“Take this you filthy mutt!”
The killing-intent laced beam of light shot into the wolf’s eyes, making it howl in pain. Lucille used the moment to slam Ouroboros against the ground, shaking the floor and causing the beast to lose its footing.
Scytale bared his fangs and ripped into the hide of the monster, its fur already covered in numerous bleeding wounds from their earlier clashes. This time, Scytale finally managed to get his fangs deep into the wolf’s neck. He coiled his body around the beast as the wolf howled and cried, thrashing about to dislodge the amphiptere.
Scytale tightened his grip around the wolf, slowly crushing it. After a long few minutes of effort, the monster finally collapsed to the ground, dead.
[+720 XP]
[Level Up!]
[+1 level]
[+5 Free stat points]
[Level Up!]
[+1 level]
[+5 Free stat points]
[Level Up!]
[+1 level]
[+5 Free stat points]
[Level Up!]
[+1 level]
[+5 Free stat points]
[User has reached Level 41]
[Xp: 26/225]
[Apophis: +32 XP]
[Xp: 80/151]
[Ouroboros: +32 XP]
[Xp: 80/151]
[Realm Quest - Ancient Dungeon Discovery Tier I (Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis):]
* Investigate the first three zones of the Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis:
* Determine the main element of the Dungeon: COMPLETE (Earth)
* Defeat three zone bosses: INCOMPLETE (2/3)
* Locate the main hall of the Dungeon: COMPLETE]
[Mystical Realm Event: Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis]
[Exploration Progress +0.08%]
[New! Exploration Progress: 0.66%]
Lucy glanced at the notifications.
I earned half of the experience… and my blades have been taking 10% of my total experience each.
In front of her, her bond turned back into a human and raised a fist. “Woohoo! Done and dusted! Only one more left to go!”
“What’s your level?” Lucille asked.
He turned back around, revealing that the monster’s sticky blood had gotten over his face and hair. He grinned. “49! After the last guy, I’ll have passed the 50 mark.”
Lucy studied his appearance expressionlessly for a moment. Then she raised a hand and abruptly cast a water ball spell at her bond, splashing him in the face with water.
Scytale coughed and spluttered, staring at her incredulously. “What- why did you do that?!”
“Because I’m not having my bond walk around like he’s a serial killer,” Lucy said with disdain. She walked up to the corpse of the monster.
Scytale sighed as he plucked at his soaked shirt but stood next to her. “Is this guy going to turn into a Heretic item too?”
Lucy shook her head. “Doesn’t appear like it. Heretic items are quite rare, so it would be unlikely for the Dungeon to create another one after the first zone when the first scion or boss slayed in a Dungeon is a guaranteed Heretic item.” She studied the monster's corpse for a moment longer and then transferred it into her dimensional bag. “The first version of a monster slain in a Dungeon is always higher quality than the subsequent versions slain, as the Dungeon devotes less mana to them. The hide of this monster may be useful for my future magical gear.”
“Hey, we’re looting monster corpses!” Scytale said. “Now it feels like we’re real adventurers!”
Lucy smiled and glanced at her bond. “Is there any equipment you want made?”
He blinked. “For me?” Scytale frowned as he considered it. “I can’t really think of anything, besides maybe buying a dimensional bag for myself…” He thought for a moment longer and then shrugged. “I’ll get back to you if there’s something I want.”
She nodded and then started moving. “Let’s go then. It’s time for the last zone.”
As they approached the platform the wolf had been lying on, a tall oak door emerged from the stone wall in front of them. Lucille turned the doorknob and they were led into the next zone. This time, however, was a bit different.
They stared at the flourishing indoor garden before their eyes, releasing waves of wood and earth mana. The plants climbed up the walls and columns, making the place appear overgrown. Patches of tall grass spread across the ground and all the plants sparkled with a gem-like quality to them, some of them translucent. But with Lucy’s perception, she could detect the microscopic monster essence coating everything in sight. Artificial light streamed from mana lamps placed above glass to look like skylights.
[Mystical Realm Event: Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis]
[Exploration Progress +0.17%]
[New! Exploration Progress: 0.83%]
“…those are carnivorous plants, aren’t they,” Scytale said.
Lucille gave her bond a flat look. “Tell me, Scytale, why would you ever think that monstrous plants would be carnivorous?”
