Hello! It has been a while since I have been the main point of view. You might be wondering where I am, right?
I, Akatsuki, have come this another world where everything is magical. The formal name of this world is Frey.
Then how many years have passed since my arrival? The answer is 5000 years.
Now the introduction is out of the way. Let's switch to the unreliable narrator.
A normal sunny day. The skies of Gill is clear blue with white clouds floating.
The city of Gill is an important city. Not a town but a city due to the number of people living there. Around one million people live in this city.
It is famous for being an important trade center and the thriving adventurer's community.
This is a frontier city which watches over the Great Dungeon or GD for short. It has a formal name as well but let's not reveal that just yet.
That dungeon is the main reason why this city is so prosperous. Always available resources will bring in more people and money. The dungeon is truly a boon for this city.
But incidents occur. The death rate of adventurers is also high due to the dungeon. Still people strive to become adventurers so they can lead a free and happy life.
This town is a part of the Baldur Duchy and the Kingdom of Asgard. King Odin is the 13th king of this country.
Enough of that. Now enter the adventurers. They are strong in different areas. Some specialize in combat. Some is espionage and some in assassination.
They will do anything as long as it's through the guild. If it's a request accepted by the guild, they will do it for the money.
Now, there are ranks. An adventurer is ranked based on their performances.
The lowest is H rank to the highest is the S rank. But if you are a C rank adventurer then you can be said a veteran. B ranks are mostly hired by small merchants.
A ranks are the strongest on field. The S rankers are only available through special requests. They usually take requests far more dangerous than anything else. It is difficult but the rewards are also worth the risk.
An all girls party, name the Valkyries. They are three in total. The leader is Aisha. Vanguard is Belle and magician or rearguard is Leah.
They are all B ranked free adventurers. Their party rank is B+. A strong team. However, they have come across a different opponent.
"I told you, we shouldn't go there."
Belle shouted whilst running for her dear life. The Valkyries were on a quest to defeat some ligers. They are a new breed of monsters and fairly dangerous.
But they were nothing compared to the Valkyries. However, they messed up.
While slaying the ligers, they woke up a sleeping death bear. Death bears are usually harmless unless you wake them up from their sleep.
Which they did and now they are running away from the death bear.
"Leah, who told you to use AoE damage spell?"
Aisha being the leader has to shoulder the quest failure but it was actually Leah who had messed up.
"SORRYYYYY!!!!" Leah gave a long apology.
But if they don't lose the bear soon, they won't be back alive.
"There! I see an open space. Let's hurry and regroup. If we put it back to sleep, it'll be perfectly fine." (Belle)
"That's reckless." (Aisha)
"It's the only chance we have. I think it's worth a try." (Leah)
The girls saw hope. They were not so weak that they cannot defend themselves from a death bear.
However a death bear's special ability makes it harder to fight it in congested areas.
They can freely manipulate the objects in that area. So fighting it while being surrounded by trees is surely like walking into a spiders web.
And they dashed forward. Until they reached the center of the open space. But the death bear stopped at the edge. It wasn't coming to chase them anymore. Some time later, it left leaving the girls all exhausted.
"Phewwww…..we are safe." Aisha let a deep sigh of relief. They were scared to death thinking what would've happened.
And the tension left their bodies. So they sat down on the grass to relax.
"But still, we really avoided a death flag?" (Leah)
"Don't say something like that. You will jinx it." (Aisha)
After catching their breath, they looked at the sky.
"It sure is a sunny day. But the temperature is just perfect for a picnic." (Belle)
"You are saying it because you are plain hungry." (Aisha)
"Don't you agree that we are all hungry?" (Belle)
""That we are.""
Both of them were the same.
"Let's go then." (Aisha)
"Wait…" Leah stopped them.
"What's the matter?" (Aisha)
"I feel something weird." (Leah)
"Weird? I don't feel anything." (Belle)
"No. There's definitely something wrong here. Can't you see that no monsters are coming even though we are out in the open." (Leah)
"Now that you mention it, I thought you were using a disguising spell." (Aisha)
"No. They are all standing around the edges. But no one is entering this circle. And how is this such a round circle? It can't be natural." (Leah)
"So, someone must come here." (Aisha)
"Let me check. My detection magic leveled up. I should be able to sense something."
Leah closes her eyes and focuses. Aisha and Belle are on guard. This situation is quite tricky.
And Leah opens her eyes.
"Did you find something?" (Aisha)
"Mmm….life signs. Someone is buried underneath us. And that person is alive." (Leah)
"Eh?" Aisha was dumbstruck. How can a buried person be alive?
"I am sure. No mistakes. I sense a human underneath us." (Leah)
"Shouldn't we save that person then?" (Belle)
"No. We have to report it to the authorities. We can't arbitrarily move. It will cause troubles later." (Aisha)
"So mature. But I will dig." (Belle)
"Me too." (Leah)
Both Belle and Leah started digging while ignoring Aisha. Being the leader, Aisha always avoided doing troublesome things.
But since they have started digging, she can't stop them.
Belle is a swordsman. She is using her sword skill to loosen up the soil and Leah is using her magic to blow away the soil.
After a while, they could see a hollow opening.
"Isn't it hollow?" (Belle)
"It is. Maybe the soil was being supported by something." (Leah)
"I can see stairs. A staircase going downwards." (Aisha)
"Is it some sort of ruin?" (Belle)
"Could be? I smell money. Let's go." (Leah)
Being a mage, Leah needs funds. Funds are necessary for her research. So you can say that she loves books and money.
"Let's go but be careful." (Aisha)
"Yes."
Both Leah and Belle agreed. Aisha wasn't trying to stop them this time because they were really enthusiastic about it.
They started descending. And they reached the end of the staircase.
"It's pretty open down here." (Aisha)
"Yeah. I thought it would be more cramped." (Belle)
"Look.." Leah points at something.
She makes a small orb of light which illuminated the surroundings. She is pointing at the wall which at first glance was nothing but a stone wall.
However, it turned out to be a door.
"A door?" (Belle)
"Seems like it. It even has something written on it." (Aisha)
"Let me see…..this is the high ancient language. Maybe this is some sort of hidden ruins. We can look for treasure."
Leah's eyes were glowing. A ruin containing treasure is something coveted by all. If they find the treasure then they can live the rest of their lives peacefully.
"Leah, you can decipher it, right?" (Aisha)
"Give me some time." (Leah)
After five minutes, Leah turns to them.
"It says, 'Here lies a really bad person. May this person never wake up again.'" (Leah)
"Sounds like a grave. Should we really go in?" (Aisha)
"We totally should. I think this warning is here to test us." (Leah)
"Then you open the door." (Aisha)
"Fine." (Leah)
Leah opened the door. It was a sliding door. Leah slid the door open and entered.
Aisha and Belle followed behind and they were left speechless.