Thanks!
What in the world...?
Must be nice. I wish I could be drinking.
Reports to the capital and regional lord,
requests for Great Tidal Bore response funds,
paperwork for payouts, assessments of the adventurers who participated,
plans to restore and replenish the facilities and assets...
Plus the budgeting to do all of that
while keeping the guild up and running...
Forget full. My hands are overflowing.
And to top it all off, researchers from the royal capital
are bound to show up wanting to study what happened.
Even though the dungeon's going to be sealed for a month.
The aftermath of the attack might be even more trouble...
I see. So they're celebrating the end of the Great Tidal Bore.
I guess that's a good reason to break out the alcohol.
You should've seen Abel!
He just thrust his sword at the goblin king like this!
And then he gave Lyn the signal to unleash some crazy spell!
That was Bullet Rain. It's supposed to be one of the most powerful wind spells there is.
And Abel was the only one to dodge it!
I wonder how he did it.
The sword skill Perfect Shadow.
It's a technique for dodging any kind of ranged attack, including magic.
Abel! Y-You were amazing today, sir!
You all did great hanging in there, too.
A sword skill called Perfect Shadow?
Now that's how you name a technique!
I had feeling that'd be your takeaway.
We finally found you, Abel!
See? I knew he'd be with Ryo.
Why, he's your favorite person, isn't he?
Look, all I meant was that the fight would've been easier with Ryo's help...
I don't know why, but that felt kind of hostile.
I actually wanted to ask you something, Ryo.
Yes?
Are you really able to conjure Ice Wall way up in the air?
Yeah, I sure am.
I'd say 40 meters or so is my limit.
Then it's true...
It's by no means easy though, and it took me quite a while to swing.
I mean, most people can't do it at all.
Is it some kind of original spell?
Original?
Most magic is invoked by reciting existing incantations, right?
I'd say incantations come down to personal preference.
Everyone has a different style.
Hey, the food's gonna be gone soon!
Yikes! That's definitely bad news!
If you'll excuse me, Lyn, Rihya.
Apparently Ryo thinks
incantations are only something you use because they're impressive.
He can cast without them.
How can that be?
This goes way beyond strange.
Talk about rough going. Not a single job.
Huh? Shouldn't the three of you be working?
No dice. With the dungeon closed,
we figured we'd take some collection quests on the surface, but...
There's been such an influx the past few days
that buyers are rescinding their usual requests.
Are you here to take a quest, Ryo?
No, I'm looking for some ore I need to practice alchemy.
But they're apparently all sold out.
You mean magic copper ore? Isn't that really expensive?
From what I heard at the general store, a handful is around 500,000 florins.
That's 50 golden coins...
Must be nice to be so loaded.
But without any jobs, we can't earn even when we want to.
What're we gonna do?
Well, in that case, why don't I hire the three of you?
What do you mean?
If there's somewhere to collect magic copper ore outside the dungeon, I'd be obliged.
Locally, there's an abandoned mine near the village of Rusay,
about half a day's walk from here.
Four gold coins a head.
I'll pay you that regardless of your haul.
Then I'll buy what magic copper ore you do find for 25 gold coins apiece.
My only stipulation is that all three of you make it back safely.
What do you say?
I say we're in!
But do you really wanna pay that much, Ryo?
At 37 gold coins total, that's still a lot less than what I'd pay in town.
Since this isn't through the guild, you won't get credit for it, but...
Not an issue!
Can't you see you're bothering her?! Knock it off!
What's the harm? We were just asking her to serve us some drinks.
And while she's at it, she can service us tonight, too.
No! I don't want to!
That's enough! Want me to clobber you?
Well, here's a surprise.
Stop it!
You stupid cur...
I'm not going to kill you. But you adventurer filth need to learn some manners—
What did you do?!
Uh, nothing. You just fell over.
You... Don't you dare move, you piece of—
Wh-What in the...?
Okay, that's quite enough.
Phelps?!
Who are you supposed to be?
You're knights of this kingdom! What do you think you're doing?
Have some shame!
How dare you? If you defy us,
we'll have you and the guild master exiled from—
Silence! If you claim to be a knight, then behave like one!
Y-You're just an adventurer.
I may be an adventurer, but I am also a nobleman of this kingdom.
I am Phelps A. Heinlein,
heir to House Heinlein!
Heinlein...
Like the former commander of the royal knights?
Correct. Alexis Heinlein is my father.
Now, stop sullying the name of our kingdom's knights! Begone!
