Chapter 166

“What, what’s this?”

“The wall…melted?”

The other comrades also looked surprised by this bizarre phenomenon.

Wind blew from beyond where the wall had been standing.

It meant there was an opening on the other side.

Regina looked into the darkness, narrowing her eyes, and said,

“ I can sense an ominous presence.”

An ominous presence…

And those words came from Regina, of all people?

That carries a lot of weight.

It’s something serious…

The expressions on everyone’s faces, mine included, changed.

“ I-I have a bad feeling about this.”

Annette said, stepping back, her face pale.

Camian, who protectively put his arm around Annette, also had a stiff expression.

“ Um…perhaps it’s best to turn back?”

Dan suggested.

Normally, it would be the right call.

I probably would have suggested the same thing.

But I had just seen it.

The message that appeared before me.

[A sudden quest has occurred.]

(Appearance of a Hidden Dungeon)

(TLN: sometimes i forget he has some sort of notifications system)

– A hidden dungeon, concealed beneath the forgotten castle, has unveiled itself before your eyes. No one knows what lies at its end.

A sudden quest, after such a long time.

And it’s a hidden dungeon.

A rare occurrence, something difficult to encounter even while playing the game.

But what caught my attention was the last sentence…

– No one knows.

I understood the meaning of this sentence.

That they won’t be giving me a single hint.

And almost without exception, when this type of phrase appears, it meant facing an extremely difficult challenge.

However..

If it’s a quest with a reward, that reward had to be something significant.

High risk, high return, as they say.

‘ And yet…’

Normally, I’d have given up without hesitation.

We’d be hopelessly outmatched, given our current levels.

Nothing is more precious than life.

But …

The situation has changed.

A new comrade has joined our party.

An incredibly strong one.

A character who shouldn’t even be a party member at this point.

Something that was only possible because I’m Max Celtrine.

I pondered what it implied.

Is this just a coincidence?

Of course, that’s the most likely answer.

But thinking about it from the beginning, all this transpired because of my actions.

I was the one who decided to go on this extermination campaign, I was the one who chose the Bloody Tempest out of all those bandit gangs, and I was the one who decided on this siege.

Regina being here was also a result of the new relationship I’d built and the promise we made.

As soon as I realized that, I made up my mind.

“ That’s a dungeon.”

My comrades focused their gazes on me, as I spoke.

“ A dungeon, you say?”

Annette blinked in surprise.

“ Senior, you have the ability to recognize a dungeon at a glance?”

Camian looked at me, as if I was some kind of mystical being.

He must have recalled how I recognized the dungeon at a glance back when we were caught up together in the dungeon at Mount Harkin.

“ Hold on. Isn’t it a bit hasty to be making that claim here? ”

Dan scratched his head.

“ That aside, if it’s a dungeon, doesn’t it mean it’s even more dangerous? It’ll be crawling with monsters…Sh-Shouldn’t we leave right now?”

Allen, his face contorted with fear, as if monsters were about to jump out any minute, stumbled back.

“ It’s dangerous, of course.”

I nodded, and then continued.

“ But I’m going in.”

Everyone seemed surprised at my decision.

Regina explained it.

“ That’s…reckless. Even for you.”

“ Reckless? I guess I can’t disagree. Honestly, I’m going with my gut.”

“ Gut feeling? You’re making a decision based on intuition, instead of logic?”

“ Right. ”

I forced a smile.

“ I have a strong feeling that we’ll regret it if we go back now.”

I couldn’t rationally explain it, so I simply stated my reasoning as it was.

But I wasn’t lying.

I definitely felt that way.

“…”

Regina, upon hearing my words, fell into thought.

If she was her usual self, I’d expect a negative reaction.

She wasn’t nice enough to approve of reckless claims.

If she disapproved, she wouldn’t sugarcoat it, she’d be blunt.

But that was Regina, dealing with others.

I was starting to feel that she’s different towards me…

This understanding was the deciding factor in my current decision.

“ Alright. I’ll indulge you.”

I got the answer I was hoping for.

A smile appeared on my lips.

“ I’m glad to hear that.”

“ Did you even doubt it?”

“ Hmm? Doubt what?”

“ You know I wouldn’t just watch you walk into danger.”

My heart skipped a beat.

I tried to play it off with an ambiguous smile.

“ No way.”

Regina didn’t pry further and closed her mouth.

Maybe it was her being considerate or she might have thought the question was pointless.

Anyway, with Regina joining me in exploring the unknown dungeon, the atmosphere changed.

It started leaning towards exploring.

But Regina put the brakes on that trend.

“ Let’s be honest here. Don’t expect me to protect everyone. ”

Meaning that those who can’t keep up should leave.

Dan was the first to raise his hand.

“ I think I’ll sit this one out.”

Allen followed suit.

“ I-I, I’ll probably just hold you guys back, so I’ll also pass.”

Then Dolph.

“ I’ll guard the prisoner, just in case.”

Godwin puffed up his chest and said,

“ Am I enough? ”

Regina nodded.

Everyone’s eyes naturally turned to Camian and Annette.

“ Um…I-I want to help, but would I be a burden…?”

“ No, we need a Healer.”

“ O-Okay. I’ll do my best, President. ”

That confirmed Annette’s participation.

Camian was the only one left.

He looked determined, and said,

“ I can’t be absent if Annette is going.”

