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

Chapter 26: A Moment to Breathe

Reinhard POV — Moments Earlier

Bisecting a pair of Minotaurs that tried to block my path, I didn’t even glance at the Minotaur Horns or Skins they dropped. The stairs to the 17th floor had come into view.

I glanced down at Naaza in my arm, relieved to see she was okay. Her grip had finally relaxed; at first, she’d tried to keep watch and be helpful—but the sheer speed at which we were moving made her dizzy, so she’d ended up burying her face into my chest just to avoid getting sick.

A quick glance over my shoulder showed Rem still charging behind us, somehow managing to keep pace while carrying Lili slung over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The sight would have been funny under different circumstances—especially with Lili still clinging to that giant backpack of hers.

Rem would definitely be getting a reward later.

“Rem!” I shouted over the rushing wind. “Once we reach the boss room, focus on the injured! There should be plenty of potions in our shared Pocket Space. I’ll deal with the Monster Rex if it’s still alive and join you after.”

“Leave it to me, Reinhard-kun!” she called back without hesitation.

I looked down at Naaza again. “Naaza, keep an eye out for other threats. Watch Rem’s back while she heals the others.”

She nodded, her usual relaxed expression gone. “Count on me, Reinhard.”

With the plan set, I kicked off the ground and surged forward even faster, now that we were practically there.

Seconds later, the entrance to the boss room came into view.

My eyes instantly locked onto the battlefield. On one side, the unconscious and injured girls. On the other, Rethusa and Lante, bloodied but standing, desperately trying to hold back the towering form of the Goliath.

‘Damn it!’

I saw it all in an instant—the Goliath’s massive arm swinging down toward Lante, who was too slow, too injured to move.

I acted without thinking.

I gently set Naaza down on her feet and vanished from her side in a blur.

One moment I was there.

The next—I was in front of Lante.

I caught her limp form in one arm, pulling her close to my chest.

With the other hand, I thrust my palm out in front of us.

Bracing for impact.

A moment later, I felt the impact.

My arm trembled slightly. My feet dug half an inch into the ground beneath me—but that was it.

The Goliath hadn’t moved me a single centimeter.

Its massive arm came to a full stop against my outstretched palm, the air around us crackling from the force.

The monster froze, clearly confused. Slowly, it withdrew its arm—and for the first time, its crimson eyes with black sclera met mine.

We stared at each other in silence.

My clear blue gaze met its lifeless red one, filled not with thought or reason, only blind fury.

And just like that, any trace of anger I’d felt for this creature vanished.

This wasn’t some malevolent being.

It was a husk.

A weapon.

Just another puppet of the Dungeon—following its mother’s will to kill, to destroy, to act without reason or remorse.

I bent down, retrieving Est, still embedded in the stone floor beside me. As my hand closed around her hilt, I channeled a sliver of mana into her. She shimmered with a beautiful white glow, radiant and serene.

I looked up at the Goliath one last time.

“Go back to sleep, Goliath.”

And with a single swing, I released a glowing white slash of energy that tore cleanly through its body.

The Goliath froze in place—then slowly, silently, split in two.

As the Goliath’s regeneration flickered and failed, its massive body split cleanly apart.

A moment later, a dull thud echoed through the chamber as its magic stone hit the ground, followed shortly by a single, massive fang—the final remnants of the beast.

The earth trembled softly beneath our feet.

The danger had passed.

I exhaled quietly, sliding Est back into her sheath at my waist. Only then did I look down at Lante, still cradled in my arm.

Somehow… she was still conscious.

Her breathing was shallow, but steady. Her eyes—tired but focused—were staring up at me.

Silently, I reached into my storage and pulled out a small vial filled with a green liquid infused with the Cure-All Herb. Carefully, I held it to her lips.

“Sorry I’m late,” I whispered, guilt threading my voice. I should have noticed earlier. The Shroud connected us in a network of sorts thanks to Conjunction allowing us to feel each other’s emotions—if I had tuned into it more actively, I could’ve felt her distress sooner.

But I never used that feature unless it was life-or-death. It always felt… intrusive.

Lante’s lips twitched into a weak smile.

“Baka…” she murmured. “You made it just in time.”

She drank the potion without protest. I watched as the glow of healing flowed through her body, knitting wounds and restoring her color. Within seconds, she looked more like herself again.

A soft, familiar smile returned to her face—gentler than usual.

Then, with surprising playfulness, she reached up and poked me on the nose.

“I always knew you’d come, Rein.”

What I didn’t expect came next.

Her arms slipped around my neck, and she gently pulled me down—pressing her lips to mine in a soft, brief kiss. When she pulled away, her cheeks were dusted red.

“I know I may be asking too much…” she whispered, her voice quieter, more honest than I’d ever heard it. “But please… save just a bit of room in your heart for me too, Rein~”

The smile on her face held no teasing, no smugness.

Before I could even begin to process what she’d just said—or the kiss—she pulled away, flustered, turning her back on me.

That’s when I noticed it.

