Author Note:
Hi folk,
Here's the promised chapter.
Please rate my story if you like it. Or better, review it, so I can learn from what you thought.
Last but not least, thank you for reading ^^
----------------------------------------
“What do you mean I’ve breached our agreement?”
“DON’T PRETEN-- ARGHH!”
“I’m not in a good mood today, Orga. Consider it as my only friendly warning.”
The twin adventurers Gora and Gara immediately helped the big axe-warrior guy to pull his leg from the piercing earth spike before the priestess Linia shot a healing ray.
Turning back to Crystela, I demand the blonde defender to explain. “So…?”
“Your monsters just slaughter a party of fifteen. We barely saved two of them,” she said while still glaring. “How do you explain that?”
A groan came from behind the crowd. “I thought the reason you call the demon is to give him a beating he deserves before killing him. What’s the point in asking question? He obviously won’t admit,” the male voice said.
“Silence! I’m the one in charge here and I’ll give my decision only after I hear from both sides,” she reprimanded without turning her eyes from me.
“What’s the point?” the man grumbled. “You saw yourself how they were brutally murdered. We can’t even give them a proper cave burial.”
“If you can’t shut your mouth, we of the Jowsar-Star will do it for you,” Gora the swordsman unsheathed his sword and pointed to the man’s direction, who grunted but nevertheless became quieter.
“So...?” Crystela asked.
“...Can I see the two survivors?”
“What for?”
“Asking questions…?”
“... Don’t do anything other than asking, promise us in the name of Lady Alveria.”
“I promise.”
She then gestured with her head and the crowd splitted, opening a way to two men lying down on the floor. One seemed unconscious while the other looked at us with wide eyes.
“Wh- what do you want? Stay away! Help! Keep the demon away from me! Ack!”
The man dragged himself backward in panic and tried to stand up with the help of the wall. I noticed his movement was unnatural.
“Something wrong with his leg?” I asked.
“What’s with this commotion? …Arz?”
A female voice was heard from the entrance before Crystela could answer. When I and everyone else turned, we saw two figures leaving the dark night outside and stepping into the first room illuminated by light orbs.
One of them was someone I already knew well in and out, my girl Alveria, in her usual light metal armor that couldn’t hide her alluring figure. Her sword was hanging on her back and the pistol I had given was on her waist.
The other person was an old mage probably around father’s age, with neat white hair and beard, wearing a black clothes under a worn, once white, robe. From the many scratches on it, I supposed the expensive-looking staff in his hand had seen many battles. My instinct told me not to cause a problem with him. I cringed, as the mage had somehow reminded me of Jiwa and my total defeat just earlier.
“Executive Maa’, Executive Alveria,” Sister Linia who was closer to the entrance greeted them first with a bow and followed by others.
“Master, welcome. Miss Alveria too,” Tsalja addressed as she came forward happily.
“Hi, Alv,” I forced a smile and she returned it. Truly a beautiful smile, and very reassuring too.
“So, what happens here? Oh yeah, I don’t see Prince Sorok, is he not here yet or is he exploring in the deeper part?” Alveria asked while looking around.
“You’re Fantastica’s Executives? Good timing. Help me, that demon is about to kill me and your men just stand around doing nothing,” the survivor, who had tried to escape me, rushed towards the two newcomers with his limp leg and stumbled forward.
“Calm down,” Alveria said and squatted down before him. “Who are you? You’re not our member, are you?”
The man shook his head. “I’m Rada, a personal guard of His Majesty Prince Sorok of [[Dragora Kingdom]],” he said while fixing his posture.
“His majesty, he… he has fallen in this dungeon, along with my comrades and your members who accompanied our party. A group of demon monkeys suddenly ambushed us with explosion magic and in no time our party was annihilated. We tried to bring the wounded His Majesty to safety but they kept on chasing us, ignoring the adventurers who tried to help. This… this is a conspiracy! Please, you must bring justice to these wicked demons,” he begged.
