There Lies a Dungeon
"An imprint."
The little ghoul named Gluttony’s Ghoul, whom I’d run into by chance. Unable to shake off the kid who kept trailing me, we’d ended up arriving together at Gular’s lair.
‘Imprint?’
“Clack?”
What’s that supposed to mean?
As I set down the bundle containing the ghoul’s fangs and explained everything that had happened, Gular said that to me.
“You know how it is. A chick that just hatched from its egg recognizes the first thing it sees as its parent.”
I’d heard of that before. A survival tactic for fragile creatures. A handy strategy to get protection during those early days when they can’t survive on their own.
I looked down at Gluttony’s Ghoul, who was still clutching my hand tight. So, does that mean this kid thinks I’m her parent right now?
I’d suddenly become a dad. And I’d never even indulged in any carnal pleasures.
“From the looks of her, it hasn’t even been an hour since she hatched from her egg.”
A frail little body and a round face. Unlike the typical ghoul’s mug—some unholy mashup of monkey and anteater—she was kinda cute. More like a human girl, really.
Hold up. Didn’t I just hear something weird?
‘Hatched from an egg?’
“Clack?”
Gular had definitely said this kid hatched from an egg. But no, she doesn’t look like the egg-hatching type at all. She’s way too big for that.
“Yeah, all magical beasts hatch from eggs.”
Really? News to me. First time hearing that one.
So magical beasts come from eggs, huh.
‘Does that mean we did too?’
“Clack?”
Skeletons are magical beasts too. So am I an egg baby?
“Undead are different! We just respawn.”
Respawn, right? Like in games, where after some time you go poof and pop back into existence.
I recalled the moment I first opened my eyes as a skeleton. A red moon hanging in the sky, an endless horde of skeletons lined up in a massive space. All of us had awakened there and made our way to this place.
“What the hell do you even know? You don’t even get that?”
Gular shot me a sarcastic, sideways glare.
Yeah, must be nice knowing everything, smartass! I flipped him off at the showboating skeleton.
“What’s that mean?”
He looked puzzled, clearly clueless about the middle finger gesture.
“Feels like something’s about to piss me off.”
Guy’s got instincts like a hawk. I shook my head at Gular, who’d zeroed in on it being an insult.
‘It’s a compliment. You’re amazing.’
“Clack.”
An obvious lie. But Gular was simpler than I expected.
“Kuhahaha! That’s what it was! Yeah, I am amazing!”
I smirked inwardly as he clacked his jaw in smug satisfaction. Sucker. They say no one’s easier to fool than someone who thinks they’re the smartest guy in the room. Gular was a textbook case.
‘Now hand over my reward!’
“Clack!”
I demanded the promised reward from the guy still grinning to himself. He’d said if I brought 100 ghoul fangs, he’d hook me up with something awesome. That was the deal.
“Don’t get pushy. Here’s your reward, as promised.”
With that, Gular chucked a large something at me.
Thud.Roll roll. A round object came to a stop right in front of me.
‘This is…!’
“Clack…!”
I caught it safely and hoisted it overhead.
“I noticed you don’t have much for defense. So I prepared this. A shield crafted with utmost care by me, the Twilight Alchemist!”
It was big enough to cover my whole torso. Made entirely of wood, but it didn’t look flimsy at all.
◈ A wooden shield crafted by the Twilight Alchemist Gular, pouring all his alchemical knowledge into it.
◈ Even if parts are damaged, it will slowly restore itself over time.
A self-repairing shield, no less! I savored its hefty weight, eyeing it from every angle in wonder.
“Well? Satisfied?”
Is that even a question?
‘Hell yeah!’
“Clack!”
Satisfied? My non-existent gut was bursting. Sure, no organs, but still!
I hadn’t needed a shield much so far. I usually one-shot my foes. But the future’s unpredictable. Having one couldn’t hurt.
“So where’d you spawn from? A lower floor than this? Or higher up?”
No skeletons on floor 4, except Gular hiding in his corner. Naturally, he assumed I’d spawned in this dungeon like him.
‘Came from outside.’
“Clack.”
I declared it proudly. Not from some dark, dingy hole like this—I’m an outsider! I’m different from you, got it? Not that it changes anything. Just felt good to brag.
“Tell me more!”
Two pairs of eyes fixed on me: Gular’s empty sockets and the clueless ghoul girl still sucking her thumb.
I explained everything up to getting here.
“A hidden room on floor 1?”
Gular looked shocked at my tale.
