Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Platinum Adventurer Lancelot
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"Phew~ All changed up. Ready to head out, then?"
Lancelot, now wearing a worn-out T-shirt layered with leather armor and the platinum adventurer's badge at his waist, climbed aboard the carriage and urged everyone to depart.
"♪♬~"
He was humming a tune, a smile playing on his lips—he was that excited.
Lancelot had decided to split off midway and teleport straight to the adventurer's guild in the marquisate.
-Click!
He pressed the magic tool, changing his hair color, but the grin stayed firmly in place.
Ever since we'd gone into the dungeon with him as kids, Lancelot had been hooked on adventuring.
Whenever he had pocket money, he'd blow it on teleportation magic circles and adventurer gear...
I wondered if dungeons were something you could treat so casually, but Maxim approved, and his skills had improved a ton... I had to admit it had helped him grow.
Still, a doubt nagged at me.
"Hey, Lancelot. You're a Swordmaster now—aren't guild quests kinda boring?"
Lancelot wiped his nose with a smug grin and launched into an explanation.
"Heh heh... Liam, you've finally taken an interest in adventuring."
"No, that's not—"
"What is adventure? It's the thrill of forging paths into the unknown with nothing but your own body! Saving people threatened by monsters! Protecting someone on a commission! Sharing a drink with your comrades after completing an exhilarating quest! That's the adventurer's life!"
For a "body alone," he was decked out in fine leather armor, and the sword at his waist was the Verstappen family heirloom passed down through generations.
And "unknown"? The areas around the marquisate were pretty well cleared of monsters. Escort quests... well, depending on the client, but it'd probably be some small merchant caravan that couldn't afford teleport fees.
Wouldn't that make the costs outweigh the rewards? But this guy just loved camping and swinging his sword around.
"You were howling about drinks with comrades... Looks like you've achieved your dream?"
"Nah, it's been ages for me too. We just hit adulthood, remember?"
"Oh."
Come to think of it, we were barely adults ourselves.
Lancelot reverting to normal like this was one of the seven mysteries in my heart.
For reference, the three solved ones were Jenia's thoughts, the physical reactions around Veronica, and the imperial family's secrets.
'So now it's the four great mysteries? His brain intrigues me more than the protagonist's whereabouts...'
Lancelot's sparkling eyes and shout snapped me out of my pointless musings.
"Exactly!"
"Right? Even you're curious about your own head."
"What? No—let's all go on an adventure!"
"Huh?"
"I've never done a single commission with you guys!"
Us? I didn't even know how to explain what we were.
"Adventure...?"
"I-If the apostle goes, I'll follow."
[I wanna sleep...]
Lancelot's face fell in shock at our lukewarm reactions—he clearly hadn't expected that.
But giving up here wouldn't be Lancelot. Burning with fierce determination to drag us along, he began persuading us.
"Wait! Hear me out! We're enrolling in the academy soon. Everyone's heading to the combat department, and Veronica's applying as a priest."
"Yeah... so?"
"The academy sends students to dungeons for field training periodically or tests them in artificial dungeons."
"Oh."
"Right! You get it, Liam! There's a world of difference between those who've experienced it and those who haven't."
I nodded along to his confident spiel, but then Veronica's sharp retort flew in.
"But... isn't that why we go to the academy—to gain that experience? Why would a student grind dungeons right before enrolling...?"
"Gal! (Hah!)"
The ultimate cheat key to win any argument shot from Lancelot's mouth.
True to form, he spat it out and swallowed it right back.
"Experience is key to top grades! So we're heading to the dungeon!"
"Liam... do something..."
"Lancelot in this mode? Even my grandpa couldn't stop him. Only Maxim could."
"Th-Then let's call Sir Verstappen..."
"Maxim would pat his head and call him a good boy."
"Ah."
Like father, like son.
With no retreat left, Jenia just leaned back against her chair.
Veronica awaited my answer, while Lumie perched on my shoulder, kicking her legs idly.
My decision would seal our destination. The pressure hit, but I gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Fine, let's go once. Can't hurt to gain experience. We can visit Grandpa and Grandma while we're at it."
Lancelot's eyes lit up at my words.
"Knew you'd come along!"
Jenia bolted upright from her slouch.
"If we're seeing Grandma, I'm in!"
Veronica smiled and nodded.
"Seeing Grandma has me in a great mood too!"
And so, our destination became the marquisate.
I could've sworn I heard Sebastian wailing somewhere, but it was probably just my imagination.
This was the bustling streets of the marquisate city, packed with adventurers, students earning pocket money or tuition during break, and more.
Adventurers haggling with potion-selling mages, students crisscrossing the roads munching snacks, bards at the fountain spinning adventurer tales for coin, even beastfolk drawn by rumors of infamous dungeons.