Thank you so much, Phelps.
Thank you.
You're Dan, right? You were brave to intervene,
just as an adventurer should be.
Now, why don't you see her to her friends?
Right. If you'll excuse me.
Hello. I take it you're Ryo?
That's right. It's nice to meet you... Phelps, is it?
It is. I'm the captain of White Brigade.
Abel's told me as much, but your magic truly is interesting.
Um...
Oh, don't mistake me. That knight slipped all on his own, no?
But Abel was insistent that the Great Tidal Bore would've been easier won with your aid.
Abel...
Captain, we should be going.
Right. Very well, then.
You'll have to excuse us, Ryo. We'll talk again. And thank you for what you did.
Phelps...
And that woman, too. Both of them are strong.
Not sure why the son of a marquess is an adventurer, though.
I don't see you eating dinner alone often.
I'm not going to treat you, even if you sit with me.
I don't expect handouts from newbies.
You're welcome to treat me whenever you want, as a veteran.
Considering I know how much money you have, that's not happening.
What can I get you?
I'll have the daily special.
Coming right up.
It's rare to see you on your own, too.
Oh, I know what this is. You're off to the pleasure district after—
Y-You fool! There's no telling who might be listening!
Worried about the walls having ears and the doors having eyes?
Do doors even need eyes? You can just peek past them!
From your reaction, I take it you'd rather avoid the subject.
Which leads me to believe a lucky girl's caught your eye.
It's not like that.
Still, I'm not sure about putting the moves on Lyn.
No, she's after Warren.
Huh?
Pretend you didn't hear that.
That's... quite a striking pair.
But I suppose love can overcome a little height difference.
So, does that mean you're interested in Rihya?
You dummy! It's not like that!
Then why react like a middle-schooler?
A middle... what?
Seriously, though, why are you out on your own?
Well, if you don't have anything better to do, I guess I could use your help.
Come again?
One of the investigators dispatched to Lune is an old acquaintance of mine.
He's got royal knights in tow as guards.
But a few of them are apparently rotten.
I see.
They've run off again tonight, and I'm to collect them before they cause trouble.
Abel.
What is it?
Some adventurers I don't recognize from your welcome home party.
Well, the town has a dungeon, so we do get traveling adventurers from time to time...
Except the dungeon is closed at the moment.
Well now...
They went to the trouble of luring us here, and this is the best they can do?
I'd say you're just more than anyone ever expects, Ryo.
Is this... an alchemical tool?
Don't mind if I—
No. It's evidence.
They're C-rank adventurers from Jeclaire.
That's the capital of Handalieu.
What are they doing here, though?
Let's hand them over to the town guard. They can look into this.
I guess this is a rare good deed for you, Abel.
I'm always doing good deeds!
I don't know if talking everyone's ear off about me at the party qualifies.
How do you know about that?!
He embarrassed me.
And he'll pay!
What is this?
I can't move...
or even talk!
Thou art the lord of fire, bringer of the crimson end.
With destructive breath, you cover earth and devour sky,
delivering blazing judgment to all creation.
Let your flames rise...
Inferno.
Well done, Shenna.
Oh no!
What do you think you're doing?
Commandeering the guild's food stores upon arrival,
opening the dungeon as of today just for your investigation,
and demanding adventurers for protection?!
If this is your idea of a joke, I'm not laughing!
Master McGlass, as I already explained,
His Royal Majesty has named Earl Harold Lawrence,
minister of domestic affairs, the head of this research expedition.
He in turn granted us full authority over the team while we're in the field,
which I'm certain was in the decree you read.
I'm talking about what's realistic and what's not!
Master McGlass, do I need to explain what "full authority" means?
And do you, Clive Staples, understand the concept of "unreasonable"?
That's enough, you two.
Hugh, you have my apologies about the food.
I'll arrange for our supplies to be brought in from neighboring towns in the future.
I appreciate that.
That may settle the matter of our provisions,
but I'm afraid I cannot budge on reopening the dungeon.
Fine. We'll open the dungeon.
But if anything happens, the town of Lune, its adventurers,
and the adventurer's guild will not be held responsible.
You—
If that's unacceptable to you, then the dungeon stays closed.
Clive, it is what it is.
The matter of hiring adventurers above standard rates is not a problem, I take it?
That depends on the adventurers, sir.
But I must warn you there are virtually no records
of what state the dungeon is in following a Great Tidal Bore.
Please, proceed with utmost caution.
Here we go.
