Into the Dungeon's Traps
After receiving a few pointers from Karen, I linked up with Rikar and Kir, who were waiting at Rivil's gates.
"You sure you're good with that little gear? We're camping out, so we'll need more supplies..."
"Too much would just be a hassle." Truth be told, I'd stuffed all the small stuff into my subspace pouch and only kept the bulky bedding separate. Rikar I trusted, but this Kir girl? Not a hundred percent yet—so the subspace magic tool stayed under wraps.
"And Kir...?"
"Just call me Kir!"
"...You good carrying all that? Looks heavy."
"Hehehe... This bag's got a lightweight enchantment on it, y'know? Piece of cake!"
I shifted the topic smoothly, eyeing Kir with her massive pack strapped on. She thrust out her chest (which was pretty flat) and proudly showed off the enchanted gear like it was no big deal.
"Huh. Lightweight backpack, eh? Nice stuff. I hear they go for 5 gold..."
"Snagged it secondhand, but I still splurged big time!"
If it were me, I'd keep pricey items on the down-low, but Kir? She was flaunting her hand like an open book. Friendly vibe, sure, but wasn't her guard a bit too lax?
"Eh, I've heard all about you from Rikar plenty of times!"
"Speaking of, how do you two know each other? Doesn't sound like this dungeon run's your first meet-up."
I pointed out how casually she called Rikar "Uncle," and he gave a wry smile before answering.
"I helped her out once when she first wandered into Rivil and got lost."
"Uncle Rikar bought me food!"
Kir hailed from the Beastkin Federation, the beastkin homeland. She'd run off on a whim to see the world, drifting until she washed up in Rivil—broke and starving. Rikar spotted her, took pity as fellow kin, and treated her to a meal.
"So you're from the Federation too, Rikar?"
"Yep. You'll probably end up there someday if you keep adventuring. Pretty nice place to live."
"Then why come to Terra Kingdom?"
"Young blood's folly. Us beastkin have hot tempers and endless curiosity—plenty hit the roads wandering the continent."
That explained why beastkin were a common sight in human lands like Terra, unlike other races.
"Don't your families worry?"
"More than a few beastkin can't tame their wild side—even ones with families up and leave."
...Isn't that just ditching your kin? Still, learning about beastkin traits was kinda fun. Good crash course on other nations too.
And that chat wrapped up quick.
"We're here. That's it."
We'd trekked northwest from Rivil, spotting scattered adventurer parties along the way, until we hit this mountain range. Or... maybe "range" was off—more like a chunk sliced clean out.
"Weird-looking thing."
"Heard about 'em, but first time seeing a dungeon for real."
A massive structure squatted in the range's heart, terrain shearing off sharp as a knife—reeking of artificial design. Yet it blended eerily into the surroundings, unnaturally so. Creepy vibes all around.
At what looked like the entrance, guild-sent guards waved us over.
"Halt. Show your adventurer cards to enter."
"Here. You two too."
"D-rank party... Confirmed. You know the drill: stairs to lower floors inside. Floors 1 and 2 are open for exploration, but 3's restricted to authorized personnel."
"Got it."
Entry was a breeze—just flash the card and hear the warnings. As we passed into the dungeon proper, I muttered in mild surprise.
"Kinda unexpected. Dungeons are resource goldmines—figured someone'd monopolize 'em."
"Heard temples, clans, or nobles used to control them back in the day... But after some incidents, the current system's locked in."
"Huh. Like what?"
"One clan found a dungeon first, claimed exclusive rights—and turned out they were evil god cultists using it as a hideout."
...Evil god cultists. You again? Whenever something shady hits the continent, bet on those freaks.
"Guild history's got the treaties etched in—check it if you're curious. I ain't up on details."
"Not that big a deal."
We bantered idly with Rikar as we delved deeper, hitting a fork in the path. Kir, who'd been yawning through our chat, perked up, hopped ahead, and took point.
"Hold up, Kir! Running out front like that..."
"It's fine! Told ya, I'm the 'rogue' type."
"Rogue?"
Oh yeah—she'd been intro'd as a rogue earlier. If it matched what I knew...
"Over here!!"
Kir halted us sharp, scooped a hefty rock from the ground, and chucked it ahead.
*Rumble rumble—CRASH!!!*
"Ho."
"Whoa...?"
The rock cratered the floor, and the whole section collapsed.
"Traps, huh... Heard of 'em, but wild to see."
"Dungeons develop a will to repel intruders, they say. Pretty fascinating."
No human handiwork, yet natural traps everywhere. Stepping blind? We'd be mangled. I eyed Kir anew—she'd sniffed it out flawless.
"Heh! Whaddya think?!"
Her tail wagged as she puffed her chest—more cute than cool, but damn, that skillset ruled.
"Impressive. How'd you spot it?"
"Told ya, drop the formal talk!"
"...How'd you spot it?"
"Mom taught me! She was an adventurer back in the day—scouted paths and traps like this."
