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

Chapter 41: A Friend’s Vow

It didn’t take long to reach the dungeon and descend into the first floor, where we eventually spotted Ryuu waiting for us near the staircase to the second floor.

She stepped out of the shadows dressed in far more revealing clothes than I expected from an elf, she wore a white shirt, green bloomers, thigh-high brown boots, and a green cape that came around her head shaped like a leaf.

We all came to a stop. The silence stretched into awkwardness as I made a conscious effort to keep my gaze above her chest. Still, in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but note that Ryuu had a very nice figure, especially her legs.

The moment broke when Ram blinked, tilted her head, and muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, “I thought elves were supposed to be prudes. Was I wrong?”

Ryuu let out a small, awkward cough, her cheeks reddening. “Hello Reinhard-san, everyone. Thank you again for agreeing to my request,” she said, neatly sidestepping Ram’s comment.

I followed her lead, smiling warmly and keeping my eyes level. “Hello, Ryuu. Did we keep you waiting long?”

Her posture eased as she returned the smile. “Not at all. I haven’t been waiting long.”

“Good,” I nodded, then quickly outlined the basics. “Well, me and Ram are the main attackers. Naaza’s our scout and rearguard and Lili is our amazing Supporter. You’re free to join in wherever you’d like, or simply hang back if you’d prefer.”

Ryuu shook her head immediately, drawing one of the twin daggers at her waist. “As I said before, I’m more than willing to pull my own weight. Don’t worry about me, I’ll follow your lead. Fight as you normally would.”

“Very well,” I said, unsheathing Est from my waist and holding her firmly in my right hand. Turning back to the others, I let confidence fill my smile. “Ready, everyone?”

“Ready!” Ram, Lili, and Naaza answered in unison, their weapons already at the ready.

“Then let’s move. You know your roles. Ryuu, feel free to speak up if you have a question.” I declared.

We formed up, me at the front beside Ram, Ryuu taking the middle, and Lili and Naaza bringing up the rear.

As we began our descent into the second floor, Naaza leaned toward Ryuu with a sly grin. “Prepare to be surprised, Ryuu-san.”

Lili and Ram shared the same mischievous smile.

“Hmm?” Ryuu tilted her head, confused by the warning.

‘Oh, that’s right,’ I thought, a nervous smile tugging at my lips. ‘This will be the first time Ryuu sees my abilities with her own eyes. I wonder what reaction she will have?’

=====

Ryuu POV

Was she dreaming?

Ryuu found herself thinking so as she watched the boy her dear friend Syr so clearly cherished, accomplishing feats that seemed impossible for anyone else.

The same boy who reminded her of her childhood home in the forest. The same boy who somehow slipped past the walls she had built, whose touch she did not recoil from. That alone was enough to unsettle her, yet not in a bad way.

And now, here he was again, moving as if born to battle. Every step was precise, every motion efficient. He fought with a grace that spoke not of brute strength, but of skill honed far beyond his years.

It was almost mesmerizing. Reinhard wove between monsters as though dancing, striking cleanly with that strange yet beautiful sword whose presence felt different even to her sharp senses.

Nor was he the only marvel. Ram, his so-called maid, wielded powerful no-chant magic with an ease that belied her level, shredding everything before her. The Chienthrope and Pallum supported seamlessly from the rear, every move practiced, every choice intentional. For a group together less than a month, their coordination was nothing short of astounding.

And then there were the impossibilities, every monster Reinhard defeated dropped an item without fail. And he carried with him a storage ability with no apparent limits, a gift so rare that the most powerful Familias would fight bitter wars to possess it due to the potential it had in .

Ryuu realized, with some surprise, that she had barely raised her blade as they carved their way down. She had been too captivated, too drawn in by their rhythm, their trust, their strength.

But what warmed her most was not their power—it was that they had shown her everything without hesitation. Abilities, techniques, secrets a Familia would normally guard with their lives… they had let her see them all. They had trusted her.

She hadn’t expected it, and yet it left her with a quiet, unfamiliar warmth in her chest.

Who could have imagined that a chance meeting little more than a month ago would lead her here—fighting beside a young man whose name and sense of justice reminded her, faintly, of her old goddess.

In almost no time at all, they reached the 18th floor, already searching for a place to camp and share a meal together.

=====

Back to Reinhard

It didn’t take long to set up camp in a clearing overlooking the massive tree planted in the center of the floor. Once everything was settled, we sat down and finally allowed ourselves to relax.

“Here, Ryuu. I didn’t really know what you liked, so I went with something simple.” I said, pulling a bento from my inventory and offering it to her.

“You shouldn’t have. I brought my own meal.” Ryuu replied, shaking her head as she pulled out her own bento. A second later she was slightly taken aback as two different hands tried to snatch away the bento I offered her.

