Instance Dungeon (2): Heresy and Taboo
“May I ask one more thing?”
“Of course.”
“Is there any particular reason you’re not handling this yourself?”
The man, who’d been massacring his beer as if he’d never worn that serious expression moments ago, flashed a smile. It carried a hint of bitterness.
“Well, there are a few circumstances… haha. Guild members can’t leave Seilroom. To go out, you’d have to quit the guild and be barred from rejoining for the next ten years.”
“Isn’t the dungeon inside Seilroom?”
“Up to the entrance, sure, but the dungeon itself is another world, right? Countless heroes enter the dungeon, yet encounters with other heroes inside are rare in Seilroom’s history. Anyway, that’s why I’ve been drowning myself in booze endlessly. Truth be told, issuing a personal commission like this without working is a bit risky for me, but that’s my problem.”
Thud, thud—we trudged toward the commission site as I recalled my conversation with the client. My one-handed axe and Kaya’s mace felt even stronger, our packs were stocked full, and gold coins jingled brightly in my pouch.
Kaya’s vow, staked on her nunhood, had been that sincere and weighty.
“Kaya. Before we head in, mind if I ask why?”
Her steps faltered slightly, but she didn’t stay silent.
“…Captain said dungeon delving is my fate, and the hero party sharing that fate is a community of destiny. So I wagered my worthless fate on it. Strictly speaking, this isn’t delving, but it’s laying stepping stones for better delving, so I thought of it as walking the path of fate…”
“Uh, y-yeah?”
“…Yes. I’m glad it helps.”
Kaya smiled, if only briefly. It vanished so quickly I nearly missed it, but she’d definitely smiled. In that instant, even her crude medium armor and vicious mace couldn’t hide it.
What the hell, when did this go up?
“Thanks for saying that, Kaya. Uh, but sorry, that’s not actually what I was asking about…”
Why was there a circle drawn on my palm? Kaya’s ears turned twice as red as when I’d grabbed her hand back at the tavern.
“Ahem! Th-there’s a reason for that too!”
She whipped her head away and shouted. She looked utterly flustered.
She’s got a cute side lurking under there. Like an onion.
I pretended not to notice and pressed on.
“A reason?”
“Yes! Two reasons. First, the reward was good compared to the conditions. Second… it might improve my abilities.”
What the hell did that mean? Did I make a funny face? Kaya smiled again, her pleasant mid-low voice filling the ruins.
“As you know, Captain, I’m a Battle Vestal. I wield my mace with a body honed through training and the divine power bestowed by Lady Raella.”
No need to swing it around like that, though… The sound was like crushing air itself. Could I even beat her in a contest of strength?
“The goddess governs mercy and tolerance, loving all creatures as equally as possible. But she also recognizes efforts when you do good deeds for the world and pray to her. It’s not like dungeon delving, but spreading her mercy to the beings rotting this world… I thought it might strengthen the power I can wield.”
Kaya’s face spoke of true piety as she mentioned the goddess’s mercy (physical), but her mace looked ready to smash a heretic’s face any second, radiating menace.
Fine, whatever her reasoning— the key was her skill level might rise. Cheap compared to skill purchase or gear upgrade costs, but relatively so. Leveling up without extra upgrades was another good sign.
Maybe due to her nun traits, or maybe it’s universal. We’ll see.
Either way, if that was the reason, I welcomed it. Two Level 1s carried risks anywhere, so better to pick manageable spots with better rewards, gear up solid, then tackle round two.
Another thirty minutes of walking, and a clear ‘boundary’ appeared where the ground’s color shifted. Not as blatant as the main dungeon entrance screaming ‘I’m a dungeon,’ but instinct told us both: crossing meant entering another space, like a dungeon.
“Ready, Kaya?”
“Of course, Captain.”
We stepped forward together.
EXP gain reduced inside Instance Dungeon.
Retreat possible inside Instance Dungeon.
The commission was [Collect Evidence of Heretic Worship and Forbidden Magic], but entering changed the name. Some might say what’s in a name, but in The Long Terror, even trivia hid hints—useful or not, big or small.
Nothing stands out, though.