Rogue: Adventurer slang for pathfinders, trap detectors, scouts. D-rank parties rarely had specialists—most just swung swords. Never met a real one till now.
"Impressive."
"No other D-rank rogue matches Kir. Real pros get C-rank straight from the guild."
"That's what the guild sis said! Just need some achievements, and boom—C-rank!"
Damn. She was basically C-rank already, creds aside.
"Lucky to snag her as a teammate."
"Everyone who knows her skill was gunning for her on this dungeon run. But..."
"Uncle Rikar called first! And he fed me way back, so I'm teaming with him~!"
Kir's chops seemed solid—Karen's trap worries? Off the table. We skirted the reforming pit, chatting away, and soon spotted adventurers fleeing, arrows riddling their bodies.
"Fuck! Thought this dungeon'd be a jackpot..."
"Wasted pricey potions for this shit!"
No rogue? Tough luck. Past the trap zone, fewer parties than expected.
"Figured we'd see more folks."
"Dungeons are bigger inside than out. Our path alone was huge."
"But something else is here."
Banter with Rikar trailed off as I drew my sword from my belt. He raised his clawed hand in sync. Kir zipped to us, dagger in one hand, the other to her waist.
*Clank!!*
Battle-ready, shadows erupted from the dark with shrill cries—dozens of monsters.
I slashed reflexively before my eyes adjusted, bisecting the first. Green blood sprayed as I eyed the corpse.
"Rats?"
"Ratmen."
"Kyarrk!!"
Rikar cleaved another mid-leap, naming it. Then a swarm—over ten—poured out.
No panic anymore at mob ambushes. I gripped my black iron sword two-handed, stepped forward, pivoted on one leg, and swung in a full arc.
*Slaaash!!*
The blade shattered fragile bones, split hides—two down instant. As I spun for a third lunging at my back, a silver flash speared its skull.
'Not bad.'
Glanced at Kir—she grinned back, dodging fluidly, picking off ratmen one by one. Scouting aside, her combat was pro-level.
Back to it: I hooked a ratman's leg, tripped it, stomped—
*Crunch!!*
Ribs caved under my iron-plated boot, skin pulped. Karen's advice paid off.
"Grrraa!!"
Rikar roared wolf-like, beheading the last two. Fight over.
"Hoo."
Adrenaline fading, I exhaled. Kir bounced over, having dropped three.
"Whoa, Yuseong! You're crazy strong—like a beastkin!"
She stared wide-eyed at the ratman paste under my foot.
'Kinda overwhelming...'
What'd Rikar tell her? First-day vibes like we're old pals. Not complaining—a beauty like her (different flavor from Laila or Karen) being this friendly? Nice buzz.
"You two get along—good to see."
Rikar shook blood from his claws, knelt, and gutted a body. I crouched beside, whispering,
"Rikar, what'd you say about me? Why's she like this?"
"She's a good kid. Told her straight: the guy who smashed that evil necromancer in the sewers and saved me."
"...Sounds like a fairy-tale hero."
"Just facts."
Grinning teasingly, he rummaged deeper—yanked out a nail-sized crystal.
"Oho! Lucky start—magic stone right off!"
"That's a magic stone?"
"Wanna see? First one's I ever extracted myself."
He handed it over. Recent mana training paying off—I focused, sensing alien mana pulsing within.
Me concentrating eyes-closed? Rikar looked shocked.
"You can sense mana?"
"Kinda. Just started—still rough."
He eyed me impressed, then awkwardly shoved a gutted corpse my way.
"Then, Yuseong—if it's no trouble, check these for stones? Mana-sensers spot 'em easy, I hear."
Saves gutting empties. His gaze brimmed expectant. Kir, hearing, sparkled brighter—double the pressure.
'Let's try.'
Overwhelmed but game, I touched a corpse, focused. Novice me needed contact.
*Zzzzt...*
Faint flow tingled.
'Something... but not like the first stone.'
No lock-on yet—I piled bodies, checked one by one. One hit different.
'This...?'
"Think this one's got it? Heart area."
"Let's see."
Eyes gleaming, he sliced precise, yanked the heart—
*Roll...*
"It worked?"
Stone tumbled out exactly where I'd sensed.
"Ho! For real. Saves tons of time!"
"Waaah!"
Rikar praised, Kir beamed. Nice guys, but intense.
"Yuseong, if it's not too much, check the rest?"
"Sure."
Still dazed, I scanned all—only two stones total. Rikar grinned satisfied.
"Great opener. Even small ones fetch 5 silver."
"Let's hunt more! I wanna see you do it agai—"
Kir froze mid-hype, ears twitching, staring into shadows.
"...Kir?"
"...Someone's coming."
"...!"
Cheery mood tanked. Rikar pocketed stones, raised claws. I drew black iron sword, locked on Kir's direction.
*Step. Step.*
Footfalls approached—not one, but many.