“Come on, you two. You already have your own. This is Ryuu’s.” I said firmly, holding the bento just out of Ram and Lili’s reach. Ryuu blinked in confusion, but I only smiled. “Please accept it, Ryuu. Think of it as a small thanks for all the times you’ve served us at the Hostess.”

With a resigned sigh, Ryuu accepted, murmuring a quiet thanks. That made me smile in satisfaction as I pulled out the bento Syr had made me and began eating. At this point I was used to her cooking, still rough around the edges, but steadily improving.

Watching the others inhale their meals almost without chewing, Ryuu gave them a curious look before opening her own bento. Inside was a neat spread of rice and vegetables. She took a bite, froze in place, and then whispered under her breath.

“…Delicious.”

I chuckled, glad she enjoyed it. “I’m happy you like it. Next time, let me know if there’s anything that doesn’t suit your taste and I’ll make you something even better.”

Her cheeks flushed at being caught enjoying the food so openly. She coughed, slowing down to eat more properly. “There’s no need for that. But… thank you.”

At that moment, Est transformed back into her human form. Without hesitation, she settled herself into my lap and looked at me expectantly. Smiling, I pulled out her bento and began feeding her. She made small, contented noises as she chewed, completely oblivious to Ryuu, who had gone rigid in shock.

“A… spirit weapon,” Ryuu whispered, awe in her voice. Her gaze moved from Est to me, her expression unreadable. “I sensed something strange from that sword of yours… but to think Est-san was a spirit all along.”

“Ryuu, I want you to formally meet Terminus Est, the strongest sword spirit, and more importantly, my partner in battle.” I said warmly, brushing a hand through Est’s soft hair.

“Nice to meet you again.” Est added with a simple nod before tugging my sleeve for more food.

Chuckling, I obliged, though I kept an eye on Ryuu. She nodded absently, still processing, before setting her own food aside and looking at me with a serious expression. “…Why are you telling me this? Not just about Est-san, but everything you showed me earlier. Surely you know how valuable your storage ability alone would be to every Familia in Orario?”

“Hmph. See? Lili was right to be shocked at Reinhard-sama’s ridiculous abilities.” Lili muttered, crossing her arms. Naaza only giggled at the memory of Lili’s first time seeing it.

Ram, meanwhile, ate quietly but watched Ryuu like a hawk. Knowing her, I was certain she’d cut the elf down without hesitation if she sensed any ill intent even if it meant displeasing me.

“Trust me, I know exactly how valuable my ‘inventory’ is.” I admitted with a small laugh. Then I smiled brightly, and Ryuu’s serious expression faltered. “But I trust you, Ryuu. That’s why I don’t mind showing you. I consider you a friend, one of the precious few I have.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Lili and Naaza smiling, while Ram turned her head away to hide the curve of her lips. Ryuu, however, stared at me silently before finally averting her gaze, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

“…How can you trust me so much? We haven’t known each other long enough for such a friendship to form.” she muttered softly, her voice tinged with doubt.

“Two reasons.” I lifted two fingers. “One, I’ve always had sharp intuition, and I’ve always trusted it. And two, I have an ability that lets me sense ill intent. I’ve never once felt that from you.”

Ryuu blinked, clearly taken aback. “Just how many abilities do you have?” she asked incredulously.

“When it comes to Reinhard-sama, it’s easier to ask which abilities he doesn’t have.” Ram said with a smirk, puffing her chest out proudly.

“Hihihi~ I did warn you not to be too surprised, Ryuu-san.” Naaza teased with a grin.

“Even after only a short time in the Hestia Familia, Lili has already learned not to question Reinhard-sama’s absurd abilities… for her own sanity.” Lili added with a sage nod.

“Reinhard is amazing.” Est declared simply, still chewing with pasta sauce on her lips, which only made her look cuter.

“Come on, you’re embarrassing me here.” I muttered, rubbing the back of my head with a small blush. But I didn’t deny it.

The tension eased. Conversation resumed, laughter filled the clearing, and the air felt lighter than before. For the first time since Ryuu joined us, the atmosphere truly felt like one of friends.

=====

When lunch was over, Ryuu quietly asked if I could accompany her. She had something she wanted to discuss in private.

Of course, Ram jumped to conclusions immediately, stepping in front of me with her arms crossed and glaring at the elf with thinly veiled hostility.

“Yeah, that’s not happening, lewd elf,” Ram said flatly, shaking her head. “As his maid, it’s my responsibility to accompany Reinhard-sama anywhere he goes, especially when some suspicious elf asks for something like that.”

“U-Umm, Lili doesn’t think Ryuu-san is suspicious…” Lili said nervously, raising her hand like a student answering a question.

“Me neither.” Naaza added calmly, looking at Ryuu with a reassuring smile. “Besides, Reinhard trusts her. That’s all the reason I need.”

