Venti: "If only someone could come and give me the perfect quest."
GGGGGGgggggggggggggggg
Suddenly, the usual hubbub of the guild was interrupted by the heavy creaking of the front door.
A gradual silence settled as several adventurers turned their heads at once.
Venti: "......"
A knight had just entered.
His armor bore the marks of many campaigns:
- Fine scratches on the metal plates.
- Slightly worn corners.
- And a tabard in the city's official colors, carefully maintained despite its wear.
His posture was straight and disciplined, and his gaze swept the room with seriousness.
He took a few steps forward, stopped in the center of the hall, and then raised his voice.
The knight: "Guild Adventurers, listen to me."
Silence fell almost completely.
Even those who had been talking loudly just moments before stopped speaking.
The knight: "We are seeking help for a dungeon a few hours' walk from the city."
He announced.
The authorities need volunteer adventurers for an internal reconnaissance.
A murmur immediately rippled through the room.
The knight: "However."
The knight continued.
The knight: "I prefer to be clear from the outset."
"This mission is voluntary."
At these words, several adventurers gritted their teeth.
Adventurer #1: ".......................... "
Adventurer #2: ".......................... "
Adventurer #3: ".......................... "
Adventurer #4: ".......................... "
Adventurer #5: "......................... "
Adventurer #6: "......................... "
Adventurer #7: ".......................... "
Adventurer #8: ".......................... "
Some crossed their arms, others looked away, clearly uninterested.
A dungeon always represents a real danger:
- Traps.
- Unknown monsters.
- Unstable structures.
Without a financial reward, many saw no point.
The knight: "No direct payment will be made."
Confirm the knight.
However, any discoveries made inside artifacts, information, materials can be reported to the Guild according to the usual rules.
The reactions subsided.
A few experienced adventurers thought seriously, drawn by the prospect of exploration.
Others shrugged, already returning to their own affairs.
Venti, however, remained motionless before the quest board.
Venti: "A dungeon."
The word immediately resonated in his mind.
This wasn't a simple cleaning or delivery mission.
A dungeon meant the unknown, ancient mechanisms… and above all, perfect opportunities to test and develop his skills.
Venti: "Volunteering."
"Huh…"
He thought.
He glanced briefly at the scrolls hanging before him, with their modest rewards of 2,000 to 4,000 mors.
Then he turned his attention back to the knight.
Venti: "I don't even need to eat or drink…"
"And the money, for now, I'm not using it."
But most importantly…
Venti: "A dungeon."
"It's exactly the kind of place where I could truly understand the extent of my powers."
FFFFFFffffffffffffffffffff
The wind seemed to stir slightly around him, imperceptible to the others.
Venti: "Heh, heh."
Venti gave a faint smile.
Without speaking, he moved slowly away from the painting and turned fully toward the knight, already curious to know what kind of dungeon awaited those who would have the courage or audacity to enter it.
The knight waited a few seconds, making sure everyone had understood the announcement, then folded his arms in front of his breastplate.
The knight: "Well."
He asked firmly,
The knight: "Who volunteers for this expedition?"
A heavy silence fell immediately.
All eyes turned away.
Some adventurers pretended to consult the quest board, while others feigned drinking or chatting amongst themselves.
No one seemed in any hurry to risk their life on a mission with no guaranteed reward.
Then, slowly, a hand went up.
The knight: "Hmm?"
It was Venti's.
His gesture was calm, almost natural, as if the decision were self-evident.
He didn't hesitate. A dungeon represented danger, certainly, but also a unique opportunity.
And deep down, the wind was already whispering that he had to go.
After him, a few other adventurers raised their hands in turn.
Faces marked by experience or, on the contrary, by a certain naiveté.
They weren't many.
A handful at most.
A total of four other hands went up.
The contrast with the rest of the room was striking.
Whispers immediately arose.
Adventurer #1: "Seriously… for absolutely nothing?"
Adventurer #2: "Are they crazy or what?" Adventurer #3: "Look at that kid in the bard's outfit… he won't last five minutes in there."
A mocking laugh echoed near a table.
Adventurer #4: "They're signing their own death warrant," someone murmured.
Adventurer #5: "A dungeon, without pay… might as well throw yourself into a ravine."
Venti heard the murmurs.
Yet he made no comment.
His gaze remained fixed on the knight, calm, almost detached.
The mockery slid off him like a light breeze.
After all, they had already doubted him at the guild, during his test… and yet, he was still there.
The knight carefully observed the volunteers, then slowly nodded.
The knight: "Very well."
He declared.
The knight: "There aren't many of you… but it's enough."
His gaze lingered for a moment on Venti, intrigued by this young adventurer with his unmartial appearance, yet undeniable determination.
