A Beautiful Morning and the Dungeon
A new morning had dawned. It felt refreshingly clear, as if the world itself had transformed overnight.
The world seemed to sparkle. What a beautiful morning.
Last night, I'd finally shed my virginity. And with a beauty utterly impossible back in my original world, no less.
But Fam, who should have been sleeping beside me, was gone. Panic surged through me. Had it all been an illusion? Were these past days since my transfer to this other world nothing but one grand dream?
I sat up, and there she was—Fam, praying as usual. How long had she been at it? And what exactly was she praying to?
She noticed me stirring and stopped her prayer, rising to her feet.
"G-good morning."
Her cheeks flushed red. Her shyness was contagious; I could feel heat rising in my own face.
"Y-yeah... morning."
Fam closed her eyes and leaned in close. Not getting the hint, I just stared at her blankly.
"Mm!"
She pursed her lips in a pouty demand. Plump, soft-looking cherry pink.
I pressed my lips to hers. At the lightest touch, she pulled back.
"...It's embarrassing. Sooo embarrassing."
I wanted to say something clever, but nothing came to mind. As I fumbled, my stomach growled. I'd pushed hard last night, after all.
"Let's eat."
"Y-yes, let's."
I was naked. The clothes I'd stripped off roughly yesterday were now neatly folded on a chair. I crawled out of bed and got dressed. We'd always changed while hiding from each other before, but no need for that anymore.
"Let's go." "Yes."
As we headed for the door, Fam waddled along with her legs splayed a bit.
"Hm? What's up?"
"It hurts a little. Feels like it's still... inside..."
After breakfast, we headed for the shrine housing the dungeon.
Fam seemed accustomed to the discomfort between her legs now, walking normally. Though she slipped into that bow-legged gait now and then. I suggested trying a potion to heal it, but she said she was fine like this and refused to drink one.
We could've lounged at the inn today, but holing up in the room would've just led to me ravaging her body again. She wanted to head out anyway, so I dragged us out by force if needed.
The shrine resembled a stone fortress. Its defenses weren't for external attackers but for enemies bubbling up from within. Guards stood at the entrance, demanding our character sheets. Those sheets let others see party name, adventurer rank, name, class, primary profession, primary profession level, race, and age. With permission, other stats too.
Mine read: party name "Mash, Fam", adventurer rank F, name Mash, class Freeman, primary profession Adventurer, primary profession level 15, race Human, age eternally 17. Unnamed parties just string member names together, apparently. Levels get harder to raise over time. But hitting 15 from 1 normally takes four months. Thank the special skills. Fam's at 13. I'm higher, but she'd kick my ass in a fight. Numbers aren't everything. There's strength character sheets can't measure—like magic. Adventurers unlock beginner spells at level 10, but until Aidan taught me applications, I thought it was trash.
"First time, huh?"
"Yeah, just scouting today. We'll head back quick."
The guard asked, so I answered.
"They sell maps inside. High floors are spotty and useless, but low ones have solid info. Grab one."
"Got it."
I thanked him and stepped inside.
It was a cubic chamber. A few parties already milling about. Each side about twenty meters, floor packed earth, a five-meter black circle dead center. Black flames licked up from it—the dungeon entrance, apparently.
Stalls lined the walls. What a tourist trap setup.
Maps and monster guides beside potions, antidotes, dried meat rations. No pennants or keychains, sadly—I'd have grabbed souvenirs.
"Map to floor 10 and monster guide."
"Map's one silver per floor, guide ten silver."
I took the woodblock-printed paper map and guide. Pricey compared to inn rates.
"How many floors in this dungeon?"
I asked the clerk.
"Confirmed up to 52."
Endless. Unbearable. Even that old 3D dungeon game I played only went to 10.
"Ever been in a dungeon, Fam?"
"No. Never. I'm a bit nervous."
"Just scouting today. Wander a bit, head back. Ready?"
"Yes."
We stepped into the black circle's center. Our bodies sank into the ground like being swallowed. Vision blacked out, then snapped back—not the shrine anymore, but a stone-paved corridor.
Fam peered around curiously too.
No clue on the light source, but visibility was fine—no need for torches or lanterns. Corridor five meters wide and high, plenty spacious. Dead end ahead with a door. Proper dungeon beyond, probably.
Black circle underfoot. Step back here to return to the shrine.
"Shall we?"
We headed for the door.
Floor one's foes were slimes. We cut through easy enough.
Easier than fields—no trees, grass, rocks, or uneven ground for cover.
Dungeon enemies ramp up per floor. One was basically tutorial.
We even ran into other parties—rare on fields.
"Straight ahead leads to the area guarder room."
Fam checked the map. I'd started with it, but she wanted to peek too, and now it was her job. Loves books and writing, seems like. She'd pored over that world guidebook too.
"You like reading, huh, Fam? Everyone back in the village too?"
"I was bedridden with illness, so I practiced reading and writing. Some know their names or basic words, but fluent readers aren't common."
Easy to forget her illness—and that the curse lingered.
Lots of illiterates in this world, it seems.
"Wanna go?"
"Let's try."
From floor one's foes, I figured we'd manage. Even if it took six to beat, special skills got us.
"Floor one's area guarder is Slime King, apparently."
"King? Ugh, trauma..."
"I-it's fine! I'll back you up properly this time!"
A massive door loomed ahead.
Inside: wide circular room. Closed door opposite. Ours slammed shut behind us.
Light particles rained in the center. A monster formed from the glow.
Particles faded, revealing Slime King. Human-sized.
"Big fella."
We readied weapons. It charged with a body slam. We split left and right, dodging, then pincered in with slashes. Blades tore slimeflesh, but felt like slicing water.
King Slime sprayed solution at Fam. She dodged. It leaped, trying to crush her flat.
"Kyaa!"
She evaded but tumbled onto her butt.
I fired a fireball to distract—hit spot sizzled and bubbled.
Fam sprang up in the opening.
"You good?"
"Yes!"
"Pile on!"
Fam slashed again. Me from the other side. Kept circling to avoid slams, hacking nonstop.
No openings—we chopped it to bits.
Slime King's form finally slumped and vanished.
"Yes!" "We did it!"
We'd felled the area guarder. Far door opened.
A small vial lay where Slime King dropped.
"Monster guide says it's oil."
"What kind?"
"Drops various types, but unknown which..."
"Take to guild for ID."
Into storage. On through the far door.
Black circle there.
"This to floor two, huh."
Nothing else to do, so we stood on it. Sank like entrance, blacked out, reappeared elsewhere.
"Can we get back? Map shows route to three, but one's only from here."
Fam studied floor two map. Yeah, guarder room was one-way. Fight again to backtrack?
"Test return."
"Yes."
Black circle. Blackout—back at shrine.
"Gotcha."
Backtrack means restarting from one.
"Call it here. Tomorrow again."
Today's delve done.
Thank you for reading.
Thanks to everyone who bookmarked and rated.
It motivates me. I'll keep at it.
Thanks for typo reports. Super helpful.