After gathering at the adventurers' guild, the temporary party finally takes on the journey to the dungeon.
I've been curious about what the use of rank is in dungeons if there is a threat level. Apparently, dungeon threat levels are the national measurement and the ranks are just for the size of the dungeon.
Let's take for example their quest right now. Their dungeon is just an [Always Level] D-Rank. And it means that the size is D-Rank and A-Rank is a little bit small in size.
Ranks depend on sizes. The smaller the size, the higher the rank since there's a huge chance to get overwhelmed.
It is a mystery how monsters appear, at least to them, but I know how. Demons can create monsters non-stop as if they were just making a ball of clay.
They pass through the paved road outside the town of Azmar. It is the town we are staying in. Apparently, it has been governed by an aristocrat for almost a few generations.
It doesn't matter anyway.
"Should we get introduced first?" Amber made a jokingly comment that made the attention of everyone shift to her.
Still continuing the venture, the girls willingly spoke. Well, I should say that they are the same as the curl-head. At least they know some proper manner, unlike that bastard.
The one with yellow hair speaks. She wears a priest-like outfit that is full of white and yellow colors.
I can pretty tell that she's a priest. Perhaps her rune is magic, best for healing others.
"I am Lala, a Priestess." Hit on! I can still be confident in my judgements.
Next to her is a red-haired girl with just the same hair color as Selena, but she doesn't have a strong attitude. She seems to be quiet and her outfit is simple. That's too organic.
"I'm Sara... a fire mage." Oh! So she is a mage! Her outfit differs anyways, so I thought she is a fighter.
"Nico here. The scout." The one who spoke was a teenage boy who looked like 17. His hair is mahogany-brown and his outfit seems to be too light to be defensive garments.
So it was because he was a scout? Perhaps someone who searches for the surroundings then reports immediately.
I can pretty tell that this party is balanced. Because next to him is a guy with a huge shield.
"Luka, the tank." His hair is quite long and crimson red.
How common are their hair colors? I can't tell...
"Oliver, fighter." This time, a warrior looking spoke. He just has light armor, so I can tell that he is more into surprise attacks or ganking.
"Tembler, ranger." A boy just the same age as the others spoke. He has a bow on his back and his hair is also brown.
I can tell that brown is more common here. Is their hair doesn't have any different shade? I can't tell, maybe his is almond brown.
Wait... It's too funny! This team is like an experienced team, but they don't have that much confidence. Only the last 2 have the confidence to brag.
Well, I guess personality differs. And if they are really senseful people, they won't brag too much.
"Wenard, a two-elemental mage of water and earth." A smug face from a guy who wears an expensive robe. He also had brown hair and slightly wavy hair. He also has a round nose just the same as their leader. The senior curl-head bastard.
"You all look too weak. Except for the orange hair, she seems to be rich. Behold, I am Polir Masagach. A warrior of speed and strength. I will carry you everyone!"
But his words looked too much as the other humble party members doubted his words. They all have the same eyes, not confident eyes towards their leader.
This makes me doubt that they are really a permanent party. They don't have that closeness or at least familiarity with each other. Yes, they laugh, but in a manner limited.
After the 8 introduced themselves, Ellena initiated to speak.
"I'm Ellena, a fighter." After she spoke, Amber followed.
"Amber at your service! I am also a fighter." Amber has a sword at her waist, so I guess she doesn't fight with magic since it is useless.
"I am Selena, a fighter."
The fighter in this word is not basically a close range like who uses their bare hands to fight. Fighter and warrior differ because warrior has almost high durability but low mobility. While fighers have high mobility and damage, but low durability since they focus on mobility and lessen their armor.
While continuing their walk, the curl bastard just made a smug face.
"Guess I don't have to depend on you. You all look weak and poor."
Wow... this confidence. Let's see how much you can act inside the dungeon. Even if it is a spacious dungeon, you can't underestimate the number.
***
After the long venture, just after 3 hours, they finally reached the dungeon near a mountain.
The surrounding is like a wide terrain on top of a hill beside a tall mountain. There are small boulders on the ground and untrimmed grass with flowers randomly sprouted.
The air is also breezing smoothly as I can see the touch of it on Ellena's hair.
"Should we get inside?"
"Yeah, let's get in. Just make sure you won't be a hindrance."
THIS BASTARD! IS REALLY! ANNOYING!
Sighs... I remembered that I should not waste my time on pathetic beings. Is he that thirst for attention? What should I give him? I will put him on my list of people that I want to curse. Ugh...
The environment of the dungeon is like a cave. However, it seems like an organized dungeon since there are torches with violet fire on the walls.
It gives an eerie vibe as the wall becomes a noticeably grey color.
"Monster assesed are just lower mobs. Apparently, they are just on F and E rank." Selena distributed the information to everyone.
This assesment is basically from dungeon investigators. They only asses a dungeon after an expedition and report it immediately. They don't close it since it would take a long time to fully investigate the area, so they just look for monsters who appear and estimate the space.
Before leaving the guild, they instructed that dungeons have boss rooms. If the boss is defeated, the dungeon core will be open and easy to destroy. Duneon cores are the only material that sustains a dungeon, but I can tell that it is not a normal dungeon core. It doesn't only exist for sustaining a dungeon but making a connection to this world.
Of course, people don't know this. Maybe there are organizations who control information to not cause some panics, but this is not common knowledge.
After destroying the dungeon core, the person who cleared or closed the dungeon will immediately be outside after the dungeon disapper.
Apart from closing the threat, it is also important and wanted to close a dungeon since there are unknown minerals. But apparently, the low threat dungeon doesn't have that mineral they wanted.
