The Dungeon's Sole Conqueror (1)
"Why are we heading back to Trappala Port again?"
"It's the closest to our destination."
"And where's that?"
"Migad."
The seafaring city of Migad. The bustling trade hub of the Vhia Sea, where all sorts of merfolk gathered. It was ruled by Illar, the thirty-third son of Rambul, the king of the Vhia Sea region.
"Isn't Migad only for merfolk?"
"They allow humans in too, apparently. Though they're not exactly welcoming."
A very long time ago, the pegasus Sesiah had been captured—for the first and only time in history. The one who first snared the world's fastest divine steed was Erkness, known as the messenger of the North Ice. The lasso he'd used to catch Sesiah was in Migad, in the possession of its lord, Illar—the Erkness Lasso.
"There are so many merfolk."
A few hours later, we'd arrived in Migad by ship. Getting off the dock and into the city was a ordeal. The area in front of the city teemed with all sorts of merfolk resembling sea creatures. There were so many bizarre, uniquely shaped ones—some looked strong, others like chatterboxes.
Sophia and I calmly stood in line amid the crowd.
"You two humans?"
We nodded to the seahorse soldier holding a spear.
"Humans."
"Cause any trouble in the city, and be prepared. Humans get double the punishment compared to merfolk."
"Why's that?"
"Humans cause so much trouble and run off. We need someone to take responsibility—a merfolk guardian."
"Ridiculous."
I raised both hands and clicked my tongue. Sophia hurriedly spoke up.
"There are plenty of merfolk around. Why not ask one to be your guardian?"
"Doubt they'll agree..."
"I'll do it. Be your guardian."
A voice chimed in from behind. Turning around, I saw a beautiful woman with red hair. It was the mermaid princess I'd seen at the gate earlier. Dressed in an elegant gown, she walked toward us on two legs.
"I happened to spot you earlier. You caught my interest for some reason. It's a first for me. Have we met before?"
I almost mentioned seeing her in the sea last week but shook my head instead.
"Dunno. Feels like first time to me."
"Right? So strange."
She tilted her head thoughtfully, chin in hand. That's when I remembered the charm bead I'd absorbed from the prince recently. Kinzen had said back then:
'I deciphered the runes on the bead. It has the latent power to make merfolk fond of you. Drink it, and it'll be yours.'
So this total stranger mermaid taking an interest in me out of nowhere was thanks to the charm bead. Perfect.
"You'll really be my guardian?"
"I will. Until the tournament ends."
"Thank you."
And just like that, I was officially entered in the dungeon conquest tournament.
Thirty minutes later, the tournament began. Over two hundred participants—mostly merfolk, but some humans like me. Among them, a very familiar face stood out.
"Well, if it isn't Sir Naru. You here too?"
The Adventure Empress, Aquina. Who would've thought she'd show up here with her party.
"Not close, but nice to see a familiar face in a strange place."
"Your guardian?"
"Guardian? Paid one, and they stuck."
Aquina pointed with her gauntleted hand toward the crowd. A dolphin-headed merfolk girl was there.
"You. What's your real goal here? What's in this dungeon for you?"
Why ask that? I brushed it off vaguely.
"Heard no one's cleared it, so thought I'd give it a shot."
"Bet on who clears more floors than me, then."
She grinned, but her smile carried thick hostility and wariness. The fierce glare she'd given me at the Laphone family party a few days ago hadn't been my imagination. Had I done something to her without knowing? I couldn't think of anything.
Unlike her sharp edge, I stayed calm and even-keeled.
"Why are you here? Doesn't seem like you're just conquering for fun."
"Pure dungeon conquest. See how far I can go with my party. But you—this another commission from the queen?"
"Here for fun. Not a commission."
"Fun? Pfft. Hero's got nothing better to do."
That's when someone shouted from the front.
"It starts now! Get ready!"
With that, a portal formed in the arched magical structure—the dungeon entrance.
"Let's go!"
"Yeah!"
The participants roared and charged into the massive portal. Aquina and her party swiftly followed.
I moved right after.
'Hang back at first. Once the numbers thin out big time, that's when I go solo for real.'
That was all that filled my mind.