Novels2Search

Chapter 27

Five days was indeed enough time for adventurers to get used to the challenges of the second floor. The reset of corridors slowed exploration, however simple layout of the floor allowed orientation. Adventurers depending on their situation and confidence wait for the next reset or press forward. And there was an issue with the pipes. All adventurers keep their distance from them predicting that it could be some sort of trap. Especially rusted ones. The Guild Master however needed to be sure about this so he issued an official quest for checking that. Adventurers who take quests thankfully do check in the first room. After destroying the rat they from the opposite side of the room shot in the direction of the hot pipe. It burst with pressurized steam. Part of the room immediately was covered with a cloud of mist blocking sight, and bursting steam was scolding hot. That was dangerous, but the rusted pipe was much worse. When it got broken dark foul liquid spilled from it. The stench was so horrible that even after the whole night and reset of the room some adventurers still claimed to smell rotten eggs.

The first who discovered the third floor was a team of paladins led by Commander Serator personally. Under his command was Pilipa, she was a satyr and specialized in scouting. Collas, an elf, acts as a fighter. Egelberd was a human male and usually acted as a shield bearer especially when some flanking was needed. Davroli was a dwarf, and he preferred fighting heads on. Syllia the elf female specializes in magic, but even she was wearing metal armor. It was a lighter version of typical holy knight armor, but still more than usually worn by adventurers.

"Dungeon Mistress finishes new floor." Serator nod. "Estimation of how much mana Mistress acquired after bandits raid was accurate."

"Yes, lieutenant. However, the Dungeon Mistress builds them very slowly. At least she needs five days for one floor." Syllia said.

"True. But that could be explained by her lack of experience and care for details. Anyway, how are our supplies?"

All give him a short precise rapport, and everything looks in order. The golem rats weren't a threat to them. Their teamwork was precise and coordinated. Even rooms with five rats weren’t dangerous for them.

"Good. Let's see the newest creation of Dungeon Mistress."

After a short corridor that looked like it was made by ancient miners but abandoned hundreds if not thousands of years ago, they reached the entrance to the first floor.

"For next time we will be needing proper lanterns." The commander mused.

"These glowing mushrooms should be enough for the first try," Davroli suggested. "And Syllia can cast something with fire."

"I’m prepared" She nods, and reaches into her pouch. Besides a few potions, she also has a few scraps of linen fabric. She takes one and wraps it around a small stone.

"Anyone think that could have problems with fighting in the dark?" Serator asked, but all paladins were trained for that, and all of them were grandmaster level anyway. Their skills and experience allowed them to fight even in much worse conditions.

"Good," Commander said, pleased by his knight's answers. "If I see correctly our enemy should be in front of us hiding behind that column in that darker part of the cave."

"There is similar to golem rat mana signature," Syllia confirmed. "And all living creatures run away."

"Egelberd with me in front. Syllia you will throw your stone torch when we enter. The rest for now stay behind us. We will see what’s there."

Immediately when they entered they saw eight glowing red eyes. A burning stone torch landed slightly on the left of the spider golem.

"Forward!" The commander shouted but could only take one step when he noticed something flying towards him. He hides behind his big rectangular shield and braces for impact. The hit of the projectile wasn’t hard, but something entangled his shield. "It’s just a net." He said. "Egelberd with me. Rest find a way around it." The fight took some time. Mostly because of the darkness and unknown layout of the room. The improvised torch didn't last long, its short light helped only to properly localize the golem spider. The rest of the fight was in the dim light of glowing mushrooms. After the fight, they took the head of the spider, the net, and samples of mushrooms. Because they need a proper source of light for fighting and searching the caves they decide to return.

Commander immediately goes to the Adventurer's tent.

"Guid Master I have news." He said after he entered. "The third floor is open. I brought a head of a new golem and samples of mushrooms."

"Good," Guild Master nods. "For all of that and the description of the new floor, I offer five gold."

"Fair price," Commander answered. It was a typical price. Adventurers Guild will sell head for five gold itself, mushrooms will be sold for a few coppers, maybe silver for rare or useful ones. The first rapport about the floor is almost priceless.

"How the new floor is looking?"

"Dark cave, or rather lost and forgotten dwarven ruin. Barely recognizable. There are glowing mushrooms here and there but without torches or lanterns, you can’t see too much. Your enemies are golem spiders. They somehow can throw a net on you. Their bodies have similar lengths to rats but have long legs. You should watch for them because they have sharp spikes, they are not especially mobile so if you can attack them from the back you can destroy them relatively easily."

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Good. Let's wait for the Grand Priestess and let her check of mushroom samples. Most of them look edible so maybe we will indeed have some change in our diet."

According to priestess Pinera, all of them were edible. A few also had healing properties but also could be used for cooking.

"We definitely should harvest them. Even simple dishes with them will improve the general mood of the expedition." She concluded.

"We will do that." Lucius agreed." Greetings Grand Forge Master. News about the new floor reaches you too." He said to the dwarven priest who entered the tent.

