Is It Wrong to Explore the Dungeon Even Though I’m Overpowered? (Danmachi SI- WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 16: Time to be a Hero

(Day Later…)

The thought wouldn’t leave my mind.

Sitting in the garden of our newly purchased Grand Manor, a steaming cup of tea in hand, I stared out into the blooming hedges, feeling like I’d forgotten something important.

Today was our first real break from the dungeon in a while—an intentional pause to let the frenzy around my level-up cool off. Not that I had high hopes for it cooling off anytime soon.

My thoughts drifted, wandering toward my recent purchases. Thanks to the credits from Hephaistos and the influx of new recruits, I’d secured quite a few upgrades. Beyond the Grand Manor (x2) I’d picked up Armory, Divine Marking, Everlasting, Educational, Stress Defense (x2), Drain Defense (x2), Information Defense (x2), Fatality Defense, Environmental (x2), Creature Defense, Trace Defense, Prismatic Shroud (Storm), Mapper, Target Tracker, Bounty Tracker, Time Savers (x2), Gone and Forgotten, HUD, Toggle…

And the biggest, most important one of them all: Inexhaustible.

With that alone, I’d never have to worry about running out of inner energy—be it magical, psychic, soul, or otherwise—to power my abilities. And the best part? It extended to everyone connected to me. No more draining ourselves dry in battle. No more limits.

I was pulled from my musings by a sudden weight dropping onto my lap, pink hair filling my vision as someone made herself quite comfortable.

“…Ram?” I blinked, startled.

The Oni maid didn’t respond right away. Instead, she eased herself into my lap, her movements calm and deliberate as if this had always been her place. Once she had guided my arm snugly around her waist, she finally spoke.

“You looked distracted, Reinhard-sama. Is something bothering you?” she asked softly, her voice edged with a rare gentleness.

A faint blush rose to my cheeks at her forwardness. I wasn’t used to this softer side of Ram—more familiar with her biting sarcasm and dry wit—but I didn’t let it throw me off. Instead, I let my free hand drift into her hair, fingers combing through silky pink strands. Thanks to our empathic link, I could feel the waves of contentment radiating from her—contentment born from simply having my attention. Lately, it had been her sister who spent more time at my side.

“You could tell, huh?” I murmured, letting out a quiet sigh as I leaned back. “I’m not sure… but I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve forgotten something. Something important. And whatever it is… I think I’m the one to blame.”

“Hmm.” Ram tapped a finger to her chin thoughtfully, then leaned back against my chest with a content sigh, as if settling into her place in the world. “Is that why you went on a spending spree with those ‘perks’ after the payout?”

“I had a gut feeling we’d need them,” I said with a sigh, pulling out the Company Phone. My hand slipped from her hair, and though she didn’t protest, I felt a quiet flicker of disappointment ripple through our bond. She really liked that, huh?

“Unlimited mana…” she echoed, her voice a low murmur filled with curiosity. “Sounds like you’re expecting trouble.”

“…Yeah,” I admitted, running a thumb across the smooth surface of the phone. “I don’t want to believe it, but something’s coming. I don’t know what, or when—but this feeling in my chest won’t go away.”

Ram turned her head slightly, just enough to glance up at me with those sharp pink eyes. “And you think you’ll have to fight?”

I nodded, slowly. “Even if whatever I’ve forgotten turns out to be nothing… there’ll be someone, somewhere, who won’t take no for an answer. Someone who’ll cross a line they shouldn’t. And when that happens… I’ll have to act.”

Her lips curled into a faint, almost proud smirk as she leaned fully against me again. “Then it’s a good thing you’re not the type to back down. Just… don’t forget we’ll be with you, Reinhard-sama. You don’t have to shoulder it alone.”

That single sentence lifted something heavy off my chest, and I finally allowed myself to relax.

With a quiet breath, I flipped open the capture list on my Company Phone, casually scrolling through the names and profiles available in this world.

Ram, still nestled against me, shifted slightly to peek at the screen as well—her curiosity clearly piqued. I moved my hand from her waist, returning it to her hair, resuming the gentle strokes that earned a subtle hum of contentment from her.

“…Heh. That hat looks stupid,” she muttered with a smirk, pointing at one of the profile images. Her tone was amused, light, poking fun the way only Ram could.

I followed her gaze—then froze.

My thumb hovered over the screen, still. The air around me seemed to shift, just slightly, and Ram immediately picked up on it.

