Noblesse Oblige

After accepting the commission at Lagmor Mountain, we set out immediately, pulling our wagon toward the destination.

The location was near Belhaim.

It wasn’t far, but not exactly close either.

Plenty of other adventurers who had left Iushil with us could be seen as well. Thinking that every single one of them belonged to at least a Silver-ranked party made me feel strange.

“But, brother Dmihtan.”

This time, Barkal was the one at the reins. Thanks to that, I could comfortably chat with Serena in the cargo space.

“If Lagmor Mountain became active, then we wouldn’t be able to enter the dungeon there, right?”

It was a reasonable question.

“Of course, Serena. I don’t think we’ll be going into the dungeon, probably.”

Miriam abruptly cut in on Serena’s words, continuing in a confident tone.

“Entering the dungeon is too dangerous. There’s a risk of death. Of course, as an adventurer, it’s a risk you’re supposed to face.”

Tsk-tsk.

Miriam shook her Finger as she said this.

I tilted my head, watching her.

“Don’t tell me, are you planning to chase us all the way to Lagmor Mountain?”

The only reason we’re heading there is because of the commission, after all. There’s not much reason for you to come along, and you’re not Dungeon God either.

“Of course.”

Why?

No, really, I just don’t get it.

Miriam looked straight at me.

“I think you have a keen nose for money, Dmihtan.”

So what.

Maybe it’s because of how things went this time, but it’s not like things like this happen all the time, right?

“If I get the chance, I’d like to achieve financial freedom even a single day earlier. So chasing the scent of money is only natural, wouldn’t you say?”

Speaking with such audacity. In other words, she wanted to hit the jackpot and then laze around, having fun.

It’s a feeling I’m not used to, since I only ever hung around friends like Barkal and Serena, who would find a way to live even with no money.

“Well, anyway, to get to the point.”

Miriam cleared her throat and began to speak again.

“The risks of this Lagmor Mountain commission are huge. So, Dmihtan, you’ll probably approach it from a different angle, right?”

“And what might that be?”

“Selling necessary goods at the dungeon entrance, of course.”

With a sly grin, miriam looked at me. As I stared back blankly, she looked a little embarrassed.

“Uh, am I wrong?”

“How do you see me?”

“…… Someone who’s got a freakish nose for money?”

I think that’s kind of weird.

* * *

At the halfway point of Lagmor Mountain, where a red aura was beginning to swirl, the Adventurer’s Guild had set up a temporary camp.

“Have all the adventurers who accepted the commission gathered?”

The Adventurer’s Guildmaster of Belhaim, alona, asked, and the official nodded.

“All right, it’s time to begin.”

Alona subconsciously clenched her fist tight.

Barely inaugurated as Belhaim’s Adventurer’s Guildmaster, alona’s future could almost be said to depend on today’s commission.

Calming her pounding heart, she headed toward the camp where the adventurers had assembled.

The gazes of more than a hundred adventurers followed her as she arrived.

She swept back her green hair and looked over the gathered adventurers.

At least Silver-ranked.

Mostly Gold-ranked.

A select few were platinum rank.

They were elites from all over.

If even this wasn’t enough, it would only confirm that the dungeon of Lagmor Mountain couldn’t be stopped.

“Hm, hmm.”

Alona drew the adventurers’ attention with a cough. She decided to start by thanking everyone who had gathered here with their parties.

“On behalf of Belhaim Adventurer’s Guild, I thank all the adventurer parties who accepted such a dangerous commission.”

After a brief bow, alona pointed to the mountain’s midsection.

There, a massive fissure yawned open.

“To get straight to the point—within the dungeon lies a monster that uses Petrification.”

Crimson light leaked from the chasm. The aura was so ominous, even seasoned adventurers shuddered.

That was to be expected. All around, there was heat and volcanic ash surging from Lagmor Mountain, and there were animals that had been turned to statues.

“It’s probably a type of Gorgon.”

Even the boldest parties that had come this far were clearly shaken by the sight.

“But for this commission, we have powerful reinforcements.”

At Alona’s signal, a party stepped forward from one side of the camp.

A brilliant, blond-haired man took the lead, with his companions following closely behind.

“The platinum-ranked party, golden Wind. They’ll be joining you on this commission.”

At Alona’s introduction, leonhart ran his hand through his hair.

“Th-that guy…”

“Golden Wind?”

“Isn’t that the guy who got beaten up by us?”

