"Look, everyone, it's Dex!"
"Dex, where have you been? We've missed your antics."
"Come on, entertain us!"
Brian observed the group of adventurers, all of whom were bronze-ranked like him and Dex.
Bronze was the lowest rank, and they often faced discrimination. This shared experience fostered a sense of camaraderie among them.
"Not today, you fools. Can't you see who's with me? It's my great leader, Brian! Show some respect!" Dex declared proudly, giving Brian a playful slap on the chest.
"All hail the great Brian!" The group cheered mockingly, raising their mugs in a toast.
"Haha, this is what it's all about, Brian! Enjoy the moment. Look at all the beautiful workers!" Dex said as he led Brian to the bar.
"Megan, two mugs of beer for us."
"You brought a guy this time? Have you changed your preferences?" Megan teased as she poured the beers.
"Didn't you hear? This is the great—"
"Dex," Brian interrupted, feeling embarrassed by the earlier comment.
Clearing his throat, Dex said, "Well, this is my best friend. Enough about him. What are you doing this weekend? Let me take you out."
Megan giggled, "I'll be working all week, but thanks for asking."
"You deserve better. Someone as beautiful as you shouldn't be working here. Let me take care of you."
"Is that what you say to all the girls?"
"Only the beautiful ones."
Megan laughed, "I don't mind working here. The environment is nice, and I get good pay."
After chatting for a while, Megan went to serve other tables.
"So, boss, how have you been? You've been distant lately," Dex asked.
"Just dealing with some personal stuff. Nothing to worry about. Now, why did you drag me here?"
Dex chugged his beer and slammed the mug down. "Can't men enjoy a boys night out together?"
"Just the two of us? What about Bruen and Vril?" Brian asked suspiciously.
"Our group's improved a lot since our first dungeon, especially after April joined with her healing and buffs. We've been clearing dungeons with ease," Dex said, changing the subject.
"How did you get April to join us? She's a silver-ranked adventurer and has the power of support and healing magic, while we're only bronze," Dex asked curiously.
"Healers are rare, blessed by the Goddess of Light. April's healing and support magic make her special. She could easily join higher-ranked teams. Her joining us doesn't make much sense."
"I helped her out, and she decided to return the favor. Ask her directly if you want more details."
"So... what do you think about April?"
"If you're wondering if I have romantic feelings for her, don't worry. You can ask her out," Brian replied.
"W-What are you talking about?!" Dex stammered, blushing.
Brian found Dex's reaction amusing, given his usual confidence around women.
"As the leader, it's natural for me to know my team members."
"I knew you were smart, but I didn't expect you to be so perceptive. April doesn't have feelings for me; she likes you," Dex said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"She's young. Her feelings will fade. Stop pretending to hit on her and show her how you feel. Don't live with regrets," Brian advised.
"Why don't you tell her you're not interested? Then I'll wait a few months and make my move," Dex suggested.
"As the leader, I need to ensure my team is safe. Telling her could affect her performance in the dungeon, putting us all at risk."
"Don't you think you're overthinking?"
"Maybe, but I'd rather be cautious."
Dex and Brian spent the evening chatting and having fun before returning to the inn.
The next day, they headed to the adventurer's guild to claim a dungeon quest.
"Let's do the boar rat dungeon again. It's easy money, even if it's just F-Rank," Vril suggested, grabbing a paper from the bulletin board.
As they discussed, April held up a paper.
"Here's a newly discovered F-Rank dungeon. We've been repeating the same ones for too long."
"What are we hunting?" Brian asked.
"Something called Demon Wolves. Probably similar to the Metal Wolves we hunt," April said.
"Let's hunt wolves!" Bruen said enthusiastically.
"I agree. It's time for a new challenge," Vril nodded.
"Maybe we'll be the first to clear it and attract some attention from girls," Dex remarked.
"Of course, you bring girls into this," April said, rolling her eyes.
Brian hesitated. New dungeons lacked information on routes and dangers, but the group's enthusiasm swayed him.
"Fine," he agreed reluctantly.
"Thank you, Brian!" April said, hugging him.
Dex watched, feeling a pang of jealousy.
Brian gently pushed her away and followed the quest directions.
They arrived at a mountain with a large central hole, guarded by two adventurers wearing the guild's crest.
"Quest papers and badges," a guard demanded.
Brian handed over the quest paper, and the group presented their badges—bronze for everyone except April, who had a silver badge.
After verifying the badges, the guards allowed them entry.
As they traversed the dimly lit cave, Brian took charge, assigning positions with a firm voice. "Bruen and I will take the lead. Dex and April, stay back. Vril, you guard them."
Acknowledging with a nod, the team moved forward until they reached a fork in the path.
Vril's brown eyes shifted to a vivid green, his vision sharpening as he scanned the surroundings. "The left path is crawling with monsters. The right one feels like a trap," he observed, noting the concentration of footprints leading left.
Brian considered the situation. Dungeon traps were typical, but concentrating all monsters on one side was peculiar. "Are you certain all the monsters are on the left?" he asked.
"Positive. Footprints, scents, everything points to the left," Vril confirmed.
Brian nodded decisively. "Alright. Stay alert. If anything feels wrong, we retreat immediately."
They proceeded down the left path, the darkness enveloping them more with each step.
"Dex," Brian called.
"On it," Dex replied, pulling an arrow from his quiver. "Fire Arrow!" he commanded, igniting the arrowhead. The cave brightened, revealing four monstrous, demonic-looking wolves with glowing red eyes.
"Prepare for battle!" Brian ordered.
Bruen stepped forward, his presence imposing. "Titan's Presence!" he shouted, striking his massive shield. The shockwave sent the wolves into a frenzied charge towards him, ignoring the others.
Empowered by April's strength, stamina, and speed buffs, Bruen stood his ground effortlessly, blocking and striking with his shield. Meanwhile, Vril unsheathed his dual daggers, their edges gleaming with a sinister purple glow. He flung them forward, and they sliced through the air, cutting into the wolves with precision.
Dex fired multiple fire arrows, each finding its mark with perfect accuracy. The wolves' movements grew sluggish under the relentless onslaught.
Brian seized the moment, drawing his sword. "Space Slash," he intoned softly, channeling energy into his blade. He swung it slowly, seemingly to no effect. A heartbeat later, the wolves collapsed, cleanly bisected.
April's eyes widened in admiration. "I'm always shocked by your power, no matter how many times I see it."
"Same here," Dex added. "You mentioned it travels through space, making the attack invisible and undetectable. That would suit my arrows perfectly."
April approached Bruen, noting the wounds on his arms. With a calm and focused demeanor, she raised her hands. "O Goddess of Light, bless me with the power of healing!" she said. Her hands glowed with a soothing green light, and Bruen's wounds began to close, the flesh knitting together.