The army marched forward, the sound of boots echoing through the cavern. I couldn't help but look around nervously, as if expecting an arrow to fly out from the darkness that surrounded us. The eerie silence persisted, and I pondered the reason for the conspicuous absence of monsters in our path.
I found myself growing increasingly puzzled. We should have encountered at least a few monsters by now. The usual signs of dungeon inhabitants, whether goblins, orcs, or other creatures, were notably absent. The cavern's eerie silence, devoid of the typical sounds of lurking monsters, only intensified the sense of unease.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around, my initial jolt giving way to a sense of relief as I saw my father. He looked at me with a knowing expression, understanding the weight of my concerns. In the dim light of the dungeon entrance, his voice cut through the silence.
"Son, calm down a bit. Your mood is affecting the others."
I met his gaze, my eyes reflecting a mixture of anxiety and determination. "I have reasons to be attentive. I'm concerned that the dungeon master is preparing to launch a full-scale attack, and I fear we could incur significant casualties."
My father's eyes conveyed both understanding and worry. He nodded, acknowledging my fears
''Did you tell this to the commander already?'' He asked and I nodded.
''Then there is not much you can do, as I have not said anything, keep looking around for trouble''
As I continued walking, my senses on high alert, suddendly a familiar face caught the corner of my eye—it was Roy. A small plan came to my head and so I changed my course, headed toward him, and called out, "Roy, follow me."
Roy hesitated for a moment, uncertainty clouding his expression. However, a determined gaze from me seemed to cut through his hesitation, and he obediently began to follow, curiosity and concern evident in his eyes.
As I walked with Roy in tow, a subtle smile played on my lips. I had found a way to ensure the army would be prepared at my command. With Roy by my side, I had the perfect way to inform the others of what I could see through Baalkaroth. However even if I knew that the enemy could be ambushing us, I could not just approach the commanders directly, as it might arouse suspicion. And so Roy became the ideal intermediary to convey my insights without raising undue questions, however how I wanted to achieve that was another matter.
As we continued our march, I couldn't help but notice the princess looking back at me multiple times. Each time, I found myself wondering, what the hell could she want?
What grated on my nerves about the princess was her insatiable curiosity, forever chasing after anything that piqued her interest, which, more often than not, translated to challenging opponents just to measure her strength. This reckless pursuit of excitement would inevitably lead to her demise, as she would blindly charge into battle against demons, sealing her own fate.
Her recurrent glances in my direction only deepened my concern. It didn't require a genius to deduce that she sought something from me. Unfortunately for her, I had no intention of getting entangled in the web of trouble she represented. My goal was to steer clear of the impending chaos, and I would only do the bare minimum to ensure her survival, as I had no desire to spark a civil war within the kingdom.
All I did was to make sure I would survive and live comfortably; the rest for me was meaningless...
As I was deep into contemplation, I was interrupted by the coarse voice of Baalkaroth
"Stop thinking about useless things,'' his voice resonated in my mind, "and listen. I can feel the energy from low-level monsters approaching."
As soon as Baalakroth spoke, I halted in my tracks. Bloody hell I was right; there were monsters nearby.
"Where are they?" I inquired, scanning the surroundings.
However, there was nothing visible. "I cannot pinpoint their position; I just sense that they are getting closer," Baalakroth responded, his information leaving me on edge, uncertain of the imminent threat's exact location.
I peered ahead, straining my eyes to see through the darkness. Despite my efforts, I couldn't spot anything.
Why couldn't I see them? Was Baalkaroth lying? No, there was nothing for him to gain by deceiving me. Unless he struck a deal with the dungeon master, but that was impossible, considering there was no way he could have slipped away from my watchful gaze. It left me with the conclusion that the monsters were either expertly concealing themselves or still some distance away from our current position.
I turned my attention inward, directing my thoughts to Baalkaroth. "How far are they?" I inquired, seeking the demon's insight.
He responded, "I can't say for sure, but I'd estimate they're about thirty meters from your current position."
My eyes widened at the mention of thirty meters. They were dangerously close. I scanned the surroundings, trying to pinpoint their location. Where were they hiding?
In a frenzy, my eyes scoured the cavern walls, and a sudden revelation hit me like a bolt of lightning – those holes weren't just for ventilation; they were hiding spots! The monsters had likely concealed themselves behind the walls, strategizing an ambush. It was a cunning move, exploiting the terrain to their advantage, planning to ensnare us in their trap. Little did they know, they had met their match – I was present and ready to thwart their designs. Because I will be damned if I let my prey escape when my eyes rested on her.
Roy keenly observed my behavior
''Is everything all right you master?'' He asked
I turned toward him, a smile playing on my lips. However, my smile seemed to make Roy uneasy, sensing something beneath the surface that he didn't quite like.
And he was goddamn right about that....as I had a plan that involved using him to set up our defenses against the ambush...