He rolled his eyes. “Okay, yes, I should’ve thought through my words better.” He gestured to the sparkling flora. “What I actually want to know is if you could enlighten me about what specific, colourful way I will die if I touch them.”
“I could,” she replied calmly. He glared at her, making her smirk. “If you touch any of the plants here they’ll explode into thousands of crystal fragments, stabbing you a million times over. You won’t die instantly, but you’ll lose health over time from the bleeding, and when you eventually succumb to your condition the plants will absorb your flesh and blood.”
She hummed as she surveyed the room. “Rather tame for a monster, as most magical plants have basic self-defence methods like this, but that’s discounting the symbiotic relationship the plant has with another species of monster.” She gestured to the humanoid snake. “Stay put for a second.”
Lucy unsheathed Apophis and directed the blade to hover in the centre of the room as she raised a hand and stretched it out. “Arcane Barricade.”
A dark blue translucent dome emerged from her spell, protecting the two of them on all sides. Scytale gave her a curious look as she smiled and sent her intent through to her demonic weapon. “Alright, Apophis. Let loose.”
The malevolent blood-red aura glowed intensely as the half-segments spun widely around the main body of the weapon. With excitement, Apophis thrashed around, sending his blade shattering into the plants on all sides.
A sound burst out as the monstrous flora exploded into thousands of shards as light as air, sharp enough to rend someone’s lungs with just a breath. The explosions continued as the force of one plant exploding caused a chain reaction, the monstrous plantation so thick in the room that everything was connected. They waited behind the arcane spell until they could no longer hear the explosions echoing through the door at the end of the room, nor were there any more sparkling shards floating in the air. Lucy disintegrated the barrier.
She gestured to the glittering ground with a gloved hand. “Scytale, how confident are you in the soles of your boots?”
He lifted a foot to check and then raised an eyebrow at her. “I’m not sure.”
Lucy smirked and walked down some small stairs to step onto the crystal-covered ground. “Then I suppose you’ll be able to test them.”
He carefully stepped onto the ground with her and she walked forward to view her levitating weapon. Apophis had reverted to his dagger form but Lucy still clicked her tongue. “You’re covered in them. Wind would be a bad idea right now, so water it is.”
After casting a low-ranked water spell, Lucy sheathed Apophis and continued to tread carefully on the ground. With awkward steps, Scytale followed, stopping to check the soles of his boots now and then. It was after some time that Scytale finally said something.
“So…” he began. “You mentioned these plants have a symbiotic relationship with… another kind of monster.”
Lucy nodded and then made a ‘hush’ gesture to him with a finger on her lips. She switched to mental communication.
Yes. But we’ll be getting close to where they are, so we need to keep quiet. I suggest walking a tad slower.
Lucille dropped to a slight crouch and Scytale followed her lead, walking in a straight path to enter through the open doorway at the end into the next room. The rich purple carpet was coated in tiny slivers of crystal, ready to pierce any who made the slightest mistake.
[Mystical Realm Event: Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis]
[Exploration Progress +0.07%]
[New! Exploration Progress: 0.90%]
Scytale winced as the shards crushed under his boots, the sound of their footsteps the only thing to be heard in the deathly silent room. At the other end of the room was a tall ornate chair, seated on a raised platform. It appeared like a throne of some sort. Embroidered silk curtains hung from the walls as decorations.
Lucy’s bond stiffened up when he detected the presence of the other monsters.
‘Hey, Lucy, can you show me what those are? They feel like…’
She sent through what she could see in her perception field and he hesitated.
‘Ah… yay. I hate spiders.’
Lucille suddenly froze. Scytale, stay very still. They’re moving.
He paused and tried to see the monsters. The snake nearly flinched when he heard the sound of skittering, and twenty milky white spiders emerged from behind the draping silk, crawling across the shard-covered carpet. He slowed his breathing and tried not to move.
Lucy sent across information on the monsters. They’re blind, but the hairs on their legs can detect vibrations. Also, these are the babies.
Scytale blinked. ‘Then where’s the mother?’
Behind the throne.
He slowly raised his eyes and at first, he couldn’t see anything. Scytale almost wondered if the spider was using an illusion but then discarded the thought as his eye bloodline ability would see through it. Then the monster moved and he realised the giant spider was completely transparent, lying flat against the wallpaper.