Some of the girls were still unconscious. Rem hadn’t made it to them yet.

“Now come on, Mr. Hero~” Lante said over her shoulder, her usual mischief returning to her voice. “The others are waiting for their amazing Senpai to come treat them.”

Shaking off the lingering warmth of her words—and the kiss—I pulled out a fresh handful of potions and stepped forward.

Duty came first.

Within moments, I reached the injured group and got to work.

I knelt beside each girl, gently lifting their heads and pouring healing potion between their lips. One by one, they stirred, blinking awake as color returned to their faces and strength to their limbs.

Soon enough, all of them were back on their feet—crying, hugging, reassuring each other that they were safe. That they had survived.

I stepped back a little, watching it all unfold with a relieved smile.

At my sides stood Rem, Naaza, and Lili, each wearing their own version of a smile. Even Lili, for once, dropped her persona. Her eyes were soft, vulnerable, the protective mask of the scammer Supporter slipping to reveal the caring girl beneath.

Then—without warning—a blur of red slammed into my chest.

Blinking, I looked down to find Rethusa, clutching me tightly.

Her shoulders were shaking.

I felt the warmth of tears seeping through my shirt, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.

It caught me off guard. Of the two, Rethusa was usually the composed one—steady, strong, quiet in her strength.

But right now?

She was breaking.

“Thank you, Reinhard-sama… hic… thank you for saving us again. For stopping us from living through another tragedy…” she mumbled into my chest, voice choked with emotion.

My arms tightened around her.

‘She must be remembering Antares… her world… when she lost everyone except Lante…’

“There’s nothing to thank me for, Rethusa,” I whispered, gently stroking her back. “All of you are important to me. And as long as I have the power to protect you… I will use every ounce of it to make sure you’re safe.”

I let a bit of my Sticky Fingers perk do its work—easing her tension, bringing comfort with every pass of my hand.

Gradually, I felt her breathing steady against me.

A moment later, Rethusa pulled back from me, her face still puffy with emotion but now carrying an embarrassed blush across her cheeks.

I just smiled gently and offered her a reassuring pat on the head.

That moment of quiet was immediately shattered by a familiar, hyper voice.

“Senpaaaai~!”

We turned to see Emma and her group running straight toward us—energetic as ever, like they hadn’t just been through a near-death experience. A slightly terrifying aura of enthusiasm radiated from all of them.

“Is it true you managed to kill the Monster Rex with just one move!?” Emma asked, her eyes sparkling like stars.

The girls behind her stared at me like I’d descended from heaven itself. Some of the... let’s call them quirkier ones were muttering strange things under their breath that I very purposefully chose to ignore.

Looking past them, I spotted the culprit.

Lante.

She winked at me with a cheeky grin and even blew a kiss for good measure.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and turned back to the overexcited group.

Given everything they’d just gone through, I decided to indulge them—just a little.

“I don’t mind talking about that,” I said, tone shifting to something more serious. “But first, I have a question for all of you.”

The girls perked up.

“Would you like to head back to the surface now… or take a break on the 18th Floor first? Either way, I’ll be staying with you the entire time. I’ll make sure no harm comes to anyone.”

The energy around them shifted for a moment as they huddled together, whispering furiously. After a moment, Emma turned back.

“If it’s okay with Rethusa-senpai and Lante-senpai, then… we’d really like to visit the 18th floor!”

I glanced at the two older girls. They sighed softly, but shared a knowing look—and both gave a small nod.

That was all the group needed.

“Woohoo~!” Emma cheered, pumping her fist in the air. “We made it to the 18th Floor in our first week as adventurers! How cool is that!?”

I chuckled and turned to Lili, who had stayed quiet during the exchange.

“Sorry for deciding that on my own,” I said, giving her an apologetic smile. “I should’ve asked you first.”

Lili blinked, then stared at me for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

“Please don’t mind it, Reinhard-sama,” she said, shaking her head. “At this point, Lili has accepted that trying to understand you is a waste of energy. Lili will simply go along with whatever crazy plan you have… for her own sanity.”

Within moments, we were on the move again.

After collecting the Goliath’s magic stone and fang—both nearly making Lili drool—we began our descent to the 18th Floor, one of the few safety zones within the Dungeon where monsters are unable to spawn.

I stayed at the rear, ensuring nothing followed us.

Just before I stepped through the exit of the boss room, I paused. A flicker of awareness brushed against my senses—several presences entering from the opposite side.

I hesitated... but ultimately, paid them no mind.

That moment of inattention was broken as Rem grabbed my hand, her eyes bright with excitement.

I smiled and followed her.

What I didn’t realize… was that those presences would play a role in events yet to come.

=====

Back in the Boss Room

Two figures stepped into the cavern just minutes after the battle had ended.

One was a golden-haired human girl with piercing gold eyes.

The other, a tall, regal elf with flowing green hair and emerald eyes.

