Chapter 27

### Episode 27: Rookie Adventurer Bern (25) – The Dungeon

Among the adventurers participating in the Richi extermination operation, there were not a few who held their heads high with pride.

Once an adventurer reaches level 3, they are considered among the elite of their peers, and by level 4, they are talents coveted not only within the guild but also outside.

The nobles of the Virka Kingdom are particularly corrupt, but ordinarily, adventurers at this level are treated as near-knights in any average faction and know their own worth. So, how could they not be arrogant?

However, at this moment…

In front of the old man who appeared in the square, even these proud adventurers remained silent, showing due respect.

The Guild Master Tarbon.

The representative leading the Virka Kingdom’s Adventurer Guild, the sole 5th tier powerhouse within the guild, and an adventurer who has completed countless quests.

Whether viewed by position, experience, or ability, the Guild Master was a leader fully capable of commanding them, and even these tough adventurers paid their respects in their own way.

“Standing idly before the enemy and engaging in long chatter is as foolish as it gets. So, I’ll get straight to the point.”

The tone, far from being grandiose, was plain and almost desolate, yet it captured the adventurers’ attention.

“Anyway, putting too many people into this narrow dungeon won’t give us the advantage of numbers. Therefore, we will split into teams.”

Black armband agents dispatched from the guild headquarters stepped forward, carrying papers with lists and spacious leather purses.

They began handing out straps to be tied around the arms, but the straps were not all the same. They were divided into red, blue, and yellow.

“Those who receive a red or blue strap will form the assault team. Divided into two groups, they will take turns resting and fighting to proceed with the dungeon. Those who receive the yellow strap will secure escape routes from the rear and rescue the assault team if any incident occurs.”

The adventurers who received the red and blue straps cheered, while those who received the yellow ones frowned or showed their dissatisfaction.

A large quest that gathered the full power of the guild, one that might not come around for decades—here was a chance to become legendary in the adventurer world, and they were told to simply wait in the rear. Their minds were restless, indeed.

If the Guild Master hadn’t issued the orders directly, complaints would have surely poured out.

Fortunately, Bern and his companions received blue straps.

With a combined total of about eighty adventurers from the Red Team and Blue Team entering the dungeon, it felt cramped even in this not-so-small dungeon.

“The Red Team will go first, and the Blue Team will maintain a distance where they can observe the Red Team’s movements.”

Following the Guild Master’s orders, the Red Team, adorned with red straps on their arms, increased their speed, while the Blue Team, in contrast, slowed down to widen the distance between them.

Soon after,

“Undead!”

“Prepare for battle!”

Some members of the Blue Team rushed forward upon hearing the voices from the Red Team side, but the Guild Master stopped them.

“We can’t all fight at the same time anyway. It’s your turn next, so conserve your strength until then.”

For a moment, the Blue Team’s adventurers showed discontented expressions, but Bern nodded in agreement.

Splitting forces into multiple groups is usually considered a foolish move, but it depends on the timing and place.

Given that the depth of the dungeon and the strength of the enemies were unknown,

it was much more practical to divide into battle and rest teams rather than use all available power at once and drain everyone’s stamina.

Besides, as the Guild Master said, the space was too cramped for all the adventurers to fight simultaneously.

Nevertheless, keeping an eye on the battle, thinking that they might have to intervene if the situation worsened, the Red Team easily crushed the group of undead without significant difficulties.

“Hah! The Richi’s dungeon, but it doesn’t seem much different, does it?”

“Rather, we’re just strong. Honestly, with this power, we could probably obliterate any ordinary army of a fief in one go. We already have a few knight-level individuals here.”

Their clothes were dirtied and minor wounds appeared across their bodies, but that was it.

There were no critically injured adventurers, no one on the verge of exhaustion from overexertion.

On the contrary, they were so relaxed that they were chatting casually with each other.

The Guild Master sent a signal to the Red Team to switch places.

“Good job! The Blue Team will take the lead this time, so you lot follow behind.”

The positions of the Red Team and Blue Team were switched, and this time, the Blue Team charged ahead, showing their prowess against the undead blocking their path.

Blankah’s performance was particularly overwhelming.

-Flare!

With every release of the mid-level fire spell, ‘Burning Rock Magic’, the undead blocking their path burnt like logs.

