Chapter 54: Let's Conquer the Dungeon

"Hey, don't be hard on them. Sorry about that but we need a place to rest. You won't mind, right?"

"Don't joke around do you think leaving us back there was alright?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"We don't need you."

"Get out of here."

"That's right we were doing our best to survive but you are taking advantage of us."

"You hear them. We can't"

"So what?"

"Huh?"

The leader of the dungeon raid group suddenly changed his tone to a cold one and this surprised everyone as this change was sudden.

"See here I am a C-rank hunter and with me here you should be thankful my presence can deter low-ranking minsters for you."

"That's true you know."

"Why can't these weaklings understand."

"Use your brains will you."

"Yeah, that's right why are you so against us here?"

Along with his change of tone, the group became even more aggressive. Then a sudden scream could be heard.

"Ahhh!" The big man who talked last apparently stepped on one of the civilians sleeping.

"Hey, get your feet off him."

Concerned a person who is a member of the group who protected the civilians told the big guy to move his foot out of the person's hand.

"Huh, what's the matter stepping on the hand of a weakling? He said as though stating the obvious."

"How could you?"

"Don't you have a heart?"

"Get off of him."

Seeing the number of people telling him to stop stepping on the man's hand, the bug man made a decision.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm taking my foot now." As the big man slowly left his foot, he slammed It hard again." Not!"

Then the guy he was stepping on yelled even harder than before.

"AAAAaaaahHHHh! "

"Wha-."

It was then clear to them that these people didn't care about them. And that they were just doing what they wanted.

"Look here man you do what we say and things will be okay so just ease up a bit and help us will ya?"

Looking down at them, the group who left had a conniving look as they swaggered inside the cave as if they owned the place.

And seeing how brutal they were the civilians were scared for they thought they would be the next victim.

"By the way, we are going to hunt down, but I need a civilian for this, don't worry we will return from time to time."

Then seeing the reaction of the people in the cave the leader of the raid group smiled and told them the purpose of why they were here.

"Not like I can guarantee the safety of the person though." 

"You can't get away with this."

"Oh, I can and after conquering this place we might even be rewarded as heroes."

"Yeah, that's right so cut us some slack and let us borrow some of these guys here. Oh, look what about this guy here he seems able."

"Oh yeah."

"That will do."

Looking down on them they started to examine every civilian and decided to choose a feeble-looking man.

"Hey, stop! Why are you even doing this?"

"As I said it is for conquering this dungeon. Right now, it is just forming so if we explore this early, we might be able to conquer it since it just forms."

"Yeah, that's right."

Isn't it obvious already?

"Come on man you just have to stay quiet and do as you told."

Seeing their way of doing things, especially their actions the leader of the protection team could only utter his thoughts from their actions

"You guys are crazy."

"Hey, watch what you are saying, or else."

Looking down on them the group was so blatant with their uncaring words. But also, don't want to be dissed. They had a double standard attitude with the current situation and they thought of themselves as special.

Thinking that there is no other way the leader of the protection group volunteered to be their bait instead. 

"Wait. You guys just want bait, right? I will do it so let the civilians go."

"You can't sir."

"Yeah, that's right."

"We need you here."

"How could you guys do this?"

Hearing his words made the members of the protection group feel fear and tried to stop his departure.

"Oh, really but I thought these disposable pawns would be useful."

"Enough! I am going to be at your bait so let the civilians go, please."

With no choice, the leader of the protection group bows down to the raid group. And seeing this the other members of the protection group could not utter a word as they also felt the graveness of the situation.

"Ugh fine, I will let you in. Acting like he has no choice the raid group accepted his offer to join them in their raid."

As the talk was going to be concluded a guy from the raid group said.

"Let's also bring that man he seems to be a useful bait as well."

He said as he looked at the seemingly injured man, yes, he specifically chose the assassin.

"Not a bad choice. Hey, you are willing to join us." Intrigued by his group member's choice he called out to the assassin.

"Ah, yes, I would like to."

"Good then follow us."

"Y-yes sir." As though he was forced, he stood with a shaking leg for all to see.

"Sir, you are injured."

"Yeah, you can just decline these bastards."

"That's right."

Worried about the injured assassin's health the civilians help on getting him up.

"No worries I can do this so please let me."

"What a brave man."

"But."

"Don't worry I can still move plus this could also be my atonement for leaving my team earlier."

"No, it's not your fault."

And seeing his condition the protection group and the civilians voiced their concern to the assassin. But he kept on insisting and said that it could also help them as he failed them before by losing his team.

And annoyed the leader of the raid group called out to them to move fast and not delay anything.

"That's enough we don't have all day to come here so we can get our formation straight."

"Y-yes coming."

Moving with great difficulty the assassin arrived at the group. With that, the group left as they headed down to conquer the dungeon.

At their back are the worried figures of people who seem to be worried about their leader and assassin who joined the dangerous task. Not knowing that two individuals were smiling at the sight of each other.

~~~~At The Secret Passage~~~~~

Currently, there was a pile of corpses that ranged from E to C-rank monsters. The group who hunted them down was Jayven and the two other people with him.

"Wow to think you could hunt these C-rank monsters so fast are you already at the Mana intent stage?"

"Yeah, that's got to be it you defeating these creatures should be proof right?"

"Not to mention you saving us from a rank A assassin. You got to be at the mana intent stage."

"Yeah, I am so could you please help me here?"

"Oh sorry, we will continue helping with the looting."

"Sorry, sorry."

Not denying their claims Jayven said the truth about his strength reaching the mana intent stage. At the same time asked for their help in taking care of the loot as they were just standing there like a statue.

Right now, they are exploring ways to get back up as they don't want to stay here for long. But then as if an idea came to his mind Clark said something out loud.

"By the way, this dungeon is downwards right does that mean we can conquer this place? –Ouch! What was that for?"

"It is because of your crazy thoughts. Do you think we can conquer this place with just the three of us?"

"But look at Jayven's strength he is strong enough to take down multiple C-rank monsters by himself. In addition, this is a newly formed dungeon so this has got to be weak right?"

"You idiot! We can't do that. Dungeon monsters get stronger and stronger as we go down even if it is a newly formed dungeon, it is clearly above average. This could be a B-rank dungeon if not A-rank at worst."

"But-."

"No buts."

Clara who seems to be knowledgeable about the dungeon told his cousin that his idea was trash. and that is likely impossible to happen.

But Clark wasn't the only one who thought of conquering it that's right the person with them who was hunting the most monsters gave his own opinion as well.

"Let's conquer this dungeon."

"See Jayven agrees with-. Wait what?"

"Are you for real Jayven?"

The two cousins have different reactions one being surprised while the other being excited. But understanding Clara's thoughts Jayven explained.

"I know what your concern is Clara but we can't go back up now."

"Why we-. Oh, you're right."

"That crazy assassin is there."

Realizing their predicament, the choice of the three was already set.