"Did I really could eat this?"

"Yeah, of course, you can, how'd you intend to do with it besides eating it?"

"Gene please stop it that's not what they ask."

"Nonono, I'm sure that what they ask, from what I see they never eat rice inside a bamboo in the first place, here let me show you, first you chop the top and eat it with this spoon."

I'm just glad that we could return unharmed after meeting something like that, judging from the loot it must belong to certain nobles, but for ordering a demon beast like minotaur he must really have powerful influence and more importantly who are these two, I want to ask them directly but….argh!

"Please be quiet, there's an injured person here."

"I'm sorry mom."

"So how's your wound Sera?"

"Thanks for your hospitality madam Runa, my condition is slowly recovering but looks like it still needs few days before completely healed."

"I see takes as much as time you need to rest then."

"N-no I'm already troubling you there's no way I-"

"Really? Then can I take that offer mom?!"

"Rejected!"

"Why!?"

"Sis are you alright?"

"I'm alright Marie just need more few days to recover."

"Madam Runa thank you for letting us stay here even though that we're from a beast tribe."

"Aw c'mon don't be like that, I believe all living being is should be equal or at least if they are not a scum like a certain someone."

"Thanks mom, I really glad for you to praise me so well!"

"Anyway who are you two? How come you stranded here? Isn't the beastman territory are far from here?"

"Gene! That's really impolite to ask such a question!"

"But I really want to know why they're captured by slave trader!"

"Looks like I miss something again! Is it Gene make a scene again?! No worries I'll take him away along with his problematic attitude!"

"H-hey! Aunt Lucas let me go!"

"Gene, we're invited to go for the expedition remember?"

"Expedition? Oh, right I forgot we're gonna explore salvage rift that recently found!"

"W-w-wait! Did you say salvage rift?!"

"Uh yeah, did you know something about it Marie?"

"N-no but I hear the slave trader says something about his boss going to use a band of minotaur to do something about the rift."

"Gene, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"If you mean I'm thinking a duck that singing with bass monkey yeah maybe we're thinking the same thing."

"Ok...I take that as yes, Marie how many minotaurs that his boss order?"

"I don't know, but from what I heard, he already makes the 3rd delivery."

"Uh oh this is bad, we need to make a report fast! Marie can you give a testimony to-"

"Stop it Aunt Lucas, it's useless."

"Wha-useless?! How come you say that?"

"First, they're from kobold tribe, that alone makes them are unable to believe it thinking that beastman is going to take that rift for themselves. Second, they're a slave, who's gonna believe words from a slave? Third, they do not look like a normal slave at all, the way they spoke are clearly have much more manner, I believe that they're from some nobles or something who captured on purpose. Bringing them out will clearly like asking hey! Evil nobles! I found your slave and I'm the one who kills your precious minotaur! Sigh...again what with that look? What's wrong with all of you?"

"I'm amazed that you somehow talk about logic and it makes sense! Gene are you sick!? Did your mother poisoning your food or did you sleep in the wrong position!?"

"I said I'm fine! What's wrong with that anyway! I just speak what I have on my mind!"

"So what'd you suggest?"

"Easy, join the expedition the guild master is inviting us anyway."

"So we basically walk into their trap?"

"Why not? It's better than stuck here thinking what should we do right? Besides I'm interested in what's inside the rift anyway. "

"Well then, let's not waste any more time."

"Uh, can I join?"

"What? Can you repeat again? It seems I hear something wrong."

"Gene why you keep teasing her?"

"I'm not teasing her, why would she want to join!? Didn't I say that somebody maybe could recognize her?!"

"I-I think that wouldn't be a problem, my sister and I are rarely seen by people."

"I see so both of you are a sheltered princess waiting for a knight in shining armor?"

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Uh, what?"

"Nevermind so at least tell me the reason why would you want to enter salvage rift? That place is unstable you know didn't you say before you know nothing about it?"

"I...I….I."

"It's alright Marie, they help us at least we can tell them."

"I want to find a gateway to forbidden land!"

"Bfuuh! What?! Forbidden land?! Are you kidding me right?!"

"Uh...Gene why you overreacting?"

"What?! My reaction is normal, how you keep calm after hearing that!"

"What's wrong with that, that's pretty much how we adventurer seeks in the first place, a place where unlimited treasure and glory."

"Wait, who told that BS story?"

"BS? People who found the gate and return from forbidden land always carry a rare treasure, gold, a magic weapon or soulbound weapon that grant special power."

Forbidden land? Isn't that place where the ancient god sealed why that place become like a hidden room with priceless treasure?

"Ok so after you found it what are you trying to find?"

"Gene stop pressuring her and we're already late, let's hit the road first!"

"But I-"

"No buts! Let's go, you too Marie."

"Yes!"

"Wait, are we really bring her too?!"

-----

"Gene stops that annoyed expression, it's really disturbing."

"Grrr, why would I not get annoyed, we're basically walking into their trap, and the target comes with their own wish."

"I'm sorry…"

"Hahaha, relax Marie, he always like that don't mind him and if something goes wrong, well we just need force our way out!"

