Free Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Vol. 6 by Fujino Omori

but feel that way watching these beautiful men and women partner up and start dancing.
    This is a sparkling world of beauty and status. Completely different from the world I was in yesterday.
    Maybe it’s because I’m alone, but I feel more and more like I don’t belong, like I’m sticking out. The unfamiliar environment keeps me feeling uneasy.
    It’s pretty close to how I felt when I first started crawling the Dungeon.
    If I have a few more chances like this in the future, maybe I’ll get used to this world, too.
    But I can’t picture that happening.
    “…”
    I leave my spot against the wall and try to find an escape.
    I don’t have to walk far. One of the tall windows was left open and I step outside.
    Cool air envelops me the moment my foot hits the cement balcony.
    A starry night opens up above my head. I take a look around the black abyss and see a faint glow coming from the closest Main Street. A soft breeze tickles my skin.
    All of the stress and tension that had built up start to melt as I take a few breaths of fresh air.
    My mind is clear.
    “…?”
    I walk out to the ornately carved hand railing and hear some strange sounds coming from below.
    Looking out over the green lawn decorated with a fountain and many trees, my eyes find two human-looking figures.
    Isn’t that…?
    This must be a garden of sorts, and probably part of the building itself. The edge of the property is lined with tall trees, enough to remind me of a wooded area. There, in a dark spot where the lights from the Celebration can’t reach—
    The handsome man from Hibachitei, the one who beat me so easily…Hyacinthus and a man I’ve never seen before are talking.
    What are they doing out here…?
    “Tomorrow morning at the earliest…According to plan…We will handle the timing…Is that clear, Zanis?”
    “Yes…About the money…”
    I can’t make out all of their words. My body moves on its own.
    Concentrating with all of my might, I focus my ears—enhanced by my Status—on their conversation.
    They’re quite a ways from the balcony, but I can also make out their lip movements. With that, plus snippets of their voices, I get a general idea what they’re talking about.
    Zanis…?
    That must be the name of whoever Hyacinthus is talking to.
    I know it’s not nice to eavesdrop, but I lean a little farther off the balcony.
    When suddenly,
shff
, Hyacinthus and the other man look my way. I instantly freeze as I watch their eyes scan all the balconies on the side of the building.
    “Bell?”
    “!”
    A voice comes from behind me and I spin to face it.
    Lord Hermes is standing next to the window that leads to the balcony. The Celebration is still in full swing behind him. I look over my shoulder back to where the two men were just a moment ago.
    Hyacinthus and the man are nowhere to be seen.
    “What are you doing out here?”
    “Ah…Nothing really.”
    Lord Hermes walks out to meet me at the hand railing.
    I was eavesdropping, but I can’t exactly say that to him. I wish I could’ve heard more of their conversation, and I try my best to reassure myself that it was nothing important.
    “…Oh well, it doesn’t matter. Here, drink up.”
    “Th-thank you…”
    Lord Hermes has one glass in each hand and holds one of them out in front of me. I take it and thank him.
    Only once I get it to my lips do I realize it’s just water. Honestly, I didn’t want any more wine, so I’m grateful.
    I look at Lord Hermes with questioning eyes, as if to say
why are you out here?
He takes a swig of the wine in his own glass and grins at me.
    “We never did have a chance to chat. Sorry I’m not one of those cute girls inside, but may I join you?”
    His joke makes me smile and I nod at him. “Of course.”
    I quickly fix my posture and meet Lord Hermes in the center of the balcony.
    “You and Hestia just keep making progress. I’ve known who you are for a while now, but after seeing what you can do on the eighteenth floor, you can