Master Bell! Over there!
Take out that nest!
FIRE BOLT!
Stay sharp!
There are more incoming!
Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV
The Great Falls
Hey Ouka? What exactly are we doing all of this for?
Is it a ritual to keep monsters at bay?
I don't think that's quite right...
We're doing it to take advantage of the dungeon's nature.
I only recently learned about this myself, but...
destroying the terrain causes the dungeon to focus its
attention on repairing that first,
meaning it will stop spawning monsters for a brief time.
Oh wow.
You're so amazing, Mr. Bell!
Huh?
I mean, you're even the one who defeated the most
monsters on our way down here.
I always knew you were something special, but...
B-but now, it's like you're super special!
I agree. Adventurers at level 4 are
in a whole different league.
Yes, I think so as well!
The way that you move is different
from during the War Game...
Uh, I'm not sure how to put it.
His moves are sharper.
Is that what you mean, Lady Cassandra?
Yes! That's exactly it!
It's really incredible!
Uh, thanks, you guys.
Okay! Enough chitchat!
Everybody get back to work on the double!
What's got you worried? Is it me?
Yes.
I could sense that you had a very difficult time
when it came to matters involving the Xenos.
I was concerned that you couldn't fight
against monsters anymore.
And so, I must admit that seeing how
you acted on our way down here was a surprise.
I decided that being a hypocrite was the best choice.
You're a hypocrite, Little Rookie!
Those who are vilified as hypocrites…
They are the ones who have the makings of a hero.
Defeating other monsters in order to save the Xenos...
It may be wrong, and some people may vilify me for it,
but I feel like being a hypocrite is what I should do.
Master Bell...
What's with the long face?
I don't see any reason to be so concerned.
He's gonna be fine.
I know that!
Master Bell has become remarkably more...
well, dependable than he used to be.
Yet, at the same time,
I can't help but feel like he's drawing
further away from me.
That doesn't change what a Supporter should do.
You just have to keep chasing after him
and providing the assistance he needs. Isn't that right?
I'll be up in the front, staying by his side.
Actually, I'm gonna work to outclass him.
Try not to get left in the dust.
Th-that won't be a problem!
Because I'm his Supporter and
the best partner he's ever had!
I would never let a louse like you get
the better of me, Master Welf!
Now that's more like it.
Okay, enough with the punching!
All right!
Bell Cranel's presence is having a positive
influence on the party as a whole.
He's not just pulling them along with his strength,
he's encouraging his allies and making sure
they all share the same commitment,
which stimulates their growth.
Well, damn.
That pretty much just makes him a hero, doesn't it?
Let's dig in!
Please eat as much as you like!
There's plenty of extra helpings to go around!
I'm sorry you have to be all alone over there, Mr. Bell.
No worries! I'm enjoying the food!
I asked Lady Aisha for help to add medicinal herbs and
fruits that grow in the dungeon to this dish,
and I have to say it turned out quite tasty!
Yeah. It's a unique flavor, but I like it.
I've never had anything like this, even outside of Orario.
There are no ingredients like this out in the Far East.
The dungeon sure is mysterious!
Master Ouka, you should be praising
the cooks for their work instead!
Particularly, Lady Chigusa.
Huh?
Ms. Lili! Don't concern yourself with me!
Excuse me. The food is quite delicious,
but aren't you concerned about using too much water?
I've had bad experiences like that before.
Running out of water mid-expedition and being forced
to turn back after coming so far...
There are a number of springs on
these levels where we can get water.
And even more if we proceed further down.
We don't have to worry about different factions stealing
water from each other like the Apollon Familia.
That would just be silly.
If you say so...
Shush! Quit drudging up bad memories!
She's right!
I have to say, this feels very strange.
Washing dishes in the middle of the dungeon.
Indeed. It almost feels like we're back at home.
Anyway, we've made it all the way down to the 24th floor.
That's the end of the middle floors.
I doubt we would have made such quick progress
without Master Bell in our party.
I was so overjoyed.
When Master Bell came and asked us to join the
expedition, so that we could grow stronger together.
I'm still just a fledgling sorcerer,
but I want to prove useful to Master Bell.
Although I may end up being a hindrance
to you and the others, Lady Mikoto.
Don't be ridiculous.
Come what may, I fully intend to protect you
with my life, Lady Haruhime.
Oh Mikoto...
I made sure to get fighting fit. Lord Takemikazuchi put
me through some really rigorous training, let me tell you!
Whaddya think, Bell?
Are you finding Hakugen easy to use?
It's the absolute best!
I was honestly stunned by how impressive it is.
It cuts through even the toughest monsters
like a knife through butter!