Unlike training as a sword-mage with Bern, Blankah fought like a traditional mage, but even so, Blankah obliterated more than half of the enemies alone.

Witnessing Blankah’s battle for the first time, other adventurers, particularly the mages, looked astonished.

“Wow, she’s throwing mid-level spells around like low-level ones.”

“How much magical power does she have?”

Considering there were at least third-level and in some parties even fourth-level mages, there were definitely mages who could achieve Blankah’s level of firepower.

What set her apart was that, while most were conserving their magical power for the upcoming battle with the Richi, Blankah unleashed spells as freely as if water were inexhaustible. In terms of raw firepower, there was simply no comparison.

It was quite notable, and the Guild Master, managing the personnel between the Red and Blue teams, approached Blankah directly.

“You’re exhausting yourself too early. Are you sure you’re alright?”

Blankah nodded.

“I’m fine.”

“And how long can you maintain this level?”

“At this intensity, I could repeat this battle more than ten times.”

To be honest, Blankah thought she could handle over a hundred rounds, but she deliberately kept that information hidden.

It was necessary to conceal the ‘Draining Ring’ that absorbs mana during battles and due to Bern’s advice to not reveal her true strength just in case.

After a brief pause, the Guild Master spoke.

“The Blue Team will continue leading without switching with the Red Team. Is anyone who wants to rest?”

The Blue Team adventurers shook their heads.

Given that the enemies had been burning away before they even took their swings, they had plenty of stamina left.

-Grrrrrr……

Whoosh!

Thanks to Blankah’s overwhelming firepower, the group advanced swiftly through the dungeon.

After some time,

“It’s a fork in the road.”

Three prongs to the left, center, and right.

Blankah narrowed her eyes at the structure that felt familiar, almost fated.

“I’ll be back, Lord Brother.”

Among those with scout functions, including Renya, a few adventurers split up carefully to explore the fork.

Fortunately, all scouts returned shortly without incident and delivered their reports.

“On the left, we found a spacious area. The problem is, it’s packed with all sorts of undead and monsters.”

“The center had a massive door without a handle or keyhole! It appears to be opened by magic or some device elsewhere.”

“Ah, and on the right side, there was a room full of civilians like us. However, the markings on the floor of their room are glowing as if something is about to happen.”

All eyes turned to the scout who explored the right side.

Compared to the other two reports, this one evidently demanded urgency.

The Guild Master’s expression darkened.

“Civilians and suspicious markings. Was there anything else? Any guards?”

“There were about ten people with their faces hidden under robes! They surrounded us while muttering what seemed like a spell, but I couldn’t make out the exact words.”

“We must rescue them immediately!”

From the Blue Team, a voice called out to the Guild Master.

Alseus Bertreah.

A fourth-level adventurer from the Eastern Branch and a senior to Bern’s group, he fiercely argued with a serious demeanor.

“They’re innocent civilians. If they’re already dead, there’s nothing we can do, but if they’re alive, we must save them somehow!”

“Are you aware that our goal is to slay Richi?”

“How powerful Richi might become if this ritual succeeds is unpredictable. Ethically, and even pragmatically, rescuing the victims is a must!”

Alseus’ passionate argument resonated with other adventurers who began echoing similar sentiments.

“There’s no time to hesitate! If we delay and they complete the ritual, it’ll be over.”

“Richi or the corrupt nobles can be dealt with later, but we cannot forsake these people!”

The Guild Master, deep in thought, watched as Bern stepped forward.

“I’ll go.”

The Guild Master’s gaze pierced Bern.

“Enthusiasm is good, but I cannot tolerate reckless actions.”

“I will go whether I’m given permission or not. Please understand; this is the least courtesy in asking for it.”

“Hmm…”

As the Guild Master hesitated, Alseus’s eyes widened.

“It’s not safe! You can’t send someone like Bern alone against multiple foes!”

“Will you accompany him then?”

Clutching his teeth at the Guild Master’s indifferent counter-question, Alseus briefly exchanged glances with his colleagues before shouting with resignation.

“Understood! My party will go with him!”

“Decided then. So, Bern’s party and Alseus’—”

“No, I alone shall suffice.”

Bern locked eyes with the Guild Master.

