Chapter 46: Temporary Teammates and the Fallen Demon Society

A luxurious hall built of white marble, spacious and bright.

This Explorer Hall wasn’t just a gathering and meeting place for Explorers; it also housed a large bar.

Here, you could sell monster drop materials, craft armor, or, if the drop was monster meat, even make delicious monster dishes—a major draw for the place.

Lv6 Amateur Explorer Jade and Lv7 Amateur Explorer Weiss.

They sat in a corner of the bar, sipping green beer said to be made from “Lizard Milk,” discussing their battle plan while waiting for someone.

“Your plan is definitely tempting—just one round trip nets us… 300,000.”

The final number was spoken in a low voice.

Female Explorer—Weiss, profession: [Rogue].

“Of course. My uncle works at Benor Corporation. The intel is definitely solid.”

Jade, profession: [Tank].

“The problem is the three temporary teammates you found.”

Weiss quietly tapped the display on the table with her fingertip.

Three profiles, each with a photo for team recruitment, Lv, name, age, hobbies, and other information.

However, only the required fields were filled out on these profiles; everything else was left blank.

“With a price this low, no one should show up, nor is there any reason for them to take interest in us. Couldn’t you just spend a little more and apply for a C-rank commission?”

There were five commission ranks.

A-rank, B-rank, C-rank, and the highest, S-rank.

The simplest commissions included finding a lost Cat in the Dungeon, while the hardest involved leaping into magma to defeat a Boss.

The categories varied according to difficulty, team composition, and reward amount, with final judgment made by the organization.

For rated commissions, Benor Corporation acted as an intermediary to guarantee safety and trust.

Different ranks had different announcement channels.

S-rank commissions could even make it to the news for mass recruitment.

And the fifth type—

“I don’t have that kind of money, so I can only use random matching for teammate recruitment!”

Three screens in the Dungeon would display commission information in a scrolling feed, also posting them on the official website for selection.

These had less security.

Aside from requiring the client to verify with an ID Card, the commission content could be written however one wished—whoever was willing would take it.

“But don’t worry, I got lucky this time. I just posted for Temporary Teammate Recruitment with a ‘let’s see what happens’ mindset, and actually three people above Lv9 applied! Though having a pretty boy in the mix is annoying, one is super cute, and the other has an amazing figure!”

Watching Jade’s perverted face, Weiss resisted the urge to smash his head with her beer mug.

“Especially the one with the amazing figure—beautiful, and the level is also…”

“They only posted a half-body shot. How do you know all that?”

Weiss grew impatient, not wanting to hear him discuss other women.

“What if the other person actually looks like a dinosaur, and the photo is Photoshopped?”

“Weiss, what kind of nonsense is that?

These are organization-certified Explorers—where would fake photo info come from? You’re just jealous! Ow!”

Weiss stomped hard on Jade’s foot.

“There’s a difference between front and back-end certification. The real info about Explorers is only revealed using ; the organization records the ‘back-end’ info to verify authenticity. The ‘front-end’ info for team formation is filled out freely by Explorers, for others to see. Even the names we use are all aliases.”

“But… the registered ID is fixed. If anything happens, we can track them through the organization. Most importantly, Lv can’t be faked—you know that. If the level is real, isn’t that enough?”

Jade, you probably don’t know that these registration IDs can be forged.

Although expensive, there are indeed people who buy them.

Weiss wore a troubled expression.

Her sensitivity as a [Rogue] made her think of worst-case scenarios.

With such high Lv, these three wouldn’t likely listen to Jade’s commands.

If they wanted to do something illegal in the Dungeon…

All Weiss could do was grab Jade and run.

“Even if they’re real, your 2,000R reward for the second layer is so low. Which idiot would want to team up with the two of us? Normally, for the second layer, the price starts at at least 10,000R. These three are definitely suspicious!”

“All right, all right, Weiss, I promise we’ll only form the team this once.”

Jade tried to comfort her.

“I even took time off specially for this. For the sake of childhood friendship, trust me this time—once we finish this second-layer run, we’ll be rich. We’ll never have to come to the Dungeon again, and never risk our lives fighting monsters.”

“…Why do I feel like nothing good ever happens when I trust you? Last time, you said the team would promote you, but you’re still just a squad leader…”

“Oh, they seem to have arrived!”

Jade clumsily changed the topic.

Weiss sighed in resignation.

Who told her to fall for someone like this…

When she looked at the new teammates Jade pointed out—

“Hmm?”

The two before them wore rough, oversized helmets covering their faces completely.

Their defensive power was high, but their field of vision was severely restricted.

Not only that, both wore thick plate armor.

One carried a tower shield so large it looked like a door panel, along with a huge backpack.

The other had only a straight sword at their waist.

So suspicious.

Weiss’s first impression was that the two were hiding their appearances.

Fortunately, they voluntarily presented their ID Cards to prove their identities.

“Wolf and Scathach, correct?”

The two armored figures nodded. Weiss returned their ID Cards.

Scathach leaned in to whisper to Crosy:

—Why did we have to use fake names?

This outfit isn’t heavy, but it’s really hot—

—For safety, we can’t let her remember us during this operation—

—Her? That [Rogue] big sister?—

—No, the other one.

You’ll know soon enough.

For now, stay away from me—

Wolf=Shirok, pushed Cass=Scathach aside.

Beside them, Jade rubbed his hands together like a fly, looking expectant.

