Chapter 153
It would obviously be a problem to open a Class 3 dungeon inside the house, so the next morning, we prepared our equipment early and headed to the square managed by the Adventurers' Guild.
Dungeons can only be opened in designated areas approved by the state, jointly managed by the kingdom's soldiers and the Adventurers' Guild, with reserved priority spaces for each.
Back in the game era, it was said this was a measure to ensure cooperation in case of emergencies.
The location was outside the city walls.
Of course—that much was obvious.
There was no way they'd build a facility inside the royal capital that could potentially flood the city with monsters.
"It's amazing!""It really is!"
And it wasn’t just some plain field with soldiers and adventurers stationed around it.
The structure stood in the southwestern outskirts of the capital.
Even during the game era, this facility existed, but it wasn’t used like this.
"This is the coliseum, used once every four years for the Martial Arts Tournament. During peacetime, it serves as a facility for dungeon deployment."
In the central square, temporary partitions were set up to create the dungeon, while the spectator seats were lined with soldiers—spearmen in the front, archers in the middle, and magic soldiers in the top rows.
An efficient repurposing of event facilities, I suppose.
The sturdy stone walls surrounding the area, along with the strategic positioning of troops, ensured that any emergency could be swiftly suppressed.
The square itself was vast—large enough to comfortably host a baseball game.
"To use it, we need to complete the procedures at the reception over there."
A system that didn’t exist in the game.
Feeling a slight thrill at the novelty, I followed Ingrid’s lead to the reception.
"There are two types of reception counters—the left side is for nobles, and the right is for adventurers and the general public."
The disparity between the two became obvious as we approached.
The noble’s reception area had ample space, complete with a tea lounge.
The staff there appeared to be educated noble daughters or sons, impeccably dressed.
After completing the formalities, guests could wait there until their turn, with dedicated staff bustling about—maids and butlers moving busily.
In contrast, the Adventurers' Guild side was… well, modest. Just a counter, with no seating, leaving adventurers to stand around noisily in a rowdy crowd.
The receptionists were all women—tough, no-nonsense types who clearly had experience dealing with rough adventurers.
Unlike the noble side, their uniforms prioritized functionality, giving off more of a city hall vibe than anything luxurious.
An oddly fascinating sight—elegance and roughness coexisting side by side.
"Are we using the noble side?""No, we’ll be using a separate reception."
Even though the coliseum was large, space was limited.
The fact that people were crowding like this showed just how popular the facility was.
I worried that if we had to make a reservation now, we’d have to come back another day—had we messed up the arrangements? But Ingrid reassured me and led us away from the main reception to a different area.
For nobles, avoiding public attention wasn’t unusual.
Veering away from the main reception, Ingrid guided us to a less crowded zone.
This area was unmistakably VIP-exclusive.
A section designed for carriages to pull up discreetly, flanked by soldiers in ornate armor standing guard at a grand gate.
Even from a distance, their sharp gazes were noticeable.
Only Ingrid’s maid attire and Claudia’s priestess robes kept the soldiers’ scrutiny from escalating.
Had it just been me, Nel, and Amina, we might’ve been forcibly turned away before even reaching the entrance.
That’s how hostile their stares felt.
This place was special—the atmosphere made that abundantly clear.
I nearly sighed but held back, knowing it’d only invite trouble.
"State your business. This area is reserved for distinguished guests only. If you have no purpose here, leave at once."
The moment we stepped close enough to make our intentions clear, a warning came from behind a full-face helmet, oozing suspicion.
Well, with Nel and Amina’s massive golem in tow, their caution was understandable.
I could see the soldiers’ hands tense around their spears, ready to act if we ignored the warning.
Unfazed by the tense air, Ingrid stepped forward.
"We have a letter of recommendation from a person of high standing. Please verify it."
Without hesitation, she stopped just short of the soldiers, retrieving a sealed letter and a pocket-watch-like pendant from her bag.
The moment they saw it, the soldiers’ demeanor shifted entirely.
The sight of our ragtag group holding such items was shocking in itself.
A letter sealed with the Edelgard ducal crest—and the pendant bearing the same insignia.
To forge such things would guarantee severe punishment.
The fact that she presented them so boldly left no room for doubt, but the guard still insisted on confirmation.
"My apologies! We will verify this immediately. Please wait a moment!"
Ingrid nodded, satisfied with the sudden change in attitude.
"Here you are.""Understood."
