DUNGEON DIVER: I become a Dark Knight in a world full of dungeons
By Orangeowl
Vol 1 Chapter 10: The manipulation and lies
Enjoying the calming background music, I lean my body onto the soft sofa, the room is generously decorated with furniture and luxury items with the theme of red and gold, I feel like in heaven already with my bloated stomach under my armor.
"Are you finally full dark knight?"
"Hm? I could get more dessert"
"....but you eat a whole table's worth of food"
Hearing the Holy Knight on the other side of the table, I saw the big table full of empty plates in front of us, this all started an hour ago.
"it might take a while but can we talk a little about what happened"
After that, both of us, me and the Holy Knight follow the guild master exiting the dungeon, guarded by guild officials and police officers I could see numerous amount of people waiting outside of the dungeon, behind the barricades that were set up, journalist and reporters flashing their light to us, bystanders and adventurers who watching want to know what happened filled the large hall of dungeon entrance full of people.
"We are here in Canaria dungeon after dungeon anomaly that happened-"
"as you can see here! the guild master has walked out of the dungeon!"
"breaking news! the adventurers and students that were trapped inside the dungeon have managed to be evacuated-"
Reporters were enthusiastically talking to their cameras while the journalists were eagerly trying to gauge every piece of information from us.
"Guild master Kalsim! Please your words!"
"Guild master! what happens inside the dungeon?!"
"Holy Knight Clerise! Is it true you are going alone to save all the people inside?!"
"Guild Master!!! Please one question!"
The journalists were crazier than the Minotaurs, some even attempted to jump over the barricade before getting tackled by police officers, frowned in my mind, I tried to keep my head straight.
The guild master and the Holy knight seemed not to mind the chaos around them and kept walking toward the dungeon center under the eyes and shouting of hundreds of people, cutting our way through the crowd, flashing lights and mic shoved into our faces, some even trying to interview me but quickly change its mind when I look toward them, why?
Uncomfortable with the sudden invasion of privacy, I kept my head straight so as not to gather unnecessary attention.
Entering the dungeon center, we gather all the attention of people inside, the dungeon officials quickly make a way for us into a different lobby and bring us straight to the highest floor of the building.
When the elevator door opened what I saw was a lobby with elegant decoration inside of it, even at first glance I knew this place was not something for people like me to step foot in, I had only imagined this kind of luxury in my dream, seeing it with my own eyes I was quite amazed.
"Please this way"
The guild officials separate from us in the lobby, Led by the guild master himself we walk through the hallway with antique lamps and old paintings on the wall, Finally, we arrive in front of a big wooden door, opening the heavy door with ease, the guild master welcomes us inside.
Inside the room was very spacious with giant shelves of books, paintings and types of furniture decorating the office, expensive looking sofas and a long table placed in the middle of the room, behind it was a big wooden table and office chair that I'm afraid could feed me for a few years if I sold it.
"Welcome back guild master"
Waiting inside was a girl with tanned skin and dark hair wearing a maid outfit bowed her head to us, did the guild master casually keep a maid inside his office?
"Please take a seat"
"thank you, guild master"
"...thank you"
Hiding my overwhelmed mind, I took a seat beside the Holy knight, carefully Sitting on the sofa, I was afraid my armor would stain it with dirt.
Looking around the room, the guild master chuckles seeing my curiosity while the Holy Knight is still expressionless sitting with a straight back beside me.
"what drink you want?"
The guild master kindly asked.
"Anything you provide-"
"what do you have?"
Holy knight glimpse at me like I'm stupid, what did I do wrong?
"Haha yes, we have a variety of tea and some beverages, it's not much but please don't be reluctant"
"...thank you guild master"
"thank you! Then I want some orange juice?"
"yes absolutely, mirika"
Calls toward the maid who silently standing behind, the maid quickly walks into one of the doors inside the room.
"Now, now, while waiting for our drink, could we talk a little bit"
Talk to the guild master, we start our conversation about what happened and what we have done inside the dungeon, well, the holy knight does most of the talk while I'm just nodding my head like a parrot.
"I see"
The guild master touched his white beard and thought deeply.
where is my drink?
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting"
the maid walked in with a food trolley, inside were a teapot, glasses and tea utensils? While she just placed my orange juice on the table, she also placed some cakes and donuts in front of me, isn't she was nice!
Took one of the donuts on the plate, I immediately brought it into my mouth, It was my first donut in three months! I thought I had forgotten what it tasted like.
Looking at the guild master and the Holy knight they watching me eating the donut with surprise in their eyes, hmm? Is there some chocolate in my mouth?
Touching my mouth what I can feel was the hardness of my mask, damn it! I forgot to take off my helmet!
