The four-man squad found itself once again in the mine. This time, the hunters stayed quiet, with Roger and Ianina in the front and Metello and Jeffrey at the back. They had decided that Roger would be the leader while on the hunt, even if Ianina was not too happy about it. She agreed on the promise that he would ask for opinions when they had the time and that it was only when on the hunt.

For this cycle, the objective was to allow Ianina to fight monsters one-on-one so that she could get used to fighting monsters. The rest of the team was responsible for dealing with the other threats.

“Anima, god of life, please make my skin stronger so that neither claws nor teeth could hurt me.

Resilience!”

Metello tried to control the light as well as he could, but for the first time, he found that the one-meter range for his light ball was a problem. Another problem was that he couldn't see in front of Ianina and Roger to adjust the lighting. He opted to place Lucco at ceiling level and as much ahead of him as possible. It was not enough to calm Ianina's grumbles much.

They left the monster corpses at the side while walking through the deserted tunnel and arrived at the first room without meeting any monster. Without pausing, Roger continued with Ianina at his side. They walked through the middle of the pillar-filled space, and quickly, the light and the faint noises they made attracted some monsters.

The recognizable shrieks of ratmen announced the incoming stones. Roger received them by slicing through them. To his side, Ianina hid behind a pillar to avoid the flying rock bits. Then, Metello could see four ratmen running to them. Jeffrey came close to the [Priestess] to assist if needed. Behind, Metello held his rapier and iron buckler ready but was more watching than anything else, trying to enlighten the room as good as possible while tracking the monsters' movements.

Metello saw Roger killing his three ratmen with ease while Jeffrey was like dancing with his monster, slicing it from time to time. On her side, Ianina stayed solidly on her feet to receive the charge but swung her mace too late. Rat teeth found her flesh once again. This time, the monster bit her near the ankle. However, she didn't lose her composure as before, or not too much. She first tried to hit the monster's head with the mace handle but quickly opted to kick the stone pillars, using the biting body to cushion the shock. After the second kick, the beast released his prey but gained another furious one, which made it fly two meters away. It was stunned and couldn't dodge the spiked mace crushing his bones one, two, three, four times before Roger told the [Priestess] it was dead. They could see Jeffrey finishing his prey a few seconds later with a dagger in the rat's head.

Roger came to the heavy breathing Ianina.

“Are you hurt ?”

“Not much. I felt the rat teeth, but it didn't dig deep.”

She said a Prayer to Anima and smiled.

“My first monster! We will have to celebrate this with cakes and wine!”

Metello mumbled in response.

“I'm sure I can't afford this.”

“That's not time to rejoice yet. Let's continue. Ianina, it was better than before. Jeffrey, it's good but a bit long. Metello...the light was better than what I'm used to. That was good.”

“How are you managing without a [Lux Acolyte] light-wise ?”

“Generally, one or two of the support hold a lamp or a torch. Let me say to you that we don't see much, but you get used to it after some time. Let's pile up the monsters for later and go to the left tunnel. Keep an eye out for monsters, moss, or mushrooms.”

A few minutes later, they were in formation and were ready to walk ahead when Metello stopped them.

“Wait for a second, please. Ianina, do you want to use my buckler? I don't think I'll need it for now, and perhaps it'll be easier for you with it.”

“Why not. Let's try it. Thanks.”

They walked through the tunnel for some time before hearing the other kind of shriek Metello knew well now. For once, he was not the one who would kill the undead rats.

In the narrow space, Roger and Ianina fought one zombie rat each. From the back, Metello could see that Roger didn't kill the ugly thing in one strike as he had done previously. Ianina, with the buckler, seemed more comfortable and received the charge easily, throwing away the monster and taking two steps forward to strike it hard with her spiked mace four times. Meanwhile, Roger had finished his fight too. Even if he whispered, Metello could hear him.

“Ugly beasts. I prefer your living cousins.”

Once everything calmed down, Metello couldn't help but ask the [Swordsman].

“Are zombie-rat harder to kill for you than ratmen?”

Roger looked up to Metello while Jeffrey was retrieving the cores.

“Oh. Yes. They are not like living monsters. They have no weak point to stab to kill them almost instantly, so it's not as easy as ratmen for me. I have to use my blessings to finish the fight faster. I guess it's the opposite for you ?”

“Against zombies, I only have to wait for the light to kill them. That's not a fast way to do it, but I guess it's easier.”

