Chapter 37: Step into another Dungeon

In the depths of the forest of literally nowhere, Tobias and his party were traveling to find the entrance to the Magical Dungeon.

But of course... just after an event such as meeting his family, festivity is bound to occur, and discussion is rampant.

“Remember the way Tobias begged his mom to not tell any embarrassing childhood stories? Most hilarious shit I’ve ever seen in ever!” Bastille laughed boisterously, as he glanced at Tobias every now and then, before renewing the intensity of his laughs.

Tobias only narrowed his eyes to glare as harshly as he could. “One day, I’m going to find your family and demand them to put soap in your mouth.”

“Most certainly hilarious, it was. With how distant Tobias was acting and all, I did not expect him to have a family somewhere.” Jacques added in with his own laughter. At least it wasn’t as straight up obnoxious as Bastille’s.

“Oh, and remember how they asked if Clara was his wife and all?” Bastille added.

Tobias narrowed his eyes to glare at the Sorcerer. “Don’t you dare.”

“And you answered that they technically are?” Jacques answered, and raised his hands in surrender and peace after Tobias turned his glare to him.

There was no peace after that. Not after he already sided with the enemy. How did Jacques quote it again? ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’? Therefore; ‘the friend of my enemy is my enemy’.

And Jacques had made himself the friend of his enemy. This meant war.

But before that... Tobias still had his main enemy to deal with.

“Yeah! Absolutely red faced – GAH! Tobias, what was that for?!” Bastille’s rib cage experienced the honor of tasting one of Tobias’ lightning quick jabs.

“Bastille, you’re annoying me. Learn to shut up sometimes, would you?” In turn, Tobias only idly rubbed his knuckles, and gave a satisfied look to himself.

“Gah... I got it... Sheesh.” Bastille winced, and let out a shaky thumbs up to let him know that he learned his lesson, even if temporarily.

Then, there was a silent air for a few moments. Jacques and Bastille looked at each other in confusion, while Tobias looked at Clara. Then they all stared at her.

“Now that I think about it, isn’t Clara too silent nowadays?” Jacques commented.

They all wordlessly nodded at his comment.

“I know I’m the least qualified to ask this...” Bastille began, as he uncertainly looked at her direction. ”But are you fine?”

The question seemed to snap Clara out of whatever trance she was in, as her glazed over eyes suddenly blinked, then focused, before finally looking back at them.

“H-huh? Yeah, I’m fine... Don’t worry about me, I was just thinking.”

Jacques turned towards Tobias, with eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Tobias, what did you do to Clara?”

“N-no. He didn’t do anything to me, really!” Clara suddenly blurted out, as she firmly shook her head in denial. Then she looked at them, with an expression of annoyance. “Really... I just want to think to myself for a few minutes, then you all decide that something happened to me. Why?”

Tobias noted that she wasn’t the type of remain silent for too long. She usually had something to say whenever something happened. Especially with the fact that they met his family, then she should have said a thing or two by now.

And not to mention, she wasn’t exactly thinking for just ‘a few minutes’, as she put it... But he would never say those thoughts out loud.

“I know this sounds like what I say whenever I tease you...” Bastille began, giving an awkward cough to himself when she turned to lightly glare at him. “But you’re really not the type to think to yourself... no offense.”

Unlike Tobias, Bastille had no filters. He just went ahead and said what was on his head, so it seemed.

“That’s different from right now.” She said. When they looked at her for clarification, she only blinked. “D-don’t look at me like that. I don’t know how to explain it either!”

Yeah... This was familiar. The feeling of being lost in one’s thoughts, and they don’t know how to put it into words was something that Tobias himself experienced a lot. So he sighed, and took a deep breath.

“This probably isn’t my place to say.” Tobias slowly began, and everyone turned to face him. “But she’s just trying to sort out whatever she’s feeling or thinking recently. That’s what she told me, and I think she would appreciate it if we leave her to do her own thing.”

“No, that’s fine.” She shook her head. “I forgot how to explain it like that. Thank you.”

“Hey, that sounds more like Clara!” Bastille exclaimed, with a loud laugh. In turn, she only turned to glare at him.

“Alright.” Jacques said, the mirth from his eyes disappearing, replaced by an authoritative gaze instead. “Allow me to ask this once more, you’re really fine, right? This isn’t coming from me as someone who’s curious about your circumstances. This is coming from me as Party Leader, because if you’re not in a state of proper mind, then it would only put all of us in danger later on.”

Clara nodded with absolute confidence. “I’m really fine. I know how to focus.”

“... Alright, then.” He said hesitantly, but didn’t question it anymore. “Now that that’s done, let’s keep looking around for the Magical Dungeon entrance.” Then just like that, Jacques nodded, and began walking away.

