Chapter 36 "Flight from the Shadows"

Caelan sprinted toward the dungeon’s entrance, his breath ragged and muscles burning. The faint glow of daylight ahead signaled his escape, but he had no idea how much time had passed. Days? Weeks? Inside the dungeon, time had lost all meaning—the light from the crystals overhead mimicked the sun, making it impossible to tell how long he had been trapped in the endless cycle of battle.

As he crossed the threshold, a cool breeze washed over him, a stark contrast to the dungeon’s oppressive air. Only now did he realize how much he had missed the simple feeling of fresh air against his skin.

He barely registered the four knights stationed on either side of the entrance.

The knights, however, reacted immediately. Their posture stiffened, their eyes widening in surprise as they saw him emerge alone.

"Hey! What happened? Where's the rest of the knights ?" one of them demanded.

Caelan stopped in his tracks. He had expected knights to be guarding the entrance—there was no way an S-Class dungeon would be left unmonitored.

"The knight commander sent me to get a healers," he said, still not turning to face them. "Many knights are gravely injured… even the two commanders."

The knights exchanged glances. One of them sighed. "Figures. That dungeon’s an S-Class, after all. It’d be a miracle if they made it out unscathed."

"Yeah," Caelan replied, his voice steady. "That’s why I need to hurry."

One of the knights narrowed his eyes. "Wait… that’s not the way back to camp. And why won’t you look at us?"

Footsteps approached. The knights were closing in.

Caelan remained motionless. His grip on his sword tightened, but he still didn’t turn.

Then, without warning, he moved.

In a single motion, he pivoted sharply, his blade cutting through the first knight’s neck before the man could react. Blood sprayed as the knight collapsed, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

The remaining three barely had time to draw their swords.

"You bastard!" one of them shouted, lunging at him.

Caelan parried the first attack and kicked another knight in the chest, sending him stumbling back. He thrust his sword toward the third knight, but the blade clashed against reinforced armor, barely piercing through.

Damn. Tougher than I expected.

The last knight swung his sword, and Caelan dodged—but not fast enough. Exhaustion weighed him down, his body sluggish after hours of fighting and running through the dungeon. The blade slashed across his left shoulder, pain flaring instantly.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to move. He shifted his grip and aimed for the knight’s head. This time, his strike landed. The knight crumpled lifelessly to the ground.

That left two.

But Caelan’s vision blurred. His legs felt weak, unsteady. His body refused to move the way he wanted. He barely managed to stay upright before collapsing onto one knee, his breathing heavy.

"You filthy adventurer!" one of the remaining knights spat, his rage visible in his eyes. "Who the hell do you think you are?!"

The other knight said nothing, only watching him coldly.

Caelan shivered. Am I… going to die like this?

The knight raised his sword high. Caelan could only watch, his body too heavy to move.

But before the blade could fall, both knights suddenly collapsed.

Caelan’s eyes widened. Two figures stood behind the fallen men—Lucan and Gibo.

Lucan met Caelan’s gaze briefly before glancing at the dungeon entrance, quickly assessing the situation.

"Can you walk?" he asked, concern in his voice.

Caelan gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. "I can…" He took a step, but his legs gave out, and he slumped back down.

Lucan sighed. "Yeah, no. You're in worse shape than you think. Gibo, carry him."

Gibo hauled me onto his shoulder like a sack of grain, my limbs dangling uselessly, my head lolling with each jarring step. The sudden shift sent a wave of dizziness through me, my stomach twisting as the world pitched and rolled. Every movement jolted my battered body, pain flaring at my wound with each bounce against his solid frame.

The rough fabric of his cloak rasped against my cheek, scratching my skin. Beneath it, I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breath, the powerful muscles shifting with each purposeful stride. My own breaths came in shallow gasps, my ribs aching from the awkward position, my arms too drained to do more than sway limply.

“Let’s go,” Lucan said, his voice urgent but steady.

