"..."
"..."
<...>
"..."
The awkward silence had already persisted for a while now. Dusk's silence is understandable due to her circumstances, though we did get closer even if just a little bit, it's still a great improvement.
But the problem is the other two. For Dawn and Vers, especially Dawn, for the two of them not to speak a single word in a whole hour? That's as unlikely as getting a penta kill with a pure support! But kidding aside, for those two to be this quiet while awake... Something must have happened.
"H-hey..." I managed to squeeze out some words, breaking the ice on this atmosphere is quite a struggle "Why are ya' so quiet?" I managed to ask.
Dawn looked at me and stared for a while. "Haaa..." A few moments later, she sighed.
I got even more puzzled by her reaction.
"Gyaaaaah!" a loud screech resounded in the cave, I almost forgotten the current situation. We're easily zooming through the cave after leaving Fortunas' grave, on our way to the exit. I already got used with killing undead left and right starting from outside this cave at the 'Spooky Graveyard' and inside this dungeon. I bet I could kill them with my eyes closed.
I already reached level 43 some time back, these monsters only give me bonus copper now. The rest also racked a lot of level during our expedition.
After cleaning up the group of ghouls we encountered. After picking up the loot, I noticed Dawn staring at me. I went up to her to ask what's bothering her, and the rest of them too for that matter.
"Haaa... It's just..." Dawn started explaining "We've went through the Spooky Graveyard, defeated the monsters inside the cave, entered Fortunas' monument, triggered a trap and after some more struggles we've finally reached our destination. But at the climax of our adventure, we fell asleep! Arghhh! Do you know how disappointed I became after you said you met with Fortunas' spirit? I was even so excited about finding something no other player knew... Ughh..."
Shocked by her sudden outburst, I glanced at Vers who's still sitting on Dusk's shoulder to ask for help but instead of helping me out, she was strangely nodding in confirmation.
*Oi... Aint'cha far more legendary a person? You're technically a goddess for god's sake! Why are you also disappointed like 'em?* I thought to myself. I then turned my attention towards Dawn who is still going on with her grumblings.
"B-but it wasn't all fer naught, was it? We've pocketed all the gold inside as well as the equipments." I said, cutting off Dawn's long complaints.
The amount of gold we've hoarded was quite a lot. According to Fortunas' knowledge that flowed inside my head, those were apparently his accumulated wealth when he was still alive. As a successful gambler he was quite rich. Then he used the other spirits he formed a contract with and made them revive so that he could transfer his possessions inside the monument, he also asked a magus to form the spell that only allows a person of similar profession to open the door to his monument using the same method. Thinking about the possibilities of this skill puts a smile on my face.
Another thing, I've gained some magic-infused gambling tools that would help me in gambling and combat I got the most stuff out of the place since most of the stuff inside are class-restricted so I'm the only one able to wield them. But it's not like I could carry that gigantic roulette or the humongous slot machine so I made do with the smaller ones like a magical dice which could help my increase stats.
"This and that are two different things!" Dusk vehemently said with a firm obstinacy.
"Ughh... This is giving me a headache..." I muttered under my breath.
In order to end this once and for all, when we had a short break, I retold what happened after the three of them fell asleep. They seem to be especially interested with the skill I gained, light glimmered within their eyes with a tinge of curiosity. The awkward atmosphere from before now felt like a lie.
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The escape from the dungeon went on normally, if not mundane, after that. Well, if you consider massacring different types of undead as common, the it is a dull event.(Farming minions or neutral monsters at the Fields of Justice is an everyday thing back in Runeterra)
"Finally, we're out!" shouted Dawn, she was so loud that a party of nearby skeletons noticed us, which I've put down within a few moments.
"Yeah..." Dusk answered with a small voice, she seems really relieved to be out of that undead infested, rottenly stinking cavern... Not like the graveyard was much better.
After clearing the place around the perimeter of the cave, we've prepared to take a break. The sun is already high up so I guess it's already noon. We've stayed inside the cave probably for a week... I need to replenish my supplies sooner or later.
After we finished eating lunch, the rest prepared to finish killing the rest of the undead. Now that Fortunas, the one that bound the undead to this place, is now gone, the monsters doesn't respawn anymore no matter how long you were to wait.
I stared at the two players with a meaningful look for an instant, Dawn seems to have noticed my gaze and made her way towards me.
"Hmm... What's wrong?" she asked gently. This mother-like or sister-like tone is totally unlike her usual brutish and rough tomboyish actions. Did she ate something bad?
*Crap, my poker face is startin' get rusty... Perhaps it's not just Vers who's slowly gainin' emotions...* I thought as I quickly returned my usual calm countenance.
"Well, ye' see..." I closed my eyes and started speaking "After clearin' this place rid of those undead, I hafta continue my journey... Me and Vers and the two of you would part ways then..." I spoke solemnly.