The clamor of diverse folk filled the air with vibrant energy.
We gawked like tourists in a fantasy painting, mouths agape as we wandered the streets.
[Ooooh...]
"It's changed a lot since our first visit."
Lancelot answered my comment.
"It's academy break season! Elite students flock here, making parties easy to form. Rich kids post commissions, filling the boards. During breaks, they pay premiums for urgent materials and magic stones."
In short, peak adventuring season.
"True... We were in such a rush back then. Should've stopped by whenever we visited Grandma."
"Apostle! Look over there! Beastfolk!"
[Master... buy me that...]
Unlike our earlier apathy, the street's buzz was getting to everyone.
The picturesque fantasy scene stirred my excitement too.
Seeing us all hooked, Lancelot puffed up with pride.
As if to say, "Knew you'd love it!"
Buoyed, he took the lead, guiding us.
"That shop has the best potions! Down that way's a rundown inn with killer stew. And at the tavern near the guild, order the 'Moonlit Brew' and..."
He flaunted his knowledge freely.
We listened raptly and soon arrived at the adventurer's guild.
"Alright, let's head in..."
"Please, someone help!"
As Lancelot opened the door, a plea rang out.
Peeking inside, a brown-haired girl in adventurer gear was begging everyone in the guild.
"Please! My party's trapped! Anyone... please..."
Tears streamed down her face, and Lancelot stepped up, clapping a hand on her shoulder.
"Tell me the tale, miss."
His teeth flashed white in a cheesy grin.
Dopamine from the event flag plus adventurer high... obvious result.
But the intent to save people in peril was noble, so I let it slide.
The girl's eyes quivered at his canines.
When Lancelot flashed his waist badge, her expression brightened.
She must've thought we kids were weak.
'Picky bunch...'
Someone shouted from the guild tavern toward us.
"Hey! Sad story, but don't stick your nose in!"
Turning, there was the sweet veteran adventurer from before.
"Rescue strangers like that and... Wait, Lanlot? It's you!"
'Lanlot?'
Looking around in confusion, Lancelot spoke up.
"Kasim! Long time!"
"Haha, you went quiet for a bit. Busy?"
"Had my reasons. We'll help the girl."
"Yeah... I trust you!"
He'd built quite the rep at the guild.
Can't resist side-character play...
The girl's face lit up even more at their exchange.
"La-Lanlot! You'll really help?"
"Of course, miss! Lead on—we'll hear details en route."
"Yes!"
Party leader accepted the quest without hearing it.
"Wait... Lan-Lot. At least hear her out..."
"Gaaal! (Hah!)"
"..."
"Liam! Since when do we nitpick before saving folks?"
Who the hell was Liam...?
"We'll help, but what the..."
-Huuuuh
As Lancelot geared up for his "win any argument" line, I just nodded.
"Fine... She's in a rush. Let's go."
"It all happened so fast..."
"S-Saving people... should be fine, right?"
"Follow me, miss!"
"Yes!"
Did he even know the way...?
"That's what happened!"
From her story: While conquering the dungeon with her party, they saved an adventurer—who turned out to be a criminal. He poisoned them, triggered every trap on basement level 3, and fled.
The criminal probably planned to loot their corpses.
"I have poison resistance... They begged me to seek help."
After thinking what a scumbag, I asked her.
"Tough luck. Dungeon, right?"
"Yes!"
Close enough for one teleport.
"Everyone, gather close."
"Huh?"
"""Yes."""
As I approached the hesitant girl, the others clustered around.
-Snap!
Mana gathered, and the scenery shifted instantly.
The knights and adventurers at the chilly cave entrance gaped.
"T-Teleport...?"
Too lazy to explain, I brushed it off.
"Yeah, you seemed urgent, so I used a scroll."
At "teleport scroll," her eyes widened.
"No way! Something that rare!"
"It's cheap. Don't worry."
"Ch-Cheap...?"
"Hurry! To level 3 ASAP!"
Lancelot's shout snapped her out of it.
He flashed his badge at the dungeon guards; they nodded and stepped aside.
We pulled weapons from sub-spaces. Lancelot drew his sword and yelled.
"Stick close, miss!"
"Y-Yes?"
With that, three of them bolted at insane speed.
The girl stared blankly, so I levitated her with telekinesis and flew alongside.
[Ugh... Master... eyes sting...]
"Kyaaaaah!"
Catching up to Lancelot, her scream pierced the air.
"Hey, Lan-Lot, you know the way?"
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Easy to level 3, but she knows the exact spot."
"Kyaaaaahhh—"
[Master... she's loud.]
"Kyaa... Mmph!! Mmmph!"
Obliging Lumie, we blazed through the dungeon at top speed.