Chapter 6 - First Dungeon

"What is this?" I asked after few hello's with my old comrade as he pulled out something hidden on his cowl and reached out a piece of black cloth donned with the same sigil of leaf I'm unfamiliar with.

Ah his clothings is what we are using as a soldier, I felt jealous just looking at it, I really missed my gear, sadly I can't return there just to fetch it.

"Its obviously a bandana right? I know that's what you wanted to say but this thing here is none other than an item from your Gran"

"Gran, you mean my biological grandma? Hmmm weird, she always scolds me but to think she's this caring, even though its only a piece of clothing. . ."

"Enough with touching memory, alright? She wants me to give it to you personally and as for this effect?"

The man in front of me or rather---One Zero pointed an empty air above his head, I didn't realize it at first but I'm a bit of panic:

"Wait, Y-y-you can see this thing above my head!??" This is the first time I met someone who can actually saw my weird symbol---is what I wanted to say.

But no, as he tilt his head as a simple reply: "No, I will only convey what she wanted to convey, here: 'You unruly cheeky brat! Just because you run away, you think trouble won't find you, hah!? So keep on that small brain of yours to always wear my gift, that will get you away from an entity you don't familiar with!' is what she added"

But wow, One Zero really looks like a grandma from that sentence after he cough and imitate her voice, I guess that really is my grandma he's talking about.

I see, she never cease to amaze me, not only she know this weird symbol will manifests on me someday but also ready this item for advance counteract. Amazing indeed. She really is a Gran of Knowledge, that's for sure. But how does she know? Even others couldn't see it except me. Huh? wait...what's this?

Inside the bandana is one small piece of parchment attached, this is?

"Hmm? I never saw anything while undetaking the mission, I even tried to unfold it---ahh!"

I didn't look at his reaction but my eyes are telling me that he covered his mouth. As for me, I open the parchment.

"Maybe, Gran kept that hidden not to be seen by me so yes, I gotta go now. . .my mission is done, so bye"

Is what I heard but I never look at him even once after accepting this piece of clothes or rather---too focus and excited after opening the letter, and this bandana is what I'm focusing on right now.

Finding the tall tree nearby, I rested my back and read her letter. This is indeed her handwriting. For the one who receive missions from her personally almost everytime, I atleast know her handwritten so this is legit coming from her. Its not that I doubted One Zero.

[I know you are doubting One Zero right now, you cheeky brat!!]

Is what's in the first paragraph. Wow! did she understand my thoughts while writing this?

[Of course I did you idiot! Who trained you since young if I don't know your thoughts? Good thing I'm the greatest grandma out here]

For real? self praising yourself?? You are a crazy woman!

[Who are you calling a crazy woman now, huh!?]

"Ahh what the fuck!!" I freaked out and almost thrown the papers out. What a nutjob. This is totally insane. I never knew she have that in her, to know what's on my mind while writing this. Still, I continue reading.

Controlling my heart who almost skip away from her 'advance reply' I opened the paper again. But! what the fuck!

[That's all]

Is what was written. . .but wait, there's another line.

[As you can see, One Zero is already told you everything I have to convey, its just that I need to write this paper to erase your doubt that's all, after all, that is how I raised you. Ahh there is one that I wanted to say. . .]

She really is messing with me. But I continue reading her last paragraph. . .

[. . .Either that "Lost Witch" prophecy is a legit or a fraud, always remember that your life is yours alone, do not let others dictates how you form your life. People can influence you but at the end of the day? It is you who will face your past actions, its cause and effect, remember the clay you played? Although the way you shape it is laughable, even with the best guide I gave, you still shape it using your own two hands, remember it well. . . all of the consequences and your future actions are all shaped by yours alone. whether you solve it or not is your decision alone, that's all. And with that I bid you my prayer. Goodluck and be well my stupid grandson

. . .PS: if you ever meet your father, slap his head for me and tell him to come back home ASAP, that's all!]