I opened my eyes to see Dawn wearing a dumb expression, as if processing what she just heard. A few moments later...
"Gahahahahaha! M-my stomach... Ahahahaha! Gah! Are you trying to- Ahahaha! A-are you trying to kill me with laughter?!"
She bursted out laughing out on the ground holding her tummy... Yup, it's Dawn. She just ruined the motherly atmosphere from before and crushed my previous thoughts about misunderstanding her personality...
I snuck a peek at the other two and noticed Vers trying to hold back her laughter... 'Trying'... On the other hand Dusk is still the usual expressionless girl... Scratch that, she's definitely smirking! Gah! How embarrassing!
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The laughter slowly died down as I held back my great urge to strangl--- calm Dawn down.
"Haa... haa..." Dawn panted as she wiped the tears welling in her eyes from excessive laughter. That was definitely too much. "So it was, only that... Haa... That you're, thinking about..." she spoke in between her breath.
"Well, it's not sure that the four of us would meet again... It's just... to me, the two of you already became my comrades." I said after regaining my composure to which the rest smiled at.
"You're making it too dramatic... Let's do this then, will you be my friend?" Dawn answered back. She finally calmed down so my embarrassment greatly diminished.
'Ding!'
You have received a friend request from player Dawn!Would you accept the request?
I looked at the message and back at Dawn who was strangely wearing a smile. It took me a few moments before recalling Vers explanation in regards to informations related to friends, parties and guilds. Though her words were brief back then, they carried an amount of detail and was worded in a way which is easily understandable taking into account that I was someone from another world, who have no idea what a video game even is.
Speaking of that fairy, I looked over her direction and noticed her wearing the same smile as Dawn. Even our other companion, who is usually emotionless was smiling in the same manner too... Now this is getting creepy.
Noticing my gaze, Dusk sent a small bow towards me. The system, as if understanding her intentions, gave me another message.
'Ding!'
You have received a friend request from player Dusk!Would you accept the request?
I looked back at the two girls who sent me a friend request and noticed a tinge of expectation within their eyes...
"Haa..." I sighed in resignation "Accept." I curtly said.
The two of them bloomed into a satisfied smile as they returned to what they were doing. Looking at the two of them, I couldn't help but smile too... Perhaps I really am getting influenced by them...
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'Ding!'
You have rid the dungeon 'Spooky Graveyard' of its monstersThe lord of Fortunas as well as the residents are thankful to you for clearing out the graveyard which became infested by the undead for many decades.For clearing the dungeon, you gain:Increased reputation and familiarity within Fortunas City.
+100 Fame.You've gained possession of 'Fortunas Graveyard'
We've finally cleared the place clean without a bone or a rotting flesh in sight. I've gained another level after the hunt. The undead around this area only gives me little to no EXP now that I am leagues above them now. Still, having little is better than having none at all. As for the property we've gained, the 'Fortunas Graveyard', we decided to donate it to the city, further improving our relationship with the place and giving us +250 fame. When I suggested this, Dusk was extremely eager with the idea of removing the dungeon from our hands.
"Haa... Well, I guess that's that." I said.
"Yeah! It was a fun experience!" Dawn energetically replied in which the other two nodded their heads.
"Me and Vers would still be around the city for a bit before continuing onwards... Let's meet up again sometime later, the two of us would be making our way west, towards the Martichoras Forest. Please be safe." I told the two of them.
"Alright!" Dawn said loudly, still the same as ever, eh?
"Likewise." Dusk answered back, which is something rare to tell the truth since she's usually so quiet unlike her partner.
Just like that, the rag-tag party of mine parted.
Afterwards, I decided to stockpile on supplies for our long journey ahead. Thanks to my fame and reputation with the cityfolk, I garnered a lot of materials. Not like the price matters due to the fact that my current amount of money is probably enough to live comfortably my whole life, and seven more lives after that.
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Author's Note(Grumblings):
It's me again! There's nothing worth noting this week so I'd just greet you guys good luck with the team you cheered for in the world cup. Not like I'm a soccer fan(or football if that's what you like to call it).
Ah! Before I forget, I'm currently reading some light novels that started out as a web novel... Some pretty interesting stuff involving reincarnation, another about getting sent into a parallel world and another one about reincarnation too. That's all the news for me... Oh right, I also need to decide on what salad to make(Vegetable salad isn't allowed...) for TLE(something like economics)...
Also, sorry if this one is shorter than before... As I said before, I can't guess how long my chapters are anymore... Perhaps I could make it longer by detailing the hunts, the breaks and the preparations but that would probably break the pacing so I'd just go into details when there's important battles like first encounters agains a specific monster, pvp and boss mobs. Suggestions are well appreciated.
Anywham, my iPad is running low on battery so... see you soon!
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