And it was slowly crawling upwards, climbing onto the roof.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
‘Lucy, I don’t think we should stay still anymore.’
She sent him her agreement, but neither of them moved, still trying to plan their next moves as the spider queen crawled across the roof. Then it opened its pincers and Scytale’s eyes widened.
“Lucy, move!”
With Lucille’s AGI barely catching up to her and Scytale’s perception, she raised Ouroboros to deflect the attack of the monster. Instead of venom, a sharp, needle-thin piece of glass shot out of its mouth, hitting Ouroboros directly in the middle. The force of attack nearly pushed Lucy back but she kept her footing. The sound of glass shattering was heard behind her and she glanced at Scytale to see him deflecting the attacks of the young spiders with his wings, already having reverted to his true form.
“Lucy, I can’t use my Primal Descendant skill in this room. This place is too small. Do you think we can lure it elsewhere?”
“Unlikely right now,” she said as she twisted her body to avoid the next attack of the spider queen. “Dungeon Scions are usually very territorial of their rooms. The entrance to the next level is guarded by them, after all. The only way would be to find something their instincts value more than the room.” Using the shard in her eye she obtained its information.
[Dungeon Scion: Fractured Jungle Spider Mother – Lvl. 55]
[HP: 11000/11000 {+104 HP/1m}]
“Ugh… that’s my Aspect bonuses out for the count. Not to mention my CON and STR boosts.” He swung his tail and slammed five of the baby spiders into a wall where they shattered.
Lucy tested the monster by swinging Ouroboros at it but the spider only hissed and leapt to the wall closest to her. Scytale pushed in front of Lucy and flared his wings, hissing at the creature in return to get it to back off.
Instead, the spider raised its abdomen and used its spinnerets to shoot a strand of thick sticky web at the wrist Lucille was using to wield Ouroboros. Lucy couldn’t dodge and tried to switch her mana to fire to burn the spider silk. The silk didn’t do anything but heat up, and it was at risk of burning Lucy if she increased the heat further.
Scytale shot a beam of light mana at the silk but that was also ineffective. The spider queen used its legs to begin dragging Lucy closer, and Lucy gritted her teeth, trying to pull back on the thread as she twisted her wrist.
Lucy’s silvery bond bared his fangs at the spider, aiming to get it to loosen its grip, but the spider chittered and increased its pulling. Lucille winced at the abrasion but didn’t stop moving her hand.
“Lucy, if I threaten it too much it’s going to yank your wrist off,” Scytale said in a tight voice. “If it doesn’t, then you’ll be sent face-first into the shards on the ground.”
Lucy tried to saw off the silk with Apophis’s serrated edges but the spider hissed and pulled on her again. It raised its abdomen, prepared to shoot silk at Lucille again.
“Scytale, just attack!” Lucy shouted.
“But-”
“Now!”
He didn’t waste time saying anything else and launched himself at the monster. It let out a foul scream as the serpent bowled it over. Scytale flinched at the brief shot of pain he sensed Lucy feel but when he spared a second to check her condition he saw she was still standing.
‘What-’
Not now. Keep her distracted. I have something else I need to do.
Scytale decided to leave it in her hands as he fought the monster. Its translucent body was filled with foul monster essence, the miasma gushing out of the minute cracks in its exoskeleton.
Lucy took one last look at her bond’s situation before dashing into a side corridor, heading in a straight line to her destination. She used Apophis to deal with the many baby spiders on the walls and underfoot, and the further into the hallway she went, the thicker the white silk coating the building. Lucille stopped when she came before a glowing sack the size of her head, attached to the wall with the thickest silk of the spider queen. Hundreds of weak baby spiders the size of her little finger were rushing out of the sack, but she knew their mandibles were too weak to pierce her skin.
She used Apophis to slice across the top of the egg sack, then plunged her black-gloved hand in, ignoring the slime and spider legs. She withdrew a small object and once she had pocketed it, she severed the egg sack from the wall, catching it in the same hand she severed it with by letting the blade levitate. Then she ran back to the main room with Apophis behind her to see Scytale getting thrown against the throne, the spider queen now missing two legs.
