"So this is the Tria Labyrinth…"

Finally reaching our destination, I took a moment to observe the surroundings.

The entrance to the labyrinth was marked by a stone gate, clearly a man-made structure erected after its discovery.

Encircling the entrance were numerous tents, evidence of adventurer parties camped here. Among them, several vendors had set up shop, selling tools and supplies essential for dungeon exploration.

Being a newly discovered dungeon, it seemed to have attracted quite the crowd. Many adventurers must see potential here. After all, some dungeons offer lavish rewards to their first conquerors, making it an enticing challenge.

Though eager to dive into the dungeon, I quickly realized…

"The sun's already setting. We should rest tonight and start fresh tomorrow," I suggested.

Elle nodded in agreement. "You're right. There's no way to tell how far this dungeon extends. We should be in top condition when we enter."

"I'm with Elle on this one," Lycia added.

With everyone in agreement, we decided to call it a day. Using the supplies we brought on the carriage, we swiftly set up two two-person tents.

However, as we finished setting up, Elle and Sheena tilted their heads in curiosity.

"Mr. Ike, are all four of you planning to sleep in those two tents?" Elle asked.

"They don’t seem big enough to fit everyone," Sheena added.

"That won’t be a problem," I replied. "The dolls can adjust their size freely."

I called over Flare and the others.

"Sorry, everyone. Can I ask you to sleep in the Doll Case just for tonight?"

"Sure, no problem!" Flare replied cheerfully.

"I don’t mind," Tetra added.

"If Flare and Tetra agree, then there’s plenty of space for me," Lycia chimed in with a smirk. "But I’ll refrain this time. We wouldn’t want it to affect tomorrow, after all."

…I wasn’t sure how simply sleeping could have any adverse effect, but I decided not to question it.

Afterward, we had a simple meal with the provisions we brought and settled down for the night.

Lying in the tent, I found it hard to fall asleep. It had been a while since I last camped outdoors, so maybe that was it.

"Ugh…"

Sitting up, I stretched out my body. I felt the urge to move around a bit.

Stepping outside the tent, I pondered what to do. Since other adventurers were asleep in their tents nearby, it had to be something quiet. I settled for some light stretches.

"Ike?"

Just as I finished and was about to head back, a familiar voice called out to me.

Turning toward the sound, I saw Elle standing there, dressed casually.

She approached me slowly, her voice gentle.

"I was wondering who was moving around at this hour, and it turns out to be you, Ike," she said.

"Sorry. Was I making too much noise?"

"No, not at all! I couldn’t sleep either, so I came out to enjoy the night breeze," she reassured me.

"Ah, I see. That’s good, then," I said, relieved that I hadn’t disturbed her.

Elle brushed her golden hair, which glimmered in the moonlight, over her shoulder as she gazed at the starry sky.

"It gets a bit chilly at night, doesn’t it? A warm drink would be nice," she mused.

"In that case—"

I rummaged through my belongings and retrieved a magic item: a thermos capable of maintaining a drink's temperature.

Pouring the tea inside into two cups, we sat beneath the night sky, sharing a quiet moment and exchanging a few words.