Past the dormitories, there were sectioned huts that vaguely resembled a small town square, with more dormitory buildings further still, making it appear as a large courtyard, with stores and personal homes.

The group led me to one of the larger buildings in the square, a simple one-story house that could fit a family of four comfortably, painted red with some kind of natural clay pigment.

"Hurly!" The old Elf said. "You and Biron head back to your post, your relief will come at sundown."

"Sir!" The two saluted and turned back down the road we had come from.

"Please, young Lord. This way." He turned and beckoned me to follow, with Kira and the Dwarf trailing me.

We entered a small entry hall that led to the larger main room which looked to be an office with a large table in the center. An ancient man sat on the opposite wall, shuffling through loose parchment.

"Elder Bainer, we have come as requested, bring the young Lord. The Duke has seemed to use some type of teleportation to leave the area." The dwarf said.

"That is disappointing Isaac, but if the young man is willing to listen, he may pass the information along, or speak to the Duke himself." The Elder said in a rasping voice, then looked towards the Elf. "Erabol, what is your take?"

"I am more than capable of speaking for myself, Elder." I interrupted with a bow. "Unfortunately, I have somewhere to be urgently, so if you can explain to me your circumstances, I would be amenable to helping find a solution."

"My apologies, young Lord. I did not mean to imply you could not help yourself." He said, backtracking. "Please have a seat so we may discuss the challenges that lay before us."

The Elder recited what Erabol had told me on the road. They could not afford to pay to clear the dungeons regularly with their taxes being lowered by the town council during the devastation from the Death Mana. But one thing really nagged at me.

"Why not just go by yourself, you have a few Novices and a Journeyman, before it gets this bad?"

It was Isaac who answered. "We were directly forbidden by our guild so that they may use it as we told you before. They raise up promising initiates before sending them to Primrose. Anyone in a Guild has a scholarship as long as they pass the entrance exam and meet the requirements, which is made easier with private training in dungeons like the ones here."

"We tried clearing it out once. We had others in our patrol group, one was our captain. He was reassigned after our incursion inside and made a scapegoat as an apology to the team leads, who were assigned to use the dungeons next. Then they issued the order to only worry about the surface dwellers, those who spawn from the excess Mana in the surrounding area." Erabol picked up the conversation, sounding forlorn. "The other member of our team died inside, his name was Jerik. He fought bravely but we hadn't even cleared the second dungeon before he fell. It is extremely dangerous to go with such a small group but we were desperate, and in the end, we turned back, having accomplished nothing of real import."

"How dangerous?" I asked.

The Elf's face was one of confusion. "Like I said; extremely. Dungeons are unpredictable as they shift in their design and challenges but these dungeons are attuned to Death Affinity and they have a swarm theme on a majority of their floors. Most of the Guilds send several teams of six to switch out after each floor, always staying fresh. That is where we failed. We were exhausted and all had wounds by the time Jerik died."

"How long is each dungeon's recovery cycle?" I asked, nodding along.

"The Mother dungeon fully recovers its resources six months after the first floor is cleared, with the Novice dungeons at around a year." He answered.

"So what would you like me to do about it specifically."

The Elder answered this time. "We wish for either you or your Uncle to meet with the Dukedom and the ruling Nobles who preside over this land. You must convince them to strong-arm the guilds to give up using the suffering of their people to strengthen the Guild's personnel."

"And what would I get out of it?"

"I'm sorry?" The Elder asked, flustered.

"Saving the masses is nice and all, but what incentive would I have to help you? You practically kidnapped me and then asked for my goodwill. You may have it but what will I receive in return?" I kept my face blank, not leaving any room for misinterpretation. I would do it but not out of the kindness of my heart.

"We do not have much of monetary value to offer someone of your status, but I'm sure there must be some service we can accommodate that will be sufficient as an apology for the circumstances in which we had to meet. You may ask us of anything in return for your assistance in the matter of the dungeons however, and we will do our best to meet your demands. With no work being completed in the fields, there are many able-bodied young Coreless here in the village that could be put to work in your estate."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I have no need for servants." I dismissed his offer. I had no need for people to wait on me hand and foot. Other than the kitchen maybe, they did make excellent food. "I do have a proposition for you that may help us both."

"Go on."

"How would you feel about letting me clear the dungeons myself with a team of my own until I leave for Primrose? I would naturally give my word to contact the Duke directly regarding regular maintenance of the dungeons. As for compensation, I would ask that you supply a few members to join me."

Kira seemed excited by this as she spoke up. "You're going to attend Primrose Academy as well?"

"Yes. My Uncle has enrolled me for the next Entrance exam in three months."

