I start to regain my consciousness, the first thing I see is a white ceiling. It seems like I’m lied down on a very comfortable mattress, tucked with a blanket.

I try to sit up, but my whole body recoils from pain. It feels like every muscle on my body is on fire, especially my back.

With a few heavy breaths, I force myself up to a sitting position.

This place seems to be some kind of treatment center for the wounded. A moderately sized, four corner room, with one wall lined with windows and against it is a closed wooden door. There are beds that are lined up on the edges of the wall, there are a few beds that are occupied. The beds are only separated by lines of curtains.

Someone stripped off my coat. I’m only wearing my undershirt and trousers. I look at my hands and it’s covered by bandages, including my whole arm, up to my shoulders, and down to my torso. My forehead is also wrapped in a bandage.

I hope my underwear is still intact… Ah, Its still there.

I turn my body and place my feet on the ground, slowly supporting my weight with my hands as I stand up. Disregarding the pain that twitches on every part of my body, I managed to get on my feet.

My legs start wobbling in pain as I make my way to the exit. I try to support myself with the railings of the beds, but it does more damage than help because it just adds pain on my hands instead.

My whole body is telling me to go back to the bed while I reach for the wooden doorknob.

The doorknob turns itself, my hand is only 5 centimeters away from it. Instantaneously, the wooden door flies open and hits me directly on the face.

My body that is still recovering from numerous wounds screams pain. My mouth lets up a loud cry, the strength and tone of my voice clearly shows how displeased I am.

I lose balance from the unexpected attack and land, back first, unto the ground.

I cling to the last remnants of my consciousness while I fightback the new found pain that throbs right on my nose. I feel a warm crimson liquid starts dropping from my nostrils.

“…oh, it seems that you’re up…”

I barely hear the surprised words that’s directed towards me, the voice sounds very feminine.

Does this woman even know how to apologize?

My eye’s start to focus on the vague outline of a face that’s directly staring at me from above.

“…can you stand up?”

She speaks out to me again, clearly oblivious to both my position and condition.

Does this bitch know how to read the situation?

“…can you speak?”

No words can be formed on my throat because all of my senses are constantly barraged by pain and my brain is too busy trying to process how this woman is so naive.

I finally fully regain my senses and make out the details of her face.

I can only say one thing…

She’s very cute.

The shape of her face forms a very symmetrical shape and her skin tone is pearly white. Her eyes shows a vibrant blue hue. Long, luscious, brown hair is tied to a pony tail. The frills of her hair barely covers her eyes. She looks young, I’d guess somewhere near the range of my own age.

While I’m busy studying the contents of her beautiful visage, she starts to fit her hands under my legs and back. She slowly lifts me up like how a mother would lift her new born child with ease.

“!!!…hey, hey, HEY, HEY!, HEY!”

She looks at me with surprise as I struggle from her arms. Her grip slips on my flailing body and my rear hits the floor with a SMACK! A brand new pain, accompanied by the aches of my body, surges from my bottom up to my whole torso.

If this keeps happening to me, I’ll eventually just wish for death.

“…So you can speak?”

Is this woman just mocking me or is she mentally ill? I like to think that she’s a full blown idiot.

“For someone with such a pretty face, you sure are dense…”

“….eh?!”

The pearly white cheeks on her face starts to blush a pink colour. Instantly, her eyebrows furrow. She stares at me, her gaze like stabbing daggers. My butt is still attached to the floor while I stare back at her with an irritated, unflinching face

“You’re the reason why that Nue escaped from me.”

“Wha—?”

“If you’re ready to stand up, head directly towards meeting room number 1 downstairs.”

“He—?!”

“Don’t even think of running away, with wounds covered like that, I doubt that the guild would let you go.”

“…Stop interrupting me!”

Before I could even blurt out a proper, completed sentence. The door already closes with a loud thud.

I let out a soft sigh, admitting defeat against this perfect faced maiden.

“Quite the looker, wouldn’t you say?”

A manly voice comes from one of the beds while a steadily get on my feet. The man seems to be eavesdropping on our conversation.

“She’s kinda like my grandfather’s horse.”

“Huh?…”

I steadily stand up, the pain starts to reside from my body. I calmly make my way towards the exit.

“You’d love to ride her, but she just can’t stop whining.”

The man is dumbstruck by my punchline. After one whole second he lets out a loud laugh.

