Live Dungeon!

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[It’s starting to get some attention.]

Tsutomu stood silently, watching Haltto from Ealdred Crow on the monitor, the latter’s fingers tightening around the hilts of his Cosmo Alpha dual blades. Haltto’s prowess was undeniable, but it was the black-and-white swords in his hands that now commanded attention. Their impressive power was not lost on the handful of Explorers diving into the perilous Light and Darkness layers. As whispers spread, it became clear why: Cosmo Alpha could wield both light and dark elements, an unparalleled advantage in this dangerous new territory.

Until now, most challenges could be surmounted with gear scavenged from earlier layers, the progression relatively smooth. But here, in the abstract realm of Light and Darkness, that approach faltered. The first couple of layers were reasonably manageable with appropriate elemental coverage; the first signs of struggle appeared on the eighty-third layer. Silver Beast, despite their strong start, had hit a dead end there. Ealdred Crow, not so far ahead, was already faltering on the eighty-fourth. By the time any Clan reached the mid-boss on the eighty-fifth, ordinary equipment would be rendered practically useless — Ealdred Crow was rapidly approaching that grim realization.

Whispers of Haltto’s dual blades had already begun to ripple through the ranks of the Explorers. It was not just Haltto’s prowess that intrigued them, but the treasure itself — Cosmo Alpha, plucked from a chest in these very layers. Now, treasure chests of the Light and Darkness layers were coveted more than ever. Armaments from these chests would be essential for further progression. Tsutomu knew it would be best to equip his entire Clan with such rare finds, if possible.

[Still, treasure hunting is no simple task here…]

In this world, unlike the predictable grind of Live Dungeon, the treasure chests here were few and fickle — finding them was frustratingly unpredictable. Even if one were fortunate enough to discover a chest, there was more to consider: armor needed resizing depending on the opener, and the design itself differed depending on whether it was claimed by a man or woman.

So far, most of the necessary gear had circulated adequately through the market, and direct chest-hunting had only been crucial when specific items, like heat-resistant gear for the Mount Golem, were needed. But now, they had no choice but to chase after the elusive chests themselves.

Fortunately, with a skilled blacksmith or tailor, the gear could at least be altered to fit or dismantled for parts. For now, it seemed practical to have larger members like Daryl and Garm open the chests. However, equipment linked to the opener’s Job appeared more often, which made the thought of each member trying their own luck a tempting strategy.

In Live Dungeon, treasure could be farmed endlessly, and any piece desperately needed could simply be bought from the player-run market. But here, with so few Explorers even able to access the Light and Darkness layers, it was unlikely any sought-after equipment would trickle into circulation.

[Considering all that, the Adventurer Job is a lot more useful in this world,] Tsutomu mused. [If we could find a photographing machine, we’d make a killing, too…]

The Adventurer Job, with its naturally high LUK status rating, had always been useful for treasure hunting. Skills that boosted LUK even further made the job invaluable when it came to unearthing rare finds. Yet, the Job had remained unpopular — their other stats were mediocre, and they had few combat skills to speak of. Still, luck was on Tsutomu’s side — a single Adventurer he knew had made it into the Light and Darkness layers.

[Maybe I should talk to Misil…] Tsutomu’s thoughts turned to the leader of Silver Beast — Perhaps a collaboration was in order. Misil was a masterful Adventurer, his survival instincts honed from countless encounters in unfamiliar territory. Since the popularization of the Tank role, his ability to survive in battle had only sharpened with training and knowledge exchange among his peers.

Teaming up with Misil in the Dungeon would increase their odds of discovering treasure chests, in turn helping both of them progress more easily through the Light and Darkness layers. There was about a fifty percent chance they’d end up in the same area, if they entered the same layer simultaneously. Exploring together seemed a promising prospect.

Tsutomu already had some connections with Silver Beast, so arranging a meeting wouldn’t be difficult. He only needed to make the case for collaboration — As Silver Beast currently was unable to progress past the eighty-third layer, offering information and letting them take first dibs on the Black Gates would be tempting incentives.

And if that was not enough, Ealdred Crow’s advantage over them could be another bargaining chip: as a large organization, they had the ability to coordinate joint exploration among their many teams. Cooperation would be necessary to match their pace. If even that didn’t sway them, offering financial or technical support would surely do the trick. With a clear course of action in mind, Tsutomu consulted his Clan members. When no objections were raised, he resolved to approach Misil and seal the alliance.

▽▽

“Sure, count me in.”

“…That was quick. Don’t you need to check with your Clan first?”

Tsutomu, having broached the idea in the bustling Guild dining hall, blinked in surprise at Misil’s response. He scratched his head, caught off guard by the swiftness of it.

“We’ve been stuck for a while now, honestly. Like you mentioned, getting the right gear will make a difference, and teaming up with Absolute Helix gives us a better shot at finding the treasure chests we need. Plus, I’d rather not fall any further behind Ealdred Crow… And judging by how prepared you are, I’d say you were pretty determined to make this joint exploration happen, weren’t you?”

“Come on, no need to make it sound like I’m twisting your arm into signing a contract. This is good for both of us, so why not, right?” Tsutomu replied with a grin, waving the document he had pre-prepared in front of Misil’s face.

Misil narrowed his eyes, giving it a sharp glance.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s a good deal for both sides. Joint exploration won’t hurt anyone. But… seems to me like Absolute Helix is walking away with a slightly bigger slice of the pie, don’t you think?”

“Can’t deny that. Oh, and by the way, Misil — how’s your Clan handling the recent wave of migrants from the Royal Capital? I heard it’s been giving you a bit of a headache.”

“…You’ve really done your homework, huh?”

