DanMachi: Starting with a Sword Soul Template

Chapter 162 – Hot Spring, Uncharted Territory

Liam Moon woke up, the exhaustion from his prolonged battle with Udaeus now completely gone.

"Everything's been taken care of, right? Next up is your time for real combat," Liam said, scanning the group before turning to Ais and Ryuu. "Ais, Ryuu, as we make our way back, we'll only step in if they're in danger. Once we leave the 30th floor, it's all up to them. Sound good?"

Ryuu and Ais both nodded. Liam casually picked up the black metal dropped by the floor boss, which had been wrapped in cloth and rope. With his strength, he could easily lift it single-handedly. After all, he was already at level 50 with the Sword Soul template.

During the previous Dungeon expedition, Liam had focused solely on improving his own abilities, so he wasn't fully aware of everyone else's progress. Now, positioned at the rear, he could closely observe their growth.

Mikoto and Daphne, even against the single-type monsters on the 36th floor, needed some time to defeat them. With teamwork, however, they managed to prevail. After leaving the 37th floor, Liam's group began their ascent from the 36th floor.

Since the goal was to help them grow stronger in a controlled manner, Liam intentionally managed the strength of the monsters they faced. When a group of monsters approached, he would unleash his selfless sword aura to thin their numbers.

Of course, the pressure from having a strong protector like Liam wasn't intense enough to push them to their limits. But as their friend, he couldn't bear to watch them constantly teeter on the edge of life and death just to break through.

Adventurers could improve their stats and level up through intense training and achieving great feats. So, Liam often gave them pointers and let them assist in battles against tough enemies, allowing them to gain experience. As long as he took the lead in direct combat, they could provide support—or at the very least, not get in the way.

Daphne took on the role of commander, and leading the group on the return journey finally gave her a chance to prove her worth. In previous expeditions, she and the others had barely contributed.

The group continued their ascent and eventually reached the 20th floor of the Dungeon. Following Daphne's orders, Cassandra and the others began setting up a perimeter to stay vigilant.

Cassandra approached a wall and noticed it looked distinctly different from the surrounding ones. "What's this?" she muttered.

Out of curiosity, the girl lightly touched the wall with her finger. Despite using minimal force, the wall crumbled instantly. Cracks spread rapidly, and a cascade of sand and stone poured out from the widening gap.

Liam quickly stepped in front of Cassandra, drawing *Sloth* from his arsenal. In most situations, *Sloth* was a versatile weapon, its freezing effect always reliable when things got unclear.

Ryuu approached as well. In about ten to twenty seconds, a tunnel two meters in diameter, with an unknown depth, appeared before them.

"Is this an uncharted area?" Liam wondered aloud. "Should we explore it, or head back and report it to the Guild first?"

After a moment's thought, he decided, "Let's check it out. Uncharted areas like this usually hold surprises."

"Sounds good!" Ryuu agreed, while Ais simply shrugged. Her goal for this expedition had already been met. For the rest of the time, she just wanted to spar with Liam whenever he was free. Opportunities to train with a genius like him were rare, and she intended to make the most of them.

The tunnel was lined with colorful crystals, but they weren't valuable compared to monster drops, making them not worth carrying back to the surface.

Mikoto's nose twitched, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She rushed to Liam's side. "Captain Liam! Captain Liam! I'm pretty sure there's a hot spring up ahead! Let's go check it out!"

"A hot spring?" Liam raised an eyebrow. "Could there be monsters in there?"

This was his first time encountering such a situation in person. The original novels and anime could only serve as references, not absolute truth.

"Well, let's head over and take a look!" Mikoto urged. "Captain, I haven't bathed in days—I'm starting to stink!"

During their return, the group had briefly cleaned themselves at the Great Azure Waterfall, but the environment and water temperature there were far from ideal. Even Liam was looking forward to a bit of relaxation.

"Alright, let's go!" he said.

Mikoto, thrilled, took off like a wild horse, shouting, "Captain, I'll scout ahead!"

Girls naturally loved staying clean, especially after an expedition where hygiene was hard to maintain. Liam and the others followed her, soon arriving at the heart of the hot spring.

The surrounding temperature was high, around 40 degrees Celsius, reminiscent of a bathhouse or sauna. Liam tested the water—it was warm enough for a long soak, with varying temperatures from the edges to the center, allowing everyone to choose a spot that suited their tolerance.

"Are there monsters here?" Liam asked, slinging his sword case over his shoulder and scanning the area. "We can't let our guard down yet. We need to thoroughly check the surroundings first."

Daphne and the others nodded, following his orders. They changed into lighter clothing and gathered around the hot spring's edge to wash their limbs. This way, they could stay ready for combat while relieving some fatigue and preparing for a proper soak.

The hot spring had only one tunnel leading deeper. Liam moved quickly, noticing that the light from the crystals dimmed as he progressed. Suddenly, he sensed danger.

Monsters!

As expected, the Dungeon was never safe. A group of creatures resembling garlic bulbs appeared, with long, slender tendrils sprouting from their heads and a ferocious maw at the center of their bodies.

*Sloth* was unsheathed in an instant, its icy mist slicing through the air, cutting down the monsters one by one. Once Liam confirmed no further killing intent remained, he returned to the group.

But when he got back, he was stunned to see the girls had changed into feminine outfits! *What's this? So big, so… white?*

Liam quickly turned away, pretending he hadn't seen anything. "There were monsters in the tunnel, so you've got about half an hour to wash and soak."

