The Adventurer Outpost
After walking for about an hour, a crude yet sturdy fortress woven from massive logs and boulders appeared before their eyes.
It was the Adventurer Outpost, the sole sanctuary for adventurers on the second floor of the dungeon.
Up on the ramparts, the sentries on duty spotted them and waved their torches.
With a heavy creak, the outpost's gates swung open, releasing a bustling clamor and the warm, lively scent of civilization.
The interior of the outpost was like a miniature town.
In one corner, the rhythmic clanging of a blacksmith's hammer echoed, while in another, boisterous laughter and shouting from a tavern mingled in the air.
From the emergency mage ward where the wounded gathered, soft groans drifted out alongside the gentle, warm glow of healing magic.
This place was a lifeline and the only respite for those who survived the perils of the dungeon.
Their arrival instantly drew the attention of everyone inside the outpost.
In particular, the combination of Mithril-plate adventurers Ksenia and Lilia, alongside Gold Sun—who stood on equal footing with them—was a sight that commanded attention wherever they went.
“Aren't those people... Isn't that Ksenia, the ‘Red Butcher’?”
“And next to her is Lilia, the ‘Witch of the Abyss,’ and even Gold Sun, the ‘Golden Lion’... What on earth is going on?”
Paying no mind to the surrounding whispers, Gold Sun headed straight for the emergency mage ward.
“We've got wounded! They're in bad shape. Call a healer!”
At his shout, healers clad in white robes rushed out, and the two rescued women were carefully carried inside.
The group took a seat in a corner of the tavern. Ksenia pulled Hayeon down next to her, wrapping a warm blanket around her trembling shoulders.
“You had quite a scare today, Hayeon. Are you alright?”
At her tender voice, Hayeon gave a small nod.
“Yes, Eonni. I'm okay now...”
Yet, her mind remained a tangled mess. The sheer terror of witnessing that horrific scene, and the moment she had unconsciously found a sense of security in Gold Sun's embrace.
A mixture of guilt toward Ksenia and a strange, incomprehensible new emotion left her deeply confused.
Meanwhile, Gold Sun was speaking with a grave expression to a middle-aged man who appeared to be the outpost commander, sporting a bushy beard and a scar over one eye.
“Those bastards from the Gaze of the Sacred Stars made it all the way down here? Damn it, they're getting bolder by the day.”
“We'll need to transport the three corpses back to the Guild. As for those two women... we should let them rest and recover here for the time being. I'll submit a formal report to the Guild. Thanks, Gold Sun.”
The commander patted Gold Sun on the shoulder and turned away with a heavy expression. Gold Sun returned to the table and downed the dark beer Lilia had ordered in a single gulp.
“Ah...! Now that's the stuff. I gave the commander a brief rundown. Let's rest here for a bit and gather some more information.”
Ksenia said nothing, merely tightening her arm around Hayeon's shoulders.
She wondered why Hayeon had been so utterly paralyzed with fear earlier, but she decided that comforting her was the priority right now.
'To think she was trembling that much even with me by her side... What on earth happened while I wasn't around?'
A seed of suspicion, tangled with her worry for Hayeon, began to take root in her heart.
Unaware of Ksenia's inner turmoil, Hayeon simply leaned into her warm embrace and closed her eyes.
Hoping to change the heavy mood, Hayeon suddenly recalled the whispers she had heard earlier and spoke up softly.
“Um... Eonnis. Earlier, I heard the other adventurers saying things like 'Red Butcher' and 'Witch of the Abyss'... Are those nicknames that everyone gets?”
At Hayeon's innocent question, Lilia, sitting across from them, burst into a hearty laugh.
“They're more like titles than nicknames. When you spend as much time rolling around in dungeons as we do, they naturally attach themselves to you based on your skills or personality. This one here got 'Red Butcher' because she slaughters her enemies without mercy, and I got 'Witch of the Abyss' because I wield abyssal magic.”
Lilia gestured toward Ksenia with her chin and added:
“Especially that 'Red Butcher' over there—she used to be incredibly infamous. You wouldn't believe how sweet she's acting with you right now; back then, it was unimaginable. She was practically a walking disaster. Her temper was so foul that if she didn't like you, she'd look ready to slice through allies and enemies alike. Right now, she's just putting on a meek act, quiet as a mouse in front of a cat, just for you.”
“Hey! Lilia!”
Ksenia snapped back, her face flushing slightly.
“I might have been... a bit like that in the past, but not anymore! People change!”
“Yeah, right. You'd probably pluck the stars from the sky if our little Hayeon asked.”