He coughed as he shook his head and flapped his wings, getting back up. “You sure can pack a punch when you try, huh? And… Lucy?” He looked at what she had in her hand. “What is-”
She didn’t stop to listen, instead running past the spider and Scytale to the back of the room, a few paces away from the doorway. She held up the egg sack for the spider queen. “This is yours, isn’t it? Your foul eight-legged spawn? They look as beautiful as their mother.”
The spider queen clicked its mandibles, unable to see what Lucy was doing. Lucille squeezed the sack, half-formed and newly-hatched spiders falling out. She gained a vicious grin. “Are you just going to sit there and wait while I destroy this?”
The spider queen let out a horrid screech and ran towards her, front legs reaching out for the sack. Lucy threw the sack into the room behind her with tiny spiders spraying everywhere at the same time as she sent a message to Scytale.
The spider queen picked up the egg sack and rapidly shredded it with its legs and mandibles, uncaring about the many young it was killing in the process. The silk and slime fell to the ground in one ugly mess as the spider failed to find what it was looking for, and it screamed with anger as it turned around.
Then it was faced with the enlarged form of Scytale, Colossus Armament and Aspects all released.
“You forgot about me that quickly?”
The scales instantly tipped in their favour when Scytale could use his full size in the first room. Scytale swung his massive tail and slammed the spider into the wall where it let out a pained screech, its transparent form turning brown as its cracked body released green miasma. But it didn’t give up. All the miasma was leached from its body as it summoned a massive glass star above its head, ready to send out needle-like shards in a massive area-of-effect attack that even Scytale, with his exhausted mana, and Lucy, with her low defence, would struggle to block.
But then Lucille raised the green glowing orb that had been within the egg sack earlier and squeezed it, causing it to let out cracking noises. The spell above the head of the spider queen dissipated as it rounded on her with another hiss. It waited for Lucy’s move, in fear of the orb breaking.
Then Lucy ruthlessly shattered it and the spider queen screeched, reforming its miasma into a massive spear directed at her. Just as the attack was about to be cast, Scytale flew up and dived at the monster, using his full force to ram it into the ground. Another ruthless dig of his fangs into its neck severed its head from its body, and then its limbs finally stopped twitching.
[+985 XP]
[Level Up!]
[+1 level]
[+5 Free stat points]
[Level Up!]
[+1 level]
[+5 Free stat points]
[Level Up!]
[+1 level]
[+5 Free stat points]
[Level Up!]
[+1 level]
[+5 Free stat points]
[User has reached Level 45]
[Xp: 84/253]
[Apophis: +50 XP]
[Xp: 130/151]
[Ouroboros: +50 XP]
[Xp: 130/151]
[Realm Quest - Ancient Dungeon Discovery Tier I (Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis): COMPLETE]
* Investigate the first three zones of the Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis:
* Determine the main element of the Dungeon: COMPLETE (Earth)
* Defeat three zone bosses: COMPLETE (3/3)
* Locate the main hall of the Dungeon: COMPLETE]
[Rewards: +2000 xp, Crystalline Token +1, Ancient Skill Book, Stat Potions (+10) x2, Ancient Dungeon Discoverer Title x1, Successor of Synadis Title x1, Origin Skill Primer (+5%) x1]
[+2000 XP]
[Level Up! x7]
[+7 levels]
[+35 Free stat points]
[User has reached Level 52]
[Xp: 272/280]
[User has new rewards (8) available: ]
Realm Quest – Ancient Dungeon Discovery Tier I (Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis):
* Crystalline Token x1
* Skill Book - Successor of The Kingdom of Jewels (Ancient) x1
* Ancient Dungeon Discover (Ancient) Title x1
* Successor of Synadis (Epic) Title x1
* Origin Skill Primer (+5%) x1
[]
[Realm Quest – Ancient Dungeon Discovery Tier II (Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis) Unlocked]
[Realm Sub-Quests – Ancient Dungeon Exploration Tier I (Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis) Unlocked]
Lucille didn’t bother to focus on the messages much, just sitting down on the only part of the ground not covered by crystals with a sigh. Scytale came and sat next to her in his human form. She glanced at him. “Do you want my Origin Skill Primer?”
He stared at her. “Uh… don’t you need that?”
