DanMachi Crossover: My Kevin Template Joined the Chat Group

Besides that, there were endless stretches of trees.

Near the center of the vast grassland straight ahead stood a towering tree.

Even its hollow could be seen clearly.

Unlike the other floors, the ceiling of the 18th Floor was covered with crystals that radiated brilliant light.

They turned the entire world a deep azure.

Countless crystals shone, creating the sight of a "blue sky."

Not only that, as time passed, the crystals' light would gradually fade, creating "night."

This was the safe floor, the 18th Floor...

An underground world filled with crystals and nature!

It was known as Labyrinth Paradise.

Their destination was Rivera Town, a settlement frequently run by adventurers here.

After crossing a natural wooden bridge, the group finally arrived at their destination.

What greeted them was an archway made from flags and wooden stakes.

Several large words were written on it.

"Welcome, fellow professionals, to Rivera Town!"

It looked quite pleasant, but all of that was merely an illusion.

Since it was a town operating within the Dungeon, lodging, alcohol, food, and goods here all cost at least ten times their surface prices.

It was a true black market!

This was effectively the front line of Dungeon exploration, an essential place for adventurers who remained in the Dungeon long-term to replenish their supplies.

As for why they had come here, it was naturally because Take Mikazuchi currently needed those supplies.

However, just as mentioned before, the goods here cost at least ten times as much as they did on the surface.

In Rivera Town, transactions were conducted through barter and written credit.

Since absolutely no one would carry gold coins while exploring the Dungeon and increase their baggage, the shops would record the customer's name and Familia emblem as a seal.

A few days later, once the shop staff returned from the Dungeon, they would take the note to the customer's affiliated faction to collect payment.

The purchasing stations worked in the opposite way. The shop would issue a note, allowing the customer to collect money from their own faction.

Of course, Ling Xuan was an exception. After all, not everyone had an Imaginary Space to store things in.

Therefore, suspicious individuals of unknown identity could not trade in "Rivera Town."

After helping Take Mikazuchi settle those matters, Ling Xuan and Ryu Lion entered the forest.

Ryu Lion was very familiar with this forest. Under her guidance, they encountered no monsters at all and quickly arrived at a graveyard.

Slender trees and crystals surrounded it.

A beam of light shone down from above. Several cross-shaped grave markers, made by tying pieces of wood together with rope, stood in rows here.

"...Sometimes, I ask Miya Mama for leave so I can bring them flowers."

As she spoke, Ryu Lion placed the white flowers in her hands one by one before more than ten graves.

Then she reached into her bag, took out a bottle—a bottle of alcohol—and poured it in turn over several particular graves.

Faced with the sight before him, Ling Xuan could only remain silent.

No matter what he said now, it would only be rubbing salt into her wounds.

But at that moment, Ryu Lion took the initiative to speak.

"They are the graves of the companions from the Familia I once belonged to."

"Ryu..."

Ling Xuan seemed to want to say something.

But after thinking it over, he ultimately said nothing. Instead, he silently walked up to Ryu Lion and gently took her hand.

The sudden action made Ryu Lion pause in slight surprise.

The lines of her lips softened as well.

"But if my former companions could see me now, they would probably be happy too."

"Someone is willing to take my hand like this and hold it."

"Now, I have a very dependable companion too!"

Bring It On, Floor Master! ### Just as the atmosphere had become exceptionally warm, Ling Xuan suddenly frowned slightly.

That presence was...

"Hestia?"

Ryu Lion could not help frowning when she heard that.

"Mr. Ling Xuan... mentioning another girl's name at a time like this will get you kicked to death by a Unicorn!"

Ryu Lion calmly spoke words that were extraordinarily dangerous.

Ling Xuan froze when he heard that. It was true.

When alone with a girl, bringing up another girl's name...

But very quickly—

"Still, Hestia actually sneaked into the Dungeon..."

"She probably came because she was worried about me."

Ling Xuan could not help sighing.

Just like in the original story, Hestia had probably come here with Hermes.

"In that case, let's go back."

Ling Xuan nodded.

"Sorry, Ryu's companions. I need to take her with me. Next time, I'll come here with her again."

With that, Ling Xuan took Ryu Lion's hand and started walking back.

That action caught Ryu Lion somewhat off guard as well.

If he had turned around, he might have noticed the faint flush that had appeared on Ryu Lion's face at some point.

When they returned to camp, they indeed saw Hestia!

On the other side, Hestia's eyes immediately lit up when she saw Ling Xuan.

"—Ling Xuan!"

With those words, Hestia immediately lunged straight at him.

Her head slammed hard into Ling Xuan!

"Ling Xuan, Ling Xuan! Are you okay? Let me check whether your body is healthy."

As she spoke, she tried to slip her hand into Ling Xuan's clothes.

?

Help, there's a female hooligan...

If things continued according to this plot, the scene would definitely turn into something terrible.

At that moment, Ryu Lion coughed lightly.

Only then did Hestia pay a little attention to her image.

Then she noticed that Ling Xuan and Ryu Lion were actually holding hands!

At once, the vinegar jar overturned again!

"Wait, why are you two holding hands? What exactly happened between you during this time, hey!!!"

Seeing this, Ling Xuan could not help sighing.

"What terrible luck..."

After spending some time soothing Hestia's emotions again!

Ling Xuan turned his gaze toward the god who had entered the Dungeon with Hestia.

Hermes...

After watching the spectacle before him with amused interest until it ended, Hermes turned his gaze toward Ling Xuan.

"Are you Ling Xuan?"

"Yeah."

Ling Xuan remained as calm as ever as he looked at the god before him.

However, he was also curious why the god before him had taken an interest in him.

Hermes clearly did not know what Ling Xuan was thinking.

He merely narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a smile.

"Ah... I've wanted to meet you for a long time. My name is Hermes. I look forward to working with you."

After meeting up, Ling Xuan's group and Hestia had no plans to return the way they came.

They planned to rest here for a day or two before heading back.

However...

Ling Xuan frowned.

"What a strange feeling. Is it just an illusion?"

As he spoke, Ling Xuan's gaze settled somewhere...

For some reason, ever since arriving on the 18th Floor, Ling Xuan had felt as though this floor itself was rejecting him...

The sense of threat in his heart was also drawing nearer and nearer.

Could it be Monsterrex—Goliath?

But if it were merely something like that... it should not have made him feel danger...

"Could it be..."

Ling Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly. Then there was only one possibility.

The Dungeon had sensed his existence.

To eliminate an anomaly like him, had it strengthened Goliath?

"Interesting. Then come on!"

As he spoke, fighting spirit appeared in Ling Xuan's eyes!

Ling Xuan was also curious about just how far his current self could go.

The next day, the recovered members of the Takemikazuchi Familia came before Ling Xuan.

"Thank you so much. If it hadn't been for you, our Familia might have been wiped out there. If you have any requests later, feel free to ask me."

Mikoto spoke with a face full of gratitude.

Meanwhile, seeing this scene, Hestia became jealous again.

"No, Ling Xuan, what is going on with you? How come you pick up a girl every time you go on an expedition?"

On the other side, Hermes could not help widening his eyes when he saw this scene.