Expedition (Deep Floors + Deepest Floors)

Tap tap tap tap~

Urgent footsteps echoed continuously through the narrow Dungeon.

As for what was out there? Falan saw absolutely nothing, because he was currently inside the Backpack.

It was a Big Backpack specially developed by Orario to carry spoils.

The Backpack was enormous, roughly three meters long and wide. It could fit even a person inside.

Of course, none of that was particularly important to Falan at the moment.

What mattered was that Ottar was carrying him on his back, and all the shaking was making him horribly uncomfortable.

After all, a Level 6 was still a Level 6. Even though Ottar had slowed down somewhat for Falan's sake, as well as for the Freya Familia's Level 2s and Level 3s,

that speed was still more than some trashy Level 1 could endure.

Falan had already thrown up along the way. What he regretted most now was having eaten such a proper breakfast before setting out.

"Ugh... why did I bring this suffering upon myself...?"

Falan could not help complaining to himself. The Freya Familia members had all eaten a hearty breakfast,

because during the expedition, unless they returned, they would no longer be able to enjoy a proper meal.

But he had known full well that he would be carried around as a Big Backpack, so why had he eaten so much?

Before he knew it, after vomiting a few times, Falan felt considerably better.

After all, he had thrown up everything he could. Even if he wanted to vomit again, there was nothing left to throw up.

"Tomorrow, maybe I should ask someone else to carry me..."

Only after finally settling down did Falan get the chance to properly listen to the sounds around him.

He heard the constant clash of metal, along with the occasional magical chant from Freya Familia adventurers.

There was no further conversation. Falan could not help marveling at the discipline of a large familia.

In truth, he understood it. They were in the Deep Floors of the Dungeon, where danger could appear at any moment.

Even with two Level 6 first-class adventurers among them, that changed nothing.

"What? Why did we suddenly stop?"

Feeling that the Backpack he was in was no longer swaying, Falan should have been happy.

But he was more confused. This was the Dungeon, so why had they suddenly stopped?

Then a steady, weighty voice rang out. It was none other than Vice-Captain Ottar, who was carrying him.

"We've reached the 27th Floor. The floor boss, Amphisbaena, is ahead."

Falan, who had long since obtained the relevant information from the Adventurer Guild, recalled the details.

The 25th–27th Floors were a region covered in lakes, also known as the Great Pale Falls. Aside from the ordinary monsters that lived there, it was home to the Dungeon's second floor boss, Amphisbaena, a Two-Headed Dragon.

Because of this, the Adventurer Guild designated the 13th–24th Floors as exploration grounds for Level 2 adventurers.

After all, for any party made up solely of Level 2s, facing Amphisbaena meant disaster—death.

Yet as Falan watched the battle outside through a gap in the Backpack, he was left somewhat speechless.

Ottar, the vice-captain, staying behind to protect him, the "Big Backpack," was one thing.

But even Captain Mia and several Level 5s who were core members of the Freya Familia had not joined the fight.

"Vice-Captain Ottar, why aren't you going up to help?"

"Captain Mia is getting old and preparing to retire. From here on, they need to be ready to stand on their own."

Ottar spoke calmly. "In fact, they understand that as well. This expedition..."

"...is not only Captain Mia's retirement battle, but everyone's chance to make a name for themselves. For the Freya Familia to reclaim the glory once held by the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia, I will replace Captain Mia, while they must break through to Level 5, or even Level 6."

Falan fell silent at those words. This was the difference between a large familia and a small familia, where adventurers might never be able to leave for their entire lives.

A large familia allowed its members to retire peacefully without having to keep worrying blindly about the familia. In that respect, it was far better than a small familia.

At the same time, he understood why the Freya Familia was aiming to "break records" since the fall of the Evils' rule.

It was for prestige, for the familia's glory, and to ensure that the familia would not weaken because its strongest members retired.

In the end, the Two-Headed Serpent floor boss, Amphisbaena, fell to the Freya Familia adventurers.

Then a certain captain issued an order. "Amphisbaena's scent is still here. Other monsters probably won't come near this place for a while. We'll make camp here." Soon afterward, Falan was taken out of the Backpack and summoned tents and other camping supplies.

Someone said, "Big Backpack, your ability really is incredible. With you on an expedition, we don't even need to waste time sorting things out."

