[A Few Hours Ago...]
"YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT [DUNGEON] IS ACTUALLY A VILLAGE SHRINE?!"
I realized what I said once Fenrir quickly shushed me. I sat back down before everyone else (players and NPCs) noticed us.
[Yep. I can't say much about it, but the shrine in question is more than a simple place for us to worship the [God of Darkness] and the [Spirit of the Beasts]. It also acts as a barrier to our village from bandits, criminals, and anyone who would dare to pillage and kidnap our people.]
I didn't know all of that. And it's not because of his village was supposed to be a secret. There was a lot of information I had some trouble understanding without any further details. I guess I have to start there before I can make some assumptions.
"The [God of Darkness]... How odd that a peaceful village worshipped them," I commented. "No offense. But I never heard something like yours to worship that god. Not when they were the creators of the monsters in the first place."
If I recall from the [Prologue Lore] posted on the official site, the [God of Darkness],
[Ah, you knew of that creation myth, huh? I don't want to turn this conversation about the past. But they did more than contribute to stopping the
You know what? Understandable. Everyone has their own opinions about the past. I did have some mixed feelings about their actions. But I know that it was necessary to stop the war that was plaguing this world.
[But back to the subject at hand...] Fenrir started. [Again, I can't say much. But not all monsters Nox created were made to test humanity.]
I raise my eyebrow at the last sentence he said. "What do you mean?"
[Well, most monsters don't want to consider themselves as one. They only wished to live peacefully after the war and some even wanted to live with humanity during the
Whoa... Reaction aside, that's something I never knew from the official wiki and forums before. This was really a true [Hidden Quest]. One that literally revealed part of the world-building you never knew before.
[But I'm getting ahead of myself. I supposed now that you know all of this, do you wish to go against me for your so-called quest?]
I grew silent. I really wanted to take this [Dungeon Quest] not only to get Savior and his Viper goons off my back but to get enough money to buy a decent stand or tools for my shop. However, there's another side of me that told me not to do this. Not to mention Fenrir's call-out speech deconstructed my beliefs really well.
The pros were tempting. But even if this was only a game, it's too much to sacrifice.
"No, it's not. I took [Quests] to explore the world as an adventurer and learn the mysteries of
Fenrir groaned. [Can't you convince him? Maybe trick him into leaving the shrine.]
"Unfortunately, I'm only a simple support adventurer. If I do that, he might see it as mutiny and he will give me more than torture."
[If that's the case, I have a feeling your party leader might be in cahoots with the same bandits who tried to invade my home. I wish I could help you, but my village's safety comes first.]
That's true. NPCs rarely participated in some battles and I doubt he could do anything against Savior's high-level stats. Unless...
"Maybe you can help me while prioritizing your village at the same time."
Fenrir raised his eyebrow. [Oh? Care to tell me, young Samaritan? How will we protect the village together?]
I smirk once I gain his interest and a new [Quest] window. "By sabotaging their operations on the inside."
----------------------------------------
[Present Time]
I take a deep breath as I glare at [Viper Fangs] and M3GAN with my dagger pointing at them.
"W-What the hell?! How are you still up and about?!" Savior demanded.
"That [Spiked Healing Potion] should have got into your system by now. You can't move since it's mixed with some paralysis and poisonous herbs enough to stop your tracks!" M3GAN added with venom in her voice. "But why are you still moving?! And why isn't your [HP] dropping?!"
I sigh. Seeing the true face of a so-called newbie is enough to make me question her life choices.
"It's true that you can disguise it as a normal potion to me. But while I'm not high enough level to detect spiked or fake potions, I can see hints of poison with my [Aura Sight]. You don't even know that it can be connected with the [Alchemy Mastery] so you can detect foreign objects very early in the game. Then again, you do need to be in the right levels to achieve that."
"WHAT?! You're lying!"
That's actually the truth. You need a total of Level 10 between [Alchemy] and [Magical Affinity] to access this secret ability. Since I have an [Alchemy Level 8] and [Magical Affinity Level 4], I can use it with my [Aura Sight]. It's not a perfect replacement for that higher-level [Alchemy] skill, but it is enough to detect some faint foreign ingredients in that spiked potion. But it's not like she knew that in the first place. It's practically a cheat code or an Easter egg the devs somehow hid until I experimented with those rumors.
