The Boy Who Fell to the Lowest Level of the Dungeon, Becoming the Strongest and Returns to the Surface After 10 Years~He Just Wants to Live a Quiet Life, but His Childhood Friends Who Have Risen to Prominence Won’t Leave Him Alone~ - Chapter 22: The Scene From the Past

“Ooooh~!”

Elta looked around with sparkling eyes.

In the dense forest, sunlight is streaming in from somewhere.

From afar, the voices of monsters can be heard, but the climate is relatively mild.

“It’s so warm and cozy!”

This is the “Royal Capital’s First Dungeon.”

It is a C-rank dungeon located near the royal capital.

About a week has passed since Jura and the others had their match.

Elta specified the outing destination as the “dungeon,” and it seems he finally managed to coordinate his schedules to come today.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Elta is excited with an enthusiasm like that of experiential learning.

He obtained the explorer qualification for this day.

Then, just to be sure, he asks something that’s been on his mind.

“Thank goodness it wasn’t the Asterla Dungeon, right?”

There was a simultaneous barrage of retorts from behind.

“”””Of course!””””

The ones who raised her voice were Tina, Celia, Leone, and Jura.

They are members who came together to explore the dungeon.

With expressions that seemed to say, “What on earth are you talking about?” they continued.

“Big brother, don’t say something unreasonable!”

“El-kun, I think that’s a bit too harsh.”

“Are you planning to kill us?”

“Far from going out, it will turn into a wake.”

They can enter the dungeon if they receive authorization from the guild.

Here, there are S-rank Jura, A-rank Celia and Leone, and B-rank Tina.

The Asterla Dungeon will likely be allowed as well.

However, the Asterla Dungeon is in a class of its own.

Many advanced explorers have gathered, and after a long preparation, they finally reach the starting line, indicating the level of difficulty.

In the first place, since this is just an outing, there’s no need to go to such a difficult dungeon.

“R-right~”

And recalling what they talked about the other day, Elta shuddered.

(There are a bunch of monsters stronger than all my friends. It is definitely a bit scary…)

Elta perceives the lowest tier, where he spent ten years, as the “mysterious tier.”

In other words, he was convinced that there were even scarier monsters lurking deeper in the Asterla Dungeon.

Of course, such monsters don’t exist, so it’s a pointless worry.

To such an Elta, Tina suddenly asks back.

“By the way, why a dungeon?”

“E-everyone’s magical outfits are so cool, and I just want to see more of them…”

When he was told to decide on a destination, that thought immediately came to mind.

Even the three of them, who possess “magic armor,” Celia and the others show expressions that seem somewhat happy.

“U-um?”

“If Elta says so?”

“Would you like to see more from this big sister?”

They wonder if it’s suitable as an outing spot, but the three of them don’t feel bad about being told that.

Despite everything, Elta happily began exploring the dungeon with those who, after all, loved to fight.

“Oh, a bug!”

As they walked along the tree-lined path, Elta spoke up.

The girls reacted, but without even looking at the other person, they charged in.

“That’s why it’s also a monsterーーー!”

“Huh?”

It’s because Elta has been saying that the monsters are bugs for a while now.

In contrast, Elta tilts his head in confusion.

“Is this also a monster? ──Hey!”

“Ugh!”

The monster was swiftly knocked down between the words and absorbed into the dungeon.

The one that just attacked is also a respectable C-rank monster, but in front of Elta, it is just too pitiful.

Jura couldn’t help but voice her criticism towards such an Elta.

“How can they even call this ‘Demonology’?”

“Elta, just the story… is interesting.”

Leone answers that, but it’s a double blow for Elta.

“Terrible…”

“Hehe.”

“Geez, big brother.”

In the heartwarming scene, Celia and Tina break into smiles.

As she spent time with the familiar faces, Celia had completely reverted to her old way of speaking.

Including Elta, this group is indeed special.

“Alright, let’s keep going!”

Even with such things happening, they continue their exploration.

“El, are you going to use big sister’s magic armor?”

After moving a little further, Jura suddenly calls out.

The moment he turned around, Elta’s face brightened up.

“Eh, is that okay?”

“But, since it’s a bit difficult to handle… How about with big sister, okay?”

Jura, with a wink, drew a pistol from the belt wrapped around her thigh and posed it in front of her chest.

The top is casual, and the bottom has a mini-skirt vibe.

It’s a sweet temptation from the older sister, combining her outfit and gestures.

In contrast, Elta nodded with a boyish expression, his eyes completely clear.