Finally, Est, currently perched on my shoulders for a piggyback ride, much to the others’ obvious jealousy, gave the elf a simple thumbs-up. Her own small way of showing support.

“Don’t worry, Ram. It’ll be fine.” I said gently, reaching up to rub Ram’s pink hair. She huffed cutely and turned her head away, cheeks tinged with red. “Thank you for always worrying about me, though.”

“Hmph, alright. But only because I don’t think that lewd elf has a chance at beating you anyway,” Ram muttered, embarrassed.

Ryuu, meanwhile, seemed to have missed most of the exchange. She stared down at the ground with a faint blush and a strangely depressed aura. “…A lewd elf. I’ve never been called that before. Are my clothes truly that revealing?” she whispered to herself, wrapping her green cloak tighter in a sudden crisis of self-awareness.

“Umm… Ryuu? Are you alright?” I asked, feeling a little nervous at her expression.

She blinked, then blushed when she realized she’d zoned out. “Ahem, y-yes, I’m fine. If you would, please follow me.” She said it in a rush and quickly turned her back to me, as though hiding her face.

Curious, I shrugged and followed. “Lead the way. I’ll be back later, girls. Please behave yourselves.” I said after gently setting Est down and leaving her in their care.

It took only a few minutes before we reached our destination. Ryuu led me through the forest to a small clearing, at the center of which stood a single flag surrounded by rusted weapons half-buried in the dirt. It was a graveyard, an unmarked memorial for fallen adventurers.

I stayed silent as Ryuu walked up to the site and knelt, laying down fresh flowers she’d gathered along the way.

A moment later, I knelt beside her, bringing my hands together respectfully. “Hello, friends of Ryuu. My name is Reinhard. I don’t know who you were or the extent of your bond with her, but please be at ease. Ryuu is a wonderful person, and she has many friends who care about her, including me. Please rest easy knowing she is alive, well, and will continue to be as long as I have strength in this body of mine.”

“…T-Thank you for your kind words.” Ryuu murmured, her voice small and sad.

Opening my eyes, I offered her a gentle smile. “Think nothing of it. It’s the least I can do for those you clearly cared for.”

We stayed like that for a while before Ryuu’s soft voice returned, laced with somberness.

“Mama Mia gives me time off, every so often, to bring them flowers. As you might have guessed, this is the grave of the Familia I once belonged to. An enemy Familia set a trap for us in the dungeon… and everyone but me was killed.”

“I see. I’m sorry for your loss,” I said softly.

“Thank you… Reinhard-san, would you listen to my story?” she asked, turning to me with a downcast expression.

I nodded without hesitation, and she continued.

“I’m blacklisted from the Guild. I wiped out that enemy Familia, night attacks, surprise attacks, traps… Driven by rage, I avenged my comrades, doing whatever was necessary. And when I’d had my revenge, I collapsed in a dark alleyway. It would have been a fitting end for someone who behaved so stupidly.”

Her hands tightened around the hem of her cloak. “But… I was saved in that moment. I now work at the Hostess of Fertility. Mama Mia knew everything, and yet she still took me in. I’m sorry to tell you such an awful tale.” She gave me a sad, self-deprecating smile.

“You have nothing to apologize for.” I said firmly, shaking my head.

Her expression softened slightly, but she went on. “As for my point… I’m a shameless, violent elf. Enough so that I might betray your trust. That’s why when you said you trusted me so easily earlier, it really took me back. You should save those words for someone more deserving.” She closed her eyes, as if undeserving of even my gaze.

“I refuse.”

The words left my mouth almost before Ryuu had finished speaking, and her eyes shot open in surprise.

“H-Huh?”

“I said I refuse,” I repeated, my tone calm but firm. “I said those words to you, and I meant every single one of them. Even now, after everything you’ve just told me.” A small, warm smile broke across my face as I spoke.

“B-But—” she started, faltering.

“But nothing.” I took a single step forward, closing the distance, and placed a hand gently on her shoulder without even thinking about it. “To me, you’re a precious friend, Ryuu. And it hurts me to see you think so little of yourself. If you can’t believe in yourself…” I squeezed her shoulder lightly, meeting her eyes. “…then believe in the me who believes in you!”

“W–Wha—?” Her composure cracked; a faint flush crept across her cheeks, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

I kept going, still riding the wave of my own determination. “In fact, since you were willing to open your heart to me, I’ll promise you this—” I smiled, softer now but just as sincere. “From today forward, I’ll always have your back.”

Ryuu blinked at me, the blush deepening. Her mouth opened, then closed. And then, with a faint, stunned noise, her emerald eyes went glassy and little spirals seemed to spin in them before she sagged forward.

“Eh?”

I lunged to catch her as she fainted, scooping her up before she hit the ground.

“O-Oops.” I muttered, sweat beading at my temple as I shifted her into a princess carry. “P-Perhaps I said a little too much…”