Thud.
Thud.
Heavy, powerful footsteps struck the stone paving, their vibrations making hearts tremble.
An enormous beast lumbered into everyone's view.
It was a black bear.
A ridiculously huge black bear.
Its limbs were thick as pillars, and every step landed with tremendous force.
But that was not the most shocking part.
What nearly made everyone's eyes pop out was the thing on its back.
It was an enormous bundle crudely stitched together from the pelts of monsters from the twelfth floor-probably Silverback Gorillas.
Bulging at the seams.
Almost as large as the bear itself.
As the black bear walked, crisp rattling sounds came from the enormous bundle.
It was the sound of stones knocking against one another.
Crisp.
Constant.
Melodious.
Every adventurer present knew that sound all too well.
-it was precisely the crisp clatter of magic stones jostling and scraping against one another in a cramped space!
"Is... is that a black bear?"
An adventurer nearby stared wide-eyed, nearly dropping the half-full bag of low-purity magic stones in his hand.
"It really is a black bear! Someone actually brought a beast like that into the Dungeon?"
"Doesn't it attack people?"
"That's not the point, is it?!"
Another companion swallowed, staring fixedly at the enormous bundle with undisguised greed in his eyes.
"Listen to that sound... don't tell me it's all magic stones in there?!"
"You've got to be kidding... how many monsters would they have to kill to fill a bag that big?!"
The surrounding adventurers all stared wide-eyed, their jaws practically hitting the ground.
In this city, where magic stones served as both an energy source and the foundation of its currency...
That constant, crisp clattering was more beautiful than any music in the world.
It was the sound of gold coins filling their pockets!
It was the sound of wealth!
Then...
Under everyone's astonished gazes...
A group emerged one after another from the shadows behind the black bear.
Tsubaki.
Sasamori Aya.
Tsukuyo Inaba.
Onigawara Rin.
And several other girls.
Although everyone's equipment bore varying amounts of blood that had yet to dry, giving off a faint metallic tang...
None of them...
Had suffered any injuries.
They did not even show any obvious signs of exhaustion.
Especially the figure leading them.
-the captain of the Hephaestus Familia, Tsubaki Collbrande.
"Haaah!"
As soon as she left the passage...
Tsubaki stretched luxuriously, her joints cracking like popping beans.
"The air aboveground really does smell better."
Tsubaki reached up and slapped the back of her neck hard, as though trying to shake off the musty smell she had picked up in the Dungeon.
Then...
She raised her head, swept her lone eye over the crowd, and soon spotted Haimo standing nearby. Her eye lit up.
After all...
As far as Tsubaki was concerned...
She could hardly wait to see this god's expression when he laid eyes on that enormous bundle of loot.
It ought to be pretty entertaining, right?
After all...
Even she, a seasoned Lv. 5 who had seen plenty, had been startled by the way these rookies swept through the Dungeon like a swarm of locusts that afternoon.
Just a few hours earlier, they had still been a team of babies people pointed and whispered about.
Now they had returned fully laden.
That contrast alone was enough to shock a lot of people.
She had even decided what smug tone she would use to claim credit before Haimo.
However...
When she actually got a clear look...
The smile on her face...
Froze outright.
Or, more precisely...
It happened when she noticed a figure beside Haimo.
Short, dark blue hair.
Immaculately maintained regulation armor.
Custom-made metal gauntlets.
And that unmistakably stern face.
-the captain of the Ganesha Familia!
-it was none other than the "Elephant God's Staff," Shakti Pharma!
"..."
Tsubaki's lone eye flew wide open.
As an old hand who had spent years in Orario, and a familia captain herself...
She naturally knew just how formidable this Military Police Captain was.
Whenever Shakti appeared fully armed, it meant nothing good was happening.
Either a riot had broken out somewhere...
Or some unlucky fool had committed a crime and was about to be hauled off to jail.
Now...
This harbinger of trouble stood motionless beside Haimo, not even five paces separating them.
That positioning...
Don't tell me something happened?!!
"..."
Tsubaki's heart immediately lurched.
Fortunately, Haimo came over when he saw them.
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone."
With a gentle smile on his face, Haimo swept his gaze over the girls before finally settling on the enormous bundle. He nodded in satisfaction.
"Looks like quite a haul."
"Lord Haimo!"
Seeing Haimo approach, Sasamori Aya, Tsukuyo Inaba, and the others immediately greeted him respectfully.
"Mm."
"Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Welcome back~"
After responding with a faint smile, Haimo noticed that Tsubaki was still bewildered.
"What's wrong, Miss Tsubaki?"
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Uh..."
Tsubaki came to her senses and awkwardly scratched her messy hair, her gaze darting strangely between Haimo and Shakti.
"Well... Lord Haimo."
"This lady..."
Tsubaki pointed at Shakti, who stood silently to the side.
"You know Captain Shakti, don't you?"
"Of course I do..."
The corner of Tsubaki's mouth twitched.
Was there anyone in Orario who didn't recognize that face?
"It's just... I'm curious why she's here."
"And why she's..."
Sticking so close to Haimo, at that.
It was far too strange.
"As for Captain Shakti..."
"Ganesha asked her to come protect me today."
"Protect you?"
Tsubaki froze.
What kind of patron god needed the Military Police Commander dispatched to protect him?!!
Chapter 41: Why Is the Military Police Commander with Lord Haimo?!!