The warning turned into polite deference as the captain-like soldier carefully accepted only the letter.
The pendant remained with Ingrid—likely part of the procedure.
The soldier didn’t inspect the letter on the spot. Instead, he knocked on a small window beside the gate and slid the letter inside.
"Ah, so they verify the contents inside?"
Understanding the process, I nodded, and Ingrid joined me with a confirming nod of her own.
"Indeed. This area is typically used by high-ranking nobles who prefer discretion. Arriving on foot like us is rare, hence the initial suspicion. But the procedure is legitimate, so there’s no issue."
Normally, nobles would arrive by carriage—emblazoned with their family crest as proof of identity.
But a maid and a priestess escorting commoner children? No wonder they were wary.
A system that didn’t exist in the game.
It was refreshing to see how these things worked in reality.
"Verification complete. The gate will now open. Once inside, a staff member will guide you—please follow their instructions.""Understood."
Within minutes, the small window opened again, and the soldier nodded before approaching us.
Permission granted, the gate opened to reveal an elderly butler standing inside.
"I shall be your attendant today. My name is Hülye."
His bow was refined, exuding an air of respect—undiminished even by our commoner status.
His gaze held no condescension, treating us as guests worthy of the space.
"Are you the representative of your group? If so, may I have your name?"
Surprisingly, he looked straight at me—not Ingrid or even Claudia, who one might assume was the leader.
How he knew, I wasn’t sure.
"Liberta.""Liberta-sama, is this your first time using our facility?""Yes."
I answered honestly, and he nodded before proceeding with the explanation.
"Then allow me to guide you inside and explain the facilities."
With Hülye leading the way, we passed through the gate, which closed behind us.
The path ahead was illuminated by magic tools, leading to a staircase descending underground.
"This facility utilizes underground equipment to ensure a more comfortable dungeon experience. Safety is our utmost priority—anti-stampede measures are always in place, and our elite suppression team is on standby to handle emergencies, including failed dungeon attempts. Rescue services are also available, with our team composed of professional dungeon specialists."
The staircase was wide and sturdy, hinting at the vast space below.
As we passed, I caught a glimpse of the soldiers’ barracks—packed with more troops than I could count at a glance.
Their equipment was high-quality, clearly no expense spared. Given the secrecy of this place, it was a necessary investment.
"Move aside! Injured coming through!"
Next to the barracks, a wounded man was carried in on a stretcher.
Not a noble child—likely a guard or instructor of some sort.
"For healing, we have seasoned professionals on hand. With prior donations, we can also ensure ample potions for a fully prepared experience.""That person looked severely injured, though?""He’ll recover within minutes and walk out unscathed. No aftereffects."
Hülye spoke casually, even though the man’s limbs were twisted and drenched in blood, barely clinging to life.
At least five Class 4 healers, or three Class 5 ones, must be stationed here.
The barracks likely housed similarly skilled personnel, though none as capable as Claudia.
As we proceeded further, the underground space turned out to be far larger than expected.
"Many who challenge dungeons here value secrecy—largely due to loot-hunters targeting them afterward. Thus, movement within the facility requires an escort. I will guide you, so please refrain from wandering."
Privacy was paramount, ensuring no unwanted encounters.
Perfect for our needs, in a way.
"What if someone tries to force their way through with authority?"
But secrecy meant little if overpowered by influence. After all, you can’t shut everyone’s mouth.
When I asked, Hülye smiled gently.
"Well, we had such individuals in the past. But after thorough explanations, they all… understood."
His quiet tone carried an unspoken warning.
The fact that this facility still operated without issues meant even the Duke vouched for it.
I was curious about what really happened behind the scenes, but prying deeper would be unwise.
"Just to confirm—this place is state-approved, right?""Naturally."
Assured it wasn’t an illegal operation, I decided to follow through.
"Liberta-sama, this will be your room."
When we entered, I couldn’t help but gasp.
Instead of an empty expanse, the space resembled a golf driving range—open ahead, with a lounge area near the entrance.
"Meals can be provided. For drinks, simply inform me. We also offer bathing facilities and equipment cleaning services—please don’t hesitate to ask."
Every possible convenience. They’d probably even support us inside the dungeon if we asked—though we wouldn’t.
But a bath after dungeon crawling? Absolutely welcome.
We’d be drenched in sweat, our gear caked in mud.
A warm soak would make a world of difference.
Especially with so many women in our party—this service was a godsend