There was a dungeon around here. Hmm. It was a big thing. Dungeons were important in this world. So important in fact that, cities were founded around them, like how old cities were founded around water sources.
“I did, My Lady.”
Of course, I answered with that.
“Then follow me. We will be taking the first of a dungeon.”
An unconquered dungeon. According to Ama, since mana wasn’t consumed and monsters inside were “fermented” with that thick mana first conquest gave out better rewards. Not just that, if you find a new dungeon and conquer it you can claim it as yours.
“Do you want me to gather soldiers?”
“No. Just us is enough.”
I stopped.
“My Lady, I don’t think that’s safe.”
Her face changed to reflect she didn’t like what I said.
“For me, at least. I want glory and wealth but a dead man can never have either of them.”
“Hmm. You don’t have to worry about fighting. I will be clearing all the dungeons by myself. You just need to carry the drops.”
Arrogance or confidence. The difference was if you could back up what you say.
“I will follow you.”
I said. This will be interesting. With her, at the front, we started to move. Despite the rough rocky terrain, she was able to walk without any trouble. With high heels… It must be magic. It got darker and darker as we moved deeper into uncharted territory.
“Light.”
She whispered. A small ball made out of light started to float around as she finished saying that.
“Convenient.”
I said.
“Better than carrying torches, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
It didn’t give out smoke and it gave out more light. Not like I needed it.
(Night Vision is partially active since Fallen Soldier’s Armor isn’t active.)
Since I was wearing the armor given to me by Captain, I couldn’t use my own armor. Thankfully Spark skills could still be activated even though they were less effective. Better than nothing. After walking for an hour straight she extended her hand to me.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Grab it. It will be a little disorienting.”
I grabbed her hand.
“The wha-“
Before I could finish my question just like the time I arrived in this world my own being moved at speeds I haven’t experienced before. I fell to the ground and I noticed we were at another location. At the entrance of a cave to be more specific. I stood up.
“You took it better than I expected.”
“Yeah.”
I growled between my teeth. Teleportation. It was something my world worked so hard to achieve but in the end, we couldn’t do it. Seeing her just do it casually made me feel weird. Maybe if we had this kind of thing we could outflank Ho- I shook my head. It is all behind me now. I should focus on what is in front of me.
“I thought it would look… different?”
I said as I looked at the cave entrance. It looked normal except for the feeling rising up from my neck every time I look at it.
“Inside may look different. We’ll have to see for ourselves.”
She threw me the pouch.
“That’s a bag of holding. If we see a monster worth dissecting put the parts to it. Also, count what went into it.”
She moved towards the cave.
“Always keep behind me and open your eyes.”
She entered and I followed her.
…
“This is different than what I expected.”
I said as I looked at my breath become steam. It was cold inside, at least 10 degrees colder than outside maybe more. The inside also was bigger than what the outside suggested. Hehe, another reference.
“Space expansion.”
She said to a shining disc. Is it what I think it is?
“Ice is covering the walls. Inside is dark, requiring me to use Light Orb.”
A recorder. That disc was a recorder.
“Growl!”
Despite the growls, she kept inspecting the walls.
“Mineral water fused with mana. It can be used to make several potions.”
“My Lady!”
I shouted as a white wolf leaped from the darkness toward her neck. However, she kicked it right into the jaw, effortlessly. I heard its jaw shattering to thousand pieces as it flew back.
“Wolf-type monsters exist in this dungeon. Promising.”
I held the part of my body that she kicked before. I was glad she didn’t use her full power. My ribs would be turned to fine dust.
“Is its fur white because this place is fully dark?”
I asked. Its fur was so white that it stood out in the darkness.
“It is related to mana in this dungeon. Come and look.”
Just in the middle between its ears a blue crystal existed.
“A horn?”
“A mana stone. Extract it without damaging it and throw it into the pouch.”
Though it was my first time seeing a mana stone, I heard of it before. Magical gems that form in mana-rich areas or inside of monsters. They were basically like another type of currency in this world. They were used commonly to forge magical items-like the bow I got from Orc Leader- or even as an energy source. It was weird. It was light, even lighter than what its small size suggested. It looked like candy more than anything. I put it in the pouch and I saw her pull her sabre out.
“Acceleration.”
A blue hue covered her body and she turned into a blur. I barely followed the blur as she cut down 7 wolves in less than 5 seconds. They looked the same as the previous wolf and may be even from the same pack.
“Should I harvest them too?”
She looked down on the dead monsters.
“They are pretty low-level. I only took one as a souvenir. If you choose to harvest them you can keep them. Just don’t fall behind me.”
She can just give out them for free?
“I thought mana stones were… Uh, valuable?”
She smiled at me.
“If you are useful and loyal to me, you won’t think those mana stones are valuable.”
Weird. I felt like she was trying to groom me? And no, not like that.
Her roasting Captain.
Her arriving early.
Her taking me in when I showed potential.
“You will do everything I say and what I say only.”
I was a high-ranking soldier for most of my life. I could just smell the political bullshit.