Lucy shook her head. “No. because my Origin Skill is a ‘System Skill’, it’s unalterable by any means, even increasing its awakening rate. It’s already in its best possible state, so I won’t benefit from it.”
“Then…yes, I’ll take it. Thanks,” he said with surprise.
She nodded and fell silent again. They both sat there and recovered from the fight. After a few minutes, Lucille opened her dimensional bag and retrieved a healing potion, then dumped it on her left hand.
Scytale raised an eyebrow. “Why are you doing that?”
“To heal my wrist.” She waited a second for the glow to die down, and then flexed it, testing its ability. “I broke it.”
“You… broke it? Was that because of the spider silk?” He stared at her as she nodded. Then he groaned. “Wow… breaking your wrist to escape the silk? Ruthless as always, huh…” Then he shuddered. “Although, not as ruthless as the spider queen. Did you see how she shredded that egg sack? It was like she didn’t even care about her kids!”
Lucy gave him a shake of her head. “That’s because she didn’t. Her young function as her soldiers and food. If they didn’t become strong enough then she’d eat them.”
Scytale made a gagging motion. “Yuck, a cannibal too. Nothing could get worse than that.” He shot his bond a curious look. “What was the strange green thing though?”
She gestured to the carpet of shattered plants in front of her. “The symbiotic relationship the spiders have with this colony of monstrous plants is one that helps the spider reproduce. Because this monstrous plant is a colony, it only produces one fruit.” She put her hands behind her head and laid back. “Most of the spider queen’s offspring can’t become a ‘queen’, but when the spider queen places an egg within the plant’s fruit, the spider egg has enough nutrients to develop into a new ‘queen’ like if bee larvae receive royal jelly.”
Scytale considered it. “So… she couldn’t care less about the rest of her eggs but liked her ‘princess’ egg?”
Lucy raised an eyebrow at him. “When the princess egg is ready to hatch, the spider queen consumes the fruit, the egg still within, to increase her strength.”
He stared at her with a disgusted look on his face. “…eww… and… that’s awful.”
Lucille closed her eyes. “No monster has normal habits. All of them are distorted versions of the real things, replicas of the worst aspects of life.” She opened her eyes and frowned slightly. “Someone who’d discard their newborn children for personal gain…” She sighed and sat up.
Scytale glanced at her. “What’s up?”
“I’m just reminded of the nobility I’ll have to deal with again once we return,” she replied, looking at her formerly injured left hand. “This brief respite has been nice.”
Scytale gained a look of horror. “You’re being… emotional. Something is dreadfully wrong right now, isn’t it?”
She shot him an amused look. “Scytale, do you know what day it is today?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “The twelfth?”
Lucille smirked and stood up. “So you know. I’ll see if you can remember by the end of the day, but first… it’s time to meet up with the messenger from Ravimoux to receive our new identities.”
…
“Lucinda Silverhearth and… Sky? From the Beast Realm?” the receptionist asked, looking at their letters and the Faction screens in front of her.
Lucy smiled brightly as Scytale turned to stare at her.
‘Lucinda and Sky?’
Shut up. I’m busy.
‘Honestly, Lucy, the one thing about you that will never change is your laziness when it comes to naming stuff.’
Didn’t I just tell you to shut up?
The receptionist raised her eyes to give Scytale a sceptical look. “He looks a bit too young to be a User.”
Lucy’s smile widened and she patted the scowling Scytale on his head. “He just comes from a beast subrace known for their small size.”
The receptionist continued looking at them both for a second longer before she shrugged. “I guess it’s not my place to question it. Well then, can I ask you what you came here to the Adventurer’s Guild for?” She scribbled something down on a piece of paper, waiting for their answer.
Lucille glanced at the surrounding adventurers seated at tables drinking. She smirked and leaned an arm against the bench. “I would like to report the discovery of a new Dungeon.”
The scratching of the receptionist’s pen paused as she stopped to look at them. “…what rarity?”
“Ancient.”
All sounds in the Guild hall stopped as everyone turned to stare at Lucy. The receptionist gazed with wide eyes at Lucy, then coughed to regain composure. “There will be consequences for lying about this to the Adventurer’s Guild, I must remind you. If you’ve really found an undiscovered Dungeon, please make sure you have the Quest in your Quest Log and-”
“I have the Quest. And I’ve completed the first Dungeon Discovery Quest,” Lucille stated with a serious expression.