Well yeah, I used a unicorn horn to make it after all.
But the Lil Squeak gave me a tongue lashing for it.
She says I shouldn't give you any preferential treatment.
Done. Let's see your other one.
I'm trying to get used to wielding Hakugen,
so I haven't used the Goddess' knife much at all...
I figured. But it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
Say, Welf. That knife was made from mithril, right?
Yep.
Not only is it easy material to work with,
but it also has high magic conductivity.
It's one of the best ingots you can get.
But even though it transmits magic well,
that doesn't mean it can be magically empowered.
The blade will just disperse any magic
that you try to imbue it with.
Here.
So it has high magic conductivity,
but it can't store any of it... hm.
You've done even better than I expected.
Your orders were very precise
and nobody doubted them.
It's just like I figured. You're perfect for a strategist.
Thank you.
I owe it all to you for teaching me
what I needed to know before we left.
There's only one problem...
We're about to enter the lower floors, which
are something that even we don't have experience with.
That makes it hard to predict what will happen.
And the strategist needs to take the worst
possible scenarios into account.
Worst possible scenarios?
Yeah. The dungeon is a cruel tyrant.
There are going to be times
when you have to be heartless.
That being said, I think you're capable
of making level-headed decisions.
I still felt an awful sense of foreboding
even after I woke up.
And no matter what I say to Daphne,
she just won't believe me!
Oh? Was your dream really that horrifying?
I saw this very creepy green moss that grew
and spread all over everything!
It's definitely a sign of bad things to come!
It's going to be okay.
No matter what happens, our party can handle it.
Ms. Chigusa?
So just relax and let's go to sleep...
Sure...
It's time for the shift change.
Oh?
Doesn't feel like it's been that long.
Thank you, Ms. Aisha.
I'm glad that we have you on this expedition.
Don't mention it.
More importantly, we're only a stone's throw away
from the passage that can take us further down.
We'll be launching our attack
on the lower floors tomorrow.
The lower floors...
This party depends entirely on you.
If you bite the dust out there,
the whole party will follow suit.
So I'm giving you fair warning.
The part of the dungeon that we're about
to enter is an entirely different beast.
The lower floors, and the deep floors...
The father down that you adventure,
the clearer you will come to realize just how brutal
and insane the dungeon really is.
Bell Cranel.
Are you truly ready to step foot into that kind of world?
Coexistence between humanity and the Xenos
is impossible until the deepest level of
the dungeon has been conquered.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid.
Still...
I want to keep pressing on!
That's the kind of expression I like to see.
It's even better than before.
Whoa...
The 25th floor, Water City...
So these are...
the Great Falls?
That humongous waterfall continues
all the way down through the 27th floor.
As you can see, there's basically no chance
of survival if you fall, so watch your step.
I definitely will...
Just how long does this path go on for?
Per the map, we should be
reaching a side tunnel shortly.
After we enter that, Lady Aisha said that things
should return to the usual maze-like layout.
Is that the spot where we came in from?
The scale of everything in here is so big,
it really screws with your distance perception.
There's so much water here, where does it all go?
I know the dungeon is supposed to be incredibly vast,
but it feels like it should overflow at some point.
From what I understand, the majority of it eventually
flows out into a lake that's near Orario.
And I heard that long ago, aquatic monsters actually
expanded out into the sea through that route.
In which case, there must be monsters lurking
within the water of these falls as well.
It seems so.
Okay, everyone. It's time to review our mission.
The items we need to retrieve are:
ten shells from Blue Crabs.
Along with three fins from Aqua Serpents
or thirty fangs from Raider Fish.
Or if we aim for rare monsters,
then we just need one mystic crystal of the Carbuncle.
If we choose resources, we need to gather
a thousand grads of Azure Stone.
As for the expedition itself, we've already made it
as far as we need to for the floor requirement.
I don't think it's necessary for us
to push further and try to reach the 26th floor.
I agree with that.
Everything's gone smoothly so far,
but this is unexplored territory for us.
Exactly.
For the rest of our expedition, I suggest we use the
campground on the 24th floor from yesterday as a base,
and come down here each day
to gradually explore the 25th floor.
Master Bell,
does that work for you?
Yeah. Sounds good.
There are rapids that run
across various areas on this floor.
Although we're equipped with the Undine Cloth
to help protect against water-based attacks,
it's best to exercise caution.
As much as I hate to bring this up right now...
aside from Lady Aisha, we prepared supplies and
equipment for everyone including the Undine Cloths,
a newly-made Goliath Robe,
and an extravagant amount of rare items
that Master Welf bought to craft new gear.
Needless to say, it ended up
costing us a REALLY hefty sum!
