Chapter 73

### Prologue: Generate Kingdom Dungeon Exploration Team

In the deep forest of the buffer zone between the Generate Kingdom in the north and the Lunette Empire, where a war had recently taken place, a report was received in the capital of the Generate Kingdom that the dungeon was showing signs of flooding.

Currently, there is a ceasefire with the Lunette Empire, but if the flooding causes damage to the neighboring city, it could put us at a disadvantage if the war resumes. Therefore, an emergency meeting was immediately convened.

"---This is the current situation. If we can obtain the core by exploring the dungeon, it could also serve as a resource for our kingdom."

In the king's office, after the civil servant finished his explanation, the king placed his hand on his chin and pondered for a moment.

"Can we assume that the empire is in a similar situation?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. The empire is also likely to send adventurers and soldiers to suppress the dungeon."

"What is the difficulty level of the exploration?"

"It is a relatively difficult dungeon, but A-rank adventurers should be able to handle it without any problems."

The king thought for a moment and then snapped his fingers as if an idea had struck him.

"In that case, how about sending the hero? He should have nothing to do right now."

Currently, with the war over, Larkus, the hero, has no duties and spends his days training and entertaining the princess. The king thought of using Larkus, who is otherwise idle, to good effect.

"That might be a good idea. We have already entered a ceasefire with the empire..."

The civil servant looked slightly disappointed, and the king sighed.

"Don't say that. Although it was a failure that he was captured, he is still my beloved son."

The king had successfully occupied the Lunette Empire but, due to the blunder of his third son, Prince Lasset, had to return all the occupied territories and pay a large sum in compensation. However, for the sake of his beloved son, who resembled him the most, he accepted all the conditions set by the Lunette Empire.

Since his return, Lasset has been under house arrest in his room in the castle. The civil servants, who would have considered his blunder worthy of the death penalty, did not speak out, knowing that their own heads would be on the line if they did.

"I will go and speak with the hero immediately. I will also request the cooperation of the Adventurer's Guild and send a few members."

As the civil servant bowed and was about to leave the room, the king stopped him.

"Wait a moment. Select some knights as well. If it's just the hero, the exploration might be led by the adventurers. Choose knights with dungeon experience and have them accompany the exploration."

"...Understood. I will do that."

The civil servant bowed again and left the room.

"We can't let the adventurers handle the exploration alone. We need to avoid giving out rewards when the treasury is already strained. For the knights, a promotion or a higher rank would suffice."

In the reception room, now empty, the king muttered to himself.

◇◇◇

"Exploring the dungeon...?"

"Yes, that's right. Have you had any experience with it before?"

In one of the rooms assigned to the hero Larkus, Larkus and the civil servant were sitting on sofas facing each other. The civil servant had come to the room to request Larkus's help in exploring the dungeon, as per the king's instructions.

"There were no dungeons in the world I was summoned from. However, monsters did appear on the surface. Since coming to this country, I have had some experience with dungeons."

The civil servant, understanding that different worlds have different rules, continued.

"This time, due to the flooding of the dungeon, some damage has been reported in the cities bordering the Lunette Empire. The kingdom needs to minimize the damage as much as possible. Therefore, His Majesty thought that your experience might be useful and has asked you to help."

Larkus nodded, recalling the city he had stayed in during the invasion of the Lunette Empire.

"I understand. Even though I don't have much experience, I will do my best."

Larkus clenched his fist firmly, and the civil servant continued.

"His Majesty has also instructed that excellent adventurers and knights will accompany you to assist. You can leave all the preparations to the adventurers. Focus on the exploration and training without worry."

"Thank you. I will become stronger and protect this Generate Kingdom."

Larkus believed in the words of the royal family and the princess. That's why he believed that the sub-humans were evil, as he had been told by the civil servants and military officials. During the invasion of the Lunette Empire, he had his doubts, but when he heard that the prince who had been governing the Lunette Empire had been deceived by the dirty schemes of the sub-humans and captured, he realized that his belief was correct. He had no way of knowing that the prince had been deceived by the clever schemes of Touya and the sub-guild master.

Back in his room, Larkus felt anxious about his first dungeon exploration. He tried not to show this anxiety in front of the princess, but Sharon whispered gently in his ear.

"Larkus-sama, everything will be fine. You are the hero, after all. This will be a good experience."

"Princess..."

"Please don't call me 'Princess.' I've told you many times to call me Sharon."

"Right. Sorry, Sharon..."

Sharon blushed and pressed her chest against Larkus's arm, causing him to turn red.

"Got it. I'll do my best for this country."

"That's the spirit. I will pray for your safe return."

A few days later, the adventurers were selected, and the team consisted of two knights and two adventurers, making a total of five members. Larkus was told that if the team size exceeded six, the experience points gained from defeating monsters would decrease, and the rate of level-up would slow down. Therefore, the maximum size of an adventurer party is usually five members. The difficulty of the exploration depends on the balance of the party's professions. The two adventurers accompanying Larkus were a thief and a warrior, and the knights had some basic magic skills but were primarily front-line fighters.

