Chapter 14

Rishido here. Sometime that when we do things that we just love to do or we just need to do impresses other people like one time that I made a program that show a 2D animation by just using basic coding that taught to us back in high school. Most of my friends are impress about it and even our teachers from then on I’m suggested to enter Luminous to study. Some people really do have high expectation on other people whose good at things but sometimes it gave others a pressure, hope I don`t get another hot seat again, or not.

------

“How many times I’d told you to not do that death defying act of bravery of yours hu!”

“I could even remember how many and besides it was almost a week ago and from the day we escape you didn`t even stop ranting and nagging about this and that, you know, but I really do appreciate your concern about me but please take it easy now.”

Then her face steam out and got redden again, she`s cute in a way but gosh her nagging is worse than Okaa-san. I know Leyla is worried and everything but it was a week ago.

“W-what are you saying that I’m worried of course not! I`m more worried about my reputation from other guides that can`t help their companions from dying just because they can come back from their graves for a few days.”

*sigh* I get her. Most players do death grinding because they are abusing the beta system of just being lock inside the town for 24hr in game. Well we are still on beta test but I bet they will change it eventually to decrease the PK players and reckless kids running around fields and dungeons.

Well it has been a week in game or 2 days RL but I still feel that battle rush from my fight against that guardian. At first, we are on stalemate but my override system and mana energy is really an OP combo and I won with overwhelming force and destroyed that dungeon core but I almost died again if not for Leyla and the others that came over as soon as the fight ended.

If Leyla didn`t pump some mana inside me I would have been dead and lock inside the town for 24 hours. However, the damage in my gears and even my OS in my head got it hard and I have to stay in town for 3 days just replacing and repairing bits and parts of me. Luckily the mindless clockworks got some important parts that are not destroyed but no one in town can repair them even that dwarves that said to be had some small connection with clockwork can’t help me.

Well after we resurface, most teams are given with recommendation letter by Arth-dono while some are promoted, even I got my recommendation letter but my state at that time forbid me to travel with them. The silver teams and the pioneer teams will travel to Feliusa town then the Dukedom where not everything is revealed. The loots from the floor masters is already ahead of the silver team but it wasn`t revealed so everyone think that they will personally deliver it.

While I’m locked inside the town, I study about how could I remodel my body which is still crappy looking even though I got body engineering. I’m still thinking if I will make my body more human or stick to this boxy or geometric shape parts which is really awkward to see.

As for the rewards, the dungeon subjugation and conquering is really tasty indeed. First I got a whopping 15 levels for the entire expedition, others got around 20 but I don`t mind that coz I have already know why. My fighting abilities improved by two or three levels like acrobatics, heavy weaponry mastery, and two-hand mastery which I both got one week ago and they are both really useful because of my weapon preference of heavy and metal.

The heavy weaponry is good if you can lift weapons heavier than half or your total weight and it improve the damage and power output plus it add a knock back and stun while in bladed weapon, it add more power in slashing and add automatically made you bleed. Well two hand mastery is self-explanatory then I also got turret and siege weaponry mastery which improve my aiming and even gave me details like wind current flow, ammo weight and uses.

We got also titles for dungeon subjugation but I got a special title that is announced by the system, which is really embarrassing. Well the first one is floor master killer then dungeon conqueror after we subjugate the dungeon but I got a specified title, first is Guardian Destroyer which can only be achieve if you solo kill a core guardian and it gave a +15 all stats. The last one that is announce is a one-time only given title so it was so special, it is called Dungeon Trailblazer which required a guardian destroyer title and destroy the dungeon core inside the dungeon. But what really amazes me is the all-stat bonus of 25 then I have treasure finder ability while it was equip which is subtle when I used because it revealed tons of indicator in my radar. However, when I check some, it was just some items, which is keep as heirloom, expensive items, and other things.

Well from what I heard from Arth-dono, days after the conquest is that dungeon core are sometimes taken out for studies. I can`t really think of anything at that time but the fact that I need to save everyone. In addition, most people in town called me as the Trailblazer or Conqueror, which really attract attentions from players.

