As evening descended, Joey and I were escorted beyond the city's walls toward the dungeon's entrance. The dungeon was located in a green plain, but once inside, we found ourselves traversing a long, narrow cave.

The wonders of being inside a dungeon; each room and passage presented no resemblance to the world outside, or even to another chamber just a few steps away.

Inside the dungeon: me, Joey, Elizabeth and Laura. Joey and I were advised to walk behind, while Elizabeth and Laura took the lead, a few steps ahead.

Joey was visibly agitated, panicked and even scared. "Joey... relax," I incited him. He wasn't helping my impression, being the one who had brought him.

"You look super stiff," Elizabeth remarked upon watching him.

"Um... are we really sure we should explore a dungeon being just the four of us?" he questioned.

"Totally," Elizabeth answered. "I could do these dungeons in my sleep."

"Oh?" I mused. "The girl with the stupid hat is worth my attention, after all."

"I know you're agitated, but keep always in mind that even if I may be a little rusty, you're still in the company of two triple-S libromancers," Laura reassured giving a playful wink.

"It's just that I'm not really familiar with dungeons," Joey confessed; this was his first time inside a dungeon. "Is there really such a difference between the ranks?"

"An immense one," Elizabeth explained. "The gap between each rank is substantial, and from rank S and above it's even greatly increased. Well, for us, this dungeon is child's play since we're used to the higher ranks. But the mechanics of the dungeons also vary."

"For example? If I may ask," he asked.

"For example... we could enter and exit this dungeon whenever we want, but in S-rank dungeons and above, once inside, you're trapped until you clear it. However, people can still enter freely from the outside. Something that leads to many risks..." she continued.

"Isn't that better? You can get help if you're trapped inside, no?" Joey tilted his head.

"It's not that simple," she replied. "If you're trapped or injured without any help, high chances are that you're already dead, since there is no way to communicate to the outside world once inside. To clear S-rank dungeons and above you have to send inside trusted people who are capable enough to clear it. Before entering, we station someone outside the entrance to guard it; there are many adventurers who try to infiltrate inside, waiting for the right opportunity to assassinate the one clearing it and steal the treasure. The guards can stop them in case they try anything, or get inside to alert the team. And yet, the difficulty forces you to find allies and assemble a good party in order to clear it. In the end, it's all about trust... It's a real pain in the ass," Elizabeth lamented.

Even I wasn't aware of all the details. Despite having lived in a guild for years, the number of dungeon expeditions I had participated in weren't many. My jobs usually consisted of... different matters.

Joey watched at her with regard. "Wow... you're incredible. But, um... about the assassins..."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Rest assured. Zafferbridge is filled with high-ranked adventurers; they are not interested in clearing a dungeon like this. We've reserved this dungeon to assess your rank, and we already dispatched some of our members to clear a portion of it to ensure no monsters would make it outside. Everyone thinks it's already been cleared," Laura possibly prevented another panic attack from Joey.

"Is that why we still haven't encountered a single monster?" I asked.

Laura smiled, but I could sense her anger from a mile away. "I did tell them to leave some monsters..."

Despite the peaceful stroll we were having, there was a matter that kept nagging me. "May I ask a question?"

"Yes, of course," Laura gave me the permission.

"In my now ex-guild, someone would use their codex or magic items in order to illuminate the dungeon. Why are you using a simple torch, Elizabeth?" I asked, genuinely curious. It appeared so strange...

Elizabeth stood silent for a moment, before granting me the courtesy of her attention. "Argenta, can I give you my honest opinion?"

"Huh, sure. Go ahead..."

"Your ex-guild is stupid."

Hm, quite the outspoken.

"Well, I agree," I conceded. "But why?"

"Even if we're in an A-rank dungeon, there are many monsters that are highly sensitive to magic, and there could be here too. We don't want to alert them and reveal our presence. We shouldn't keep our guard down just because we're in a favored position; an ambush is always an ambush, and a single moment of distraction can put an end to our lives. Were this an SSS rank dungeon, we would barely talk, and we would keep our voice down. It's easier than you think... to lose a life," she cautioned, her tone severe.

I could understand she spoke from experience; a philosophy I could relate to... Suddenly, I found myself watching her under a new light, my idea about her changing... Perhaps I've misjudged you, O wise mage.

We walked for several minutes after that, passing numerous rooms where nothing happened, except for a strange smell of smoke lingering in the air.

"Mom..." Elizabeth sought Laura's attention.

"What is it, dear?" she responded.

"I'm starting to think they really left just the boss," she remarked.

Laura smiled, though it was perhaps the most passive-aggressive smile I had ever seen. While Joey couldn't help but laugh nervously.

"Well, we can't do much about it. You two will just have to face the boss; we're almost there," Elizabeth informed.

In the distance, a wide, tall red door came into view. Without a doubt, the entrance to the boss room.

"Wait, there's something in front of it," Elizabeth observed.

As soon as we approached the room, a single monster was in front of the door leading to the boss. As soon as it saw us, he began screaming in rage. But it wasn't a danger. No, it posed no real threat. In fact... it was rather underwhelming...

"It's... it's tied?" Joey asked in confusion.

A monster, resembling a minotaur, was bound with ropes on the ground. I approached it. It clearly wanted to attack me, but couldn't break free.

"I did tell them to leave some..." Laura was literally shaking, I could almost see smoke coming from her head. Meanwhile, Elizabeth just watched me approaching it with disappointed eyes. She didn't find the joke amusing.

"Elizabeth, can I give you my honest opinion?" I mockingly asked her; purposely giving away a mischievous smile.

"Go ahead..." she answered.

"Your guild has a weird sense of humor," I retorted, stifling a laugh.

She approached me. "It will soon be your guild, too. We're in the same boat."

"I bet Crimson did this..." Laura gritted her teeth, fury seething beneath her skin as she clenched her fist.

"What do I do? Should I free it and fight?" I questioned.

"Just put an end to its misery... You'll fight the boss," Elizabeth advised.

It was time to wield my blade. It was more than a knife, it was actually a dagger of unique elegance and formidable design. A gleaming purple hue, reminiscent of the rarest amethysts adorned its slender and curved form while jagged edges traced its sleek silhouette. Contrasting with the radiant hue of the blade, the hilt bore a deep black mirroring the midnight sky.

The whole blade itself appeared as if forged from colored glass infused with the sparkle of a myriad of stars. Despite the delicate appearance, it was unbreakable and more than capable of fulfilling its purpose. My favorite weapon; my constant companion. Its beauty was undeniable... Perhaps not the best to slice the neck of a monster, but with the right force and technique, it would do its job just fine.

With a flick of my wrist, I unsheathed the dagger, and in one swift motion, the monster's neck was severed.

"Are you ready, Argenta?" Elizabeth asked me.