The knight: "Those who raised their hands, come forward."
"I will explain the details of the mission."
As the volunteers advanced, the murmurs continued behind them.
But for Venti, these distant voices no longer mattered.
Before him lay something far more interesting than a simple quest:
A dungeon… and perhaps, a step closer to the truth about himself.
Facing the five adventurers gathered before him, the knight straightened slightly, adopting a more formal posture.
His tone changed:
Less that of a simple announcement, more that of a man aware of the danger he was about to describe.
The knight: "Listen carefully," he began.
"A dungeon is not an ordinary place."
"What you will face inside does not always follow the rules of the outside world."
He paused, making sure everyone was focused.
The knight: "Dungeons operate according to an ancient principle."
"Once you cross the threshold, the space within is unstable."
"The rooms may seem close, but time and distance are distorted within them."
He raised a finger, as if to emphasize a crucial point.
The knight: "Inside, you will progress from room to room."
"Each room is sealed until the enemies within are defeated."
"Some contain simple monsters, others organized groups… and sometimes, creatures far more dangerous than anything you are used to."
The knight's expression deepened.
The knight: "Enemies can appear suddenly, summoned by the dungeon itself."
"Slimes, Whopperflowers, Abyss monsters, or variants empowered by the dungeon's energy. The dungeon adapts to intruders."
He took a few steps, his boots echoing softly on the guild floor.
The knight: "Between certain rooms, you will find mechanisms":
- Elemental switches.
- Seals to activate.
- Moving platforms.
The knight: "A mishandling can trigger traps or summon more enemies."
Then he added, in a calmer voice:
The knight: "At regular intervals, you will encounter resting points."
"They allow you to catch your breath, sometimes even partially restore your strength."
The knight: "But don't rely on them too much; these points are never guaranteed."
One of the adventurers swallowed hard.
Venti, on the other hand, listened attentively, memorizing every detail.
The knight: "Finally."
"The heart of the dungeon."
"The final room usually houses a major enemy, a guardian, or an entity linked to the energy of the place."
"As long as this creature remains, the dungeon remains active… and you won't be able to leave freely."
He crossed his arms.
The knight: "Once the core is neutralized, the dungeon will temporarily stabilize.
"You will be able to retrieve what is inside… then leave."
"But be careful."
"Staying too long after victory can be dangerous, as the residual energy becomes unpredictable."
His gaze swept over the five volunteers.
The knight: "That's why this mission is voluntary."
"The rewards are uncertain, and the risk is real."
"Some of you may not return."
Another silence fell.
Venti, however, felt a familiar excitement rising within him.
A dungeon meant combat, certainly, but also new experiences.
Situations where his skills, even those he had never tested, could evolve.
FFFFFFFFFFffffffffffffffffff
The wind stirred lightly in the room, as if silently approving the decision. which he had already taken.
At the mere mention of the Abyss, a shiver ran through the group.
Some adventurers exchanged meaningful glances, others averted their eyes, as if the word itself were enough to conjure up painful memories.
Monster of the Abyss
The Abyss was not just a rumor or a distant danger:
It was a force known to warp beings, corrupt elemental energy, and break the spirits of those who ventured into it unprepared.
One of the volunteers clenched his fists, visibly nervous.
???: "The Abyss…"
He murmured.
???: "They say those who return from it are never truly the same."
Another adventurer took a deep breath, trying to mask his stress behind a forced smile.
???: "Perhaps ".
He replied.
???: "But if no one goes, this dungeon will continue to threaten the region."
The knight observed their reactions without interrupting them.
He knew this moment of hesitation was inevitable.
The Abyss had this reputation:
Making even the bravest doubt.
Venti, for his part, remained silent.
He felt a slight pressure in the pit of his stomach, not of fear, but of a strange familiarity.
The Abyss
The word "Abyss" resonated within him in a way he couldn't yet explain.
Bbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrr
His adventurer's crystal vibrated faintly, as if recognizing something… or anticipating what was to come.
He observed the other adventurers one by one. They were afraid, that much was clear.
But despite None of them backed away.
Finally, one of them nodded resolutely.
???: "I accept."
"Even if it's dangerous."
This gesture seemed to break the tension.
The others followed, one after the other, some confidently, others after a brief hesitation.
None of them mentioned a reward.
At that precise moment, it was no longer a question of morals, but of responsibility… and perhaps pride.
Venti raised his hand calmly.
Venti: "I'm in too."
He said simply.
The knight offered a faint smile, a mixture of respect and relief.
The knight: "Very well."
He declared.
The knight: "In that case, prepare yourselves."
"From now on, you are considered a temporary squad."
