Chapter 19

“Why are you here?”

Camian asked with a wary look. His expression was clearly not a good one. It seems he really dislikes me. I already knew that, so I let it slide.

“Why? I should be the one asking that. I practically live on this mountain, climbing it almost every day.”

That was true. I climbed it daily to learn archery from Hiresia. But they probably wouldn’t believe that. It wouldn’t make sense for a troublemaker like me to climb a mountain every day instead of hanging out in the entertainment district.

“Talk sense.”

Camian frowned. My words must have sounded like mockery to him. What can I do?

That was how I felt, but I couldn’t end the conversation here. Because it wasn’t time yet. I proudly took out my Marcus Bow. To others, it might look like a shabby bone and horn bow, but it was undoubtedly a weapon.

“Eek!”

Annette stepped back a few paces with a frightened moan. Even though she was the protagonist’s strong supporter and childhood friend, she was still just a first year student with little real combat experience.

Camian, the protagonist, seemed to stand firm and glare at me, but I could feel the tension behind his expression.

…Hey, hey.

You shouldn’t be so tense around a guy like Max. Aren’t you the protagonist, even if you’re just a first year?

“So that was your goal?”

Camian’s words became shorter.

I understand.

It’s understandable to misinterpret the situation like that.

“Goal? What goal.”

I shrugged my shoulders and took out an arrow, stringing it on the bow.

“Se, senior. What are you doing right now? You shouldn’t do that!”

Annette urgently tried to stop me.

“Come at me if you dare!”

Sss.

Camian drew his sword and assumed a battle stance. Ignoring them both, I turned the bowstring to the side. And then.

I released the bowstring.

Swoosh!

The arrow flew through the air, and soon hit something.

Thud!

“Peek!”

The squeal of a small boar. Everyone’s gaze turned in that direction. Why, you ask?

Out of curiosity.

I didn’t expect to hit the target. I just shot in the direction I sensed something, but it turned out to be an unexpected catch. Can I show off a little now?

“I’ve been really into hunting lately. Do you understand now?”

I stood tall and spoke arrogantly. Anyone seeing this confident attitude might think I’m a master hunter.

So what?

It’s time to show a little bravado.

Camian and Annette.

Their faces were surprised and bewildered. The surprise was probably due to my unexpected archery skills, and the bewilderment was likely because they realized they had completely misunderstood the situation.

“What’s wrong? Should I catch one for you too?”

I said with a smirk.

“No need.”

Camian returned to his original tone. His wariness seemed to have eased a bit now that he realized I wasn’t secretly waiting to harm them.

“Then that’s settled.”

I put away the bow. Then I took out a pocket watch, checked the time, and put it away again.

It was almost time.

“Let’s go.”

Camian said to Annette.

Annette blinked and sent a cautious look, as if asking, “Is that okay?” The shop owner must have told them to avoid other people’s eyes since they were using the cave secretly. But Camian calmly said again,

“Let’s go.”

He seemed to think that acting confidently and without hesitation would avoid suspicion. Not a bad judgment.

But it didn’t matter to me. My business was something else anyway.

“Okay.”

Annette finally followed Camian.

I just watched them, as if it was none of my concern. How many steps had they taken?

Kuaaaang!

Suddenly, with a loud noise, the ground began to collapse beneath them.

“Kuk?!”

“Aaaaah!”

Without time to react, Camian and Annette were swept away. They struggled to climb up, grabbing at the surrounding trees, but the trees had also collapsed, roots and all, and no longer provided support.

“Oh no!”

“Aaaaaah!”

In the end, they disappeared below with screams, leaving no trace. Almost simultaneously, a message appeared before my eyes.

[A hidden quest has occurred.]

You have discovered the dungeon of Mount Harkin, forgotten over time, now revealed by an earthquake. This dungeon was created by monsters drawn to the energy of artifacts left by ancient people. Those monsters still roam the dungeon, craving blood and flesh. Of course, the artifacts left by the ancients remain as well.

Will you brave the danger and dive into the dungeon to seek the artifacts, or will you prioritize safety and leave as is? The choice is yours.

“Isn’t that obvious?”

I smirked and without hesitation, leaped into the dungeon.

“Kuk.”

Camian got up, his body aching. He had desperately tried to break his fall before hitting the ground, but he couldn’t completely soften the impact, and his bones and muscles screamed in protest. Fortunately, it wasn’t a fatal fall.

But.

“Annette!”

Concerned for his friend’s safety, he looked around urgently.

“…Here, here.”

A weak voice and a waving hand were felt from the other side. Camian rushed over without delay.

Annette was visible, buried under a pile of collapsed dirt and trees. Camian quickly dug her out.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I think I’m fine.”

Her voice was weak but unharmed.

It was a relief.

Apparently, the pile of dirt and trees had acted as a cushion, absorbing the impact and allowing her to escape unscathed.

“But where are we…?”

Annette looked around with a confused face.

“I don’t know either. One thing’s for sure, we’re underground.”