“That’s a good one! Hahahaha!”

I face the door and grasp the doorknob, turning it in quick succession.

“Aye, young man, you better keep that mouth of yours shut or she’ll cut you right up!”

The man warns me while my back is turned to him. I imagine his dum face smiling at me.

I pay it no heed and close the door behind me.

I make my way down the flight of stairs.

The pain I’m feeling earlier is still present, but it’s very weak. I can at least move with slight comfort without hurting my limbs.

As I reach the first floor, the first thing I see is a room much similar to the first room of the Wall. It’s so similar, I almost couldn’t distinguish the two if it wasn’t missing the entrance to the Dungeon. This must be the main reception room of the Guild headquarters.

The interior designer of the Guild must be running out of ideas.

There’s a long reception counter accompanied by a line of adventurers. The adventurers are in parties, some of the groups are similar in race, some are diverse. Some of their armour is obviously low-class but some are gleaming and unmistakably high-class. Different weapons are sheathed or held by the adventurers. Ranging from close-quarter combat weapons like swords and axes, to long-range types like bows. A handful of them are holding some kind of tome or a staff, they’re probably magic conjurers.

A few eyes starts to look towards my direction, some are confused but I can feel some are feeling pity through their gazes.

I scanned the crowd-filled room. My eyes land’s on a door with a glass mural, on the left of the door, a sign that says ‘Meeting Room 1’ is neatly written.

While I make my way towards the other side of the room, non-stop chatter could be heard in all four corners.

“Hey, isn’t that—?”

“Yeah, the one that the Sword Princess saved!”

“Ooooh?? Are they a new couple?”

“I doubt it, who would ever fall for an idiot like him?”

“Crossing the Breach with only a toothpick, tell me about it…”

How long was I out for? It sounds like the whole city knew about what happened…

Ignoring their scornful gazes, I tread my way towards the door. I push it open and step inside.

My eyes were greeted by four people, three of them are seated on a square table, while two of them are seated on one side.

The woman from earlier is sitting beside a tough looking man, somewhere in 40 years of age. The man has light wrinkles in his face and emits an aura of a leader His hair is swayed back and his side burns is connected by a thin white beard covering his whole chin. Dressed in clothes that are a cross between a king and a warrior, his muscles accompanied by scars show signs that he is experienced in combat.

The fine young woman, whom I’ve met upstairs, is seated beside him. She actually has such a slender and curvy body. Her generous chest is covered by clothes that is not so different from the man.

It’s a miracle I didn’t notice such an amazing set of mounds earlier.

In front of the two is a woman in a cream colored uniform and a light green skirt. She has light purple hair pulled back with a headband. Her eyes are accompanied by a pair of glasses that has a thin rim. Her chest is of moderate size but still gives form to her slender build. Although her demeanor shows that she is someone that is loving and affectionate, she still radiates and asserts authority in the room.

Standing behind her is a man I’ve met, Reynauld, still in his iron clad armour.

The confines of the room blocks the sound from escaping and entering. The place is really perfect for holding meetings without any interruptions.

“I’m finally glad to see you up and well, Mr. Krow. Please, take a seat.”

The woman in uniform speaks up, breaking the silence of the room.

I remain silent and take the empty seat beside her.

All of the eyes in the room is glued to me except for the man seated in front of me. His eyes are closed, he looks like hes meditating.

“Mr. Krow, I’d like you to meet Lupin Black, The leader of the Paragon Faction.”

She speaks in a polite tone aiming towards the whole room.

“Due to their faction’s actions, the Guild has demanded them to compensate for your loss. In the recent events, just yesterday afternoon, a party of Mr. Black’s faction has taken you to the dungeon, is that right?”

“Yes.”

“In the unfortunate turn of events, a level 4 Nue has breached the Manor of the Dungeon. Consequently, you were used as enticement by the party that took you in, barely escaping with your life. If it wasn’t for the Sword Princess, you wouldn’t be sitting in this meeting room.

“The Guild has decided for the Paragon Faction to compensate for Ashé Krow’s injuries.”

I sit there in my chair, stunned by the turn of events. Being given compensation for my own choices? I’m a bit overjoyed.

“The Paragon does not owe anything to this boy. His choices are his, and his alone. We shall not compensate for such a foolish decision making.”

A strong, forceful voice fills the air of the room. His voice could command whole armies to surrender and kneel for him.

