Iris -- the same reincarnation as Xellos.
　No, it's possible that she's a transferee, but either way, she was definitely a player of [Sword and Sorcery].
　She is currently...

"Fire Arrow!

　--she is in the middle of a request from the mercenary guild.
　Recently, the power of her magic has increased, and she successfully killed an orc with a single blow.

I'm not sure what to make of .......
I'm not sure what to make of it. It was powerful enough for my taste.
Yeah. It was powerful enough to make the pretty boys stare at you. I was so jealous. ......
I think Lena meant something else when she said she was jealous.

　The usual party of three women, including Iris, had been asked to investigate the type of monster at an abandoned mine site in the village of Arhan.
　This abandoned mine used to mine ore, but as the number of monsters that inhabited the mine increased, the miners were unable to move on, and the mine was closed.
　When I came here with Xellos, we noticed that this abandoned mine was turning into a dungeon, and we reported it to the mercenary guild.
　Perhaps it was because of their efforts, but for some reason, they began to receive requests for investigations like this from time to time.
　It sounds good to say that we've gained the guild's trust, but in reality, it's just a headcount factor due to the shortage of manpower, and we're sent to a large abandoned mine as investigators for menial tasks.
　Still, the pay was good, so the three of them accepted the job without complaint.

They are ...... why are they following us?
It's not because they want you, is it?　You know some of them, don't you?　You mean all of them?
Yes. There's one girl, but the rest I don't know. Maybe they're following us to make a map. And I know I seem to be a random person, but I don't go out with the same girl more than three times.
"What?

　Of course, what?
　I don't mind that the six boys are following me, but frankly, they're getting in the way.
　The dungeon is a dangerous place for the inexperienced boys, as high-level monsters can suddenly appear.
　In the job of a mercenary, where self-responsibility is the norm, no one is held responsible for the deaths of those who step into the danger zone unintentionally. It's also a tough job that kills more than a few recruits every year.
　And this is a dungeon. You never know where danger may lurk.

[Trap Search] ....... Oh, there's a shooter on the far right. Let's go along the left wall.
"It's good to have Iris around, isn't it? But be careful how much magic you have left.
She'll be fine. Iris has been trained by those coccoons and she won't be slowed down by a half-hearted monster.
I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to try. I'm not sure what to make of this.　I'm not sure what to make of it.　I'm sure you'll agree with me.
"That's a new one on me. For that matter, where did you get it?

　Iris, who was training with the hungry homeless children of the church, had seen Wu Kei and the others bring their trophies from somewhere after killing monsters.
　One day they're gone, the next day they're there, so it's likely they're hunting nearby, but Iris and the others don't know where the lizards, whose heads alone are over a meter long, live.
　The range of its activities was a mystery.

But let's put that mysterious creature on hold. ....... We don't know what kind of monsters are still out there. Both of you be very careful.
"I know. Jaune's a worrier.
The general structure of the tunnel is the same as before, but it looks like it's been expanded, so we can't be too careful.
What are they going to do?　Just being near Lena is dangerous. ......
That's rude. I'd choose a place to have s*x. But dungeons are thrilling, at least once. ......
Lena!　You can't play outdoors, the guards will catch you!

　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's interested in this. If it becomes a habit, she'll be a complete lascivious woman.
　But then again, Lena does have a sense of moderation. Although she can't be trusted in terms of her s*xuality, Iris wants to trust her as a friend.

"Let's be careful.

　In these explorations, Janae is the leader.
　Normally, a party of only women would be basically underpowered, but Janae and the others were not so weak that they would struggle on the upper levels.
　Janae has a great ability to search for enemies and to control them with a single blow in case of emergency, Lena is a good all-rounder who can act as a vanguard and a mid-range guard, and also serves as a record keeper, and Iris is well-balanced in terms of magical support attacks and trap detection.
　Of course, the more people you have, the easier it will be to explore, but dungeons are often cramped spaces, and the number of members can be a disadvantage.
　Since we have no intention to include men in our group, the new members will inevitably be women, but it will not be easy to find women who are as skilled as these three.
　Iris and the others were emphasizing the importance of being light.

What?　There's some ...... grass growing here.
"This is a mine. There's something wrong.
"Is it a spatial field dungeon?　I've heard of large dungeons with vast forests underneath, so it wouldn't surprise me if the abandoned mine dungeons of Arhan turned into something like that.



