Arriving in front of another metal door, far more robust and secure than the one that led to the black market, I knocked once.
— Bam!
On the right side, a small compartment opened with a mechanical click. Without hesitation, I inserted my black card.
— Vum!
A green light emerged from the back of the compartment, enveloping the card in a glassy, pulsating glow.
— Diii...
A few seconds later, the beam vanished, replaced by a brief electronic chime signaling the end of the verification. I retrieved my card. Immediately after, a deep rumble echoed from within the structure.
— Vam!
The door slowly slid open, metal grinding softly against itself.
I was entering the building of the "Dungeon Seekers."
They were the organization that held the keys to the dungeon underworld, and one of the most powerful entities operating in the shadows of the black market. Their value easily surpassed the trillion-U mark, and their influence extended across the entire continent.
It was said that the true reason many ventured into the black market wasn't the pursuit of illegal goods, but the privilege of doing business with the Dungeon Seekers.
Official guilds monopolized the dungeons, preventing independent adventurers from exploring them. Those who sought strength, fame, or fortune and lacked an affiliation, heroes, mercenaries, or villains alike, had no alternative but to turn to that institution.
The Seekers welcomed everyone, without distinction. All it took was paying the fee and signing the contract. Their commissions, while fair, sustained an underground empire.
It was because of them that the black market flourished.
As I crossed the threshold, a breath of perfumed air wrapped around me. A citrusy, cool scent, like a morning after rain.
The main hall was breathtaking. The white marble floor reflected the golden light of the chandeliers, majestic fixtures that gleamed like inverted suns. Red silk carpets covered the ground, guiding visitors toward a reception desk crafted from a refined blend of dark wood and polished marble. Behind it, receptionists in elegant suits attended clients with practiced smiles and velvety voices.
Words struggled to capture what I was seeing. There was something about being there, the distant murmur of conversations, the fragrance in the air, the diffuse warmth of the lights, that made everything feel more alive than any literary description could convey. No line of text in The Author's POV had captured what I was now witnessing with my own eyes.
It felt like the grand hall of a palace built for the king of a lost empire.
Carved tables, ancient tapestries, gold-plated lamps. An almost suffocating luxury, the kind that made even the wealthy feel poor.
I approached the reception desk, choosing an attendant on the far right.
— Welcome to Dungeon Seekers. How may we assist you?
— I want to enter a dungeon.
The woman smiled professionally. Pulling out a small crystal tablet, she slid it across the counter toward me.
— These are all the dungeons currently available.
I ran my finger across the screen. A long list of names appeared, each surrounded by either a red or green circle indicating availability.
Dungeons had strict entry limits, an invisible barrier that, if violated, could cause what was known as desynchronization: the severing of the link between the dungeon and the demon world. When that happened, the dungeon became an empty shell, no monsters, no rewards, no purpose.
The Seekers were well aware of this. They maintained rigid limits, always leaving one slot open to ensure dimensional stability.
— In total, we currently have three rank G dungeons in operation, six rank F, eighteen rank D, eleven rank C, thirteen rank B, and finally, four rank A — the attendant explained casually.
I stared at the tablet, surprised. The number was absurd.
The Seekers' influence was so great that even the government avoided confronting them. Any attempt at intervention could spark a war, and no one wanted that.
I slid my finger down the screen until I reached the rank F dungeons.
The options appeared before me, separated by golden lines that seemed to shimmer under the hall's cold lighting.
=====
Rank F: [Kurus Barracks]
Description: Spawns the contractor directly inside the demon army's barracks.
Price: 15% of acquired loot + 500 U entry fee
=====
Rank F: [Sea of Blood]
Description: Spawns the contractor in an oceanic environment filled with bloodthirsty marine creatures.
Price: 15% of acquired loot + 500 U entry fee
=====
Rank F: [Red Desolation]
Description: Spawns the contractor in desert terrain, arid and scarce in water and food.
Price: 11% of acquired loot + 500 U entry fee
=====
Rank F: [Miasma Mountains]
Description: Spawns the contractor atop a mountain range covered in highly toxic miasma.
Price: 8% of acquired loot + 500 U entry fee
=====
Rank F: [Forest of Greed]
Description: Spawns the contractor within a living forest that creates illusions based on its prey's deepest desires.
Price: 17% of acquired loot + 500 U entry fee
=====
Rank F: [Wrath of the Earth]
Description: Spawns the contractor near a volcanic region where temperatures exceed 100 °C.
Price: 13% of acquired loot + 500 U entry fee
=====
Ugh… what a terrible selection.
If it were up to me, I would've chosen [Kurus Barracks]. It seemed the most "comfortable," if that word could even apply to a dungeon. At least it was predictable.
But I couldn't act on my own. I had to follow Ren, and the script dictated that he would enter [Red Desolation]. That was where the next arc unfolded… and where the Everblood clone would appear.
Still, I hated deserts. The heat, the dry wind, the sun crushing everything beneath it, just imagining myself wandering through endless dunes already made my body feel like it was sweating. But then again, after Lock's last test, maybe I was doomed to deal with sand and heat for the rest of my life. Damn it.
— ...I'll go with [Red Desolation].
The receptionist nodded, maintaining the same serene smile.
— Perfect. Here is the contract. Please read and sign it before we proceed.
She handed me three pages of thick, elegant paper. I examined each line carefully.
In summary, the document stated:
"The equipment brought in would be inspected before entry, preventing disputes over loot upon exit."
"A second inspection would be conducted upon return, ensuring the contractor did not lie about their gains."
"The entry fee was 500 U, with an additional 1,000 U deposit."
"The maximum time inside the dungeon: 30 days."
"If the limit was exceeded, a squad would be dispatched to retrieve, or forcibly remove, the participant."
"In emergencies, the contractor could request assistance, forfeiting the deposit in exchange for survival."
Simple, direct, and above all, fair rules. I signed without hesitation.
— Thank you, — the receptionist said, collecting the papers. — Now, please follow me.
I paid the total of 1,500 U, and she led me to a spacious waiting room.
[Guest 4075884 — Gate 756]
The ticket was printed in silver letters on a dark card. I folded it carefully and slipped it into the inner pocket of my coat. It was my pass to hell, best not lose it.
The room was filled with people. Warriors, mages, mercenaries. All waiting, each carrying their own stories and their own fears. Waiters moved discreetly between tables, serving drinks and snacks far too expensive for such a lethal environment.
I searched for a more isolated corner and sat down.
A few minutes passed. I tightened my grip around Snow Maiden's hilt, hidden beneath my loose garments, feeling the cold of the metal seep through my skin. I couldn't deny it, I was nervous…
Since arriving in this world, everything had gone more or less according to plan. I'd faced a few situations, gotten into trouble, but nothing truly life-threatening. Even the fight against the Infernal Spider, tense as it was, didn't compare to what lay ahead.
But now… now it was different.
Even knowing what awaited me, even being aware of every detail of this story, something weighed heavily on my chest: this time, I could die.
And realizing that, truly feeling the thread of my own mortality, was something new. Perhaps natural, for someone as inexperienced as I was.
Yes, I feared death.
But I feared even more leaving Ren alone in there.
I took a deep breath. Cold air slid into my lungs, bringing with it a sense of calm.
"Everything will be fine..."
I murmured to myself, more like a prayer than a certainty.