I woke up surrounded by rubble. Disorientated, I propped myself up on a large rock. Moon light shone on me through iron bars. I was in a dungeon—and that’s when the memories of the battle and a flurry of sharp pangs shot across my body from my shoulder.

Falling over, I reached for my wound only to grab a thick mass of ripped clothes I used as bandages before fell unconscious. Biting my lips and pushing through the pain I wrestled myself up. “Gothe, Gotha, where are you?” I called out to them, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Looking around, I searched for them, but I couldn’t even feel the presence of another living thing. Aimlessly walking, confused, I tripped on a rock and landed on my hands. “Argh. Shit!” It hurt like hell. Taking deep breaths, I rolled over and sat back up. This time I waited for my eyes get used to the little light sneaking into the dungeon before getting up, that’s when I noticed busts in the corner of the room.

Hobbling over, I got down to get a better look. It was them. Their busts… turning back I could see that I’d been laying against their body, and on the other end of the room.

Opening my Status, I found that they were no longer listed there. Why? I didn’t remember the dungeon destroying them.

Oh. I Forgot that beasts created by dungeons weren’t natural, but artificially sustained by the dungeon’s core I hit my face and I caught a light blue glow in the corner of my eyes.

Setting Gotha and Gothe’s busts where the moonlight hit the floor, I got up to get my reward.

Behind the rusted metal bars of jail cell next to the one destroyed by monster, a small blue orb, a class orb, rested on a mount of ash.

When class holders died, their class orbs needed to be taken as soon as possible and given to one of their descendants. Other wise, the orbs, still full of life force would give life to a beast, whether that be a lich, a dungeon, or other untold possible disasters.

I supposed this would be a test to see the difference in strength before and after gaining a class. After all my strength had nearly doubled.

Taking a deep breath, I grasped the bars and pulled. Pulled. Pulled— them with all my strength until a gape large enough for me to pass through formed. Going ahead, I took the class orb, which was now emptied of life energy.

Do you wish to consume the class crystal?

I hesitated. Class crystals massively increased one’s mana, but did I need it? If I would just fight using a sword and relying on gargoyles there wouldn’t be one? I could sell for at least fifty golds. I couldn’t imagine what I could do with that much money. Buy a house next to the Cathedral of Bayeux or a more modest house on the outskirts of town and never work a day in my life, or maybe move to Rouen...

But isn’t living the easy life that what my father had done? Anytime someone stayed still, grew content, they would get bored. They’d get pushed around by someone who could move freely and forced to do things they hate. If I wanted to live my life, I’d need to be able to have the strength to move without restraint

“Yes! I’ll consume it.” I’d live my life opposite to my father’s.

You have consumed a class crystal.

You have leveled up and increased your mana by 10 points.

Status

Gargoyle Craftsmen Apprentice (Level 1 class)

- Level 4/15 --> 5/15

Vitality: 7/12 --> 7/14

Strength: 8/10

Endurance: 12/14

Dexterity: 6/11

Mana: 7/7 --> 17/17

- Abilities:

Dextrous hands (F Rank)

Control delegation (C Rank)

- Additional information:

Gargoyles: None

Titles: Leader of Gargoyles

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Now I needed to get out but couldn’t find an exit. There should always be an easy escape at the end of dungeons, were could it be—

The dungeon went dark. Freaking out, I looked at where the moon should have been. Clouds were covering it—

Ah! I was being idiot.

Climbing up, I sat on the ledge of the window and forced apart the metal bars. Crawling out, the clouds passed by, letting the moon shine on. It was the dead of night, but I didn’t have time to admire it. I had to run to Bayeux.

#

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I could see the city gates. Maybe I could just run past them. In my state they’d question me to no end.

Mustering up all my strength, I ran pass the guards—

The next thing I knew I was on the ground, my hands behind my back. None of this felt real, I couldn’t even taste the dirt in my mouth. I was too out of it.

“What do you want and who are you!” They screamed in that all so important manner.

Coughing out sand, I yelled just as loud, “I’m a class holder, unhand me or I’ll do it myself.”

“Then get out yourself!”

Taking their words to heart I pulled my arms to my sides, breaking their grasp over me and squirmed to my knees. Rolling forwards, I jumped to my feet. And just as the pair was about to dash at me, I reached into my breast pocket, to get my dungeon diving license, but felt something paper like there. I’d forgotten I had that. Even if it was a blank piece of paper could give me some time to explain.

“Isn’t that the Richelieu company’s seal?” said one.

“I think it is.” Answered the other.

I almost reacted the same way as them. I’d forgotten I had this. Shit, don’t tell me this would anger the company head in any way. After all I was a huge pain in Eric’s side, and he still gave me work opportunity and support. I’d have to deal with that soon, but for now I had to save Leia. “I’m a class holder and need to go now. Don’t stop me.” Running through, the guards hesitated, but ultimately let me through.