Her eyes flicked up toward me, her smirk fading. “What is it, Reinhard-sama?”

My brows furrowed, the name and image on the screen holding my attention in a way nothing else had all day.

“…I think I just remembered what I forgot.”

The God Resheph—head of the Resheph Familia. A deity known not for wisdom or virtue, but for reveling in chaos and cruelty. His Familia had a sickening reputation: thievery, arson, murder… and rape. They operated in the shadows, leaving devastation in their wake, a stain on this world that had to be removed.

I only knew about him from a brief mention—something I’d read on a wiki once, in the context of Freya’s journey to the Kaios Desert in search of her so-called destined one.

But in this timeline, things had changed.

Because of me.

Freya had never made that journey. My presence had derailed her plans entirely—her obsession with my soul anchoring her here instead. That meant the chain of events leading to Resheph’s downfall had never been set in motion.

Unless… I set them in motion myself.

“…Ram, how would you feel like traveling outside Orario for a week or so and taking down the Resheph Familia along with its god?” I asked finally turning to look down into Ram’s curious red eyes.

Ram stared at me silently for a moment before a smirk grew on her face. “I would love to~ It would give me time to have Reinhard-sama all to myself~ I’m assuming due to your worried face that we are going alone?”

I grimaced at her question. “Yeah… I’d usually bring Rem too, but I need someone strong to stay behind and watch over Hestia-sama and Artemis-sama.”

Ram raised an eyebrow, saying nothing—but the look was clear: Go on.

I sighed, caught. “And... I don’t want to drag the others into this. It’s my mess to clean up. Honestly, I already feel like I’m asking too much by bringing you.”

Her eyes softened for a moment, then narrowed—less in annoyance, more in protective defiance.

“If it matters to Reinhard-sama, then it matters to me,” she said firmly. “You’re the most important person in my life—aside from my sister, of course. And honestly?” Her lips curled into a pout. “I’m glad you asked me. I was starting to think you liked Rem better, with how much time you’ve been spending with her lately. Not that I’d blame you—my Rem is perfect, after all.”

And just like that, the guilt hit me harder. She was right—and it stung. Without thinking, I pulled her into a proper hug, catching her completely off guard.

“Sorry, Ram,” I murmured against her hair. “It’s not that I like Rem more. She just... needed me in a different way. She’s always putting herself down, and I felt like I had to lift her up, y’know? But you—”

I pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.

“I admire you. A lot. You’ve always been someone I can count on, even when I don’t deserve it. And just now, you proved me right again.” I smiled softly. “So please, keep being that steady rock. Keep keeping me humble, Ram.”

A full-body blush bloomed across her face, from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. She stumbled over her words, voice uncharacteristically shaky.

“Th-That’s… Reinhard-sama is being unfair~”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her adorable reaction and gently pulled her back into my chest, ignoring the light punches she delivered in protest—though they stung just enough to remind me of her Oni blood.

“D-Don’t laugh at me,” she muttered, fists tapping against me again, softer this time.

A few moments passed before her embarrassment faded, and she finally relaxed. With a quiet sigh, she nestled closer, her cheek pressed against my chest.

“…You’re such a jerk,” she mumbled into my shirt, voice barely above a whisper.

I smiled, holding her just a little tighter. If being a jerk meant getting to see this side of her, I wasn’t about to complain.

“You’re the one who’s going to break the news to Rem, Est-san, Hestia-sama, and Artemis-sama,” Ram murmured against my chest.

I froze. For the second time that morning.

I knew I was forgetting someone!

Est’s adorable pout flashed through my mind—eyes narrowed, arms crossed, small tears at the corner of her beautiful violet eyes. I could already hear her voice: “Reinhard. You forgot about me?”

Then came the mental image of Hestia's fiery tantrum, followed by Artemis’s cold stare of quiet disappointment.

Yep. I was officially screwed.

=====

(Later That Day)

The sound of a tapping foot echoed through the tense air, paired with crossed arms, turned heads, and a sharp glare. Lined up before me in silent judgment stood Hestia, Artemis, Est, and Rem—each radiating disapproval as I finished explaining my plan to leave Orario for a week with Ram.

“I’m against this, Reinhard,” Hestia said flatly, her usual playfulness gone. Her expression was unusually serious—so much so that she didn’t even call me by her usual nickname. “What you’re planning is dangerous. Too dangerous.”

“Why do you feel you must do this?” Artemis asked, her tone stern but threaded with concern. “Surely you understand this isn’t your responsibility, right?”

