Chapter 36
Dungeon.
A place from which you cannot escape until you’ve explored its depths once you’ve stepped in.
A place teeming with all manner of monsters and traps, lurking for the flesh of adventurers who come in search of treasure.
A place where a single mistake can cause your carefully nurtured character and party, built up over months, to be wiped out in an instant.
Survivalists or safety-first individuals should never enter this dreadful place, yet we had no choice but to tread into it.
It wasn’t out of greed for goods or treasures within the dungeon. I already had more than enough money, and the ‘Artifact’ that the southern dungeon of the Achilipthus Forest dished out as a clearing reward was only of use to Barbarians, not for me, a Mage.
“Really, it’s like a living hell.”
Ideally, if we were to undertake a dungeon-related quest, I would have preferred for the dungeon’s rewards to somehow help improve my own stats, but here we were with a task unrelated to that.
With such useless thoughts crossing my mind, I made my way towards the southern end of the forest.
Due to my slow pace, we only managed to reach the entrance by evening.
Just before entering the dungeon, we set up a modest campfire in front of it to restore our stamina and had dinner.
By the campfire sat myself, Lir, Rex, and Trian.
“Isn’t the group a little small? Perhaps we should have brought another warrior or two.”
“If we want to remain stealthy, it’s better to keep the number of people to a minimum.”
Had our goal been to clear out every enemy and neatly sanitize the dungeon’s interior, we would have brought a larger group.
However, the purpose of this mission was solely to eliminate the ‘Magic Mine’ hidden somewhere inside the dungeon.
So, to maintain stealth and avoid unnecessary encounters with monsters that may still be lurking inside, a minimal number of personnel was required for exploration.
Lir was essential for the mine removal, Trian for navigating through the dungeon, and Rex for buying us time in case of emergencies while the mages conjured their spells.
…If we’re being honest, it seems like I’m the only one here who’s unnecessary, but let’s not dwell on that.
“Are there any monsters left inside this place? The forest seems strangely quiet.”
“They’re definitely still here.”
The reason no animals or monsters are visible in this forest is because the Marauders have been using them as ingredients for their mutations.
However, Rex and others claim there haven’t been any reported sightings of mutated creatures resembling the dungeon monsters or sharing similar traits.
So, it would be unwise to expect that the Marauders have thoroughly cleaned out the deeper parts of the dungeon.
“You sound rather confident about it. General Bin, have you explored a dungeon like this before?”
As we sat around, nibbling on hard bread, Rex asked me that question.
During the past two weeks of construction, Rex’s beard had grown considerably. Given the difficult environment to maintain proper hygiene, it was inevitable.
“Yes, well…”
Even though it’s a game world in another sense… but pretending to be knowledgeable helps maintain the group’s morale, so it’s better to play along.
“Ever since losing my parents as a child… I survived by wandering through dungeons and selling the treasures I found.”
Lir needlessly added another detail.
Though I did fabricate the story about roaming dungeons starting at a young age to explain how I obtained the ‘Red Crystal,’ this added twist about losing my parents feels off. I’ve never mentioned anything about this…
…So, with a few words, I’ve turned from a wandering traveler into an orphan?
Though, technically, if I was a wanderer, I suppose I am an orphan…
Still, it feels strange…
“As a child…”
“Younger even than I care to remember…”
“Ho, what an adventurous childhood you’ve had.”
“Those must be painful memories. It seems I brought up the wrong topic.”
Hearing Lir’s narrative, both the Orc and the Elf stared at me with pity.
Though I hadn’t uttered a word myself, being treated with sympathy was far from pleasing.
…If I wanted to clarify this misunderstanding, I have no clue where to start.
Let’s just continue the story with me as the pitiable orphan.
“We should get some rest, we’ll be busy starting tomorrow.”
Without trying to mend the awkward atmosphere, I lay down. Everyone agreed with my suggestion to rest early, understanding the need to preserve stamina for the dungeon exploration ahead.
The campfire went out quickly, but thanks to the characteristic humid and hot air of the Achilipthus Forest, we didn’t suffer from the cold.
*
The entrance to the dungeon doesn’t look much different from any other cave.
Consequently, every year there are incidents where travelers, mistakenly believing it’s just an ordinary cave, step inside to take shelter from the rain and end up getting dragged deep into the dungeon.
To avoid such tragedies, it’s crucial to form a habit of shining a lantern or torch into the cave before entering. Unlike ordinary caves that reveal their interiors when lit, dungeons never expose their pitch-black depths.
Right now…
“…”
The seemingly ordinary cave entrance ahead of us refuses to show its interior despite sunlight, lanterns, and even the bright flambe of a torch, revealing only an impenetrable darkness.
We steel ourselves as we confront this bizarre phenomenon that defies the laws of physics.
As far as I remember, you need to be at least level 40 to fully clear the southern dungeon of Achilipthus Forest. To safely clear it, you should be around level 50.
Considering our estimated levels of around 30, this dungeon is somewhat beyond our reach, but our objective isn’t to defeat the dungeon’s boss and clear it. It’s simply to disable the ‘Magic Mine’.