As soon as I entered the city everyone’s eyes landed square on me. Not caring, I took the first right into the dead-ends. It didn’t take me too long to reach the Yellow Stone Bar, which was their bar.

Huffing and puffing in front of the bar’s doors. I hesitated. Never would I have even approached this place in the past if I weren’t either ready to enter debt bondage or lose my life.

I needed to enter with a bang. Readying my blade, I kicked open the door. “Are you the gang who took my friend’s sister as ransom!”

The bar’s seven tables were half filled. Quickly everyone ran to the back of the room, the bar tender pulling a mace from his below his counter.

“Tell me!” I screamed again.

“Who the fuck are you!” A voice said from the back. Pushing aside the small crowd of people, a short, but large man appeared.

“Wasn’t I clear! I’m the one searching for Jeanne, Richard’s sister. Tell me where she is!” I could see in his eyes that he was slightly dumbfounded. I guessed he wasn’t used to being on the receiving end. “Answer!”

Eventually, he spoke, “We don’t have time for a crazy person. Guys, kick him out.”

Regaining their composure, a few thugs drew their blades and made their way around the tables.

When the first couple people entered my strike range, I swung down my blade at the smallest looking man’s sword with all my strength. The man parried, but when our swords clashed, he screamed, and dropped his sword.

“Shit! It hurts,” he yelled grabbing his wrist with his sword. Some people had naturally high strength levels, however I guessed that these bastards weren’t better than the average. Having twice the strength of someone made quite a big difference. But I couldn’t fight everyone here at the same time. “My name is Gregoire de Gargoyle and I’m a class holder.” I flashed Richelieu’s letter. “If you want to die, come closer.”

I pointed my blade to the next thug. “Do you want to try?”

He stepped away, looking back to his boss who slicked back his hair, perhaps a bit nervously, I couldn’t be sure. He seemed good at hiding his emotions.

“Gregoire, is that it?” he asked.

“Gregoire de Gregoyle, you heard me.”

“Fine, and it’s Richard’s sister ya want.”

“You heard me.” I didn’t need to say anything else. I could see none of them wanted to lose their lives. “To kidnap a girl over two golds. Fucking scum. You’re lucky I’m not bringing the lord into this.”

That’s when everyone’s face changed, and the tension in their eyes were released somewhat. It was odd.

“Two gold! Ha haha, are you serious.” It came from someone in the crowd.

“What did you say.” I stepped up, searching for the one who spoke, but the thug’s leader intervened.

“Wait a minute,” he said pulling out his blade, a nicely polished silver sword. “Ya think we took her for two golds. I think the one being had here is you.”

“What?”

“What I’m saying is that Richard is one of the biggest gamblers this side of the Aure. He owes us fifteen golds.”

Fifteen! I did my best not to show my reaction, but it must have slipped as he continued.

“Yes, fifteen, he’s been gambling for the past year. Are you sure ur not a hobo he’s given a copper and blade?”

Looking down, I noticed the huge lump of ripped bloody cloth wrapped around my shoulder, my ripped pants, my shredded-up armour, general filth, and a horrible stench. At this point I might as well have been one.

“Look, leave now and we’ll forget about this—”

No, why was I trusting the words of a thug on a whim. Not to mention they had still kidnapped Richard’s sister, there was no reason for him to do that, even if the debt was fifteen golds. “I’m not leaving until you hand her over!” I yelled and slashed a table in two, even if I were a hobo, I’d be one who knew how to use a sword.

“Fine.” The leader answered. “Bring her down.” He motioned to another who left to a set of stairs hidden behind a door. “But know this won’t solve anything. Fifteen gold is a lot, but it’s not enough for you to risk your life.”

“Nor yours.”

Eventually, his sister was brought down. Her eyes were puffy, and when she saw me, she cried once again and ran towards me.

“What did you do to her?”

“Nothing,” answered the man curtly. “We are a loaning company nothing more, we may use stronger tactics to get paid back, but if we didn’t, we’d be broke in a month. Do you think people would come to us for loans if we did such things? You really are crazy. Now leave before I decide the fifteen gold is worth more than a couple lives.”

Frowning, I picked up Leia and walked out keeping my eyes on the thugs. But before leaving I asked. “What’s your name?”

“And you want my name.” He chuckled. What? To report me to the Lord?” He sneered. “Fine, it is Ragnar, an exiled son of the North.”

Making sure to engrave his name, I booked it home.

#

Before taking the right, which led on to my street, I looked around to make sure no one was following, even going so far as to glance at the roof dishevelled rooftops.

Seeing no one, I dashed into my room set Leia down, and locked the door behind us.

Picking her back up, I set her on the bed, she was already asleep. She must have been exhausted if she could fall asleep while I ran.

Pulling the windows I made sure they were locked, then I looked through the peephole just to make sure there really wasn’t anyone.

The streets were pitch black, and the moon was hidden behind a thick patchwork of grey clouds. I couldn’t smell the storm yet, but it wouldn’t be too long before it’d come.