ID Chapter 34: Dungeon?

Estelle cast a gaze over the woods stretching endlessly. The occasional roars, the rustling leaves, the shadows hidden behind the giant trees—everything drilled a creepy sensation in her mind. As though one blink of an eye would be enough for a figure to leap out and bite her head off.

The danger of the unknown seeped into her brain. Her first journey into the Vanishing Forest was going to be memorable for a long time.

Her sister, Luna, always ventured deep into the forest to collect the ‘heart apple’ from the beast tribes. The very fruit that possessed enough vitality to yank a person from Death’s jaws. The scent of the fruit’s brimming vitality lured the Ancient Wild Spirit Beasts, or better known as the ‘The Old Ones.’ Lady Azar’s words kept them at bay. This time she didn’t just stop the beasts, she called them out of their lairs and retreated to the outer side of the forest with her fortress. When Estelle knocked on Lady Azar’s fortress for an answer, she was turned away by Lady Azar’s servants.

‘Something is happening with Lady Azar. Like she is forcing me to go inside the forest.’

She didn’t expect this from the ‘Scarlet Hope of Avalon.’

If only Luna didn’t need to attend the meeting related to the ‘Great Exodus’... Estelle sighed and looked back. The rows of knights clad in black armor cut stood out in the lush greenery of the forest… or rather tainted the beautiful scenery.

The weakest one rivaled a bronze-ranked explorer head-on, while the man standing in front beheaded a gold-ranked Revenant on his own. Even he and the other hundred soldiers couldn’t assure her victory. Still, this was the most she could get as most nobles were busy with the Great Exodus, and explorers were terrified to step this deep into the Vanishing Forest.

“Lord, did you find something?” Tyrell asked, his head swiveling all over the place.

Estelle opened her mouth to deny him, but a sharp metallic sound rang in her ears. Her father’s blade made the same sound when it cut through hordes of crypters and beholders.

‘Could it be that boy?’

She wanted to chase the boy and find out whether he was related to Dragon Queen, but her current mission was far more important than her research and amusement. Her father needed this vitality to survive. As the only pureblood of their kind, he had to live and carry the burdens of his clan.

“Let’s continue.”

They had to reach Brias before the blooming finished.

Estelle hoped the beast tribes halted the approaching storm of wild spirit beasts.

***

Ethan retreated to his humble cave and grabbed his bloody shirt still stinking with the silver spider’s blood. He rubbed the spear with the cloth, trying to clean the dirty stains from Regina’s favorite spear.

‘Much better… I can clean the rest at home.’

He could’ve washed it in the river nearby, but he couldn’t afford to pollute his precious water source with dirty blood.

“Will Lulu be okay alone?”

Lulu left with her tribe to gather information about the army that invaded the Vanishing Forest.

Alyssia gave an assuring rub on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Master. She is a genius in hiding. She discovered the dungeon and scouted information about spectral trolls on her own.”

Ethan laid the spear by the cave and slumped against the hard wall. Alyssia hopped on his lap and settled down.

“Spectral troll… what’s so special about them?”

“How do I describe it…” Alyssia scratched her head with her tiny paws. “They are paler, skinnier, and agile, unlike normal trolls. And their roars can produce wind blasts.”

“Are the wind blasts that powerful?”

“No, Master. They can barely push a small spirit beast such as me. But their roars bring chaotic noises with them, attracting other wild spirit beasts.”

“I understand now. So we wait for them to sleep and assassinate them one by one.”

“...Yes. Unless something explodes, the troll won’t wake up until morning. That is the only weakness of troll blood.”

He liked the plan of skirting around, assassinating spirit beasts for free level-ups. They might even increase his Wind Elemental Force.

“What can we expect inside the dungeon? What is a dungeon in the first place?”

The word ‘Dungeon’ referred to so many things in the fantasy genre.

“Dungeons… well, Master, you know about the war between human and spirit beasts, right?”

“Hmm,” Ethan nodded.

“The ancient spirit beasts used this forest as their base of operations. After they were defeated, some nests left by them had an abundance of essence crystals. Like, a wyvern nest became a mine of fire essence crystals, or a harpy lair started producing wind essence crystals…”

“The crystals with elemental force?”

“Yes. Though very little, they could increase elemental force.”

“And?”

“These crystals also improve a spirit beast’s potential. Sometimes evolving their spirit organ. So naturally, every spirit beast flocked to these nests. Perhaps, because Lord Brilliance used to live here or by some other miracles, some nests developed a consciousness. These special nests, dubbed ‘Living Dungeons’ asked for spirit beasts’ protection in exchange for giving them essence crystals.”

These Living Dungeons knew about exploiting others with their gifts. Somehow, Celia’s mother, Marienne’s face popped up in his head. The dungeons and Marienne were both business freaks.

“Uh, Master. Lady Azar and Dragon Queen recreated the living dungeons in major cities to let explorers level up in a safe environment called ‘Monster Lair.’ Otherwise, the Vanishing Forest was a spot for explorers to level up… Some people still do come here just to explore the depths of this forest.”

The adventurers abandoned the "adventure" for the sake of safety.

(Yeah. Sounds like something people would do.)

Ethan lightly rubbed Alyssia’s cheeks with a finger. “So we are after the crystals in the dungeon?”

“Yes~. I suspect this one has wind essence crystals, or the spectral trolls wouldn’t guard it.”

“That’d be cool. I’d get spirit beasts to kill, and the crystals as a bonus. It’s a win-win scenario.”

“Not only that, Master. The living dungeon also hides,” Alyssia paused and her blue eyes glowed in the dim cave. “Treasure!”

Ethan dazed momentarily. Alyssia never seemed so lively talking about anything.

“You piqued my interest,” Ethan said with a chuckle. “Tell me more.”

“Some dungeons hold on to the things left behind by explorers… armor, weapons, gold, it could be anything!”

“Armor, I really need one. Gold might come in handy later… Is that the currency of the Dracad Empire?”

“Yes. Bronze, gold, and silver represent the lower side, and amethyst shards used exclusively by the Royal Family and their relatives.”

Before another question popped into his mind, Lulu rushed inside the cave. She spread her arms wide, making exaggerated gestures while saying something that only Alyssia could understand. Alyssia folded her arms on her chest, nodding at Lulu’s story.

“Master, it’s the Black Legion from Eclipse Duchy, the one under my son… It is led by a scary black-haired woman with dark crimson eyes.”

“Dark crimson…” Ethan muttered, recalling the eyes that chased him through his first void travel. Was she the Lord? Could it be that they were here to chase him?

‘Impossible. Who deploys an army for one guy?’

“Master, don’t worry. They headed directly into deheeper areas. If they wanted Master, they’d search the area near the goblin caves.”

Alyssia suppressed his concern with a logical statement.

“Reasonable enough. Still, keep an eye out. You never know what happens.”

“I shall.”