Est remained silent, arms crossed tightly as she averted her gaze—still managing to look impossibly adorable even in full-on sulk mode.

I turned to Rem, hoping for a gentler response. But even she wore a small pout, though it was laced more with sadness than frustration.

“Why can’t I come with you and nee-sama, Reinhard-kun?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I lowered my gaze, taking a deep breath before meeting their eyes once more. First, I turned to Hestia.

“I know it’s dangerous,” I said, my voice steady, “but Ram will be with me, and I have faith in her strength.”

Ram, who had been listening quietly at my side, couldn’t help but puff her chest in pride at my words. I shot her a small smile before shifting my focus.

Next, I turned to Artemis, offering her a soft, reassuring smile.

“But it is my responsibility,” I continued, my tone more resolute. “Because of my actions, horrible things will happen to hundreds of people if I don’t intervene. I can’t sit back and do nothing. It’s just the way I am.”

I then looked to Rem, my expression softening further. I had to choose my words carefully, knowing how much her insecurities weighed on her.

“It’s not that I don’t think you’re strong, or that I don’t need you,” I reassured the bluenette. “I do need you, Rem. But... I want you to stay here with Hestia-sama and Artemis-sama.”

She blinked, visibly surprised by the request. Her expression softened slightly, but I could still see the concern in her eyes.

“With the news of my level-up spreading, troublemakers might come snooping around. I need you to help protect them and the others, to be here in case things get dangerous. You’re vital to keeping everyone safe.”

Finally, I turned to Est. She hadn’t said a word during the conversation, but I knew better than to ignore the quiet storm brewing within her for too long.

After I spoke, the silence lingered for a moment as the weight of my words settled over them.

Hestia was the first to react, her shoulders slumping slightly as she let out a long, drawn-out sigh. She stepped forward, her eyes softening as they locked onto mine. “I just... don’t want to lose you, Rein-kun,” she admitted, her voice quieter now, stripped of her usual fire. “You’re too important to all of us.” Her gaze flickered toward Ram, and then back to me. “But if you truly believe this is something you have to do... then I can’t stop you.”

Artemis, ever the composed one, shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her arms still crossed tightly. Her eyes bore into me as if searching for something, but after a few moments, she exhaled, her lips curling into a resigned smile. “I suppose... you’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?” Her voice softened slightly. “Just promise me you’ll be careful, Rein. I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt.”

Rem’s gaze remained fixed on me, sadness etched in every inch of her expression. “I understand,” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly but still steady. “I’ll stay here and keep Hestia-sama and Artemis-sama safe. But... you’ll come back, right? You and nee-sama?”

My chest tightened as I gave her a reassuring smile, hoping to calm her storm of worries. “You have my word, Rem. We’ll return before you know it. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure we both come back unharmed.”

Her eyes lingered on me, searching for certainty in my promise. Then, with a soft sigh, she nodded—a quiet gesture of trust. “Okay. I believe you, Reinhard-kun. This selfless nature of yours... it’s what makes Rem’s hero so cool in her eyes.”

Ram, ever the supportive sister, stepped forward with a determined gleam in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Rem,” she said, her tone both firm and comforting. “Just leave this to your Ram.”

Her words, filled with unwavering confidence, seemed to cut through the lingering tension in the room. Rem’s expression softened, her usual sadness lifting slightly as a small, grateful smile tugged at her lips.

“If nee-sama says so, then it must be true,” Rem whispered, now looking more at ease. Ram, seeing the shift, gently pulled her sister away to help with the packing, leaving me alone with the others.

With most of the tension now eased, I glanced over and saw Est still sulking in the corner. I let out a resigned sigh and walked toward her, noticing how she continued to avert her gaze as I drew nearer.

“Hey, Est,” I began, my voice apologetic. “I’m sorry about not including you in my plan.” I didn’t beat around the bush, knowing I had messed up. “I know it’s not an excuse, but with you always being by my side, I guess I just thought of us as one and figured you would simply go along with it. I apologize for my foolishness.” I bowed my head slightly, genuinely regretful.

Est’s violet eyes flickered, almost as if considering my words. Then, slowly, she turned toward me. Without a word, she reached up, grabbed my coat, and pulled me down to her height.

“Apology accepted,” she said softly, her voice unwavering. “I’m your weapon, Reinhard. Where you go, I go. Always.”

