IS IT WRONG TO TRY TO PICK UP GIRLS IN A DUNGEON? FAMILIA CHRONICLE

”The Benevolent Mistress? No way. Why even go to a place like that? ”

In the corner of a dark, dismal tavern, a grimy-looking human man sat at a small round table drinking cheap ale.

”The place has great food and booze for sure, plus the staff are real easy on the eyes, but its expensive—and if you start any kind of trouble, youll get tossed out in an instant and wind up at the healers. ”

The surrounding patrons voices were low and gruff. Amid the din of rowdy laughs and shouts, the man was sitting on a creaky old chair as he always was.

”…Huh? Did you ask wholl thrash you? Thats obvious, isn it? The girls who work there! ”

He grabbed one of the dried pieces of meat from his plate and tore into it. Chewing loudly, the man with a new scar on his face half smiled.

”Thats not a place for small fries like us. Especially considering that dwarf mistress; words can even describe how scary she is. ”

He took another swig from his mug to hide a shudder. The chatter of the other drinking patrons got louder, swelling like a wave. Drinking like he was trying to dunk his face in his ale, the man suddenly smiled as his cheeks reddened.

”But you know…if you
e ever looking for help wherever you can, and really, truly, have a problem…buy a drink there and try crying into it… ”

When someone asked why, the man wiped his mouth and responded, ”Because shes there. Even compared to the other ridiculous workers at that shop, its terrifying how strong she is. The woman is way too serious, insanely demanding, and as beautiful as a real fairy… ”

As he trailed off, he suppressed his smile. His shoulders shook, as if laughing in scorn—or perhaps trembling in fear—then he lifted his head and whispered so low that it seemed no one else would be able to hear him.

”Shes a strange elf in Orario who still holds on to some sense of justice. If you ever get wrapped up in something dangerous, go check it out. She might help you… ”

The man left it at that and raised his mug again, drowning himself in his cheap ale.

In a certain city district, the moon had already set, but there was still no trace of the sun. A flurry of wind could be heard in the early dawn. The high-pitched gusts sounded over and over, trembling in the air for a moment like a birdcall or a reed pipe before the darkness returned to silence.

A slender elf woman was swinging a wooden sword nearly as long as she was tall. Her movements were swift and sharp as her elegant arms whipped the sword from overhead straight down with impeccable form. An instant later, she reversed the edge, slicing diagonally upward with a speed rivaling any quick-draw technique. If she were in an actual fight, her opponent would probably have run away in the face of such deft skill.

Her dyed, pale green hair swayed as her sword flashed. She wore a light tunic and short pants that fluttered when she moved. Her fair skin stood out under the dark sky.

”…Is it time? ”

The sound of one last, particularly sharp practice swing echoed as the elf —Lyu Leon—finished her morning practice.

Inside the giant city walls, her eyes narrowed once the sun started to reveal itself in the eastern sky. Her body glistened with a thin sheen of sweat as the early morning air cleared.

This was the Labyrinth City, Orario. It was a well-known metropolis that prospered as the Center of the World, sitting atop the only underground dungeon in the world. Lyu was employed at one of the taverns in the city, The Benevolent Mistress.

She was an early riser. The restaurants preparations started early in the morning, but she swung her wooden sword in the dark every day well before that, when the sun had yet to climb above the horizon. Even as a former adventurer who had washed her hands of delving into the Dungeon, Lyu was still meticulous in her training.

Perhaps it was because the elf warrior had found herself in peril several times since she had arrived in Orario, but regardless, she had not forgotten to be diligent in her studies.

Frankly, one should pursue self-improvement and similar ideals until they become habit.

The taverns courtyard was wide, surrounded by wooden structures not connected to the main building. Originally there were plans for another expansion, so the area had been cleared out and part of the ground was paved with stones. The shops outdoor storage shed was also in the courtyard.

Already sweaty, Lyu looked down at her slender arms.

”This isn enough… ”

Her true feelings unconsciously escaped from her lips in a whisper. Once, she had invited her coworkers, who were plenty strong themselves, but they refused to come a second time. Apparently, she had not controlled herself enough. They had called her a training junkie and complained that she did not hold back. She was always overdoing it. Remembering the abuse that had been hurled at her in the past, Lyu unconsciously sighed.

”Maybe I should ask Mr. Cranell to join me next time. ”

Looking up at the slightly dark sky, Lyu thought of a certain adventurer. She had only just gotten to know him—though it had already been two months since they met. He was a young human boy, still wet behind the ears, but he was also making progress at shocking speed, both figuratively and literally. For a number of reasons, he had caught Lyus eye. He seems to be working toward some kind of goal himself, so training together could work out well for both of us.

But after thinking that far, Lyu suddenly shook her head. No, I couldn do that to Syr. The boy was her friends sweetheart and perhaps even a future lover. Spending her early morning practice alone with him while knowing that would be dishonorable. At least, that was how Lyu felt.

On the other hand, I don have any ulterior motives. If it was only training, then…Her thoughts drifted, but as she imagined Syrs face, a sense of guilt welled up in her heart.

Conflicted, Lyu cleared her mind and headed toward her room among the wooden buildings. First she had to clean herself, then change into her uniform. The sun had already cleared the city wall, and dazzling light was starting to shine on the city as Lyu prepared for another day as a waitress at the tavern.

It was another bustling day at The Benevolent Mistress.