"ahem, it seems you have an interesting magic item, I have never seen one like this"
"....yes, that's an interesting item...I want it..."
Both of them said in interest, Even though I ate it normally, took another bite, the food was going through straight past the metal mask like it was an illusion.
Well, I couldn't really take off my helmet if I wanted to since it was part of my body, like a turtle and its shell, if I wanted to take off my armor I would need to cancel my transformation...if I do that I couldn't even imagine the confusion that would ensue, if I got find out I don't know what kind of problem I would get into, so I would like to keep my identity as much as possible even though I doubt I would able to keep it for long.
"yes, this helmet was costume made"
Shoving more cakes into my mouth, I lied as naturally as I breath.
"I see, however, the fact two silver-rank adventurers lost their lives was a great loss for the guild and this would be a media sensation for a while"
With bitterness on his face the guild master lifts his head to us, he seems to have a headache.
"but what you two have done was a great accomplishment, we are grateful for your brave action to save the adventurers and students in the dungeon, and for that we will take the rest from here"
Thank God! It seems things going more smoothly than I thought.
"beside you two must be tired and hungry"
The guild master smiled at me who had donuts in both of my hands, hmm?
And we back on my condition now, the guild master has led us into a different room and told us to order as much food as we like, so I took his kindness into my heart, it's been a long since I ate like this, thinking about it, I never eat this much food on one sitting, This is a good first time.
"ahhh"
"......"
Watching my careless behavior the Holy Knight diverted her Gaze into her smartphone, I wondered where my smartphone and the equipment that I had.....
Maybe it's in my dimensional storage? Or it was diffused with my body.....
"..!?"
Watching me quickly get up from my seat the Holy Knight jumps a little, but I have no time to care about it now.
Quickly activating my skill, I extend my hand into the air, going through the dimensional storage feels weird, as if my hand was swimming in water.
Thankfully all my equipment, monster cores and my clothes were automatically stored inside.
Wait, my clothes?
Looking at my body in disbelief, I didn't feel bad since I have my armor but...if I cancel my transformation now, would I be naked? That was dangerous!
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"...is there something wrong?"
"no....Nothing"
"....hm"
Trying to distract the Holy Knight's eyes away from my body, there was a knocking on the door.
"excuse me, could I get in"
"yes"
The holy knight answered, the person who came in was Mirika, the guild master maid, who calmly walked to us, and bowed her head.
"I'm sorry holy knight and Mr...."
"Dark Knight"
"...dark knight, but I here to inform you the guild master has asked you for an audience in his office"
"yes, we would go now"
Ehhhh, isn't the problem was done? Couldn't I just go home now?
follow the maid through the hallway, even though it's hard to walk with a full stomach like this we once again arrived in the guild master's office.
Walking Inside there were already five people inside the room including the guild master, seeing both of us entering the room the guild master stood up from his seat to welcome us.
"holy knight, dark knight, I'm sorry for calling you this soon"
"that not a problem guild master"
Take a look at the other four people in the room, I remember they are the adventurers? No, they are students that we saved from the dungeon, but they kept gazing at me with such fierce expressions as if I killed their parents.
why? I have a bad feeling about this....
"Please take a seat wherever you like"
Me and the Holy Knight took a seat in front of the students, while the guild master sat on the chair in the middle.
Trying to ignore the sharp gaze in front of me, I locked my eyes to look toward the guild master, please, I don't want to get in any trouble!
"dark knight!!!"
"wait a minute Alan!"
But despite my effort, one of the students got up from his seat and shouted at me, while one girl with light brown hair tried to stop him.
"yes? Is there something I can do for you?"
Answering his question flatly, he widened his eyes and seemed to be flabbergasted, It was the same for the girl beside him, while the other girl and man beside them seemed not as shocked as the two, Remembering it now, isn't these two was the students that I carried in my arm? Are they angry because I called them a sack of rice?
"..what is the meaning of this?"
The holy knight was as confused as me and frowned inconveniently, seeing this the guild master let a big sigh out of his mouth.
"you see, these four was the survivors from the dungeon, the people that you saved"
"then why do they seem to want to kill me?"
Asking the honest question, the brown-haired girl has managed to calm down the man a little.
Gahhh it stinks problem...
"you see, they said....all the surviving adventurers said, that you are the monsters that hunt them inside the dungeon"
Ehh......
"Have they checked their eyes?"
"do not joke with me! You monster!"
The man stood up from his seat and quickly grabbed my throat, kehh! he has a good grip!
"Please get your hand off him"
"Please calm down Alan!"
"Oi Alan! You can't do that!"
This is starting to get out of control, the holy knight has stood up from her seat, while the other Man and woman trying to get This man called Alan away from me.
"Please calm yourself! Listen to my command! Control!"
