Classes ended with the slow toll of the academy bell, and students poured out of the buildings like water from a broken dam.
Fenrir walked alongside Dain, who had insisted on taking him to the Dungeon Exploration Club right after class.
They passed through several winding hallways, eventually reaching a far wing of the campus rarely visited by others.
The hall felt abandoned, the air stale and heavy with disuse. Fenrir noted the silence almost immediately.
"No one else is here?"
He asked, his voice low, curious rather than suspicious.
Dain scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Uh, yeah… I guess not. Everyone's probably out… exploring dungeons?" He didn't sound convinced even to himself.
Fenrir narrowed his eyes slightly, but his internal alarm didn't go off. If this was a trap, it was a very poorly executed one.
Besides, Dain didn't seem hostile. Just nervous. Really nervous.
"This wasn't my idea, by the way. So don't blame me for anything that happens. Please."
Dain blurted, glancing sideways.
That made Fenrir pause.
"You're not denying it will happen, just that it's not your fault?"
Dain gave a small, apologetic shrug, clearly not planning to elaborate.
They entered a wide, dusty lecture hall that had clearly not seen cleaning staff in weeks. .
At the far end of the room, slumped behind a desk, was a woman hunched over a bottle of what looked suspiciously like hard liquor.
Dain sighed, like a man already regretting every decision that led him to this moment.
"Miss Fuwa."
The woman didn't respond. She took another swig from her bottle and muttered something unintelligible under her breath.
"Miss Fuwa!"
Dain said louder, forcing cheer into his tone.
She jolted upright, blinking blearily at them.
"Huh? What? Who's shouting—oh, it's you. What the hell do you want?"
Her voice was raspy and irritated. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and squinted.
"I just wanted to introduce a potential new member."
Dain said. His voice carried the weariness of someone who had done this song and dance far too many times.
Miss Fuwa glared at him.
"A potential? And you disturbed my afternoon enlightenment for that? You've got some nerve, brat. I told you to not call me until you got us a money bag…"
Dain winced.
"You're drinking in broad daylight…"
"Shut up! I am cultivating inspiration!" she barked. Then her eyes shifted to Fenrir, still standing at the edge of the room, arms folded.
She stared, blinked again, and slowly sat straighter.
"Who's this pretty boy? He looks kinda weak."
"This is Fenrir Black. You know, the student we talked about."
Dain said quickly, trying to avoid another tangent.
Miss Fuwa's eyes suddenly cleared—somewhat. Her entire demeanor shifted in an instant. She slapped her bottle down and stood up with a stagger.
Ooooh! You're Blake? Well, well, well! Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Her voice turned sweet, sing-song almost, and entirely too fake.
Fenrir tilted his head slightly.
This woman was clearly drunk, but sharp enough to recognize his name.
"You're very welcome here! We've been dying to get someone like you. Talent! Money! Looks! What more could we want in a club member, right?"
She beamed, waving her arms.
Miss Fuwa let out a hiccup and chuckled to herself.
"Finally, a real sponsor. Dain, you did good for once."
Dain groaned and dragged a hand down his face.
"Ignore everything she just said. None of it is true. She's just… like this. I swear the club doesn't actually run on blackmail and bribes."
Fenrir didn't respond immediately. He watched Miss Fuwa with a neutral expression, then shifted his gaze to Dain.
"It's fine."
"You're not mad?"
Dain asked, clearly surprised.
Fenrir remained calm.
That shut Dain up. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, clearly unsure how to respond.
Miss Fuwa had already gone back to humming to herself and pulling out what looked like dungeon maps from under a pile of take-out boxes.
Fenrir took note of them briefly, but didn't comment.
He could play the role of the "rich sponsor" for now.
If that got him access to Moon's Cavern and the ingredients he needed, he'd be the most generous patron they'd ever seen.
Still, he filed away Dain's reaction carefully in his mind. That flicker of guilt, that hesitation—those would come in handy later.
For now, all he said was.
"Just tell me where to sign."
With a deep sigh and a heavier expression, Dain handed Fenrir a clipboard with the club membership form already filled out—except for the signature.
"Just sign here. Welcome to the Dungeon Exploration Club, I guess."
He muttered, eyes averted.
Fenrir raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He took the pen, signed his name neatly, and handed the clipboard back.
Dain accepted it like it weighed a hundred pounds.
They turned toward Miss Fuwa, who was now sprawled sideways across her desk with a half-empty bottle loosely held in one hand.
Dain coughed into his fist.
"Miss Fuwa. Where's the rest of the club? Weren't they supposed to be here for the meeting?"
She blinked slowly, clearly still intoxicated, and waved a lazy hand toward the door.
"They went to get… mm… permission. Yeah, for a dungeon run. Wanted to organize a little expedition for the new blood."
Her words slurred toward the end.
Fenrir perked up slightly.
"A dungeon expedition? So soon?"
"Yeah. Every time we get a new member, we run a low-tier dungeon to get them warmed up. Nothing dangerous. Usually E-ranked."
Dain said.
Fenrir's interest grew.
"Has the dungeon been selected already?"
"Not yet. We pick based on the lowest-ranked member in the group. So, odds are it'll be some low-level place—goblin caves, bone hounds, maybe a slime nest. Nothing fancy. For mine, we went to a Goblin cave in the west."
Dain said.
Fenrir tapped his fingers against his arm thoughtfully.
That wouldn't help him at all.
Moon Flower only grew in one place: the Moon's Cavern.
It might be low-level by classification, but access was exclusive and limited.
Miss Fuwa, who'd been watching the conversation with half-lidded eyes, suddenly giggled and sat up straighter—well, as straight as she could manage.
"Hey, you know what? You chose where you want to go! Since you're such an important member now, Fenrir, how about we let you pick the dungeon this time?"
She slurred with dramatic flair.
Dain's head whipped around.
"What? Miss Fuwa, you can't just—!"
"Oh hush. He's clearly invested. Sponsors should get perks, no? Got a place in mind, sweetheart?"
She grinned at Fenrir, eyes glassy but sharp.
She waved him off, swaying slightly.
Fenrir offered a small smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Actually, yes. I do."
Dain groaned, already sensing that whatever dungeon Fenrir had in mind, it wouldn't be anywhere near the typical E-ranked fare they were used to.
Miss Fuwa clapped her hands—then immediately winced at the sound.
"Excellent! Just write it down, and I'll make it official when the rest get back. What's the name again?"
"Moon's Cavern."
Fenrir said simply.
Miss Fuwa blinked, momentarily sobered.
"Moon's Cavern, huh? Fancy choice for a newbie…but since I like you, I will make sure we go there."
Fenrir didn't respond. He just smiled again—cold, calculating, and already three steps ahead.