Who am I? What a wonderful question. I wasn't certain if I should answer, so I did what I could think of to cover up my identity. It would work in the fact not many people knew, and even fewer of those people were Adventurers, who I was. Add in the entirely different features and the magic, and I was unrecognizable to all except Tsume the Blacksmith and my sister.
I tapped my throat and shrugged, miming what I hope conveyed that I couldn't speak. I'd use that excuse for as long as possible. The Adventurer seemed to understand, thankfully sheathing her sword and shaking my hand.
„I'm Senshi Shie, Sword Class. Nice to meet you." She was a short but muscular girl clad in Light Armor and Hide Bracers. Her sword was clasped tightly to her hip.
I gestured to her and I, in turn, then my gear. She scrutinized.
„What's an Unclassed Mage doing Adventuring? How'd you survive to get to this Floor alone and unscathed?" I shrugged and she sighed, taking me by the wrist and leading me into a room with three other Adventurers. Senshi shoved me into a plain-looking boy.
„Here Yasu." She pointed a finger at my throat. The Yasu boy nodded while the other two started piling Senshi with questions she couldn't answer. Then, Yasu's hands glowed with a familiar greenish light. A Healer Class then.
I realized there wasn't anything to heal, unless he could do resurrections, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to keep up appearances.
It fucking hurt.
I wanted to scream in agony, but I didn't want to make these mysterious, possibly powerful, Mages into my enemies. I endured, but I deigned to never get healed by Healing Magic again. Apparently, whatever my species was, had an aversion to it.
„So, answers." Senshi demanded. I rubbed the pain from my throat and relented. I figured these people wouldn't recognize my real name either.
„Name's Kodona Ritchi, as you guessed I'm an Unclassed Mage. I'm not an Adventurer." Senshi rose a brow and the others scooted closer, obviously curious as to how I got here. I was too.
„What are you doing in a Dungeon then? Let alone on the Fifth Floor of the Anded Dungeon." Damn, maybe I wasn't lucky after all. The Anded Dungeon was the hardest to run of the three Dungeons in Owari. It was an Advanced level Dungeon, and being on the Fifth Floor would mean I'd landed on a Floor with a Boss. I should be dead...haha.
„I'm a Runner. Decided to try my hand at Collecting. My Party didn't fare so well, and I don't know much Magic, so I ran. Got lost."
Collectors carried extra Loot that Adventurers had found which either didn't fit their Class, was to be sold, or they otherwise found no reason to Equip. Runners becoming Collectors wasn't uncommon, and that was especially true for any who were Mages. I hoped it sounded as creditable as I thought.
Senshi nodded slowly, looking me over. The others then introduced themselves. The first was the Healer.
„Saibaku Yasu, Healer Class. I'm sorry about your Party." I sent him a small smile, wanting to come off as friendly as possible. If I had the Healer on my side, there was a better chance the others would listen to me.
Next was a tall, muscular fellow with grey-blue hair. His speech was gruff.
„I'm Boien Rudou, Shield Class." Short and got the point across, perfect. Then, at last was an absurdly whispy girl. I felt she could be blown away with the wind.
„Sasaya Kori. I'm a Summoning Class. I hope you can show us around a bit, even if you did get lost." The Party all sat around me, as if waiting for some great fairytale to be spun from my mouth. I shrugged, not one for words...or other people. I liked being alone.
That didn't mean I'd be an ass though.
„What do you want to know?" Senshi, ever the dedicated leader, took charge.
„Have you found any Loot?"
„Yes, what I'm wearing." She'd seen me come from the Loot Store, so lying was out.
„Are there any Spawns other than Skeletons?" I suddenly missed the Skeleton who I'd bumped into. Poor thing probably got diced to pieces to be used as fertilizer.
„Not that I've seen."
„Do you know where the Floor Boss is?" Now that was hard to answer. I had my suspicions...based off the room I was in...
„Nope, sorry." This is where Senshi got suspicious.
„What Spawns were your Party slain by then?" Oh crap. I couldn't say Skeletons because I'd hinted they weren't killed on this Floor, and I had no idea what Spawned on the Floor above. I scratched the back of my neck.
„Sorry, I was paying more attention to staying alive." Haha, look how well that turned out. Senshi narrowed her eyes.
„Kori, use Assess." Huh, that's bad.
Plus side: I get to finally know what the heck I am.
Downside: the Party also gets to know what I am. As predicted, Sasaya gasps and backs away.
„Why are you a Lich?" Oh cool. I think Liches are supposed to be like more rotten and stuff though. And be basically Skeletons, but epic.
„Oh sorry, you should've warned me." I said, as casually as possible.
„I have a Passive Skill called Camouflage that automatically adjusts my species-type based on whatever environment I'm in. It just means your Assess Skill will read me as an Undead Spawn because we're in an Undead Dungeon."
Thank you sister for being so annoying! I knew Camouflage was a real skill, and useful for Stealth Class Mages whenever they wanted to conceal their Magic from Spawns. I knew because one Kodona Suzui would never stop bragging.
After a moment of stunned moth-in-flame look, the Party recovered and Boien commented.
„You should become a Stealth Class." He eyed my frame, perfect for stealth, and my shadow-themed Armor. I shrugged.
„So I guess I'll help you look for the Floor Boss then." Wasn't much else I could do. They'd hopefully give up after not finding one, if my suspicions were correct, and realizing the door to the next Floor wouldn't open.
„Yeah okay, go with Yasu and Kori. Rudou, you're with me." Fun, send me with the two most adorable and endearing Party members, of course. Maybe Senshi was betting on the fact that I had morals, and wouldn't slaughter cinnamon rolls[1].
I brandished my Dagger and led them into the halls.
„Let's find ourselves a Floor Boss!"
[1] term used to refer to impossibly cute or adorable people