The guild master said firmly, the man's grip suddenly weakened from my throat, and his two friends managed to pull him from me, this must be the effect of the skill.
Rubbing my throat with my hand, I hope it didn't leave a mark.
"Are you alright dark knight? Want me to cast heal?"
"...no, if just like this, I'm fine"
Looking at the man who choked me, his body was creaking trying to move but the guild master's skill had prevented him from doing so.
"I understand how they feel, but I have nothing to do with anything they said"
Hearing my words, the guild master sharpened his eyes trying to see through me, he could be suspicious of me as much as he wanted, but I didn't do it, unphased by his gaze, the holy knight chimed in.
"I believe this is a misunderstanding, the dark knight although mysterious and suspicious, I know was a human inside.....he has a lot of flaws and feeling"
The holy knight bravely vouchs for me, thank you? What does she mean by suspicious and having a lot of flaws?
The guild master on the other hand only closed his eyes, thinking deeply, diverted my eyes from him, I looked at one other person that has been sitting on the other side of the sofa, a girl with dark hair just like mine staring at me in silence, however, I could see a burning hatred in her eyes, taken aback a little, I tried to ask her.
"Do you hate me too? Don't you see I'm not a monster?"
The girl stood from her seat in swift motion, ready to get choked again, I was holding my neck with both of my hands, while the Holy Knight was ready to protect me.
"please calm down"
The firm voice of the guild master echoed inside the room making the room feel colder many times over, is this some kind of skill too?
Open his eyes, the guild master's piercing gaze was solely pointed toward me, his expression was stern and stoic.
"Dark Knight, I understand how you feel to be accused as such, but there is overwhelming testimony about your appearance in the dungeon, even if it was hard to believe"
"...guild master, is my word was not enough for you?"
"I'm sorry clerise, but if the testimony was true, then he has killed two silver rank and many others, not just that, he also somehow controlled monsters inside the dungeon to do so, that is too much to ignore"
"What?"
I can't believe what I hear, did the guild master finally go crazy? That must be it if he managed to arrive at such a conclusion, this is pointless, I am already the main suspect without doing anything.
"that is ridiculous!"
the holy knight calls in anger, I never thought she would get this angry for me, however....
Stood up from my seat, and all eyes were gathered on me, I really didn't want to do this but, this was the only way to prove my innocence.
"guild master, if I can prove my identity to you, it's enough to prove that I'm not a monster is that right?"
The holy knight looked at me in surprise, it is what it is, I'm not willing to risk both of our lives just to keep my identity secret, it would be counterproductive to what I want.
".....dark knight? You didn't need to do it, this is just baseless accusations"
The holy knight said to me, why does she so care to me? But I'm glad to have her believe in me, that why I don't want to drag her into this.
(He never cared about who you were)
Hm? Did someone talk?
Looking around, I can't see anyone opening their mouth.
"If you can do that, it would drop all the accusations at once"
(such a lie, he wants to get you, but you can't let him know)
The sound of a young woman echoed inside my head.
Who?
"then let me see who you are"
The guild master stood from his seat, all the people in the room were waiting me for to reveal my true identity, but I felt something weird from the guild master...
Wait a moment... I couldn't do it here!
"ah...uhm...hm... I need to change my chlotes on a rest room"
"he was trying to run away!"
The man named Alan shouted at me, suddenly the suspicion toward me reached the highest level and all the people in the room were on high alert, the four students were ready to activate their skills at any time.
"dark knight, it would be better for you if you didn't play a cheap trick here"
"no.....I...you see"
"I understand"
the guild master lowered his voice in dead cold tones and his face was filled with anger while the Holy knight was only able to stand in confusion.
"dark knight, This is not a time for playing around..."
The holy knight said warily to me, but before I could answer back, the guild master had made his decision.
"mirika"
With one word, the maid suddenly who had stealthily standing in the room charged toward me with a giant hammer bigger than herself.
Since when did she hold that thing?!
"Kuh!!"
"BAAAAAMMMMMM!!"
"Dark Knight!"
Dust flew around me and the blunt pain hit my stomach, laying on the debris, the maid had swung her giant hammer to send me flying through the door and destroying the wall.
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STATUS
Name: Ren Sarain
Age: 21
Class: Dark Knight transformation (Transform)
Level: 22
Hp: 31/55 (+20)
Mp: 0/0
Strength: 34 (+10)
Speed: 93
Intelligence: 8
Agility:10
Defense: 48 (+20)
Exp gained to level 23: 55%
Status Point: 40
-----------------------------------------------
Are you kidding me? That is almost half of my HP! Even if she hit me that hard my HP shouldn't going this low!
"Gah!"
Lifting my upper body from the debris, I saw the maid already standing over me with her hammer over her head ready to slam Me to pulp.
She really wants to kill me!