　A dungeon is a vast field where all the monsters are one and the same, waiting for their prey to come to them with food inside.
　There are two main types of dungeons: the first creates grasslands and attracts herbivores and eventually carnivores to create an ecosystem, and the second summons more demons and uses their transformed weapons and materials to fish for humans.
　Both types of dungeons are the same in that they feed on the lives of living creatures, but if they are creating vast fields in subspace, it is highly likely that these dungeons are quite large.

You'll be able to collect medicinal herbs.
"But it's going to be more dangerous than that. But it's going to be more dangerous than that, because at this point we have no idea how far the dungeon has been expanded.
If we assume that it's still changing, the map we've made so far might be useless. Now, I wonder what's going to happen next.

　As the three of them walked forward, they saw a grassy field in the underworld.
　The ceiling was as bright as if it were daytime, and in some places a forest had sprung up.
　There were already monsters inhabiting the ornaments, and carnivorous monsters with sharp fangs were running around, aiming at the monsters. It is a tiger-shaped monster called a [Saberei].
　It is a monster that you should be careful of in the grasslands and forests because its fangs and fur are useful, but it is fierce anyway, and sometimes a novice mercenary is unlucky enough to run into it and not return.

I'm not sure what to make of the size of ....... What does a dungeon look like?
I've heard that they create a special area in a small space.　I don't know much about it.
How big is it?　I don't know, but I don't know how big it is.

　Lena muttered, looking deep into the cavity from which she had emerged.
　In the shadows of a slightly crooked rocky outcrop, she saw a group of young mercenaries who she thought had not been found yet.
　It would be dangerous to go any further, so in their position, they had to warn them. This is the duty of the mercenaries registered with the guild.
　If they still don't back down, it's their own fault.

"Guys, we know you're following us!　Stop hiding and come out!

　Jaune shouted, 'Geez, they found us! I told you not to do this,' and so on, and then he emerges from behind the rocky shore, frustrated and resigned.

We'll talk about taking advantage of others and making the map easier later. Don't go any further. I can't guarantee your lives from here on out.
"That's fine. You're stingy.
More men means more power, right?　I think we're safer than three women.
Lena, we're coming with you. ......

　I'm not sure if it's because they're young or because they're just starting out, but they're so focused on getting credit that they've neglected the idea of getting home alive.
　It's true that Janae and the others are three women. But they're good at what they do.
　The trouble is, the boys don't seem to realize that they're slowing them down.
　The dungeon is not the kind of place where Janné and the others can take care of these boys. To put it bluntly, they were a nuisance, but they couldn't just abandon them.

You know what? ....... I'm here on a guild investigation request. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.　Every mercenary acts at his own risk. If you don't take my advice and die, that's up to you and you can do whatever you want. But I'll tell you one more time. If you just want to get off easy, get the hell out of here. We don't want you to die on your own and blame us for it.
Why? !　You've got kids our age over there.
I'm trained, and my rank is C, which is higher than yours.　If you're a beginner, you're an F or E, right?　What's the difference?
"What? If you're close in age and have a C rank, we'll be right there with you.

　The boys underestimated Iris.
　The boys underestimated Iris and even underestimated the work of a mercenary.

"Hey ....... There's a cow with big horns coming this way.
"What?

　A big cow running at full speed while making a cloud of dust.
　It was the Great Horned Buffalo, the Destroyer of the Steppe.

Yay!　I can eat meat for a while.
I think I've got something for Lou.
I wonder if it's that beef bowl Xelloss made once?　I'm sure we'll have it again.

　The three of them, who often visit the old man's house behind the church, sometimes have dinner with Xelloss.
　Well, it was unclear what kind of ingredients Xelloss used in his cooking, but Rena remembered the beef bowl as it was usually delicious. 　

"Okay, let's get a head start!　Red lightning!

　Iris took the first move.
　It's actually a magic called [Lightning Flame], but Iris, like the hero of a certain anime, shoots a half-plasma flame at the Great Horned Buffalo.
　The direct hit caused an explosion and a cloud of dust generated by the impact.

Yes, this is exactly how to activate a goofy magic.
"Hey, Iris ......, that cow is alive, okay?　And it's just slowing down and it's running right into me?
"Oh, really?　I was pretty serious when I shot it. ......


