Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 51 "Labyrinth's Paradise"

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Security Floor: The 18th Floor

An underground world brimming with crystals and teeming with nature.

Also known as Labyrinth's Paradise.

From the ground level—the first floor of the dungeon—to the eighteenth floor, this is the first designated "safe floor" within the labyrinth.

After navigating the narrow cave connecting the seventeenth and eighteenth floors Izzy and Ryuu finally stepped into this sanctuary.

Emerging from the narrow cave entrance, they were greeted by the majestic sight of a vast grassland bathed in warm, bright light.

Stretching endlessly before them, the green expanse dominated the field of vision, its sheer scale making it difficult to believe this was underground. Dotted across the horizon were small, moving shadows—monsters roaming freely across the terrain and sky.

Although designated as a safe floor, the eighteenth floor itself does not generate monsters. However, creatures from the deeper levels—such as the nineteenth, twentieth, or beyond—often traverse the gaps between floors, making their way here.

In truth, the eighteenth floor feels less like a sanctuary for adventurers and more like a labyrinth paradise for monsters.

Scattered throughout the landscape were numerous crystals, adding an otherworldly charm to the scenery.

To the left, a massive body of water dominated the view. While it could be described as a swamp, its size and depth made it more akin to a lake. The surface shimmered in a vivid, dark blue hue, and in the center floated a large rock—or rather, an "island."

To the right lay an expansive forest, its endless cluster of trees stretching beyond the horizon.

Far ahead, in the middle of the vast grassland, stood an enormous tree. Its size was so immense that even the tree's hollow was clearly visible from this distance.

It was Izzy's first time on the eighteenth floor. Gazing at the giant tree, his eyes wandered upward, drawn to the dazzling ceiling above.

This floor's illumination came entirely from crystals.

Countless crystals adorned every corner of the ceiling, their brilliance mimicking natural light. The central crystals emitted a white glow, akin to sunlight, while the surrounding ones glowed blue, resembling the sky.

These crystals acted as the floor's artificial sun, marking the passage of day and night.

While the exact mechanism was unknown, at night, the glowing crystals would dim, casting the floor into a soft, nocturnal ambiance.

"So this is what a safe floor looks like? Seeing is truly believing..."

Perhaps it was because they had descended from higher levels, but Izzy now stood at an elevated position, allowing him a sweeping view of the grassland stretching out from the cave entrance.

The scene resembled a natural wonder from the surface world.

It was hard to imagine that such beauty existed deep underground.

The pair had been fortunate this time.

When they passed through the seventeenth floor, its dominant entity—the floor boss known as the Lonely King of the Labyrinth, Goliath—had not yet respawned.

As a floor master, Goliath has a relatively long resurrection time after being defeated—roughly half a month.

Half a month ago, the Loki Familia had delved into the dungeon for an expedition and successfully vanquished Goliath. Calculating carefully, its respawn should occur within the next day or two.

By sheer luck, when Izzy and Ryuu traversed the seventeenth floor, they happened to pass during this window and avoided a direct encounter with Goliath.

Otherwise, reaching the eighteenth floor would likely have required them to face the mighty floor boss in battle.

"It really is a beautiful place. No matter how many times I come here, I can't help but feel the same awe. But for you, Mr. Izzy, you'll be able to come and go freely before long, won't you?"

Amid the rustling of leaves carried by the gentle breeze, Ryuu's voice was soft yet confident.

Though Izzy was still at Level 1,Ryuu couldn't help but feel optimistic about his potential.

Upon returning from this trip, Izzy's level would likely increase, and the middle levels would become a place he frequented.

"That's true~"

Izzy nodded without denying it, then shifted his gaze toward the forest on the right, deep within its greenery.

A wide path meandered through the forest, clearly reserved for adventurers, with many flat areas perfect for resting or setting up camp.

Deeper in the forest, a large campsite came into view. At its center stood a flag emblazoned with the familiar clown emblem of Loki's Familia, fluttering in the light breeze.

"Ah, this…"

Izzy looked at the campsite and fell silent for a moment.

Given the timing, it made sense. Loki's Familia, having just returned from a deep dungeon expedition, was likely taking a break here. It wasn't surprising to see them occupying the eighteenth floor.

After a day or two of rest, they would probably head straight back to the upper floors.

"It's Loki's Familia~"

Ryuu had also noticed the campsite with the familiar flag. Her tone was calm as she stared at Izzy with her sky-blue eyes, as if waiting for his reaction.

"Yes, I see it," Izzy replied.

"Don't you want to go take a look?"

"Forget it. Isn't it Miss Ryuu who has my attention right now? Wouldn't it be rude to think about other things in this moment?"

"…?"

Ryuu opened her mouth to reply but found herself momentarily at a loss for words.

Better not say anything, she thought. If I do, he'll just twist it into another teasing opportunity.

Having grown somewhat accustomed to Izzy's behavior, Ryuu wisely chose not to engage.

"Eh? Miss Ryuu~ Where are you going now?"

"To do what needs to be done."

"Why are you walking so fast? Please consider my status as a wounded soldier~"

"Oh? I see no wounded soldier here."

"This is an internal injury! Internal injuries are still injuries!"

Trailing after the elf girl, who left without a word, Izzy shamelessly attributed his mental fatigue to internal injuries.

Well… technically, there wasn't anything wrong with that logic, was there?

As the two continued their exchange, they gradually ventured deeper into the forest.

Unlike the labyrinth-like structures on other floors, the eighteenth floor was an expansive circular space.

Sheer rock walls surrounded the entire area, stretching all the way to the ceiling, which was covered in glowing crystals.

The southern edge of the floor housed the cave leading to the seventeenth floor, near which Loki's Familia had set up their campsite.

But Ryuu had no desire to be seen, especially by members of Loki's Familia, who often visited the Hostess of Fertility.

To avoid them, the pair plunged into the forest, taking a detour around the campsite.

The forest extended from the southern to the eastern areas, its greenery interspersed with streams and springs.

In the north, sparse trees gave way to wetlands. Without barriers like those on the plains, the dark shapes of wandering monsters were particularly visible.

Bathed in the white light of the crystal ceiling, bird-like monsters flitted about near the water's edge.

Many monsters from the lower floors ventured to the eighteenth floor, drawn by the abundant fruits, fresh water, and other resources.

To the west, a massive rock island sat firmly in the lake. At its center stood towering trees with impossibly thick trunks.

These natural features combined to create the breathtaking landscape of the eighteenth floor.

On the western island stood Rivira Town, a settlement established by adventurers.

The town's name paid tribute to Rivira Santilini, the legendary female adventurer who first founded it.

Here, adventurers could purchase resources and supplies, although the prices were notoriously steep.

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