Dungeons. No one knows what the hell they are. They just.. I don't know, popped up from the ground and stayed ten years ago before I was born. Some say that they are the product of the wrath of the gods for man's hubris, some say that they are a break in some… dimensional wall.. Yeah, something like that. I walked down the road while humming a tune to myself.
Well, for me? I don't care much where they came from. All that thinking's the job of mages. I care about what's in there. Riches beyond comprehension. Valuable scrolls and manuscripts that'll catch me several thousand gold credits.. Life saving medicines. And now.. I'm gonna be clearing one. I held my pendant on my hands, as I nodded to myself, checking my phone for the time. One-thirty p.m. I looked at my messages.
(1:14 p.m.) [Stella]: I'm gonna be back at 6! I have a project to do with my classmates. Thx for the food, btw <3
I smiled. I quickly messaged back.
(1:30 p.m.) [Kai]: Don't be too late, ok? Stay safe.
Putting my phone back in my pocket, I continued thinking as I walked, as I saw some chain link fences with two men at the entrance. Guards, huh? They were wearing some equipment. Must be D-rankers.
Makes sense. Been hearing at the guild HQ that the brass found a dungeon that's got everyone abuzz. Don't know what grade it is, though. I came closer, and they noticed my presence, narrowing their eyes, as I neared.
"Stop it right there. Who're you?" One of them asked. I scoffed. "Kai. I'm with the guild planning to clear this dungeon. You'd better remember me. You'll see a lot of my face." I responded, smirking as I saw the other furrow his brows and looked to be itching to say something. The first man checked some parchment, Most likely the guild rolls, and then nodded at me.
"You may go now, adventurer. Better watch for what in there." He said, backing off to where he was. I ignored his comment, and strode past them. "Mouthy little shit." I heard the other man say as I walked far enough and snorted. I looked to my left and raised my brows as I walked.
Some guy wearing robes and large round glasses, rummaging through his pouch, a stave with a blue stone on the ground, a worried look was on his face. A mage, I suppose. I looked away and continued walking, looking around the place. Tents were scattered all around, the others preparing and sparring.
"Look who it is! I'll be damned, it's Scrawny!" A deep, ugly voice rings in my ear as I turned, as the smirk was wiped off my face. "Ah, yes. Good afternoon.. Butch." I said, a shadow of a smile on my face as the fat guy waddled his way to me, some hang-around following him, Devan Dym, or something, his stench making me crinkle my nose.
"Ack. Have you been rolling around the shit in the landfill?" I said, covering my nose and stepping away. The wide smirk on his face turned into a sneer, and jabbed a finger to my chest. "You better shut that mouth of yours, Scrawny. Else I shove that little trinket you have up your ass. Ain't that right, Dym?" He turned to the rat-faced guy, who nodded at him.
"I'd like to see you try. And at least I actually take a bath in water, and not garbag-" Agh! The bugger lifted me by the collar as a look of fury took over his face. "You little fucker-!" Shit. That hurt! I struggled to get his fat arms off me, some of the things from my bag dropping, before I heard a firm voice, as both I and [Butch] looked over. A man with two others flanking him. Lieutenant Raiyn. I thought as I struggled less.
"You." He pointed at the fat bastard. "Unhand him, or I'll do it myself." Looks like he's not kidding about it. I stopped squirming, as Butch unclasped his hands, dropping me to the ground. "Do not lay hands on your guildmates so flippantly, Daff, or I would be forced to send you on your way." He then looked at me.
"And you. I would suggest you stop talking as if you are any better than him." He said, as my brows furrowed. As I went to open my mouth- "Both of you prepare for the dungeon. I have no time for fools right now, especially as this is important for the guild. You'll hear the announcer's voice when preparations are done and we'll begin." He cut me off, before going somewhere. Fucker. [Butch] glared daggers at me and spat on the ground before walking off, that Dym tailing him.
I dusted myself off and stood up, picking up the things that spilled from my knapsack, and went to a nearby tree and set my things down. Food? Mhm.. Here. A piece of toast and some crackers. I checked the contents of my bag. Everything's here. I checked my belt. Canteen's here.. Dagger's here.. Obviously my sword's here too. I heard a loud voice, as I looked over to the entrance of the dungeon.
"Alright! Come here now! Quickly!" I came over, as the man, The guy the lieutenant mentioned, I think, standing on the stage, looking over all of us and nodding, backing off and went beside Lieutenant Raiyn, before a man with a large sword strapped to his back came forward.
I narrowed my eyes. The guildmaster, Lund Hauld. "According to our forward elements, this may have the potential to be a C-grade dungeon.." I heard a round of gasps. A C-grade? I felt a small pit in my gut. He looked around, as the crowd quieted down, "Now, for the first time since the establishment of this guild, have we secured the contract for such a dungeon. I will not tolerate tardiness and incompetence!" He raised his voice, his eyes narrowing at us.
"So we will be organizing you lot into squads. The names I call out will be squadmates. I expect those grouped together to be cooperative and cordial with each other, with one of you leading. Here are the names!" He then proceeded to call out many names. I felt tense, my chest beating. I hope I'll have decent squadmates.
"This squad will be composed of the following individuals!" He exclaimed, "Theo Holt, Butch Daff, Devan Dym, leader: Kai Zerr!" You've gotta be… Of all people, it had to be those two idiots. I felt angry. I narrowed my eyes at the guildmaster, not noticing me, as he continued to call out new names.
I cleared my head. At least I'm the leader, and not one of those three. It took some time for all the others to find their squads. But not me, of course. I knew all of them. Mostly. Butch and Dym were loudly talking while Holt kept to himself, checking his stave and the pockets of his robes. Huh. It's the guy I saw rummaging through his things. I hummed, as I remembered his expression at just doing that. Hopefully he won't run after seeing a goblin. Seems like the type to bolt off. I thought, while scoffing.
Butch finally stopped blabbering and noticed me. A sneer came onto his face, as Dym looked at me, mimicking the same expression. I scoffed. Theo Holt, though… "Uh-uhm.. Good day, to you all! I hope we can cooperate!" He said, stuttering out his words with, as I looked at him with a raised brow. He shrunk back, looking off to his side with an embarrassed look on his face.
He clutched his stave tightly to himself, a meek look on his face. Butch ignored Holt and closed in on me, staring me down. "You'd better watch your back, you little shit. The guildmaster should have picked me, not your sorry loudmouth ass. Dym, come with me." He turned to Dym, whom had nervously nodded and went along, leaving us as the crowd passed by.
"So much for cordiality." I muttered while sneering. I turned to Holt, and saw his expression drop into worry. "Let's go now. Wouldn't wanna fall behind." I said. "A-ah.. Y-yes.." He responded, muttering more so. We walked, and I held my pendant to my face, looking at it. We're clearing an actual C-grade dungeon. My nerves flared, but willed it away. I steeled my gaze as the two of us came closer to the entrance.
No matter. I'll still do it. For her. For them.