I have a rough idea of the dungeon’s interior structure, and our group includes an excellent guide.
Who knows how far the Marauders ventured inside to set the mines, but they are likely concentrated not too far from the entrance.
“They probably got eaten by the dungeon’s monsters shortly after entering.”
For a standard Marauder, this dungeon is far too difficult.
Additionally, according to Dajin, the Spirit of Lightning, there should be only ‘three’ magic mines within the dungeon.
If luck is on our side, we might finish the job in less than a day.
Of course, emerging from the dungeon alive is a different matter altogether.
If I were an ordinary Mage and under the protection of the spirits, then perhaps I wouldn’t need to undertake such dangerous chores.
“Let’s go in.”
While I was lost in these thoughts, Rex stepped into the darkness holding his massive axe with both hands.
The metallic sound of the axe handle meeting his armored arm echoed as Rex disappeared into the darkness, followed by Trian, then Lir, and myself.
Our vision was almost instantly consumed by blackness.
It was as though my five senses were momentarily paralyzed. Unable to feel, see, or even smell properly, I even found myself doubting if I was breathing properly.
“…”
How long did we wander in the darkness? Perhaps it was just a few seconds. Time seems distorted in such pitch-blackness.
When we finally emerged from the darkness, we looked around with dazed faces. What looked like a shallow cave from the outside turned out to be a gargantuan labyrinth once inside.
The walls and floors, indeterminable in material and age, are made of ancient bricks that current technology can’t fully analyze. The ceiling bears inscriptions whose meaning remains a mystery.
Despite entering through the entrance, a moss-covered wall blocked our path, and the only exit from this roughly 30-pyeong cubic room was a small door directly ahead.
“Let’s shake off the fog and move.”
The sensory impairment quickly wore off.
After confirming there was no immediate harm to our bodies, we regrouped and carefully approached the lone exit, the small door.
This time, it was Trian leading instead of Rex. Given the potential of traps or mines, having the sharp-eyed archer at the forefront was more efficient.
“Damn, this is foul.”
As soon as we opened the first door, we were forced to pinch our noses by the odor of rotting flesh that filled the air.
We were greeted by the massive corpse of a spider, perhaps comparable in size to Rex. It lay on its side with guts trailing onto the floor, and about half of its head was missing.
“…”
Trian frowned, carefully approaching the corpse. He kicked the rotting guts aside with his foot, revealing the floor that had been corroded by potent venom.
“Judging by the battle here, the Marauder who entered this dungeon sustained injuries. Judging by the widespread venomous blood, they probably expended a significant amount of stamina.”
With his keen eye, Trian quickly deduced the severity of the injuries sustained by whoever ventured in.
I glanced around cautiously. Unlike the first room, this one had doors on all four walls.
Trian carefully examined each one, handling the door handles or leaning in to listen, and after verifying faint corroded spots between the west door jamb and the wall, he pointed out the direction we should proceed.
“…”
The next room had no signs of battle, but the floor bore corroded marks which directly led to another door in front of us.
Trian checked each of the other doors thoroughly before stepping up to the one marked with similar signs of corrosion.
“Hmm…”
But he hesitated as he reached for the handle.
Was he sensing something ominous?
“Bad news. There’s a ‘Magic Mine’ right by the door. Activating it by pushing the door is likely immediate.”
Trian closed his eyes and focused, pressing his ear to the dungeon door before expressing his grim discovery.
“You sure are thorough. They were probably setting this up as a precaution, listening in case other monsters came to investigate the battle in the previous room.”
“…”
Upon hearing this, Rex sighed. Opening the door would trigger the mine, instantly killing whoever is in front. Moreover, the sound of the explosion would likely draw attention from the dungeon’s inhabitants.
We’re only four of us, and we have no idea how many monsters are hidden around here. Setting off a massive explosion to draw their attention would be a terrible move.
“We should try to go back and try another route. Dungeons often connect rooms in predictable ways, we’ll likely find a bypass quickly.”
Trian quickly suggested an alternative plan.
We returned to the room with the giant spider’s remains, debating which of the other two doors to take.
At this point, it was purely about luck. No one could accurately determine the inner layout of the dungeon on their first visit.
“Let’s take the door on the right.”
“…”
Apart from me, there was no one else with prior knowledge.
“What’s your basis?”
Trian looked curiously at my firm statement.
“Instinct.”
I replied confidently, masking that I’ve explored this dungeon countless times through a screen and knew the overall layout.
“…”
Though Trian appeared unconvinced, there wasn’t any disappointment in his reaction.
“Which side do you think is better?”
“There isn’t enough evidence to prefer one over the other. Neither side reveals any sound of monsters or traps. Either way, they seem equally safe. It’s completely up to luck.”
“Then let’s trust in your instincts, General. Since you’ve been chosen by the spirits, you might also be favored by Fortune.”
“…”
“I don’t believe in gods, but even so, if we need to circle back if this doesn’t work, it doesn’t really matter.”
Fortune…
I couldn’t dismiss Rex’s comment lightly.
…For the first time since entering this world, I felt an impulse to show my stat window to somebody.