The voice came from the man in front of me.

“Father! Our own members deceived this man—!”

“Our faction has done what it could to survive.”

He turns his gaze towards me. His gaze would make any grown man cower in fear, but I will not be taken aback by his eyes. I stare him down directly, eye to eye.

“Our business here has concluded… Yerin.”

Both two of the figures in front of us moves towards the direction of the door heading to the main reception room.

A loud thud reverberates through the room as the doors closes, shutting the three of us in.

“Mr. Krow, I apologize—”

“There’s no need to.”

She looks at me with her pair of purple eyes behind the thin layer of her glasses. Her gaze was filled with awe.

“It was my choices that led me to this path, albeit be deceived and used, I deserve no compensation.”

“I-I see…then let me introduce myself properly.”

She regains her composure and stands up.Her feet strides a few steps behind while facing me. She then greets me with a small bow.

“My name is Krissa Howth. Starting today onward, I will be your Dungeon Adviser.

“If you have any questions concerning facilities, monsters, or the Dungeon itself, please do not hesitate to ask me questions.”

She introduces herself in such a way that it could compete with the majestic elves themselves. Her line is so refined and practiced that if a crows was to be her, all of the attention is drawn towards her.

At first glance, she seems to be in the same position as any other guild receptionist outside this room but her presence being her and leading the bargaining for compensation means that she must be someone above the ranks of guild receptionists.

“Why would someone with a higher position than a guild receptionist assist someone like me?”

“..?! O-oh, every adventurer is entitled to a Dungeon Adviser, but it is still up to you. You may decline the Guild’s offer if it is that you wish.”

As if seeing right through her, she reacts with a surprised face. Her lips are curled up to a genuine smile while her cheeks are dyed the color of a red rose but she still manages to let out a quick witted response to my question.

“Then I gladly accept the Guild’s Offer. The Guild has my gratitude, not just for this, but for their assistance since yesterday.”

“The pleasure is all of the Guild’s.”

“I must take my leave then. I will return tomorrow.”

Her precious smile would make any adventurer fall in love with her. The beautiful woman in uniform seems to be in much better mood than before despite losing an argument earlier.

I give a gesture of appreciation and farewell with a small bow. I turn my heels and pace myself towards the one door of the room. I step outside and close the door behind me.

“I thought you were done being a Dungeon Adviser?”

The man named Reynauld speaks after the young man exits, leaving the guard and the receptionist alone.

“Although I’ve been promoted as guild manager, I never said anything of the like.”

The young maiden in uniform pouts her lips at the guard but he just keeps on smiling at her….

I head towards east exit of the large city, turning left on east main leads to Hudson Street.

Hudson Street was named after the famous, or rather infamous Mrs. Hudson.

I head inside front of the door of a three leveled house. It’s surrounded by different shops on its sides, a potion shop and a herbal shop to say the least. The walls of the house are colored a light orange and its windows are small and are covered by slight stains of dust. It’s just an ordinary three story house by the looks, nothing really special or out of place. The contents of it is separated by three floors. When you first step inside, you’re greeted by a stairwell that covers the corners of the walls, each stairwell stops at a different level and is accompanied by a door. There is one door level of the building, each door leading to a separate room. Actually, the rooms inside those doors could be considered a house because of its large scale and it has a separate bedroom inside. The house has its own three mini houses inside of it. This establishment is called an Apartment Complex. Each mini house is called an Apartment.

Mrs. Hudson is the owner of the only apartment complex in town. When I arrived in the city, the first person I ever interacted with was Mrs. Hudson. She asked me if I had my own place to stay, luckily, I didn’t and she had offered me to rent one of her apartments. I was actually surprised that only me and her live inside the complex. I reside in the second floor while she takes the first. The last floor is unoccupied.

Well, Mrs. Hudson was actually feared by the townspeople. They thought I had some kind of mental illness when I walked to the complex with her. Everybody was staring with eyes like they’ve saw the very embodiment of the devil itself. It makes me curious how she managed to acquire the name of the street, on second thought, I’d rather not. Due to the townspeople’s frightened eyes, I’m not surprised that not a single soul has decided to rent the third floor. I must be her first ever tenant.

“Ashé? Is that you?”

As I was about to grab the doorknob to my apartment, an old, sweet voice calls to me from downstairs, obviously from Mrs. Hudson.

