Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Newbie Party
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"...Someone you know?"
To the women, he looked like a handsome gigolo type with a fresh face, wearing leather armor that gave him a sleek impression. The brown-haired man glanced our way and spoke.
"Yes. She's someone I was indebted to for a short while in the past."
At the man's response, Elise—the priestess girl with a refreshing charm like a sprig of mint—turned to me and smiled brightly.
"It's been a while. Arjen. Have you been well?"
"Yes. I've been fine. And you all?"
"We've had no particular incidents either."
"The problem is there haven't been enough incidents."
Elise's childhood friend Lucas leaned back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head, and grumbled sullenly.
"Lucas. That's rude."
At Elise's rebuke, Lucas stuck out his lips like a rabbit's and straightened up, releasing the clasp behind his head.
"......"
*Bow.*
Was it because we'd agreed to party up after the Gold Solis carrier group?
Yohan, meeting my eyes, gave a small nod in greeting while munching on a potato from the stew in his mouth.
And then immediately returned his focus to the stew.
'He's the same as ever.'
"By the way, who are these people?"
My gaze shifted to the brown-haired man who'd been talking with Elise moments ago, and the two who seemed to be his companions.
"Ah, these people saw our party recruitment notice and came over."
She scratched her cheek awkwardly as she said it.
"Truth is... we haven't entered the dungeon since then."
"It's not that we didn't—it's that we couldn't."
Elise shot a sharp glare at Lucas, who added his gruff comment.
From what I gathered, they hadn't been able to recruit party members since the carrier group.
"We could've just gone in ourselves..."
"There you go again. Uncle Delinger said we have to form a proper party before entering the dungeon."
Delinger... where had I heard that name?
Ah, the halfling thief.
He'd gotten pretty chummy during the carrier party, and it seemed they'd kept in touch after.
"I think that's good advice worth following."
"See? Even Arjen says so."
"...Still, we made it to the 10th floor. Can't we handle the 1st floor on our own?"
I chuckled at Lucas's whining.
It was true these kids had adapted up to the 10th floor, but that was only possible with the carriers backing them up.
Following orders in an environment with absolute safety guarantees was worlds apart from real combat, where your own judgment and full responsibility hung on the line.
But it was boyish bravado, and they seemed to have comrades and advisors to rein it in, so I didn't butt in with more advice.
"So these people are joining your party?"
"Ah, yes. They said they'd party with us... but we need a bit more coordination..."
I nodded at Elise's words.
Three from Elise's side, three from theirs.
Two small parties merging meant command and communication issues had to be ironed out first.
They'd probably been working on that before I arrived.
However...
"Sorry for the late intro. I'm Arjen."
"...Ryan."
"Oh my."
The brown-haired Ryan introduced himself with a friendly smile, and I covered my mouth, feigning surprise.
"I had a hunch, but it really is you, Ryan."
At my fuss, Ryan's smile wavered slightly.
Elise didn't seem to notice, though, and asked me,
"Are they famous?"
"Yes."
In a bad way.
Thief Nick, mage Tibi, and swordsman Ryan.
The Crawler Trio, who'd been active in the mid-layers for quite a while.
Not low-layer or deep-layer crawlers, and not from a party I'd run with, so why did I know these mid-layer guys?
One reason.
They were infamous as 'Party Breakers.'
As mid-layer crawlers, they didn't have official monikers like my Rusted Silver.
But the parties they'd joined tended to end badly.
The rumors trailing them were shady, whether coincidence or design—best not to get tangled up.
At my words, Elise and Lucas turned fresh, wary eyes toward Ryan's party.
"Haha... It's embarrassing to hear that from someone truly famous."
Ryan laughed awkwardly, scratching his head.
"Nice to meet you, Ryan. I hope we get a chance to party together sometime."
I extended my hand, and Ryan's gaze went to my fingertips.
His narrowed brow suggested he was trying to read my intent.
As I lightly wiggled my hand, hovering awkwardly in the air, Ryan snapped to and clasped it, saying,
"Not sure if we measure up to Miss Arjen's level."
"If the terms fit, what's not to do? Oh."
As we shook hands up and down, my body lost balance and tilted toward Ryan.
"Whoa. So clumsy."
Lifting my head from within Ryan's embrace, I gave him an exasperated look.
"...Ha... Haha..."
Looking down at me in his arms, Ryan forced a stiff smile.
As I pulled away and stood, Ryan pondered for a moment, then turned to Elise.
"Miss Elise."
"Yes? Yes."
"I thought it was a good opportunity, but after thinking it over, now's not the time. Shall we aim for next time?"
"Ah..."
Elise nodded thoughtfully at Ryan's words.
"Sure."
"Best of luck."
"Huh? You're leaving just like that, Ryan?"
As Ryan rose to leave the guild, Nick from his party stood too.
Glancing at Ryan and Elise—or rather, Yohan—with a frown, he scratched his head vigorously,
"Aw, screw it. Good luck."
He followed Ryan out of the guild. The squinting, plump mage Tibi also left with a genial smile and a wave.
"A bit disappointing. I thought it'd work this time."
Once Ryan's party had fully exited, Elise spoke with regret.
"Eh, I think it's for the best. Those guys gave me bad vibes somehow. Right?"
Lucas nudged Yohan's side with his elbow—Yohan nearly done with his stew—and said.
"Dunno. Wasn't paying attention."
"...I know asking you is pointless, so why do I keep doing it?"
Still, Elise looked glum at Lucas's words, so he raised his voice.
"Hey. Be real—why would mid-layer crawlers with a mage join newbies like us? Hundred percent up to something."
'This kid's got good instincts.'
Lucas didn't know specifics about Ryan's party, but he'd sensed something off.
"Mind if I sit too?"
"Ah! Of course!"
Elise eagerly offered a chair.
"What're you doing?"
"No, just thought I saw a bug flying around."
As I sat, I reflexively started to order a drink out of habit but dropped my raised hand silently under the goddess's pressure.
"Miss Elise. Was it four months since we last saw each other?"
"Right? We haven't met since before the Festival of Receiving Flesh, so about then?"
"Can I see your party recruitment notice for a sec?"
"Pardon? Ah! Sure!"
I quickly scanned the recruitment notice.
These three were true beginners, never having properly experienced the dungeon.
Even so, they had a priestess and had adapted to the 10th floor via the carrier party.
'Even then, failing to form even a 1st-floor experience party with those assets for four months doesn't add up.'
Delinger's influence, maybe?
The notice, penned by Elise, was filled with standard appeals any crawler new to the dungeon should jump at.
"Anyone respond to the notice?"
"Yes, they come periodically, but..."
"But?"
"They agree to join, then back out a few days later."
"And it falls apart before we even set off, so the supplies we buy in advance go to waste too."
Lucas scowled irritably.
"The decent ones compensate for the supplies, but the jerks bitch about why they should pay."
Knowing crawlers' average personalities, I nodded at Lucas.
All too common.
'I get the picture.'
I looked at Yohan, blankly staring ahead with his empty stew bowl in front of him.
He's probably the cause.
'Hmm.'
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
Honestly, I felt somewhat responsible for this mess.
But did I have to take responsibility for what these kids were going through now? Eh?
If I hadn't stepped in, they'd have used more direct methods instead of these shady, subtle ones.
Plus, I'd just given them a 'warning,' so they'd probably lay off the schemes.
I wasn't their babysitter; no reason to take it further.
'Looking at their gear, they couldn't offer satisfying compensation anyway.'
In short, no need to get more involved.
Having sorted my thoughts, I turned to Elise.
"If it's okay, how about I help out a little?"
...It was vacation time, and I was bored anyway.