Before I could respond, Est tugged me down just a bit more and planted a small peck on my lips—completely disregarding the fact that we weren’t alone, and Artemis and Hestia were still standing there, wide-eyed and speechless.

‘Oh, boy. Now she’s done it,’ I thought nervously, glancing at their shocked expressions from the corner of my eye.

“EST-CHAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Hestia exclaimed in a scandalized tone, her face flushed with an intense mix of surprise and jealousy.

“NO KISSING UNTIL MARRIAGE!” Artemis added quickly, her voice sharp, though it carried an unmistakable edge of jealousy as well. She glared at Est, her arms crossed tightly as she tried to suppress the blush creeping up her neck.

‘At this rate, it’ll be a miracle if they even let me out of their sight, considering Est will be coming with us. Let alone letting me leave the city at all.’

=====

(Same Day, Sundown)

Thankfully, things didn’t escalate too much, though Hestia and Artemis did pull Est aside for a long, intense conversation. When she returned, Est looked somewhat annoyed and a little rebellious, her usual calm demeanor replaced by a subtle defiance.

Hestia and Artemis, on the other hand, scolded me for always pampering her—clearly not too thrilled with how I’d been indulging Est’s every whim.

“Alright, we’re all set,” I said, trying to shift the mood back to something more manageable. I looked down to Rem, who was snuggled into my chest, looking incredibly reluctant to let go. “Rem, please remember to let Naaza know that we’ll be away for a week to let the news of my level-up calm down. I’ll make sure to tell her the truth in person when we return.”

Rem, still clinging to me, muttered something about “charging up as much of Reinhard-kun’s energy as possible,” her face buried against my chest, clearly not ready to part from me. I could feel her warmth and the faint trembling of her fingers as she held me just a bit tighter.

“Sempai, we promise to become much stronger while you’re away,” Emma chimed in cheerfully, her bright pink eyes practically sparkling with determination. She was supported by all her friends, who nodded in unison, their faces full of support.

“So please make sure to return safely so you can tell us all about your adventures~” she added, her voice full of hope and excitement.

“Will do.” I nodded with a smile, feeling reassured by their energy. “Please take care of everyone while I’m away. When I return, I’ll be more than happy to offer everyone some training, as a thank you for all your support.”

“Really~?” Emma's eyes lit up even more, if that was even possible. She let out a delighted cheer when I confirmed with a nod, and several others joined in with their own excited reactions.

“Yatta~!” she exclaimed, jumping a little with joy, while the others echoed her enthusiasm.

Lante was the next to approach me, her usual teasing smile nowhere to be seen. Instead, she gave me a soft, gentle smile. “Be careful out there, Rein,” she said quietly, her tone serious for once. “Artemis-sama would be devastated if anything happened to you.”

Rethusa, standing just behind her, added her voice in a quiet whisper. “Please be careful. Remember, you mean the world to Artemis-sama.”

I nodded, my voice just as soft and sincere as theirs. “Of course, you two. I’ll be counting on you both to look out for them while I’m gone.”

After they agreed, both of them stepped back, but not before I was pulled into a hug on both sides—making it a four-way embrace since Rem still hadn’t let go, her arms tightly wrapped around me. The warmth and closeness from all of them was overwhelming, but in the best way possible.

“Please be safe, Rein-kun,” Hestia added softly, her voice full of quiet worry as she held me tighter.

Artemis, her voice coming from my back, added her own request, her voice gentle but firm. “Don’t take unnecessary risks, Rein. Come back to us.”

“Of course.”

After a few more moments, I was finally released from the embrace. I turned to Ram, who had been quietly waiting for me, her calm presence offering a sense of reassurance. Est, already sheathed to my side in her sword form, gave off a silent hum in readiness, no words needed to be said between us.

“Ready, Ram?” I asked, giving her a final glance.

With a warm smile, Ram stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with that familiar confidence. “Of course, Reinhard-sama~”

With a flourish, I swept Ram into my arms in a princess carry, her face flushing with embarrassment but her eyes betraying a spark of secret joy. She stiffened for a moment before her hands instinctively clung to me, and I could feel her slightly tremble, though it was clear she wasn’t entirely opposed to it.

With a final, confident smile to everyone, I pushed off the ground with enough force to launch us into the air, rocketing straight into the clouds. Ram, surprised by the sudden burst of movement, buried her head into my chest, her face hidden from view.

With my Divine Protection of Clouds granting me the ability to walk on them, we soared through the sky, leaving the familiar sights of Orario behind.

Our next destination: the Kaios Desert.