The previous chapter was a bit bad for me, and it somehow made me feel discouraged. Plus, I've been busy, which has kept me from releasing a new chapter. I'm really sorry to all the readers.
***
"Ahh… A great sleep with a rock for a pillow, making my neck ache, and the air here is freaking cold. Another reason to hate dungeons!" Kai woke up, stretching, causing his joints to crack loudly.
"Uhhh…" Reito rubbed his eyes, looking at his calm face. It seemed like he was already used to sleeping like this.
The others woke up too, and they didn't seem to have any issues with their sleep. Am I the only one complaining?
Looking over at the girls' tent, they had pillows and blankets, everything needed for a good night's sleep. So jealous.
"Get ready, we're moving out," Irilia approached, said to us guys, and then walked off.
I sighed and checked the stuff in my backpack. The battle ahead might be important, but I still have more pressing matters.
Brushing my teeth! Clean teeth are essential! Take note, kids reading this novel.
Wait, who am I even talking to?
"Kai, let me join you," Reito came over, holding his toothbrush and a cup of water.
After our conversation yesterday(?), Reito's gotten closer to me since I'm also someone come into this world. Long story short, it's easier to talk to someone from the same hometown.
We both brushed our teeth thoroughly, packed up, and headed to Irilia's spot.
"Hey, Reito," I said.
"Huh?"
"If anything happens, just tell me. I'll help you out."
"…Thanks?"
Irilia saw that everyone was ready and pulled out a plan. No more scouts this time—too many sacrifices already.
Now she wanted a team that moved slowly but steadily, with Vokath leading the way. Mages and archers would stay in the middle, and we'd keep watch, observing our surroundings and reporting anything we saw.
"Good luck, Kai~" Violet patted my shoulder.
"Don't get hurt too much…" Kanna said, worried.
"Don't do anything stupid. I need my meat shield," Irilia said bluntly.
"Don't die. I need your blood," Vakoth stared at me.
I really want to stay away from these people.
"Well… Do your best, Kai," Reito cheered me on.
Hmph, as expected of my little brother's friend. I'll treat you well.
And so, the group ventured deeper inside…
…
"Hmm…" A figure emerged from behind a rock, observing calmly.
"So we just let them go ahead?" Another figure appeared, scratching his head.
"What else? Right now, we need to find that thing, and we don't know where it is. Following these guys is our best bet."
"But… that team leader has sharp eyes. She keeps looking at our hiding spot," he said, hand on his chin, thinking.
"Why not just kill them?"
"Idiot, what do you know?" The first figure walked to the rock and smashed it, shattering it into pieces. "For now, we stay hidden. I have a feeling she's really strong. Better to play it safe than take risks."
He then grab the rock, put it in the air.
"Let's go."
Both of them climbed onto the floating rock, moving slowly.
***
"Shark, are those the people you're bringing along?" Guild Girl looked at the two of them.
"Yeah, and they want to experience the Dungeon once. Seems like the Abyss is not enough to satisfy them."
"So, what are your names?" Guild Girl asked.
"THE THUNDER!"
"That's not a name."
"Fineee… Baron."
"Alright, and you?"
She turned to Guild Girl and smiled.
"Just call me THE FIRE."
"Ma'am, I need your actual name, not a nickname."
"That is my name."
"You don't have to lie to me. No one's parents would name their kid like that."
"Oh, there is. Someone's named Hero Hunter. Sounds pretty cool."
"Ma'am… Okay, fine, whatever. So, where are you two from?"
"Blue Sky Academy."
Guild Girl turned to look at Shark.
"Hey, they asked me to bring them, and they're strong. No need to worry about them getting hurt."
Shark stepped forward, pulling out the mission paper.
"Because of her mistake, a group of people went to that dungeon. Not sure how long they'll survive, but save as many as you can. Still, I hope the students from your academy are alive."
"Is that so? I want to know who those are."
"Here." Guild Girl handed the paper to both of them. They looked at it.
And they saw a very familiar name.
"KAI?!"
Suddenly, the two looked at each other.
"You know him?"
"Well… kinda, sorta."
"So… are you two going?" Shark asked.
"Absolutely, someone I know is still in there!" Baron said, clenching his fist.
"Sigh, why does that guy always get caught up in weird stuff?" the girl sighed.
"Good, let's move out!"
***
"Achoo!"
"What's wrong?" Someone near him ask
"Nothing, maybe someone said my name."
"Stop!" Irilia shouted, and the group immediately halted.
They looked ahead and saw some strange traps.
"Kai, go first."
"What?! Why me??"
"Your survival skills are better than the other useless ones. Report anything useful."
"I hate this job."
Gritting my teeth, I moved forward, observing carefully.
"This trap… It looks like a web trap?"
Well, well, I should be thankful for the time I spent working. It taught me a lot, and it's coming in handy now.
I examined the other webs and cautiously touched one.
"Nothing triggered? So, this is a trap that activates with strong force?"
But why design it like this? A simple trigger trap would be enough to kill, wouldn't it?
Hmm…
I picked up a rock from the side and tossed it forward.
Nothing happened.
"Hey, if you can't do anything, step aside," Vakoth said impatiently.
I glanced at Vakoth and realized I had an idea to test it!
"Vakoth, try stepping through the webs. Everyone else, back off."
Hearing this, Irilia ordered everyone to follow.
"Irilia? You seem to trust him?" Violet asked.
"It's not trust. I'm just observing. I never judge a book by its cover."
As Vakoth stepped into the middle of the trap without touching any webs, I threw rocks at spots I found suspicious.
Most of them didn't trigger anything.
"Well, that's a bit reassuring. I thought it'd be a more complex trap."
Now, only the web remained. I asked Vokath to grab it.
Vakoth touched it, gripping it, and his eyes widened.
He looked at his hand—blood was dripping from a sharp cut.
"It's that kind of web? So, we just need to pass through without touching it?" (why your finger still not bleeding?)
Unbelievable. If that's the case, what's with the trap on the ground? It's tied in a circular pattern, like it's meant to grab someone's leg…
…huh? Wait a second.
I took off my shoe and placed it at the trap's position.
The moment I did, the ground traps suddenly started moving rapidly.
Vokath flinched as the trap caught his leg.
"It's a motion-sensing trap! This high-tech?!" I realized, but it was a bit too late.
Vokath was dragged toward the webs.
"Damn it!" Vokath tried to swing his spear, but the trap's pull was faster than his weapon.
"Reito! Use your skill!" I shouted. Reito nodded and raised his hand.
A black hole appeared behind Vokath, pulling him back.
Blood sprayed from his leg, and it was sliced in half.
The severed leg went through the webs, getting cut repeatedly before stopping in the middle.
Immediately, a spiked trap crashed down right where the group had been standing moments ago.
"…" Kai turned, sweating as he watched the spiked trap being pulled back up.
What kind of bastard designed this trap… torturing someone and killing the whole team at once?!
Alright, B-rank Dungeons are tougher than I thought.