Dungeon, Second Floor.
Liber watched two Kobolds running toward him, one behind the other, in the underground passage.
The Kobold slashed at his face with its sharp claws. Liber swung the broadsword in his right hand to block the monster's attack. Claws clashed with steel.
Seeing another Kobold close behind, Liber summoned ripples beside him, and a greatsword shot out.
It slammed into the Kobold he was fighting, skewering it and sending it flying. The blade carried the second Kobold, now almost upon him, along with it, pinning both to the ground. Then their bodies began to change.
First, their color rapidly drained away. Then their bodies crumbled into dust and vanished without a trace.
Liber watched the two monsters disappear and the Magic Stones they left behind. He used magic to store the greatsword and the Magic Stones scattered on the ground in his space.
Liber looked toward the stairs leading to the Dungeon's third floor, hesitated, then turned to leave.
"For safety's sake, I shouldn't go too deep while I'm still getting my bearings in the Dungeon. I'll thoroughly explore the first and second floors first."
Thinking cautiously, Liber followed the route back to the first floor.
"At the very least, I should learn the way back between floors by heart, so I don't panic and lose my way if something unexpected happens."
Liber calmed himself after the emotions stirred up by his repeated battles.
There was still time before the major upheavals that had frequently thrown the story into chaos.
He shouldn't let a moment's impulse control him and charge straight into the depths. The Dungeon's monsters would never run out.
If he went too deep and ran into danger, like the protagonist in the original story when he encountered the Minotaur, he'd be in trouble. Losing his life would hardly be worth it.
Liber held back his desire to fight, reminding himself that he needed to grow steadily and safely.
As he followed the route back, he occasionally sent a greatsword flying out of his space. With a whistle through the air, it killed any monsters that attacked him.
"The space created by magic responds to my thoughts and moves however I want. This way of using the Gate of Babylon is really convenient."
He retrieved the weapons and the drops together, feeling the items inside his space as he thought.
"It's just a shame I only have one weapon. If Magic Stones weren't so fragile that I couldn't use them as ammunition to fire from my space, I could get a taste of what it's like to unleash a storm of blades."
Liber stepped forward with some regret.
"Next time I come to the Dungeon, I should buy more weapons. There's plenty of room in my space.
"I can store them as ammunition, but I don't think I have enough money to buy many weapons right now. I'll make do with some javelins or arrows for now."
He stopped and looked at the stairs leading up. "I should get to know this area well. If I want to buy weapons, I'll need to earn some money first."
With a cold smile, Liber explored the surrounding area.
It was nearly evening.
Liber followed the flow of adventurers out through the doors of Babel Tower. The setting sun was glaring, and he squinted.
The Dungeon's dim, oppressive atmosphere and tense environment felt completely different from the wide-open sky outside.
The other adventurers and their companions carried packs of all sizes. Liber, with nothing weighing him down but his somewhat disheveled gear, looked out of place.
Liber stretched and headed to the Adventurers' Guild, planning to exchange the Magic Stones dropped by the Dungeon's monsters for money.
Magic Stones were the core of Dungeon monsters, crystallized magic power.
People could use technology to convert Magic Stones into energy for all sorts of purposes. The streetlights that illuminated Orario, for example, were "Magic Stone lamps" made using specialized technology.
Magic Stones could be processed with human technology and used in many ways—as fire starters, refrigerators for storing food, and more. That made them valuable resources.
The Labyrinth City, Orario, exported products made from Magic Stones to other countries, earning enormous profits.
Inside the Guild, there was a special counter where adventurers could exchange Magic Stones for money.
Liber approached the counter, held his palm downward, and let the Magic Stones in his space drop from his hand in front of the clerk.
Seeing the clerk behind the counter staring in surprise, Liber urged her on.
"Sorry, could you hurry up and exchange these Magic Stones?"
"Y-yes."
Only after Liber prompted her did the clerk snap out of it and hurry to count and exchange the stones.
Liber felt a little rueful. Spatial abilities were rare in Orario, and storing things in one's space was incredibly useful.
He never had to worry about whether monster drops were easy to carry or how much they weighed. Compared with an ordinary adventurer, he could carry countless times more loot.