As for the coreless dungeon, it was being renovated to be used by merchants and production classes because it was as wide as the scrapyard but it got smaller as per Arth-dono`s suggestion because the weight if people start flooding inside it. The monsters inside are still roaming around even if it was coreless but they can`t respawn now so the demand also withered. The fifth floor or the sanctuary is still off limits because there might me a possibility of teams rushing there for hunting or just curious about what is down there.

Well the beast down there is non-operational now but Arth-dono requested me to investigate it because I have more knowledge about this kind of things. As for the loots and dungeon subjugation rewards is already been given but I have to wait a few days coz I’m still broken. However, just after 4 days, I got my share that is 50 gold coins and I can request for what I can take from the loot we gain while inside so I get all the materials that I really need for repairs and mostly it came from clockworks that we fought. But I’m still thinking about the clockwork guardian`s body because it was durable and swift even if it was heavier than me.

Now back to present where I log in and received my daily Leyla medicine, I’m ready for another exploration but this time it will not be so dangerous. As I arrive to report to the guild and check some request, I saw Arth-dono waiting for me and told me what I will do in there like check if there are monsters dens or remnants of the dungeon. Second is that explore every corner of the dungeon for clues if it has other places or small hole which is still unrevealed and lastly he said that I will give him suggestion about my assessment about that floor.

I asked why me if he got 5 silver team to explore it but he just said that the floor master`s loot and audience is more important than this also he got me to explore that floor. He really does have high expectation with me being clockwork and everything. I can`t complain about this because I can rip off many loots for this request.

As I ride Cerous with Leyla and Mabby who`s enjoying the view of people who are amaze to see us and even do greet us. I don`t want to be a celebrity or something but it warms my heart as I saw peoples smiles and admiration. It lessens the depression and sadness that is still inside me.

I wave and greet them back as we arrived at the withered dungeon entrance, which from my last memory is pack with teams, but now only few teams are exploring it. Other teams subjugated most monster dens and they will not respawn plus the reconstruction is on the way but some natives and players participate in it for specific experiences, salary, and food.

As I came down to the fourth floor, it was desolated place except for few people looking around for things to mine then the guards who are in charge of the fifth floor. I remembered that I could dig out hurtalo stone, which is unpopular because it got poison. Now that I think about it, the floor master is a poison type monster and it was still inside my item box except for the innards, poison sacks and other small parts that I compounded days ago. I am still thinking on what I will do about the pinchers and stinger.

I tried to use the treasure finder from the title then my radar is full of small dots around the dungeon. I should have used it at the first floor maybe it only work on dungeons because it does not have that many things like pricey weapons and weird items.

While I coach Cerous around as we follow the path where I can dig hurtalo stone and some ores, Leyla is busy on practicing her new magic that she got and it was called blossom impaler. She will send a nature ball to the ground then a flower will rise quickly with sharp thorns that increase its size depending on the mana output. Another one is nature shockwave but as I saw it, it was like a cone-shape wave that has leaves pushing the monsters away.

As I reach the half marked of my digging process, I saw few people with pickaxe, and from their looks, they are just native’s slum dweller. I know that I can overlooked them but still a little help will not hurt so I told them that I saw two ore veins. This place isn`t taxable as of now unlike the mineshaft at the north and it still got monsters dwelling inside plus the crime slaves.

As they rushed to where I direct them where to mine, I continue my stone digging until I retrieve everything then go back to the guards.

I presented my plate and the letter of Arth-dono then they let me in. They said that after the dungeon conquering no one has ever came down to the fifth floor even a glimpse of it even though the gossip around town said that it was beautiful as a lush virgin forest. I agreed with them but I also told them what we saw and from the looks of them, they are shit scared about the tree bearing monster can`t blame them I still got goose bumps whenever I remember that thing.

It was still as magnificent as I first saw it but the hole at the center where that tree is located is missing and replaced with only grass clearing. I activated again the treasure finder and I was just amaze on how many marked places are there but the ore veins are deep inside the walls. If I report, it got ore vein people will start to destroy this place so I should keep it as a secret besides the ores are just few and they are all tin.

I let Mabby and Leyla walked beside us as we travel around the forest that is also desolated. Most things that I got are fruits, herbs, and some rare ones that were used for magical potions but they have some metal property, which is not weird to see because of the dungeons nature.