“Looks like we just missed them,” the elf murmured, her sharp gaze sweeping the room. The signs of recent combat were unmistakable—gouged stone, scorch marks, and lingering magic traces thick in the air.

“Mn,” the blonde girl—Aiz Wallenstein—replied softly, eyes scanning every detail in quiet observation.

“What now, Aiz? The Goliath won’t respawn for at least two weeks.” The elf, Riveria Ljos Alf, turned to her companion with her usual composed tone.

Aiz didn’t respond right away. Instead, she lifted a small sack in her hand—bulging with Minotaur Horns and Skins.

“…Riveria,” she asked quietly. “Do you think it was him?”

Riveria exhaled through her nose, already anticipating the question. “I don’t know,” she admitted, lifting her own sack of similar materials. “But I’ve never heard of a skill or magic that could cause this.” Her eyes narrowed. “And something like this wouldn’t stay hidden for long.”

The implication was clear: whoever was responsible either wanted to remain anonymous… or was part of something clandestine. Possibly a shady Familia.

Aiz had specifically requested this dungeon run. Ever since hearing about the so-called ‘Sword Saint’, the boy who had shattered her leveling record, she’d been determined to meet him.

His absurd speed and rumored strength defied reason—almost like cheating.

It had pushed her to train even harder.

Today, she’d planned to solo the Goliath as part of her regimen. She’d even suggested trying the Amphisbaena on the 27th Floor—and had brought up Udaeus, too, though Riveria had firmly shut that down.

Still, their journey hadn’t been without revelations.

Starting from the 15th Floor, they’d noticed something strange.

Drop items. Dozens. No—hundreds.

Too many to be coincidence. The trail stretched through the dungeon like breadcrumbs.

As if every monster had dropped an item.

Which begged the question—why had someone left behind what amounted to a small fortune?

Riveria shook her head, pushing the thought away. She followed after Aiz, who had wandered toward the center of the room—the Goliath’s spawn point.

When Riveria caught up, she froze.

Embedded deep into the stone wall was a massive gouge, the clear mark of a sword slash. But not just any slash—it radiated residual magic. Enough to still hum faintly in the air.

Aiz reached out, placing her hand against the indentation. Her fingers brushed the surface as her lips moved in a whisper.

“Strong…”

Riveria’s expression darkened. “We’re going back.” Her voice left no room for argument. “I don’t like this. Whoever did this left behind magic so dense it’s still clinging to the stone. Combine that with the trail of drop items? This isn’t normal. It’s too suspicious.”

Aiz looked at her mentor, disappointed—but not surprised. When Riveria made up her mind, there was no swaying her.

She nodded wordlessly.

As they made their way back to the surface, Aiz cast one last glance toward the lower floors—toward the 18th.

Her head tilted slightly, golden eyes thoughtful.

‘Just who are you?’

=====

Back with Reinhard & Co.

“Whoa~ This is beautiful~”

That sentiment echoed among nearly everyone as we stepped onto the 18th Floor proper.

And honestly, who could blame them?

Green stretched as far as the eye could see—lush grass, vibrant foliage, and a massive tree standing proudly at the center of it all. The ceiling above sparkled with crystals, reflecting the sunlight from the surface, mimicking a day-and-night cycle in perfect harmony. Towering gray walls enclosed the area, forming a natural sanctuary deep within the Dungeon.

“It’s almost as big as Flugel’s Tree~” Rem whispered, eyes wide with awe.

I nodded in agreement, smiling at the memory. “I know what you mean. Seeing a tree even remotely similar to that one… it’s something else.”

“Hmm? What do you mean, Senpai? Rem-senpai?” Emma asked, predictably curious. “You guys have a tree like this back in your home?”

I offered a half-truth—our usual fallback.

“Yeah,” I said with a shrug. “Back where we grew up, there was a tree kind of like this one. Much bigger, though.”

“Whaaa~ So cool~!”

I chuckled and waved the group forward. “Come on, let’s head toward Rivira. If we want time to explore before heading home, we’ll need to keep moving.”

Rem immediately claimed one of my hands. Est, now in her human form again, quietly took the other.

“…That’s going to take some time to get used to,” I heard Lili mutter under her breath from Rem’s side.

We continued chatting as we walked, everyone visibly more relaxed now that we were in a safe zone.

But I couldn’t help noticing Lante—walking beside Est—had a bounce in her step and kept sneaking glances at me, smiling like she was up to something.

Eventually, I leaned in a little. “Now that we’ve got a moment to breathe… what exactly happened? What forced you guys to come all the way here?”

Rem and Naaza perked up as well, clearly just as curious.

At my question, the smile on Lante’s face faltered. It returned a moment later—but sharper now, like a blade just slightly unsheathed.

“Some assholes from the Soma Familia did a Pass Parade on us.” Her voice dropped, quiet but simmering with restrained anger.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Lili freeze.

Only for a second.

She resumed walking almost immediately—but her head was down now, her bangs casting a shadow over her face.

She didn’t say anything.

‘Damn it… Please don’t retreat again, Lili.’