She starts walking her way up to me from the bottom of the stairwell.

Theres nothing striking in her appearance. Shes just your average old lady, white fluffy hair, wrinkles, you know, the usual old lady look. She’s somewhere above 60 years of age and just about 5 feet tall. Despite her age, her posture is perfect and her demeanor emits the love of a grandmother to her grandson.

It really baffles me how this sweet old woman has become the nightmares of adventurers that fight monsters for a living.

“You shouldn’t be trusting any one of those rag tag adventuring parties.”

She was worried why I didn’t come back for a whole day. Word spreads like wildfire in Agartha so I’m not surprised that the news has reached her.

“I’ll be sure to be careful next time…”

“Anyway, now, you’ll be paying me next month for renting the apartment.”

“Thank you Mrs. Hudson, I’ll make sure to earn enough money.”

“I’ll be taking a third of your monthly pay, okay?”

“…”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s only 100, 50, or even 20 qiils, I’ll be taking a third of it, alright?”

“…uh”

“Okay, now I’ll be leaving. You make sure to have a good rest now!”

She turns her back to me, heading down the stairwell before I could regain my senses and retort.

A third of my money for a house? I think that I could afford something less but much more better. Is this some kind of rip-off?

Well, I couldn’t decline now. She was nice enough to give me some breathing room in my rent, seeing that I’m not that established yet.

I face the door to my apartment and step inside after opening the door.

The living quarters of my apartment is fairly furnished. The walls are colored a deep blue green, speckles of dust reeks the air but a homely feel still resonates within the of the room.

The wooden floor is filled with furniture and such, a coffee table sits surrounded by two in the middle and a large empty bookshelf lies in one corner of the room. The room is divided to another section where a dimly lit kitchen rests. Another bedroom door sits in the far corner of the room.

You could call it a standard place to live in, nothing out of the ordinary.

Upon opening the bedroom door, I was greeted by a dark room. The floor was filled with crumpled paper, each filled with the different sketches I’ve made and a single vertical line of sunlight that is peaking through the cracks of the curtains is the only source of illumination of the room.

On the table, next to the table lamp, my own creation that would revolutionize the world sits steadily in its place,

The Gun.

The frame of the gun is composed by a handle with a trigger attached to a barrel. Its handle is made of thick mahogany wood and its barrel is made of solid steel. The handle of the gun is exceptionally wide and the barrel is almost the size of my forearm.

I’ve made the the handle by finding a huge tree branch near a mahogany tree in the city park. For the barrel, I convince one good hearted smith to refine the worthless steel pipe that he has no use for.

By pulling the trigger that is located near the the handle of the gun, the hammer that is built inside the gun will activate and a hit the flint that is build inside it. The flint will ignite a certain explosive propeller. You could launch a projectile depending on the strength of the propeller.

If the propeller is too strong, the gun would fall in pieces and if the propeller is too weak it won’t launch the projectile.

So far I couldn’t find something strong enough that could act as a propeller, let alone something strong enough to even break the massive frame of the gun.

Since I got in the city and heard about the where abouts of the Dungeon. I decided to invent a strong enough weapon that could aid me.

I’m being overwhelmed by curiosity every day that passes by, I always want to know whats in the bottom of the dungeon ever since I heard about it.

It’s a bit hard for me to understand whats the reason why I yearn for the Dungeon’s contents. Obviously, it’s filled with all types of monstrosities and traps that someone that treasures their life would avoid making that as a workplace for their main source of income.

I stare at my creation as it rests in my hands.

“Why would you rescue a worthless fool’s life?..”

“…Father, isn’t it the right thing to do?”

“You let a damned monster escape.. Killing it could further raise the capability of your strength!”

“But—!”

“Are you saying a stranger’s life is more meaningful than being the strongest adventurer in all of Agartha?

You are amongst the top ranks of adventurers in the city. Someone with your skill could defeat a warrior a level higher than your own!”

“That is more of a reason to help people that is in need!…”

“Enough! You must carry the faction’s name with strength and glory, be known by the people as the strongest. Your improvement should not be impeded by idiots! Our faction shall rule the city. We shall be rich and filled with pride, the whole metropolis’s wealth shall be right between our fingers and you, the strongest adventurer, strongest warrior! You will lead our faction’s rise to glory!”