Then came a warning cough from a certain silver-haired elf. "Little brother Falan is only joining us for this expedition. In the future, he'll have to go on expeditions with other familias too. He may not be able to accompany us every time."

This was followed by everyone's dejected reactions and Falan's bitter smile. After all, Hedin had hit upon his exact difficulty.

As a rookie adventurer, if his magic had not been too special and exposed,

who would want to risk their life entering the Deep Floors, or even the Deepest Floors of the Dungeon?

This expedition was fine, since the Freya Familia protected him very well. They had even assigned a Level 6 to protect him.

But if he went on expeditions with other familias? Falan did not dare guarantee his safety then.

Soon enough, after defeating Amphisbaena and spending another night there, they once again headed deeper.

Along the way, the Freya Familia gradually became quieter. After all, they were now in the dangerous Dungeon.

This caused Falan, an outsider who should have remained uninvolved, to gradually blend in with them. After all, he was not particularly safe himself, and over these days, even their resting places had stopped being safe. Someone had to take turns keeping watch at night to prevent massive monster swarms caused by unexpected incidents.

On the 37th Floor, they encountered another floor boss. If Falan had to describe his impression of this floor boss, it would probably be the King of the Undead.

(Momonga... wrong series.)

It was a skeleton wielding a special two-handed greatsword. Once it encountered the Freya Familia, it continuously sent out underlings.

Each underling had an average strength of around Level 2.5, forcing the Freya Familia to keep their distance.

In the end, Vice-Captain Ottar and Captain Mia temporarily gave up Falan's personal protection to prevent the familia from suffering setbacks.

Relying on their overwhelming Level 6 strength to clear the minions and unleash a furious assault on the floor boss Udaeus, the two finally managed to kill it.

Then, on the 47th Floor, they encountered a Cyclops early in the morning. It was Balor, a roaming floor boss similar to Amphisbaena. Unfortunately for it, Ottar, who had been unable to properly fight while protecting Falan, latched onto it.

As a result, a floor boss of the Deep Floors was soloed by Ottar alone.

Falan really wanted to complain. Balor, you had it so rough. Other floor bosses at least needed to be taken down by a group, but floor bosses that got soloed like Balor were truly rare.

(Goliath: "What do you mean? When it comes to experience being soloed, I have more.")

(Udaeus: "I heard that in the future, because I have a special weapon, I'll have it pretty rough too. Soloed Alliance +1.")

(Balor: "Sob... in my original fate, I could at least have fought Ottar to a mutual defeat.")

By the time they reached the 51st Floor, Falan was somewhat numb. As expected, the Freya Familia's Level 6s were all monsters.

They had not needed to trouble this floor's boss in the first place, but in order to gather the funds needed for the expedition, the Freya Familia had made a Contract with several familias that produced potions in exchange for Cadmus's Spring.

As for the 51st Floor's boss, it was named after the material required for that medicine: Cadmus, also known as the Strong Dragon. It was an extraordinarily powerful dragon species. According to the information Falan knew, the deeper the floor, the stronger the monsters. Perhaps Cadmus had the strength of Level 7...

But that was merely what he thought, and he was quickly proven wrong. Captain Mia personally went to entangle Cadmus in battle. Though she ended up covered in wounds, she still fought Cadmus to death.

Falan could not help wondering... Captain Mia, are you sure you can still retire? Shouldn't you be leveling up to Level 7?

At the same time, the Soloed Alliance gained another member.

After dealing with Cadmus, Falan and the Level 2 and Level 3 adventurers were left by the lakeside.

After all, the coming 52nd–58th Floors were also known as the Dragon Pot.

Cannon Dragons would continuously bombard upward from the 58th Floor, while powerful monsters such as Wyverns were mixed among them.

The Freya Familia would not even have enough time to dodge, much less spare attention to protect Falan and the adventurers who lacked sufficient strength.

Several days later, the core adventurers returned carrying only their travel rations.

Falan and the other Freya Familia adventurers then followed them down to the 58th Floor.

According to Captain Mia, the Zeus Familia's records classified Cannon Dragons as a kind of floor boss. However, while other floor bosses existed individually, Cannon Dragons were an entire species, which was why they did not bear the title of floor boss.

In any case, while the Freya Familia was expeditioning through the Deepest Floors, they would not need to worry about Cannon Dragons respawning.