Alveria raised her brows and looked up. Crystela then stepped forward and reported, “I’m second to his story, miss. We came to help as soon as we heard the news, but only Sir Rada here and another one lying over there we were able to rescue. The dungeon has absorbed the rest. Moreover, the monkeys’ magic not only could penetrate metal armor, but the wounds won’t heal completely despite our healers have tried their best.”
“Monkey-mages?” Alveria looked confused then turned towards me. “Arz…?”
“I see. I’ve heard enough and I dare to say I’ve breached nothing,” I stated.
“What are they?” Alveria asked.
“Just ordinary monkeys with weapons. The shorter version of their… explosion staff, is hanging on your waist,” I answered.
“Ah!” Alveria exclaimed as she made an understanding expression.
Turning to Crystela, I said, “Agreement number five, they who use the dungeon without paying the mana tribute are at their own risk. These guys are obviously didn’t pay if the monkeys were hunting them.”
“What!? Nonsense, why wo--”
“My creatures can recognize people from their mana tribute, mister royal guard,” I cut before the limped man could debate. “What? You think I wouldn’t prepare anything against cheaters?”
The man lost his words and could only glare at me as the crowd made an unrecognizable noises behind. I ignored them and turned back to Crystela. “There are rock pieces in their bodies. Have an earth-elemental mage to remove them before healers close the wounds again,” I whispered. “Let this event be a lesson to other adventurers too.”
“Now, since the misunderstanding has been cleared, I’ll excuse myself,” I announced. “Oh, Alv, I’ve a lot of things I need to discuss with you, especially about father. Please let me know when you’re free,” I said.
After she nodded, I made a bow to Maa’ and opened a portal. I was about to leave when I heard the royal guard talked.
“Is this your final say too, master mage?” he spoke to Maa’, who kept his silence until now. “Sure, we were in the wrong, but someone with high status like His Majesty the prince deserves a more respectful treatment. Please, I beg of you, bring justice for my prince,” he pleaded.
After taking a deep breath, Maa’ shook his head. “Sir Rada is right. Dungeon Master Arz, I need to take you and your dungeon heart to the imperial court for a trial. They will judge whether you’re guilty or not,” he gave out his mind.
“...What’s this? If you’re jesting, it’s not funny.”
“Am I look jesting to you?”
“...”
“Please wait, Master Maa’,” Alveria stepped in. “Arz isn’t wrong. However, with his condition, taking him to the court is the same as giving him a death sentence. That isn’t right,” she argued.
“Executive Alveria, don’t let your feeling clouds your judgement. You, of all people, should know better that causing the death of a royalty is the biggest crime, intentional or not, defending act or not. It has nothing to do with him being a dungeon master,” Maa’ said.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Moreover, [[Dragora]] is an important ally to [[Alishine]] and the war is right in front of us. I ask you, between [[Dragora]] and this dungeon, which one is more prominent for us?” he added.
“That’s…,” Alveria couldn’t find a good word to counter the argument.
“...You can’t do this to me,” I complained, with a shaking voice I didn’t intend. I felt my palm began to wet with cold sweat.
“Yes I can,” he replied. Raising his hand, he shouted, “I am Executive Maa’ of guild Fantastica. With my authority, the agreement between the guild and Dungeon Master Arz is now void!”
After the declaration, Maa’ tipped the floor with his staff, creating a trail of ice from where it touch to the stone monument of which the agreement content had been inscribed and engulfing it with ice. Not long after, it made a loud cracking noise then shattered to pieces. All the processes had caused an uproar amongst the adventurers present, not only because some had to jump to avoid the trail of ice, but also because the implication of this act.
*Ding!*
Requirements meet. A title is updated!You are now known as ‘Abandoned Pet Dungeon.’
*Ding!*
‘Abandoned Pet Dungeon’A pathetic dungeon that, after allowed itself to be a pet, has been abandoned by its master to die alone.Effect#N/A.
(Abandoned pet, is it? Annoying as usual.)
“Now, Dungeon Master Arz, are you going to come obediently or I have to force you?” Maa’ asked with serious tone.
(...Is that all my choices? Neither look good for me.)
Icy wind blew my way while I was considering my options. I realized it came from Maa’s direction, or to be precise, the staff in his hand.