A scene unravels in the leader’s study room inside the Paragon faction. A beautiful young woman, called by many ‘The Sword Princess’ because of her amazing skill with the sword. She could fell any beast goes against her way. The current Level 5 adventurer stands in the ranks of the strongest in the whole of Agartha, though she wasn’t the strongest, it is easy to say that she could go toe to toe with the strongest.

But behind her outstanding reputation as one of the city’s best, tears are starting well up under her eyes as she was scolded for doing a humane deed. The one with daggers for words is her own brother, the leader of the Paragon faction. A leader obsessed with wealth and glory, he would refute any emotion that would hinder her daughter’s growth. Any emotion that does not display her strength is already rejected. By the time the Sword Princess was born and was ready to hold the hilt of a blade, she has undergone rough and rigorous training, honing her strength, reflexes, and even her strategy. She was only born in this world with only one purpose, to become the warrior that would carry her name to glory.

“If this is to happen again, expect that you will get more than just a scolding. Begone!”

The eyes of the leader does not even have any trace of fatherly love towards his own daughter.

Yerin Black holds her tears, doing her best not show any signs of pain in her aching heart. Being see as only some kind of chess piece to serve in the field of battle to glory sends emotional torture in Yerin’s heart, preeminently by her own father. She is not hurt by the harsh tone of words, but by the meaning behind those words itself.

She leaves the room, filled with rage and confusion. Her fingers are clenched, filled with frustration and desire to hit something.

She leaves the confines of her faction and starts heading to Main Street and straight towards north

Under the moonlight, the city of Agartha’s residents are inside the comfort of the houses of their factions and some are spending the money they earned in the Dungeon on taverns and pubs, filling their belly with ale and soothing their guts with explicit cuisines after a busy day in the Dungeon.

While other people are now stepping outside the Wall, the beautiful woman, armed with her light shining armour accompanied by her sword steps forward without any signs of fear.

The Dungeon grows more aggressive during the night time and she will face the full wrath of it.

She crosses the Breach with the sound of a large metallic thud behind her.

Running steps reverberates through the dark hallway of the Manor, followed by a strong slash, a Ghoul’s head flies through the air.

A red eyed young man is fighting hand and limb for his life while slashing left and wright, blood splatters through the ground.

Heavy breaths escape the adventurer’s mouth as he struggles to stand his ground, 4 more Ghouls remain.

Although Ghouls are very slow, they make up for their strength. Their strength is almost comparable to a standard level-2 adventurer, but with the right skill and strategy, it’s easy for even a level-1 adventurer to defeat a small group of them.

Ashé waits for an opening as one of the Ghouls approaches his vicinity. Then, he rushes forward and stabs his dagger directly between the eyes of the decaying face. While his knife still wedged in the monster’s head, another Ghoul starts approaching him from his side. The new assailant is too close for him to dodge. Seeing that it’s readying for an attack, He quickly shoves the head of the monster, along with the body, that is still attached to his knife to the direction of the attacking ghoul, using it as a shield. Now, the two heads of the Ghouls are adjacent to each other. He punches the still adhered knife and pierces through the two heads, killing the other Ghoul in the process.

2 left!

He quickly pulls out the knife that is between the two bloody masses, both of the body falls down towards the ground. He switches to the offensive, reversing the grip on his knife so that it comes out from the bottom. He rushes towards one of the approaching Ghouls. With a strong force, he shoves the tip of his blade towards the monster’s face, hitting directly the center of its open mouth. He slashes left, as a result, the blade cuts through the Ghouls cheek. With the momentum of his slash, he spins and kicks the chest of the monster, driving it towards the last Ghoul, making it lose balance. With a final rush, he stabs the right temple of the last monster.

Every breath he takes is heavy. His undershirt is covered in his own sweat while his armour is stained red from his foes. The blade of his dagger still hitched on the Ghoul’s head as he stares at the face of the enemy that he defeated. He lets go of the hilt and watch as the lifeless body falls to the ground.

His new blade and armour was given to him by his Guild Adviser, Krissa Howth, when he arrived in the Guild’s headquarters earlier before heading to the Dungeon. It was a loan provided for him by the Guild. It was only a small investment of 10,000 qills. The armour was pure and heavy leather, with only a breastplate and some metal plates on his shoulders, elbows, knees, and shins. While his 7-inch long dagger was only made of cheap steel that is commonly made for starting adventurers.