‘Yeah, guarded by a massive skeleton knight.’
I inherited it and became a Fallen Knight!
“Clack!”
“I see…”
I grinned smugly, but Gular’s face turned grave. What? That’s not the reaction I wanted.
I was flustered for a second by the unexpected response.
“One favor? I’ll reward you again.”
What could he want? But I nodded without hesitation. Another shield like this? Worth it.
Gular pulled a paper from his robes and handed it over.
“There’s a secret staircase to floor 1.”
He pointed at the map, explaining kindly. What kind of dungeon has this many hidden spots? Clearly man-made, packed with secret areas you’d never spot from outside.
“Take me there.”
There? Floor 1? Outside? I stared blankly, not getting it at first. Then it clicked.
‘The skeleton knight’s room?’
“Yes! Exactly!”
Nailed it. I accepted the request and followed the map to the stairs, still hand-in-hand with Gluttony’s Ghoul. After a long climb, we reached the top.
I pushed open the door and stepped out.
“Whoa! Jackpot! Two items already!”
A voice that shouldn’t be here rang out. Humans.
I turned toward the sound. Two humans were approaching.
“Eek! Humans!”
Gular freaked like he had a phobia. Weren’t you human once? I gave him a deadpan look, then raised my bone and shield.
Wait here a sec. Gotta clear out the pests.
Clatter.
I strode boldly toward them.
“…What the? A skeleton?”
Familiar reaction. And that’s how they die, careless.
I sauntered up casually, keeping it non-threatening.
“…Wait. Something’s off.”
But this time was different. The one human who didn’t drop his guard on sight. Refreshing.
Too bad. You already gave me too much space.
Hatred Rush!
Whoosh! My swift strike cleanly severed the lead boy’s neck.
“Matthew!!”
Blue smoke bloomed in the darkness.
This time, a weighted attack with the shield added!
My shield-led assault poured onto the remaining one.
Bam!
“…Guh!!”
Oh? Holding up pretty well? My attack was blocked by a glowing transparent barrier in front of the boy.
Blocking Hatred Rush at level 2? Not bad.
He must’ve used a skill. First human to block me so far.
Even with his friend dead, his blazing eyes glared right back. Fun. Really fun!
The thrill fired me up even more. Earring effect or not, euphoria flooded my body. First time since the skeleton knight.
Yes, this is battle!
But sadly, that was it.
Hatred Rush!
The skill fired again, sending the boy tumbling back.
Crack! The barrier shattered.
Sensing total victory, I raised my bone.
That was pretty fun. If we meet again…
You’ll entertain me even more, right?
‘I’ll be waiting.’
“Clack.”
The nameless boy stared at me with terrified eyes that still burned with defiance to the end.
Slice. He dissolved into blue smoke.
Peace returned to the Starting Village once Chiron vanished.
“But where the hell did that guy go?”
As expected, talk centered on the skeleton who’d been the hot topic until recently.
“No way the Human Hunter bailed knowing a hero was coming, right?”
The nickname slapped on the infamous Chiron of the Starting Village: Human Hunter. Wanderers who’d love to hear it—Chiron would’ve clacked his jaw in delight—sipped their drinks lazily today too.
Slam! Then two boys pushed open the door to the Sun Inn.
Reeking of newbie from a mile away, they drew sly grins from some wanderers.
“Hey, Matthew! This ain’t a place for greenhorns like you.”
“Not even adults, hitting up a tavern? Still on mommy’s milk?”
The mockery poured down on the noobs as usual.
“Hmph! Check our weapons. Still think we’re noobs?”
“Stolen, probably.”
“Hahaha!”
“Grr!”
Even as Matthew spoke, the wanderers just laughed it off.
“We got ’em from killing magical beasts for real!”
Only after blurting it out did the boy realize his slip.
Field beasts don’t drop items, no matter how many you kill. Getting items meant hitting a dungeon.
Matthew’s eyes darted. Luckily, no one bought it—they were still snickering.
Strong monsters on dungeon floor 1 had stopped their exploration. If there were more, they couldn’t clear it anyway.
Petrol and Matthew locked eyes. Same thought:
‘Sell the info!’
Too tough to solo. Better to cash in.
With a silent agreement, they steeled themselves and spoke cautiously.
“Actually, we found a dungeon…”
The info spread like wildfire through the village for a price. The first dungeon near the Starting Village set everyone’s hearts racing.
Even the jaded vets rose for the big news.
Wanderers grabbed their gear and headed out, oblivious that the Chiron they dreaded was there.