It was early morning in the Diamond Depths, a dungeon claimed by an A-rank Guild now being cleaned and stripped dry for ore and mana‑shards after the hunters finished their work from ground level to ten levels deep.
Uniformed young men trudged through the cavern halls in–out, hauling carts of rubble and sweeping away monster remains.
Among them was Hannes, thin black hair tied into a man‑bun, dark underbags beneath his brownish eyes. His uniform was stained with dust, his body aching from the night shift, and he was ready to collapse.
One more run—haul the rubble, drop it off, grab another batch, then clock out. Han thought to himself.
"Monsieur worker!" someone bellowed, her voice being carried by the morning wind.
Han glanced around. He was the only one available, while the other cleanup crew pretended not to hear, rushing back to the entrance.
With a sigh, he forced a smile and approached a bulky woman seated arrogantly at a wooden bench meant for five. Just in front of a large white van. And a man made fireplace--meat being roasted on it.
Barbecue in front of a dungeon? Incredible..
He bowed slightly, leaning against his cart more so back ache he had than for respect. "Yes ma'am, you called. How may I help you?" Morning sun lingered over his sweat covered skin, there was nothing more he wanted than to drop dead and have some sleep.
"May I fetch the Guild tally for your usage?" He asked, hoping to drop her off his back and finish the shift already.
But she leaned back, her chair of carved stone creaking under her bulk, digging itself into the muddy grass. "You see, the problem is—" she began.
Han had his sleepy attention faltered. Beyond her, a red‑haired beauty sat at another bench, a faint morning smile lighting her face glancing at the two of them. That single smile was enough to lift his spirits, if only for a moment.
"Hey! Are you listening?" the woman snapped, her voice bouncing off the cavern walls. Hannes shook his head, trying to clear the fatigue.
Reality was cruel: the red‑haired girl was too enchanting, but he couldn't pay attention to her–instead his focus was needed in front of the whale–woman in front. "Ma'am, yes of course. So the problem… uh—"
He glanced at the scattered crystal shards over the table, and the ground. "More supplies? Our miners have just started desce–"
He guessed, civilians and merchants alike gathered often in front of newly cleaned gates, awaiting for monster shard morning sales.
"No!" she barked, her face darkening. "Are you deaf?! Bring me your overseer!"
Overseer. Hannes cursed inwardly. That bastard was probably snoring in his fortified office floor below ground area while miners and cleaners broke their backs in the depths.
He tried to stay calm. "Ma'am, the overseer isn't available. Please repeat your request so I can assist."
She sneered. "The problem is that the shards you're hauling are poisonous. Both the shards and the monster meat! You're endangering the whole city with your incompetence!"
Poisonous, my ass, Hannes thought. You wouldn't have pocketed so much already were they poisonous. Is this a scam or fraud attempt?
He didn't hold back. "Poisonous, you say? Yet you collected every shard all the same?"
He glanced at the table, there were multiple plates cleaned off, only purple essence being left behind. Monster meat. Then at the fire place and it struck-him "Besides, you ate some of the meat we're cleaning off on your own accord, not that we made you do it. We carry it out, civilians are free to take it and.. Roast it in your case?"
Not like we'd be able to mine or carry them if they were poisonous anyway!
The woman stiffened, then slammed her hands down, overturning the bench. Shards scattered, wooden plates dropping on the grass below.
Oi my back cracked for those damn stones, plus they're mighty expensive! If I had only one I could cover my rent for months…
He cursed at his overseer again, knowing they can't pocket any shards, even coming from rubble–If caught it would count as thievery.
"What do you mean by that, boy? Repeat it! Did you insinuate something?" Her voice was pure intimidation. Probably more offended by him saying no one made her roast up monster remains and eat. "Monster meat is a delicacy, did you not know that!?"
But Han had his gaze drift past her, back to the red‑haired girl. He raised and sharpened his eyes—not in defiance, but for a better view as she stood up, looking over at them with a worried sleepy gaze.
The woman faltered, flustered, and raised her hand to strike him, thinking his look was trying to defy or even intimidate her. But another hand caught hers.
An older voice cut in. "That's enough, ma'am. I'm the overseer of this site. I'll take it from here. Let's talk in my office just a floor below."
She smirked, but not before snarling at Hannes. "Before that, fire this un‑awakened runt first. I can smell his stench of powerlessness miles away. You let them touch our city's resources?"
Ironic, hah. So that's what it was about, you whale. Han thought.
"Dismiss him, or I'll leave and rally the town council. I'll demand the Guild be investigated, and your whole expedition will be shut down."
The overseer, cowed by her stinky aura, gave in. "You're fired," he said flatly. "Leave your uniform. Your pay for the last two months and severance will be wired."
"That is unfair!" a soft voice rang out. The red‑haired girl had raised her voice, her sleepy tone sharp with indignation. "That woman was causing a ruckus. The worker was nothing but respectful!"
Han though just nodded. "Alright. I'll be expecting my severance pay, then." He complied, shocking the nearby merchants waiting for the sale to begin, miners waiting for the morning shift exchange, and several civilians waiting for freebies much like the woman in front of him.
I'll sue this whole damned Guild. You'll see. Yeah. With what money though?.. No no, I'll make you grovel before me one way or another.
He left for the dungeon entrance, second floor below, to leave the uniform. Before leaving, he turned to the woman, who now wore a sinister smile. "Excellent choice," she purred.
The overseer nodded. Hannes flipped her off. "Go to hell, pig."
She pointed furiously, but the overseer already ushered her away. "This way, to my office."
*****
Hannes exited through the dungeon's rear passage into a dark, lonely back alley. He checked his cracked phone, sighed, and trudged home unemployed.
His mind was a storm, searching for meaning. What was the purpose of life? He thought.
The overseer had only needed an excuse. Perhaps they'd even conspired together.
Being un‑awakened in a world ruled by power was harsh enough. Worse still, he was a Gerart, a despised minority. The moment his overseer learned that, he wanted him gone.
As for his philosophical questions, not that it mattered a lot, it all boiled down to two things in his mind, sex and money. At the end of day though, he had neither.
What's the use of those questions anyway? I know the answer, not like I can act on it anyway.
And it's not anyone's fault either, at the end of the day I'm just a talentless piece of shit Gerart, without a system as well… If only I had one… Why wasn't it genetically inherited? My dad had one, so did my mom. Damn it all, to heaven and hell, am I supposed to live a flawed life until the end of the times as a miner.. Not even a miner, just a delivery boy. Janitor at best, tch.
That's just the way it is Hanshuu, it is what it is… Some are born with gold spoons, some with less than a dirt spoon.
Looking at his bank account he barely had 20 dollars, enough for maybe one meal. Though his boss promised him the two month's unpaid salary, and severance pay, he didn't bank on it.
Letting out a lengthy sigh he raised his head to see the street, only to his surprise his path was blocked by the same red haired girl he was just so drawn to the whole morning.
She's beautiful, but what am I supposed to say? Any philosophical question within him died out, his heart starting to race like a child excited to enter a toy's shop.
He wanted to introduce himself, before he could a sharp sound cut through his thought
[ DING! ]