That's all in the letter. Not looks like it but she really is taking a good care of me ever since my childhood days, and Father? He exists but I never count him as one. Its better to assumed that he's dead but grandma is surprisingly good on her instinct so I might meet him sooner or later. I can't wait to smack his head though.

Taking all that thought aside, I stride towards to the designated area where my first quest should be. I have to finish this as fast as I can.

I tried to search for One Zero but he's long since gone. Hmmm. I forgot to say thanks or goodbye and too focus on Gran's letter but, oh well. . .his mission is completed so I'm sure he returns back.

The bandana now covers my forehead and after testing to check my reflection to a nearby lake, the symbol is gone for good.

Fufu, I'm in a good mood so I arrived after a couple of minutes at the entrance according to the map from that little girl that gave me. . .

Sadly my mood changed as I'm about to enter, the guard blocked my path.

Seriously, why is everyone always blocking my path? Ah!

"Before entering this dungeon, you have to pay"

He said, hah? what pay!? I didn't bring anything other than a dimensional pocket for my quests, my current clothings and my knife...ah wait---

I subconsciously pulled out the vial of potion from my pocket and look at the guard.

"Hmm, although I prefer money, a potion of vial will do"

He said and snatch the potion away from my hand, unfortunately I'm faster as his hand reached nothing but an empty air.

ah Its a reflex alright, its not intentional. Thereafter I pushed it into his chest, afraid that his mind might change.

Really, that's just a piece of vial. A piece of vial! Only a piece of vial!

Ahh goodamnit! Why am I so frustrated!

Entering inside the dungeon, there's nothing inside my head other than that vial who snatched away from me. . .I just said to treasure it the last time but look what happened now. Argh, frustrating!

Give back my potion goddamnit!

●○●○●○

Arriving at the semi-circular room at the end of the tunnel filled nothing but of course what else? This is a cave so nothing but rock and lump of dirt, a railroad and few carts filled with stone. . .

There are few monsters lingered elsewhere but the thing that surprised me the most is---these monsters are the one whose mining?

With big belly, fur covering their body and pairs of whiskers, they're like a sloth but a hideous one, they're the monsters called Kerbell. Ahh amazing, this monster are many times stronger than that fluffy monster outside the City. If this breaks out, would the Locusts die? Ah no-no, why am I hoping that to happen?

Anyway, although this hideous creature looks harmless, they're one of the savage monsters and ravaged everything that moves

So I'm quiet curious why they're doing that in the first place. Their nails is at least 6 inches curved long and are using it to mine rocks. More like, it formed like a pick axe solely to mine.

"Human, what are you doing here?" from the rocks below I heard a whisper, and looking at its body and that perky ear, that is without a doubt an elf.

I heard they're humanoid but has different set of cultures and economy than a human so I can't seem to know how to strike a conversation. Anyway why an elf lingers here?

With bamboo like arm and thin layered body, this elf is frail than I imagined they could be, its cheek is a bit hollowed too. . .hmmm lets see.

For now, I let my body silently moved towards the elf without alarming the nearest Kerbell. They say distinguishing their man to a woman is hard, but I'm sure this elf is a dude.

He glanced back after noticing me shortening our distance--

"Human, what are you doing here?" He repeat his first question.

"What? I entered from the entrance that's why I'm here"

"Hah? how come!? I'm sure I entered from the entrance of our domain, don't tell me this is a two-dimension dungeon?"

Asking, he divulged in his own world as if I'm not existing. What is the two-dimension dungeon anyway? I don't understand.

"I don't know what it is called in human tongue, but if you're not lying then this dungeon might be connected to our elf and your human realm"

Ow I see. I couldn't help but thump my palm with the side of my fist. Now I get it.

"But that is not the main problem right now, I've been here since ages ago, ahh!"

Hmm, looking at your malnourished body, that is obviously the case. "So what is your plan? I have my own mission as you can see, see you then!"

Standing, I immediately get the attention of Kerbells in this vicinity but didn't stop my track until arriving the center, attracting the attention of all the monster.