The awaited day had arrived, or in this case, should I say night. The moon still shone brightly high in the sky, casting a blueish light. The city seemed mostly silent due to the absence of people. The world appeared different; although I had been walking through these streets for the past few days, it felt somehow changed. Kagari walked beside me, a huge backpack on her back, wearing a big smile and curious eyes as she looked around.
The giant river near our apartment created a scenic view, with its water reflecting the starry night sky. Kagari took out her phone and captured pictures of the breathtaking scene. After a while, she turned her camera towards me, snapping a picture without me noticing.
"Rin, you look grumpy," she commented.
"This is just how I usually look. Also, could you stop taking pictures without my consent?"
"Oh, that's no fun..." She took another snapshot. "You look grumpy, but I didn't say you look bad at all." She continued to run around, capturing anything that caught her interest.
Kagari did say the most unexpected things sometimes. Any man would undoubtedly find her intriguing. I don't believe in ghosts, but there's a saying that they often appear in pictures taken at night.
"Hey, Kagari, if you keep taking pictures, you might end up capturing a ghost," I teased.
I thought it would be cute if Kagari started acting like a girl scared of ghosts. She might suddenly run to my side and cling to me, her eyes on the verge of tears.
However, Kagari was different from your typical girl. "That's exactly what I'm hoping for!" she exclaimed, giving me a big smile and a thumbs-up.
...
After walking for a considerable amount of time, we reached the entrance of the Serdin dungeon. Usually, we would take the train, but no trains were available at this hour. Instead, we utilized our physical enhancement skills to increase our movement speed. It consumed a lot of MP, but we could easily replenish it using MP potions later.
As expected, there was no one around. I had already entered the dungeon earlier this week, so I couldn't enter normally as other adventurers would. But I had a trick up my sleeve. I just needed Kagari to enter the dungeon while I used my Dungeon teleport skill to slip through alongside her. I had done this numerous times before, so I was confident in the process.
Just as Kagari and I were about to enter, we unexpectedly encountered someone else. "Oh, you're that guy from before," a familiar voice sounded from behind me. I turned around to find her, greeted by a wave. "Early bird adventurers are always the great ones in the making."
The girl was the stranger who had saved my life before. What was she doing here? Could it be that she had the same idea to enter the dungeon? Since she was a part of the Knights of Judah, I didn't think she would want to team up with us. It was a shame, as having someone as powerful as her in our party would be great. It would save me from overthinking our strategy.
"Good morning..." I responded, realizing I still didn't know her name.
"I forgot to introduce myself before. I'm Shina Grandbell. Nice to see you again."
"Same here... Are you planning to dungeon dive?"
"Nope, I'm here as a lookout."
A lookout for what? If I asked about her mission again, I bet she'd tell me it's confidential, just like before.
"What are you standing there in a daze for?" Kagari walked into me, a touch of annoyance in her voice, and grabbed my arm.
Suddenly, Shina bounced towards Kagari, attempting to give her a tight hug. But Kagari immediately pushed her away, a look of clear discomfort on her face. Her piercing gaze felt ominous.
I sensed the tension between them. "Kagari?" Shina seemed puzzled.
"Stay away from me," Kagari stated, averting her eyes from Shina. "Rin, let's go before other adventurers show up."
I nodded in agreement, with plenty of questions swirling in my mind. Kagari seemed furious, and Shina appeared haunted.
Just before we left, Kagari paused and said, "You know what you did."
With that, Kagari leaped into the dungeon, and I followed, using my skill to slip in as smoothly as possible.
...
"What happened between you and her?" I inquired. Now that we were alone, it seemed like the right time to get some answers.
"Do you remember when I told you about the party that left me behind? It was them... They're known as one of the most heroic parties. I looked up at them until they revealed their true colors. They left me behind to save themselves. They're no heroes, and I never want to see their faces again."
Kagari's anger was palpable as she spoke. She clenched her fists, her body trembling with the intensity of her emotions.
"From the way you two were talking, it's like you know each other."
Shina had saved me; she was my hero. But to Kagari, she was someone who had abandoned her. I didn't know whose side to take at the moment, so I chose to remain silent.
"We've met before, but it's not that important. She's more like an acquaintance."
"Keep your distance from her. One day, she'll betray you."
"I'll keep that in mind."
♦♦♦♦♦
Down the path to the monster zone. Usually, monsters don't appear at the entrance similar to the campsite scattered around the dungeon. I theorize that is possible because of the invisible wall. Thinking about it there is a monster who could use skills like adventurers. Could it be that there is a possibility that a monster with skill similar to mine can teleport to the city? Not entirely impossible, because there was a similar incident that happened long long time ago. Because of that incident, there are always adventurers gauring the dungeon.
I'm always cautious entering the dungeon using my teleport skills. After leveling up, I can now teleport long distances. As long as I have mana at my disposal, I can go anywhere I want. My limitation was that I needed to be at that place before or it was visible in my current eyesight.
Kagari showed me her unique skills. It was mostly healing. Healing skills were rare and they were always valuable, but at the same time, they were the weakest since they were not suited for combat. Because of that they are easily exploited by others.
To think that the party that abandoned Kagari was the party of the girl who saved me--Shina. I'm a little troubled about Kagari's anger toward Shina. Shina seems not to be the type who will do such a selfish thing.
