Gather Divine Coins and Gacha! - Chapter 144

 So, what should I do now?

Defeating them is easy, but the problem lies with the adventurers behind me.

One has already fallen, and another is leaning against the wall, looking like they could collapse any moment.

They seem on the verge of death with just a slight nudge, and I want to avoid provoking the orcs into a frenzy.

Moreover, another orc has fully risen and is approaching us.

Should I have just gone all out without stopping...?

"Huh?"

I was deliberating which orc to take down first when the unharmed one seemed to notice something and glared in the direction I came from.

Although I wouldn't take my eyes off it, I soon heard footsteps indicating that the adventurers I came with had caught up.

"Get back!"

Following the command, I distanced myself, and immediately arrows, spears, and axes flew towards the orc.

Looking in the direction they came from, I saw the adventurers running while throwing their weapons, already drawing their swords and ready for battle.

"Argh!"

Someone groaned, having been hit by a stray shot, but it's better than dying. I suppose I can leave this to them.

I'll stay on guard around the area.

"Hmm... oh?"

Just as the battle below ended, I saw a party approaching from deeper inside. They were a trio, each one stronger than the members of the half-destroyed party I had called for help.

"Hello!"

I raised both hands in a non-threatening gesture as I greeted them.

"Hey! We heard screams and came, but... seems we weren't needed?"

Apparently, they had also come to help. Although the battle was already over...

"Wait! If possible, we could use your help too."

"What happened?"

"We can't carry the bodies back on our own. We need your help."

With two bodies and two seriously injured people, and only five of them, it would be tough to return from the dungeon.

"Oh... well, I guess that's understandable."

Hearing that, they looked at me and nodded in agreement. It seemed like they would accompany us.

◇

The return itself went smoothly.

If anything, I almost vomited at the sight of the rather gruesome corpses. Normal corpses are one thing, but these were a bit too much. Still, as adventurers, we have to bring them back from the dungeon.

Regardless, we returned safely, but then I was summoned at the reception.

It's not that I was being scolded; they just wanted an explanation of the situation.

However, there's a problem. The curfew.

I've already been waiting for about 20 minutes.

"Excuse me? I'm happy to cooperate, but I need to report to the young lady first..."

"Huh?"

The high-ranking guild member who came to hear my story looked puzzled.

"I have a strict one-hour exploration limit. If I'm too late, someone from the estate will likely come here."

"I was going to say, 'Are you a kid?' but you are a kid, aren't you."

He seemed to understand and made a self-deprecating comment.

"Well... sorry, but this is the rule. You know the consequences of a death in the dungeon, right? Until we finish the report, neither the involved parties nor the rescuers can leave. The young lady is Seriana, right? I'll send a letter explaining the situation right away. Is that okay?"

"Yes, please."

"Hold on a moment... alright. Sign this, please."

He handed me a letter to sign. I glanced at it; it simply stated that I was being held for questioning due to the retrieval of bodies.

"Hey! Take this to the lord's mansion urgently."

He sealed the signed letter and handed it to another staff member, then began to speak.

"It seems they didn't have a fixed base and took on defense and gathering requests while moving between villages. They came to the capital to participate in the development but decided to stay in the dungeon after acquiring some holy coins. However, adventurers have recently started moving again, right? They used to coordinate with others, but today they faced a challenge alone and were wiped out due to a lack of strength."

He looked up at the ceiling, placing his hand on his forehead.

When submitting an exploration report, the guild conducts a brief review. He might feel responsible... well, better luck next time?