'Well, let's go talk to him.
'Yes! But I don't know where he is.
'I'm on it. I've got sheaf skills.

Use "Tracking." This skill will tell you the whereabouts of anyone you met that day if they are on the same floor. The time and the range of time you can go back depends on your skill level. At level 20, I can track adventurers and monsters I met 24 hours ago.

It looks like I'm heading for the save point. I wonder how long it's been since they've passed us.
'Wow, Ra-kun, that's great!
Thanks. Let's go.
Let's go!

We go through the forest to the beach.

That's it.

I saw a remote islet with a stone building.
The tide was ebbing and a path was forming. It looks like we can cross.

'Prine, don't fall down.
'Yes!

We walk on the bumpy ground, a mixture of sea water and sand.

'Wow, that's fun!
'Don't run... or it's really funny!

I chase after Prine, who is running ahead of me. The way she turns around with her cape and dress fluttering in the air, she is really a beautiful girl.

Wabu!

If I hadn't fallen.

That would be awesome. It went right through his face.

'You're so unathletic, you ......

Prine jiggling around with her face in the sand. She can't get out. I grab her by the neck and pull her up.

'Pfft! Puh-lease! I thought I was going to die!''
'I can't have you dying like an idiot in a place like this. Here, wipe your face.
Thank you, Mr. Ra!

Prine wipes her face with the cloth I gave her.

I groan. I've been caught on the scanner.

'Prine, it's a monster! Shoot it!
'Whew! ...... big crab!'

It was a big, human-sized crab. Its name is the giant king crab. It didn't walk sideways. It came straight at me.

Prine, with mud on his face, held up his staff.

"Ice pickle!

Multiple ice spikes from the staff pierced the crab, freezing its surface and shattering it into pieces. It seems that this is stronger against a single enemy than the Pyro Ray.

A monster that turns to mist. Victory.

Yay!

I find him and Prine takes him down.
We returned to our usual fighting style, high-fived as usual, and proceeded to the remote islet.





Layer 5.

Isle of detached islands.

The stone building was a simple structure, with only a staircase leading down.

Holding Prine's frightened hand and asking her to turn on the firelight, we proceeded inside.

It was a long way down.

It was a huge underground space.

Not so much a maze. The wide passage was a straight path that eventually led us to a plaza.

In the square, there was a pond surrounded by stones. The water seemed to flow from the top and fall further down. The water is clean.

I nodded as I checked the map provided by the guild.

This is the Fountain of Recovery. And here is the save point.
We've arrived!

He drinks water alongside Prine. Hmmm, it brings me back to life.
After we prayed and saved, footsteps noticed us and approached us.

'Rana-sama ......'.

Martina looks at me awkwardly. Gigi is standing next to her.

'I'm sorry, I'm interrupting again. ....... We are going back to the guild now. ......

I say hurriedly.

'Um, about that...'
''Yes?''
'Can you tell us a story? Well, I'm just wondering... ......'

Blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink, blink.

'Yeah, yeah, that's fine. ......?'
'Good. Let's go back to the guild.

Ms. Martina nodded.

'Yes, sir. But first, Miss Rana.
''Yes, sir?''
There is a treasure chest in that room. Please take it.
Oh, thank you very much.

I knew of its existence through my sheaf skills and was going to come back for it later, but if you say so, I'll take it quickly.



Careful inspection of the treasure chest with the sheikh's skills reveals no traps. I open it gently.

'...... Oh!
'...... Wow!

Inside was a palm-sized crystal, glittering and shining.
Two of them.

Transition crystals!
You did it, Mr. Ra!

Prine and I look at each other with joy.
Perhaps there are enough treasure chests for the number of people in our party.

We now have a total of three transfer crystals.

We had already used the transfer crystals provided by the guild once, but the guild had given us another one specially because of the circumstances.

Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Martina.
'Of course not. But, Miss Rana. What changed your mind about ......? No, of course we appreciate it, but ......'

Hmm.
I'm just curious, but I don't know how to tell you that.

When I was at a loss, Prine, who was very shy, unusually stepped forward and said, "I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you,

Ra-kun is kind. He can't leave people in trouble. That's the kind of person he is.

He smiled proudly.

'No, I'm not that good-natured, I'm ......'.
''Just let it be that way, Mr. Rah!
'But, ......'

I was about to argue, but then I saw Martina and Gigi laughing,

--Well, okay. So...

I give up.





Back at the dungeon entrance, we found a crowd of people.
Many guild officials and monks were coming and going. Someone seems to be injured.
I hear onlookers talking.

'I heard he was killed by the boss of the 5th level.
'A warrior and a thief are dying.
'Rookie, huh?
Maybe they didn't have enough levels.
'Barely escaped with the transfer crystals in front of the boss's room.

Apparently, there was a party that tried the boss before us and lost.
But I see. The transfer crystals can be used in the boss's room, too.



We go into a coffee shop near the guild and take a seat in a corner.

Naturally, Prine sits next to me, and Martina and Gigi sit across from me.

'First of all, I have something to tell you.

Martina-san opens her mouth.

I am the daughter of a certain lord. I can't tell you where I come from right now. But I can tell you if you accept my request.

Oh, my God. You're a nobleman. Well, that's what I thought.
Prine is standing next to me saying something like 'awww ......'.

I have to clear the 5th layer. But it's impossible for the two of us to do it alone. That's why we asked Rana to help us. ......'
What are the circumstances?

After a slight hesitation, Ms. Martina said.

'--To be recognized. I will not be allowed to return to my parents' home unless I win the 'Adventurer's Certificate'.

Adventurer's Certificate.
After clearing the fifth layer of the dungeon, the guild recognizes you as a graduate of the novice level and presents you with the "Adventurer's Certificate".
It is made by the gods and cannot be duplicated.

However, I could already tell which nobleman he belonged to. That was probably the reason for Ms. Martina's hesitation.

'So, let's attack the boss of the 5th layer: ......'.

I know what we're here for.
If we can clear the 5th layer, Martina is OK.

But the question remains.

Why didn't you form a party?

When I asked her about it, she looked painfully downcast.

'Actually, we had a party until the day before yesterday. We were supposed to challenge the boss.
'What, did you break up ......?'
'Yes. It's that ...... my fault ......'

Martina is at a loss for words.
Gigi clears his throat.

I'll explain it to you from there.

Gigi says.

Two people were working together. A warrior and a sheikh. Both men. They were both very strong and young.

Gigi tinkers with his beard.
He laughs.

'Well, let me put it simply - I knew I couldn't hold Martina in my hands.
''What?''
'I'll put it more simply - because I knew I couldn't get laid.'
''Heh?''