“Yeah!”

“…It… it doesn’t work.”

Without falling for any temptation, Elta simply approaches with great curiosity.

Then, Jura launched another attack.

“Set your aim here… Ah, I might not be able to tell you unless you get a little closer.”

Jura pressed her body closely against Elta, engaging in excessive skinship.

That ample bosom seemed to be pressing firmly against Elta.

However, Elta was consistently Elta.

“After all, handguns are really cool!”

“… Big sister, I’ve started to lose a bit of confidence.”

As expected, Elta only shows interest in magical armor.

Also, Celia and Leone, who were watching from behind, had regretful expressions on their faces.

“With El-kun being so perfect…”

“I-impressive…”

The older Jura has been observant of her surroundings since her time at the orphanage.

Elta must have noticed that she was very interested in the magical armor.

However, in the end, she couldn’t make Elta’s heart race.

Jura suggested quietly.

“Then, shall we have lunch…?”

“Yeah!”

During “lunch,” Elta showed a lively reaction.

“Wow, amazing!”

Seeing the lunch spread out before him, Elta couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Somehow nostalgic!”

“Right, El-kun?”

That brings back memories of the old orphanage.

Ten years ago, there was a spread of food just like the ones they used to have on picnics.

“Did everyone make this?”

“That’s right. Me, Leone, and Tina!”

“Wow, as expected…!”

Elta’s joy welled up.

However, without any time to spare, Elta’s stomach growled loudly.

“Ah.”

“Geez, you’re still the same, Elta. Here, you can eat.”

“Thank you! I’ll dig in!”

Prompted by Leone, Elta immediately jumped in.

However, when he first started working on it, the people around him had expressions that seemed to say, “As expected.”

“El-kun, you’re going for the omelet first after all.”

“W-What? You found out!?”

“It’s obvious.”

“””Ahahaha.”””

Amidst all that, Elta and the others spent a nostalgic lunch together.

“Tina.”

Lunch is over, and it’s break time.

Elta called out to Tina, who was a little away from the group.

“Hey, big brother, what’s wrong?”

“Tina seems a bit down.”

“…!”

Tina showed a reaction as if she had been hit right on the mark.

Then, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

(You’re usually oblivious, but for some reason, you’ve been sharp in these matters since long ago…)

Then, perhaps reassured by her brother’s kindness, Tina began to talk about what she had been thinking.

“I can’t help but think that everyone is really strong and amazing.”

“I get it. Everyone is amazing, right?”

“No, no, it’s because you’re the eldest brother.”

Tina also put in a lot of effort and became a B-rank explorer.

However, compared to Elta and the three childhood friends, it was a fact that she inevitably fell short.

Additionally, the gap has widened even further recently.

Tina does not have the “special weapon.”

“Didn’t Tina have someone make your weapon?”

“Yeah. I was the one who… turned it down.”

However, it wasn’t that Jura was being mean.

Rather, Jura called out several times, but Tina’s side refused.

“Why? You’re so cool.”

“I’ve been thinking about something!”

“…! I see.”

However, as they talked, she probably started to feel more at ease.

When Tina showed a renewed expression of cheerfulness, Elta felt relieved.

If she’s thinking for herself, it seems there’s nothing more to say.

And, while lightly reflecting on today’s events, Elta looks up a bit.

“It feels like going back to the old days.”

“Hehe, that’s right.”

They went out with the members of the orphanage and had lunch together.

From a picnic to dungeon exploration, the scale has certainly increased, but the “scenes of the past” were indeed here.

As Elta reminisces, Celia calls out to him from behind.

“El-kun is kind. You’re being a wonderful big brother.”

“Well, it’s been ten years, after all.”

“I waited too… mumble mumble.”

However, those words made her a bit fidgety.

It would be a sight never seen in the knight order.

Then, Elta spoke of another past memory.

“Even so, it’s nostalgic. Ten years ago, we often played with six people, right?”

“…!”

In addition to the members here, one more person.

There was a boy of the same age at the orphanage.

“I wonder what he’s doing right now.”

“…Hm.”

However, since this topic came up, Celia and Tina’s expressions haven’t been good.

Having some doubts about it, Elta asked Celia.

“Celia, do you know what he is doing?”

“…He is──”

Celia was trying to speak with a frown and heard a voice interrupting her.

“El! Everyone!”

Jura was on alert in the surrounding area.

“Hey, I need you to come here…!”

“Huh?”

That urgent expression somehow suggested an emergency──.