Trying to get away from her, yet my movement was slow from the damage I received, so I immediately activated dimensional movements to get away from her.
"...!?"
Reappear behind her, What welcomed me was another swing of a giant hammer.
Ahh...this isn't working....
Thrown flying across the hallway, but this time I managed to lift my guard in the hope of minimizing the damage, I only stopped after crashing into the wall at the end of the hallway, the wall easily shattered and destroyed with my body lodged into it, the aching pain worsen and one of my arms was shattered.
-----------------------------------------------
STATUS
Name: Ren Sarain
Age: 21
Class: Dark Knight transformation (Transform)
Level: 22
Hp: 7/55 (+20)
Mp: 0/0
Strength: 34 (+10)
Speed: 93
Intelligence: 8
Agility:10
Defense: 48 (+20)
Exp gained to level 23 : 55%
Status Point: 40
-----------------------------------------------
As I thought, her attack going past my defense, is this the effect of her skill or that hammer? regardless, One more hit and I would be done for.
I was trying to move my body but it wouldn't budge, even lifting my head was hard enough, looking ahead the maid was running toward me like a cheetah while holding her giant hammer, with each step she took the floor was shattered under her feet.
Isn't she was more like a monster than me!?
I need to do something but even If I put status points into my HP, my wound would prevent my HP recovery, and my defense was useless, tch! What a troubling ability.
(you need to get away from her)
The voice in my head comes back and it doesn't seem to be very smart.
(you know I could read your mind?)
Then say something useful!
(I'm trying to help you)
Ahh this is useless, I need to do something.
"shadow manipulation!"
With my skill, the shadow around the hallway started to move toward the maid and tangled around her body trying to stop her movements.
"HAH!"
And yet the maid just forces brute through it, wahh....this is the end.
"shockwave!"
"Ahh?!"
Suddenly a great shockwave rippled through the air, the maid surprised by the sudden attack was thrown backward, even when she got hit by such force she still managed to land on her feet.
Looking up, the holy knight stood before me with a sword in her hand.
"...what are you doing?"
Asking the holy knight who stood in front of me, I couldn't understand what she was doing, if she protected me she would become an enemy to the dungeon guild, the biggest organization that ever existed.
Turning her head to me, I could see a small smile on her face.
"Heal"
With this spell, the pain in my body started to go away, my cracked armor was stitched back together and my HP started to go up.
"....what the meaning of this holy knight?"
Holding the hammer with both hands, The maid asked with an unemotional expression on her face.
"that is my question, why are you attacking him? You have no proof that he did it"
hearing this question the maid answered like it was obvious.
"I follow order"
"then the order was wrong"
Looking behind, the guild master and the four students start to run toward us.
"that doesn't matter"
In one step the maid swings her hammer toward the holy knight, in return, the holy knight also swings her sword to deflect the giant hammer.
"Hmph!"
"What?!"
The maid yelled in disbelief, the holy knight was not only able to deflect her attack but also push her backward, angry the maid was going for another swing.
"HELL FIRE!"
"Agh?!"
Activate hell fire toward her, a burst of purple fire erupted several meters over, the wall was melted when in touch with my fire, realizing the dangers of my skill, the maid quickly jumped backward with all her strength, cold sweats could be seen on her face.
"Are you alright? Dark Knight?"
"never been better"
Standing beside the Holy Knight, I pulled my sword from my inventory.
"holy knight! You would regret this!"
The maid screamed to us.
"why wouldn't you come here and say it to her face? You coward"
"wai- dark knight!"
"TCH!"
The maid's expression was filled with rage, it seemed I had scratched her pride more than I needed to.
(you two were more precious than I thought, that's why he want both of you)
The voice in my head comes back.
Please get out of my head! I'm in an important fight right now!
(I would take care of that, Jack o Lantern and Sinister Nurse.... Is this enough?)
Couldn't understand what the voice in my head talking about, suddenly two magic formations appeared on the floor in front of us.
Then two figures emerged from the magic circle.
one is a tall humanoid figure with a dark tuxedo and a dagger in both of its hands, however, its head was a pumpkin carved to make a smiling face
The other one is a girl with a nurse uniform, however, her uniform was worn out and dirty as if it had been buried for a few years on the ground, holding a giant syringe with both of her hands, her expression was a cruel smile.
"high level undead?!"
The holy knight calls in surprise, however, the two undead did not attack us instead they charged straight into the maid.
"...!!?"
Surprised by the new guests, the maid was struggling to fight the two undead.
(now, we only get started)
"this way!"
"there was an explosion!"
"ready your weapon!"
Hearing the sound of footsteps around us, the adventurers start to gather in our direction, a lot of them.
Who are you really?
(I have been called by many names, but humans call me Canaria)