Grogga

The morning sun shone over Orario, its light reflecting off the towering Babel Tower that rose like a giant needle piercing the sky.

The streets were beginning to fill with adventurers preparing to enter the dungeon in search of their fortune, merchants opening their shops, and city residents starting their daily activities.

Kazuma walked casually with a spear on his back. His movements were calm yet confident, his dark blue eyes occasionally scanning the crowd with a vigilant gaze—a habit difficult to break even outside the dungeon.

"Sorry, Bell," Kazuma mumbled to himself, recalling their conversation from earlier that morning. "I shouldn't have scheduled training and an expedition on the same day."

That morning, Kazuma had to explain to Bell that he couldn't train him because of a promise he had made to Grogga. Bell, with his characteristic innocence, looked disappointed despite trying to hide it.

"I-it's okay, Kazuma-san!" Bell forced a smile, his red eyes betraying the disappointment he failed to conceal. "I can practice by myself first. Maybe I'll go to the dungeon today too."

"Tomorrow we'll train twice as much," Kazuma promised before leaving the quiet Hestia shrine.

Their goddess had not yet returned from whatever business she had; the divine banquet should have ended by now.

Could Goddess Hestia be kneeling before the smith goddess to request weapons for Bell? Or for himself?

It made him curious, but he didn't care whether Goddess Hestia was asking for weapons to be made for him.

Goddess Hestia had left both her adventurers to fend for themselves.

As he entered the large plaza in front of Babel Tower, Kazuma slightly slowed his pace. His eyes searched for a strange figure wrapped in tattered cloth with a wooden mask.

Other adventurers seemed to keep their distance from him—his reputation as a loner with a brutal fighting style had spread among novice adventurers.

"Kazuma Shinrai!" A familiar raspy voice called from the left side of the plaza.

Kazuma turned to find Grogga waving with awkward movements.

His supporter for today was ready with an empty bag larger than yesterday's, seemingly anticipating a greater crystal hunt.

"Right on time," Kazuma commented as he approached. "Are you ready for today?"

"Grogga is always ready, kukuku~" the supporter answered with a strange bow. "Where are we going today? Tenth floor again? Or deeper?"

Kazuma observed Grogga for a moment. Though hidden behind a mask and tattered cloths, he could sense a curious gaze from his supporter—the same look as yesterday.

"Tenth floor first," Kazuma decided. "But this time we'll explore other areas. I heard there's an Orc nest there."

"Oh?" Grogga tilted his head, the wooden mask creaking softly. "Orc nest dangerous, yes-yes-yes. Many Orcs in one place. Dangerous for adventurers."

The corner of Kazuma's lips raised slightly. "But that also means many valuable crystals in one place. Efficient."

"Adventurer very confident," mumbled Grogga. "Grogga likes, but also worries."

"No need to worry," Kazuma shrugged lightly. "You just need to carry the bag and collect crystals. The rest... leave it to me."

They walked side by side into Babel Tower, ignoring the puzzled stares and whispers of other adventurers who saw their strange combination—a handsome adventurer with an athletic build walking with a ragged-cloaked supporter who looked like a mad wizard from children's tales.

"By the way," Kazuma started a conversation as they began descending the stairs to the first dungeon floor, "I don't see any weapons on you. How do you protect yourself when alone in the dungeon?"

"Grogga needs no weapons," his supporter answered with an affected voice.

"Grogga runs fast, kukuku~. And Grogga knows hiding places on every floor. Monsters not find Grogga if Grogga doesn't want to be found."

Kazuma nodded slowly. "Good survival skills. But still dangerous."

"Life is danger," Grogga replied, his tone suddenly deeper. "Especially for creatures like Grogga."

Kazuma glanced briefly at his supporter who walked with a slightly dragging step behind him.

There was something in Grogga's tone that made him wonder—something that sounded like... loneliness?

But before Kazuma could think further, they had arrived at the first floor of the dungeon.

"Let's begin," said Kazuma, his hand reaching for the spear on his back.

---

Their journey through the initial floors went smoothly. Kazuma handled the Goblins and Kobolds with the same efficiency as yesterday, wasting neither movement nor energy.

Grogga followed from behind, occasionally muttering something unintelligible while collecting the leftover crystals.

The fifth floor brought the challenge of War Shadow groups—humanoid monsters with pitch-black bodies and sharp claws that could hide within shadows.

Kazuma faced them with a defensive strategy, letting the monsters attack first before countering with deadly thrusts. Grogga only observed from a distance, but Kazuma could feel the analytical gaze from behind that wooden mask.

"Adventurer getting more and more impressive, kukuku~" Grogga commented as they took a brief rest on the seventh floor.

Kazuma wiped away sweat casually. "I learn quickly."

"Yes, yes, yes... very quickly," Grogga nodded excessively. "Too quickly for new adventurer. So quick that Grogga thinks maybe adventurer has secret, hmm?"

Kazuma stared at his supporter with a flat expression. "Everyone has secrets, Grogga. Including you, I suppose."

"Pssst..." Grogga hissed softly, his wooden mask moving closer. "Grogga's secrets not interesting. Just Grogga who is ugly and smelly, nothing more, kukuku~"

"Really?" Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Then why were you so interested in my secret yesterday?"

Grogga fell silent for a moment, his posture slightly tensing. For a moment, only the sound of dripping water and faint growls of distant monsters filled the silence.

"Because Grogga has been supporter for long time," Grogga finally answered, his voice quieter than usual. "Grogga sees many adventurers. Many die. Those who survive are special."

Kazuma didn't respond immediately. He stared directly into the dark eyes behind the holes of that wooden mask, trying to find truth behind Grogga's words.

"And you think I'm... special?" Kazuma finally asked.

"Yes-yes-yes," Grogga nodded quickly. "Very special. Different. Like not from this world, kukuku~"

Kazuma's heart beat faster for a moment, Grogga's last statement felt too accurate to be a random guess. Yet his face remained expressionless, showing no reaction whatsoever.

"An interesting interpretation," Kazuma replied briefly while standing up. "Break's over. Let's continue to the eighth floor."