Rizmel of the Scout Team

After steaming our bodies nice and hot in the bathhouse, Elenoir and I spent a few hours talking. The topic was, naturally, exactly what we needed to do to break off her engagement.

"It's best not to overthink the details right now. You just need to act like you're paying a little attention to me."

Elenoir didn't demand I play the role of an aggressive lover. She said she'd handle that part herself. But it was clear we'd need to stay long-term in the dark elf village. We had to make sure the other dark elves knew my face, or something like that.

The labyrinth area on Floor 7 wasn't anything special anyway, and the boss difficulty was on the easier side. There was way more to gain from hanging out in this village than exploring the labyrinth, so I didn't mind.

And it wasn't just about showing my face—we needed to steadily plant a positive impression too.

"How about making you a temporary scout team member? Would that be okay?"

Her suggestion was for me to join the dark elves' scout team. They explored and cleared dangerous monster-spawning areas near the village. They handled other missions too, but nothing like that would fall to a temp like me.

In other words, just hunt monsters nearby and show my face. It was no different from my usual routine. Pretty much the same route as the dark elf faction quests other challengers took.

"No need to push yourself too hard. Just pretend to fight with a weapon, and most of them will be thrilled."

Elenoir said I didn't have to try too hard, but of course, I planned to give it my all.

Oh, and I asked Elenoir why humans were such a big deal to them.

"Why? Because most humans are just so adorable, aren't they?"

Dark elves really did seem to see humans like stray kittens. No particular reason, apparently. She was one of the younger dark elves, so she wasn't sure how the others thought, but judging by the blacksmith who treated me, they probably saw me as a plucky kid at best.

Makes sense. To a race that lives thousands of years, humans who kick the bucket before a century must look pretty insignificant.

"Well, I do think you're a pretty cool guy. Not just cute."

"Ah, I see."

"We could always talk man-to-woman sometime... Kidding, kidding."

This dark elf's sticky-sweet vibe sometimes felt a bit off-putting when I thought about it too much.

"Anyway, I'll talk to the scout team tomorrow, so rest up today. Don't humans get dizzy from long baths?"

My body wasn't the type to get dizzy from a soak, but I said okay anyway. After sending Elenoir off, I threw myself into strength training alone in my room. Ever since realizing simple exercise could raise my stats, it had been my unbreakable daily routine. Rest? No time to waste on that.

The next day, Elenoir introduced me to the other dark elves on the scout team.

"He wants to help with our work and build his skills. Give him whatever tasks you can, even simple ones."

The scouts welcomed me with far more composed attitudes than the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠NPCs at the general store or food shop yesterday. Though their similar gazes made it obvious they all shared that trademark fondness for humans.

As expected, the moment Elenoir left, the dark elves crowded around me, each chiming in.

"Haha, volunteering to help us? What a fine human."

"Tell me about it. It's been ages since we interacted with one."

But amid the friendly dark elves, one stared at me with clear displeasure.

"Hmph. What could a human possibly help with? As long as he doesn't get in the way."

She was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dark elf woman with her long hair tied up high, dressed lightly like me, with a sword and bow at her side. Her skin glowed the same green as everyone else's, so I couldn't gauge her strength, but her gait and aura didn't scream weak.

I wasn't sure when I'd started judging strength from things like that, but it felt spot-on. She was probably the strongest on the scout team. That prickly attitude probably came from her skill too.

Well, you need a jerk or two around. If everyone was too nice, even I'd have trouble adjusting.

"Ease up, Rizmel. Elenoir seemed to really like him, even though she hates weaklings. There must be a reason."

"She hates weaklings, sure, but she loves anything young."

"You gonna find a human who isn't young from our perspective? She didn't drag him here just for that—she's not some starving beast."

Their banter was hitting a little too close. Why bring up starving beasts? And did someone just say Rizmel? That name rings a bell...

Right—the swordsmanship training quest from the blacksmith. But the vibe was way off from what I imagined. I figured her relative would feel similar, but the only thing they shared was... certain generous curves.

"W-what are you staring at, human?!"

No complaints if she taught me proper swordsmanship.

I handed Rizmel the letter right away. She read it, shot me a shocked look, and bit her lip hard.

"Why should I teach swordsmanship to a human... I really don't wanna..."

She grumbled but dragged me outside anyway. The other scouts snickered at the sight.

She said she hated it, but didn't seem that reluctant. Her grip on my arm wasn't rough.

"I'm warning you—if you get on my nerves, I won't go easy. Rookie."

Fine by me. I had no plans to be a nuisance.

"You'll teach me swordsmanship?"

"If you're worth teaching."

Rizmel pulled something from her pocket—a yellowish scrap of paper.

"Gotta see what you've got first."

The unfolded paper was covered in black-and-white drawings and unfamiliar script. Dark elf writing, probably— the system's basic translation couldn't handle it. But I knew the illustrations. Exact matches for the Floor 7 monsters from open community guides.

"We were heading out to take down poison spiders anyway. You said you'd help, so no complaints, right?"

"Sure."

"Hey, aren't you answering too casually? You know what this is? Poison spiders."

She frowned in surprise at my nonchalant reply. What was the big deal? Floor 7 poison spiders were just slightly tough trash mobs.

"Twilight Spiders. Twice your size, legs and claws like steel. Oh, and poison."

She waved the drawing with exaggerated flair, but it was all stuff I'd read in strategy posts. Never fought them, but honestly, I might know more about these spiders than she did.

"I know."

"Know what?!"

Even when I said I knew, she didn't buy it.

"You've never been hit by spider venom, have you? Know how dangerous it is? One hit and your limbs lock up—you're stuck for ages!"

I hadn't been poisoned by spiders yet. And I wouldn't be. Especially not paralysis venom. No way Floor 7 mobs had toxin strong enough to beat my resistances. If they did? All the better. My Poison Resistance skill was stuck at level 19, which was annoying. Perfect chance to hit 20.

"I know, so let's just go. Twilight Spiders, right?"

"H-hey!"

"Not coming? I'll go alone."

I opened the community app, pulled up a map ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of their habitat, and started walking. Rizmel yammered about bringing antidotes, but I ignored ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her.

We left the dark elf settlement and reached the Twilight Spider lair.

-Kiririk!Kirik!

The spiders had swarmed out of their den for some reason, writhing like they were greeting us. Floor 7 had a lot of discrepancies from community guides. Oh well—just more spiders than expected.

-Shing.

I drew my sword, adjusted my shield, and advanced. Suddenly, Rizmel yanked my shoulder.

"It's dangerous—stay back! I won't nurse some rookie laid up from venom!"

Wasn't she supposed to check my skills? What was she doing, stepping in? What the hell is this girl on about?