"Believe anything you want. But regardless, I switched the potion to the one I managed to save and hid from you. This time, this one is spiked with a few speed-boosting herbs. Normally, it would give me 2 minutes of boost. But since I made it so haphazardly, the time limit was halved."
As I said this, I see another notification.
[NOTICE] [Your [SPD] boost has been expired.]
"It's a shame I can't grind more to make a similar [Spiked Healing Potion] like yours. But it's enough to get a heads up in the competition. Who knew being overly cautious has its advantages?"
Suddenly, I notice M3GAN collapse to her knees and her eyes widen to see what seems to be her own notification.
"[P-Paralysis]?! T-That's impossible!"
I'm glad the [Paralysis Poison] that was coated on my dagger's blade did the trick despite the low quality. I would make something out of a [Shrouded Lily], but I'm still too low-level for it and it might be overkill to use it against her. However, seeing M3GAN in this temporary state made me a bit guilty. But not guilty enough since she tried to kill me.
"How the hell did you know? I did everything to drop your guard so Savior and I can kick you down enough for you to quit the game!"
I sigh as I walk in front of the shrine again. "Yeah, I have to admit, you had me at the first half of the dungeon. Your act is so convincing that I even considered adding you to my friend's list after the run. However, you have made some mistakes that earned my suspicion against you."
"What mistakes?! I didn't do anything to let you know I was faking to be your "mentee"! My act is perfect! And there is no way you..."
"You are not getting another debuff penalty."
Once I said those words, I could see her eyes widen and her jaw drop as her anger was replaced with shock. "H-Huh?"
"That's what you said before we defeated the [Evil Spirit Wolf]. But you said before that this is your first dungeon run ever since you joined the game. When was the last time you got a [Dungeon Death Penalty]"?"
I can see her flinching at that last question. It seems like my suspicions are true after all.
"D-Did I say a debuff? I-I mean, I kinda got one when I encountered a strong monster in my f-first battle! Y-Yeah! That's it! Must have misremembered it."
Okay, she has a point. But that isn't enough to clear my suspicions. "Then what about your dagger?"
"M-My dagger?"
I nod as I recall its appearance. "Unless you have a [Blacksmith Mastery] or enough money to craft a new dagger, there is no way you can get it in a single-digit TML. Now that I think about it, there was a dagger that Savior took for himself rather than giving it as my share. Something about the name being "Spiky" or "Beast"..."
M3GAN flinches again. As I thought, her dagger wasn't very obvious to me until I recalled the name of that dagger Savior took away in one of our dungeon runs: the [Beast's Spike Dagger]. It's from the dungeon that I had the worst performance due to my low-level [Masteries] at that time and the fact he kept treating me as a meat shield. I get why he didn't want me to have that dagger, but that didn't excuse his reasons for not giving me any loot for my contributions.
"And there's the fact you managed to survive against the [Evil Spirit Wolf] when the other newbies could not. I thought you shared the same lady luck I had to defeat that boss. But I did notice Save was acting oddly like a team player when things started to go wrong. It's as if he didn't want me or you to die from that big wolf."
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"T-That's doesn't prove anything at all!"
I closed my eyes once I heard her argument. "Then I'm curious about one more detail: What is your [Dagger] and [Thunder's] level?"
"...Eh?"
Checkmate.
"You mentioned the levels of your [Fire] and [Hunting] are currently on Level 5. But you never bothered to mention the first two's levels. I heard leveling up to double digits will evolve some of your first spells and passive skills. There's a chance you might evolve your [Lightning Bolt], so you have to avoid casting it to keep up your act as a low-leveled newbie."
"Y-You..."
I smirked. "If you really want to prove that you're a low-level player, then cast it right here and now. No [Lightning Scatter], no [Static Stun]."
Now, she is trembling as she struggles to back away. This is my last chance. The only clue to her true identity is her skillset. I can tell from the spell she cast that she hasn't evolved her [Lightning Scatter] yet. So if she refuses, then it will confirm my suspicions. If she casts it, it will have the same outcome. She cannot escape and avoid this question now.
