Seren and the hunting party returned and gave me their report. Although they’d only peeked inside, they knew its layout was pretty complex. If someone got lost in there, it’d be nearly impossible for them to find their way back out. They’d decided a proper investigation required serious preparations, so they’d returned for now.
“A dungeon? I guess that explains why it’s excluded from the village’s territory,” I mused.
I suddenly recalled something my old tutor had told me when I was still living at home: Every dungeon had a dungeon master. Since the dungeon master was the owner, it made sense that the dungeon hadn’t been automatically absorbed into my village’s territory.
“It looks like this dungeon hasn’t been discovered before. Or it’s been abandoned for a long time, at least. There might be valuable materials or rare items inside!”
“It could be worth exploring. Hunting’s going well these days, so no one will go hungry if we’re occupied elsewhere for a few days.”
Since it was a cave dungeon, sending in a huge group wasn’t a good idea. Seren claimed we should send ten at the absolute max.
“Ten? That’s not very many...” I said.
“We’ll have to keep the reserve members to a bare minimum too.”
“In that case, give me a second...” Remembering that we had a villager with the Gift of Dungeon Exploration, making him perfect for this job, I went to fetch him.
“Huh?” he said after I’d explained everything. Wide-eyed, he pointed at himself. “Y-You want me to go into a dungeon?”
Kamul
Age: 38
Village Affinity: Medium
Recommended Job: Adventurer
Gift: Dungeon Exploration
His eyes darted around like he expected us to ambush him. Kamul was one of the villagers who’d joined with Berlitt and the others. Despite that, I hardly ever saw him talking to anyone. Maybe he was just really shy. Everyone told me that when he wasn’t at work, he was holed up in his apartment. His hair was a total mess, and his beard looked like it hadn’t seen a razor in months.
“That’s right. We found a dungeon not far from the village. We’re getting ready to explore it, and I’d hoped you’d be willing to help out, Kamul.”
“B-But m-me? I-I’m no good at that kinda thing...”
“That’s not true at all. Your Gift is Dungeon Exploration, right? You were practically made for this job.”
“I-I wouldn’t expect too much outta me, even with a Gift. I don’t know if I can even use the thing...” He looked down, clearly lacking confidence.
I was surprised to find Kamul was just as pessimistic as Berlitt had described.
“Well, there’s no point in standing around talking about it,” I said, not wanting to argue with him. “Let’s get going. Once we’re there, we’ll find out pretty soon whether you’ll be useful or not.”
After adding Kamul to the roster, we trimmed the hunting party down to under ten people, and it was finally time to head out.
“Let’s go, everybody,” I said.
“Hold it right there!” Seren said.
“Huh?”
“Don’t ‘huh?’ me! Why are you trying to come along too?”
“I can’t go?”
I’d tried sneaking into the party’s ranks, but Seren wasn’t having it.
“But why not?” I groaned. “I just wanna know what it’s like to explore a dungeon!”
“How about I tell you some stories about people who said those words and never came back?” she asked, trying to scare me.
“Th-That’s just because they weren’t prepared or cautious enough, right?” I argued.
“Listen, Luke. Even veteran adventurers die in dungeons. And we’ve only just discovered this one. We have no idea how dangerous it is down there. You’re staying in the village. End of discussion.”
“You’re really too overprotective...”
I was turning thirteen that spring. Seren had already seen battle at my age, hadn’t she?
“I have a combat Gift. You don’t. You need others to protect you.”
“Well, when you put it like that, I guess I can’t really argue.”
She won the argument, so I guess I have to stay behind.
Or do I?
I’d figured something like this could happen, so I’d kept a card up my sleeve. Even as I pretended to give up, I quietly set my plan in motion.
✦ ✦ ✦
Seren was back at the dungeon entrance with the party. This time, they’d come fully equipped with gear suited for dungeon diving, plus a full supply of elven potions and special items, just in case.
“Looks like we’re ready to go. How’re you holding up, Kamul?” she asked.
“I-I-I’m not good at all...” he replied, his voice trembling so much everyone knew he was telling the truth.
Seren released an exasperated sigh. “Don’t worry. We’ll take it really slow and keep our eyes peeled.”
“R-Right...”
Hopefully, he’d get a grip sooner or later.
With that, the group descended the gently sloping path into the dungeon.
“Hey,” Philia said, glancing at Gordy. “That’s quite a load you’re carrying.”
“Uh, yeah. The mayor said we should bring extra food and water, just in case. He packed it for us himself,” Gordy replied. Only someone with Giant’s Strength could handle the overfull bag Gordy was lugging over his shoulder with such ease. It looked like it was about to burst at the seams.
“Hang on a minute.” Seren narrowed her eyes at Gordy’s pack, sensing something off. “Is it just me, or is that pack making noise? I swear I hear...breathing or something.”
“Ha ha! No way, Captain Seren! That’s probably just cargo shifting around!”
“Oh yeah? You won’t mind if I take a look, then?”
“N-No, we’re already inside the dungeon, so let’s not...”
“How about we go back to the village and check it there, then?” Seren threatened.
“Th-There’s no need for that, really! It’s fine! Totally fine!” Sweating bullets, Gordy had become so flustered that you didn’t need Seren’s sharp instincts to know he was acting suspicious. The guy couldn’t lie to save his life.
“Well, no need to make a fuss if it’s just food.”
“E-Exactly! And that’s all it is!”
Seren closed the distance before he could react and grabbed hold of the pack on his back. “Gotcha!”
“What?” Gordy gasped.
Then she started squeezing it.
“Eep! H-Hey, stop that! Ah ha ha! Bwa ha ha ha!”
Suddenly, hysterical laughter burst from the bag, leaving everyone stunned.
“Did... Did that bag just laugh?!”
“What the hell is in there?!”
“Hang on a second. Is it just me, or does that voice sound kinda familiar?”
“That tickles, Seren!” a voice shouted within the pack. “Knock it off! Ah ha ha!”
“That’s weird. Food doesn’t usually complain when you squeeze it!” she said.
“Fine, fine! I give up! Just stop! Ah ha ha! Stop already!”
“Then come out. Now.” Seren released the bag, and the culprit finally wriggled out of the fabric.
“Ugh, I thought I was going to laugh myself to death!”
“Mayor?!”