He grabs the retrieve his blade from the monster’s right temple, flicking off some of the blood that drips on its cold metal edge. He then sheaths the dagger’s blade on his belt. Ashé reaches for the holster on his leg and pulls another blade. The blade is a lot shorter than the first, only 5-inches long. The small knife is not supposed to be used for battle, but its purpose is to acquire the accolade of his efforts.

Every monster, whenever it is born from the Dungeon, houses a special crystal that emits energy. The energy of these crystals cannot be used until it is harvested by a machine made by the Guild. Adventurers go to the Dungeon for a living to retrieve these energy crystals by slaying monsters and selling it to the Guild for profit.

It is mistaken by most new adventurers that destroying the monster’s energy crystal will result in its death. A monster has a different weak point, let it be its head, heart, or even a unique body part that only a specific monster has. Even if the energy crystal is cracked or split in half, it is still usable and its properties could still be harvested. This is why as long the energy crystal is inside the monster’s body, the monster will still function, but if the energy crystal is removed, the monster will turn weaker but it will not die. The researchers of the Guild has concluded that the energy crystals enhance the monsters strength and abilities.

The young man, alone in the Manor’s walls, nonchalantly slumps to the floor besides the dead body and starts to cut open its chest. Blood flows through the large wound but he callously reaches for its heart, where the energy crystal is located. Disgusting sounds emanate from the hallway, but Ashé unyieldingly rips out the energy crystal from the monster’s heart, its size is no larger than an average person’s pinky finger, blood is covering the non-luminous but bright spectacle if its polygonal structure.

After the removal of the beautiful shard of crystal, the dead body starts to sink through the ground as if it’s quickly decaying. Because of Krissa’s lectures, Ashé isn’t surprised by the unusual occurrence. According to Krissa, after collecting the monster’s shard when it has fallen, the Dungeon eats the body again and recycles it to another creature. At least, this is what the Guild researches had come up with the phenomena.

He stands up to do the same to the three more carcasses that lays on the ground. He sighs as he approaches the nearest one.

After collecting three more shards, the pouch on his back is already full. He has already spent half of the day in the Dungeon and fatigue has already settled in his system. He peaks out of the large window and notices that the once blue skies that he saw when he entered the Dungeon is now a bright orange.

Packing up, he decided to head home.

The skies are dyed orange while red sun sets.

Adventurers are walking beside me as I walk out towards the exit of the Wall. Most of them has smiles on their faces because the backpacks of their supporters are bulging, probably from all the energy crystals of all shape and sizes that they’ve collected from the lower-levels of the Dungeon. Some has a sorrow look on their faces, formed in a circle while comforting each other, some members of the party is weeping, tears forming the edges of their eyes, eventually dripping down their cheek accompanied by sobs. The most I could make out of their situation is that one of their party members has fallen in battle.

Being an adventurer sure is rewarding, but the risk of losing hand and limb during expeditions for wealth and glory is too much for other people. They would only consider spending their whole life in business, education or in agriculture, anything other than the life of someone who dwells in the dungeon, really. The Dungeon is a place where death is lurking in each corner, every second is precious that even a half a second could cause you your life.

While I’m wandering through the packed streets of the main road towards the Guild headquarters, most adventurers are heading towards different leisure places that they could spend most of their earnings on. Be it a large mountainous adventurer or a bunch of prums, these adventurers always have a usual place they go to relieve stress after spending their day in the Dungeon.

Turning east, the large establishment of the Guild immediately comes to vision.

The Guild has booths in which you could exchange your energy crystals for qiils. Every Guild establishment has booths like these, including the Wall.

After exchanging my loot, my small backpack filled with energy crystals accumulated a total of 500 qiils, enough to feed me for a few days and pay a small portion of my loan. This is the average sum a solo and new adventurer could acquire. If I had party, maybe I could gather more because I have more man power and space to store the crystals in.

As I turn around from the booth Ms. Howth was already behind me and just waiting for me to finish.

“Ah, Ms. Howth, I’m just about to go looking for you…”

“How many times do I have to tell you that you could call me by my first name?..”

She lightly giggles as she faces me, maintaining eye contact along with her professional like posture.

“Ah then, Ms. Krissa..?”

“Not quite what I was expecting, but we’ll go with that.”

He places her index finger on her chin while her eyes starts wandering towards the ceiling, her lips are obviously pouting as she says her words.

