Drawing from inherited memories, Aarya possessed knowledge about dungeons gleaned from ancient legends and passed down stories. These dungeons had first appeared during the 'Age of Gods,' when deities walked the earth, protecting humanity and other races from the relentless monsters emerging from these mysterious depths. Legends spoke of chaos reigning as monsters wreaked havoc across the land upon the dungeons' initial emergence. It was the gods who quelled this apocalypse, eradicating the roaming monsters before departing and leaving the dungeons behind.
Despite the gods' absence, monsters continued to emerge from these enigmatic depths, prompting people to take up arms in defense. Upon slaying these creatures, individuals found themselves bestowed with increased strength, mana, and various rewards, including treasures, weapons, and artifacts from the dungeons. This phenomenon, known as being 'rewarded,' seemed akin to the gods bestowing gifts upon them for their bravery in battle. Aarya likened this to the concept of levelling up, where the more monsters one defeated, the more powerful they became.
Wanting to take a stroll in the garden, Aarya attempted to find a path amidst the overgrown weeds and plants that had taken over. Failing to locate a clear way in, he eventually settled beside the fountain.
Gazing at his great-grandfather's statue, Aarya wondered, 'What would he think if he saw what his descendants had made of his family and estate, earned through all that bloodshed?' As he looked out at the overgrown plants and trees, with weeds sprouting through the stones and the scent of nature carried by the breeze, he felt a sense of peace and tranquillity. The chirping of birds added to the serenity. Aarya took a deep breath, savouring the refreshing aroma. As he relaxed, he reflected, 'Life truly exists outside.'
Aarya stayed outside, an unusual break from his typical internet-connected activities. The tranquillity of the surroundings was shattered by the approaching sound of hoofs.
A carriage adorned with the Ditew family insignia arrived and stopped close to the fountain.
...
A caravan of wagons was surrounded by people in various forms of armour, clutching swords and other weapons. Some walked alongside the wagons, while others were mounted on horseback. The wagons themselves were laden with goods such as clothes and food.
In one particular carriage, two people sat facing each other. One was a hunched, middle-aged, skinny man with a face deeply lined with wrinkles. His curly black and white hair framed his face, and he sported a matching beard. The other occupant was also a middle-aged man, but he sat in a straight posture. His blond hair was starting to fade, and his face held a slight chubbiness to it.
"Why did we have to go through Dunsany instead of Klensi?" the blond man asked the man facing him.
Jarg, the hunched middle-aged man, replied in a boot-licking tone, "My lord, I heard there is a dungeon break near Klensi. So I made changes to our route. I hope it doesn't upset my lord that I did this without asking."
The blond-haired man didn't say anything in response, and Jarg also fell silent. Suddenly, their carriage came to a halt.
"Why did they stop?" Jarg muttered to himself. He glanced at the blond-haired man and said, "Don't worry, my lord. You just wait here while I inquire." Jarg opened the carriage door and stepped out.
"Why did we stop? What happened?" he asked a soldier mounted on a horse in a haughty tone.
The horse-mounted soldier with brown eyes and hair looked back and, upon seeing Jarg, spoke in a flustered voice, "Sir Jarg, people in the front found some broken wagons and blood, sir. So, they stopped to check what caused it. They suspect a monster attack, sir."
Hearing the soldier's words, Jarg was shocked. 'Monsters? Why would they be here? Did they come from the dungeon break? Damn, why would they come to Dunsany when I decided to take a detour through here? Fuck my luck,' Jarg cursed inwardly.
"Take me there," Jarg said, wanting to confirm with his own eyes.
At the front of the caravan, some people dressed in inferior leather armor compared to the soldiers were standing beside two broken carriages, with blood splattered all around.
"What type of monsters did this? What do you think, Captain Acks?" Jarg asked a man standing beside him, dressed like a mercenary.
"Any type of monster could do this. But according to the footprints, it's the work of ogres," the bald and burly mercenary captain, carrying a greatsword on his back, responded while examining the wide footprints of the monster in the mud.
…
Inse stepped out of the carriage and was surprised to find Aarya sitting by the fountain. This unexpected sight brought a smile of happiness to her face. 'This child, who didn't come outside even when I requested so much, is sitting outside,' Inse thought, both surprised and pleased. Two soldiers dressed in shabby armour and wielding broadswords were following the carriage.
Inse was dressed in a full-sleeved, tightly fitted pink dress that accentuated her curves and cleavage. Her black hair was tied in a simple bun. Seeing her, Aarya thought happily, 'So I am getting that handjob today,' with excitement building inside him.
Aarya got up and walked toward Inse. Seeing him approaching, Inse gestured for the soldiers and carriage to leave. Aarya came closer and greeted her with a broad smile, saying, "Good morning, mother."
Inse smiled as she sensed her son's happiness upon seeing her, and she felt a bit embarrassed about the reason behind his delight. She greeted him, saying, "Good morning? It's almost noon, my little rabbit." Aarya heard this and realised that she was subtly pointing out that she had been expecting him in her study this morning, but he had overslept.
Understanding the implication, he apologised. "I'm sorry for waking up late."
Inse reassured him, "It's alright for now, but remember, you'll be the head of this estate someday. A leader should be disciplined." Seeing his apology, Inse decided it was a good opportunity to teach him a lesson.
Aarya, however, decided to playfully shift some of the blame, saying, "You know, Mother, it's not entirely my fault. You have a hand in it too."