"I guess it's my turn now. Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea. The huge horn would not be enough to injure him even if he were to snatch it.
　However, Jahné was ready to meet the buffalo fiercely, clothed his beloved greatsword with magic power, and swung it at the horn.
　Normally, this would be suicidal, but destroying a demon's weapon, such as its horn or shell, is one of its usual methods. She was merely following suit.
　Jaune's greatsword was a weapon strengthened by Zeroth, and its strength rivaled that of a master craftsman. Perhaps even more so.
　The huge horn and the greatsword collide.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

　While struggling to withstand the impact, Jarnay swung his greatsword with all his might and successfully slashed the horn of the Great Horned Buffalo.
　The Great Horned Buffalo staggered, as if it had lost one of the horns on its head and lost its center of gravity, and at the same time, its thrusting power suddenly dropped.

"B-MOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Don't let him get away!
I got it!

　Lena, who had been following Jaune, approached the Great Horned Buffalo as it tried to get into position and stabbed it with a dagger.
　The dagger is coated with a fast-acting paralyzing poison, a standard attack often used to block the movement of large monsters.

I won't let you go. [Gaia Lance]

　Iris's magic Gaia Lance is activated from directly below, piercing deep into the Great Horned Buffalo's abdomen.
　The giant bull monster let out a screeching cry.

"That's it!

　With a large swing, he sliced off the Great Horned Buffalo's head with his greatsword.

It's over. Let's dismantle this thing.
We need to do this quickly before the dungeon absorbs us. ....... Dungeons are a pain in the ass at times like this. You can't even dismantle them slowly.
"And there's a time limit. But we've gotten stronger, haven't we? We wouldn't have been able to beat them before, would we?
That's true. He's a big guy so we can expect some magic rocks. Let's see what we can get for it.

　The party of women happily began to dismantle the large cow.
　Iris, who grew up in a different world, seems to have gotten used to the dismantling process by now.

What do you do with the head?　I think they use the brains to tan the hide. ......
What about the brains?　I've heard that cow brains are delicious.
I think an old man once said something like that: ......

　There are some species of demons that can use up all of their materials.
　In particular, for bovine demons, the horns are used for weapons, the skin is used for various armor and leather goods, and the meat is eaten for food. Bones can also be used for soup stock, fertilizer, and armor.
　Well, there are few mercenaries who would use armor made of bones, but...
　The three of them had become very strong.

"Well, ....... I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.
「「「「「「............」」」」」」

　As he continued to dismantle, Janné called out to the boys from earlier.
　They seemed to have escaped and then returned, but they were unable to answer Jarnay's question. They couldn't answer his questions because they knew that it would be suicide to do so.

I'll stop at ....... We're not going to make it from here.
That's wise. In the mercenary profession, the bravest die first, you know?　It's the timid, the cautious, the smart ones who rise to the top. Didn't you learn your lesson?
"...... Hi.
Oh, ......, Lena. You're a goddess. Me, me, me. ......
I'm not ...... trained enough.
I'm gonna die.
I told you, I can't do it.

　I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've seen it before.
　If they proceeded any further, a demon comparable to the Great Horned Buffalo might appear, and if they followed Jarnay and the others, they would surely be slowed down, and if a stronger demon appeared, they would not be able to escape.
　They tried to make a map using cunning tricks, but the boys turned pale when they finally realized that they had stepped into the danger zone.
　If Jahné and the others hadn't noticed them, they might have died in this vast alien space without being warned.

We still have some research to do, so we'll move on, but you guys better get back.　It's a business with a high mortality rate for young people, you know?
"Okay. ....... I'm sorry, I just didn't think you were that strong.
I'm sorry, I didn't think you were that strong." "Well, you seem to be close in age, so you can't help but think by your own standards. But you have to remember that there are exceptions to every rule.
I'll be careful next time. Well, we'll be back. Sorry to interrupt.

　The boys went back the way they came.

You've got a good heart.


"There's a difference between being cunning and being smart. You're lucky there was no accident.
Iris, put the meat in your inventory. If the dungeon digests it, you'll lose a lot of money.
Oops, that's right.

　After quickly collecting today's harvest, the three of them began to explore again.
　Avoiding combat with the demons as much as possible, they did a thorough mapping and recorded the demons they hadn't seen in the previous dungeon.
　The ecosystem had completely changed, and a variety of demons could be seen.
　For example, there are more forest-dwelling species such as the standard Orcs and Goblins, Venom Vipers (giant snakes), and Big Kobolds.
　There are also insects such as spiders and ants, but I was surprised to find cold-dwelling monsters such as coldworms and ice ropers.

