Living My Third Life In Danmachi

"Elves are usually a nature-loving race and are often referred to as a race of beauty because of their exceptional aesthetics. You could almost say there's no such thing as an unattractive elf. On top of that, they generally have great personalities, making them a blessing to marry."

— The Last Storyteller

"I love elves! I want to lick elf panties!"

— The Deranged Ruler of Nature

"Actually, same here!"

— The Last Storyteller

"You perverted freaks...!"

— The Strongest Mage Who Defies God

...

After a long journey, Susanoo-san and I finally arrived at the labyrinth city of Orario.

As I stepped into the city's entrance, I found myself gawking in amazement, feeling like a country bumpkin visiting the big city for the first time.

"Is this place in the Middle Ages, or did it just leap straight into the Industrial Revolution?"

"Well, they say they craft all sorts of things using magic stones from monsters, so their development is probably way faster than in other countries. Plus, there are a ton of gods living here too."

During our journey to Orario, even spotting a two-story building was a rarity. But here, three-story buildings seemed to be the standard.

The bustling streets were crowded with people, the market was alive with activity, and there were all sorts of different races walking around.

For the first time, I saw demi-humans—a variety of humanoid species. Beyond just monsters, this was the first real moment I felt like I was truly in a fantasy world. My heart raced with excitement. It felt good.

"So, all I have to do is head to that massive tower over there and enter the dungeon, right? Hold on, let me check it out and see what level it's at."

"Don't be so hasty. Women don't like impatient men. Are you some excited kid the day before a field trip?"

"But we don't really have anything else to do, do we?"

"Plenty, actually! You need to register as an adventurer, and before that, I need to register with a Familia. Plus, we need to find a place to stay. Maybe not a long-term lease, but at least a monthly rental."

"Wow, you've got better survival skills than me!"

"Live alone for about a thousand years, and you'll pick this up too."

"Eek! You reek of bachelorhood!"

"Hey! I'm a married man! No bachelor stench here!"

I don't know much about the gods of this world, but this Susanoo-san seems to match the mythology I'm familiar with—defeating the Yamata no Orochi, saving Kushinada Hime, and marrying her afterward.

But there's more to the story, isn't there? It feels like he has a lot of tales to tell but chooses not to share them.

"Susanoo-san, what's our current budget?"

"I carry most of my wealth in the form of precious metals since cash is heavy… Even if the rates have dropped, we should have about 500,000 valis. Worst case, I could use this as collateral."

He said this while lightly tapping the sword hanging at his waist.

"Is that a good sword?"

"This is the divine blade, Ama-no-Murakumo no Tsurugi! Impressive, right?"

"Using that as collateral?! Are you insane?!"

It might sound like a joke, but given that the weapon is the genuine article, the claim is oddly convincing.

Even in a world unfamiliar with mystical powers, anyone can tell that blade is extraordinary.

Apparently, gods seal their divine powers (Arcanum) when descending to this world. But this guy—no, this god—seems to play by different rules.

He's been throwing his power around even in the mortal realm. All I've seen so far are lightning and storms, but even that was on another level entirely.

Susanoo-san and I made our way toward the massive tower at the center of the city.

Its name was Babel—the tower humans once built in an attempt to reach the gods. The irony that gods now reside in a tower bearing that name wasn't lost on me.

"Apparently, it's managed by a guild created by Ouranos, the big shot of Greek mythology. But honestly, I'm not a fan of the Greek gods," Susanoo-san remarked.

The first floor served as the entrance to the dungeon, while the upper floors seemed to house the guild hall.

People in neat uniforms were bustling around, each absorbed in their tasks.

They were exchanging and appraising what looked like gemstones—likely magic stones—and handling various administrative duties.

"Ah, um... Welcome! How may I help you today?"

A girl with long, pointy ears and about my age greeted us with a forced smile. Judging by her stiff demeanor, she probably wasn't used to this kind of work. A newcomer, perhaps?

"We'd like to register for a Familia and also sign up as an adventurer. Can you help us with the necessary procedures?"

"Oh, yes! Then please sign these forms..."

First, we had to handle the Familia registration.

After all, I couldn't register as an adventurer until I had a Familia to join.

