Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 20: A New Adventurer's First Exploration of the Dungeon

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On the bustling avenue filled with people of all races, Izzy and Raul skillfully wove through the crowd.

Mornings were always busy in Orario, as it was the time when most adventurers prepared to begin their day of exploration.

If one were to describe it, this was the rush hour for dungeon-bound workers. With the dungeon serving as their "office," countless adventurers hurriedly made their way to their posts, ready to punch in for the day.

Dwarves, goblins, orcs, parum, elves—some with appearances indistinguishable from ordinary people, while others were clad in full gear, carrying dangerous-looking equipment.

Supporters were also a noticeable presence, their massive backpacks standing out as they moved purposefully through the streets.

Before long, Izzy found himself once again at the guild headquarters, the organization responsible for overseeing and managing the dungeon.

The front desk of the guild hall was bustling with adventurers. Nearly every service window was occupied by a guild staff member diligently assisting adventurers with their needs.

Scanning the hall, Izzy quickly spotted a familiar figure. After letting Raul know, he walked over to one of the service windows and joined the queue.

It wasn't long before his turn came.

"Next person, how can I help you?"

Holding a booklet in one hand, Eina barely looked up as she multitasked, recording her work while speaking with a reflexive, professional smile.

"Please help me register as an adventurer, Miss Eina."

Her pen halted briefly, and she glanced up. As their eyes met, a flash of recognition crossed her face.

"Mr. Izzy! Congratulations on successfully joining the Loki Familia!"

Noticing the clear evidence of his affiliation, Eina's expression softened with joy. Perhaps because she had played a part in helping him, her happiness felt genuine.

"It's all thanks to your assistance, Miss Eina, that it went so smoothly."

"You can't give me all the credit. After all, I was compensated~"

Her lighthearted reply caused Izzy to chuckle. This kind of honesty felt refreshing.

After exchanging pleasantries, they began working on the formalities for registering Izzy as an official adventurer.

"By the way, Mr. Izzy," Eina said mid-process, "do you need a dungeon strategy consultant?"

The question caught him off guard for a moment.

Many adventurers had met their end due to a lack of preparation or intelligence before venturing into the dungeon. To address this, the guild had long implemented a system of assigning strategy advisors to new adventurers.

However, for individuals like Izzy, who had the backing of a strong familia, the service was more of an option than a necessity.

Eina's question was more out of habit than expectation.

"A strategy consultant?" Izzy blinked, then smiled. "Thanks, but I'll pass."

"Understood."

Eina didn't push the matter further. With a professional nod, she resumed processing his registration.

A few minutes later, the procedure was complete, and Izzy officially became a registered adventurer.

After politely bidding Eina farewell, he rejoined Raul, who was waiting nearby, holding an adventurer's handbook.

"Sorry for the wait," Izzy said with a sheepish grin.

Raul shook his head. "That was quick. All done with the registration?"

"Yep, I'm now officially a fledgling adventurer."

"Fledgling, huh?" Raul chuckled. "Your hometown must have some funny ways of putting things."

"Oh, don't mind it." Izzy laughed. "It's just a phrase I'm used to."

With the formalities complete, the two headed straight toward the dungeon's entrance.

The long street stretched ahead, lined with towering buildings and facilities that gleamed under the clear morning sky. At its center stood the entrance to the vast underground labyrinth—the dungeon.

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The first floor of the dungeon stretched before them, a world vastly different from the bustling streets above.

Light blue walls and ceilings dominated the entire view, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. This natural labyrinth seemed endless, with no visible sky and pathways branching out in countless directions.

Forks, crossroads, gentle downward slopes—these underground paths were uneven and riddled with obstacles, forming natural spaces at intervals within the dungeon.

As he walked through these corridors, Izzy had already drawn the silver-gray spear from its sheath. Holding it in a reverse grip, he was prepared for combat at any moment.

Beside him, Raul strolled calmly, his sword still resting in its scabbard. Both of his hands gripped the straps of the large supporter backpack he carried. All the while, he kept giving Izzy a steady stream of advice—details about the monsters commonly found on the upper floors, their weaknesses, the pathways leading to the lower levels, and other critical information.

The narrow confines of the maze glowed faintly from the phosphorescent light emanating from the ceiling above, like a network of softly glowing lamps. Though it provided enough illumination to navigate, the atmosphere remained heavy, oppressive, steeped in the peculiar silence of a place devoid of natural life.

Or, at least, life that had yet to appear.

Suddenly, a sharp crack shattered the silence.

Izzy's gaze snapped forward as the wall ahead began to split, emitting a dark red energy that pulsed with an eerie glow. The energy solidified into physical forms, emerging from the wall like grotesque birds hatching from eggshells.

"Gah!"

"Ah!"

"Goooo!"

Three stunted, ugly creatures tumbled out of the fissure. They were goblins, with dark green skin, long pointed ears, and ferocious crimson eyes that gleamed in the dim light.

Each goblin, inexplicably, clutched a crudely carved wooden club almost as large as its head. Despite their primitive nature, one could tell that a strike from those clubs would cause significant damage.

The goblins wasted no time. As soon as they noticed the two humans standing nearby, their scarlet eyes flared with savage intent, and they charged forward, teeth bared and weapons raised.

Raul instinctively glanced at Izzy, unsure if the newcomer had any experience fighting monsters. For a moment, he debated whether he should step in with a warning.

But that momentary concern faded as he observed Izzy's demeanor.

The young man showed no sign of panic. Instead, he radiated calm confidence.

The chaotic dongda, dongda sound of goblin footsteps echoed as they barreled toward the two adventurers. Izzy, standing firm, adjusted his stance—left foot forward, spear held ready.

In an instant, he surged forward to meet the charge head-on.

The first goblin lunged, but Izzy responded with swift precision. With a practiced flick of his wrist, he spun the spear in a wide arc, its silver-gray tip glinting coldly in the faint light.

The spear struck true, piercing the goblin's throat in a single, decisive motion.

Assassination.

The creature didn't even have time to swing its weapon before collapsing to the ground, its life snuffed out instantly.

The remaining two goblins froze momentarily, stunned by the swift demise of their companion. That brief hesitation was all Izzy needed.

With seamless efficiency, he withdrew the spear, his movements as smooth as a coiled spring snapping back into place.

Pivoting on his heel, he shifted his grip and struck one of the goblins with the butt of his spear, sending it tumbling across the ground. In the same fluid motion, he twisted his wrist and turned the spear's blade toward the last goblin.

Sweep!

The spear carved a clean arc through the air, slicing through the goblin's body with a sound like tearing fabric. The creature was bisected instantly, its two halves crumpling to the ground in a burst of black smoke.

Two glowing fragments—one blue, one purple—dropped to the floor where the goblin had stood.

Not wasting any time, Izzy turned his attention to the goblin he had knocked aside. Closing the distance in a few swift steps, he delivered a final, crushing blow, reducing the creature to ash.

In less than thirty seconds, all three goblins had been reduced to blackened remains scattered across the dungeon floor.