I'd experienced a lot since arriving in this world, but this… this was the first time I was caught up in something that could honestly be called part of the main storyline.
Up until now, I'd either twisted the events off-course or blocked them entirely. Little detours, safety measures, rewriting the script before it even got a chance to unfold.
And truthfully, I could've done the same this time too—derailed the whole thing before it started. But I didn't.
Why?
There were a few reasons.
First: people would get hurt, yes, but no one was supposed to die. Pain and panic, sure—but it wasn't a tragedy. Not yet. That made it tolerable.
Second: this dungeon wasn't just some random pocket of trouble. Buried inside was a hidden room, one left behind by an alchemist who'd poured his entire life into his craft. A place full of secrets and legacy. Walking away from that kind of opportunity? That would've been stupid.
And third… the real reason I let this play out.