"B-But that's impossible... You're nothing but an idiotic know-it-all! I know you're dumb just like every man I duped!" M3GAN screamed like a banshee. "I know you're devastated that the girl you love, the girl who barely know you for a day, was nothing but a bad bitch aiming to break your heart!"
"Oh, that? Yeah, sorry to break it to you. But one, as an aromantic, I'm not the type who gets all googly-eyes on other girls so easily. And two, I have no feelings for a girl who does nothing but manipulate a boy's heart to their own means."
And I can see her jaw dropped as if the colors on her face disappeared. Sure, she looks cute. But let's just say I'm not a magnet when it comes to romantic attraction. To me, she's more of an ally than a crush before the whole reveal.
"Geez..." My eyes widen to see Savior approach M3GAN with a groan. "Just when I think you're too smartass for your own good, you had to break our expectations by risking this crazy ploy. You're not the risky type of guy. I thought you were smart enough to go against me and my guild."
I guess that's his way of confessing M3GAN'S role as a mole, huh?
I sigh while glaring at my bully. "Yeah, I thought so, too. But it's only because I spent almost my in-game life hiding from your threats. To make excuses and run away whenever you push me too many times. So consider this my resignation letter."
I quickly take out an item Fenrir gave me in advance. A wooden plaque charm that resembles his own.
"Wait, what the hell is that?!"
I didn't answer his question. Instead, I put the charm on the lock and let it do the rest.
[You have used the [Ancient Moonlight Lock Charm] on the [Treasure Room's] offering chest!]
[Ancient Moonlight Lock Charm]
[A magical charm made to protect the treasures offered to the moonlight.]
The chest and the shrine start to glow white as the light starts to envelop me and everyone else in the room.
"You idiot! What the hell are you doing?!" Savior screamed more like a madman than a chivalrous knight.
"I already told you. I'm not letting you ransack this shrine and I'm not letting you desecrate its sacred offerings anymore!"
I close my eyes and I let the light consume me while ignoring Savior, M3GAN, and the Viper Fangs' desperate cries to grab the treasure... Or rather, the offering chest behind me.
[You have successfully activated the security magic of the [Sacred Moonlight Shrine]. You and the current occupants will be evicted from the room immediately.]
----------------------------------------
As I open my eyes, I notice that we're not in the shrine anymore. Rather, we're in a familiar clearing before the shrine when I notice a new ping.
[NOTICE]
[The [Sacred Moonlight Shrine] has been sealed. You have been transported back into the [Boss Room].]
[You will be transported back to the entrance in 10 minutes.]
Looks like the charm worked. Fenrir wasn't kidding when he told me about its effects. At this point, my real [Quest] should be finished by then. Although, I still need to take care of a few rising problems behind me.
"Y-You..." I turn around and notice Savior getting up from the ground along with his accomplices while giving me a glare enough to shake my shoes. "You ruined everything! You should have become the best navigator in my guild. And yet, you thanked me by staging a mutiny and losing our chance for a big prize?! Have you lost your damn mind?"
"I know the consequences and I know the losses. But I told you before that I don't play the [Quests] just to explore the game's worldbuilding and setting. But to avoid any consequences that will hurt everyone, player and NPC alike!" I declared as I took out my dagger. "Sorry about the dungeon loot. But I won't let you harm the shrine or the dreams offered to the shrine!"
"You dumba** lunatic!!!!" As expected, Savior charges in my direction and raises his broadsword against me. "[Aftershock]!"
I quickly jump up to avoid the earthquake created by his skill while avoiding his energy wave. However...
"[Tracking Aim]!"
Just as I turned around, an arrow suddenly stabbed my right shoulder. It's all too sudden that I nearly forgot that I'm now falling from my jump!
"Energy that creates our world, push away my enemies away from us! [Mana Force]!"
I scream as the Viper mage pushes me in mid-air with his [Arcana] spell. Damn, when Savior said they will come at me like rabid dogs, he wasn't kidding! But it's not like I'm going down without a fight!
"[Knife Toss]!"