Then my sensor send a warning of level ten and even Leyla saw it and starts to get nervous and anxious around us. I can`t see the threat around me so it was far from my safety perimeter but I have to focus and stay low. As we transverse around the forest looking for that threat and don`t make unnecessary noise so we will not alarm that monster if it was asleep or something, we arrived at the grass clearing where the dungeon core used to be.

I tried to looked around and even activate my mana scan but I can find any trace of the guardian or even an abnormal mana flow. The clearing is nothing special so we continue to look around until I saw a red dot on my radar and it was near the pond.

“Don`t do it Raiser, you can`t win against that enemy we better say it to the guild master.”

“I know Leyla but at least let me scan it first so I can have some clues even it was just one.”

“Fine but after that we run back to the guards and alarm them, might as well cover the hole”

“Yes that would be good for everyone.”

I leave Cerous and Mabby so we will not attract more attention. As we creep closer to the pond where the enemy reside, i`m starting to feel the pressure and tense around us even Leyla starts to sweat and hug me as we move closer.

As we have I clear view on the enemy, I can only say one thing that I saw. F*CK!!!

It was a female elf and she was NAKED! For Minea`s sake why are you even naked and how can she pass the guards without alarming them. They stand right beside the tunnel entrance so how can she pass through them. Then I concluded that she might because of the threat level she had.

At least she is standing behind us but dat ass though. Vividly coloured yellow hair that ends on her waist, a bit slender but still she got the curves. Still, she is as dangerous as her body so I quickly withdraw as I saw a puffy cheeked Leyla staring at me. The thing I feared the most about Leyla must be with her now, let`s pray to Minea and the fairy goddess or queen to please don`t let her.

Only a few meter away from that sacred place, an arrow just pass right in front of me landing on the ground but the arrow made a crater. I couldn`t see anything around even the red dot isn`t moving but I start running faster hugging Leyla to cover her from the arrows that elf is firing no doubt about it.

As I run and dodge dozens of arrows falling down to me like meteors I start to use my speed gear to increase the speed and reaction and order others to start running back to the entrance. I can see that the elf is chasing us with unmatchable speed that even if I use my combo again I won`t brush her of my tail.

Then magic shots starts flying from different direction but I dodge them but damn that magic shot broke some trees just passing them others got vines that wrap around a tree and broke it into pieces. Fuck that shit I’m out of here.

Another wave of arrows and magic shots came down but this time I can see the elf smiling at me. She`s a succubus dressed as an elf. I need to run and dodge but as one arrow gash at my shoulders, it broke down my balance and fell down the one by one magic shots and arrows fell down to us but I protected Leyla under me as I hugged my head down and let my back be the target.

However, nothing came down as I hear a sweet laughter from my pursuer; she might be a sadistic one who enjoys chasing her targets. I cannot let her hurt Leyla but she cannot use her emergency magic for some reason.

“Sorry for chasing you but I caught you peeping at me while I’m dressing up.”

She might be playing at me right now; I have to play it smoothly as I plan to make an escape.

“I don`t have any intentions on peeping at you but I perceive your presence which shouldn`t happened because this place should be empty and no one is allowed enter without permission from the guild master or village leader.”

“Is that so but I got my permission so I’m allowed to enter this place.”

How can she be if I’m the only one whom Arth-dono requested.

“If you say so and I’m sorry for what happened early on. I have to go now and do my work here.”

As I bind my goodbye smoothly as walked away from her. I can see Leyla in my arms holding her cry and keep her silent.

“Awww but we haven’t introduce ourselves besides your like fun to be with so I’m tagging along with you.”

W-what!!! This is really dangerous for both of us.

“I`m sorry but I have to authority to deny you from following me, stalking me or anything thing even the harassment because I could report you to the guild master.”

“Aawww~ what a bummer I like to talk to you more.”

Sheesh, won’t she just stop following me.

“I have to go and I also gave you a warning so please comply with it.”

“Your no fun you know, you too stiff to people. Aren`t you attracted at me?”

If you asked me personally I would say yes but I’m on my alter ego mode so…

“Not really also I don`t have any feelings and you are delaying my work now.”