This is where Abel's party stays. I bet the cafeteria here is...
Sir, you're an adventurer, aren't you?!
Huh? I am, but...
I need to visit the adventurer's guild this instant!
Could you show me the way?
I was about to eat—
I have a letter! And I have to deliver it!
Please!
It's from Professor Hilarion in the capital.
Master Hilarion?
I'm glad I was able to deliver it.
Someone at your lodge said that I'd find you here.
He's basically asking us to support the court magicians as they investigate the dungeon.
I thought it was closed.
I'm sure the big shots they sent will arrange for something.
Still, though...
Is something bothering you?
The reason the dungeon is closed after the fact is because, decades ago,
an A-rank party never returned from it.
Not just any A-rank group either.
Their leader was said to superhuman, on the threshold of S-rank.
And he still didn't make it back.
In other words, no one knows what goes on in the dungeon following a Great Tidal Bore.
The smart choice is to stay away, then.
Well, I need to eat, so if you'll excuse me...
U-Um, thank you for showing me the way.
Sure thing.
I don't think we ever got your name.
Oh, pardon me. It's Natalie. Natalie Schwartzkoff.
Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Natalie.
Wait, by Schwartzkoff, do you mean the family of great water magicians?
W-Well, yes. But I'm not much to speak of myself.
Natalie, have you ever heard of a spell to conjure Ice Wall some distance from the caster?
High up in the air, for instance?
No, I've never heard of any magic like that.
Seriously, Lyn? You're still on that?
Of course I am! Any magician who heard about it would be interested!
Are you saying magic like that actually exists?
Apparently Ryo, the fellow who just left, can cast it.
That's hard to believe...
I bet.
Now, this is a good opportunity, so I want to make this clear.
No one is ever to fight Ryo.
I get the feeling that even the four of us together would be no match for him.
If you ever find yourself against him, just give up and surrender.
Knowing him, he isn't likely to kill you.
This is an order from me as party leader.
Right.
Got it.
Natalie, if you're ever in a position where you need help
and you can't find us, then turn to Ryo.
You'll usually find him in room 10 at the adventurer's lodge or in the library.
U-Understood.
This is a residual mana detector.
As the name implies, it should pick up any trace mana left in the environment.
Anything it detects will be transmitted to the analysis team in the tent.
Wow. Alchemy can create some nifty things, huh?
What, Abel? You taking an interest in alchemy?
Not me, but a friend of mine is fascinated with it.
You have friends?
Oh, come on. Even I have friends.
Maybe you becoming an adventurer worked out for the best.
All right, let's get to it.
As we discussed, we're only going as far as the third layer today.
We'll move slowly and be thorough.
Right. We're counting on you.
Are you serious about this?! That's 900,000 florins!
Sure. You found two pieces of the ore I need,
and I'm throwing in the rest to cover expenses.
Thanks, man! We owe you!
Still, I'm surprised the dungeon's opened up again so suddenly.
Yeah, but apparently they're only letting D-rankers and above in.
That doesn't cover us.
There's going to be a briefing about the situation tomorrow, so we should all attend.
We've gone three days and seven layers with absolutely nothing to show for it.
I can't believe there hasn't been a single monster.
The surface team is reviewing our readings and hasn't seen anything of note.
I guess we'll have to head deeper.
The people from Royal Central University seem to be in something of a hurry.
They're operating on a theory that the monsters of the Great Tidal Bore
originated from below the 38th layer.
Really?
That's what my old coworker told me.
An old coworker? From when you were a priestess at the Royal Central Temple?
Should they really share that kind of thing?
It's fine. The thing about priests is that we're always in demand.
As I have explained, E and F-rank parties won't be escorting the investigation team.
In terms of alternate work, since we're procuring food from other towns,
the folks doing that will need security.
The White Brigade is already involved, but we could use more heads.
Any volunteers would be appreciated.
Now, if anyone has any questions...
Ryo? What is it?
I'd heard that magic stone was recovered from the monsters in the bore.
I was curious what kind of hue they had.
That's insightful of you.
All of the magic stone collected from the Great Tidal Bore was pale.
That includes the goblin king and the goblin generals.
It was pale...?
What is this?
I think it may be connected to another location.
But beyond that, we have no idea, including what it's doing here.
It seems hurrying here has paid off, then.
We will refer to this as the Gate for our purposes.
Set up the equipment and began examining it as soon as possible.
At once.
Everything is in place.
First, let's gauge the mana density beyond the Gate.
Please, begin.
The readings... vanished?