We four moved through the underground passage.

Seriana, carrying me, was riding on a 【Floating Orb】. Fiora was on a 【Small Orb】, and Teresa was walking at the front.

The passage was more heavily guarded than usual, and though the soldiers were surprised by Seriana’s sudden appearance, perhaps because we had used this route to visit Elena’s house before, there wasn’t much of a commotion.

That outing was just to kill some time, but… it’s interesting how trying different things can lead to unexpected results.

In any case, we proceeded down the passage while acknowledging the soldiers’ efforts, and arrived at our immediate destination—the hall in front of the dungeon beneath the Adventurer’s Guild.

Today—well, technically yesterday—marked the start of the rainy season.

Once we’re in the middle of the rainy season, those bored of being unable to hunt outside often come to the dungeon in search of prey, but since today is only the first day, the hall in front of the dungeon is empty of adventurers.

However, in their place, there are more guards than usual.

In this territory, the dungeon is arguably something that needs to be protected even more than Seriana.

If a rebellious faction were to launch a full assault here and cause a mass of corpses inside, while the upkeep costs might be manageable for a few years, in the long run it would become unsustainable.

With each corpse, more demons are born, and the dungeon’s danger level increases accordingly.

That, in turn, would increase both the casualties and the maintenance costs.

Even with places like the demonic frontier as hunting grounds, dungeons that offer more stability are far more attractive to adventurers.

Right now, it’s the adventurers who support this territory the most, but if the dungeon’s danger level increases too much, those adventurers may leave.

If the dungeon becomes the trigger, the strength of the territory itself could begin to deteriorate.

In the worst-case scenario, the collapse of the dungeon could spread to the territory, and eventually ripple through the entire eastern region—but I doubt it would go that far.

Even so, it would still deal a severe blow to this country, and would ultimately please the great power of the western region that has already withdrawn from here.

…Yeah.

We really need to keep this place well-guarded.

“Madam, Lady Teresa. And Vice-Captain as well… Are you heading to the site?”

A soldier from the 2nd unit, which was overseeing the security, approached us.

They must have been informed of the situation outside, but still, their nervousness around Seriana remained. In a way, that was reassuring.

“Yes. I’ll leave this area to you. If anyone attempts to break through, eliminate them. I’ll take full responsibility for minor incidents.”

“…Understood. Please be careful.”

The branch chief of the Adventurer’s Guild is on loan from the 2nd unit, and many of the unit’s members are former adventurers themselves. That’s why the 2nd unit maintains a relatively loose relationship with the adventurers.

All of that falls under Seriana’s jurisdiction.

Which is why her words just now carried weight.

It must’ve reached the soldier as well. The tension vanished from his expression, replaced by determination.

…The problem is, I’m stuck between the two of them, being carried by Seriana.

Way to kill the tension!

◇

“…Madam, is something wrong?”

On the way up the stairs from the dungeon hall to the surface, Seriana suddenly stopped the 【Floating Orb】.

She was glaring at the wall along the staircase… Let’s see, that direction is… the mansion’s over that way, so… north?

“Toward the church?”

Seriana gave a small nod at my question and spoke while still staring at the wall.

“There’s something at this position.”

“…This position?”

Fiora, who was ahead of us, came up beside Seriana and followed her gaze toward the wall.

I activated 【Fairy Eyes】 along with the snakes to get a better look too, but… I couldn’t see anything.

The dungeon lies on the second basement floor. We’re almost at the first basement floor now, but compared to an ordinary house, each floor here is much taller.

This floor alone is probably over 10 meters high.

…And there’s something in a place like that?

“This deep underground… Could it be a well? Now that I think about it, there was a report.”

“Yeah. Well, we’ll find out once we get there. Sorry, let’s hurry.”

With that, Seriana moved the 【Floating Orb】 forward.

The other two resumed their movements as well.

“Still… so it’s underground after all. Leaving behind the 【Red Sword】 was the right call.”

Teresa muttered as we climbed the stairs.

Her equipment consisted of a thick leather jacket and an ordinary one-handed sword, though apparently of fine craftsmanship.

In battle, the 【Red Sword】 would’ve been powerful, but considering the possibility of combat underground and the potential for collapse, she had left it with Elena.

We don’t know what kind of place we’re heading into, but if it’s underground, then it’s not the kind of place where you want to swing around something with that much destructive power.

“Indeed… Depending on the location, it might be better for us to move rather than relying on the soldiers… What’s with that face?”

Seriana frowned when she noticed me glaring at her.

I mean—she’s trying to charge into a suspicious location.

Of course I’m going to try to stop her.

I told her as much, but…

“Resolving the situation is the top priority.”

She clearly had no intention of backing down.

What she said wasn’t wrong… but she seemed a little too hasty.

Is she feeling pressured?

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sera・Blessing・【Hideout】+1【Prayer】【Mira’s Blessing】【Wind’s Garment】 Blessed Items・【Floating Orb】+1【Shadow Sword】+1【Scarlet Bee Needle】【Fairy Eyes】【Dragon’s Lung】【Amber Sword】【Danrem’s Thread】【Serpent’s Tail】【Ankle Bracelet】【Amber Shield】【Purple Wings】【Red Sword】【Monkey’s Arm】・8 cards

Seriana・【Area Identification】・【】・0 cards
Elena・【】・【Green Fang】【Amber Sword】・4 cards
Alec・【Power Strike】・【Red Shield】【Fierce Horned Trumpet】・10 cards