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

Chapter 24: Lili.exe Has Crashed

Walking up to the small group of girls—doing my best to ignore all the attention Emma had drawn by shouting my name—I came to a stop in front of them. The short girl standing beside her was now looking at me with a mix of curiosity and vague recognition.

“Sorry, Emma. Everyone. We didn’t keep you waiting too long, right?” I raised a hand in greeting, receiving smiles and waves in return.

“Don’t worry, Senpai~” Emma chirped. “I was just telling my new friend here, Lili-san, that she has nothing to worry about.”

“U-Um… we only met yesterday, Emma-sama. I wouldn't really say we're friends…” Lili muttered quietly, clearly a little overwhelmed. She kept glancing between me and Emma like she wasn’t sure what to make of either of us.

Either not hearing her or choosing to ignore it, Emma beamed and abruptly nudged Lili forward like she was showing off a prize.

“Anyway! This is who I was telling you about, Senpai~ This is Lili, and I just know she’ll learn a lot from you, just like we all have!”

Lili looked like she wanted to vanish on the spot, her expression stiff with discomfort from all the attention and praise. I decided to step in before she combusted from secondhand embarrassment.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lili,” I said gently. “My name is Reinhard and we’d never say no to a capable Supporter.”

I glanced toward Rem and Naaza, silently prompting them to introduce themselves. They got the message and gave small, polite greetings while I turned back to Emma.

“I think we can take it from here,” I said with a smile. “You don’t want to be left behind, do you?”

Emma blinked, then glanced back and saw her party already moving ahead without her.

“Oh! Right! Wait for me, guys!” she shouted, then turned back with a quick wave. “Bye, Senpai! Bye Rem-san, Naaza-san! See you later, Lili. You’re in good hands~!”

And with that, she bounced off after her group, leaving behind a noticeably relieved—if still very awkward—Lili standing beside my party.

“Lili’s name is Lili,” she said meekly, bowing her head slightly. “If it would be acceptable to you Adventurer-samas, Lili would be grateful for the opportunity to accompany you.”

She had slipped neatly into her crafted persona—submissive, and formal.

“You don’t have to be so formal,” I replied, trying to break the ice with an awkward smile. “You can call us by our names, you know?”

Lili immediately shook her head. “Lili could never refer to such powerful Adventurers so disrespectfully. It would reflect poorly on Lili’s conduct as a Supporter.”

I sighed inwardly. It was clear I wouldn’t be breaking through that barrier so easily—not today, at least.

“Very well,” I said, not pressing the issue. “Like I mentioned before, I have no problem with you joining us. Consider today a chance to observe how we operate and see if our style suits you.”

“Yes, Reinhard-sama,” she replied with a small bow.

With introductions complete, the four of us began heading into the Dungeon. Rem and Naaza walked at my sides, noticeably closer than usual. They kept throwing subtle—but unmistakably suspicious—glances toward Lili.

“I have a bad feeling about her, Reinhard-kun,” Rem said over our telepathic link, her tone cautious. “I don’t think she can be trusted.”

“She’s had a hard life, Rem. Just give her some time,” I replied gently. “You’ll see she’s not as calculating as she tries to appear. She’s just a lonely girl looking for a place to belong.”

There was a pause on the other end of the link. Then—

“That’s not what Rem meant,” she grumbled, her mental tone shifting to something much more pouty. “Rem knows anyone you accept can’t be bad. Rem just doesn’t want another rival for your attention. Rem already has more than enough competition—including her own sister.”

I chuckled awkwardly, unsure how to respond to that.

Beside me, I caught Naaza shooting me a questioning glance.

Lili, walking a few paces behind, also looked at me curiously though she quickly looked away when our eyes met.

‘Haha… I wonder what kind of face she’ll make when she sees my ridiculous drop luck firsthand.’ I thought with a quiet chuckle, amused at the idea.

=====

Several Hours Later—Lili’s POV

Was she dreaming?

That was the only thought echoing through Lili's mind as she stared at the impossible sight unfolding before her eyes.

Just yesterday, after a chance run-in with the whirlwind of energy that was Emma, Lili had assumed she could stick with their party for a few days, run her usual scam, then slip away with a modest haul.

Only… that didn’t happen.

She quickly realized the group belonged to Artemis Familia, and far from being its leader, Emma was simply one of the more energetic members. The true heads of the group were a blue-haired half-elf named Lante and a redheaded human named Rethusa.

Both were polite—friendly, even—but far more perceptive than Lili had expected. Every time she tried to pull one of her usual tricks, their sharp gazes were already on her. It was like they knew what she was thinking before she even acted.

So when Emma mentioned another party—a smaller one of just three or four—that could use a Supporter, Lili had jumped at the chance.