The girl pulled out several documents and placed them in front of Susanoo-san, who filled them out and signed. With that, his Familia registration was complete.

"Next, we need to register the adventurer... Did they not come with you?"

"No, it's this guy."

Susanoo-san gestured toward me, and the girl's gaze followed his hand. She stared at me for a few seconds with a blank expression before her eyes widened in shock.

"Ehhh?! A kid who looks younger than me is an adventurer?!"

"You think I look young? How old are you, then?"

"I'm fifteen this year…"

"...One year apart means we're basically friends. No big deal."

A one-year age difference is within the margin of error. I figured she was around my age, but with her youthful appearance, I thought she might be twelve or thirteen at most. To think she's actually older.

"Is that it for the registration? If we're done, I'm going to check out the dungeon for a bit. Just a light run to gauge the difficulty."

"Alright, I'll go house-hunting and wait for you. Let's meet back here in the evening when you exchange magic stones."

"Got it."

"Wait, what?! Hold on! You're sending a first-time adventurer into the dungeon alone?! Without a party?! What about equipment?! The guild rents beginner gear at a low price, so—"

"Armor and weapons are for women and children!"

"How impressive, my vassal!"

"KYAAAAA!"

As I headed toward the dungeon, the girl's scream echoed behind me.

Hmm, I get the feeling I'm going to need some serious antacids for this.

...

I descended to the first underground floor through the dungeon stairs.

Even outside, I had no trouble dealing with goblins. Unless over 20 of them came at me all at once, I could handle them with my current body. Worst case, I could just run back upstairs. I was pretty relaxed about it.

Since my body isn't fully developed yet (even being seventeen would be better), my attacks rely mostly on strikes—punches and kicks. Clunky armor or weapons would only get in the way.

The only weapons I've ever used in my life were a handgun or a dagger, and that says it all.

"Kiiiiii!"

A goblin shrieked nearby.

And so, I encountered a monster. A goblin—something I was already sick of seeing outside.

However, this one was different from the ones I had fought outside.

It was bulkier, at least a head taller (though still only up to my chest), and it moved in a group of three. On top of that, its body was more muscular compared to the usual scrawny goblins.

I see, so goblins in their "natural habitat" are a step above.

Clenching my fist, I charged at the goblin that had just spotted me. My first target was the one at the front.

BAM!

I landed a solid punch to the goblin's face. As another one lunged at me, I bought some time with a swift kick, then drove my elbow into the crown of the third goblin's head.

Finally, I closed the distance to the first goblin, which had staggered back, and drove my fist into its solar plexus.

Each blow was aimed at a vital spot, ensuring a swift kill.

I'm not some superhuman like Hanma Yujiro who can pinpoint every weak spot just by looking, but from experience—and since goblins are similar to humans in anatomy—I know hitting the right spot can take down even a monster.

"With the blessing as a plus and stronger monsters as a minus, it all evens out to zero, huh?"

But if I get stronger, the equation will change.

I bent down to extract the magic stone from the dead monsters, only to realize something critical—I didn't have a blade.

"Tch, I'll have to bring some kind of weapon next time. And a pouch for carrying magic stones, too."

Carrying them in my pockets while fighting would be a hassle. Hmm, this is more serious than I thought.

There are more issues than I anticipated.

"Kiiiii!"

As I was lost in thought, part of the wall in front of me crumbled, and a goblin began to emerge from it, freshly born.

"The fast respawn rate is just fantastic!"

Time to blow off some steam for the first time in a while, you little punks!

...

After Luke Blade headed to the dungeon, Susanoo remained in the guild hall, looking for a place to call home.

"I'm not expecting anything fancy like a guild home. I don't plan to expand the Familia much anyway. But I do want to occasionally train that kid, so if possible, could you recommend a house with a big front yard, Miss? Oh, and come to think of it, I haven't asked for your name."

"Ah, my name is Eina Tulle. Susanoo-sama, um… If you're looking for a rental property with a yard, I think we might have something like that around here."

The half-elf girl, Eina Tulle, began rummaging through a stack of documents.

Judging by the sheer volume of papers and her nervous demeanor, she wasn't yet accustomed to the job.

Sweat dripped from her forehead as she searched, taking quite some time before finally finding the document she was looking for.

"I-I'm sorry for keeping you waiting!"