"Only an idiot would think that, if they see our face that's will be our doom, for nobles looking for a certain individual are easy."

"Hahaha, no worries did you forget who's your aunt is? I know a certain individual who could take that matter and I'll make sure they will regret their choice hehe…"

"Please stop saying something shady."

"Urgh, anyway use this hat cover your ears, I'd rather avoid any trouble if its possible."

"Oh~ how thoughtful of you."

"Stop teasing me, we can't let her discovered."

"Well, you're right though anyway we arrive look Russel already make his speech before we dive in."

----

"-we're going to enter salvage rift that recently opened, and from what our intel scout there's a rare item inside but guarded by giant serpent be careful do not approach it if you found it first."

Giant serpent? Is that really dangerous? Is it a leviathan?

"Hey, Russel we're here!"

"Oh, Lucas looks like you're really bringing your stupid niece."

"Don't talk like that we're just like him when we're a rookie too."

"Can I ask, if the scout already found it then why not retrace and ambush it?"

"Pftt, this is why rookie is likely to be killed first."

Well, this is my first time to enter Salvage Rift thank you.

"Listen up rookie, salvage rift dungeon are constantly changed by the moment you enter, so even we're using same entrance we'll always arrive in a different place."

"So..how'd we get out if the place always changing?"

"What? Hey Lucas! Are you not teaching him anything aren't you? I remember I let him join the expedition but why not teach him a little? Isn't he's you precious nephew?"

"Oh, I kinda forget about that sorry Russell hahaha."

"Sigh, we'll get a whitestone the moment we enter, when you break that stone, you'll instantly got teleported out and you only get one chance, if somebody stole it from you, then consider yourself as dead meat."

"Can't we buy it somewhere?"

"No, that stone disappears at the moment you leave, so stealing it from other is useless, but there's some leader who asks his party to handover all of the whitestone."

"Why would he do that?"

"As an insurance so when your party found a treasure they not suddenly escape with the treasure."

"But what if the leader escapes with all of those?"

".....Well just like I said before, consider yourself as dead meat."

"So much for safety…."

"That's why don't just casually party with people you don't know, there's even somebody who use that to commit murder as we know rift are not entirely safe so we expect some casualty in return."

"Alright-alright I get the point, don't party with a stranger you've just meet."

"Plus who's is this cutie?"

"Just a stranger that we meet on the road."

"Sigh Didn't I just tell you don't party with a stranger? Well, that's your choice rookie take care of your nephew Lucas, later."

Tell that to my Aunt!

"And before I forget, there's a rumor about a monster that using that whitestone to escape the rift so if you meet strong enemy just escape don't challenge it."

"Relax Russel he's with me remember?!"

"That's exactly why I'm worried about him, anyway good luck."

"Hahaha, Gene you're making an annoyed expression again."

"Grrr, you're the one who singlehandedly let 'this' stranger join, but why I get the blame?"

"I'm sorry about that, I'll give you a candy alright so don't get mad."

"Why you always treat me like a child….Nevermind we better go now, the other seems already enter, we should too."

----

So this is the rift? It's really like a labyrinth, eh something on my pocket? Oh, so this is the whitestone? So I can escape anytime I want huh, pretty neat.

"Wow, it's been awhile since I enter this type rift."

"Huh?? So Salvage rift is not the only labyrinth?"

"Of course not, they're unique each their own, from my experience there's a forest, canyon, tundra, desert even a deep sea floor but yeah the labyrinth type is most common you've probably found, huh why you suddenly grab me so tight Marie."

"T-t-there's a horde of hostile coming here!"

"Oh is that so?"

"Well that's to be expected we're inside the rift the enemy here are more hostile than we found on the outside."

"How come both of you are so calm about it?! And "W-w-what with that spear?!"

"Oh, right it seems Marie didn't know about aunt Lucas, but she has another nickname you know, Blazing Lucas, and this area is her forte."

"B-but to use a spear in this narrow area?!"

"What? You don't swing spear! You throw at it! And before I throw it are you positive that they're an enemy?"

"I'm sure! It's a goblin rider! And some other creature!"

"Then turn them to ash Agni!"

Whoa, no matter how many times I see it, it is a really dangerous weapon to turn anything who comes in its path into a cinder is really fearsome.

"How's that?!"

"The-the enemy is gone!? B-but why you throw it! Isn't you need to retri-"

"What you're talking about? The spear is still here."

"Wha-whaa h-how?!"

"That's her special soulbound weapon, no matter how far you throw it, the spear will return the user."

"Well stop talking I sense more in the back, well leave it to me, Ashen blade comes fly pierce thro your ene- unfortunate creature, Thousand lances!"

"How your sword can multiply!?!"

"Huh? Taking one by one is taking too much time but is Salvage Rift monster always spawn this many?"

"Not really, judging from the enemy count looks like we send  near rift center."

"Uh isn't that dangerous? He says there's serpent monster lurking."

"What's your worry about there's no way we meet something like that so soon right!?...Right…? Why both of you become petrified?!..There's no way that serpent is behind my back right?...H-hey say something!"

"Gene don't move...and don't make any sudden movement…"

"Marie on my mark...are you ready….1...2…3! Charge!"