"What you see in this dungeon… remember it."
"And above all, trust one another."
A few minutes later:
As the decision was sealed, Venti felt the wind stir slightly around him, imperceptible to the others.
A premonition crossed his mind:
This dungeon would not be a simple volunteer mission.
It might be the beginning of something far greater.
A few moments later, Venti and the four other adventurers found themselves seated around a large, solid wood table, slightly worn by the years and the countless missions discussed there.
The guild was lively, as always:
- The clinking of tankards on the counter.
- The hurried whispers of strategies.
- And the nervous laughter of those trying to hide their apprehension.
Yet, around this table, the atmosphere was different.
Calmer.
More subdued, too.
They all knew why they were there.
The knight had slipped away to prepare the formalities, leaving them alone so they could get to know each other.
.........................
A brief silence fell, each discreetly observing the others, unwittingly assessing their future dungeon companions.
???: "......................".
??? : "......................".
???: "......................".
???: "......................".
Venti: ".......................".
Finally, a robustly built adventurer spoke first.
He wore reinforced armor, marked with numerous gashes, evidence of past battles.
???: "Well… I guess I'll start."
He said, clearing his throat.
???: "My name is Bram, a former mercenary."
"I mainly wield a heavy sword and I can take a fair amount of damage."
"If anything big comes charging at you, let me go first."
He crossed his arms, confident, but his gaze betrayed constant vigilance.
To his right, a young woman with fair hair slightly raised her hood.
A catalyst hung from her belt.
???: "Lyra," she replied calmly.
"Elemental mage."
"I specialize in ranged combat."
"I prefer to avoid close combat… so I hope Bram will keep his word."
A slight smile crossed her face, but her fingers nervously fiddled with a pendant, a sign that she wasn't entirely at ease.
The third adventurer, more reserved, leaned slightly forward.
He carried a finely crafted bow.
???: "Kael."
"Scout."
"I can spot traps and attack from afar."
"If the dungeon is like the ones we've heard about, we'll have to be vigilant in every room."
His gaze was sharp, constantly moving, as if he were already mentally mapping the place.
Finally, the last of the group, an older man with a weathered face, nodded slowly.
???: "My name is Eron."
"Alchemist and versatile fighter."
"I can heal, weaken enemies… or improvise, if necessary."
His tone was calm, almost reassuring, like someone who had seen worse.
All eyes turned to Venti.
He blinked, slightly surprised to be observed like this, then smiled gently before speaking.
Venti: "I'm Venti."
"A recent adventurer... but versatile."
"I mainly use wind-related and support abilities."
"But..."
When it was finally his turn to explain his role, Venti took a discreet breath and carefully chose his words.
He had no desire to draw attention to himself, nor to arouse suspicion about the true extent of his abilities.
Venti: "I think it's best if I take a support role."
He stated calmly.
The other adventurers turned their heads slightly toward him, attentive.
Venti: "My skills mainly allow me to enhance the abilities of my allies and weaken those of the enemies."
He explained, remaining deliberately vague.
Venti: "Nothing spectacular for now."
"Their level isn't very high, so I prefer to stay back and help where I can, rather than seek direct combat."
He shrugged gently, as if it were perfectly normal.
In reality, Venti knew perfectly well that his powers could become much more dangerous if he pushed them further.
But drawing attention to himself, especially in a dungeon connected to the Abyss, wasn't a good idea.
It was better to observe, learn, and progress slowly.
Bram nodded. He nodded his head in agreement.
Venti: "Good support often makes all the difference."
"As long as you can strengthen us or slow down whatever is attacking us, I'm perfectly happy with that."
Lyra gave a slight smile.
Lyra: "That's reassuring."
"Dungeon battles can quickly descend into chaos without someone to stabilize the situation."
Even Kael, usually taciturn, nodded briefly.
Kael: "As long as you can cover our backs, that's enough."
Venti relaxed slightly. His role was accepted, without any unnecessary questions.
Inwardly, however, he made himself one promise:
- To carefully observe each fight
- To use his skills with precision
- And to improve them without anyone noticing.
Venti: "This dungeon might be dangerous… but it also represented a perfect opportunity to become stronger, in the shadows."
A few hours later:
With the preparations complete, the five adventurers climbed into a sturdy carriage, designed for long journeys beyond the city walls.
The dark wood of the vehicle still bore the marks of previous trips, and the horses, calm yet powerful, tapped their hooves gently on the ground, awaiting the signal to depart.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap
The horses' hooves pounded against the ground as they pulled the carriage.
The carriage slowly lurched forward, leaving the cobblestone streets and heading towards the main gate.
Chapter 28: The dungeon for five people
The End