Level Down 32 (Patreon)

Volume 1 Chapter 32 - The Situation Has Become Critical

RAW

Having brought the level-up reservationists back to Lilac City from the Slime Dungeon, Allen was walking in a good mood along the main road leading to the Guild.

Although it was morning and there weren't any genuine stores calling out, Allen watched with a smile as the people interacted with each other, somehow more lively than usual.

Normally, while he wouldn't be in a bad mood after the boring and tedious job of crushing slime in the middle of the night, he often feels lethargic, but today was different.

The reason for this is because of Allen's beloved sword hanging from his waist.

It’s unknown if it’s because they've been fighting together for so many years, or if it's just Allen's own bias, but it felt very fitting to have his beloved sword that he had repaired there.

The sensation felt different compared to when he hung a sword he made as a prototype, and his cheeks went slack at that.

“Aah, I feel like I want to go on an adventure with this guy.” (Allen)

Allen muttered while stroking the sheath of his beloved sword. He didn't realize it, but someone who happened to be walking behind him heard it and quickly changed course, his face twitching a bit.

It couldn't be helped, because someone who was saying things like that this early in the morning and rubbing his scabbard on the main streets of the city was extremely suspicious. He should be glad he wasn't reported.

Allen's delusions continued as he walked down the road leading to the Guild. He was wondering which dungeon would be better if he wanted to go on an adventure with his beloved sword.

“If I go in the proper order, it has to be Lilac Dungeon, but if I’m going to go to all this trouble, I feel like I want to challenge the top.” (Allen)

The Slime Dungeon was out of the question, and the Demon Dungeon, which he had conquered many times, was already not in the realm of adventure for Allen.

If anything, he now thought of it as a training ground for magic and the like.

So if it’s going to be an adventure, going to the depth of the Lilac Dungeon where he was stuck on the 40th floor would be the proper order, Allen thought.

‘With my current ability, going until the 40th floor is possible, and going toward the untrodden land of the 41st floor and beyond is not impossible, isn’t it?’ Allen thought.

However, on the other hand, he also wanted to go to the last of the four dungeons around Lilac, a place called ‘the dungeon where adventurers end up’.

“But you know, it's got a restriction on entry there. I'm pretty sure you need an individual rank of gold class or higher, right? So since Nera’s not an adventurer, he can't enter.” (Allen)

As Allen said that, he let out a sigh. This was just a delusion, so it shouldn’t have any meaning, but his expression looked like he was seriously disappointed.

In actuality, going to that dungeon was a kind of dream for Lilac City's adventurers, and perhaps part of Allen was still drawn to it.

The ranks of adventurers start from wood class, followed by bronze class, then iron class, silver class, gold class, mithril class, until the highest rank, orichalcum class, but about 80% of adventurers are in iron class or below.

By the way, Allen's rank when he was an adventurer was iron class, and his ability was among the higher one of that class. In other words, among adventurers, he was quite a skilled one. Although, it should be noted that this was only among ordinary adventurers.

The fact that only the remaining 20%, no, if it’s only above gold rank, then less than 10% of the adventurers can enter shows how unique that dungeon is.

The name of that dungeon that is the only one that has restriction on entry, because unless you have a certain level of ability, you will simply die, is the Dragon Dungeon.

It’s an extremely brutal dungeon where the only monsters that appear are dragon-type monsters.

.

.

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As his delusions subsided, Allen arrived at the Adventurers’ Guild, entered through the back door for employees, handed the bag containing slime magic stones to a passing employee, and was about to head home.

“Nn?” (Allen)

However, he noticed that the atmosphere within the Guild was a little different than usual and stopped his feet.

At this time when some time has passed since the gate was opened, adventurers had already finished taking requests, and if there are people in the Guild, they would be people whose party are on vacation and want to accept easy requests to earn some extra money, or those who are gathering information in advance, their number aren’t supposed to be high.

But right now, there were many adventurers in the guild hall, gathered in front of the bulletin board and restlessly discussing something.

“Allen!” (Matilda)

“Ooh, Matilda, huh? Did something happen?” (Allen)

“Don’t ‘something’ me!” (Matilda)

Seeing Matilda's unusually impatient expression, Allen guessed that an emergency situation was happening and rushed over. When Allen saw the paper spread out on Matilda's desk, his face stiffened.

“There are signs of a stampede? And from the Dragon Dungeon? Is this certain?” (Allen)

“If it's a lie, all of us will have our heads cut off. This is information brought in by the mithril class party [Homura]’s scout at the risk of his life, so there's no need to worry about that. Well, it's the same in the sense that there's no guarantee to our life though.” (Matilda)

“Seriously? Isn't this a repeat of the nightmare from 12 years ago?” (Allen)

Allen muttered with an astonished expression.

The nightmare 12 years ago that Allen mentioned is the incident in which Lilac City was devastated by a stampede from the Dragon Dungeon.

Fortunately, the damage to the city was not that great, but it was a tragic incident in which part of the defensive wall protecting the city collapsed, resulting in many casualties among adventurers and soldiers.

As a result of that incident, a good thing happened that was a mass recruitment of soldiers, and Allen’s younger brother Eric becoming a soldier, but on the other hand, an adventurer he knew died, and the party of the hero egg was hired with generous benefits, causing him to lost ties with them and he returned to a life of poverty. It was an incident that left bitter memories for Allen.

“Currently, it seems like the high-ranking adventurers centered around [Homura] are keeping them at bay, but...” (Matilda)

“In a stampede, enemies get stronger and stronger, so it's just a matter of how much time they can buy.” (Allen)

“Yes. That's why we're currently making an emergency request for support personnel. Although we don't know how many adventurers will accept the request without running away. It seems the Guildmaster has already informed the Lord, and has requested lifting its restrictions on entry and dispatch of soldiers.” (Matilda)

“Even one of them going outside would be bad after all. The Lord will also... will also dispatch soldiers!?” (Allen)

Startled by Allen’s sudden loud voice and unable to speak, Matilda somehow managed to answer with a nod of her head.

If a stampede were to occur and the dragons were to go outside as a result, it would be obvious that the city would suffer damage.

Therefore, they would try to stop them in the dungeon at all cost, even Allen can understand that. This is because fighting inside a dungeon with limited entrances and exits is much easier.

However, even though he can understand this, Allen found it hard to accept the fact that soldiers were being dispatched.

When it comes to fighting dragons, only the best among the soldiers should be chosen. Otherwise, the damage would only increase unnecessarily.

That's the reason why the Guild is recruiting support personnel with an emergency request. That was because, if they let someone lacking ability fight, they will only die, if anything, they may even become a hindrance.

There aren't many soldiers who are capable of fighting dragons. And among them will definitely be...

“Eric!” (Allen)

Allen's younger brother Eric.

Allen couldn't stay still, and the instant he called out that name, he started running towards the back entrance of the Guild. Allen was aware of Matilda reaching out to stop him, but his consciousness was no longer directed there.

“Where do you think you're going?” (???)

Hearing those words together with an overwhelming pressure, Allen stopped in his tracks and turned his gaze in that direction. The person who was slowly coming down the stairs, his fat body jiggling was...

“Guildmaster.” (Allen)

“Let me ask you again. In this emergency situation that requires the Guild to come together as one, where do you think you're going?” (???)

It was the person who presides over this Lilac City’s Adventurer Guild as its guildmaster, the former mithril class adventurer, Orlando.

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