Letdown

The goblin king, trembling as the humans approached, let out a pitiful cry. He gripped his rusted blade with shaky hands, his cowardice clear in every fiber of his being.

Lilith raised an eyebrow and turned to Gilion. "Is this normal?" she asked, motioning toward the pathetic creature.

Gilion scratched his chin. "It happens sometimes. Not all goblin kings are battle-hardened warriors. Some take the throne through trickery or inheritance. Usually, though, a king boosts the morale of their goblins, making them fight more brutally. This one, though? He just hid in his hut the whole time."

Maia stepped forward with a sly grin. "Want the honor, Lilith?"

Lilith blinked, taken aback. "Are you serious? This goblin isn't even worth striking with my mana saber," she replied, glancing at the shivering creature in disdain.

Maia shrugged. "Exactly why you should do it. It's your first boss, after all."

Sighing, Lilith raised her hand and conjured a small fireball with a flick of her fingers. The magical flame hovered briefly before flying toward the goblin king. The fireball hit its mark, igniting the goblin in flames. He screamed and flailed before crumbling to ash.

"What a letdown," Lilith murmured, her voice carrying just enough for the group to hear.

The group erupted into laughter, the tension of the battle melting into amusement.

"Wait a minute," Maia said, looking at Lilith in astonishment. "You can cast magic too? Just how strong are you?"

Lilith smirked and crossed her arms. "As strong as a platinum mercenary should be."

Jimmy clapped his hands, breaking the moment. "Alright, Lilith, cheer up! Now comes the fun part. There should be a treasure chest spawning in the center of the village and the orb to either take us back to the entrance or let us continue deeper."

The group turned their attention to the center of the village. As if on cue, a glowing chest materialized, accompanied by a shimmering orb of light. They walked toward it, anticipation in their steps, eager to see the spoils of their victory.

Jimmy inspected the chest carefully, his hands running over its surface and edges with practiced precision. After a moment, he nodded with satisfaction. "It's all clear. No traps."

Lilith tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face. "Traps? On a chest?"

Gilion chuckled, folding his arms. "It's rare, especially with boss chests, but it's not unheard of. Some dungeon rumors speak of secret bosses that can appear if you trigger a trapped chest. It's usually a test for experienced adventurers, but most of the time, boss chests are safe."

Satisfied, Jimmy lifted the lid of the chest, revealing its contents. Inside were a handful of medium mana crystals, gleaming faintly with energy, and a small dagger with an ornate, shimmering blade.

"Now, look at this," Jimmy said, holding up the dagger for everyone to see. The weapon caught the light, its craftsmanship far superior to anything typical goblins might wield. "This is a fine weapon. Could sell for a hefty price, or maybe someone here wants to keep it?"

Maia leaned in to take a closer look. "That's no ordinary blade. That's enchanted, isn't it?"

Jimmy nodded. "Yep. I can feel the faint magic aura on it. Definitely enchanted. Could be worth more than the crystals combined if we sell it to the right buyer."

Gilion stepped forward, examining the dagger briefly before glancing at Lilith. "What about you, Lilith? You've earned your share in this run. Want to keep it, or should we sell it and split the profit?"

Lilith considered for a moment, her gaze lingering on the dagger. "I think I'll pass," she said finally. "It's a fine weapon, but I have no use for it. Selling it sounds like the better choice."

Jimmy grinned. "Fair enough. It'll fetch us a good price back in town."

With the chest looted, Gilion turned his attention to the orb nearby. "Alright, everyone, the choice is yours. We can use the orb to teleport back to the entrance and call it a successful run, or we can continue deeper into the dungeon. What's the call?"

The group exchanged glances, weighing their options.

"Let's go back," Maia said, her voice steady but carrying a hint of weariness as she glanced at the other girls. Stella and Jess nodded in agreement, their tired expressions mirroring Maia's sentiment.