"Half an hour? Awesome!" Daphne and the others cheered, diving into the hot spring and sending water splashing everywhere.

Even Ais, rarely seen in anything but her armor, had changed into a swimsuit. She approached Liam, weapon in hand. "Please continue instructing me, Mr. Liam."

"In *that* outfit, Ais?!" Liam exclaimed.

Ais tilted her head. "Is this not okay?"

*This is bad. I can't even look at her properly—it's too distracting!* Liam thought. *You're a gentleman, Liam! How can you let such impure thoughts creep in?*

To regain composure, he closed his eyes, spreading his perception around him. "Perfect timing. I've been wanting to practice my sensory skills."

Liam set down his sword case, gripping *Sloth* in a reverse hold with one hand. Ais, still in her swimsuit, didn't seem to grasp his predicament. She drew her own weapon, further concealing her presence.

"Here I come," Ais said softly, stepping lightly on the ground.

Listening to the breath of all things, feeling the flow of air, sensing the tremors of the earth… Liam knelt on one knee, pressing his left palm to the ground. It was partly to mask his current state, but it also helped him focus.

Thankfully, the girls didn't seem to notice his embarrassment, or he'd be in even more trouble.

Through the ground's tremors and the air's subtle shifts, Liam sensed Ais's movements. His newfound mastery allowed him to hear the faint breath of her blade.

He swung *Sloth*'s flat side, deflecting her first strike with precision.

"What's going on?" Ais asked, flipping backward to redirect the force of Liam's counter. His physical prowess had improved again—another breakthrough in the heat of battle?

Adventurers typically relied on stat updates to grow stronger, but Liam seemed to defy that rule. Who is he? Ais wondered. A descendant of a mythical race? A hero, a champion, or perhaps a demon king's heir?

"You got stronger again?" she asked, curiosity in her eyes.

"Yeah, I've had some new insights into swordsmanship lately," Liam replied, clearly in high spirits. "Try attacking again. Use whatever techniques you want."

Ais, feeling a spark of defiance, refused to accept defeat. He hadn't even stood up, and he was giving her the advantage of one arm, both eyes closed, and no movement. Just how big is the gap between us?

"Awaken!" "Engulf!" Ais chanted, summoning a whirlwind around her. She moved at blinding speed, circling Liam.

Yet, Liam remained still, somehow anticipating her every move with uncanny precision.

After ten minutes of relentless combat, Ais was pale and exhausted, with no success to show for it. "Thanks, I'm done for now," she said, bowing to Liam before hurrying to the hot spring with her weapon.

Only when he heard her leave did Liam stand, relieved. "Good thing she didn't notice, or I'd be in trouble…"

Once they returned to the surface, he'd need to awaken his adventurer rank and complete his level-up. Matters of the heart would only dull his blade!

After the half-hour was up, Liam washed himself and slipped into the hot spring. The environment, water temperature, and minerals were incredibly relaxing.

*Wait, minerals in the water?*

"Captain?" Mikoto called out.

"Captain!" the others echoed.

Liam opened his eyes to see the hot spring water, once clear, gradually turning red.

He stood quickly, noticing his undergarments were starting to dissolve. "What's happening?"

The girls rushed over, eager to report the sudden change. Liam barely had time to cover himself, unable to grab *Sloth*. He unleashed a *Raging Dragon Slash* and, with his free hand, slung Lili's backpack over his shoulder, retreating to a corner to change into spare clothes.

Meanwhile, Lili smirked at the others. "Did you all get a good look?"

"Such a pale back!" one exclaimed.

"Eight-pack abs!" another giggled.

Ais, confused, said, "I didn't have time to look."

Ryuu covered her eyes, her face bright red. "I didn't see anything!"

Liam emerged from the corner and bonked Lili on the head. "So this was your idea, huh, Lili?"

"It wasn't me! Something's really happening!" Lili protested, feigning innocence.

Liam sighed. When they first met, their relationship was tense, but now that they were closer, Lili had become quite the troublemaker. He tapped each girl's head in turn as a playful reprimand.

"Fine, I guess it's not a loss for a guy to be seen by beautiful girls," he said, then fixed them with a stern look. "But forget everything you just saw!"

"Yes, sir!" they chorused.

"It's already burned into my memory!" Ryuu mumbled, her face red up to her ears. The usually reserved girl, who rarely even touched the opposite sex, had seen *that*.

Liam glanced at her, exasperated. "Alright, fine. If you're going to remember, then remember it well."

The brief commotion over, the group resumed their exploration with high spirits.

"Captain, should we report this hot spring?" Mikoto asked.

"Of course," Liam replied. "But I'll handle it. We don't know how long this hot spring will last. Plus, there are monsters in there—those garlic-like creatures' blood can corrode clothing."

On their way back to the 18th floor, the group rested briefly, bought some food and water, and pressed on. The 17th floor was cleared much faster and more smoothly than before.

Ryuu parted ways with the group on the 5th floor, a necessary precaution due to her identity.

When they reached the Adventurer's Guild hall, everyone stared at them in shock. What kind of efficiency was this? And the sheer volume of materials and drops they brought back—wasn't it excessive?

Though they were quickly ushered into a VIP room, the bulging backpack on Lili's back and the cloth bundle Liam carried sparked curiosity. The bundle's end was slightly exposed, revealing a rare metal with a unique glow and energy that drew the eyes of every adventurer nearby.

To display such materials so boldly—how strong had Liam become?

(End of Chapter)

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