5 - four-episode intersection

The day after staying in a dungeon city along the border of the Queen Elf Kingdom in the territory of the Dwarf Kingdom.

We had already registered as adventurers, and early in the morning we lined up in line to dive into the dungeon.

How about some grilled skewers for breakfast?

Preserved food!　Preserved food is cheap right now!"

We have everything from restorative potions to salves and arrows!

The entrance to the dungeon is at the far end of town.

At first glance, it looked more like a cave than a dungeon entrance.

The Dwarf Kingdom is surrounded by mountains.

This dungeon was discovered at the foot of the mountains.

The entrance to the dungeon is surrounded by a high wall, like a castle wall, and a steel door is wide open, with Dwarven guards checking the tags of adventurers entering.

Around the entrance, stalls and vendors were parading around, trying to sell their wares to the adventurers about to enter the dungeon.

A gold-clad man in golden armor stands in front of me, his gaze wandering around with interest.

The main races are human, beast, and dwarf, with few elves, demons, or dragons.

The city has long had problems between the two species in dealing with dungeons, so that's why there are so few elven species. The lack of dragon and demon races is simply due to geographical factors. The reason there are so many races is because there are dungeons and people come here for that.

As expected of Master Dirk (pseudonym). That's a wonderful insight.

Gold, me, and Nemum get in line in that order.

In a manner of speaking, this order also has a meaning.

Gold is in the front as a shield, with me in the center as the escort, and Nemmu, who has excellent detection skills, in the rear.

It is hard to imagine me lagging behind an adventurer on the ground, but it seems to be just a precaution.

It was Nemm who insisted on this plan.

We mustn't let anything happen to Mr. Light," he assured me with a crisp expression.

So it seems that Nemmu's hand on my shoulder from behind as she hugs me is purely for the purpose of protecting me.

I was embarrassed to feel her soft bulge against the back of my head, but if Nemmu insisted, I had no choice but to obey her maturely.

After all, I look 12 or 3 and Nemmu is 17 or 8.

From a third party's point of view, they would appear to be close siblings.

However, it was inevitable that we would stand out.

Adventurers, vendors, stall keepers, and other people around us look at us with interest, and some even ask, "What kind of people are you?

Gold is tall, wearing armor from head to toe, and stands head and shoulders above the rest of us in line.

Nemmu, a beautiful brown-skinned girl with silver hair reflecting the morning sun, was the object of male affection and ulterior motives, and female jealousy and some ulterior motives.

I am wearing a black hood and a mask, and I am being treated with care between the two of them, which makes them look at me strangely.

Incidentally, the Dwarf Kingdom is located just west of the continent.

The city where we are located is at the southernmost tip of the Dwarf Kingdom, and the Majin Kingdom is just north of it, so we need to cross the mountains or cross the territory of the race.

The Dragon People's Empire is located directly east of the continent, so it is difficult to travel to either of them.

(...... Huh?)

One ahead of us, a young man wearing a hood and carrying hand luggage sidles in front of a team of about 15-year-olds who look like novice adventurers.

He is about 170cm tall. Despite the fact that he was walking with baggage in his hands, his axis was not shaky. I understood that he has been training considerably.

It was a little shameful that he would use his skills to make a side entry.

The young adventurers who had been sidetracked were too shy to pay attention to the young men, and they looked at each other and said, "What are we going to do?

I read the situation and offered a helping hand.

The man with the hood over there, let's not get side-tracked," I said.

I warn them on their behalf, and the hoods look back.

The young men caught in the middle were atrophied.

I was surprised that they would pay attention to me ....... Do you know who I am?

'How do you know who you're dealing with who is hiding their face in a hood ....... If you're a well-known person that I just don't know, you'd better refrain from embarrassing yourself by 'sidling in' even more so, wouldn't you?"

Wahahahaha!"　The Lord is right!　It would be scarier to know specifically who the hooded others are. Are you drunk from slurping down a bottle of booze in the daytime?　Just don't talk nonsense and get in line at the end of the line. It will be a nuisance not only to us but also to the other people in line.

Mr. Dirk is right. "Mr. Dirk is right. Or are you too stupid to understand that level of detail?

Gold and Nemmu follow my caution and speak up.

The boy is right!　If I knew who you are, I'd be scared to death!

'Yes, yes!　Line up properly like the monk said!"

Gold, Nemm is not the only one.

I was booed by racial adventurers who agreed with my opinion and lined up behind me.

It may be that they don't know the race of the hooded man, but some adventurers have a lot of bravado, and I guess they saw us of their race and voiced their agreement.

And the adventurers of the dwarf and beast race in line are watching the scene with a silent and cold gaze. They don't like the hoods being flanked, but they are probably depressed that a race they consider inferior is making so much noise.

The "Boh, you're just a bunch of human insects (inferior species) to be trampled by us ......."

