Nagin

"Nagin has escaped! Someone, an adventurer, help!" 

A deep, urgent voice called out. 

The commotion came from the circus troupe. 

It seemed a magical beast they had captured for a show had broken loose. 

Realizing it wasn't a dungeon error, I heaved a sigh of relief. 

---

"Hey, you go handle it. You're a B-rank, right?" 

"No way, I'm off-duty today… Besides, I can't take on a monster that strong alone…" 

A whispered exchange. 

Everyone hoping someone else would act. 

I tore through that indecision and ran toward the source of the chaos. 

---

Nagin. 

A magical beast with a human upper body and a massive snake lower body. 

Her skin was a dusky grayish-brown, and her face grotesque and vicious. 

You could barely tell she was female from her build. 

Looking closely, her hair was made of countless small snakes. While she didn't have the power to petrify, her appearance screamed "Medusa." 

(Who the hell named her Nagin instead of Medusa…?) 

Considering how the name "Zombie" spreads rumors about infectious properties, I guess it wasn't the worst decision. 

If she'd been named Medusa, people would've assumed she could petrify others. 

(Still, Nagin is taking things too far…) 

I shook off the thought—this wasn't the time for jokes. 

Nagin was lunging at a woman. 

Just before her sharp claws could tear the woman apart— 

I sliced through Nagin's neck. 

"Phew…" 

That was close. 

Even though she wasn't particularly strong, a magical beast was still a magical beast. 

---

"Th-thank you… You saved me…" 

The woman sat on the ground, her legs seemingly giving out beneath her. 

She was a beautiful older lady—or so I thought. She was probably younger than me, but with my teenage mindset, she seemed older. 

I instinctively stepped back from her. 

Then I noticed her outfit: a cute clown-themed dress. She was likely a circus employee. 

(Ah, crap! In the heat of the moment, I killed Nagin… But she was the circus's property. Even if she's a magical beast, they might make me compensate them…) 

I was in trouble. 

I was dirt poor. 

I had no idea how much Nagin was worth, but I definitely couldn't afford it. 

(Should I go catch another Nagin to replace her? But considering the cost of training her, that might not even come close…) 

Panicking, I fumbled through my belongings and pulled out a ring I'd picked up during a solo camping trip. 

"…Huh?" 

I handed it to her, unsure if it was worth anything, as a gesture of atonement. 

Before she could say anything, I turned my back and started walking away. 

"Wait! Please wait!" 

Of course, she called out. 

But I didn't look back, vanishing into the crowd. 

(I'm sorry. That's the best I can do…) 

With guilt weighing on me, I headed toward the dungeon exit. 

---

Near the gate stood a large building, like an airport security checkpoint. 

Officials from the Dungeon Bureau managed the comings and goings of people there. 

A long line stretched ahead of me, and I joined the end of it. 

As people remembered errands or lost patience, they trickled out of line. Before long, it was my turn. 

(This kind of thing happens a lot… Like when I walked into a restaurant out of curiosity, only to realize I was the only customer left. Could it be…?) 

I didn't want to believe it, but there was no other explanation. 

(Am I really that smelly!?) 

Incidentally, that restaurant had advertised "exotic monster cuisine." But the food turned out to be ordinary, just unavailable above ground. I'd wondered how they got away with such false advertising. 

---

"Excuse me…" 

A female inspector's voice brought me back to reality. 

Even though I brushed my teeth regularly, I worried I might smell. 

Wordlessly, I handed over my tourist pass. 

I placed all the items I'd gathered in the dungeon onto the desk. 

"This is… an Orichalcum…" 

I nodded. 

There were also dragon king fangs, scales from a three-headed dragon, mithril ore, a treasure sword, a massive mysterious key, a phoenix feather—et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. 

The young inspector swallowed nervously, clearly overwhelmed. 

She looked to be about twenty years old—likely new to the job. 

Her inexperience reminded me of when I worked at a convenience store during my teenage years to save up for camping. My first time working the register had felt much like this. 

Resolved to be a cooperative customer, I nodded encouragingly. 

"Are you submitting all of this?" 

I nodded again. 

That was the rule. 

With a tourist pass, you could only take out as much as fit into the pouch they provided. 

I held up the pouch, branded with the Dungeon Bureau's logo and their mascots, Adil and Tareq. 

"It's regulation, so…" 

Then I noticed her hesitation. 

She didn't seem to believe that I had handed over everything. 

"Don't tell me… a body search…?" 

I'd never been body-searched before. 

I'd assumed such things were handled casually. 

I only carried minimal supplies, so there wasn't much I could smuggle out even if I wanted to. 

But since she was new, maybe she was intent on following the rules strictly. 

(Oh no… If she searches me, she might think I smell bad…) 

Having a young, cute woman think I stink would destroy me. 

"N-no! Not at all! Please, proceed!" 

Relieved, I left the checkpoint quickly. 

(I probably came across as a rude customer…) 

During my convenience store days, I'd dealt with plenty of rude customers. 

Most customers, in fact, were like that. 

There were even some who completely ignored me… 

(That's why I always tried to be polite. I can't believe I blew it…) 

But being a slightly rude customer was nothing unusual. 

I consoled myself with the thought that I might have provided at least some experience points for her. 

---

In any case, I passed through the gate. 

For the first time in a week, I was back on the surface.