They were currently on the way to the B-class gate which was found deep in Randell's forest. There weren't any well-trodden paths so the party had to trudge their way on the dense forest. Thankfully the more experienced adventurers at the front were securing their paths for the wagons to pass through.
The wagons will be used to load up the mana crystals later on; knowing the difficulty of this dungeon, the mana crystals would probably be of high quality.
'As expected of a guild master, he probably thought ahead when he hired these number of miners trailing behind us.' Letti thought, glancing at the crowd of workers wearing hard hats and carrying pickaxes.
"So where did you came from Letti?" Pamela slipped in between Malik and Letti, slinging her arm on each of their backs, causing them to almost lose their footing because of the added weight.
"Senior, please be careful. We're currently walking on uneven ground." Malik stammered in panic.
"Isn't this the perfect time to get to know your comrades? Once we step inside the gate, it would be another world out there. We'll be too scared to speak anymore." Pamela whined while hugging herself dramatically.
"That's true. We did talk about Malik's life back at the guild...So, Little Letti, I've been meaning to ask, what do you do before coming to Randell?" Kard piped in with a cheerful aura. The four didn't look the least bit tired from shouldering a huge bag and all the walking, while Malik looked like he would collapse any moment now.
"I was in Andeva with a party when I heard about Nymphis druids appearing inside a gate in Randell. So I decided to check them out." She replied coolly. She was meaning to leave that party anyway. Their leader was too annoying.
The four of them stared at Letti for a second before nodding slowly.
"Well, I did somewhat expect that reason from an outsider," Kard laughed, scratching his chin.
"Wah... traveling around the continent...must be nice~ so jealous~" Pamela sighed blissfully.
Malik turned to Letti hesitantly. He was meaning to ask Letti this question when he learned he was an outsider. "What about your hometown? I guess your family was against your decision to become an outsider?"
Letti blinked slowly, thinking on how to reply. Most people just let her be when they learn she was an outsider. Most outsiders aren't exactly lighthearted people. "I actually don't remember anything about my life aside from my name. Four years ago, I woke up in an old couple's home close to dying. I've been an outsider since then." She explained. If it wasn't for Palleus, she wouldn't be able to survive this long.
Malik looked flustered and panic, shouting apologies profusely while Pamela was on the verge of crying, patting Letti's head and crying how she's stronger than she looks.
"Um...I was wondering why three high-level adventurers in Randell were doing the job of a porter? Does your injury has something to do with that, Mr. Kard?" Malik asked curiously, eyeing the thick bandage on his arm. It was strange that they didn't join the raid party and become a porter. They looked like they were a capable bunch and has good synergy as a team.
The atmosphere suddenly dampens. Kard's carefree smile turn to a sad one while the other two were scowling harshly to the ground. Letti tilted her head keenly. They didn't like they were offended by Malik's question rather, their negative emotions were directed to something...or was it someone?
Malik flinched, realizing his blunder and was about ready to grovel on the ground to apologize when Kard spoke up. "Actually, this is my atonement. I asked the guild master to be a porter."
"What are you saying, party leader? If we had to push the blame on someone, it should be that Eunice! She's a cowardly traitor!" Chongky, who had been silent up until now, suddenly spoke up indignantly.
"Nobody is at fault Chongky, tragedy happens. But someone should take responsibility for all the lives we've lost." Kard replied calmly.
Chongky was about to argue back when Pamela hold him back with a strained expression. "Chongky, let party leader speak. He's talking to Letti and Malik." Pamela chided seriously.
Chongky relented but he still wore a foul expression while Kard gave them a brief summary of what happened.
The story begins when their party took a B-class gate thinking it would be like any other raid. It was already too late when they realized something is terribly wrong. Yes, they were the first party who stepped inside the gate and encountered the aggressively strong Nymphis druids. The once one of the top raid parties in Randell was annihilated leaving only four adventurers.
Kard, in his guilt, decided to dissolve the party and leave the guild, but the guild master brought him back and suggested to be relegated as a porter to recover from the trauma in the dungeon. Pamela and Chongky loyally followed Kard as a porter, but their former party member, Eunice, dumped them for another party realizing that there's no use sticking to them anymore.