I was surprised to find out that there were even cold worm and ice roper demons.　I've heard of dungeons changing, but on such a large scale, it makes me a little nervous. I'm afraid of what will happen after the change is over.
"Oh?　You're scared too, Jarnae. I thought you'd be happy to have an affordable hunting ground.
There's also the danger of a stampede. The bigger the dungeon, the harder it is to control.
If that happens, the first to suffer will be the surrounding villages and the city of Santor. I'm sure Mr. Xelloss will be fine.
"Why is that old man's name mentioned here?

　Of course, it's because I've been to the bottom of the abandoned mines of Arhan before and survived.
　According to the story, he used a large scale of magic, so Rena thought that even if a demonic outburst occurred, it would be manageable.
　However, if such a situation occurs, the damage to the rest of the city will be terrible. .......

Hmmm ...... I've been investigating this far, but I don't see any mineral deposits.
That's definitely a problem. If you can find deposits in the labyrinth, you'll get requests from artisans to mine, and a lot of mercenaries will come here. The village of Arhan will grow.
Not until I finish my research. I really wonder how big it's gotten!
Wouldn't it be faster to ask your uncle?

　Being a mercenary is not a lucrative profession.
　Weapons in particular wear and tear so fast that most of the money is lost in repairs.
　Even if you take good care of your weapon, if you use it enough times, it will eventually break down and deteriorate in ways you cannot see.
　It's natural to want a good weapon since it's your life that's at stake, but now I can only mine iron since the essential ore deposits have completely disappeared from the area where they used to exist.
　One of the requests was to look for deposits of rare metals such as mithril, if possible.

Sure, it would be faster if the old man did the research, but do you think he'll do it?
Do you think he will? He basically only does what he wants to do, so he won't accept a request from the guild unless he feels like it. Yeah.
Ah~ ....... But maybe you'll accept it?　You seem to like modifying weapons and stuff.

　Xellos, who can modify existing weapons to the extreme.
　He is so quick on his feet that if he doesn't find any ore, he will go out and find it himself.
　The weapons that Xellos has created--Jane's greatsword is also of exceptional performance, but Iris' equipment in particular is of extraordinary performance.
　And the trouble is, Zeroth's weapons are attractive enough to be targeted by people of poor quality.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a fan of your work.
"Iris......, you're being overly optimistic. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to try.
I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.　It's just that Iris' equipment is a little bit out of the ordinary, so no one will go after her.
Ugh. ....... It's true that it looks fancy and stands out, but this is just a problem with the original design. ......
'Xelloss modified it and made it look quite pretty, didn't he?　I wonder if he loves fancy stuff at his age?
I don't know about that old man either.

　While talking, the three of them continued to move deeper into the field.
　At last, they passed through the meadow field and reached the valley at the end.

...... valley. Does this mean we have to go down there?
"It doesn't feel like the underworld, does it? I can't believe it's an underground world. It's ...... crazy that there are all these canyons.
Well, it's a dungeon. If I had to worry about it all the time, I wouldn't be able to handle it.
"...... Iris is so tough.

In the event that you've been in the dungeons of Sword and Sorcery, this is not a surprise to you.
　However, this was a full-fledged dungeon exploration for Janae and Rena, and they were not immune to the incomprehensible phenomena of other spaces.
　They can't help but compare it to the above-ground world, and even if they understand it in their minds, there are times when they can't accept it. In particular, the ceiling is brightly lit even though it is supposed to be underground, and nighttime comes as well.
　They don't know what kind of principles are at work, which inevitably leads to anxiety and mental exhaustion. There is a resistance to alien existence.

"Yeah, yeah, this is the adventure!　This is what I've always wanted to do.
"Why are you so excited?
"I don't understand this part of Iris. I don't know what it is about Iris. Xelloss has similar traits, and sometimes I think she's broken somehow.
That's terrible.

　In the canyon, there are plants growing on the surface of the rocks, and in some places the roots are connected to the opposite bank like a bridge. Flying demons were flitting about in search of prey.
　Bird-shaped demons preyed on giant insects, and rare wyverns could be seen in search of them and other demons. It was a perfectly constructed ecosystem.



"I think I can get across from here.
I don't know what kind of demon it is, but it's a nasty bird.
If it attacks us on the way across, we won't be able to fight it.

　They would have to cross from the cliff to the opposite ledge through ivy and roots, but if they were attacked by a flying demon, they would be trapped. The three of them grabbed the ivy with caution and carefully crossed the swaying foothold.
　As they continued down the ledge, they happened to find a cave, and after twenty minutes of torch-lighting, they noticed a high-pitched sound coming from deep within.