As the receptionist stared at her she showed her notifications, taking care to hide the rewards so they wouldn’t know exactly what she had earned.
[Realm Quest - Ancient Dungeon Discovery Tier I (Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis): COMPLETE]
* Investigate the first three zones of the Dusky Undercroft Dungeon of Synadis:
* Determine the main element of the Dungeon: COMPLETE (Earth)
* Defeat three zone bosses: COMPLETE (3/3)
Locate the main hall of the Dungeon: COMPLETE]
The hall read the notification in silence. Then suddenly, an uproar sounded, adventurers and Guilders yelling at each other in the din. Flustered, the receptionist hastily opened draws and looked around the desk for paper and pens.
Scytale sent Lucy a message. ‘Lucy, there’s-’
I know. But I won’t let him bring me outside of the Obelisk’s anti-combat range. He can’t do anything.
“I- um… please wait a moment while I go find the Vice Guildmaster,” the receptionist finally replied, turning around to take the stairs to the upper floor.
“A Vice Guildmaster shouldn’t keep such a special guest waiting,” a new voice interjected. An armoured hand was placed on Lucille’s shoulder as a tall man with brown hair smirked at the receptionist. “An Ancient Dungeon in New Syna is something that needs a higher authority’s attention.”
The receptionist became awkward. The man in heavy plate armour narrowed his eyes at the woman. “Unless the Guildmaster is unavailable?”
The receptionist couldn’t reply, her eyes darting between Lucy and the armoured man. The man then placed his other hand on Lucy’s shoulder to steer her away. “Then as the Guildmaster of the Ice Crow Guild, the strongest Guild in the city, I think I’ll entertain the special guest for a while.” His smirk became wider. “After all, a mere receptionist can’t force her to stay… unless you want to try.”
The receptionist hesitated, but grimaced and stepped back, lowering her head. The threat was evident.
The Ice Crow Guildmaster took his hands off Lucille’s shoulders when she brushed them off and she turned around. She tilted her head with a slight smile on her lips. “And who might you be?”
He chuckled. “How rude of me. I forgot to introduce myself.” He placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head slightly. “Ivan Ironsworn, the Guildmaster of the Ice Crow Guild, one of the ten strongest Guilds on the plane.” He straightened up, ran a hand through his hair and winked at Lucy. “Is this how I’m supposed to do this, my lady?”
Lucy’s smile widened. He even has brown hair… oh, he reminds me so much of Griffin. I detest him already.
She held her chin with one hand, studying him with her wide smile still in place. “Why do you call me ‘Lady’?”
Ivan smirked. “I’ve met many nobles, and even among them, your mannerisms paint who you truly are clear as day.”
“Well then, Guildmaster Ironsworn…” Lucille gave him a bright smile and spread her gloved hands. “Where do you wish to take me?”
A satisfied smile appeared on the Guilder’s face as if he was now confident he had her full interest. “I want the opportunity to… discuss your recent adventures in a quieter space.” He looked around and then gestured to her. “May I invite you to our Guild’s branch in New Syna? I believe what you’ll hear from us will be… worthwhile,” he stressed.
Scytale frowned and looked at Lucille. ‘This might be bad…’
Then he paused when he saw the brief cold look in her eyes before she replied to the Guilder, “I’m very interested in this discussion, Guildmaster Ironsworn.”
Scytale, I’ve decided.
‘Decided what?’
That I’ll enjoy myself one last time before we head back. I won’t be able to have a break like this for some time, so I’ll make sure my remaining stress is gone before the end of the week.
She looked back and gave her bond a strange smile.
Because in three days I’m going to have to meet with His Grace, Stolas Septamere Eterial.
…
Lucille propped her chin up against the couch’s armrest with a lazy smile on her lips. Ivan Ironsworn sat opposite her with one leg crossed over the other. Scytale sat next to her, still frowning at the Guildmaster.
“I apologise for the poor hospitality,” Ivan Ironsworn began, gesturing to her. “Our central Headquarters has a much finer sitting room for visitors, but in this backwards place…” He eyed the room with distaste and shook his head.