I understood what he meant.

But those words could be easily misunderstood.

People looked at him with “Yeah, they’re in their honeymoon phase, no surprises there” expressions.

Annette blushed.

Even Camian, flustered by the awkward atmosphere, waved his hands quickly.

“ N-No, that’s not what I meant…”

“ Hahaha, no backing out now, kid!”

Godwin boomed with laughter, slapping Camian on the back.

Smack!

“ Ugh! ”

……There’s definitely something mixed in with that slap.

Stop provoking the soul of an unmarried old man, Camian, you’ll get yourself killed for making him jealous.

“ Come on, Camian has to join us. I know him well. That kid, he’s someone who pulls his weight.”

I changed the subject to lighten the mood.

“ Then let’s go in, without any further delay. ”

And so, we entered the dungeon.

* * *

“ Boring, so boring.”

A scrawny man with piercings and tattoos all over his body grumbled, sitting on a camel.

There’s no way anyone else would have such a…. unique appearance.

He was none other than Shadow Gulshan, an executive of Red Rain.

“ Why don’t you shut up, you’re annoying.”

A sharp-eyed woman, who was driving the camel next to Gulshan, said coldly.

No, to be precise, she wasn’t human.

She was an elf.

And an elf with black skin.

Her true identity was a Dark Elf.

But strangely…

Dark Elves were said to be extinct, at least in the human world.

She was wearing her hood deep, hiding her pointed ears.

With her ears concealed, she looked like a human with dark skin.

Perhaps she wanted to hide her true identity as a Dark Elf.

“ But isn’t it true? Desert here, desert there, just desert everywhere. How the hell can you not be bored in this situation? ”

“…”

“ What, ignoring me? You’re more boring than Professor, you know? ”

Professor.

It was the nickname given to Professor Raffet, within the organization.

Similarly, “Dark” was Dark Elf Natasha’s nickname.

“…”

Natasha ignored Gulshan’s words, once again.

Gulshan, seemingly exasperated, slapped his own cheeks repeatedly.

“ Professor and Witch are enjoying their luxurious lives in the Holy City, and I’m the only one stuck with this crap!”

The Witch whom he spoke of, was of course, Blood Witch Riviera.

“ Is this really that urgent and important though? To use two executives? What difference does it make when the castle’s seal is broken? All the rats who tried to get in have been killed and turned into skeletons. Tsk, we could have recovered it slowly.”

“ Honestly, I wasn’t needed for this.”

“ Right, you weren’t…Huh? ”

Gulshan, who was about to agree with her, widened his eyes.

“ I’m stuck babysitting you, you bastard! If I leave you alone, you’d go around and stir up trouble.”

Natasha, seemingly having reached her limit, exploded.

It’s always scarier when someone who normally doesn’t rage loses it.

“ …”

Even Gulshan, who never knew when to quit, shut his mouth.

He scratched his head awkwardly.

“ Hmm, well…I-I didn’t mean anything by it, you know…”

“ Bandits.”

“ Huh? ”

“ Clear those guys out, Shadow. I’ll watch.”

“ Hmm, okay. Okay, I got it.”

And so, the human and the elf, looking somewhat uneasy, continued towards the castle.

* * *

“ …”

“ …”

Camian and Annette had utterly exhausted expressions on their faces.

Not necessarily because of anything they had done.

The very atmosphere of the dungeon.

The gloomy, oppressive atmosphere was wearing down their spirits, even just by standing there.

Godwin’s condition was better than that.

He was likely enduring it thanks to his sturdy physique and mental fortitude, honed through his years as an executioner.

“ Phew.”

I’m managing fairly well.

I was already prepared mentally, having anticipated such an atmosphere.

Every single experience like this was precious nourishment for growth.

Perhaps such a positive attitude was also helping.

“ This dungeon is crazy.”

I said.

Now, I could understand why the Black Golem scroll was found in the castle’s basement.

This dungeon was swarming with the exact same creatures that the scroll summoned.

A living hell, where our strength wouldn’t even be enough to pick up our own bones.

Without *her *, that is.

We would have been screwed if it weren’t for Regina Ernbert, Winter Storm Knight, one of the strongest in the Empire.

“ That scroll must have been one of its guardians.”

Regina said.

Even she seemed slightly exhausted.

Beads of sweat on her forehead, her breathing also slightly ragged.

Carrying dead weight while clearing a dungeon like this…It’s no wonder she’s tired.

I felt bad.

‘ …It’s okay to get carried and freeload once in a while, isn’t it? ’

I chuckled to myself.

“ It would be. I’m sure of it.”

I agreed with her.

It would have been a different story if there were other monsters, but all the enemies we’ve faced so far were Black Golems without exception.

So, I was certain.

That the Black Golem was an artificial creation that someone, who had built this dungeon, had placed as a guardian.

“ This piques my curiosity.”

Regina also seemed intrigued.

What was it that they were trying to protect by having powerful guardians like these?

“ Sure you’re okay? ”

“ Do you even know who I am? ”

She sneered.

“ Right, of course. Then let’s…”

“ But before we go, isn’t a quick smoke break okay? ”

Regina pulled out a cigarette, holding it between her fingers.

I chuckled.

“ Smoke break is always good. ”

And so we took a short break, and then continued our way forward.

(TLN: if anyone is interested I am back to doing sponsored chapters :p)