Camian answered, looking up at the open sky.

“Was there an earthquake all of a sudden?”

“Probably not.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for the ground to collapse so suddenly.

“We need to get back…”

Annette said with a worried look, gazing upward. Camian thought for a moment.

Then he spoke.

“Going up seems impossible.”

The top seemed so far away.

Climbing up without any tools was clearly impossible.

“That, then… if we do that…”

Annette’s eyes shook with unease.

Camian, on the other hand, tried to remain calm.

“Don’t worry too much. That person must have seen us fall. If he thinks about it, he’ll call for help.”

“Ah, right. There was that senior.”

Annette’s expression brightened a bit at the memory of the Max. An unwelcome senior, but now more reliable than ever.

“So we wait here then………….”

“Hey, are you okay?”

A voice from behind interrupted Annette’s words. No, it wasn’t just her words that were cut off, but hope as well. Annette and Camian froze like stone. In front of them stood me, dusting off the dirt.

…Why are you here? Their expressions said it all.

“I was worried you were seriously hurt, but you seem to be fine, thankfully.”

They couldn’t say anything if I had followed out of concern, and they stood there with awkward faces.

“Th..thank you for worrying, senior.”

Annette expressed her gratitude in a small voice. But her expression said: So what do we do now?

“Thanks for coming to help. But we thought you would call for people to rescue us. But since you’ve come like this…”

Camian had an unexpected look on his face. He wouldn’t have thought I’d follow them in. He never would have thought someone like me would show such selflessness. He might need to revise his opinion of me after today.

“I didn’t think of that. The moment you fell, I instinctively jumped in to save you.”

“So you did.”

Annette’s eyes showed she had no idea I was that kind of senior. Yes, that’s right. That makes my jumping in here worthwhile.

I smirked to myself.

“Well, anyway, we need to figure out a way to get out of here… Huh?”

I opened my eyes wide as if I had discovered something ahead. It was an act, done to the best of my ability. Of course, I was laughing inside. This is more fun than I thought.

“What is it?”

Camian asked with a puzzled look.

“It’s the wind. There’s a breeze coming from over there.”

I pointed in the direction and explained. The wind blowing in this underground space meant there was an opening to the surface somewhere over there. Camian’s expression changed as he realized what I meant.

“Wind? Now that you mention it………….”

He seemed to feel the faint breeze on his skin.

Annette, too, seemed to catch on late, and hope sparked in her eyes.

“Maybe over there…”

“Wait.”

I cut her off. I pretended to scrutinize the area ahead more carefully. Then I spoke again.

“This is a path someone has made. It’s not a space formed naturally.”

Of course. Even though it’s called a natural dungeon, it was a dungeon created by monsters that had forced their way through with their strength.

It wasn’t a dungeon with human intent, but a dungeon formed by monsters drawn to the energy of artifacts left by ancient people, hence the name natural dungeon. But to them, unaware of this, how would I appear? I must seem knowledgeable.

“Wh…who made this path? Can you tell?”

Annette responded immediately.

“Of course.”

I answered briefly. It looks more impressive that way. I could feel the protagonist’s gaze on me change.

Hahaha, kid. You’re still a novice, man. Can’t I handle even a novice like you? Of course, the protagonist still had a skeptical look. After all, it would be strange to believe my words immediately when I had been regarded as trash until just a moment ago.

“Is that really true? Someone made an artificial path in this underground? It’s hard to believe.”

Camian spoke with a thoughtful expression. Who would do such a pointless thing in the depths of these mountains? That seemed to be his thought. A common thought for those who have never experienced a natural dungeon.

But, you see.

Would monsters care about the location? They were just drawn to the energy of the ancient artifacts buried in the ground and flocked here like mad.

“Well, but it seems we’ll be able to check it soon.”

Camian and Annette looked at me as if asking what I meant. But instead of answering, I took out my Marcus Bow.

“Something’s coming.”

I warned them.

Of course, I hadn’t actually sensed anything. Could someone like me even sense such things?

I just knew. It was about time for the nearby monsters, drawn by the scent of humans, to start gathering.

“What do you mean?”

Camian now had a look of disbelief. He wouldn’t have felt anything. Annette also tilted her head in confusion. I ignored them and spoke sternly.

“Get your weapons ready! We don’t know what’s coming!”

I shouted with as much charisma as I could muster. But they still stood there, seemingly unable to grasp the situation. They still felt like novices. If it were them in the middle of the story, they would have already sensed the energy and prepared for battle.

Well, what can you do. They’ll grow on their own as they keep rolling.

“Hurry!”

My shout changed their expressions.

They finally felt it.

Something was approaching.

Squeeeek!

An unknown shriek tore through the air.

“Kuk.”

“Eek!”

Camian and Annette belatedly prepared for battle.

Thump thump thump thump thump!

Heavy footsteps soon shook the ground.

And then.

“Squeak!”

“Squeeeek!”

Monsters appeared from the other side, roaring and starting to charge