He really was a reliable leader like that, after all. While he wasn’t unbelievably charismatic to the point of magic, he was incredibly efficient and logical like that. He served as the voice of reason in their otherwise almost-too-chaotic and lax party.

Tobias gave a nod of respect towards his direction.

That being said... He was somewhat worried about Clara; once again, trains of thoughts were incredibly distracting at times. But at the same time, he knew that he had to clear those thoughts away.

Because a Tier 3 Dungeon... was going to be harder than any other dungeon, or quest they’ve ever done.

“Hey, I found it!” Bastille said, and pointed towards a direction. And where his finger pointed towards, was a white door in the middle of a big boulder of rock.

When they walked up to it, Tobias found that the golden plaque read ‘III”. So... that was it, right? It was amazing how he casually entered two Magical Dungeons without even reading their Plaques.

His carelessness would have led to an avoidable death at some point.

But thankfully, his party was patient with him, and helped him get rid of his more eccentric tendencies. Well, more like he had to, or else he would likely drag them to their deaths, just because he was too busy stepping on the middle of a tile or so and triggered a trap, or something.

... On hindsight, that was the reason why he triggered the alarm trap back in his first Tier 2 Dungeon, anyways...

“Alright. This is it.” Jacques called out, nodding to himself. “Remember, this is going to be harder and more dangerous than any other quest or dungeon we’ve done. Just a reminder, but we really need to be completely serious now.”

“Affirmative.” Bastille replied, his eyes hardened into one of complete focus.

Even that guy took this just as seriously as the rest of them... And he was usually the carefree one. It really was a testament to the new challenge that would await them, it would seem.

“Got it.” Clara nodded, having paid attention to the warning that Jacques gave.

“Understood.” Tobias nodded.

This was their most dangerous Dungeon yet. But it was fine. Everyone was healed, and fully rested. Tobias idly remembered getting his sword polished and sharpened, and he carried with him twelve throwing knives.

And if he was that careful, then he knew his party would also make their own preparations, accordingly.

Yes. They were ready, even if the stakes are higher than before.

“Let’s go.” Jacques opened the white door, and revealed the swirling vortex-like portal inside. And with a nod to everyone, he stepped in, being followed by Bastille, Clara, and finally, Tobias.

***

The place they were teleported into – it was reminiscent of an underground sewerage system, with tunnels which were barely tall enough for a human to walk through, and barely wide enough for two people to squeeze side-by-side if they were desperate enough, completed with archaic pictographs carved into gray, yet moss-covered stone.

It was also terribly dreary and dark, and Bastille had to conjure a floating fireball just to cast light and observe their surroundings.

And the worst part is...

It was flooded. It reached to their knees in depth, and while there was no strange smell or color from the water beneath them, Tobias knew that it would greatly hinder their mobility.

“Hah... Ghrk...” Jacques groaned, grimacing as he tried to take a step forwards, but water slowed down his usual striding speed.

“Jacques, you alright? You look like someone stained your white suit in a ball, or something.” Bastille asked, and Tobias found that their leader’s skin was pale, and sweat seemed to glisten on his skin.

Was it because of the darkness? Or their flame-hued light source? Tobias wasn’t sure.

“... Don’t worry... I’m fine.” Jacques replied, taking a deep breath to himself. Then he turned around, and peered into the tunnel. “You pick up anything, Bastille?”

“Yeah... now you mentioned it, this is problematic.” The Sorcerer replied, grimacing. “The mana density and quality of the air... it’s good. To the point where even my third rate mana sensor can pick it up.”

Tobias blinked. “Wait did you just –”

“Yes, I did. Even I know that part of me is shit. Now get that awed look out of your face.” Bastille snapped back, most likely to prevent Tobias from continuing that line of thought.

Because really... He never expected to see the day Bastille would insult his own self, even if indirectly. The guy was his own fountain of self confidence and almost-comedic haughtiness, after all.

“Isn’t that a good thing, then? The mana in the air, I mean.” Tobias asked, and his question was met by a mixed expression.

“Somewhat. It means I get to cast more spells, and I know I need to because this moisture is going to make my spells somewhat weaker.” Bastille admitted, then let out a sigh. “But at the same time, there’s the possibility that we’re going to be fighting a monster who’s made out of magic, or knows how to use magic...”

“That is problematic.” Tobias nodded.

Having witnessed both Bastille and Stella, who seemed to be prodigious at their own sorts of Magic – an enemy who could potentially cast Magic was only frightening.

“And not to mention, these tunnels are too small. Unless we’re fighting in an open space, I can’t really cast any magic to support you guys, or else I might cause some collateral damage. I can only cast Illumination so we can see, at least.”

“Alright.” Jacques nodded, taking the Sorcerer’s words into stride. “What about you, Clara?”

“I also can’t really provide any support.” She sighed, and shook her head in apology. “I don’t really want to risk hitting you guys in this tunnel, especially if I could help it.”