Larkus, as a hero, could use intermediate-level magic, both offensive and healing. Initially, he thought the party's balance was poor, but since the dungeon's difficulty was not that high, and Larkus could support with magic, it should not be a problem. The two adventurers were A-rank and had previously explored the dungeon to the lowest level, so they were confident in their abilities. The knights were also strong, with one being the deputy leader of the knight order, and they were confident in their abilities.

To hide his identity as the hero, Larkus registered as an adventurer and left the capital. However, they were not the only ones heading to the dungeon; about a hundred soldiers accompanied them to set up a base camp and transport supplies. They traveled by carriage from the capital, passing through a city, and arrived at the dungeon. The soldiers unloaded the supplies and began setting up the base camp. The entrance to the dungeon was like a cave, and several soldiers were setting up fences to prevent monsters from escaping.

The five members who would explore the dungeon were given the largest tent, where they held a meeting.

"Our mission is to explore the dungeon before the Lunette Empire. That's what His Majesty has instructed."

The deputy leader's words were met with nods from Larkus and the others. As they were reconfirming the various points of attention for the dungeon, a soldier rushed into the tent, looking anxious.

"I have a report. Soldiers who appear to be the Lunette Empire's dungeon exploration team are heading this way."

"Of course they are... Well, it's fine. Let's meet them here. Guide them to this tent."

"Yes, sir! Understood!"

The soldier saluted and hurried out of the tent.

"This looks like a simultaneous exploration..."

"Exactly. If they had arrived three days later, we would have already completed the exploration."

It had been explained during the initial meeting that it would take three days to reach the lowest level of the dungeon. Therefore, they had arrived before the Lunette Empire's exploration team to secure the dungeon core. However, the day before, a group that appeared to be the Lunette Empire's exploration team had shown up.

Since they were in a ceasefire, they couldn't start a fight. The knights suggested, "Let's meet them beforehand. We need to know their strength," and a meeting was arranged.

When the exploration team from the Lunette Empire arrived, Larkus and the others were speechless. A young man who looked like an adventurer and two girls who appeared to be in their teens entered the tent.

Is the Lunette Empire serious about the exploration? The Generate Kingdom side thought it was a blessing in disguise.

"This... quite a young representative. Entrusting the task to children and women suggests that the Lunette Empire is severely short of manpower."

The deputy leader was sneering.

However, when the introductions began, his sneer quickly faded.

"I am Princess Charlotte von Lunette of the Lunette Empire."

The princess herself was leading the exploration.

...Is she serious? The Generate Kingdom side thought that the Lunette Empire's strength must have declined to the point where they had to rely on the princess to lead the exploration.

"I am Touya von Kusaragi, a marquis in the Lunette Empire."

The next introduction came from the young man, who was the head of a marquis family. Everyone thought he had probably inherited the title after his parents died in the recent war.

Everyone felt that the kingdom's exploration was certain to succeed and continued the meeting with a confident smile. They agreed that neither side would interfere with the other in the dungeon and that each country would send only one team. After the Lunette Empire team left, the meeting continued, but everyone had a confident expression.

"Exploring with that team... What is the Lunette Empire thinking? A princess and a marquis? They must be underestimating the dungeon."

The adventurer's words were hard to disagree with. Perhaps there were strong adventurers among the team members who didn't come this time. But that was just a worry.

The next day, when Larkus and the Generate Kingdom team saw the Lunette Empire's exploration team, they sighed. The team consisted entirely of young women, including one who was not yet an adult.

"Unbelievable... Is the Lunette Empire serious about the exploration?"

Larkus muttered. No one said it out loud, but everyone was thinking the same thing. As expected, the soldiers mocked the Lunette Empire's team.

"How can they send such a team just because they're short of manpower?"

"Indeed, it's quite a sight. One man and five women. Look, one of them is still a child."

"Are they serious? The Lunette Empire must be desperate."

The soldiers' words were heard by the Lunette Empire team. The youngest girl's eyes turned fierce, and Larkus noticed that her hand was glowing with magic.

(That's dangerous... It's high-level? No, it's super-level magic. If it's released here...)

Certain death would follow.

---For everyone but himself. Larkus felt.

However, the young marquis held the girl's hand.

"Natalie, stop. ...Just ignore the rabble's barking."

It was unclear how much strength he was hiding, but he could easily stop a girl who could use super-level magic. Larkus felt that he must be a skilled user.

"...!! These guys!!"

As a soldier reached for his sword in anger, a hand reached out from the side and stopped him.

"...Hold it. This isn't the time for that, and we're in a ceasefire with the Lunette Empire. The princess is here. Do you want to cause trouble?"

Thanks to the adventurer, the situation was defused. Larkus broke out in a cold sweat, thinking about what might have happened if the fight had started. They decided to take a break and