As Lilia clicked her tongue and teased her, Hayeon felt a bit restless, worried they might actually start bickering because of her.
“Then... why is Gold Sun called the 'Golden Lion'? And why does he stay as a Gold Plate? His skills seem on par with yours, Eonnis...”
“You're just realizing that, Hayeon? The reason is incredibly simple. Just because his name has 'Gold' in it, he decided he likes the Gold Plate the best. It's childish beyond belief.”
At Lilia's words, Gold Sun looked back and gave a wink.
“Gold is the prettiest and most valuable, isn't it? The Guild folks keep pestering me to promote to Mithril, but what can they do if I refuse? I only stay where I like.”
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Hayeon realized that Guild plates might not be a simple measure of raw strength alone.
“Speaking of Guild plates, Hayeon. Have you ever heard of the Orichalcum rank?”
Lilia brought up an intriguing topic. When Hayeon shook her head, Gold Sun cleared his throat and began to explain.
“They aren't just strong. Those five have completely transcended the boundaries of 'humanity'.”
He began counting them off on his fingers.
“First is the strongest magic swordsman in human history, the 'Hero' Carno. A monster who has reached the absolute peak of both swordplay and magic.”
“Second is the 'Lord of Dream and Illusion' who rules over dreams and phantasms, the witch Madel.”
“Third is the 'Grim Reaper' Barheim, the pinnacle of assassins.”
“Fourth is the 'Fist King' Loga, often called the Sword of the Gods.”
“And finally, the fifth is the 'Ruler of Space' Evelyn, the absolute peak of mages.”
Hayeon swallowed hard at Gold Sun's explanation. It felt like listening to tales of mythical deities. When he mentioned the 'witch Madel,' Gold Sun cast a meaningful glance at Lilia and spoke.
“Especially that 'Lord of Dream and Illusion'—she has a very deep connection with this lady here. Isn't that right, Lilia?”
“Gold Sun.”
Lilia's voice sank to a chilling register. The playfulness completely vanished from her eyes.
“If you don't shut that mouth of yours, I'll make sure to burn off every last strand of that precious golden mane of yours.”
The cheerful atmosphere from a moment ago froze instantly. Gold Sun shrugged and shut his mouth, while Hayeon held her breath at the tense air between them.
'The Lord of Dream and Illusion, Madel... and the Witch of the Abyss, Lilia... Both have 'witch' in their titles. What kind of relationship do they have?'
“Since they roam the deepest floors of the dungeon like their personal playground, ordinary adventurers like us can't meet them even if we wanted to. No, we shouldn't meet them. They possess the power to destroy an entire nation single-handedly, so their mere appearance on the surface is enough to put the entire continent on high alert. That's why, instead of the uncontrollable Orichalcum adventurers, the strongest forces the Guild can practically deploy are the Mithril adventurers. Like us.”
At those words, Hayeon looked at Ksenia and Lilia sitting beside her.
Her eyes sparkled with deep respect and awe.
The realization that the people she laughed with, played with, and sometimes shared passionate nights with were actually among the strongest forces maintaining the balance of the continent hit her anew.
'Eonnis... they were really that incredible.'
Unable to suppress her rising curiosity, Hayeon secretly activated her Golden Eye skill.
'Level 70! As expected, she's amazing...'
At the pure gaze of adoration from her lover, Ksenia cleared her throat in embarrassment and turned her head away.
The tips of her ears were slightly flushed. Smiling, Hayeon turned her gaze to Lilia this time.
'What?! 73?! Lilia-eonni is a higher level than Ksenia-eonni?'
Hayeon couldn't hide her astonishment.
It was hard to believe that the woman who always stood behind Ksenia, speaking so bluntly, was actually the highest-level member of this party.
When she factored in Gold Sun's level of 71 as well, she realized once again just what kind of terrifying monsters she was surrounded and protected by.
'Could I... someday become strong like them and stand by their side as an equal?'
And so, the exhausting day drew to a close.
The group stayed at the outpost for a few days, but concluding that no further clues could be found, they began their return journey to Akron.
After several days of forced marching, they finally arrived in front of the Wind's Roost Inn.
As they pushed the door open and stepped inside, Serena welcomed them with her usual radiant smile.
“Welcome back, everyone! I'm glad you returned safely. How was the dungeon, Miss Hayeon?”
At her warm hospitality, Hayeon felt all the tension and terror she had experienced in the dungeon melt away like snow, a relieved smile gracing her lips as she felt the comfort of coming home.