No instance dungeons in The Long Terror, but similar things existed. Not true instances, more like lowbie grind quests. Brothel incidents in Seilroom or market assassinations halting guilds—random events tied to quests with tiered rewards.
Main hero party (first string) cleared main dungeon; side gigs and second-string training via city quests. Grand in words, negligible in play. First string got 99% focus; others barely 1. Pop-up exclamation, button mashing—done.
I linked instances to quests, brain buzzing with hopeful circuits that this’d be similar.
“How dare you crawl into our sanctum!”
“What the fuck! Where’d this come from?!”
Worshipper encountered.
Unexpected encounter: Party speed -3.
Yujin: 4 | Kaya: 1 | Worshipper: 4
Yujin and Worshipper speeds tied.
Speed Roll: Yujin 3 | Worshipper 4
Worshipper acts first.
Specs around old 1-1 layman level. First mob, so not ramped up.
Startling for a surprise, but standard trash. No room for slacking, though. I braced for its attack.
“Punishment for the hypocrite!”
Dare to Behold
Worshipper vehemently condemns Yujin.
Some entity gazes upon Yujin.
Yujin afflicted with Impotence (1 turn).
Yujin cannot attack or defend while afflicted.
“What the fuck is this shit?!”
The moment the worshipper pointed its gaunt finger at me, a horrific sensation like centipedes crawling over my skin swept through, and unbelievably… I didn’t want to do anything.
Couldn’t toss a flashbang, couldn’t charge and cleave its skull. Every intent to act felt like those bugs racing across me again.
Terror rises from first-time horrific experience.
Yujin Mentality -8
Yujin passes turn.
Yujin recovers from Impotence.
Passing the turn surged rage toward it.
“You fucking bastard, you humiliated me! Kaya!”
“Hup!”
All According to God's Will
Devastating Strike!
Kaya deals 18 damage to Lay Believer.
HP Remaining: 4/22
“Gaaah! Goddess!!!”
“Shut up! How dare a heretic like you!”
Sight of decisively crushing foe mildly eases terror.
Yujin Mentality +3
Kaya’s mace turned the worshipper’s face to pulp in one blow. She shrugged her shoulders, annoyed it hadn’t died instantly, then checked on me. No godly pleas this time—its face was gone.
“I’m good now. Thanks for watching out.”
“…Glad to hear it.”
Kaya flicked her arm, shaking gore from the mace. Had she grown? Or the upgrade? Either way, fucking reliable.
“Uwaaaaa!”
Sacrificial Slash
Worshipper deals 1 damage to Yujin.
HP Remaining: 14/15
“Tch.”
“Captain!”
“I’m fine! Just a scratch!”
Its face ground like a bean on a millstone, the worshipper wildly slashed—bad luck grazed my left upper arm. My defense 4 vs. its 4~5 attack; 50% chance hit.
“Die!”
-10 HP
Worshipper HP: -6/22
My simple, effective attack skill lived up to its name—literally split the bastard’s head in two. I leaped back, dodging brains, and looted its rags: nothing.
First trash, no big expectations, but hoped for some EXP.
“Captain.”
“I’m really fine.”
Kaya approached with a stiff expression at my wound, but we weren’t in combat now. Thought maybe skills worked outside turns since not pure game. Nope. System strict here. No clue why.
We pressed on, scanning thoroughly. Straight path, no branches or rooms yet—no evidence either.
“Captain.”
“Hm? Find something?”
“I-it might not fit, but one reward condition was bringing back a heretic’s head, right?”
“……Ah.”
I clutched my head. Rage-fueled axe swing pulverized the evidence. Kaya’s face-smash had leeway; mine didn’t. Instance for gold, and I nuked one coin myself. No excuses.
“I-I’m not blaming you at all. Just reminding…”
“Sorry! I’ll deduct one gold from my share later.”
I silenced her protests with captain’s authority. Scanned harder. Had to, or guilt’d eat me.
Two more trash encounters, same process, same results—frustration built. No damage, no loot, endured that gaze once more. Unlike main dungeon, no passive mentality drain standing still. Confirmed no traps, sat, ate. Hunger sated, minor HP recovery. Rested till Kaya’s post-meal prayer—then change.
Hiss—
“Kaya!”
“Captain!”
Mist of unknown nature spread in the straight passage.