“Ah, fine! I’ll come with you,” I decided.
“Wise choice,” said Maa’. The cold wind suddenly became much stronger, dropping the temperature around me to a whole different level.
I was surprised. “Wait, I said I’ll come with you. Why a.. re you freez..zing ...me?” I asked and gritted my teeth while trying to withstand the shiver.
“Don’t worry, I just make sure you won’t change your mind later.”
“Master Maa’, is this really necessary?” Alveria looked worry.
“It is. We don’t want him to go rampage at town with many civilians around.”
“Arz won’t do such thing.”
Maa’ shrugged and said, “Sealing the current Dungeon Lord also serve to prevent another one spawning.” He then turned to his apprentice. “Tsalja, go with your friends and take the dungeon’s heart while I watch over here,” he ordered.
“Oh, okay. But it may take a while, master. We haven’t cleared the first level yet and have no idea how many levels there are,” the mage-girl replied.
“You haven’t clear the first level of mere B-rank dungeon after a week?” Maa’ asked in disbelieve.
“Not their fault if the dungeon has grown significantly with all mana tributes,” Alveria defended her subordinates. “It’s probably beyond B-rank by now.”
“I’m sorry to ask this, but won’t the dungeon die if we take the heart?” Crystela expressed her concern.
“Obviously,” answered Alveria. “It seems Master Maa’ is convinced we need to sacrifice Arz regardless what the court will say.”
“In that case, can we keep the dungeon heart afterwa-- Oops, nevermind,” Tsalja resigned under Alveria’s intense gaze.
My Dungeon Lord had completely frozen at the time. No longer I could see or hear, as a thick layer of ice had encased the body. Only through what s-flies relayed in our link that I knew what happened, and it really made me angry.
(So they’re going to kill me either way?!
(But more importantly, why’re you approving, Alv?
(Damn it, father is still... I can’t die yet.
(Uh, move already, me!
(Just… move… Uh, too weak! Why’s this human body so weak!?
(No, wait, I don’t have to stay human to begin with, do I?)
The main reasons I kept my human race was because I was accustomed and it was easier to interact with the human adventurers. However, those weren’t important in a battle. Thus, I decided it was the time for the Dungeon Lord, my avatar, to change race. Since the dragons weren’t ready, the strongest available race would be… sky king and fighter golem. Although the tiger evolution was stronger, I chose the humanoid earth guardian’s advanced form.
As mana swirled inside, I felt my surroundings shrank. My skin became hard and pointed spikes covered my body. I experienced through a full body transformation, unlike evolving monsters that shed their skin, and the ice case broke with my body growth. My freedom was welcomed by power surge feeling and surprised expression from the adventurers around.
*Ding!*
Requirements meet. New skill is acquired!You can now use
Before anyone could react, I kicked the ground and dashed forward. Too bad I had yet adapted with the new body and tripped. However, I managed to regain balance and swung my fist to Maa’s face, a clean hit, and something was breaking. To my surprise, it was an ice sculpture that I had smashed, while Maa’ himself standing several meters away unhurt.
I used mind-attack at the same time he threw an ice spear and avoided it with a side step. Suddenly, an ice spike emerged from the floor where I had just put my foot and impaled it to the knee. Then another one came and skewered my other foot, effectively locking me in my position.
“
“
As countless of ice spears appeared and floated behind Maa’, I made a preemptive strike. Yet, no pointed rock raised when at least three should be simultaneously piercing him. Upon a closer look, I found the reason. The first room’s floor, walls and ceiling were all covered with thick ice layer that prevent the spell to work.
Once again I used mind-attack when the spears began to launch themselves, in a hope to reduce their accuracies, only to hear Maa’ said, “That little trick works only to people with weak mind, soul-mage, not me.”
“
In that instant I shot the fire magic from my opened mouth and both my hands. Using the explosion’s blast, I managed to escape death under the heavy rain of ice spears. I still lost my feet and arms in the collisions, however, and more than a dozen spears found their way to decorate my body.
“
“
Cold. Pain. More pain. And everything went black.
…
I awoke in my heart chamber, bodiless.
(Again...?!)