“Too bad you are only [Acolyte] for now. As a [Priest], you would have Multi Cast, and you would be able to use your light to support the team and damage the undead. It would be so useful in the deep mines.”

“It's the second time you talk about it, but what are the deep mines ?”

“Ask me again on the way back. Jeffrey got the cores so we can continue.”

The next room was a dead-end full of undead rats, which did not please anyone but Metello. The fight was longer and smellier but safer.

“Thanks for the buckler. It helps me a lot. I think I will buy a shield for myself once back in the city.”

Not knowing what to answer, Metello nodded and went to retrieve some cores. They came back to the first room with the ugly bodies in bags and left them there to get later. Then, the squad went to the right tunnel in order. They were already sticking to their roles nicely, not that the formation was difficult to remember.

As they were walking a bit less slowly than before, Ianina let out a cry of surprise. From behind the squad, Metello couldn't see much, but he knew something was coming as Roger prepared himself to fight in his relaxed manner. He stepped ahead and struck, but for once, he missed the long and slender furry monster which ran up on the tunnel ceiling with his numerous legs and jumped on Ianina's face from up there. The [Priestess] tried to dodge to no avail. The white furry thing clung to her, and Ianina had to let down her weapon and grip the long and slender body to push it back. Once she managed it with cries of pain and rage, she threw it away, and Roger killed the thing swiftly even before it hit the ground.

Ianina sat on the ground, her back to the tunnel's wall. Her face was bloody, and she moaned in pain. As some scratching noises came from ahead, Ianina chanted a Prayer of Anima and Roger prepared himself for the incoming monsters.

“Jeffrey, come ahead to support me if needed. Metello, take care of Ianina.”

After her prayer, Ianina seemed better, even with her face still bloodied. Her pain complaints changed into a slow anger rant.

“What was this stupid furry centipede! Nox tits! It could have jumped on someone else or even somewhere else! Am I the sole juicy target here for all these monsters to wound only me ?”

Metello took advantage of a break in her words to offer a handkerchief.

“Here, to wipe the blood. Are you okay ?”

She replied, still in an irritated tone.

“Yes, I'm fine. Thanks. But no joke, what was this sly thing ?”

Roger had killed quickly the three ratmen who came after the noise without needing Jeffrey's help. Metello was looking at the monster from afar when Roger crouched in front of Ianina's aggressor.

“I think it's a ferret monster. I've come across two in five years of hunting.”

“How many legs does it have? Ten ?”

“Weird thing indeed. Let's have a break at the entrance for a few minutes ?”

They all agreed and took a bag full of monsters in the first room back toward the sun. Once they were all outside, sitting on the ground, Roger talked again, scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed face.

“Sorry, Ianina. I should have been more cautious. Few shallow mines monsters can avoid my sword, and I didn't recognize it quickly enough. We're lucky you were an Anima follower.”

The mention of shallow mines reminded Metello of his question. Now that they had some time, he asked.

"What are the shallow mines and deep mines ?"

"I guess we can take the time now. Actually, all your hunts took place in the shallow mines. They are the accessible part of the old iron mines. Most of the mine tunnels are much deeper than you know but are sealed by Petrus followers. The deep mines are almost exclusively filled with undead monsters as nobody can take back all the bodies from too far away. Also, as these tunnels and rooms are less often cleared and all interconnected, the monsters can be much higher in level. That's why only silver-ranked squads are allowed in there."

"What level are the monsters there?"

"Most of them are between level 7 and 8, but I heard once someone who met a level 11 monster. It's a rare sight, but the unusual things kill more often than usual ones.”

Hearing these words, Metello thought about the ferret monster as most of the squad. It had been indeed more dangerous because they were not prepared for it.

After some more talking, they went at it again. Metello noticed that Ianina talked less after the ferret incident. Anyway, the continuation of the hunt went mostly well. With the time Metello and Jeffrey usually needed to clean the first room by themselves, the squad emptied four of it. Ianina got injured once more in the leg, but nothing serious. The [Lux Acolyte] thought it was a very difficult start as a monster hunter for her. However, her quick adaptation to being hurt and to the surrounding darkness impressed the Lux follower.

Once they decided to stop the hunt, all they had to do was bring the corpses to the entrance. It was the more tiring moment for Metello as all he had to do before this moment was to stand up behind the others. After a few tens of minutes to finish the task, they had made a pile inside with 22 ratmen, one rabbit-man, and the ferret monster. Another stack of ten zombie-rat was standing outside under the Everlasting Sun. They found some mushrooms too that went in Roger's bag.

