5th - The First Meeting

Ah, how peaceful. The dome-shaped room is so quiet that if someone drops a needle I would hear it clearly. Here I stand, or however a chest 'stands' in front of the flaming orb that is the dungeon core while the crazy spider that entangled me in its web is behind me. The two of the most fearful beings I've met right now is having a staredown, with me right in the middle of course. Where else would I be?

Ah yes, it's so peaceful that I don't want to move at all. It's not that I'm too scared to move, that's clearly not it.

So, where am I and what the hell is going on with this staredown that seemed to have lasted for two years (*cough* no comment from author *cough*)? Well, I do believe it's time for a flashback. Yay! Who doesn't like flashbacks?

Let us go back to about three minutes ago, where I just entered the room...

("You, how did you resist my 'beast attraction' runes?")

I lied there, dumbfounded before I realised I was in the room with the mysterious voice interrogating me. The same force that pulled me in was now stopping me from moving at all. Not even my all powerful mimicry movement mastery (III) can save me anymore!

("Beast attraction runes?")

The best I could do was repeat what was asked. I could kind of guess what it is from its name but I really don't have much idea on what the hell's going on damnit! I was only here in this weird fantasy world as a chest for a couple days, and now you're asking me how I resisted something I've never even heard about in my life? Is this still the same life I've had? I don't know! I'm probably already dead and landed in the weird part of hell for all I know! And now I'm just ranting relantlessly! AHH!!!

...But still, back to the question...

("How should I know something like that?")

This is literally the only thing I could think of, the honest answer. In front of this mysterious voice, which I'm starting to think is coming from the orb, I don't think I should lie, especially when I know it can read my mind. I bet if I answer it with something like 'as if I'll tell you' and anger it, I'm not going to walk- I mean, crawl away scot free.

Right now, all I could do was to wait for the voice to reply. And...

("...Good point.")

("That's it?")

With that, the voice stopped talking. It seemed to be contemplating something. Wow, that was easy. I guess it pays to be honestly ignorant? It can't be that easy can it?

As I thought about it, well, it isn't going to be that easy. Not with the villianous spider crashing into the room a second later. Hey there my worst nightmare. I thought you would give up on me now that I escaped, but it seems I just made you angry instead and it seems you've been searching deeply for me instead. Oh boy. With the unknown force still sticking me on the spot, I guess this is it for me huh.

~Ah, I can feel my spirit floating away~

Damnit! I finally found it! My treasure!

I've been running around the dungeon for hours looking for anything moving that may have stolen the chest I found. All the mobs that I ran into were just goblins and other low level monsters that can't even tell left from right. Just in case though, I still killed them all and checked their hording stashes. Damnit, none of them had anything as valuable as my treasure chest.

I ran around some more before I came to a door that tried to attract me inside. I was about move on and check it later before I thought, hey, if I'm being lured in, wouldn't the thief that stole my treasure be lured as well?

Well, that logic works. Let's head into the trap!

Bang! I pushed open the door so hard that it seemed that I almost broke it with an explosion. The room was like a bird cage with a pillar supporting the roof in the middle... Wait, is that my chest!?

("I did it! I found it!")

I threw up my front legs and hurrahed. I felt someone staring at me but I didn't care for the time being. I'll deal with the thief hiding somewhere in here later. I'm too happy for that.

("Where did you come from??")

Ah, it seems the thief is surprised. For stealing my treasure, I'll... Hang on, where is he? There's nothing blocking my view in the room and the pillar is too thin to hide someone behind. Where is that thief?

("Hmm, you should be intelligent enough to understand. Try speak to me in your mind.")

("Huh? Like this? Wait, are you using telepathy outside of the room? Damnit, where are you hiding!?")

("Ah, wait-")

("I'm going to take my treasure back and kill you three times over if I find you!")

("I said WAIT A SECOND!")

The voice frozen me on the spot. Was that an ability that was used? Damn, what a troublesome ability.

("You have mistaken me. I am the core of this dungeon and I have not stolen your treasure!")

The dungeon core? Is it the ball-thing in the middle of the pillar that's on fire? Wait, am I talking to the heart of the dungeon!?

("You're the ball that's on fire?")

("...Yes, I'm the 'ball that's on fire'.")