Gibo adjusted his grip, sending another sharp jolt through me. My vision blurred before refocusing on the towering trees ahead. We veered off the familiar road and plunged into the dense forest, where the air grew damp and cool beneath the thick canopy. The scent of earth, pine, and moss filled my senses, grounding me despite the disorientation.

Every step sent a fresh jolt of pain through me—my body rocked against his shoulder, my wound pulsing with each impact. My fingers twitched, instinctively grasping at nothing. I forced myself to stay still, to conserve what little energy I had left. The shifting shadows of the forest blurred together, and I clenched my teeth as nausea curled in my gut.

By the time we reached the riverbank, my body sagged in relief, barely registering Gibo as he set me down. The ground beneath me felt unsteady, as if the world was still swaying. I dimly heard Lucan’s frantic movements as he untied the raft, but my breath came in ragged gulps, a shiver running down my spine as the cool air pressed against my damp skin.

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Gibo steadied me before stepping onto the raft. The moment we pushed off, the gentle rocking of the water only worsened my dizziness. My limbs felt leaden, my thoughts sluggish, but I forced myself to move.

As we drifted downstream, I exhaled sharply and began unfastening the knight’s armor. The metal was cold against my skin as I struggled with each piece before tossing it into the river. One by one, they sank beneath the surface, swallowed by the current.

Once the last piece was gone, I pressed a hand to my wound, wincing as I wiped away the dried blood. The healing potion fizzled against my skin, bringing cooling relief, but exhaustion clung to me like a heavy fog.

"I didn’t expect you to join this mission. We had just arrived in Liras City after a long journey when the mission was posted at the Willow Guild, and yet here you are." His voice was calm, but his gaze lingered on my wound.

I sighed. "I didn’t plan to join, but my friends were eager. I knew something was off about this mission, but I couldn’t just leave them. I wanted to protect them."

Lucan’s expression darkened. "What happened inside the dungeon?"

I hesitated for a moment before recounting everything—the battles we fought, the monsters we faced, and the friends I lost.

"As I spoke, I noticed Lucan’s knuckle turning white from the force of his grip."

"Caelan, don’t ever blame yourself for this tragedy," he said firmly. "This wasn’t your fault. That idiot Geo… this is on him. And Hiddan, who kept following Geo despite being the more capable leader. Your party should’ve retreated the moment casualties started piling up, but greed clouds judgment." He scoffed, frustration evident in his voice, but beneath it, I could see the sadness in his eyes.

For a long moment, he remained silent, staring at the passing treetops. Then, with a heavy sigh, he continued, "I didn’t go to the Willow Guild right after we returned from our last mission. But when I finally did and heard what happened, I knew something was wrong. Gibo and I decided to track down the adventurers who took the mission and find out the truth. But when we reached the dungeon entrance, we couldn’t get close—the place was swarming with security. Every excuse they gave to justify this mission was a lie. First, the reward was too high for a mere Class E dungeon. Second, they claimed there was a shortage of knights in the Shumidt Duchy—but that was complete nonsense."

I frowned as Lucan’s words sank in.

"My last mission before we escorted that noble brat back to the Solaria Kingdom was guarding an expensive shipment ordered by Duke Shumidft," he went on. "It was for his daughter’s wedding to the crown prince of this kingdom. The route your caravan took to the dungeon is notorious for bandit attacks."

A thought struck me, and my eyes widened. "The bandits we fought before entering the dungeon…"

Lucan gave a grim nod. "They weren’t ordinary bandits. Those bastards have been terrorizing this region for decades—robbing merchants, even some nobles. But unlike other groups, they don’t take captives for the slave trade. They kill their victims instantly and steal whatever valuables they can. They’re known for their brutality. The royal family and nearby territories have launched large-scale hunts for them, but their hideout has never been found."

I looked at the tree we passed by. It made sense now—their hideout must be hidden deep in the wilderness, blending seamlessly with the terrain. If Van and I hadn’t spotted one of them sneaking into that place that night, I wouldn’t have suspected a thing.