“Ahem, you two, could you please take off your helmets for confirmation?”

Shirok and Cass removed their bucket-like helmets.

So young.

Weiss’s eyes widened slightly.

And Wolf looked so petite, yet carried a huge shield and what appeared to be a very heavy backpack.

But that also indicated his Lv was real, and his strength wasn’t to be underestimated.

Jade, next to them, looked at Shirok with a playful, lecherous grin.

Then he turned to Cass, a look of utter disappointment and resentment on his face.

“If you weren’t here… it’d be a harem squad of me and three beautiful girls.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Weiss pushed Jade’s head.

“He’s a guy. Don’t kid yourself.”

“Huh? Who?”

“This one named Wolf.”

“No way! Such a cute, lively face—he can’t be a guy!”

“No, Miss Weiss is correct. I am indeed male.”

Shirok twisted the knife further, putting his giant helmet back on—and made Cass do the same.

Hearing this, Jade collapsed to the ground like a deflated balloon.

“Even in my last exploration, I can’t fulfill my dream…”

Weiss massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on.

“The profile says he’s male. Jade, I’m the only woman here…”

“No, wait, didn’t you say the ‘front-end’ info could be filled in at will? Maybe Miss Wolf is just too shy and wrote ‘male’! Wolf, sorry, let me verify—mmph!!!”

Weiss punched Jade’s head, burying it into his neck.

“Sorry, let me introduce us properly. I’m Weiss, [Rogue], Lv7. This ridiculous man is Jade, Lv6 [Tank].”

“Wolf, Lv9 [Tank]. My friend Scathach, Lv10 [Warrior].”

Weiss smiled and extended her hand.

Shirok politely returned the gesture, removing his gauntlet to shake hands and establish a temporary alliance.

The sensation surprised Weiss.

White, soft, a little cold.

Could this really be a female Explorer disguised as a man?

Weiss couldn’t help but find Jade’s theory plausible.

A girl interested in the Dungeon pretending to be a boy—could this Scathach be her boyfriend?

Lv9 at such a young age—they must have entered the Dungeon in middle school.

But the Dungeon isn’t a place for couples to flirt.

Especially since the second layer is the domain of professional Explorers.

If you die, don’t blame me.

Burying her dark thoughts, Weiss kept her expression neutral and continued the negotiation.

“The commission is to enter C Zone of the second layer and collect Purple Crystals. The commission is only considered complete when you return to this hall. I’ll transfer the remainder of the payment after completion. Is that acceptable?”

“It’s fine.”

The reply was quick and firm, not at all like someone acting on a whim.

Weiss smiled in relief.

She hoped the other party was truly competent.

“Weiss! Don’t say that—how is my handsome face, which has charmed countless girls, ridiculous…”

“Shut up.”

“Yes.”

Jade, having recovered, stayed on his knees.

—Shirok, why does Miss Weiss get mad every time she talks to Mr. Jade?—

—Probably because she likes him and hides her embarrassment by hitting him.

Though I don’t know what she sees in him—

Tsundere types are out of fashion, Miss Weiss.

These days, “clingy wife” types are all the rage.

In the game, the two hugged in the flames and burned to ashes.

That’s why Shirok remembered it vividly.

Weiss was cautious, Jade easygoing and a bit of a lecher.

They liked each other but never confessed.

In the end, neither’s feelings were conveyed.

—Eh? No way?

Who liked who first?—

Cass’s voice was filled with gossip.

Shirok silently pushed Cass away.

Jade lifted his head, wronged yet defiant.

“I won’t give up! There’s also a [Assassin] named Myut—my beauty radar tells me, with absolute certainty, that the photo is an E Cup! Definitely a top-tier beauty!…..”

Just as Weiss raised her foot, ready to stomp this hopeless man’s head.

“Excuse me, is Mr. Jade here? The recruitment info said this was the meeting spot.”

Seeing this newcomer, Weiss was stunned.

Cass gasped.

Under the giant helmet, a drop of cold sweat slid down Shirok’s forehead.

“Hello, that’s me. Sorry, my companions are a bit noisy. Please don’t mind them.”

“Eh? When did you move?!”

Jade, who should have been under Weiss’s foot, had somehow instantly appeared in front of Myut, taking her hand in a gentlemanly and elegant manner.

“Being lively is a good thing. I like friendly people.”

Myut smiled sweetly, returning Jade’s handshake.

“Oh, woah!”

Jade’s nose flared with excitement.

Weiss’s face went tactical black.

No wonder Jade became so proper and cool.

Myut had an aura that naturally enticed people to fall.

She wore a dark brown cloak, her beautiful face exuding a strong Western European air.

The black cloth over her eyes lent a forbidden vibe.

Her body was barely covered by scanty fabric, her skin as white as freshly fallen snow, and her straight hair a deep golden brown.

The shape of her chest, visible beneath the fabric, could rival Crosy’s.

“So beautiful.”

Cass couldn’t help but murmur in admiration.

Cass, have you ever heard this saying: the more beautiful the woman, the better she is at lying.

Shirok didn’t say it aloud, but warned quietly, only loud enough for the two of them to hear.

“Beautiful? I think she looks like a pervert. Cass, don’t get too close—strengthen your resolve.”

“Huh? She’s dangerous?”

“Never judge by appearances. Rather than dangerous, she’s troublesome.”

Shirok said with annoyance.

“That woman is part of the Evil Demon Society—a bona fide antisocial and terrorist.”