She hadn't expected much. Just another temporary gig. But then Emma had started gushing about her so-called Senpai, glowing with admiration and enthusiasm. The others chuckled at her antics, and Lili… well, she’d felt a small, unfamiliar twinge of envy.

Still, the payout at the end of the day stunned her. No tricks. No scraps. The two leaders split the earnings evenly, without hesitation—and included her.

Lili had walked home with her coin pouch full and her thoughts in turmoil. It was strange. Adventurers never treated her like that—like she mattered. Like she wasn’t just some disposable, low-tier hanger-on.

But she didn’t let her guard down. She knew better. Adventurers could play nice at first, but once they were inside the Dungeon, their true nature always showed.

It was only a matter of time.

And that same caution applied to the new party she’d joined today.

Imagine her surprise when she learned the man leading it was none other than the rising sensation who had taken Orario by storm—Reinhard, the Sword Saint, the adventurer who had done the impossible and reached Level 2 in a week.

The moment she heard his name, every alarm in her head went off.

He was dangerous. Too famous. Too strong. Too unknown.

She had fully planned to keep her head down, act helpful for the day, then disappear before anyone got too curious.

She certainly wasn’t expecting this.

‘Is he favored by the gods or something?!’ Lili thought incredulously, watching for what had to be the thousandth time as yet another slain monster left behind a Drop Item—just because Reinhard struck it down.

Impossible.

Ever since they’d entered the Dungeon, she had been hit with one absurdity after another. Lili was this close to throwing her hands in the air and declaring the entire day a fever dream.

First, there was the maid—Rem, she believed her name was—the one who never strayed more than a few inches from Reinhard’s side. Her weapon of choice, a massive flail, was terrifying enough. But watching her wield it? That was something else entirely.

Any monster unfortunate enough to cross her path was instantly reduced to chunks of unrecognizable meat. And the most horrifying part? She smiled while doing it. Not a psychotic grin, no—but a pleasant, peaceful smile, as if she were enjoying afternoon tea instead of painting the walls with monster blood.

Sometimes, Rem's expression would shift into something else entirely—darker, more intense—and those fleeting moments chilled Lili to her core.

Even worse? No one else in the party seemed bothered by it. In fact, Reinhard would praise her. Pat her head. And every time, Rem would turn into a blushing mess like she'd just been handed the moon.

Then there was the Chienthrope—Naaza. She at least acted like the kind of scout Lili was familiar with. But Reinhard would so much as compliment her, and she’d melt on the spot. It was uncanny. Was he using some kind of charm magic?

And Reinhard himself…

If Rem was a monster, Reinhard was something beyond that.

Fast, strong, graceful—he wielded his sword with frightening precision and called upon magic like it was second nature. He didn’t even seem like he was trying. That, more than anything, terrified her.

‘No wonder the entire city’s obsessed with him…’

Lili had never seen someone so effortlessly dominant, so casually unstoppable.

And his sword—gods above, that sword. Its craftsmanship alone had to be worth hundreds of millions of valis. Then there was the way it pulsed with restrained power, releasing waves of magic that vaporized anything foolish enough to stand in his path.

For one brief, foolish moment, Lili had considered the possibility of stealing it.

‘If I could just get that sword,’ she thought, ‘I could buy my freedom from the Soma Familia outright.’

But she discarded the idea almost as quickly. No, not even a dreamer like her could believe she had a chance at pulling that off. Reinhard was a force of nature. She wouldn’t even make it two steps.

What drove her truly insane, though, was the loot.

Every single monster Reinhard killed dropped an item. Every. Single. One.

It wasn’t just good luck. It was impossible luck—luck that defied all reason. Lili had never seen anything like it. And she knew Orario well enough to know that no one else had an ability like this.

Which could only mean one thing: this drop rate was unique to him.

In just a few hours, they had gathered enough Magic Stones and Drop Items to equal what she would normally make in six months.

And they were still on the Upper Floors.

Lili’s hands clenched into fists as her mind reeled.

‘If I stick with them… I can make all the money I need to leave the Soma Familia in just a few days!’ She thought almost greedily as she picked up the latest batch of magic items and drop items.

=====

Back with Reinhard

“You doing okay back there, Lili?” I called out after confirming there were no more monsters in the vicinity.

“Lili is doing fine, Reinhard-sama,” she replied quickly, diligently gathering the various Drop Items scattered across the floor.

Noticing there were more than usual this time, I decided to help. “Naaza, Rem—please keep watch while I help Lili collect everything.”

“Leave it to me, Reinhard-kun~!” Rem chirped, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “Actually, let me help too. As your personal maid, it’s my duty to assist with these things.”

She skipped over to my side without hesitation.