There are 2 ways to earn from dungeon diving. First is the material got from slaying monsters and lastly is the payment for completion.
This information is only given to newcomers since they need to be educated and these temporary members basically consist of all bronze ranks.
Ellena was automatically ranked up to Bronze since she has the capabilities to take combat quests.
"Be careful." Lala said, but the brown, wavy-head just hissed.
"Are you kidding? This is just a D-Rank. What do we need to be careful about? MONSTERS! WE ARE HERE!"
Tsk. This kid. He seems to be a brother of the curl head since they just laugh together.
Because of what he did, other members were just looking at them with a glare but in a limited way. Limited, as in a glare that seems to be not a glare.
They just have these depressed eyes but their teeth are gritting.
"Haha. That was good Wenard. MONSTER! WE ARE HERE!" Now, the curl-head has joined the craziness.
"Can you just stop that?" Selena said with her words full of authority.
"What?" Raising his one brow, the curl-head spoke.
"You are too noisy. What would you do if we were overwhelmed?"
"Of course, kill them!" Unresonable words of the wavy.
"This-!" Selena was cut when Ellena joined the senseless talk.
"Don't bother them. You can't reason with ignorants."
"What did you say bitch?!"
"What? You're hurt? Did I say your name or are you just guilty? "
"You! I won't let you get alive in this dungeon!"
"That's a heavy word you got. I dare you to do that. You just clearly proved your shallowness."
That was the snapped Ellena. Don't bother her, idiot. You won't win against her. Even me had a hard time defeating her in arguments!
The eyes of the curl-head clearly showed an irritated expression.
Ellena, being a badass, just left them and continued the venture. While the curl-hed being left, I can just worry that this idiot doesn't harbor a grudge. And basically, there's a big chance.
Monsters appeared and they didn't help. I discovered that the other six were his dogs and they were following his commands. Although they look unwilling, they still don't pick other choices. It seems like he holds them in the neck.
Ellena's team consisted of Selena, Amber and her were tirelessly slaying the goblins and small kobolds appeared.
Kobolds are little monsters who look like bipedal dogs. They have small fangs but small strength. They only attack by bashing or headbutts.
I can still see that the 8 are not participating. Being uncooperative, Ellena's side slayed almost 20 monsters. Seeing them sweat, the curl-head smirked.
Is he planning something? No, I can't be unsure. I am sure that he is planning something. Just how slant is his brain? Can't think straight? I have to observe them.
"That was great, Ellena!" Amber praised her while picking up the material needed and putting it into her small bag.
"Thanks. And it was good that you were not being too annoying."
"AH-! Haha. That was just... I want you to notice me and give me your attention. But looking at you stressed, I'll save it for later."
Ellena, on the other hand, just shook his head. Clearly, she lost her trust in Amber's childish personality.
"This is quite a haul. I will surely report this to the guild. That guy obviously didn't join the expedition since she doesn't know you." Selena muttered while helping Ellena.
"Expedition? Is there something I don't know?" Amber asked curiously. She obviously doesn't know what happened the other day since she just arrived yesterday.
"Yeah. The other day, the guild went on an expedition into a near overflowing dungeon with the knights. And we slayed variants there. And! Ellena has the most contribution to slaying the super strong variants."
"Hm... Is it true? I guess, Ellena is surely a strong fighter. Right, Big Sister Ellena? I can just wonder why her family cast her out." Amber said, but because of it, Selena asked in confusion.
Selena didn't know what Ellena's past really was.
"What? Your family doesn't know you have a strong rune, Ellena?"
"What rune?" Seems like Amber's nose is activated. She is really curious about Ellena that she is using the opportunity.
"Well, I don't know. She said her rune is close-combat but it looks like magic since it glows strong." This girl! Can't she stop spouting things?
"I don't know."
Ellena, on the other hand, is not bothered. Well, we are confident that no one knows her rune apart from Isabella.
"I am curious what her rune is. Hey, Ellena, care to share?"
"Don't be bothered. I know that you will just report it to our Grandmother."
"Hey!... What do you take me for?!"
"Obviously, a spy! Just continue what you are doing. It's more important to close this dungeon before those bastards use this as an opportunity."
Ellena is suspicious too. The 8 clearly have something behind their backs. Apart from not helping, curl-head is observing Ellena's movement. Is he got something inside his brain?
A plan?
I lefta word to Ellena before moving my vision to the 8 where at the back. "Ellena I will observe the 8. Continue your slaying, but just save your stamina. We can't let let our guard down."
'Noted.'
I moved my vision to the 8 and since they don't know my existence, they are talking about something.
They are just 5 meters away. It is fortunate for me since I can clearly hear what they are mumbling.
"This girl I will let her taste her medicine. You do know what will happen to you if you disobey me, right?" The curl-head is pointing out the other 6.
"Yeah. It just... I pity her..." Lala just mumbled it but she was still heard by the wavy.
"You dare to disobey Big Brother?" The wavy held the collar of the girl.
"No! I didn't say that." After that, she let go her. "Good."
"We will tire them out. And when we get into the boss room, we will not help them and let them pass out. That time, kill the boss and I will play with the blue-haired girl. She dared to oppose me. I will say this, she's beautiful, but that's all." He licked his mouth.
...
THIS BASTARD! NOW I KNOW YOUR PLAN! DON'T THINK ABOUT LIVING HERE ALIVE! I WILL SURELY HAVE YOU SUFFER!
I am disgusted. This bastard is beyond what you call scum. He is too shallow to be compared to scum.
Ah... this really enraged me. I can't let Ellena be in danger.
But... don't think about it, we don't have a plan. I will reverse this. After all, Ellena has some useful abilities.