(6) Broken Record and Humiliation

A few minutes later after Kraton had died, the remaining 14 players left the dungeon and were instantly surrounded by the 25 players who had now been revived.

"Did you kill the Boss?!"

"Of Course they killed the Boss, idiot! Why else would they leave the dungeon?"

The first guy lowered his head in embarrassment, then looked up with wide eyes. "D-Does this mean we've done it?"

"Let's check the notice board!"

Everyone excitedly rushed towards the town center where there were five similar looking digital screens. Each screen displayed the records of every party that entered each of the five dungeons in this area. A specific board had a massive group of people crowding around it, muttering inaudible words to each other.

"Wow, imagine being the leader of such a group, they must be brave and shameless to take a record like this"

"I agree, I would have never thought someone would bring so many people just to get this record, even my baby sister could take part to claim this record"

As the 39 player group approached the scene, they heard some of the talk, immediately believing that they suceeded, the group proudly held their heads high and marched forward, sending smirks towards the other people.

"Hey, don't those people look like the ones on the board?"

"It can't be! Who would have the nerve to strut around the town after being so mm-famous? ... Oh they do look like the photos!"

Everyone was glancing back and forth between the pictures of the party members and the newly arrived group. Many of them looked shocked whilst others could be seen holding back laughter.

"Leader Dum, it seems we really did break the record! We're famous now, let's head straight to Crimson Flare and join!"

Leader Dum nodded thoughtfully, he looked very professional and calm, however, if you looked closely his eyes were smiling and hands were shaking from happiness. "Yes, let's go straight there, then we can spend more time celebrating!"

The group strode right past the notice boards and entered a grand building, this building was the admission headquarters for Crimson Flare, and naturally, there were many people inside, but only a few groups queuing up. One by one, the groups in front of the Leader Dum's party left dejectedly. The 39 couldn't help but send a mocking smile to each of the leaving groups, however, none of them seemed to care, a void filled their eyes like they had wasted their whole life and were doomed to die empty-handed.

"You here to sign up? State your party name and leader please. "The receptionist sweetly said, however it sounded more robotic than cheerful, her life at the admission desk was monotonous boring, she hardly looked up as Dum walked up to the desk.

"Party: United Numbers, Leader: Seimlich Dum"

The receptionist typed the details into her interface and then froze. She slowly lifted her gaze and her previously placid face could be seen to be suppressing a small smile.

"United Numbers, as in the one which completed Kraton's Burrow?"

"Yes, the very one," Dum said proudly, "We are honoured to join Crimson Flares"

"..."

"HAHAHA! Are you trying to make a fool of yourself?! Crimson Flares wouldn't dare accept a group like you" Unable to hold here laughter anymore, the reception burst out, clutching her stomach and resting her head on the table, leaving the group in front of her wondering if she became mad from being bored. It took a few minutes before she recovered from her laughing fit, only then did Dum ask, "Why won't you accept us? Did we not break the record? No.. we must have, otherwise everyone wouldn't be talking about us outside. It can't be... We're too good for Crimson Flares?! HAHAHA!"

The whole group started to join in the laughter, however everyone else in the room was staring at them blankly. 'Who are these idiots?'

The receptionist interrupted Dum from his fantasies. "There's no need to cover up your shame with laughter, no guild will accept you with this record so please don't make a commotion here"

"Huh? You said so yourself that we got a record, so how come you aren't accepting us!"

"Yes, we do accept any people with records... however your record will only make us look like idiots. United Numbers? I must say that I admire how all of you agreed with this plan and worked together, however Crimson Flares prioritises teamwork to keep our members alive, we do not treat each other as cannon fodder to get a record! Losing a level may not seem like much at your level, but later it becomes the difference between a weakling and a legendary figure."

"Cannon Fodder? Do not worry, we tried to make sure we didn't die, however we were just too unlucky with the Boss, and a lot of us got accidentally killed by stray blows. If we were to do it again, I can ensure you that we won't lose as much as we did today!"

"PFFFT! Of course you won't lose as much, you will be losing even less experience! Besides, how can your deaths be called 'accidental'? It was obviously all planned to get the record, such despicable and selfish nature!"

After hearing such accusations, the whole party became livid, "Selfish! How are we selfish, just because we took the record from the other group, we became selfish! Doesn't that mean your whole guild is made up of selfish pricks!"

Leader Dum's face was scarlet with rage, a mere receptionist called him despicable after claiming such a massive feat, was the previous record-holders her brother or something!

"We managed to clear the dungeon in under five minutes, and yet you call us despicable and selfish? Wait until I report you for being biased and rude to our group!"

"Under 5 minutes my A$$, your group took 5.20 minutes!"

"WHAT? But you said we got a record!"

"Here, why don't you look at what the record actually says" A small digital screen got shoved into Dum's face, after carefully reading it, and then re-reading it twice more, his face complexion paled, his eyes darted between the digital interface and the mocking smirk of the receptionist. A wave of emotions swept through his head; shock, anger, fear and embarrassment. He recalled the conversations at the notcie board and realised that they were all mocking him, he wasn't famous, he was infamous!

When the party saw their leader freeze, they quickly stopped swearing curses at the reception girl and peered over Dum's shoulder. A dumb looking knight read the information out loud:

"New Record for Kraton's Burrow:"

*Inhales deeply*

"Record Title: Kings of Cannon Fodder"

"Description: Out of 40 players, 25 players have died. 62.5% of the party has been killed by the boss alone. The record can only be gained with a party of 35 or more."

Record Holders: "Members of United Numbers party:

Leader Seimlich Dum, Knight Harshoe, Knight Patrick ... +37 others"

"EHHHH! S*$@, no-one is gonna accept me now! Screw you Dum! My life is ruined because of you!"

The party members took turns in cursing Dum and shouting out their anger. 5 minutes and 20 seconds later, Elite Guards stormed in to break up the commotion, fining each person 200 silvers and escorting them out nicely by throwing them into the streets.

On that day, the number of homeless people in poverty in the town of Florid Boulevard increased dramatically.