Epilogue

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[Sebastien]

Walking into the guild building was a familiar sight and Sebastien felt that nostalgic feeling rise up within him. He sighed in pleasure and strode forwards with long strides to the desk.

“Sebastien Baralise to see the guild master.” He said to the lady at the desk.

“One moment sir.” She replied, getting up and walking to the back. She returned shortly. “He’ll see you now.”

“Thank you Jess” Sebastien said, reading her name off of her name tag. She blushed, but Sebastien had already walked past and was pushing the door open.

“Sebastien!” the old man behind the office desk said loudly and cheerfully, getting up to hug him. “Another boring death dungeon I expect, Sigurd wrong, was he?” the guild master asked.

“No, quite the opposite I’m afraid. I have to agree with him and say this might be the most unusual dungeon I have ever been inside. Even more unusual considering it was so new.”

“Odd, what do you mean?” the guild master replied.

“Well, the huge caverns for starters, then there’s the fact that it’s filled with life, most dungeons are barren and bare except for the monsters and traps, but this one is not. It has bugs and insects and birds and mammals. Its strange, like a full ecosystem.”

“A realm beneath if you will” Jenna replied butting in.

“Yes, that describes it well, like a whole new world hidden just beneath your feet. A realm within the mountain. Bizarre.” I continued.

“Add that to the fact that we couldn’t get to the bottom on the first run, had to pull back. No idea if there’s one more floor, five more or a hundred more.”

“Wait, you couldn’t get to the bottom?” the guild master asked, disbelieving.

“No, we ran through our healing potions too quickly and then a trick caught us by surprise and Jenna took a big hit. Without any potions we had to pull back. It was touch and go to be honest. If Sigurd hadn’t had a high tier healing potion back at his home we probably would have lost her.”

“Shit, really?” he asked. Sebastien nodded. “And what did you think of Sigurd?”

“Solid guy, reliable, sensible and a damn good delver. I think we’re going to go back to the dungeon with the guild and ask him to delve with us, at least until we reach the bottom.”

Sebastien and the guild master kept talking for a good while, the others pitching in their observations when required and soon night fell.

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[Dungeon]

I had just finished placating Memphis, which involved lots of rewards and compromises as well as accepting that I would be pranked and toyed with forever, and putting in the Balefire Wisp cluster to the fire boss floor when I was interrupted by a notification.

~~Congratulations, you have been named as The Realm Beneath by the adventurers that have challenged your depth. No longer an unknown dungeon you have a name. Keep improving and soon adventurers from all the lands will hear of you~~

Menu Name: The Realm Beneath Race: Dungeon Titles: Bizarre Renown: Discovered Rating: 5A Level: 50 Health: 3451/3451 Mana: 2000,100k (100k for lvl up) Knowledge: 49,000 Dungeon points: 6270 Status: Fine Attunement: E4,N4,I4,F4 Rooms: 615 Floors: 15+(2) Bosses: 3+(1) Monsters: 3006 Creatures: 152,133 Creature types:^ 24,123 Unique Items: 10 Item Types:^ 1481

A name, and a title, and an increase of rating. Things were looking good for me, though Memphis would undoubtedly be displeased that I had gotten a good name. The title Bizarre was slightly hurtful but I just took it to mean I was significantly better than anyone had seen before. Yes, that must be it, I thought to myself.

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[Sigurd]

It had been three months with no word, when I heard the unmistakable rumble of a moving army. Though not an invading one, but just the moving goliath that was the guild with their carts and horses and supplies. They had brought enough building material for five full buildings, including a guild house, a training yard, an inn, a storage building and a guard house. When a new dungeon was found they went to all ends to make sure it was set up right and I was damn glad to see them. It had gotten boring around here, and there was only so much work you could do on your garden. I had thought about going up to the dungeon again, but I had decided to wait, there was no need and I had no supplies left. It wouldn’t be long before there was an apothecary and church set up as well as a brewer’s guild and a tavern. Then I could really get to work.

It hadn’t been all waiting though. I had been training hard, getting back in shape and John had convinced me to let him join, he was determined to avenge his friends, and though he knew, and I had told him, the dungeon wasn’t responsible, it hadn’t made any difference. He was nowhere near strong enough to get to the bottom floors though, so I felt there was no risk of him going down the dungeon killer route. It took years of delving for the mana and experience to harden your mind and strengthen your body to get there. It was why adventurers were feared and respected. When you could outlift the strongest normal man with one arm you tended to garner a certain level of respect. No, John was no danger to the dungeon, and the training had already started to mellow him out a bit.

I waved as Jenna and the others stepped off the back of the cart and wandered over to say hello. “Sigurd” she yelled, running over to hug me.

“Hello Jenna. Hi everyone” I replied happily. “The guild made it then.”

“Yep, turns out you weren’t lying, your, village is going to be pretty rich with the money for the find coming in.”

I laughed. “I’m sure the villagers will appreciate it, I’m more concerned with when we’re next going in, I want to beat those ice floors.”

“How about next Tuesday, once the guild has started to establish, and we can organise some of the supplies. I’ll need to map out the first few floors in detail for the guild too.” Sebastien replied.

“Sounds good, now how’s a bed and a meal sound, better than the cots everyone else will be sleeping on?” I asked.

“Thank god, you’re a star Sigurd” Lorelei replied, moaning at the thought of a nice bed.

I laughed happily as we all wandered back to my house.

“Friar” I said, nodding to the man dressed in the stereotypical robes of the church. He nodded back at me.