The hooded man was proud by word and deed, and his whole body trembled as he was booed.

I could tell at a glance that he was furious.

But I didn't care, and told him more.

I was warning him because he was breaking a rule that even that little bugger could understand. If you understand me, please go back to the back of the line.

Let him say this--!

The hooded man reaches an arm for his luggage, but withstands with a clatter of teeth.

The human (inferior species) is getting on your nerves, you ...... little worm!

He spits out a discarded line and slips out of the line, heading backward and walking away.

The adventurers behind me shouted praise as I drove them away, saying, "You have shown your racial mettle well.

After we had finished our response, I said to the adventurer behind me, "You have shown your racial mettle well.

Oh, um, thank you so much for your help!"

The leader of a group of young adventurers of one race in line in front of me thanks me.

Apparently, they were a party of four.

One was a boy with short-cropped red hair who seemed to be the leader, and a girl with the same hair color and facial features was hiding behind him.

The party of four consisted of a rather short boy who seemed to be good-natured and a tall boy who was the opposite.

The girl is 12 or 3 years old and the boy is probably around 14 or 5 years old.

We didn't know what to say to them because it happened so suddenly. If it's a badly prideful species, it can get you into trouble. ...... I'm sorry we ended up imposing on you."

No, I don't mind. I did what I had to do. Besides, if you keep sidling in, we will be late for our turn, and that will be a problem.

The red-haired boy, the leader of the group, bows his head.

I responded in a clear voice, not trying to ingratiate myself.

Perhaps it was a good response, but the young people were relieved to have their nervousness completely removed, and they laughed at each other.

Thank you very much for your kindness. Your masks are really cool, too. Is that gold-colored armor over there really gold, too?

Hey, Gimla!　Don't ask rude questions!"

I know you're the leader, but honestly, you're all curious, aren't you?"

Wahahahaha!"　It is only natural that you would be curious about my golden armor!　By the way, is this armor really gold?

No, it's not. It is just a fake that looks like that. It is impossible for gold to cover the whole body in a normal way. And it makes no sense to make armor out of gold, which has low hardness.

Nemmu, who had been listening to the conversation, dismisses it out of hand on behalf of Gold.

The adventurers around her seemed to be convinced by her words, saying, "That's what common sense tells us.

In reality, however, the armor is actually a mixture of gold and rare metals to enhance its defensive capabilities while keeping its golden luster.

I don't need to bother to tell you.

The red-haired boy called the leader bows his head again.

I'm sorry," he said. I'm sorry that one of our party members was so rude to you.

I hope you don't mind," he said. Gold is also a hobby, or rather, I wear it as a ...... commitment and am often mistaken for it. I'm used to it now."

I let out a dry sound.

In fact, it is useless to paint over the color because the magical effect will repaint it golden, but that is what I am doing for the sake of appearances.

I have no problem with it as it is because it is in line with the purpose of making a name for myself as an adventurer.

It is a matter of course of course.

The young man in the leadership role took my line well and let it slide.

The surrounding adventurers will now be convinced that he is a "knight with a strange obsession.

To change the delicate atmosphere, the red-haired leader announces, "I'm going to go to the next level.

I don't mean to thank you for saving my life earlier, but this is your first time in this dungeon, isn't it?"

?"　Is it something you can tell by looking?"

I tilt my head to his point and ask.

He nodded with conviction.

There are many kinds of dungeons," he said. This dungeon is different from the others in that each floor is much larger than the others. So it is common to stay overnight in the dungeon. I thought that was so because you all don't have any outdoor supplies. So next time you dive, I suggest you bring along some outdoor lodging supplies with you."

If you ask me, they are not alone.

The adventurers around us also had their luggage for outdoor lodging in addition to their weapons and armor.

This is a common sight if you are going deep into a dungeon, but it would be impossible for you to stay in a shallow part of the dungeon for a day trip.

It is a very rare sight in other dungeons to see such rough-looking adventurers without anyone but themselves.

We had all been carrying "item boxes" and had become so accustomed to them that we had lost the concept of carry-on luggage.

I thanked the red-haired leader for the lesson.

Thank you very much for teaching me. I was going to dive in this time just to see how it went, but ...... I think we should prepare our own lodging supplies next time, too."

I am rather sorry that I could only teach you this after you helped me out so much."

No, it was really helpful.

Next!"

As we are conversing, it is the turn of the red-haired leader party to dive into the dungeon.

They rush forward, bowing to us in the back.

Soon it is our turn.

We are called to go into the dungeon, and as we proceed, we think.

(Item boxes are rare, so I wonder if "all three of us have one" is at all suspicious.　(Should one of us announce that we have an "item box," or should we prepare a package with outdoor supplies for a false appearance?)

We entered the dungeon, pondering which to choose and whether we had any other ideas.