The three-story stone building gave the impression of a tidy little inn that was bigger than it seemed from the outside. Its location on West Main Street made it convenient for customers to come and go.

During the day, the clientele was largely female and consisted primarity of regular city residents, while after dark, the bar and tables were usually filled with adventurers returning from the Dungeon. It managed the different groups of customers well: The menu changed as morning became evening, charging adventurers who had more money to burn with higher prices.

As the restaurants dwarf owner, Mia Grand, liked to say, ”We
e treating them to our delicious food and drink, after all. If they can pay, then they don get any! ”

In reality, a great deal of adventurers were regulars who visited often, many obsessed with her special fruit wine (which was guaranteed to taste amazing).

”The morning is better, though, meow… ”

”When it gets late, the beer-starved adventurers swarm us…Ugh, its depressing, meow. ”

”Hey, kitties, you
e being slow. Mama Mia is going to yell at you. ”

The former top-tier adventurer Mia had gone into semi-retirement and opened The Benevolent Mistress, where several women lived and worked.

Lyu was one of them.

The catgirls leaning on the counter were Ahnya and Chloe, while the human warning them like always was Runoa. Lyu didn pay them any mind as she carried a fruit tart on a platter.

”Two guests coming in! ”

The girl with light blue-gray hair guiding the two new customers was Syr. She was the only employee who didn room at the tavern. She was a human girl with standout looks; the tavern used her as a cute salesgirl to lure in traffic from the street. Unlike Lyu, who was brusque and difficult to approach, Syr graciously treated everyone equally. She had won the adoration of the male patrons as a straightforward, honest local girl. Even rowdy adventurers who had too much to drink calmed down when confronted with her surprising stubbornness and fearless smile. Thanks to the tavern owner Mia, as well as Lyu and the rest of the employees, The Benevolent Mistress was running smoothly like always.

The inside bustling with demi-human women made for a picturesque sight as sunlight shone through the windows. It was almost noon, and traffic on the street outside was picking up when the shops moment of peace was shattered.

”Then what? Are you saying you sold Anna?! ”

Lyu, the other staff, and all the customers in the tavern glanced over at a human couple Syr had just seated.

”I didn sell her—she was taken. ”

”Thats the same thing, isn it, you idiot! Thats why I kept telling you to stop gambling… ”

The woman with her flaxen hair tied back had seen many years come and go, but she had not lost her beauty. She raised her voice as the man sitting across from her responded listlessly, an unkempt five-oclock shadow noticeable on his face.

”What kind of father puts his own daughter up as collateral for a bet?! ”

The mother shouted one last time before burying her face in her hands and bawling.

An awkward wave of unease swept through the restaurant. Ahnya and Chloe, who were diligently going about their work, peeked their heads out of kitchen at the loud sobs. Runoa stopped in her tracks as she, Lyu, Syr, and the catgirl chefs all exchanged glances.

The middle-aged man noticed all of the gazes focused on their table, and finally looked up as he jumped to his feet, kicking away his chair.

”What are you looking at?! This isn some spectacle! Just eat your crappy food, assholes! ”

”W-wait, stop that! ”

The woman tried to hold him back as he flew into a rage, but he would not be subdued. He clenched the glass of water that had been placed in front of him, flinging the contents everywhere. As he continued swinging it around, the customers nearby shrieked, followed by an immediate thump—something caught his flailing arm.

”Pardon me, sir, but if you are going to make a scene, could you please pay now and leave instead? ”

”What did you—Oww?! ”

sharp cry of pain cut off the question. Runoa had apparently approached without a sound, and she squeezed tighter. She seemed like any other girl her age, but her grip convinced the man his arm was at the breaking point.

”Hey, who do you think cleans this floor, meow? ”

”A clown who wastes the food and water we prepared for him can go get cursed by the gods and drop into hell for all I care, meow. ”

More thumps echoed as a wickedly smiling Chloe and a visibly furious Ahnya came up from behind the angry man to grab hold of his shoulders. Then they whipped out one leg each, smoothly tripping their quarry. With his support knocked out from under him, he fell straight the floor.

”Wh…what? ”

As soon as he hit the ground, the mans body rose back into the air as the towering dwarf mistress of the establishment grasped him by the collar of his tunic. He was a full-grown man, but she needed only one hand to hold him up. When he saw Mias dangerous expression up close, all the color drained from his face.

”Its pretty ballsy to call our food bad before youve even had any, don you think? ”

”Aaaahhhh…!! ”

”—You
e annoying the other customers, you idiot! ”

The next instant, she tossed him in a smooth arc through the entryway and halfway into the main street, while the man screamed all the way. A carriage suddenly came to a halt, horse neighing, when the man rolled out of nowhere into the middle of the street. The throng was startled for a moment, but as soon as people recognized what tavern he had flown out of, everyone carefully avoided him and moved along as though they were used to it.

The Benevolent Mistress. It was a place where the women Mia employed all had special circumstances, and most were accustomed to fighting.

Adventurers who didn know better were often drawn in by the taverns reputation for sweet and beautiful girls. It was a familiar scene in the neighborhood to see customers who made foolish mistakes come flying out the door looking the worst for wear.

As the shop calmed down, Lyu thought she had been too slow to react.

”Im sorry, it sounded like a bit of a distressing story, but…did something happen? ”

Syr calmly approached her, head tilted slightly, but the dumbfounded woman froze and was unable to answer.