"How many members of your team do you currently have on the roster for this proposed expedition?" Elder Bainer asked.

"Just myself, I will be recruiting others once I speak with my Uncle but I am going to try to keep the group small to gain as many levels as possible while this opportunity is available."

"I do not advise this, young Lord," Bainer warned. "As Erabol has stated, it is too dangerous to try to send a single team in for more than a single dungeon. Their previous excursion was not sanctioned and was not worth the risk. Even with your blessing and the voluntary agreement of the members of the Farmers Guild, I would strongly suggest against this action."

"You aren't saying no, though?"

"I am not their commander nor able to give them orders. If you have given your permission as Marquess, and you dispute the Guild's claim to these dungeons, then it is up to their discretion."

"I'll go," Kira said brightly. "Who would pass up free levels?"

"Absolutely not," Bainer said stiffly.

"Grandfather, please. I am old enough to make my own decisions. You said yourself, it's up to us."

"I hold no sway over the others, but your mother would have an aneurysm if she knew I let you go." The Elder said firmly.

"What if Isaac or Erabol are with me?" She pleaded.

"I will not lay other colleagues' bodies on my conscience. My apologies Kira." Erabol said.

"Isaac?" She asked, turning towards him.

The Dwarf seemed to mull it over, tapping his thick fingers on the hilt of his weapon. "I do see the value in a small group delving, as that is what pushed me to Journeyman in the first place. However, going in with anybody under Novice is beyond foolish and creeping towards downright insanity. That being said, if the group is to go regardless, it seems like it is the best course of action for those most affected."

"So you'll go with me?" Her eyes lit up like saucers.

Looking towards me, Isaac spoke. "You are only halfway through Beginner, how do you hope to survive even on the first floor?"

"I'm very Lucky," I said, deadpan.

Before the thought had fully formed in my brain, I sent Mana down to my Nieve and shot my left hand up, slapping Isaac's fist away from me before it impacted my left temple. My arm vibrated from the impact, bones creaking from the force even under my Mana infusion.

Letting his momentum take his arm across my body, I pivoted bringing my right knee to his hip, but before it could connect he intercepted it with his own knee then took a step back, nodding at me, then looking towards the Elder.

"I believe the young Lord is capable of surviving long enough to reach an acceptable level, before any real danger on the deeper floors. My opinion is that he is close to tiering up, decreasing the risk. I will agree to accompany young Kira into the Novice dungeons with the boy if she has your blessing, Elder. The Mother Dungeon is out of the question. I would also not suggest any others from the Farmers Guild join, as we still need to keep up regular patrols."

The Elder looked deep in thought as he studied me. I noticed Kira holding her breath off to the side in anticipation of her grandfather's verdict. Coming to a conclusion, he regarded his granddaughter.

"On one condition. If it becomes too dangerous, do not hesitate to remove her from the dungeon. On my authority, you may use any means necessary to accomplish this."

"Grandfather!" Kira exclaimed.

"This is the condition set. If you cannot agree, you may not go. I will not see you dead when it is unnecessary." The Elder said.

"It is necessary. These people need help now, not in three months. I will not turn my back on them to save myself." She pleaded.

"Do you not think I know this?" He said, his voice rising. "That their burdens do not fall on my ears? I will not sacrifice you to save some crops, it is not worth it. You can accept this or you may continue on the patrols with the others and help protect the people from the surface summons."

Kira's shoulders fell, but she nodded her head.

"That's fine with me, as long as you give me a heads up that you are leaving first, I have no issues with that," I said to Isaac.

"What is your projected timeline?"

"I will speak with my Uncle as I said, but I will come back as soon as I can. I do not have any reason to delay as of now, though I will need at least a few days to get settled. I will attempt to send word through a letter if I am to be longer than a week."

"I will have things prepared in the next two days for your return."

"Thank you, Elder." I bowed. "If there is nothing else I should be on my way. I have a very important meeting that I have been waiting for."

"I thank the young Lord for honoring us with his ear. We will not keep you longer than necessary, as I said before, you are free to leave and will not be impeded further." Erabol said, the Elder standing to join him in a bow, while Isaac just nodded once.

"I will return soon, if you need anything further, send a letter or a runner to the estate and I will address the next time we meet."

I left the way I had entered, making my way back to the main road. I had just walked into an amazing opportunity that I had not anticipated as one of the many scenarios that had played out in my head.

I frowned, displeased with the thought of Osiph rejecting my idea. I didn't care about these people, or even like them in all honesty. But I wouldn't just let people suffer for stupid politics, especially when a vault of free Experience was sitting on what was legally now my land, just waiting to be tapped into.