Jimmy chimed in with a grin. "Yeah, boss, let's head back. I'm starving, and I could really use a shower. Dungeon grime isn't exactly my favorite cologne."

Gilion's gaze shifted to Lilith, his expression thoughtful. "Lilith, in a group, the majority decides the course. But I want to hear your thoughts. What's your vote?"

Lilith crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the group before speaking calmly. "I'll follow the group's wishes. I'm only here because you invited me along, and it's been an enlightening experience. I can always come back later if I want to explore deeper."

Gilion chuckled, nodding in approval. "I had a feeling you'd be ready to press on if we decided to. You're full of surprises, Lilith."

Jimmy activated the orb, its surface glowing with a soft light as the teleportation magic engaged. A gentle hum filled the air, and within moments, the group found themselves standing back at the dungeon's entrance.

The fresh air of the surface greeted them, a stark contrast to the dense, mana-filled atmosphere of the dungeon. Maia stretched her arms high above her head. "Finally! I can't wait to hit the tavern and grab something warm to eat."

Jimmy nodded enthusiastically. "And a long, hot bath. I feel like I've got dungeon dust in places I didn't even know existed."

Gilion turned to face the group, his expression a mix of pride and satisfaction. "Good work, everyone. We cleared the first ten floors without a hitch, thanks to solid teamwork and effort. Lilith, you did great for your first dungeon run. You adapted quickly, and your skills are a real asset."

Lilith smiled faintly, her eyes glinting with determination. "Thanks, Gilion. It was a great learning experience. I'll be better prepared next time."

As they headed back to town, the group's chatter lightened the mood, the sense of accomplishment lifting their spirits. Lilith's thoughts, however, lingered on the deeper floors of the dungeon, a quiet anticipation building for her next solo venture into its depths.

As the group sat at a corner table in the lively tavern Maia had chosen, the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. Laughter and chatter echoed around them as they enjoyed a much-deserved meal. Lilith, sipping on her drink, decided to voice a question that had been on her mind.

"Oh, by the way," she began, looking toward Gilion. "Why didn't we meet any other mercenaries in the dungeon? Is it always this quiet?"

Gilion, in the middle of lifting his fork to his mouth, paused and set it down. "Ah, good question," he said, clearing his throat. "You see, not all dungeons work the same way. The one here in Haxorb is what's called a closed dungeon."

"Closed?" Lilith echoed, tilting her head in curiosity.

"Yes," Gilion continued, gesturing with his fork. "In a closed dungeon, when your group enters, the dungeon creates a separate domain just for you. That's why it felt like we were the only ones there. After about ten minutes, if no one else follows into the same entry portal, that domain becomes locked to your group, and no other mercenaries can enter. It keeps things organized and ensures groups don't compete for resources or interfere with each other's hunts."

"Interesting," Lilith said, nodding thoughtfully. "What about open dungeons?"

Gilion leaned back in his chair, his expression serious. "Open dungeons are a whole different beast. In those, anyone can enter, and groups often cross paths on the first few floors. Open dungeons are known for their lucrative loot but also for their high risks. Not just from monsters—"

"Thieves," Maia interjected, frowning.

"Exactly," Gilion said, nodding. "Thieves can hide in the lower floors, waiting for tired mercenaries. They ambush them, kill them, and steal their loot. It's why open dungeons have a reputation for being as dangerous as they are profitable."

Lilith tapped her chin, considering the information. "So, Haxorb's dungeon is safer in that sense. No other groups to worry about."

"Safer, yes," Maia chimed in, grinning. "But that also means fewer surprises, which can be a bit boring."

"Boring is fine by me," Jimmy added, raising his mug. "I prefer my fights straightforward and my loot unclaimed by backstabbers."

The group laughed, the camaraderie in their voices carrying a sense of ease and relief after their successful dungeon run. Lilith smiled as she listened, her curiosity satisfied for the moment, but her thoughts already turning to what she might encounter on her next adventure.