The enemy was not just a slaver. I knew they were not ordinary when they chose the 10th layer as their rendezvous point, but to think that they were only one person, and that they were a job completely compatible with my "Thief"......!

'...... I think I know the difference between us and them.

The black-robed right hand flashes. A super-fast stone pellet. Aimed at his right eye, it was a fluke that he avoided it.

'......... just leave my daughter alone...'

The left hand of the black robe, which had been in close proximity before I knew it, reaches out. At the end of the glove is a steel claw, coated in a slimy purple liquid.

--Poison!

I kicked him in a panic, but only hit his robe, and he is far away again.

'Haaah ...... haaah ...... haaah ...... haaah ...... haaah!

My breathing becomes shallow and fast. Oh, no. I'm getting impatient. If I don't do something, one day I'll get hit. This is not good!

'...... save your life.

A black robe approaches. So..,

That's not enough!

I shouted and threw the hatchet in desperation.

'...... don't get it.

The black-robed man, moving like a shadow and dodging as he approaches, is struck by a thrust of my right fist, which was running in at the same time I threw the hatchet.

--I got it!

Distracted by the screams and the hatchet, the black robe misread my move. My fist was sucked into one of the most famous kryptonite points on the human body, the Mizogetsu, with such precision that it was almost funny,

'......Why,'

A black-robed right hand gripped my fist tightly and blocked it. And then his left hand--a poison claw--aims at my neck,

'...... you,'

But something pierced the palm of his left hand. It was his throwing knife, which I picked up as soon as I started running.

My life is not enough!

I stabbed the left hand of the black robe with the knife, and while piercing it, I returned the blade to his bone and put all my weight on the bottom. The shadowy body of the black robe slammed easily to the ground.

'......?

Thereupon,

'Give me Prine and Mary's share!

My God, I'm so sick of this!

A right fist with all his might was driven down on the face of the black robe.

'Gobo......,gahaha......'.

'Hah, hah, hah ......'

I see the black robe twitch and twitch, and I sit down on the ground too. Now comes the pain and fatigue. Especially my right arm. But..,

'Huh--. Thank God ......'

Catching my breath, I retrieved the hatchet that was stuck in the wall. Then..,

'...... can't figure it out.'

The black robe was lying on his back, talking. He spoke clearly. It was as if he wanted to talk, not fight.

'Have you ever been beaten by a rookie?
'It's not that. Not there.
'Then where is it?'

'...... you did not protect my daughter, but dared to abandon her.'

Prine had indeed laid him down on the spot when he threw the hatchet and plunged in. I knew we would both die if I kept defending her.

'He knew that my job was superior to his, and although he was afraid, he was tactful enough to use our weapon.

The last throwing knife. Still stuck in the left hand of the black robe, of course.

'But the most curious thing - why the sudden increase in strength ......?

'...... what does that mean?'

'The quality of movement was clearly different at the beginning, when you blocked my knife with your magre and at the end, when you defeated my poison claws. It was as if, in that one moment, ......'

From that point on, however, the black robe did not speak.

I answer.

'At first, your words misled me. So I read your breath instead of your words. I learned simple body techniques before I became an adventurer. All that's left is the mind that won't give up!

'Hmph--'

They laughed at me. They laughed at me. He's a loser!

What's your name?
'....... I'm Rana. Rana Prata.'
'I'll remember that, Rana Prata.
''What?''
My name is Kurokiri. I will repay you in time.

That's when I finally realized Underneath his black robe, his right hand is gripping something.

My intuition as a sheik alerts me to the trap. I get down on the ground with Prine in my arms. But..,

--The...

A sound and a slight whirlwind, and the black-robed figure simply vanished.

'Transition crystals ....... Is that what it feels like?

I missed it. d*mn. It's no use. Let's just be glad they didn't take Prine.

Don't stay too long. ......



I get up and retrieve the stolen items and money from the two men lying on the floor. I also take away their weapons.

I pour a potion on the wound, which eases the pain a little. I then take out the transfer crystal for myself and take Prine, who is still asleep,

'..............................'

I looked at the two men who were still unconscious, thought for a while, sighed, and woke up the bigger one. With a low kick.