Metello carried three corpses and Jeffrey four, while Ianina managed to take five and Roger eight with added mushrooms.

“We can let the four remaining corpses here for now. We'll come back early next cycle if it suits everyone ?”

“If it is possible, I would prefer hunting after lunch. I'd like to practice with my brother Carl who is learning [Rogue]'s blessings.”

“Well, I'm more used to hunting in the morning, but that's OK with me if that is what you prefer. Anybody against it?”

As nobody minded it, they accepted Jeffrey's request and began their way back to the city loaded with monster corpses. The [Swordsman] with his leather helmet carrying more than twice Metello's load was quite a sight for the Lux follower. But the [Priestess] covered in blood, hiding under her conic straw hat, was almost as impressive as Roger with her large load and her feral air. They were walking silently in the cold wind when the [Rogue] asked.

“I wondered several times, but why do the monsters in the mine are almost only rats ?”

Metello knew it. He already asked Mr Morton a long time ago. Nonetheless, he let Roger answer.

“You know monsters are living animals corrupted by Nox's Night? Then, if I told you that the rat catchers in the city sell their catch to the House, that after each time a mine is cleared from monsters, they send someone to free them into it, would you believe me ?”

Metello chuckled before Jeffrey asked back with a surprised voice and wide eyes.

“Are there so many rats in the city?”

Metello and Roger burst out laughing. The Lux follower remembered being the target of the same joke when he asked Paul. He was secretly pleased to see that he wasn't the only one to fall for it. Nonetheless, Metello quickly explained.

“He said the truth, only that most of the rats the House collects are rats from breeders.”

They finished the journey to the city gates with some more laughing noises, and Ianina's smile bloomed once or twice.

They went to the House's butchery. Old Johnny was pleased to find the ferret monster and gave them three times a ratman's worth for it. However, Ianina's prey was in too bad a state to be worth much. Anyway, they pocketed their 130 copper each and went to the bath section.

Ianina's voice resounded as she saw Jeffrey and Metello using the free rag and water.

“Don't tell me you won't take a full bath. You need to clean your bodies too !”

The [Rogue] answered honestly, not seeing much of a problem.

“It was a bit too pricey for us, but now that we have enough money for the rent, we could pay for a bath for once ?”

Metello agreed, and they followed Roger, who had stopped to wait for them.

“Not enough money to clean themselves. Know that from now on, it will be an every cycle thing. A bath after each hunt, guys!”

Metello tried to negotiate only to be quickly rebuffed.

“This is not an option!”

Metello counted that at a three coppers cost, they could afford eight cold baths or four hots baths for what a good quality ratman body earned them. As they were not in dire need of money at the moment, he thought they could afford it.

Five minutes later, the three guys were naked in the water. They had one bathtub in the same large room each, Roger the only one with hot water. Around them, other monster hunters were enjoying their time in the water, talking to each other about monsters, girls, or beer. Roger took advantage of the quiet time to speak to his teammates.

“So, what is your feeling about this team? Do you have things to say about the hunt ?”

Jeffrey was the first to answer.

“It is a bit weird. We used to hunt very slow and steady, without taking any unnecessary risk. With you on the team, things go really fast. And I don't feel much useful yet.”

“And you, Metello? What are your feelings about it?”

“I think the same as Jeffrey. It was weird. And I was impressed by Ianina for her first hunt. When I compare it to mine, I feel embarrassed.”

Roger's loud and happy voice resounded in the room.

“Yes, I think the team has a lot of potential with Ianina, but with you too, Metello. I don't know if you two are aware that not all teams have an [Acolyte] class with them. With two in ours, I will make my old team jealous. You two followers need some more training before being at full potential. But even in this cycle, you are already very useful to the team. Don't think the contrary. And for you, Jeffrey, you must know that the [Rogue] class is not a shining one. Perhaps you don't feel useful, but you will be. It's when things go astray that your class shows its worth. Things are a bit weird as I have almost four levels on you, but you will save more lives in the team than me. I assure you that when I woke up earlier, I never would have dreamed I would end up with three promising teammates before lunch. We will probably be able to go into the deep when Metello evolves his class."

His smile faltered for his following words, and his voice went quiet.

"The only black spot of the cycle is what you said to me about the [Apostle], but it was just something that was happening without me knowing.”