CH 143

Usually when we reach a staircase close to midnight, we rest and go down the next day, but boss floors are different. Of course, depending on what monsters appear, sometimes it’s a good idea to go straight down anyway.

Rooms that are multiples of ten are always boss floors. They always have a boss room and two safety zones.

I guess it would be pretty bad if the boss room was right after the staircase. Even worse if a small party like ours had to stay the night on a floor like that where monsters seem to spawn infinitely.

It gets me thinking that even the dungeon has a conscience. Then again, it’s not like this system can’t be bad either.

Like what’s happening right now. A few parties are waiting for the boss room to be available.

Once a party enters a boss room, it closes and won’t open until the party is wiped out or the boss is defeated. Boss battles can take more than half a day depending on how strong the party is, and if you’re unlucky, you can end up waiting for a long time.

Wouldn’t it be better for some parties to just go make money on other floors? Apparently not, because the treasure chests that drop in boss rooms are very appealing, and so is the idea of getting rich quickly.

Parties that choose to go for boss floors are often looked at with disdain, but there’s always parties who weigh the probability that they’ll beat the boss against the probability that they’ll die, go after bosses.

And because of that, a certain business of sorts is running rampant. People who act as proxies and sleep in boss floors to secure a place in line.

I don’t know if the guild knows about this, but it’s pretty much implicitly decided at this point who gets to use the boss room on the tenth floor.

We learn about this after having dinner, when the door to the boss room opens and no one tries to go in.

“Sorry, it’s already been decided who goes next.”

We’re told, and after thirty minutes, a party comes running and pays the man.

They hand over some food too, and go in the boss room. They do this like it’s trivial, and something they’ve done many times before.

Maybe it would be a good idea to use the device and go back for now, but who knows when we’ll get to fight the boss if we do, so we choose to stay.

Actually, should we go back and report this to the guild? Then again what are the chances that they’ve worked everything out beforehand in case a party tells on them? Especially a new party.

We end up spending the night here, taking turns to keep watch, and waiting for tomorrow morning to challenge the boss.

But it’s the same thing as before, and it happens three times in a row. It’s been an hour since the boss room opened, and no one is going in.

“Hey, if no one’s going, can’t we just go in?”

“No, the order has already been decided.”

I see some guys giggling.

“But no one’s here.”

“That’s how we do things. Rookies like you need to just shut up and follow our system. You can just leave if you have a problem with that. Or you can lend us those girls for a night and we’ll think about it.”

He says while looking at them like he’s licking them with his eyes.

Ou… I’m feeling bloodlust behind me, but these guys don’t seem bothered by it at all. Do they just not notice it?

“Does the guild know about this?”

“Who knows? It’s never been a problem, right?”

He says, asking for the other guys’ approval, and they all nod.

“Then I’m going to report this to them. I saw the parties going in, so I’m going to report them along with your names.”

I use Appraisal and make sure I remember them. Even though I’d love to forget right away.

“Hou, is that a threat?”

The mood here is taking a turn for the violent.

“No, it’s not a threat. We’re not demanding anything from you, we’re just going to report you.”

It’s starting to feel like a fight could break out at any moment, but then a party arrives.

“Hn? Did something happen?”

“Well, sir, actually…”

These adventurers seem a bit old, and although they have nice equipment, their levels are low. Lower than Mia’s even. What’s with them?

“Hey hey, is this your first time here? We have rules, and we can’t have you break them.”

“Who made those rules? The guild? You?”

“Damn kid, is that any way to talk to your elders? We’re B ranked adventurers. Do you know what that means? We can crush you.”

People around us start getting riled up. It feels like he really believes he’s strong. Is there a problem with the guild here or something?

“Well, we’re generous, so you can go if you lend us those girls. Go alone, of course.”

They burst out laughing, but quickly quiet down.

There’s a heavy sound, and suddenly the guy in front of me is gone. He got blown away into a wall and lost consciousness.

Sera is standing where he was, after swinging her axe. Did she hit him with the side of the axe? If she hit him with the blade, there would be blood everywhere.

Sera is standing silently and glaring, and the frightened men take a step back.

Hn… Is this because last night while we were having dinner I casually said that Rurika and Chris might be reaching Majolica soon?

“Sera…”

I call out to her, and she turns around and casts down her eyes.

It’s not like I blame you or anything. I was getting pretty mad too.

“What do we do now? We’re pretty on edge after waiting for so long. Crush, he said? That means we can do the same, right?”

The glares make the men take another step back.

“What do you think, Hikari? What if there’s a guy in front of us we don’t like? This is a dungeon, and there’s a boss room in front of us. What would happen if we broke all their weapons, and took all their potions and their food. What would happen?”

“Nothing they didn’t deserve.”

“I see, they deserve it. Then there’s no problem. Especially that guy that just flew away, he can go three days without drinking or eating.”

I glare harder, and they start shaking. They’re starting to see where they stand.

“Who’s using the boss room next? You? Or is it you?”

I ask different parties, and they all say no. I guess it’s our turn then.

“Ah, and Drak, is it? We’re moving on, but go back and report what you’ve been doing to the guild within half a day. We’ll probably go talk to them about it too.

I don’t know how long you’ve been here, so I have no idea when you can use that device.”

I say as we head to the boss room.

I hear something behind us, but I think it’s safe to say we can ignore it.

When the four of us are in, the door starts closing on its own behind us.

How is it making that decision?

Once the door is fully closed, something that looks like a magic circle runs through the ground, and a bright light fills the room.