Chapter 27
The next day...
The knights announced that the expedition would be converted into a long-term exploration.
A long-term exploration.
Instead of having most members attempt to clear the dungeon together...
The campsite outside would become a base camp.
Small teams would enter the dungeon in rotation and gradually expand the explored area.
The official explanation was that monster resistance had been stronger than expected...
And the dungeon itself appeared too dangerous.
Therefore...
They were changing their exploration method.
Small groups would take turns entering.
The first team consisted mainly of people sent from Lutetia Territory.
They volunteered to go in place of the exhausted members.
Three Rangers from Lutetia Territory.
Amber.
Jake.
And Jessica.
The official explanation was slightly different from what Amber had told them the previous night.
Still...
Jake and Jessica said nothing.
They prepared and entered with the others.
The ancient gold coins and magic items hidden in their packs had already been moved to a safe location.
Their bags were once again filled with food.
Once everyone entered the dungeon...
Nicholas, representing the Rangers, spoke.
"This is slightly different from what the knights announced."
"But I'd like us to move quickly until we reach the point where progress becomes impossible."
He looked at Jake and Jessica.
"We will protect the two of you."
It was a continuation of what Amber had said yesterday.
Jake and Jessica nodded.
The group began rapidly clearing the dungeon.
Once again...
Jessica's ability shone brilliantly.
She immediately identified the route the previous expedition had taken...
And guided the group forward at high speed.
Even when they reached paths the expedition had never explored...
She advanced without hesitation.
-The left path at the next intersection.
Naturally...
Part of Jessica's incredible navigation came from Fatima's guidance.
Even so...
No one could match her ability to identify and disarm traps.
"She's incredible."
Amber could not help exclaiming as Jessica ran sideways across a wall to avoid a trap covering the floor.
"Why hasn't someone this talented become famous?"
Nicholas stared.
"Can an ordinary person even do that?"
Naturally...
Running sideways across a vertical wall was impossible for an ordinary person.
And...
Until only a few days ago...
It had been impossible for Jessica too.
"I don't know."
Another Ranger frowned.
"She didn't seem to be a Mana User..."
The Rangers had never seen a thief run across a wall either.
They all looked toward Jake.
Jake merely shrugged.
He obviously could not tell them that Jessica had learned Mana Detection from him and used it to activate the magic boots.
-Perhaps you taught her too soon.
Fatima commented dryly.
Jake had only taught Jessica Mana Detection so she could use the ring.
He had not expected her to immediately apply it to the magic boots.
She probably had some excuse prepared for anyone who questioned her...
But Jake, who was now standing behind her receiving everyone's suspicious looks...
Could only sigh.
Jessica definitely had talent.
Her magic boots were essentially Spiderwalk Boots.
They were magic items that allowed the wearer to walk along walls and ceilings.
Using such an item properly should have required strong mana control.
Yet Jessica had somehow used nothing more than basic Mana Detection to jump over the trap.
Jake was almost frightened to imagine what she would become after properly learning mana control and covering herself with magic items.
Jessica reached the other side.
She quickly disabled the trap.
Then she called everyone over.
Jake crossed the now-safe area and approached her.
He had intended to scold her...
But when he saw Jessica's brightly shining face...
He abandoned the idea.
She looked exactly like a child playing with a Christmas present.
"That was impressive."
Amber suddenly asked,
"How did you run along the wall like that?"
Jessica's eyebrow twitched so slightly that only Jake noticed.
A moment later...
She answered in a completely casual tone.
"It's one of my personal thief techniques."
Then Jessica smiled.
"Surely you aren't asking a mercenary to reveal her secret techniques, are you?"
Jessica's shameless counterattack actually made Amber apologize.
This world was not like Jake's previous life, where information was widely shared.
Whether mercenaries, Rangers, or even mages...
Asking someone to reveal their personal secret technique was considered rude.
-Ho.
Jake sent her a Message spell.
-A personal thief technique?
-Did you give it a name too?
Jessica's confident expression immediately cracked.
The slight redness appearing across her face made it obvious that she had indeed named it.
"All right!"
Jessica suddenly raised her voice.
"Let's go!"
"We're moving immediately!"
Embarrassed...
She hurried everyone forward.
The group continued deeper into the dungeon.
At one point...
They passed beside the collapsed passage leading toward the food storage area.
At another...
They encountered Burrowing Scorpions that had become lost inside the dungeon.
Each time...
Jake detected them in advance.
That allowed the group to descend with little difficulty.
Two days later...
They reached a storage room.
The others had never been here before.
But Jake and Jessica knew the place well.
It was the storage room containing the magic items.
Jessica led everyone inside.
Soon...
Amber and the Rangers began gasping in amazement.
-Why are you watching them like it's some kind of entertainment?
Jake sent another Message spell.
-At least pretend to be surprised.
Jessica, who had been standing behind the others watching their reactions with amusement...
Immediately began pretending to be shocked.
Unfortunately...
Her acting looked painfully unnatural.
Jake shook his head and pulled her outside.
"We'll wait out here."
Only after hearing Jake did the Rangers and Amber return to their senses.
"That female thief is unusual enough..."
One Ranger muttered.
"But that young man is strange too."
Everyone nodded.
After hearing about their encounter with the Princess...
The Rangers had paid extra attention to Jake and Jessica.
Jessica's skill was far greater than expected.
But Jake was equally strange.
His calm, practiced behavior did not suit his young age at all.
Even now...
He had looked away from a room filled with magic items and voluntarily stepped outside.
It made him seem like an experienced professional who understood exactly when to remove himself from a situation.
"He's also perfectly familiar with noble etiquette."
Amber added.
"And he's excellent at brewing black tea."
"The Princess even said she'd like to train him as a butler if only his identity were more certain."
The Rangers shook their heads.
For now...
However...
They had more important things to focus on than a strange thief and an even stranger young man.
"Let's keep watching those two."
Nicholas looked toward the magic items.
"For now, we proceed according to plan."
The Rangers and Amber began checking the magic items on the walls and shelves one by one.
A short while later...
