Chapter 507 – Encounter with the Elite Adventurers
The most promising group for conquering the dungeon were the adventurer group funded by the kingdom.
Its members were composed mainly of A-rank adventurers and other top-class elites, making them one of the most well-known and respected teams among all dungeon-related circles.
For many adventurers, being chosen to join this team was considered the greatest possible honor and status.
“At last, we’ve reached the deepest level humanity has explored in Babylon—the 100th floor. Everyone, it took tremendous time and many sacrifices to get here. But the real adventure begins now.”
The team’s leader, having discovered the staircase leading further down, spoke with shining eyes, rallying his comrades.
“Alright, as always, let’s rest first in the empty ‘Rest Room’ on this floor before we proceed!”
With that said, the leader took the lead and headed towards the “rest room.”
But as they approached, he saw a human figure inside.
A child.
No—there’re many other figures.
Humanoid monsters? No, impossible. I knew that no hostile monsters could enter Rest Rooms. Then… other adventurers? But that didn’t make sense either. All other teams had already turned back. Ours was the only team that had reached this depth.
While the leader there stood confused, his companions also noticed the figures and raised their guard.
“Ah! Hello there! Are you all by chance part of the kingdom-funded team ‘The Five Virtues of The Dragon’?”
The leader of The Five Virtues of The Dragon, a man named Kars, was startled by the cheerful voice—so out of place in the tense depths of the 100th floor—and reflexively nodded in response.
“A-ah… yes…”
“Perfect! I heard about you from the dungeon administrator. Are you all right? We are team ‘Black Golden Wings.’ I am our leader, Tauro. —Aeris , Zion, please tend to the injured.”
At Tauro’s call, two young women rushed over to help the battered members of Kars’s group.
“…Who exactly are you people…?”
Kars murmured, dumbfounded.
Just then, several members of the dragon race, moving swiftly to assist.
Kars felt an overwhelming sense of power from them, enough to shake him out of his stupor.
“When did you guys clear the 100th floor…? We were supposed to be the only team exploring this deep. ‘Black Golden Wings,’ you said? I’ve never heard of that team name before…”
Their leader, Kars, gazed upon the formidable-looking dragon-people who were carrying their injured comrade to the “rest room,” thinking that perhaps an incredible team had appeared on the surface while they’d been deep in the dungeon.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. I’m Tauro Girosugar, leader of Black Golden Wings and an honorary viscount.”
“An honorary viscount at your age!? …Well, considering you reached this depth before us, I suppose it’s only natural.”
Kars hesitated, then continued politely:
“I’ve never heard of your team before—what rank are you, if I may ask? We’re a mixed group of adventurers, so our ranks vary, but were mostly A-rank. My own team, ‘The Five Virtues of The Dragon,’ is A+. I’m Kars, an honorary baron. Our team consists of the A+ ‘Light Tiger’ and ‘Blue Tortoise’, and the B+ rank ‘Heavenly Flying Horse.’ We had more companions before, but I judged them not strong enough to proceed and sent them back with other adventurer teams.”
“A wise decision. As for us, we’re technically a B-ranked team, but our members are… rather extraordinary. They’ll be handling the deeper floors from here.”
Kars’s eyes widened in shock at Tauro’s explanation.
B–?
This boy didn’t seem ordinary, true—but compared to the Dragonkin around him, he seemed almost frail. And besides, he was so young. No matter how talented, inexperience could easily mean death in a dungeon. Moreover, he didn’t carry the weary aura of someone who had struggled through the depths to reach this far…
Kars was deep in thought, unable to quite gauge Tauro’s abilities.
“Lord Tauro. As usual, we will split into three teams and head to the lower levels to conquer the area, so may I leave the rest to you? I will leave a support team behind.”
Roy, the great hero of the dragon race, makes a proposal to Tauro.
“Understood. Please do. Once we finish treating these people, we’ll return to the surface,” Tauro replied, sending them off with a wave. “Be careful, everyone!”
“Now then, Lord Kars, what are you going to do?”
Tauro turned around and called out to Kars again.
“What do you mean?”
Kars asked, not understanding the meaning of Tauro’s words.
“From the looks of it, it looks like you’ve worn out quite a bit. Would you like to return to the surface, restock your equipment, and try again from this point? Of course, I’d charge a small fee for the round trip.”
“Return to the surface? No, no—we’re just about to dive even deeper. We can’t turn back now. True, we’re tired, and we’ve lost a few members, but that means our rations will last longer. Some of us lack proper gear, but we can manage. We intend to go further—to break humanity’s record.”
Kars’s tone was polite, given Tauro’s noble status.
“Ah, sorry— I’m not saying we should turn back and start from scratch, but rather “I’m suggesting that you temporarily return to the surface, rest, and then restart from here.”
“…?”
Kars blinked, not understanding what Tauro was saying.
–sorry, that must sound confusing. Well, seeing is believing—let’s give you a demonstration.”
Tauro smiled, then led Kars deeper into the Rest Room.
“Alright—let’s move to the first floor.”
Tauro grabbed Kars’ hand and used “Spatial Transfer” to instantly transport met to the first floor..
“Wh-what!? Everyone’s gone!?”
To Kars, it was as if his companions had disappeared from the Rest Room in a blink.
In their place, a group of ten kingdom knights stood waiting.
“Ah, Lord Tauro! Where are the others? Hmm? That man—wait, aren’t you Lord Kars of The Five Virtues of The Dragon!?”
One of the knights noticed Tauro and called out to him, then noticed Kars who was with him.
“You’re that kingdom knight I spoke with before we entered Babylon! Then—is this really the first floor!?”
“Yes, this is the first floor of the Babylon dungeon. So, what do you think? Would you like me to bring the rest of your team up too, so you can rest? I’ll leave the decision to you. Of course, there’ll be a small special fee for the round trip.”
Tauro replied with an easy smile.
He grinned calmly as Kars stood speechless, realizing the young noble before him possessed a power far beyond anything he had imagined.
TL Note:
Light Tiger – Hikari kohiro,
Blue Turtle – aoi hisashi/kame,
Heavenly Flying Horse – tensho kaito