"So rookies! I am Volkan Taş. Mage of Flames! I will be your captain in this raid. We will clear this dungeon in no time."
Hearing this shit for more time than I can count, I wanted to facepalm. Before he went on about his exploits I stepped in. Before talking I stomped my feet and clapped my hands loudly.
"My name is Burak Sarı. I am a D rank Sharpshooter. I am second-in command. Doğukan Kaya behind me is a D rank Shield Warrior. Leyla Yılmaz is a D rank Spearwoman. We cleared this dungeon tens of times with no lossess. This dungeons name is for those didn't know is Dire Wolfs Nest. I am pretty sure you know what kind of monsters we will face. It is a D ranked dungeon. However this doesn't mean that you can go in like you are going for a picnic."
I got closer to rookies.
"We will use a buddy system. I will match you with a person. They will your shield and you will be theirs. You will move together in the dungeon. You will not leave them for even a second! If I see someone without their buddies, both of them will be punished!"
My eyes scanned the entire group. Fear, respect, annoyance and mockery. I could see all of them.
"Now before I assign your buddies, check your equipment! I don't care if you checked them just a second ago, check them again! I will give you 10 minutes for that!"
I softened my voice while still shouting.
"If you have any questions or problems with your equipment, report and ask us now! After entering dungeon, I don't want any child-like behaviour! You are Hunters now! Warriors that can and will defend humanity! Now go on. 10 minutes starting now!"
I stepped back.
"Do you have something to add Captain Volkan?"
He shook his head. While I could see the annoyance in his face, he didn't let it affect his voice.
"It was good speech Second-in command. It is a good thing that someone as experienced as yourself will guide many more Hunters in this dungeon."
Back handed compliments, huh? He meant to say I will stuck here forever. While I was about to return the fire some of rookies came to him.
"Captain, can you help with me my equipment?"
"Captain, is it true that you defeated a boss by yourself?"
"Captain, which guild do you want to join?"
While I wanted to smack them due being this carefree before a dungeon raid I stopped. Volkan was enjoying the attention he was getting. Despite our relationship, he was still higher rank than me. I left him and scanned other rookies. One of he worst part of being a beginner was the fact that you couldn't understand if something was right or wrong. For example:
"Your wistguards are not tight enough."
"And yours is too tight."
"Your quiver can take 10 more arrows. Go get them."
While most of them were small things, in a dungeon where a misstep could kill you, they were important. Leyla and Doğukan also went through the group, giving them tips and helping them. My eyes caught one rookie in particular. I grabbed her items and helped her tie them.
"This is how you do it. Did you understood?"
"Yes."
I untied it.
"Do it then."
She looked at me.
"I didn't understood."
I chuckled. I showed her again. After fixing her I scanned her.
"Do you have a spare weapon? Dagger or a knife?"
"No."
I sighed.
"Look, weapons get lost. They get dull. They get broken."
I pointed at the long sword she was carrying.
"What if you fight in a closed area? Do you think you can swing that?"
"No, sir."
"Now, go and get yourself a combat knife or something."
I watched as she ran to weapons store. Since all the rookies seemed fine I took the attendence sheet. After checking was complete and matched them withh their buddies. I counted all of them.
"Okay, we are going in. I am someone with far-seeing capabilities so I will be your scout."
I stepped at the blue gate made out of energy. Feeling of scenery changing hit me. I went to a grassland from middle of the city. As other came, I hear some "Wooo". A cold wind licked my body.
"No monsters."
I said.
"This is the entry point. This dungeon usually doesn't have monsters at its entry point."
I looked back at the rookies. They mostly seemed to be in awe.
"We are not here to sight see. Monsters usually exists in the forest."
While others without sight enchantments couldn't see the forest, I was different. To contrary to grasslands refreshing air, energy came from forest was dark and gloomy. I pulled an arrow from my quiver. Seeing me get ready, some rookies were agitated.
"Don't worry. He is like this."
Doğukan calmed them down.
"We will march inside the forest. Follow me and stay quiet."
I walked. I knew that a group this big and inexperience would make a lot of noises but I still felt the need to warn them. As we got inside the forest familiar sense of anxiety returned. Due forest being so thick, even my Hawkeye was limited. With my one advantage taken from me I felt vulnerable. But my face didn't change. My face was stoic and unmoving.
"Sharpshooters, any targets?"
I asked to them. It wasn't that I expected them to spot every danger. But one of the roles of Sharpshooters was seeing dangers before and warning the team. They had to practice that.
"I see one!"
"Which way?"
My cold voice answered rookies shaky voice.
"Um.. 8 o'clock."
I turned my bow towards that direction.
"I see the target. One dire wolf."
While I kept my bow turned to it, I asked:
"Any volunteers for first kill of this clear?"
Before they screamed "Yes." I added.
"Quiet."
"I can, sir!"
While many volunteers came forward I only thought a couple of them were solid.
"Ayla, come here."
They rookie I told to get a spare weapon. Her voice was calm and composed.
"I can shoot it in this distance. But I will not help you, unless you are in grave danger. Now, go and bring its corpse to me."
"Yes, sir!"
Ayla moved silently. Her movement told me that she were taught at more than combat school. I pulled my bow back and got ready to shoot the monster if she were in danger.