Hearing the adventurers’ chatter, leonhart turned toward the one who had muttered the last part.

You punk, I finally found one of you.

Sensing Leonhart’s killing intent, the adventurers flinched in alarm.

“I am the Golden Wind’s commander, leonhart Eclair.”

Gaining everyone’s attention, leonhart began to speak as if it were only natural.

His voice brimming with confidence, it easily drew the audience’s eyes.

“As a platinum-ranked party, we’ll be fighting alongside you. There’s no need to fear.”

“Ooh…”

The anxiety in the adventurers’ eyes began to fade, bit by bit.

“Whether it’s Gorgons wielding Petrification, or even Abyssification…”

Leonhart ran his hand through his hair once more.

“As long as I, leonhart, and the Golden Wind are here, it will be fine. I promise you that.”

“If we have a platinum-ranked party, doesn’t that mean it’ll be safe?”

“Of course! It’s the platinum rank, after all!”

As hope kindled in the adventurers’ faces, alona let out a quiet sigh of relief.

‘The influence of a platinum rank really is tremendous.’

That was when it happened.

Rumble, crash—!

A thunderous roar erupted from the center of Lagmor Mountain.

At the same time, the crater began spewing lava and volcanic ash.

The land turned blood red.

Lava flowed down the slopes.

It looked for all the world like the end of the world, and the adventurers all turned toward Leonhart.

Composed as ever, he smoothed his golden hair and said confidently,

“I can’t really do anything about a volcanic eruption, though.”

At Leonhart’s undaunted words, the adventurers’ faces stiffened.

Lava flowing was understandable; this was an active volcano, after all.

But if that lava covered the dungeon, they were in trouble.

They’d have to force their way through lava to enter.

When leaving, they might emerge from a portal buried under molten rock.

“If the lava covers the mountain, how do we leave the dungeon?”

“We won’t get summoned up right in the lava, will we…?”

The anxious voices grew louder.

“Hey, but he’s platinum rank, right?”

“Isn’t platinum rank supposed to even handle lava!?”

To this, leonhart replied,

“Platinum rankers are still human, in the end. There’s no way we can overcome natural disasters… huh?”

He’d been speaking with his usual confidence, but now trailed off, moving his gaze to the lower slopes.

There, a newly arrived party was making its way up Lagmor Mountain.

Unable to handle the rough, uneven path by wagon, they’d left it behind and climbed on foot. Their faces were known to many of the adventurers here.

“It’s Dungeon God.”

“Those lunatics?”

Despite the murmurs, Dungeon God kept moving.

On the contrary, as if driven by some clear purpose, they headed straight for the mountain’s middle.

And there, lava was flowing.

“Huh?”

“They can’t go there, can they?”

“Hey! There’s lava flowing—are they insane!?”

The adventurers shouted, but Dungeon God—more precisely, its commander, Dmihtan—did not stop.

He carried something slung across his back.

“What’s that?”

“A flag…?”

On closer inspection, it was a flag of red cloth emblazoned with a design of falling flames.

But the adventurers sensed instinctively that this flag was not ordinary.

Embers, or something like them, kept falling from the flame design itself.

The flame drawn on the cloth was not a mere painting, but living, true fire.

“What’s he going to do with that flag?”

“I don’t get it. Why is he even heading toward the lava?”

The adventurers looked on in bewilderment.

Still, Dmihtan advanced toward the path of flowing lava.

“He’s insane!”

“Is he really trying to get himself killed!?”

The adventurers raised their voices, but Dmihtan did not stop.

Soon, he reached the edge of the lava.

Even just the shimmering heat that rose from it made it almost impossible to breathe.

“Un-believable…”

“Is he going to walk on lava?”

The moment Dmihtan’s foot touched the surface, the lava instantly congealed into black stone, supporting his steps.

“H-how is that…?”

“Is it magic?”

Without stopping, Dmihtan took another step.

Then another.

Wherever his foot landed, the lava instantly cooled into a path.

And thus, before the dungeon’s entrance—the most sweltering spot of all—Dmihtan planted the flag he carried.

Woooooong!

A crimson light spread from the flag.

Like ripples.

Like waves.

The light began to cover Lagmor Mountain.

The adventurers recoiled in awe. But the light wasn’t harmful.

On the contrary, it felt warm and calming.

And then—

“… Huh?”

The lava running down the peak of Lagmor Mountain began to stop.

As if time itself had sped up.

The crimson lava solidified on the spot.

—

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