"I've got all the time in the world, so no need to apologize. Let's just take a look at the place, shall we?"

The options weren't bad. The deposit and rent were steep, but it was unrealistic to expect cheap prices for a house with a yard. That would be asking too much.

The location was also excellent. Nestled between the northern and northeastern main streets, it offered convenient access to the dungeon. Additionally, with the Loki Familia nearby, the area was bound to be safe.

"That kid will be earning the money, so I'm not worried about the rent. Let's go with this place."

"Um…"

"Something on your mind, Eina?"

She hesitated briefly before glancing worriedly toward the door Luke had exited through.

"No matter how I think about it, this is far too reckless! Even with the blessing, going into the dungeon alone without any equipment is just…"

"If there's any danger, it's the monsters that are in trouble, not him. I don't think he's the one at risk here."

"But doesn't he at least need some basic preparation? How will he handle unexpected situations? Wouldn't it be better to ask another adventurer to accompany him, even now?"

"By evening, he'll probably show up here covered in blood, holding a few magic stones. The worst injury he'll have will be a couple of scratches. Want to bet on it?"

Susanoo gathered the paperwork for the rental and casually headed toward the house he had chosen, showing no signs of worry.

"If you're really that concerned, why don't you help him yourself? Sorry, but the best I can do for that kid is to point him in the right direction."

With a smile, he left the guild hall.

Watching his retreating figure, Eina let out a heavy, worried sigh.

...

Susanoo arrived at a two-story wooden house located between the northeastern and northern main streets.

It was large enough that, if it were just slightly bigger, it could be called a mansion. Letting out a whistle, he admired the property.

"Nice place. The high rent and deposit make sense now. Well then..."

He crossed the expansive front yard covered in lush grass and knocked on the front door.

About two minutes passed, and just as he wondered if the owner was away, the door creaked open, and someone peeked out.

The person's face was hidden by the hood of a robe, but Susanoo immediately sensed that they possessed extraordinary beauty.

Even among gods, such stunning looks were rare. In fact, they might have even surpassed that standard. Susanoo couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

"Who is it?"

"I'm here to see the house. Mind if I come in for a bit?"

"Come in. Just don't dirty the floor."

Susanoo wondered if they were a bit uptight or simply hated dirt. Either way, he carefully wiped his shoes before stepping inside.

Once inside, they sat at the kitchen table, and the owner served tea. After setting the table, they finally removed their hood, revealing their face.

As expected, the face was overwhelmingly beautiful, with sharp, elongated ears that humans could never have. It was clear—they were an elf.

"An elf?"

"I'm Riseria. As you can see, I'm an elf and the owner of this house. Honestly, I thought it'd take ages to find someone willing to move in since the rent's so high, but I guess I was wrong."

"I don't sweat the small stuff as long as the conditions fit," Susanoo said, waving a hand nonchalantly.

"But miss, you're an elf. Don't you have a family name?"

"I ditched that nonsense ages ago. Titles and noble names can go to hell for all I care."

"My, my, such harsh words from an elf."

"I've lived through enough crap to earn them—mostly because of this face."

With a beauty that could overwhelm even the gods, it was no wonder many people had desired her.

Such extraordinary looks must have brought her trouble from men and women alike.

"Well, you don't seem fazed by my looks. That's unusual."

"It's because I'm a god."

"...Hmm, I hate gods, but you seem to have basic manners. Fine, you pass."

Riseria was well aware of how most people reacted to her. They'd either be captivated by her appearance or reveal lecherous intentions. However, the god in front of her showed neither.

His gaze was calm, as if he was looking at something entirely different. Nothing more, nothing less.

"There's also a kid in my Familia who'll be staying here. But don't worry, he's pretty similar to me, so there shouldn't be any problems."

"I'll decide that when I meet him. Now, let's finish up the paperwork."

"You've got a refreshingly straightforward personality, miss."

After completing the documents, Susanoo checked the time and realized it was already the hour he'd agreed to meet Luke. He had likely spent more time here than he intended.

He stood up to head out and meet Luke.

"Before you leave, pay the deposit and this month's rent first."

"...Are you that strapped for cash?"

Feeling like he'd just landed himself a scary landlord, Susanoo began to regret his hasty decision.

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