“This Dungeon is a pain...” Jacques muttered. But he nodded nonetheless. “Alright. Tobias, you mind if you take vanguard? I’m going to take the rear guard.”

Tobias nodded. “Understood.”

“Alright, line up then. Tobias in front, Bastille following him, then Clara.” At his words, they squeezed past each other to form their line, with them being no more than three steps apart at most.

And with a silent nod of agreement to each one, they stepped forwards into the darkness of this Magical Dungeon.

***

If there was a silver lining in this dank, tight, flooded tunnel, then it was the fact that whenever Tobias engaged in combat against oversized rats the size of a wolf, then he would be able to keep them at bay easily. Mostly because the tunnel could only fit two, maybe three rats if they squeezed hard enough at a time.

And let it be known that Tobias was really, really good at hunting wolf-sized targets. And with the water slowing down those giant rats much more than it slowed him down, that only made them easy kills.

Wordlessly withdrawing his blood stained sword from the corpse of the last of the pack of giant rats, he dipped it in water, gave it a stir, and pulled out a cloth from one of his pouches, before wiping his sword clean and dry.

The sequence of those actions to clean his weapon was quick, and it only took about two or three breaths. And just as he finished cleaning his sword, the corpses in front of him began to disintegrate into motes of light once more, and just like that, they proceeded forwards as usual.

They were already traversing through these cramp tunnels, which seemed to wind and twist every now and then for almost an hour now. Or so Bastille’s mental calculations told them.

The only enemies they faced were giant rats, really. There was no diversity this time, it seemed... But this was a Tier 3 Dungeon. Did that mean the Dungeon Boss was going to be exceptionally hard to make up for it...?

He shook his head, and focused, looking at the path ahead.

There were usually other forks and paths to another direction, turning left or right in different angles, but Jacques usually just told them to move straight forwards. And if they had no other choice, then... a discussion would happen.

Which was happening right now. Tobias idly peered into the path on the right, before turning to look at the path on the left. Both of them were almost identical – dark, flooded, and without any monsters as far as he could see.

“Both of them are dark. I can’t see anything after a few steps.” Tobias reported, pulling his head back from peeking both corners.

“So there’s nothing which differentiates them apart?” Bastille asked, humming as he thought to himself. “Tobias, mind if I throw Fireballs on either side to see what’s up?”

“Sure.” He agreed easily, and with a silent nod, Tobias squeezed himself to the side, while Bastille passed by.

Bastille didn’t even raise his Grimoire, and instead just settled on opening his right palm. He closed his eyes, and after a few seconds, a small orb of fire flickered into light in his palm. With a surprisingly well-placed throw, the Fireball sailed through the left tunnel as far as it went.

There was literally nothing stretching on for the longest while, before the Fireball eventually disappeared – either from burning out, or curving in a way where it touched the water and doused itself.

He conjured and threw another one on the right tunnel. It was different. Instead of sailing continuously until it fizzled out of existence, it instead impacted against a wall, and the shadows cast for a moment revealed that there was another tunnel leading towards its right.

“Left tunnel stretches on as far as I could see.” Bastille said, shrugging. “Right tunnel leads to another right turn after a few couple steps.”

“Mhm.” Tobias nodded in confirmation. He did peek both corners when Bastille did his magic, after all. “What do you think, Jacques?”

“... We go right.” Jacques finally said.

And with those words, Bastille nodded, and slipped past Tobias to return to his position as second in line. The Soldier found himself leading the way again, and he paced through the knee-high water, and walked to the right path.

When they reached the wall, he peered right again. That was...

“There’s a staircase leading upstairs.” Tobias said, facing his party. They all let out sighs of relief, no doubt having been tired of restlessly walking through the flooded, tight tunnels for the past hour or so.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” Bastille asked impatiently, and Tobias nodded. And quickly behind him, his party just followed his lead, as they stepped up the stairs.

Now that they were back to an area where it wasn’t too cramped or mobility-hindering, they resumed their typical party formation again. Tobias in front, followed closely by Jacques. Bastille and Clara was a few steps back.

“By the way, Jacques. Have you ever navigated through a labyrinth, or something?” Tobias asked, while he kept his gaze focused on the stone steps of the stairs.

“That’s an oddly specific question, Tobias.” Jacques said, almost too defensively. “Whatever made you ask that?”

“You seemed to know how to navigate this place, as if you knew the layout of this place.” Tobias replied.

“No.” He shook his head. “I just got lucky, that’s all.”

“I see...”

Somehow, Tobias could tell that Jacques was lying, or at least, concealing the truth. But in the end, he only accepted the answer with a small nod.

It wasn’t good taste to pry on another person’s past, after all. And now definitely wasn’t the time for that.

But for what reason was Jacques hiding the truth for, exactly?

Tobias shook his head. He might never need to know, after all.