I mean, she saved my life before. She saved me, a useless stranger.
Walking down to the monster zone. We encountered other adventurers who were on their way back. They all have big smiles on their face, except for one who was carrying a huge backpack on their back. When I say huge, I mean incredibly huge. It's about three times the carrier size.
Kinda reminiscent of Kagari when I first met her. She is carrying the same huge bag pack… I glanced at Kagari and saw her empathetic eyes. Her eyes focused on the hooded one who was doing his/her best to carry the considerable bag pack.
I then came to realize that the bag pack is identical to what Kagari used before. Right now, Kagari is using a different bag. It is still big but wasn't as big as before. Passing by at us, the adventurer arrogantly bumps at my shoulder and laughs.
"I thought the guards weren't allowing other adventurers to gain experience and spoils during this time…"
" Don't worry they are only two… I'm sure they'll die in a few minutes."
"Maybe, this couple just came here in the middle of the night to fuck each other."
"No money for hotels. Hahahaha!"
Passing by, I saw a glimpse of the badge on their clothes. Without a doubt, they are part of the Knights of Judah. The rumors were true, guilds were taking advantage of their position to raise the levels of adventurers working under them. Because of them, solo adventurers weren't earning anything.
These bastards… I called them internally. I may have the ability to teleport back to the dungeon by passing the dungeon system rules. But I won't forget the hell that I have gone through before.
The dungeon is not owned by anyone after all.
"So cruel… These shitty people." Kagari paused for a second and took a deep breath before continuing. "Did you see that? That's the foundation of their guild. They exploit people too much for their benefit. I'm so angry… I want to drown all of them with my water magic."
Well, I can really see that Kagari is really pissed off.
"I agree. Guilds in the end was a type of company. It was all business for them. They sell spoils, manufacture weapons created from monster materials, and guilds are contributing to the government." I said.
"This is capitalism! Nope, this modern slavery!" Kagari paused and took the wand on her waist.
In front of us, goblin monsters appeared. "Perfect timing. I can now vent some of my anger away."
Kagari raised her wand and without saying a word she manifested a small water orb that eventually transformed into a sharp icicle. We're about 20 meters in distance and the goblins don't know where we at, probably because of the dim atmosphere.
The icicle pierced the goblin's head killing them in an instant.
Kagari created another batch of sharp icicles and shot them all from darkness.
"Awesome… As expected from someone who survives in the dungeon alone."
I said.
"This is nothing… Before I work with those bastards. I was dungeon diving alone."
"Knights of Judah might be a company that exploits their people. But I don't think everyone working there is the same."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I know that you have passed with them, but that girl earlier saved me… She saved me from a pinch of danger and if it was not because of her. We might be here together…"
"Grrrr!" Kagari pouted her cheeks like a squirrel and showed me with punches. Her punches are not particularly hurtful. The way she did it was actually cute.
"I can't believe that you are alike everyone else! Back in the guild Shina is popular. People called her an angel and goddess. She might be very pretty outside, but she is very rotten inside. I bet she is looking down on every man who drools over her saying "I least have one billion net worth before you started fantasizing about being with me" that kind of things!"
I don't really think that Shina is that type of woman. Also, I don't have much experience in women so I don't know how to judge them at all.
I get it. To Kagari Shina was someone who betrayed her and to me, Shina is a hero that saved my life.
Kagari pointed her index to my nose and continued: "You are like those men! I have high expectations of you. I really thought you were not the type that looked at people's outer appearance. I'm quite disappointed." She pulled a little and shook her head.
"That's not true at all… Shina might be very pretty and sexy. But I'm not very interested in her… Why would I look at other girls if there is someone so pretty right beside me?" I said.
Kagari paused to process and then blushed red as a tomato.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaa!" She's vibrating. "Y-Y-Y-Y-Y-You… Mean… M-M-M-M-M-Me!"
"Who else it should be?"
For some reason, my face started to turn hot. I think I just said something incredible without thinking at all.
Well, that's not a lie. Kagari is very beautiful.
"Why are you skeptical? Are you not confident about yourself? Don't tell me you have a bad self-image."
"Ahem… Well, I admit that I'm pretty. Not as pretty as the angel. But still pretty… yeah, I'm very pretty."
Kagari turned her head away with an ever-so-slightly smile. Because her skin was so white like snow, it contrasted with the red hue of her cheeks. Her big round curious-looking eyes glisten as she turns a glance.
Her eyelashes were long. I just noticed.
What the hell am I looking at? She's so happy and the way she reacts is so cute.
Of course, I reacted like a cool dude. I didn't make much reaction and she walked away. Suppose I stare too much with Kagari. My heart might stop.
I get the magic pouch on my waist to collect the drops.
Wait…
Changing the mood a little, I turned my head to Kagari and questioned.
"Kagari I gave you a magic pouch right?"
"That's right its in my bag pack."
"Magic pouch is a magical item that appears small outside but spacious inside. I think you don't have a need to carry your huge bag pack."
"Ehhh! What are you talking about? This bag is not for loots. This bag pack is for our tent, cooking equipment, and sleeping bags."
"Why?"
"Don't why me… I mean, we're going to stay here for at least three days like a normal adventurer." Said Kagari.