The air in the dimly lit dungeon crackled with an ominous energy as Kaito and his four nymph companions approached the pulsating red orb. The stone walls, damp and cold, seemed to close in around them, amplifying the sense of foreboding.
The first nymph's eyes flickered with curiosity. "What is this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kaito took a step closer, his gaze locked on the orb. "We call it a spawn point, or more correctly, a monster spawn point."
"Spawn point? What does it do?" the second nymph asked, tilting her head as she studied the orb, her fingers tracing the air as if she could feel its energy.
"It's where monsters are born. In this case, goblins that we just fought," Kaito explained, his tone serious.
"So the 20 goblins that we just battled came from here?" the third nymph inquired, her eyes widening in realization.
"Yes," Kaito confirmed, his expression grim.
"That's crazy! That means there are a lot of these things in this world," the fourth nymph exclaimed, wide-eyed, her voice echoing slightly in the confined space.
"Yes, but they're usually found deep within dungeons. Sometimes you might find them outside, but that's rare," Kaito added, glancing around as if expecting more monsters to appear.
"So, what are you going to do now?" the first nymph asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"I will make it vanish," Kaito replied, determination in his eyes.
"How?" the second nymph questioned, stepping closer to him.
"I have the ability to interact with spawn points. Not just me—every adventurer must have this ability; it's a basic skill we learn," Kaito said, his voice steady.
"Wow, that's an incredible ability!" the third nymph remarked, her admiration clear.
Kaito nodded. "Yes, it has its advantages."
He stepped closer and extended a hand toward the orb, feeling its warmth pulse against his fingertips. Suddenly, a holographic interface sprang to life before them, glowing with vibrant text.
Interface: Goblin Spawn Point
Level: 1
Name: Goblin
Gender: Male
Spawn Speed: 48 hours
Quantity: 20
Kaito narrowed his eyes as he adjusted the quantity to 0. A notification popped up: "Confirm changes? Yes / No." His hand hovered over the "Yes" button. With a decisive click, he confirmed the changes.
The atmosphere shifted, and then the spawn point vanished into thin air like mist dispersing in the wind.
"You can adjust the quantity?" the fourth nymph asked, stunned.
"Yes," Kaito confirmed, his voice calm.
An uneasy expression crossed the fourth nymph's face. "If you can do that, then… if some adventurer misuses this ability… the world would be in danger!"
Kaito's expression turned serious. "Well, let's pray it doesn't come to that. Power in the wrong hands can lead to chaos. We must always be vigilant."
"We will stay by your side, Kaito," the first nymph said, nodding firmly.
"Together, we'll make sure the world is safe!" the second nymph added with a determined look.
"Those goblins won't stand a chance with us around!" the third nymph said, smiling lightly.
Kaito smiled softly, his heart warming at their fierce loyalty. After that, his face became serious again. "Let's see if the gate from last time will appear or not."
***
Kaito stood by the seemingly empty space, tapping his foot impatiently. The world around him was quiet, with only the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the dark cavern. The cold, damp air clung to his skin, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
"It should appear here just like last time," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the dripping water.
The first nymph tilted her head, her curiosity evident. "What are we waiting for?"
"A gate," Kaito replied, his eyes scanning the area.
"A gate?" the second nymph echoed, bouncing slightly on her toes, her excitement palpable.
"Yes, but it's not appearing. It's strange," Kaito said, frowning. His frustration was growing with each passing second.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the stillness. "Kaito!"
Kaito turned around, his face lighting up with joy. "Haruto, my buddy!"
Haruto rushed over, his expression a mix of concern and relief. "The construction worker told me that you entered the dungeon alone. I'm glad you're okay."
Kaito shrugged. "Well, this level 1 dungeon is an easy quest."
Haruto glanced around and noticed the four nymphs standing beside Kaito, his curiosity piqued. "Who are these?"
Kaito grinned proudly. "My new power."
"Your new power? I never knew you had this kind of power," Haruto said, intrigued.
Kaito beamed, clearly pleased with himself. "Well, I got it recently."
"How?" Haruto asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kaito chuckled playfully. "It's a long story. Let's just say I found it."
Haruto looked intrigued but skeptical. "That's not really an explanation. You should tell me someday."
Kaito nodded in agreement. "Sure, someday."
Haruto shifted his focus to the nymphs, adjusting his demeanor to be more polite. "My name is Haruto Yamamoto, nice to meet you."
The first nymph smiled brightly. "Nice to meet you, my name is Thespia."
The second nymph bounced a little. "Nice to meet you, I'm Eudora!"
The third nymph gave a gentle nod. "Nice to meet you, my name is Kelleia."
The fourth nymph grinned. "Nice to meet you, I'm Aleina!"
Kaito's eyes widened in surprise as he processed the introductions. "All of you have names?!"
The nymphs looked at each other, giggling softly, while Kaito couldn't help but join in the laughter.
"Well, of course! We're not just random magic, you know!" Thespia said with a wink.
"We have our own identities, just like you," Kelleia added, her eyes sparkling.
Haruto smirked, crossing his arms with a playful glint in his eyes. "This is new… You've really leveled up, haven't you, Kaito?"
Kaito grinned. "You could say that!"
"What are you waiting for? Let's go back to the guild and finish the quest!" Haruto suggested.
"Please wait a moment," Kaito said, his expression turning serious.
"Are you waiting for something?" Haruto asked, noticing Kaito's thoughtful silence.
Kaito thought to himself, "I can't tell Haruto about the gate yet and what happened to him. I need the gate to appear first, but… it's still not appearing."
Suddenly, three members of the Witch Magician Guild walked into the dungeon: Hardi, Cedonia, and Juniper.
"No! They finished the quest already!" Hardi exclaimed.
"We're late," Cedonia said, sighing.
"This is just great…" Juniper muttered.
Haruto looked shocked at the sight of them, while Kaito smiled because they were still alive.
"It's a waste of time coming here!" Hardi said, turning around to exit the dungeon. "Cedonia, Juniper, let's go!"
Before Cedonia and Juniper could leave, Kaito called out to them. "Cedonia, Juniper."
They turned to look at Kaito. "Be safe," he said.
Cedonia and Juniper exchanged confused glances since they didn't know Kaito well. "Thank you," Cedonia replied.
Juniper nodded in agreement. They both turned to exit the dungeon.
"What was that?" Cedonia asked.
"Is he interested in us?" Juniper wondered aloud.
Haruto glared at Kaito, who noticed. "Do you want to add more harem girls?" Haruto asked, smirking.
Kaito just laughed. "Let's go, buddy."
"I think we should go now," Thespia suggested.
"Ah, thanks," Kaito replied.
"No need for that; we are your power," Aleina said with a grin.
The four nymphs disappeared. Kaito and Haruto walked towards the exit, but Kaito took a final glance at where the mysterious gate had appeared before. He sighed, glad that the gate had not appeared, but still wondered why it wasn't showing up.