Chapter 273

Dungeon First Floor: Cave Level
The day after arriving at Dungeon Town, we finally ventured into the dungeon.
Melanie had visited the Adventurers’ Guild the previous day to show her face, check on the treasure chest situation monitored by the guild, and purchase a map of the first floor, the Cave Level.
I didn’t know dungeon maps were even sold.

“They are, but only for the first floor, as its layout doesn’t change. For the other floors, you’ll need to explore and map them yourself.”

“Got it. So, Melanie, what’s today’s goal?”

“Yes, Plum. Today’s goal is to clear the first floor and begin exploring the second. Since we have a map of the first floor and it’s crowded with adventurers, it’s not ideal for treasure chest hunting.”

Apparently, that’s the case.
The first floor is full of novice adventurers, making treasure chest hunting impractical.
To avoid wasting time, Melanie bought the map and planned to descend to the second floor via the shortest route.
I had no objections to that plan.

“Alright, let’s grab our gear and head to the dungeon. Even with the shortest route, crossing the first floor will take some time, so let’s get going.”

“Understood. Let’s prepare right away.”

Everyone returned to their rooms to grab their belongings.
Since we’d planned for just a one-night stay, we were traveling light, so everyone quickly gathered at the armored vehicle.
Once everyone was ready, the vehicle began moving toward the dungeon.
Looking out the window, I noticed even more stalls than when we arrived.
It’s clear the dungeon represents a golden opportunity for wealth.

Upon reaching the dungeon entrance, we left the armored vehicle at a local Adventurers’ Guild outpost for safekeeping—leaving it unattended wasn’t an option.
There was an entrance fee to enter the dungeon, but it was negligible, so I paid it myself.
With that, we were fully prepared to dive into the dungeon.

Inside, as expected, it was a dimly lit cave.
However, it wasn’t completely dark; some moss-like substance on the walls glowed faintly, illuminating the paths.
This was exactly the kind of mysterious environment I imagined a dungeon to have.
And just as anticipated, the first floor was crowded with adventurers.
In open spaces, you could see torches held by adventurers scattered everywhere.
So much for an atmospheric experience.

“Oh, looks like the party ahead of us is also aiming for the second floor.”

“Really?”

“They’re heading straight for the second floor without hesitation. The first floor is regularly cleared of monsters, so following them should make for a safer journey.”

“Isn’t that kind of poor etiquette?”

“In this dungeon’s first floor, it’s not a big deal. It’s common for parties to take the shortest route to the second floor. Besides, the monsters here aren’t tough enough to be an issue for anyone capable of reaching the second floor. If the group ahead slows down, we can overtake them and take the lead.”

I see, dungeons have their own unwritten rules.
Ultimately, the party ahead never faltered, and we reached the staircase to the second floor without incident.
While the journey was easy, we gained nothing along the way.
I’ll have to work harder starting from the second floor.

What do you think about this chapter?