CH.20 Returning to the Dungeon
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you really going to bring her along into the forest?” Zayaan of Prime Rib was still trying to convince the baron that bringing Alice was a bad idea. I mean I agree, but I wouldn’t go against a noble on that.
<span style="font-weight:400">Out of our crew, two knights and the two coach drivers were going to stay here. Their job was to protect the carriages and the horses. Not that the crew we had going into the dungeon was going to be small. Myself, the baron and his daughter, Henry the butler and two knights, as well as all of Prime Rib wereing. That’s ten people walking through an overgrown forest.
<span style="font-weight:400">(Laura, you better make sure we don’t get lost.) I say to Laura. I don’t doubt her abilities. I’m more so confirming it to myself.
<span style="font-weight:400">(Master please rest assured that I will take perfect care of you.) Laura reassured me.
<span style="font-weight:400">(Yeah, I know you will. It’s myself that I’m worried about. Well, more like I’m worried that I can’t keep this party safe.) I just am not sure I can protect everyone if something bad happens. The strongest monster in my collection is Slot Machine, but it might be too big for the forest. I might have to rely on something like Hunter Spider or sh Assant in an emergency. But I don’t know if Hunter Spider is toorge and sh Assant has a negative effect of only staying summoned for 15 minutes instead of the usual 2 hours. Well at least it won’t lose attack for every card I have. It would quickly be useless. <span style="font-weight:400">
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<span style="font-weight:400">“Brian, is something wrong?” It was Alex who came up to me and asked that.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not really. I’m just a little worried about meeting any monsters in the forest. I was just thinking what monster to summon if that happens.” I answer honestly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wouldn’t that spear imp be fine? If it’s strong enough to give that kind of deadly blow to a horned bison, it should be fine in fighting whatever we find in the forest.” Alex made a good point. Sadly that is not how my skill works. And a 500/500 monster really isn’t that strong. I’m pretty sure the only reason why it managed to kill that bison is because it got in a surprise attack.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can’t actually summon that Spear cretin again. You saw how those cards vanished after I let the Frenzied panda and Spear cretin go. I do have others, but I just want a good bnce of power, and a size that can move in that forest. I can’t just summon something asrge as even that panda was. I have to rely on smaller monsters, but they just don’t always have enough strength.” I exined.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I see. But I don’t think you need to worry. These woods are known for only having goblins in them. And it is our job to keep you safe.” Alex is better at this talking thing than I expected. I guess he really could be the leader of their team if Zay wasn’t an overachiever.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks.” I say to Alex. “That does reassure me that everything will go fine.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t think you should say something like that.” Lucia, who was standing next to Alex, took part in the conversation. “That is called a red g.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It might be, but I do have an idea of what to do if something bad happens. I’ll just have to summon a big monster that can uproot the forest and allow us to escape.” I mean the Slot machine might do a lot more than that, but I’m honestly not sure. Times like this I really wished I would have gotten a Dark magician. Actually, doesn''t the Magic ruler have some Toons already? Toon Blue-Eyes would be useful as well. It’s small and super powerful. As long as it doesn’t kill us along with the enemy.<span style="font-weight:400">
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<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey Brian, get over here! We are moving out and you need to take the lead!” Zayaan shouted over. I guess his talks with the baron ended in his failure.
<span style="font-weight:400">—
<span style="font-weight:400">Our group went in the order of myself with Rico in the lead, Zay with one of the knights behind us, then the baron and Alice, Henry and Lucia behind them and holding the rear Alex with the other knight.
<span style="font-weight:400">At least our most vulnerable members were in the middle. Even with some sort of leather armor and a short sword, I don’t think that the baron alone can keep Alice safe. You really should have gotten her some armor as well. She only has a dagger to protect herself with. It almost looks like a weapon for suicide in case she gets captured, than an actual self protection weapon.<span style="font-weight:400">
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<span style="font-weight:400">—<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">(A group of three goblins ahead.) Laura warned me.
<span style="font-weight:400">I turn towards Rico and say, “Three goblins ahead. Do you want to kill them or go around?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“We have to go for the kill. Our group is toorge to just avoid everything.” Rico gave me a justifiable answer. He then gives a hand signal to Zay.
<span style="font-weight:400">Zay takes a couple of quick steps and makes it up to us. “So what is going on?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“He said there are goblins ahead.” Rico says and points at me. “I haven’t spotted them yet though.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“If Brian says so it must be true. Brian how far away are they?” Zay believes me on the spot. I wonder if the baron mentioned my system support to Zay during their talks before entering the forest.
<span style="font-weight:400">(Laura, the distance.)
<span style="font-weight:400">(70 meters ahead Master.)
<span style="font-weight:400">“They should be around 70 meters ahead of us. Zay how do you want them handled?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“As soon as we have visual Rico will shoot one and I will charge in and take the other two.” Zay answered. He seems confident. I guess they are just goblins. Uraby took care of like 120 of them.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can shoot two of them before you can even get to them.” Rico said proudly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure, and risk you shooting me in the back. Not a great idea.” Zay said. “There they are.”
<span style="font-weight:400">We had already slowed down when I gave the warning but with Zay having visual we came to aplete stop. Rico held his bow and pulled an arrow out of his quiver.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Give me 15 seconds and then shoot.” Zay said to Rico as he went for a quick nk. I couldn’t hear any noise from him. Is that a skill? <span style="font-weight:400">
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<span style="font-weight:400">Rico’s arrow flew nicely and hit one of the goblins in the head. The two remaining ones looked around to see where the arrow came from and taking the opportunity, Zay attacked them. They really didn’t stand a chance. One stab each and they went down. Goblins really are weak.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rico and I make our way to the fallen goblins and Zay orders Rico to take the goblin corpses.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why do we need them?” Rico asks.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We are going to reactivate a dungeon. The dungeon can use them as material.” Zay answers.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just pick them up so we can move on.” I say to Rico. It’s not like we are in a major hurry but it will be a pain to make our way back after dark. I hope that Henry''s item box or whatever it is has camping equipment if ites to that.<span style="font-weight:400">
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<span style="font-weight:400">—<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">We don’t see any more monsters on our way to the dungeon. We only had one other stop so that Alice (and some others as well but I me Alice since she asked) had a nature''s call.
<span style="font-weight:400">During that stop I also noticed that the knight in the rear had been marking the trees with a knife. I guess having a way back without me would be useful. Well apass would work just as well. They should have some of those, right?
<span style="font-weight:400">As we make it to the dungeon entrance, our line groups back up.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Here we are.” I say to everyone.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So this is a dungeon. It really just looks like a normal cave.” The baron says.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Do we even know that it’s a dungeon?” Rico doubts me. Can’t really me him too much. This does seem super sketchy. I’m sure the baron would not havee himself if I didn’t have system support.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, do you know what made theserge footprints?” One of the knights ask, after spotting the footprints of Uraby.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, they were made by a monster I summoned.” I answer.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I thought you said your powerful monsters are toorge for this forest.” Alex says to me.
<span style="font-weight:400">“They are, but I only used it inside the dungeon.” I answer.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s enough small talk. Let’s head inside.” The baron gave an order. I guess he also wants to get this done.
<span style="font-weight:400">We head inside the dungeon.