'Um!
'...... Ow! Oh, what's that?
'If I sleep here, won't the monsters eat me to death?'
'Dang, who said I knocked you out? ......'
''Oh?''
'No, no, no, you woke me up. ......?
'I'll take you to the guild later.
'............ hey'
'If you run away, I'll chase you to the ends of the earth, you bastard.
Hey!

He must have given up. The man sagged and disappeared into the wind with a sigh, using the transfer crystal he had been holding.

The other man, who was sleeping, disappeared with him, so it seems that the same party can ride together. Now we can use it without any worries.

I called out to Prine on my back.

Let's go home, Prine!
'Nyah ...... rah-kun ...... dai shu kii ......'

Laughing at these words, which sounded like a greeting I had heard many times since childhood, I used the transfer crystal.

Blurred vision. Strange echoing sounds coming from somewhere.

A moment later, I saw the entrance to the dungeon before me.

Looking back, I see the familiar streets and hear the bustle of life.

I am back.

'Huh '.

I let out a long sigh.

I am finally back.

It had been a very long day.

Really.




'Rana, what's wrong with your wound? Ah, the two wanted men who escaped from the whorehouse! What, why, why?

We return to the guild, tell the surprised Anna what happened, and ask her to rope the two men in. We were taken to a back room.

We were taken to the 10th layer! There, I was attacked by a killer bad, a black wolf, four hobgoblins, and a rampaging monkey, and I beat them all by ...... myself! What, and then you fought ...... the Assassins and drove them away?

I nod as the guild's priest tends to my wounds. The monk heals me. That's great. I'm all better.

Rana. Tell the truth: ......'
'It's all true.
'............'
'............'
'This is Hobb's hatchet.
'Well'.
'............'
'Did you know that there is a section in the status where the number of monsters defeated is listed?'
'I've never heard of it.'
'I forgive you now, sister, but...'
It's true. And while you're at it, can you give me my status sheet?
'All right, wait for me.

We've been waiting a long time.

On the way, I heard a voice saying, 'There must be a mistake, so do it again', 'This is the third time', 'Just do it again'.

Anna-san came back into the room again and suddenly bent her back 90 degrees and bowed her head.

''First of all, let me apologize, I'm sorry.
'Yes, no. ......'
''Can you forgive me?''
'Of course, of course. ......'

Anna looks up. Still mysterious.
'So, let's do this again.
'Once again?'

'Hahaha, that's so awesome!

Pow! And then he gave a Hail Mary. He took my hand and shook it.

'That's great, Rana! That's great, that's great, that's great! Such geniuses are rare! Even that 'hero' wasn't this strong!

He was as happy as if it were his own. The "Brave" ......?

'Oh, thank you very much. ......?'
'Rana, you're so amazing, I'm going to take you to meet an amazing person from the guild!
'I'm not sure I understand.'
'I'll be back in a minute!

Anna runs out of the room again.
What in the world is this ......?

After a while, Prine woke up. But when I asked her what was going on, she started to cry.
She kept apologizing.

She kept apologizing. 'It's okay, don't worry about it.
'Because, because, because of me, Ra-kun is ......!
'It's my fault for not noticing them, and it's my fault for being put to sleep so easily.
It's not your fault, Ler-kun!
'That's right. It's their fault. And I've already blown them away, so they'll be fine.

He smiles and pats his head.


Prine answered, "Yes," though she didn't seem convinced.
I feel very uncomfortable when she cries. I try to calm her down every time, but I'm afraid that one day she won't stop crying no matter how hard I try.

I stroke the crying Prine and turn my attention out of the room.
I am standing in front of her, listening to her, a skill I learned as a Thief when I leveled up.

'--You let the appraiser redo it, didn't you?
Yes, three times.
'I see.
'I knew that skill...'
'It's thoughtless. Don't say it.
I'm sorry, sir.
'Do not speak of this to anyone. It will provoke the wrong people. It's too much to ask of a novice adventurer.
'Yes, sir. What about him?
I'll tell him.

The door to the room opened.

There was Anna and a kind-looking little old man. He had a long beard.

The old man smiled and opened his mouth.
Hello, are you Rana?
'Yes, I am.'
'It is a pleasure to meet you, I am the head of the Dungeon Guild--'

After fiddling with his long beard as if he had forgotten his own name,

'Well, you can call me the guild leader.

After all, he smiled at me.