I toss my only dagger at one of the mages. Unfortunately, he has enough common sense to move away to avoid it. Not the best move from me since I should have used my spells instead if it wasn't for the long incantations. But that's enough for me to land back with only a few bruises and a small dent on my [HP]. I quickly rush in to regain my dagger, but...
"[Static Stun]!"
I feel a bit of electricity running through my back. It's too much for my body to handle, so I collapse on the ground just a few inches away from my dagger.
[WARNING] [You have been [Paralyzed] for 1 minute.]
Just my dumb luck. M3GAN had to use [Paralysis] against me. Her character is only [Human], yet she has frightening luck when it comes to [Status Conditions]. There is no way I can reach my dagger at this state and I can't grab my staff from the inventory as well.
"Spirits of flames, show yourselves! Pierce my ene- ARGHHHHH!!!!"
Just what I need. A stab right in my back. I get she's still pissed at my trickery, but this payback is too much!
[HP: 292/350]
[WARNING]
[You're now [Bleeding] for 2 minutes! You will lose 3 [HP] for every 5 seconds.]
Not only that, her dagger's effect had to kick in at this time. I really have the sh**iest luck. And I thought I managed to get away from them unscathed...
"What's the matter now, Lowry?" I grit my teeth and look up to see Savior sneering above me. "Where's all of that bravado you've been having lately, huh?"
He kicks me in the gut as I scream in pain.
[HP: 247/350]
"You should have acted like a good dog and listened to everything I said!"
He kicks me again. This time, I managed to hold my scream to not give him the satisfaction he wanted.
[HP: 242/350]
"Instead, you threw all of that away all because of some unrelated [Quest] you don't want to share with us!"
And I feel another kick on a place I don't want him to aim. This time, the pain is too much for me to bear.
> [CRITICAL HIT!]
[HP: 232/350]
"This penalty isn't the only pain you will feel today, Lowry. After the lectures on Monday, you're going to experience the worst hazing our fraternity will ever have!"
His guild including M3GAN join in to make me suffer more! The kicks in [Isekai] are weak, but they're cutting my [HP] to half thanks to my [Bleeding] state. I only have a minute until the dreaded [Dungeon Death Penalty] as I turn around and stare at the dark clouds parting away from the moon while ignoring the sound of Savior's sword being raised.
"I know this isn't really goodbye. But at least we should give you a big send-off." Savior sneered above me before he aimed his blade between my legs. "Since you're not interested in girls, I guess you don't need it in the game world."
"Y-You're sick."
But all I got from my backtalk was a stab in my right thigh.
[HP: 158/350]
Just how sadistic is he?! At this rate, I can't bear the pain simulated from my [VeilCon] if Savior keeps this up!
"And you talk too much. Let's pick up the pace and get this over with. I need to tell those ban- I mean our collaborators how you f**k up our operations very badly." Savior removes the blade and aims it at my sensitive point. "See you back at college on Monday, Lowry."
I can say the same with myself. Oh well... So much for standing up against my tormentors. It was fun while it la-
[AWWWWWOOOOO!!!]
...I'm not the only one who heard that just now, right?
"WTF?!"
"Was that a wolf's howl?!"
"I thought we killed the boss already!"
From the [Viper Fangs] members' panicked reactions, I'm guessing that's a yes. Savior moves his sword away from me, much to my relief. Though not enough since the [Paralysis] and [Bleeding] are still in effect and M3GAN still breathing down my neck with her dagger aimed at my back. But as I look up, my eyes widen to see what's right in front of us.
Because behind the glowing full moon is a grey wolf standing in two hindlegs with clawed hands instead of paws, brown shorts that seemed to be ripped apart by force, a muscled build in its body covered in fur, and yellow eyes glaring through our own. What's more shocking is that it resembles the monster from the rumors my friends mentioned. It never spawns outside of the full moon and sometimes appears at places we least expected.
"I-Is this part of the [Dungeon Quest], babe?" M3GAN muttered while trying to keep her dagger in her hands away from my back.
"No s**t. What the f**k is that?!" Savior demanded.
I didn't answer his question. But I know what it is.
It's the wandering werewolf and their presence in this mid-leveled [Dungeon] would mark our graves.
In the words of Hiromi, we're screwed.