She was obviously teasing me, I can tell by just the tone of her voice.

It was seriously cute though, I could feel my face blush while my heart pounds against my chest.

“Have you been scouting for a supporter in your party, Ashé?”

“I was thinking about it, but I want to find someone I could trust first.”

In the Dungeon, it is not impossible to be betrayed by even your own faction member. There are many cases of intentionally using their own party members as bait in order to save their own skin. This isn’t done by factions that have a good reputation, but some sketchy factions use this tactic most of the time.

I’m trying my best to be cautious and avoid the same mistake I’ve done in the past, so I decided to scout for someone I could trust. Maybe someone that’s new to adventuring like me would fit the piece.

“I see… there are supporters for hire, some of them are trusted by the Guild itself, but maybe your choice would be better…”

After saying my goodbyes to Krissa, I head home towards Hudson Street, not far from the Guild headquarters.

The sky is already starting to dim when I reached the apartment complex.

As I was about to open the door, it already flew open and Mrs. Hudson was standing behind it. She looks like she was about to head outside.

“Ah deary! You’re already home, I was hoping you wouldn’t come back…”

Wait… hoping?

“Now, I have a little request for you. Would you help a poor old woman out and fetch some tea leaves outside the city walls?”

“U-uh—”

“Now dear, heres a note for you so you could head outside, the nearest exit would be the east exit. A sketch of the leaves are in the notes I gave you.”

She quickly shoves a piece of folded paper in my outstretched hand that was supposed to be for the doorknob.

“But—”

“Oh— and don’t forget the landbears that wander outside, okay?”

Before I could even react, she closes the door and the sound of a moving lock could be heard.

She locked me out?

and what are those landbears she was talking about?

I stare at the parchment of paper in my hand. After opening it, there is a drawing of a leaf that resembles your average tea leaf, a few words are written beneath it.

City wall exit pass

Mrs. Hudson - Tea Leaves

Whats this?!

She can just request for an exit pass when she wants tea leaves? Why would the Guild allow an old woman to wander outside of the city wall where landbears could be anywhere? Is this the scope of Mrs. Hudson’s power?

Man, she must be some kind of God in this city.

I gave a deep sigh from the bottom of my diaphragm and start to wonder down to east exit.

I just want this to be over with.

The city wall is one marvelous structure that surrounds the whole city. It mainly acts as a wall because a lot of cases where other invading countries would try to conquer Agartha for its vast resources. No such event of them losing in a war has ever been recorded in the history books. With the help of the combined forces of factions, I don’t think any country could take on Agartha’s strongest. The city wall itself is heavily armed and guarded by the Guild’s soldiers. It is said that the Order faction takes control of the Guild’s arms. As for the Guild, they’re kind of their own faction but their main purpose is to be the main governing body of the whole city, managing everything from its economy to the entering and exiting of the people. It’s very easy to enter the city walls, but it’s very hard to go out.

After showing the parchment of paper to the Guard on the gate of the city wall, his eyes shook in fear and looked directly at me with trembling eyes. His whole body is sweating as if he just saw a ghost. He pointed with his whole palm open towards the exit, gesturing me that I could leave, his angst demeanor still hasn’t left him.

Just what is it with Mrs. Hudson? I’m getting freaked out myself just from the reaction of the people, even guards twice her size are afraid of her

Under a white tree, leaves that resembles the one in the drawn picture are clustered in a bush.

The tree looks like its burnt, its bark is coloured white like how charcoal looks after it has sparked its embers. It’s still covered by leaves that has a flaming red paint. Undoubtedly, the tree looks very healthy. The particular tree stands out in the field for its unique colour, unlike the standard regular looking trees.

I found the right leaves…

I think? It looks very similar to the picture that she gave me. But its colour is red, im pretty sure that tea leaves are supposed to be green.

I just want this to be over with, so I grab as much leaves as I could stuff in my small pack and head my way to the entrance before a landbear appears.

I arrived home and the door was already unlocked. Mrs. Hudson was already waiting for me in her doorstep just near the entrance of the stairwell leading to my apartment. I hand her my small pack and told her that I’ll come for it tomorrow morning before I head to the Dungeon.