The influx from the Royal Capital had caused a stir in Dungeon City. More and more people, drawn by the allure of God’s Dungeon, had come to test their skills and luck. Nobles, too, had joined the fray, eager to make a name for themselves. The Guild thrived, but for many Clans, the sudden surge in Explorers brought new challenges.

Ealdred Crow had thrived in the chaos, expanding its ranks, while Golden Tune found themselves courted by women vying for Leon’s attention. Even Scarlet Devil Squad started holding fresh recruitment trials. Absolute Helix, supported by the influential Babenberg family, stood mostly unaffected by the wave of newcomers. But Silver Beast, still mid-tier and relatively vulnerable, found itself a prime target for these eager migrants and nobles.

Their recent skirmish with wealthy merchants over Ice Magic Stones from the Snow Field layers had been particularly grueling, and although Silver Beast had managed to hold its ground, it was clear they weren’t entirely used to handling such situations.

On top of it all, Misil had his eye on a few orphans from the Royal Capital, hoping to bring them into the Clan — a move that only added layers to the already complicated matters. It was clear Misil was grappling with the weight of it all.

“I could introduce you to some people with the right connections. How about that?”

“…I’m sure there’s more you could offer, but right now, that’s THE thorn in my side. All right, I’ll take you up on it.”

“Perfect. Then if you could sign here, please.” Tsutomu slid the contract across the table.

And so, the alliance between Absolute Helix and Silver Beast was sealed.

▽▽

The following day, the newspapers buzzed with news of the joint exploration between Absolute Helix and Silver Beast. The featured photograph captured the pivotal moment when members of the two Clans sealed their alliance with a handshake. Tsutomu and Lorena, their hands clasped in agreement, stood at the center of the image.

In the dining hall of her own Clan, Stephanie sat staring at the photo, her expression an unreadable mask. Around her feet, her skill wisps flared with restless energy, though she herself remained composed — far removed from the days when she struggled to control her emotions.

This newfound calm stemmed from a realization that had taken root within her recently. For days, she had been consumed by frustration — no matter how hard she worked as a Healer, no matter how indisputably skilled she was, Tsutomu never seemed to acknowledge her. Seeing how he praised others, she had even begun to wonder if his gaze had been clouded by some other woman, blinding him to the truth — that she, too, was deserving of his recognition.

[Why would he, of all people, align himself with a Clan like Silver Beast, which houses that lazy rabbit? Sure, Silver Beast has its merits — they take in orphaned beastkin, offering them shelter and a chance at a better life — a way to use their formidable abilities for good rather than turning to crime. Admirable, yes, but as Explorers? They’re pathetic. Lorena, the so-called Mobile Healer with her famed speed, still wastes a day each week training with weaker teams, squandering time on the unworthy… It’s no wonder they’re stuck at the eighty-third layer. And the rest of Silver Beast? Equally unimpressive. In Ealdred Crow, none of them would even break into the top ranks… So why had Mister Tsutomu chosen to team up with such mediocrity?]

There had been moments when Stephanie wondered if she had misjudged him, if her admiration had grown into something unfounded, an idealized version of the man he could never live up to.

[No… NO! That’s impossible! He entrusted me with something so brilliant! How could I have doubted him? Oh, Mister Tsutomu… I’m so sorry…]

Her doubts melted away each time she returned to the documents Tsutomu had given her at the end of her apprenticeship — pages filled with insights, strategies, a veritable Healer’s bible. Every word was infused with his wisdom, gained through his experience in Live Dungeon. It was sacred to her. No one capable of such brilliance could ever be insignificant. That belief rooted itself firmly within her once more, and she wept in shame for ever having questioned him.

With her faith in Tsutomu fully restored, Stephanie was now consumed by a new struggle — how to mend the rift between them. She still felt the sting of his shocked, borderline disgusted look the last time they met at the Guild, a look that had made her feel like being plunged into hell. She couldn’t comprehend why he had gazed at her that way.

Later that day, alone in her room, she clung to her collection of photos of Tsutomu, using them to keep her fractured sanity intact. But the wounds were still raw, and she knew they wouldn’t heal until the real Tsutomu acknowledged her once again, offering her the comfort only he could provide. She became determined to fix things, no matter the cost.

As she wrestled with her thoughts, her mind veered wildly between fantasies of seductive moments with him and darker, more unsettling schemes. But in the end, she always returned to the same conclusion — her path lay in the Dungeon.

[If I can surpass Mister Tsutomu as a Healer, he’ll have no choice but to notice me, she resolved. Even if he hates me, he won’t be able to ignore my skill. That’s where I’ll begin!]

After all, even those he disliked, like Eunice, still earned his attention. Tsutomu would watch them on the Monitors, tracking their progress. Even strangers, like Kisaragi, who had been an unknown name before Ealdred Crow’s public assessment, piqued his interest. From her time as his apprentice, Stephanie knew one thing for certain: Tsutomu was drawn to anything related to God’s Dungeon. If someone rose above him, he would undoubtedly take notice.

[Agh…!]

Just the thought of Tsutomu watching her filled Stephanie with a giddy warmth, her face brightening with a hopeful, almost delirious, smile. It was that hope that now fueled her, driving her deeper into the Dungeon’s depths.

▽▽

[I timed that perfectly!] Stephanie thought as she refreshed a buff mere seconds before it expired. [Wasn’t that impressive, Mister Tsutomu? Look at me! Look at me, ALWAYS!]

From that day forward, Stephanie began casting glances into the God Eye after every well-executed play, her gaze dreamy and expectant, earning her a peculiar reputation for her almost overzealous interaction with the unseen audience.

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