I turn around and start walking away from her which is weird coz she hasn`t move or even reply. Then one moment I saw her face in front of me.

“You’re no fun but I like that also because you will just increase the excitement, so see you again clockwork.”

She attempts to kiss me, which is really weird because I don’t have a definite place for my mouth. Then a nature ball fired in front of her face that she dodge smoothly and jumped back.

“Don`t ever touch him you lewd elf.”

Thank you, Leyla but you don`t have to hug my head while saying that.

“Ohw so the clockwork already got someone but don`t worry little fairy I won’t take him away from you, I just want to play with him.”

“Then don’t you lewd elf, I taught elves got some manners but I bet you don’t learn a thing about being a lady.”

Leyla please stop that heated woman talked, I can imagine the sparks from their stares to each other.

“You got big mouth and courage for a small body but I don`t like how you called and describe me for being not lady like as for your information I’m more refined lady than you in so many ways.”

“You dared to say me things like you’re a refined lady but your actions jeopardize everything you said from the very beginning”

You too, please stop this talk right now. I still got a lot of work to do.

“Yes you can say that but he peep at me so I could punish him for doing that.”

I said it was an accident but she`s not really listening from the beginning.

“As he said earlier we sense you here and even if you have authority from the being here you should know that attacking allied members are punishable.”

“You know your thing little fairy but you don`t know who you’re talking with.”

“And you also don`t know who`s fairy you are talking with also.”

Things are getting out of hands now and from their talk, we might be in more danger, Leyla I know your concern but angering a powerful enemy is no good.

“Well then see you again clockwork and you too little fairy”

“You also lewd elf”

W-what just happened first they are arguing then saying goodbye. I can`t understand on just what happened right now. At least Leyla got that elf away from us.

“Thank you Leyla for driving her away, don`t worry I won’t ask anything”

“We are just safe for now but I bet we will meet her again coz the fight just got started.”

Fight? When? However, I let it go because it was a girl talk.

I can see the red dot going back to the entrance as I called Cerous and Mabby that run before us ad continue my exploration around this place. This place can be used for animal husbandry, the center clearing can be used for agricultural purposes but the plants, and trees are mostly made or have some metal properties, which is inedible to some extent. However, if there is a magic that can convert this place then massive work of uprooting and replanting can be undone.

As I seek the last marked item that is farther away from the other, I can now relax and continue my upgrade on both skills and parts. Then I saw tattered clockwork body but as I scanned it, it was the guardian that I fought back then but how can this clockwork be here if we fight in the center of this place.

I can see its machine core with dimmed light so this clockwork survives in a way or it got revive back.

“You… one… I fight.”

Huh? It is still alive but how I mean I got a title defeating it.

“Yes I’m the one defeated you and also a clockwork. You’re still operational so I’ll repair you.”

“Don`t…virus active…”

“You got a virus how?”

“Dungeon… revives me… used…virus… control…”

So that dungeon can really do weird stuffs but the other clockworks are mindless but maybe he is the real deal i`m looking for.

“Mr Guardian why are you still alive what happened.”

“That is rude Leyla.”

“What I just asking about how can---“

“No clue… me need… give you… this.”

As the guardian cut off Leyla as it moves its core and hand it over weakly with its broken arms. I quickly hold the fragile looking core as I approached the guardian.

“Use…study…bring back… life one…of us.”

“Okay I will but how can I use this core, I haven`t studied this matter.”

“Open head… black card… info there… safe.”

“You mean we will open your head then take that black card so we can learn everything”

“Wait the guardian is still alive Leyla maybe I could support it with the core like Mabby had.”

“you know that we couldn`t save that right beside the guardian is like giving you its last will or death wish so just agreed with him.”

I was hard for me to accept it because I feel like Okaa-san is talking to me again with her last wish for me. I hold on to my emotions and go on with the wish of my clan mate.

“Okay, I will. I have a mindless clockwork that I save back when we are here. I studied that It don`t have its own personality like us. I have many questions to ask but I know you won’t last long.”

“Yes… help others… build again… clan good days…we help peace… not war.”

“I`m planning on finding the others and helping them so don’t worry about it you can rest now.”

“Thank you…brother.”