Lucan exhaled sharply. "That’s why Duke Shumidft hired adventurers—he didn’t want his daughter’s perfect wedding ruined by those bandits stealing the expensive items he bought. That man isn’t just a noble; his wealth and military strength surpass even the royal family’s. That’s why the royal family of this kingdom arranged the marriage—to secure his loyalty. People call him the Shadow Regent."

I processed his words carefully. Lucan’s knowledge of politics was impressive. He wasn’t just an adventurer who took jobs blindly—he studied the political landscape, the clients, and the true motives behind each mission. One thing was certain: the duke wouldn’t be held accountable for what happened to the adventurers.

Lucan’s gaze sharpened. "The dungeon core… Caelan, it’s in your possession, isn’t it?"

I hesitated before giving a small nod.

His voice dropped to a warning tone. "Listen carefully. No kingdom or empire would ignore that. Even the Liras City Council—if they find out, they’ll do whatever it takes to get their hands on it. My advice? Hide. Lay low for now."

I exhaled slowly. "I understand… The duke will definitely come looking for me."

"Then you need to be smart about it," Gibo added. "Where can Caelan hide?"

Lucan sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "The best place to disappear… is Liras City itself. Stay away from the western and Northwest districts, and you’ll be fine. The city is a hub for travelers—people come and go from every corner of Yedon Continent. It’s the perfect place to blend in. As for your records from this mission, don’t worry. I’ll make sure they vanish."

He met my gaze. "Did anyone close to you know you took this mission?"

I shook my head. "No one… aside from Elle."

Lucan nodded, satisfied. "Good. Every adventurer who took part in this mission is dead. So many joined that there’s no way they’ll remember every single participant. As long as your guild adviser, Elle, keeps quiet and erases your record, you’ll be safe. That’s why we need her cooperation."

The raft drifted further down the river, carrying us away from the dangers behind us.

-------------------------------------------

The stench of charred flesh and blood filled and the cave, clinging to the damp, stagnant air. The knights stood frozen, their eyes locked onto the gruesome sight before them-scattered, lifeless bodies of adventurers. Some were burned beyond recognition, their flesh blackened and twisted. Others lay in pieces, their remains strewn haphazardly across the rocky ground.

Kevin swallowed hard, his throat dry. " I've seen plenty of corpses in my time, but...." His voice wavered as he forced himself to look at the carnage. " Not like this. This isn't just death- this is slaughter."

Several knights averted their gazes, their stomachs turning. One stumbled back, retching into the shadows of the cave.

Karim, the commander of the house of duke shumidtf who also the lider of this mission, clenched his fist. His sharp gaze scanned the area before narrowing in frustration. " This is a dead end," he muttered, his voice tight with unease. " Where is the dungeon core?"

Silence answered him.

" The core should be here, Karim insisted, his tone edged with urgency. He turned to his men, his expression unreadable. " Check everything. Leave nothing unsearch."

Despite their hesitation, the knights obeyed. They moved cautiously through the cavern, stepping over mangled bodies, rifling through what remained of the adventurers' belongings. Blood pooled in the crevices of the cave floor, making each step feel heavier.

And yet -nothing. No sign of the core.

Then, in the midst of their search, a sound broke through the suffocating silence.

Footsteps.

Heavy. Approaching.

The knights instinctively reached for their weapons,their grips tighten. Moments later, figures emerged from the shadows-it was the knights they had left stationed near the entrance.

Karim's brow furrowed. " Why are you here?" He demanded

One of the knights stepped forward, shifting uncomfortably under his commander's sharp gaze. Sir, we came because of your order."

Karim stiffened. His expression darkened. " I never gave that order."

A tense pause settled over the group.

The knight hesitated before answering. " One of us - he said you need help."

Karim's fingers twitched towards his sword.

"Who?"

But the knight didn't answer. He only looked around, confusion and unease flickering in his eyes.

Because whoever had given that order-wasn't among them.