Before the Guild Master could utter another word, Bern sprinted toward the right path, with Alseus’ party hurriedly following behind.

At the end of the fork, the scene was exactly as Renya described.

Trapped like animals, the people in cages surrounded by hooded figures chanting an ominous incantation.

With a swift swing, Bern’s sword felled a hooded figure, who fell without a single scream.

However, despite the loss of their comrade, the hooded figures did not stop their incantation.

Even the victims within the cage showed no reaction to Bern’s arrival, merely gazing blankly upward.

Checking the enemy he had just felled, Bern discovered they weren’t mages but already undead.

The next instant, his vision distorted, and his body was forcibly displaced to another location.

A teleportation trap.

Transferred into pitch darkness where one could not see even a step ahead, someone swung a sword at him.

Abrupt changes in location, blocked vision, and a sudden ambush.

Even for skilled warriors, this was a situation where they would inevitably expose a weakness. But Bern absorbed the attack without issue and straightened up effortlessly.

A shadow laughed and distanced themselves further. The swift, indecisive movement indicated the opponent had some means of seeing through the darkness.

In the face of creeping malevolence, Bern spoke.

“Strange feelings. Even though I anticipated this situation, I hoped I was wrong.”

No response came.

But Bern noticed the unease of his opponents, no, ‘his group of opponents.’

“Isn’t it about time you spoke? A fourth-level adventurer from the Eastern Branch. Or perhaps the disciple of Richi… Alseus Bertreah and his companions.”

After a brief pause, a snarky reply followed.

“Damn fool. I thought you might guess, but I guess you spilled it all.”

The voice and tone, though unseen, unmistakably belonged to Alseus.

He questioned Bern.

“How long have you known?”

“I wasn’t entirely sure. But hearing your manner of handling affairs in Phrencia felt somewhat odd.”

Bern continued calmly.

“One might overlook the existence of sleep magic if one is not a mage, but methods to force someone to sleep using drugs exist. And you didn’t investigate in those directions at all.”

“The joint wake you proposed but failed was the same. If you planned to gather people for the night watch, instead of assigning only one person, you should have assigned multiple people at the same time to watch each other. But you intentionally created loopholes, which scattered distrust throughout the city, making it harder to deal with the criminal.”

“You said you gave up the quest because the incompetent would hurt people, but in reality, you involved others to deceive the guild, didn’t you? Claiming you’d ‘help catch the culprit,’ but instead obstructing investigations or leading them in the wrong direction, which would make the guild abandon the quest altogether eventually.”

With Bern’s explanation, Alseus replied with apparent exasperation in his voice.

“Hmph, so you’ve seen through me from the start. Still, pretending to be ignorant in front of me?”

“Hardly compares to you, who secretly conspire with Richi to sell people yet parade around as compassionate heroes and good mentors in public.”

“…”

The murderous intent emanating from the darkness intensified.

“Reckless brat. Knowing everything and acting like some overconfident strategist—your smug expression annoyed me since we first met. But, you’ve overestimated yourself.”

Alseus chuckled darkly.

“You must’ve jumped in, thinking you could easily escape such traps, knowing the hostages were bait. Sure, you’ve wasted what was meant to trap a group of adventurers, but conversely, it means you’re stuck in a trap designed for dozens.”

The sound of footsteps approached.

The growl of beasts echoed.

The sound of bones colliding could be heard.

“I’ll kill you mercilessly. And I’ll flaunt your head to your friends. Though, our other apprentices might have already taken care of it without us.”

Bern remained silent.

Believing he had finally broken Bern’s composure, Alseus deepened his smirk.

The next moment,

WHOOSH!

Before Alseus knew it, he was yanked by the back of his head and slammed face-first into the ground.

“@$%^!”

Confusion, bewilderment, shock.

In his chaotic mind, Bern spoke.

“—Sorry about that. Resorting to violence mid-conversation is quite barbaric, but I couldn’t help it.”

A tone far from his usual courteous manner—arrogant, authoritative.

“In an apologetic gesture, I’ll let you live until the cleanup of others is done. However long you last, you won’t die, so do try your best to attack.”

“Just remember,” Bern added.

“Once you survive until the end, you must answer my questions with civility, accuracy, and promptness. If not, what I do to your friends, I will do to you.”