("Then how did you steal my chest? Magic?")

("AH! I JUST explained, I DIDN'T steal your chest! And this isn't a- Ah, you're not listening anymore are you...")

So who stolen my chest and how did it get here? Did the thief left after entering the room? No, it can't be, unless the dungeon core is in cahoots with the thief?

In my mind, I thought about all the possible factors of how the chest got here and where the thief could be. The dungeon core is saying something but I'm too busy think about this to know what he's saying. Ah, maybe the thief is going to come back?

("Perhaps I should let it talk to this one.")

Right after I heard the core say something, I heard another voice in my head. This one was completely different in tone and seemed a little... afraid? It must be the thief then if he is afraid! He is afraid the owner has come to take his loot back and he should be, because I am!

("Wait what!? Why do I have to talk to it?")

("Where are you, you thief! I've already got my treasure chest back so come out wherever you are now and face my wrath!")

("Who in their right mind would come out when they hear that!?")

("Ah, good point.")

The thief is quite smart it seems.

("Why is everyone accepting what I say so easily? Or is the phrase 'good point' such a popular thing to say? Hang on, that's not it! Why am I the straight man in this situation!?")

("Hey, I told you to explain yourself to the spider, not reacting to its words.")

So the dungeon core said. Explain? What is it talking about?

("...Anyway, I guess I'll introduce myself. I'm... Well, I don't remember my name, but the important thing is, I'm the chest in front of you.")

I looked at the chest. It moved and faced my direction by itself naturally as if it was alive. Well, I guess it is actually alive, just that I didn't know about it.

("You?")

("Yes, I'm the chest. I'm apparently a mimic.")

("...No treasure?")

("NO! No, I'm not treasure. Please don't insert another key inside me ever again.")

("...")

("...")

("So I've tried to tell you, there was no thief, just a mimic. See?")

...Well, this is... a bit awkward for the both of us...

Within the Blackfire Empire where several kingdom was absorbed under a single power, the state captial 'Crimere', a particular rumour began to spread around the city and outward the country. It was not the citizens of the empire that was talking, but the immortal beings that once appeared out of nowhere several years ago.

Within a cheap and dingy pub of poor quality, two 'players' sat by the counter near the bartender chatted among themselves.

"Hey, have you heard about a new dungeon that was discovered?"

"No? There wasn't any notification about a new dungeon though?"

"No no, apparently it's a hidden dungeon that was found behind Greenhill Village, right under every player's noses."

The two players didn't notice the cold, inspecting eyes of several people from around the pub, including the bartender. They continued to talk about the dungeon casually.

"Really? What level is the dungeon anyway?"

"I don't know. The players that reported it only inspected the entrance before leaving to tell everyone about it. There must be others that entered but no one has speak out about anything inside it yet."

"Do you think we could strike it big if we go now?"

"Hmm, I think most of the players that heard about this has already gone in, but I guess yeah, we could if we're lucky."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

As he was about to stand and leave, the bartender suddenly grabbed his arm.

"Please pay for your drink, sir."

"Ah, sorry, here it is."

The player materialised two copper coins out of nowhere and threw it towards the bartender, who caught the coins neatly. He checked the coins while staring at the players and put it away, letting the player go.

"Dude, I don't like this place. Next time, let's just hang out at the guild canteen. I don't care if it's not cheap. This pub gives me the creeps."

The other player followed his friend and left with two copper coins on the counter while gesturing at the bartender. With the door of the pub swinging close, six figures that was surveillancing the two players stood up together and walked into the back of the pub. One of them stopped before the bartender.

"Do you want me to assign a team to follow them?"

The bartender glanced coldly at the man, before turning back to collect the other two coins on the counter.

"Do you think they're stronger than the general?"

The man only nodded once and left, acknowledging the bartender's words. The pub now suddenly became silent except for the sound of glass wiping.

"Looks like Alexander is going to have a lot to deal with in the upcoming days."

The bartender spoke to no one, and continued to clean the glasses.

The night goes on without a single customer entering, but the bartender didn't care. It was not this place's purpose anyway. It was only his hobby.

"Maybe I should visit him and see how's he dealing with that wife of his."

He chuckled. 'Perhaps another day, when I need an excuse to leave,' he thought.