Naaza nodded from her spot, though I caught her glancing our way with a slightly drooped tail. “Don’t worry, Reinhard. I’ll keep an eye out,” she said, even as her ears twitched a little.

“Thanks, Naaza,” I told her with a grateful smile as Rem and I got to work. ‘This would go much faster if I could use my Shroud—its tendrils would make this effortless.’

As I was scooping up another glowing stone, Lili’s voice reached me—nervous, almost hesitant.

“Reinhard-sama… are you perhaps displeased with Lili’s work?”

I blinked, genuinely surprised, and looked up at her. “Hmm? Of course not. You’ve been doing fantastic work,” I said honestly. “In fact, I was actually going to ask if you'd consider staying with us long-term. Why would you think I was displeased?”

Lili looked momentarily stunned by my words. Her eyes widened before she quickly schooled her expression back into neutrality. Her shoulders, however, seemed to relax just slightly.

“It’s just… you’re helping picking up the items,” she explained. “That’s a Supporter’s job. If someone like you does it, it makes Lili feel… unnecessary.”

Understanding dawned on me. “Ah, I see.” I gave her a soft smile. “I just didn’t want to make you do all the work. I don’t mind helping—it’s not about who’s supposed to do what.”

Lili seemed unsure how to respond. She went quiet, chewing on the inside of her cheek, until Rem stepped in—voice sweet but eyes sharp.

“I agree to a point,” Rem said, tilting her head toward Lili, “but don’t forget—I’m Reinhard-kun’s personal maid. Helping him with tasks like this is literally my job. Before you came along, I handled all of this.”

There was a slight challenge in her gaze, one that Lili caught immediately. She hesitated… then gave a small, polite nod of acknowledgment.

Trying to keep the mood light, I changed the subject.

“By the way, Lili—we were planning to push down to at least the 15th floor. Are you okay with that?”

Lili blinked, surprised. I saw the protest forming on her lips… only for it to falter as her gaze shifted to the growing pile of items we’d gathered. Her eyes lingered there before she finally spoke, voice quieter.

“Lili doesn’t mind, since all of you are so strong… but if we keep going at this pace, Lili might run out of space before we reach the 15th floor.” A pause. “It’s… a little embarrassing to admit that.”

“Hmhmhm, sorry about that,” I chuckled, scratching the back of my head as a small idea came to mind. I turned to look at Lili, studying her quietly.

Feeling my gaze on her, Lili started fidgeting, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. “Reinhard-sama, you’re staring too much,” she mumbled.

“Ah, sorry,” I said with a sheepish smile. Then, adopting a more serious tone, I added, “Lili, what if I told you I have a special ability that could solve your storage issue?”

She blinked, the blush fading as curiosity took its place. “A special ability?”

I nodded. A faint shimmer appeared to my right as a rift in space opened up, causing Lili to yelp and scramble back in surprise.

“Relax,” I said gently, gesturing to the swirling pocket of void beside me. “This is what I meant.”

I grinned teasingly. “Watch this.”

Under her stunned gaze, I grabbed the pouch of items I had collected and casually slipped my hand into the rift. A moment later, I pulled it back out empty-handed.

Lili stared at the floating portal like it had just insulted her ancestors. “…Did you just?” she whispered, voice strained with disbelief.

“Yep~” I nodded. “Think of it as my own personal—and infinite—storage space. I can put away whatever I want and call it back whenever I need it.”

To demonstrate, I reached back into the rift and pulled the same pouch back out.

That was the final straw.

“That’s… IMPOSSIBLE!” Lili suddenly screamed, something visibly snapping inside her. She shot to her feet and clutched her head, visibly shaking.

Then she pointed an accusing finger right at me, eyes wide with righteous fury. “I can’t take it anymore! Just who are you, Reinhard-sama? How do you keep breaking everything I thought I knew about Adventurers—again and again—with a smile on your stupid, handsome face!?”

She stomped once for emphasis. “Do you get some twisted joy out of watching Lili slowly lose her mind with all the impossible things you keep pulling out of nowhere!?”

Off to the side, Naaza leaned in and whispered to no one in particular, “Hihi… so that’s what it looks like from an outsider’s perspective. Honestly, at this point, I’ve just accepted that there isn't anything Reinhard can do. It’s better that way.” Her smile was more tired than amused.

She was completely ignored by the flustered Pallum, who continued her meltdown in full force, adorably glaring at me like I was the root cause of all her suffering.

I stood there quietly with one hand resting on Rem’s—just in case she got it into her head to kill the poor girl.

‘I was right… it really is incredibly amusing.’ I thought, doing my best to hide my smile from the irate girl—lest she mistake it for me enjoying her torment.