My whole body was craving for rest. I got inside my room, I’m instantly attracted to the bed. I sprawled myself on the soft mattress and the delicate pillow that lays under my head. I exhaled all the air in my lungs, releasing all the tension in my muscles. I need to make dinner so I can’t stay like this but my body keeps telling me to stay for just another minute. I can’t blame myself for procrastinating because I’m so exhausted from exploring the Dungeon. I need to be ready for sore muscles tomorrow.

One of my hand is touching the ground while my whole body is still sprawled through the bed. My fingers brushes on a piece of paper. I picked it up and lifted it right directly to my face.

I remember drawing this, the first ever sketch of the Gun. It’s also written on the back on how it will operate, it took me a whole day to piece out the mechanics of this contraption. I’m quite proud of my accomplishments.

Now, it’s only missing one main component.

Something that could propel the round metal balls I call bullets for the gun.

Something with enough force that could launch the bullet in super strong speeds…

Something ignitable?..

Something…

Something explosive….

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Yeah, something exactly that makes that sound…

Wait a minute?! That came from downstairs!

My body sprung up as quickly as possible, quickly reacting to the situation without even giving it a second thought.

When I reached the outside of my apartment, I rushed down the stairs, my steps skipping 3 to four levels. I got to the front door of Mrs. Hudson’s apartment in under 6 seconds.

“Mrs. Hudson!”

I yell out the old lady’s name, making sure that shes okay. I hear no response. Worry starts to creep up to my system. My head was ringing its alarm bells.

The door still seems to be locked. With all my force, I kicked it down. Unfortunately, the door just budged. My level-one stats are too weak for a wooden door with a metal lock.

Adrenaline starts filling my senses and gave it another strong, forceful kick.

I felt the lock of the door breaking and the wooden frame swings open.

The first thing my eyes see me are black marks, that looks like it came from an explosion, are on the walls that looks like it’s coming from the kitchen. Right on the floor of the living room, just right on the other side of the entrance to the kitchen, was Mrs. Hudson sprawled on the ground. Black stains are covering the whole upper front part of her body, including her face, hands, and arms. Her face was so covered in soot, it was almost unrecognizable.

I checked her pulse and luckily her condition is still stable. I was about to carry her and run outside to the Guild headquarters but she starts regaining her consciousness.

“….Ashé, is that you dear?”

She looks at me and a smile starts to form in her face. I was relieved but scared at the same time. How could this old woman, in her sixties, took on a full-blown explosion on her face and still manages to smile. Does she even feel pain?

“Next time, please pick the right tea leaves…” She places her palm on my cheeks in a gentle manner like how an old woman would on her deathbed when her grandson comes to see her for the very first time.

After that she stands up and brushes of the soot that is covering her face. I still stare at awe as this superhuman disguised as an old woman dismissed everything that just happened. My mouth was slacked jaw because of the unbelievable turn of events.

“You see dear, I was about to make a cup of tea with the leaves you gave me. It looked off because its colour was red.”

“Mrs. Hudson—!!”

“Then while I was drying it, one of them caught on fire— ”

“Mrs. Hudson would you please let me finish a sentence!” I’m starting to grow berserk with worry, this woman shouldn’t even be able to speak right now.

“Thats just rude dear, you shouldn’t interrupt anyone thats speaking.” Her eyebrows starts to furrow, forming more wrinkles in her forehead, as she raises a finger at me.

I was shut up with just her words and actions. I felt so surprised, confused, and just overall afraid of her tone that I couldn’t blurt out any retorts.

“Now.. Where was I…. Ah, yes! When one of the leaves caught fire, it just exploded! It was so strong it knocked me to the other side of the room”

From the table with the stove that is all covered in soot to the place where I found her lying on the ground must be about 6 and a half meters. For someone like her to be launched that far, you wouldn’t call it a small scale explosion. Even the whole kitchen is covered in soot, it’s easy to determine at first glance that this is some kind of explosion. The odd thing about the room is nothing in particular is broken and nothing seems to be on fire.

“I only used about one leaf, and all of the other leaves are still in your bag. I recommend throwing them out before anyone else gets hurt.”

Explosion?

Leaf?

Nothing broken?

Hit with a mallet?

A PROPELLER?!

“Are you alright dear?”

My head was filled with all sorts of ideas that I didn’t realize I was staring into thin space.

“Mrs. Hudson, I’ll be using the leaves.”

I rushed to the small pack filled with leaves, grabbing it and went straight to the door, rushing up to my room.