6. Dungeon Agales
As we pushed deeper into Dungeon Agales, the darkness thickened around us. The entrance had some faint light filtering in despite the cave-like setup, but the further we ventured, the dimmer it grew, swallowing everything in shadow.
Bella, leading the way, was the first to halt when I called out.
“Hey, hold up.”
“What?”
“Is something wrong, darling?”
“Nah, it's just getting too damn dark. Time to light a torch, I think.”
“Hmph, I'm fine... but whatever, do what you want.”
I set down my bag, pulling out the dry cloth and oil flask I'd prepped inside, combining them with the stick I'd tied to my belt to form the torch base. Then came the flint and steel striker. Clack—clack-clack. A few strikes and the sparks caught on the tinder, blooming into flame that leaped to the oil-soaked cloth, birthing a proper torch.
As I stood with it blazing, Bella sidled up slyly.
“Hey, Ian.”
“Yeah?”
“Why bother with a torch when you've got magic tools?”
“They're expensive.”
“Expensive? A basic light-up one costs what, a few gold coins? Come on, you're not broke—buying one wouldn't hurt.”
“Yeah? I'll check some out when we get back.”
“Uh, sure...”
Bella's face soured at my easy agreement.
“What? Spit it out.”
“Nah, it's just... you agreed so quick, feels weird.”
“Crazy bitch.”
We pressed on into the dungeon's depths, and soon enough, a bizarre beastly roar echoed ahead. I'd never heard a real crocodile, but from memory, it was like a guttural scrape from deep in a cave. Kinda dinosaur-like? Reptiles gonna reptile, I guess. Source? Not some authoritative animal encyclopedia—just YouTube vids from my old world.
Horned bipedal crocodiles. Honkrodiles. Whoever named 'em nailed it—pure horned croc head, nothing more, nothing less. Big fuckers too, easily over two meters tall, jacked like they'd all hit the same gym. No weapons on these brutes; they just stood there dumbly, not doing much. Chill as hell...
Counting by torchlight, about three. I stopped us and asked Bella and Cheong-ah,
“Think they spotted us?”
“Dunno. Why sweat it over trash like that?”
“...Yeah?”
“It's dangerous, so stay back, darling. We'll handle it.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Those horned crocs were gold-badge-level threats, tough by my standards. But to Cheong-ah, a Platinum adventurer in the continent's elite, and Bella, an S-rank merc on her level? Child's play. Platinum was built for that—gold-badgers could swarm by the truckload and still lose. That's what it meant to be recognized as top-tier here.
Nothing for me to do but step back. Torch okay in my hands? No issue. Forgetting the swamp, Bella yanked her greatsword and leaped.
...Gonna sink again?
“Hraaah!”
Her savage downward swing turned one croc's head to mush on impact.
The survivors bellowed in shock.
Kuuhk...?
Kuuaaaagh!
They locked eyes on Bella, who moved to strike—but yeah, her feet were sunk deep, as predicted.
“W-Wait a sec...”
Panicking Bella. The duo's jaws cracked wide toward her.
Kuuaa...!
“F-Fuck! Shut your traps, you bastards!”
As their fangs gleamed, Bella dropped her sword and punched their jaws.
Kuuhk!
Kuak...!
One reeled back; the other charged.
“Sh-Shit! Two's cheating!”
“Stay put.”
Cheong-ah's whisper brushed my ear. Bella grinned and froze mid-dodge.
Whoosh.
The wind sliced past. The charging Honkrodile's hide split diagonally, blood spraying. Its crumpling face heard Cheong-ah's murmur last:
“Butterfly Wing.”
Not just the charger—the paused one too. Two down. Fight over before my second breath.
Cheong-ah sheathed her blade, her right arm trembling faintly. Minor muscle strain. I approached as she shook it out.
“Quick work.”
“Nothing special.”
“Heh, piece of cake for sis here.”
Cheong-ah shrugged modestly; Bella puffed up. I smirked at her.
“Sis, my ass. You'd be chomped without Cheong-ah.”
“What? You little shit... I'd be fine even bitten!”
“So why'd you freak? 'Eek! Two's cheating!'”
“When the hell did I say eek—?!”
“Shh... you two. Quiet down a sec?”
Cheong-ah's sudden tone shut us up. Her face was grave. Eyes closed, she murmured,
“More this time.”
Then—thud-thud. Footsteps vibrating through the swamp to our soles. I felt nothing, but they did.
“Yeah, decent horde. Annoying.”
“Darling, sorry—hide somewhere.”
“Yeah, Ian. Hole up over there. Too many to babysit you.”
“Uh, sure.”
I nodded and backed off—but wait.
“Torch?”
“Leave it. Light'll give you away.”
“Okay...”
I dropped it; the oil-fed flame defied the damp. I slipped into the darkest nook.
Hidden, Bella stabbed her greatsword into the mud and stretched.
“Solid numbers... Torch light the floor okay? Hey, Cheong-ah—fight fine in the dark?”
“Yeah... used to it.”
“Oh? Trained hard, huh?”
“Mm. Anyway, incoming—look.”
Torchlight's edge revealed Honkrodiles emerging. Dozens of massive croc-headed brutes lumbered toward them.
Grrrlll...
They glanced at their three corpses, then snarled fiercely.
The women stood unfazed.
“Bet, Cheong-ah?”
“Bet? On what?”
“Who kills more. Obvious.”
“True... Prize?”
Bella pondered, recalling a bottle in her room. Boozers knew boozers—Ian curbed Cheong-ah's drinking, but Bella had sniffed out her secret love for the stuff.
“Uh... that booze in my room? Good stuff—nice aroma, smooth. You like it too, right?”
“Sounds good. What'll I put up?”
“Dunno... Ian?”
Cheong-ah's face iced over, eyes narrowing viciously.
“...Kill you first?”
“Why? I wanna try that buff. Not romantic interest—just curious. What's it feel like? Once?”
Bella wheedled. Then the horde charged.
Cheong-ah sighed, gripping her sword.
“Haa... Not my call anyway. Darling decides.”
Her blade flashed in an instant, slicing throats of the front-runners.
Thud-crumble.
Bella countered, her greatsword crushing an equal number.
Kwaaang!
“Oh? Guess I shouldn't bet with you then.”
“One promise, though.”
Amid the fray, Cheong-ah's low words made Bella tilt her head.
“Huh? What?”
“When I slice Bella, I'll give you a chance to fight back.”
“Haha, that's a fun joke.”