"This sound ...... is someone mining?
"In a place like this?　This is an unexplored area. Are you sure they didn't report it to the guild?
Maybe it's another research team?　I think it's possible that they got here by another route. ......

　Since the abandoned mine was confirmed to be a dungeon, the road has been blocked by mercenary guild employees except for the area where they finished their investigation. If it's another survey team, that's fine, but they may have entered without permission.
　As mercenaries are registered with the guild, it is against the rules to enter areas that are considered dangerous. It would be better if he still reported the information of the unexplored area he entered, but there is no way the mercenary, who is a bastard by nature, will fulfill his duty to report.
　There was a high possibility that they would attack us, fearing severe punishment.

"Which do you think it is?
Either an investigative team or an unauthorized intruder. ....... Well, if it's the latter, they'll just give you a warning for the first offense.
We'll see how it goes and decide what to do. It's dangerous to enter a place when you don't know how many people are on the other side.　Be careful here. ......

　The three of them proceeded cautiously deeper into the cave, paying attention to even the sound of their footsteps.
　The end of the cave was open and there were trolleys and rails left over from the action. The sounds of mining could be heard from beyond.
　The three of them approached, hiding, and slowly emerged from behind an overturned trolley.
　And what do they see?

"Hahahahahahahahaha!

　--The three of them saw an old man they had seen before, waving his crane beak in a good mood and mining at a ridiculous speed.

I'm sure you've seen him before.

　At the moment when the pickaxe struck the deposit and made a sound, the pickaxe was slammed into it several times without pause. It was a wonder that the rock wall hadn't been shattered.

"Hey, old man!　This place is sealed off. Why are you here?
"Hello?　It's Mr. Jarnay. Thank you for your service.
I ain't doing my job!　You're trespassing in a place that's off-limits to the guild without even knowing it. You're causing trouble.
Off-limits?　I'm not sure if it's been blocked ......?　It was easy to get here. ......
"Easy?　How did you ......
I just took the pit shooter down to the bottom level and came up from the bottom, just like before?　The iron was the goal, but we took the long way around, sir.

　J'onneth and the others put their heads together.
　The pit that Xellos had used to rescue Christine. They were blind to the fact that the trap was still there, and that they could descend from the shallowest level to the lowest level.
　This meant that even if the Mercenary Guild staff were watching, they could easily penetrate the lower levels.

So that's why people sometimes go missing. We'd forgotten all about it.
I'll report it to the ...... guild.
You said you came here to mine iron. Are you going to build something, Uncle?
After I make it. I made a golem with a gun and a transforming mechanism, but I used up all the iron. It was a hassle to go to the Kingdom of Isaras, so I came here to get some nearby. Now that we have the numbers, I think I should go home.

　Iris said, "A golem with a transformation mechanism?　I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　My instincts told me that this was a bad idea.
　This man is a hobbyist, and it would not be surprising if he produced something dangerous in a spur of the moment, depending on his mood. After all, he is one of the [Annihilators].
　In fact, there is no shortage of such anecdotes.

"If you don't mind, can you tell me more about the area ahead?
"Hmmm ......, even if you ask me to elaborate, I don't have much of an impression because I've been going randomly. I don't know if it was a scorching lava field or not.　There was some kind of long-bodied snake-like demon swimming around in the ground and lava. It was huge. The flame breath was very powerful.
"What else?　It's our job to find out what's going on in the dungeon.
We've only seen the crystal-filled area and the tropical jungle area. It was unnecessarily cold, and the big mosquitoes flying around were annoying. A pink gorilla-like demon threw feces at me: ....... The insects were shot down with farts.
"What hunter game is that?



　The abandoned mine dungeon had become much larger than they had expected, and Iris and the others realized that it was too much for them to explore any further.
　Even if it was to fulfill a request, they couldn't just fall to the bottom and come back again like Xellos. The difference in ability between him and the old man was too great to say anything about his level.
　If I had been asked to do the same thing, I would have refused first of all. It's like throwing away your life for nothing.

Going home: ....... I don't think we can go any further.
You're right. I don't want to die either.
Where's your uncle?　Are you going to keep mining?
Yeah. ....... We're almost out of time, so we'll leave it at that. We've accumulated enough ingots to last us a while.
""Another day trip, huh?"

　After that, Iris and the others reported to the mercenary guild's office, stayed overnight in the village of Arhan, and then returned to the city of Santor.
　After returning to the church, the three of them were curious about what the old man was making, so they peeked into his house and found that he was researching pork bone soup.
　We really do not know what he is thinking.