"Yes indeed. Show me what you got."

"Five gold and head is yours."

"Five gold for just a different head is too much."

"It goes with a bonus. It has something that throws nets." Guild Master knows his work.

"Fuck. Here is your gold." Dwarf slammed coins on the counter. "Now give me the head."

"It’s yours." Lucius handed it over.

"And net?"

"I will keep it," Serator answered.

"Down there is still one team. Maybe they will bring a net with them." Guild Master said.

The next day around noon Naomi appeared in the oasis. Around her people were busy preparing to explore the new floor, or were checking their gear after returning. Usually, adventurers just greeted her with polite nods, but today she was approached by a few dwarfs.

"Good day, Dungeon Mistress. Can we have a question?"

"Good day to you all." She smiled surprised. "Of course you can. However, remember that I am sometimes not allowed to answer some questions."

"Sure thing. It's about this stew. We made it with one of your shrooms from the new floor and it tastes normal."

"Can I taste it?" She asked.

"Oh, sure. Someone bring a clean spoon!" Dwarf shouts and immediately Naom gets one.

"Not half bad." She honestly answered. "I taste mushrooms. Maybe try some changes to the ingredients if the taste isn’t right."

"Well. There is a problem, we used legendary shrooms so we expected that even simple stew should taste at least better than usual."

"Legendary? Which one?" Naomi was confused, she used some rare species but none of them in the description had anything that allowed to be called legendary.

"It was purple with stripes. We called it Doom Shroom."

"Oh. What a coincidence. I was also curious why this rare, but completely normal mushroom had such a scary name."

"It’s a long story."

"And ancient one." Someone added.

"That too. Anyway, there was a dwarven city. As you know only shrooms grow just fine underground."

"Rats too." Another dwarf adds.

"Yeah, rats. The king of this city was old and had only one daughter, but even after a century she still didn't marry. The wife of the king passed away some time ago and he can't find a new wife either."

"If I understand correctly when the princess will get married, the kingdom will be incorporated into another one."

"Not necessary. It depends on who will be asking who."

"Or who will be forced to get married." Add a dwarf on the front. "And that is what happened. The prince from the neighboring dwarven city wants her as his wife. But if he asks her she will become queen and he will be just his husband. But when her father the king decided that she must marry the prince, the prince became king."

"I was told it was a charlatan." Someone interrupted.

"Don’t matter." Dwarf telling story shrugs, "Point is he brings with him this shroom and starts telling how rare and delicious it is. The king didn't believe at first, but curious, called his scholars and some priests to check prince climes. He probably was hoping that he was a liar. In that situation, the king will be able to dictate marriage conditions. But no one knows this shroom, they could only tell that it is edible. So prince…"

"Or fraud."

"It was the prince, and he proposed a bet. His cook will prepare dishes from this shroom. If the king is pleased he will get a princess. If not, the princess will have him. The king agreed, and he lost. The ceremony was planned a month or two later but in the meantime, the king died. Officially from old age, however, the princess blamed the prince. The prince to appease her promised her he would find another one and issued a quest for that. Prince was more concentrated on searching than ruling and slowly both kingdoms fell into ruin. He lost all his money on a futile search of this shroom and obviously, he never succeeded. And after that parents and priests warn kids about doom shroom. Never search it, and if accidentally you found it pretend you saw nothing, because it will bring you only sorrow and misery."

"That is bad. I need to ask the Grand Forge Master if I should remove it." Naomi was worried.

"I’m here, Dungeon Mistress," Eriser said. "I know a story and my advice is don’t remove it. Just make sure it is hard to find. It will be a great lesson for any stupid sucker, just like them." He pointed at gathered dwarfs. "Believing that some mythical shroom makes them rich and not hard work."

Some dwarfs looked like they wanted to argue but seeing scorn in the dwarven priest's eyes they lowered their heads and they dispersed.

"Oh well." Naomi sighted. "That was unexpected. I hope they understand this."

"Maybe one or two of them. Rest will be spending days trying to find it and creating legendary stew or something." Eriser shook his head.

"Well if they don't claim that they have a legendary recipe, I think they could earn some extra cash just for the rarity and story." Naomi mused.

"I need to go and warn Adventurers Guild and merchants. It’s unlikely they will fall for that but better safe than sorry."

"Let’s go. I need to know their opinion about my new floor." She smiled.

"It’s great. Well, besides I need to spend five gold for the head of the spider." Dwarf grumbled.

"Few repair commissions, maybe one or two bigger jobs and you should have it back." Naomi laughed.

"That is for my assistants. I'm working on your net-throwing crossbow. I should finish it before the next caravan arrives." He laughs. "I will have a lot of gold for selling it."

"That’s the spirit." Naomi was happy. "However you are not afraid that other crafters will imitate you?"

"Of course they will. But first, they need to succeed. And even if they succeed I bet you Mistress will show me more ways to make a lot of gold." He answered.

"Like golems."

"Like golems." He smiled.