
“Err, is it bad for us if some other duelist comes around?”
“Nah, not bad, per se. You won’t find anyone challengin’ you to a duel for your drops in these easy levels, and no one’s gonna be out to steal what you’ve got. But the dungeon, see, it’s the salvation of a certain portion of duelists.”
“It’s...salvation?”
“Yeah, I explained how huntin’ monsters can earn you rate, right?”
Haring had definitely told him that before they went in. Hunting monsters in dungeon mode granted rate corresponding to the type and numbers slain. This was apparently still applicable even during the course of the Babel Roulette.
However, the amount of Rate earned was barely a trifle. Yuri had checked a moment ago, and he hadn’t even earned a hundred points. He hadn’t gone out of his way to slay them, he was only taking down whatever he met along the way, but even so, the efficiency was worse than he could have imagined.
“I get what you wanna say. Instead of wastin’ your time on monsters, goin’ out and duelin’ whatever random guy on the street will get you more.” Haring took a look at Yuri’s expression before adding, “But it’s a different story for the folks whose rate’s hit rock bottom. If they lose the next duel, they’ll die as a duelist. Even if they win once, another loss and they’re right back to cowerin’ at the fear of death. Those sorts come here to earn whatever little rate they can.”
Haring started on his way towards the stairs down.
“So if we don’t need anything here, we should move forward and leave enough for them. We ain’t gonna die without huntin’, but those folks will kick the bucket without monsters to kill.”
Yuri spent a while just staring at his back. And...he broke into a smile before sprinting to catch up.
“Alright! I understand!”
“...The hell are you grinnin’ about?”
“I just thought, you really are a good person, Mr. Haring!”
“Shut it. I’m just teachin’ you proper manners for the dungeons.”
“A good person observes good manners!”
Carrying on a nonchalant exchange, the two of them set course for a lower floor.
✦ ✦ ✦
Around the time Yuri and Haring were exchanging some light banter...
“Gnn... Do you really think he’ll be okay?”
“Well, he’ll be fine around these parts. The monsters aren’t that dangerous.”
Hiding in the shadows of a tree, Athena and Fram carefully peeked at the two of them.
“Yeah, I know Yuri will be fine with the monsters... The problem’s Haring.”
“I’ll admit, I was surprised. I never thought he would be the one.”
Mirka had assured them, “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll get a guide for our Yuri.” Still, they came because they were worried, and this was the outcome.
“...Why did Mirka have to rely on Haring of all people? If she was gonna turn to that guy, even we woulda done a better job.”
Athena puffed out her cheeks, staring holes into Haring’s back.
“Mirka was probably trying to show some tact,” Fram suggested, lightly shrugging. “She knew Yuri was trying to invite him. It was right after he said he wanted to prove Haring wasn’t a bad guy.”
“Gnnn... I get it, but you know...”
“Yes. If you get it, then no complaining.” Fram tugged hard on Athena’s cheek. “I understand why you hate him. Unlike you, I’ve never seen his evil deeds first-hand, but I can understand why you’re worried about Yuri.”
She stroked Athena’s head, scolding her in a soft tone.
“But please do respect Yuri’s decisions. Yuri must have some reason or conviction behind going after him.”
“...But I still can’t forgive him.”
Athena reflected on a memory as she gazed at Haring’s back... A young girl cowering in fear, shedding tears and sobbing. The sight of her on the receiving end of Haring’s tumultuous outburst.
Athena had seen, she knew, and she would never forgive. She gave her head a shake to rid it of that depressing scene.
“Mnn! But right now, I’m here to watch Yuri!”
“Yes, yes. If you’re feeling better, then carry me.”
Fram jumped onto her back, and when they were ready to move to their next vantage point, a transmission came to Athena’s Proof.
“Hello, Big Sis here.”
“Hmm, I was sure you were my younger sister.”
“Oh, Eli? What’s up?”
“Check who it is before answering. So where are you right now?”
“Where? Well, I’m following Yuri through the dungeon—”
“You heard her, Stein.”
The instant Elias mentioned the name, the hairs on Athena’s tail pricked up on end. She broke into a heavy cold sweat in the tantalizingly long moment of silence that followed.
“I will convey Stein’s message word for word. ‘Athena, Fram, why, that’s quite some courage you have to ignore all my calls. You’re in for a spanking when you get back, okay?’ she says.”
“Eli, you’re really, really creepy when you imitate Mirka’s tone!”
“I see. I’ll put some effort into the impersonation next time.”
Athena cut the call, turning to Fram with a stiff smile plastered on her face.
“Fram...let’s stay in the dungeon for a while!”
“I’ll pick the right time to go home. I can say I just tagged along to rein you in.”
“No fair! You were all up for it!!”
“When you get to four-hundred-something, you learn to be unfair.”
Fram soothingly pat a wailing Athena on the shoulder.