Remember that!
You're going to have to work
EXTRA hard on this expedition
and help us recoup the money that
was spent to come in the first place!
To be blunt, anyone who lets themselves get defeated
by monsters is just wasting precious time!
M-Ms. Lili is so intimidating...
Well, provided that our expedition ends as planned,
we should easily be able to earn that and then some.
Get ready. We have company.
Blue Crabs!
Creepy! I've never seen a crab walk straight like that!
No time for talk!
Look, we've already got two Blue Crab Shells!
What a great start!
I gotta say that was kind of anticlimactic for being
our first battle on the lower floors.
We shouldn't let it go to our heads, though.
It's crazy... there really is water flowing
just about everywhere on this floor.
Remember that it's not the water
you have to worry about.
Anyway, just be careful because a fall
from here could cost you your life.
R-right, I'll watch my step.
It really does move fast.
Falling in would send you downstream in no time.
That is part of the problem,
but the real danger comes from the monsters.
Spend too long treading water and you'll die
in agony after becoming their plaything.
P-plaything?!
All of the water that flows on this floor
is connected to the Great Falls.
Even if you manage to escape the monsters,
you'll almost certainly be smashed into a
bloody pulp if you fall down towards the basin.
Yikes. It's scary just thinking about it!
Aquatic monsters have the home-field
advantage when underwater.
We'd have no hope of putting up a fight against them.
Also, be sure to take great care whenever you walk
along the water's edge like this.
What for, exactly?
Smooth move, Absolute Shadow!
Seems like you'll be just fine protecting
that bungling little fox on your own.
I swore to Lady Haruhime just last night
that I would keep her safe,
no matter what came at us.
Mikoto, my savior!
Uh, um, th-thanks?
Hey! Look over there, Bell!
Is that what I think it is?
Under Coral?!
I remember reading in the field guide that
this is the only place it can be found.
That's right!
I saw it once before when I paid
Goddess Hephaistos a visit.
I think it would make good material for a weapon.
Is there any way we could get some?
Don't be ridiculous, Master Welf!
We just saw what kind of threat the water here poses!
There's too much risk in trying to cross it just for that!
I bet we could sell that Under Coral
for a small fortune.
Wow. There's actually an Under Pearl
stuck inside of it, too.
Very well! Let's hurry across and get as much as we can!
You're ticking me off, Lil Squeak.
I wasn't expecting the two of us to get saddled with
fetching duty.
Well, we don't have any specialists like
a thief or a scout in our party.
Whoa, there it is! I see an Under Pearl in here!
Please make your way back soon!
Being too greedy will only land us in big trouble!
That's rich coming from you!
Sure thing! We're coming back now!
Was that a somersault?!
That was a crazy move you used back there!
It's a martial art technique that Lord Takemikazuchi
was kind enough to teach me before we left.
It certainly came in handy!
Sweet! This is some high-quality stuff!
No kidding! I think this alone could fetch upwards of
3 million valis!
Better yet, you could pawn it off
for 3.5 million with enough smooth talking.
D-did you say three and a half million valis?!
Hooray for expeditions! Hooray for the lower floors!
Ms. Lili, your eyes are scaring me...
Now it's really starting to feel like an expedition.
I sure hope Bell is doing okay out there.
They say the middle floors and lower floors are worlds
apart.
I wish I could have given him more info.
Quests like these are really on the rise lately...
Search parties looking for
missing people on the lower floors.
If I remember right, Mr. Luvis and Mr. Dormul were also
in parties that were heading for
the lower floors to perform a search.
Maybe I'm just overthinking it, but...
I hope it's nothing serious.
We're still on the same floor, but the terrain keeps
going up and down. It's such a bizarre layout.
And it feels like we've walked pretty far in...
It's dangerous for us to get too deep
on our first day of exploring.
Let's get ready to turn back after making a little
more progress.
Good point. We still haven't even gone
halfway through the established route.
Is it an adventurer?
Seems like it.
But from what I heard, there should be no other
Familia doing an expedition that overlaps with ours.
I recognize him!
It's Mr. Luvis!
Battle positions.
He's acting strange.
H-help...
STOP IT!
It's reading all my moves?!
This thing is different than any monster
we've fought today.
Wait a second!
Is it an enhanced species?!
Don't go in too deep!
Backup is on the way!
No, don't!
You must... run!
Avoid that attack...
Don't get hit!
Lady Chigusa!
I don't believe it. The monster ran away?!
Chigusa!
Hang in there, Chigusa!
It's the green moss...
that will engulf everything...
Next Time
Parasite
Viscum Album
Next time: Parasite.