After exchanging the Magic Stones for money, Liber stored the money in his space and left the Guild under the curious gazes of those around him.
Walking down Adventurers' Street, Liber gazed at the fifty-three stars shining in his mind.
He narrowed his eyes, thinking that if meeting key characters from the original story could earn him star points, then there was an important place nearby that appeared often in the story.
Feeling his stomach growl, Liber recalled the name of the restaurant from the story and began looking for it.
"This should be the place." Liber stopped in front of a doorway, relying on the name he remembered.
Like the other shops, the tavern was built of stone. It had two floors and looked like the largest restaurant or tavern in the area.
The Hostess of Fertility, Liber read on the sign hanging above.
He peered in through the doorway. The first thing he saw was a tall, muscular woman behind the bar, talking to a customer.
Then he noticed the many female employees bustling around inside.
After confirming that this was more or less the place he remembered, Liber went into the tavern and took a seat at the long bar, sitting up straight.
He looked over the many young women working in the kitchen behind it.
Suddenly, a powerful arm slammed onto the bar, and a deep voice drew his attention.
"Kid, quit leering at our girls. You're going to sit there without ordering anything?"
Liber looked at the muscular arm on the counter, then raised his eyes to the tall, heavily built woman watching him from behind the bar.
Mia Grand, a tall, heavily built female dwarf.
She was the manager of the Hostess of Fertility, a retired adventurer, and the former captain of the Freya Familia. Level 6.
"Sorry. I'll have spicy fried noodles and, um, a beer." Liber pulled his gaze away and ordered.
"Kid, you don't look old enough to drink, so don't go ordering alcohol. I'm the manager here, Mia Grand. Pick either juice or milk."
Mia Grand looked down at Liber. He didn't argue with her. "Then I'll have juice instead."
Manager Mia gave him a look, then called the order to the kitchen.
After taking his order, the burly dwarf stopped staring at him and went back to her other work.
Liber leaned on the bar and looked around the tavern.
He saw customers getting a little too handsy with the staff, human waitresses deftly fending them off, and adventurers drinking beer and laughing loudly.
People were having a wonderful time.
"It's less a place to eat and drink than a place where a bunch of people come to ogle pretty girls," Liber muttered, uncomfortable with the unruly atmosphere.
"That's rude. Our food and drinks are good, too," a lovely voice replied.
"Here's your juice." A female employee set the drink on the counter in front of Liber.
"The kitchen's preparing your fried noodles now, so please wait a little. Sorry to keep you." Liber looked at the female server who had brought him his drink.
She was beautiful, with striking features and a well-fitted uniform that showed off her figure. She had unusual blue-gray hair cut short, and matching eyes.
She wore a smile, and her lively words and playful movements gave her a charming air.
Syr Flover, an employee of the Hostess of Fertility. She held a special position in the tavern and had the ability to see through people's emotions.
Before reaching the bar, Liber had seen many adventurers warmly chatting with her.
"Ah, it's fine. No need to rush," Liber replied.
"Thanks. I'll go see to the other customers now. Someone will bring you your meal when it's ready, so please wait a little." Syr smiled.
Liber nodded. After he answered, Syr went back to tending to the other customers, soon disappearing into the bustle.
After a little while, a catgirl arrived beside him with a tray.
"Meow, your spicy fried noodles are ready. Enjoy!" Liber looked at the catgirl, whose black hair framed her face as her ears and tail swayed.
"Meow, curious about our place? I'm Chloe. Come support our business again sometime, okay?"
The catgirl spoke cheerfully, with a peculiar verbal tic.
"Sure. I'll come by when I have time," Liber replied casually.
"Then enjoy your meal." After serving him, the girl hurried off.
Liber took a sip of juice, then lowered his head to taste the fried noodles, lost in thought.
Chloe Lolo, Level 4, a former assassin whose missions had a success rate close to one hundred percent.
After filling his stomach, Liber left the tavern. At the entrance, he looked back at the lively crowd inside.
"I doubt all these people having fun realize that the waitresses and the manager working here are far stronger than they are."
Thinking this, he smiled, shook his head, and turned away.
Liber walked back toward his Familia, sensing three more stars in his mind.
He felt a little helpless. He didn't know when they would be useful.
Lost in thought, he continued on toward his Familia.
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