“I don’t mind it,” Lucy replied. “I have some experience with staying in rougher places. I had to gain the confidence to work as an adventurer somehow.”
Ivan Ironsworn leaned forward, looking at her curiously. “So you are an adventurer?”
“Yes.” Lucille straightened up, her expression becoming slightly more serious to let the Guildmaster know she wasn’t up for more small talk. “Please forgive me for being frank, but I want to know what exactly you propose regarding the Dungeon. I’m on a time limit before I must return to my estate.”
The Guilder looked like he wanted to say more but he nodded, leaning back on the couch. “Yes, as you wish.” He gave her a solemn nod. “On behalf of the Ice Crow Guild, I want to request the location of the Ancient Dungeon and any information you have on it, as well as gain exclusive access to the Realm Quests of the Dungeon.”
“Don’t you think you’re being too greedy?” Lucy said, tilting her head.
His smirk became arrogant as he crossed his arms. “My lady, we’re one of the top ten strongest Guilds of a Minor Kingdom.”
“And you’re negotiating with a noble of the Aeternus plane.”
“…what?”
Lucille narrowed her eyes as her smile widened. “Sir Ironsworn, I said, you are negotiating with a noble of the Aeternus plane.”
He studied her carefully and narrowed his own eyes. “…can you prove that statement?”
Her smile became dark. “I don’t need to. Because I never intended on taking your deal in the first place.” She stood up from the couch and brushed herself off, Scytale standing up as well. “We’ll take our leave.”
Ivan Ironsworn stood up, a hand gripping the pommel of his sheathed longsword. A vein twitched in his right temple as he stepped closer, looking down at her. “Lucinda Silverhearth, leaving this room would be a very bad idea.”
“Oh… really?” She turned around with a calm smile on her face, not phased in the slightest. “Letting me leave right now might be a very bad idea for you, yes, Isak Ironsworn.”
His eyes widened and he withdrew his blade, pointing it at them both. “How-”
“-Did I know you were an imposter and someone who had murdered his twin brother to take over his position?” Lucy said cheerfully, hands held behind her back. “It’s simple. I had Ravimoux do a background check on important figures in the town. And you were one of them.”
“Ravimoux…” ‘Isak’ murmured. Then his eyes widened. “The Black County?”
Lucille clicked her tongue and shook her head. “Time’s up. You see, if you were truly the Rank-5 Ivan Ironsworn, then maybe you could’ve detected the presence of the Adventurer’s Guild Guildmaster in the room behind us.” She sighed lightly and gave him a ‘sad’ smile. “Unfortunately, you were, and are only, someone at the peak of Rank-4. Strong, yes, but not strong enough.”
The door opened behind them and a tall blond man in his early forties stepped in. He surveyed the situation with a strange expression. “I… was detected by a Rank-1… who I’ve never met in my entire life.”
“Ah, Branch Guildmaster Rosen.” Lucy tilted her head back and gave him a bright smile. “Just the man I was looking for. After you’ve dealt with this man, I don’t suppose we could have a discussion?” Her smile widened to become a smirk. “Concerning the Adventurer’s Guild’s involvement with my new Dungeon.”
…
“-we still need at least a month to sort out the paperwork and organise plans with the City Lord, so you might not begin to receive the experience from the Sub-Quests until a month or so later,” the receptionist explained. She handed them over forms as a Quest Log hovered in front of both Lucy and Scytale. “But you’ve been given the Adventurer’s Guild Quest. You’re set to go.”
Lucy nodded. “Thank you for your time.”
Now that the final part of the journey was complete, they headed back to the teleportation array they came from, linked to the Gilded Dome plane with the help of the Adventurer’s Guild Guildmaster.
Lucille and Scytale stepped out into the array dome of the Athenaeum, breathing in the rich mana of the Great plane shard.
Scytale looked at his bond. “Guess the next thing to do is work out how you’re going to explain your trip to the Aethereal Palace in three days to Vincent, huh?”
Lucy was about to reply but stiffened up as a presence walked closer to them. Standing before them with his arms crossed was a certain silver-haired aide, his silver eyes narrowed at them both.
“I was waiting here because you said that you’d return at this time but…” He glanced at Scytale and then scowled at Lucy. “Yes, I am very interested to know how you’re going to explain that to me, Lucille.”