The weekend arrived sooner than Fenrir expected.
Dressed in simple, functional gear and a hoodie over his head, he walked into the school grounds with his usual calm indifference.
The atmosphere was a little livelier than a normal day off, mostly due to the murmurs of excitement and nervousness from the small group gathered outside the main academy gates.
Fenrir recognized the familiar faces of Dain and Miss Fuwa standing off to the side.
Only about ten students were present in total—not nearly the full club. As Fenrir approached, he noted the absence of the large group he'd seen before.
Aiden, the club leader, was organizing gear and briefing the members.
When he noticed Fenrir, he gave a quick nod of acknowledgment and stepped forward.
"Sorry for the last-minute gathering. Most of the club members couldn't make it. It was too sudden. Some had exams, others had family restrictions, and a few… well, let's just say they chickened out."
Aiden said.
He gave a tired smile, trying to keep the mood light.
"But don't worry. The Moon's Cavern is a low-threat dungeon. We won't be dealing with anything too dangerous. As long as everyone stays alert and doesn't wander off, we'll be fine."
Dain stepped up next to Aiden and added,.
"One of the core rules of the Dungeon Exploration Club is that we always stay together, no matter what. No solo exploring."
Fenrir nodded, outwardly compliant, but internally, he was already running through alternate plans.
The rule about staying together complicated things.
His main objective—acquiring the moon flower—required discretion and independence. The flower bloomed deep in the cavern, away from the main trail that beginner groups usually stuck to.
He couldn't afford to have witnesses.
'So I need a distraction.'
He thought, eyes narrowing slightly.
His hand moved to his pocket, brushing against a small pouch of powdered Tranceweed—a mild herb that could provoke wild beasts into a frenzy if used in a concentrated dose.
A well-timed monster attack could scatter the group and give him the opportunity he needed. He'd brought it just in case.
As he planned, his senses prickled with warning.
He looked up and felt it—a sharp, unsettling pressure crawling across his skin. Someone was watching him. Not just with curiosity, but with intent.
His eyes locked onto a pair of emerald green ones across the group.
Betty.
The green-haired girl who had once been surrounded by bullies now stood at the edge of the formation, smiling at him.
Her grin was sweet, maybe even friendly, but something about it twisted Fenrir's instincts into knots.
Her stare was too steady. Too certain.
There was no hesitation in her gaze—only confidence and something darker that made his stomach clench.
It wasn't fear she stirred in him. It was something worse.
'Recognition.'
'She's dangerous. Stay far away.'
He thought instantly.
Before he could examine her any further or even break the eye contact, Aiden called out to the group.
"All right, we're moving out. Everyone line up. The portal's opening now."
Miss Fuwa, still a little hungover but presentable enough, lazily waved her hand and channeled mana into a key-shaped crystal.
The air shimmered, bending and warping before a glowing doorway expanded into view at the center of the courtyard.
The Moon's Cavern.
Fenrir joined the others as they stepped into the portal. For a brief moment, he felt the world pull apart and stitch back together.
A light pressure wrapped around his ears and then popped. When his vision cleared, he found himself inside the dungeon.
It was dim, illuminated by the faint glow of crystalline moss crawling along the cave walls. The ceiling hung high above, nearly invisible in the shadows.
Faint trickles of water echoed in the distance, and the air was cool and damp, carrying the earthy scent of untouched stone and flora.
The entrance chamber was wide, with branching paths leading deeper into the cavern system.
This dungeon wasn't known for its danger, but it was known for its maze-like layout and the odd flora that grew inside—like the moon flower he needed.
Aiden began a quick count and a reminder of the rules again, stressing that they were to stay together at all times.
Fenrir tuned out the rest of the speech, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead.
He only had a few chances to break off from the group without arousing suspicion.
Whatever he did, it had to look like an accident. He reached into his pocket and subtly checked the pouch of Tranceweed again.
He was ready.
But as he glanced over his shoulder one more time, he noticed Betty watching him again.
Her smile hadn't changed, but her eyes had narrowed just slightly, like she knew he was planning something.
Fenrir looked away.
He'd deal with her if she got in the way.
For now, the moon flower was waiting.
And he intended to claim it—alone.
About ten minutes into their trek through the Moon's Cavern, the group had fallen into a steady rhythm.
Aiden led at the front with two other senior members flanking him, keeping their pace slow and careful.
The rest followed in pairs, with Dain hovering close to Fenrir and glancing around with quiet unease.
Fenrir, on the other hand, was growing impatient.
He reached into his inner pocket, fingers brushing the pouch of Tranceweed. The time was right.
The deeper they ventured, the more narrow and winding the paths became—perfect for creating confusion once the herb's effects lured monsters in.
He just needed a distraction, a break in their tight formation.
But just as he was about to quietly scatter the powder into a crack in the wall, a sudden high-pitched yell echoed through the cavern.
Everyone stopped and spun around in alarm.
"Ahhh! Sorry! I didn't mean to—!"
Betty's voice rang out, laced with fake panic as she stumbled back into the group, waving her arms.
A low growl followed her, and moments later, a large wolf-like creature with crystalized fangs lunged out from behind a rock pillar.
"Monster! It's a cave lurker!"
Someone shouted.
Aiden's expression hardened as he immediately raised his weapon.
"Everyone stay calm! Stay together! I'll handle it!"
The group tightened formation, some readying spells, others just freezing in fear. Dain pulled Fenrir slightly back to keep him safe, but Fenrir's eyes weren't on the monster.
They were on Betty.
The green-haired girl stood calmly behind the others, her expression unreadable.
She wasn't even looking at the creature anymore. She was watching the group—and then her gaze flicked to Fenrir.
And smiled.
It was a subtle look. A flicker. But it told him everything he needed to know.
'She planned this.'
She had the same idea as him, but he had no idea what her end goal was. It was too perfect to be coincidence.
But right now, none of that mattered.
Because the moment the monster lunged forward again and Aiden shouted for people to back away, the formation finally broke.
Fenrir didn't hesitate. He slipped away in the chaos, ducking into a narrow side tunnel while everyone's attention was on the fight.
He moved silently and swiftly, his senses guiding him deeper into the cavern where the moon flower was said to grow.
Behind him, the battle cries and roars faded.
His plan had changed, but the result was the same—he was finally alone.