"She only cares about herself! Psh, she wouldn't even be that good without Pamela teaching her! She also didn't feel grateful when party leader almost died saving her!" Chongky hissed angrily, causing Pamela to panic and charm Chongky's scarf to cover his mouth. It's because his voice was progressively getting louder.
Letti eyed the pink-haired mage, Eunice, who was talking animatedly to the Elder Mage, blankly. It seems like she was working hard to show rapport with the hotshot. She did seem to have a good standing in the guild; her wand looks very expensive too. She'll absolutely fit in with those outrageous mages in Linarest.
Did someone also felt they were betrayed when she left all those guilds before? Well, she couldn't really understand since she was an outsider. Well, it's a learning experience; a thought to ponder on. That's why she was going around the continent anyway.
To know about herself.
Kard turned his attention to Letti and Malik with a small smile. The two B-class mages were still squabbling in the background. "I'm sorry you get to hear a scary story from me before entering the gate. Honestly, we probably don't have to worry anymore, but it's wise to stay vigilant." He looked better compared to earlier at least.
"I swear to protect you two with my life until this is over." He declared seriously.
"Hey everyone, I can see the gate up ahead." Somebody in the crowd exclaimed excitedly, causing murmurs to erupt altogether.
Indeed, the gate was near. Letti can feel the familiar heavy pressure of mana leaking out of a gate. But there's something bugging her mind since she heard the issue in Randell and the mana classification of the gate...
[My liege, as expected, I can feel a strong presence inside the gate. I would suggest being wary of the enemy.]
[That's a given, Palleus. Tell everyone to be ready.]
[By your command, My liege.]
...But she was certain now. The gate was giving off incorrect mana readings because of the Nymphis. It wasn't because Kard's party or Randell's guild was incompetent.
This Nymphis is an Aggressor type monster. A legitimate A-class monster.
The Elder Mage hopefully felt the ominous pressure of the Nymphis by now.
『Aggressors - An extremely dangerous class of monsters whose nature is to survive until Dungeon Break to wreak havoc in the real world. What makes them dangerous is their animal instinct, unlike irrational monsters who only kill without sense. These monsters seem to be programmed to be absurdly strong to last a week.』
A-class gates are a rare sight in Arizalde, and Letti just found this gold mine on a whim!
Letti is having a hard time suppressing her wide delighted grin now.
'Ah, I want to meet go now...'
"Man...this gate seems especially daunting." Malik shuddered, gawking upward at the gate that stretches right over the forest's treetop.
Pamela snickered, holding Malik's jaw shut. "Close your mouth, newbie. Don't look too surprised or you'll get bullied."
"Yes, I understood!"
Kard stood numbly on his own. "It didn't really change," Kard mumbled, staring at the gate dazedly.
Letti hummed, silently agreeing to his statement. The gate hasn't shown any sign of fluctuations. The hum of the mana, in Letti's point of view, is still consistent. No wonder the instrument gave them a wrong measurement.
'Hmm? The hotshot isn't saying anything? Typically, Linarest mages would jump firsthand on pointing this stuff out. Shouldn't he warn them at least?' Letti thought, observing the Elder Mage conversing with the guild master pleasantly.
"Guild master, the gate is still stable!" A mage reported. In a normal raid, this would mean the dungeon wouldn't change its mana capacity abruptly; a clear green light to enter the gate.
At the announcement, the raid party swiftly assembled in the usual three-part formation: Tanks and short-ranged fighters in the rear, healers and mages at the center, and porters and long-ranged fighters at the vanguard.
"Adventurers of Randell, by the glory of the greatest Archmage of Arizalde, Illor, peace in this land will prevail." The Elder Mage raised his staff, then a warm blueish glow burst around them from an intricate magic circle.
Letti has no inkling about magic circles or how mages do their thing, but she supposes it was a very effective protective charm since Pamela and Chongky were swooning about being given a protective charm by the Elder Mage. Agreeably, it did seem to be an overwhelming honor.
Even the healers, who were more advance than a mage in buffs and healing charms, were enamored.
"It's time, everyone," Kard said sullenly, earning a curt nod from Pamela and Chongky. It sounds so emotional if you think from their perspective, like greeting a once close but now estranged friend.