I can see the shine in its eyes fades away and terminate its system to operate again. I gave it a prayer for its soul if it had one then store the dimmed machine core in my box then open its head to retrieve the black card that it mentioned. I can see that there are other cards and items that I haven`t seen before but the virus keeps me from getting all of it but I continue to extract the small parts as I activate my traits to see things is many view like mana and innovator. I can see the infected parts in violet and give off a small mana trail.

After I done getting some small parts that could help me repair that mindless clockwork that is still inside Cerous trunk. I dug a hole and buried my brethren’s body then place some small stones around it as I marked the place and report it to Arth-dono.

“Are you done with your ritual?”

“Yes and I’ve prayed for the guardian`s safe travel.”

“Have you gone to this same situation?”

“Yes I do but I don`t want to talk about it, we got a lot of work to do now.

She just nodded at me and flew back to Cerous and Mabby whose waiting for us.

*

“—then I saw the body of the guardian but it is non-operational and it was a real clockwork but it was infected with so dungeon virus that might be a mind controlling magic like the one that happened with the drone ants after we defeated their queen. The rest of our talked is a private matter for our race but it was just a last will of my brethren and don`t had any ill will against anyone.”

“Your report is really informative, maybe your suggestion on agriculture will profit more than another mineshaft. Most of the slum people that travel here might have a decent living now which is really a great help for us. I also have one person who could do the forest problem so don`t worry about it. I know that you are also eager to leave this town and explore more but I request you to stay a bit more just to supervise the fifth floor.”

“I`m really thankful about that offer but I have to turn it down. I`ll still be around this town a bit more because I still have a lot of work that needs to be done immediately.”

“Then why not stay at the fifth floor while you do your thing besides I’ll send someone to do the whole thing, your just be there to assist him a little about this and that.

“But no more than that ok.”

“We have a deal.”

I shake hands with Arth-dono as we agreed that I would just assist his appointee about the fifth floor matters after I reported about my assessment leaving the elf incident and the clockwork. My plans right now are repair the clockwork I abducted, the small machine animals plus the ant eggs and spider eggs. Even though i`m hoarding tons of works I didn`t feel the pressure and it was still a beta test so I might lose everything. If we will do a rebirth on the opening, I should find a place to keep them.

As I walked out down the stairs while Leyla told me things she hear from the other guides inside the guild like the talked about the other teams arrived at the dukedom, the gossip about the rare race teams from the western and eastern villages and production teams moving to this town. It was informative and I can see Leyla being lively as before.

I`m not taking any quest right now to do my mission which pops up after we got out for the fifth floor.

CYCLE OF LIFE

THE UNNAMED CLOCKWORK THAT WAS INFECTED BY THE DUNGEON REQUESTED YOU TO REVIVE CLOCKWORK USING ITS MACHINE CORE AND FIND OR HELP OTHER CLOCKWORKS.

DIFFICULTY: UNKNOWN

TIME LIMIT: UNKNOWN

CONDITIONS: CLOCKWORK ONLY RACE, ABLE TO DEFEAT THE GUARDIAN, ACCEPTS IT`S LAST WILL

FAILURE OF THE QUEST: UNABLE TO REVIVE A CLOCKWORK YOU HAD PROMISED TO REVIVE

From that looks of it, if I completed this quest it might trigger another one like a chain quest event. I have my plans on finding them so it will really help me on finding the clue around the continent. First, I have to revive the clockwork inside Cerous.

“Let`s go Leyla, we will need to do some shopping first before it got dawn”

As we ride Cerous while shopping things like foods for Leyla and machine parts for me from player merchants then I proceed to Jaldava-dono so sell some special herb, which sold at a good price, and she even gave me a beginner and intermediate recipe after I told her that I would leave in a week or so. Then I went to the town hall to withdraw some items I stored there and rush back to the dungeon to start my work.

______

A/N

Last two more chapter before i close the volume 1 of this series then i`ll do side stories about others and POVs

i`m deleting the Prologue cuz it might be the cause of some people not continuing this series.

i`m still clueless about how to upload or post pics so any help is welcome.

still got no editor.

still thank you for all the readers :D till sunday for the last chapter.. maybe