3[Chapter 18: Dungeon Conquest!! Maybe?!]

Previous-[Olivia]

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The bustling sound of adventurers filled the air as I arrived at the gate to the dungeon.

"Woah, this dungeon business is booming," I muttered, taking in the sight of countless adventurers gearing up for their runs.

"Raiden, over here!" Eren waved enthusiastically, standing beside Leon. Tasuya was there too, though she was quiet, her long hair flowing gracefully.

"Good grief," I mumbled under my breath before approaching them.

When I glanced at Tasuya, I couldn't help but notice how stunning she looked today. "Tasuya, you look lovely," I complimented her.

She immediately turned red. "W-What's up with that all of a sudden?!"

"But you're not coming, right?" I asked, curious. "You said you wouldn't."

Tasuya huffed and crossed her arms. "I'm just here to monitor the dungeon from the control room."

"Fair enough. Enjoy your seat."

Suddenly, Eren jumped onto me, her energy as relentless as ever. "Let's gooooooo!!"

"Right, I'm going. Get off me already!" I pushed her off with a sigh.

Before entering, we grabbed our bracelets—essential for survival in the dungeon—and then made our way inside.

The first floor was packed with adventurers wandering through the maze-like corridors. The air was damp and carried the faint metallic tang of blood.

"This place has too many turns," Leon complained, looking annoyed.

"Don't whine so much," Eren chirped, walking beside him. "You've got me and Raiden, after all."

"Like I can count on you!"

Their endless bickering was starting to grate on my nerves when I suddenly caught a whiff of something sharp and coppery. My instincts flared.

"I smell blood," I said, stopping in my tracks.

"What? Where?" Eren perked up, immediately taking off in the direction of the scent.

"Wait, what are you doing?!" I shouted, running after her and dragging a protesting Leon along.

"Don't pull me so hard!" Leon grumbled.

When we arrived, the source of the smell became clear. A pack of enormous wolves was feasting on their prey—adventurers.

"Help... us..." one of the adventurers groaned weakly, blood pooling around him.

"Seriously? It's the first floor. How are you dying here?" I asked, incredulous.

"Just help us!"

Eren and Leon turned to me with wide, pleading eyes.

"Looking at me like that won't work," I groaned, crossing my arms. "You have resurrection bracelets. You'll respawn."

"It's not working!" the adventurer shouted desperately.

"Fine." I stepped forward, locking eyes with the wolves. They froze, sensing my presence, before slowly backing away with low growls.

"Woah, you didn't even have to fight!" Eren exclaimed, impressed.

I ignored her, crouching beside the injured man. "You're lucky I'm feeling generous," I said, tapping his bracelet. It glowed green, reactivating its functions.

"Now you won't die. Go back and heal yourself."

"But—"

"Go," I ordered firmly. With a triple tap on his bracelet, he vanished in a flash of light.

"Let's move on," I said, leading the group further into the dungeon.

As we fought our way through monsters, we eventually reached the tenth floor—a dark chamber with a massive set of ornate doors. The boss room.

Inside, a hulking wolf with spikes covering its body awaited us. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto us, and it let out a low growl.

Analyse.

Analyzing...

Saber Wolf. Rank: D.

"A Rank D boss at the tenth floor... This dungeon's standards are something else," I muttered.

"Eren, attack it!"

"Roger!" She dashed forward, her dual daggers glinting in the dim light. With a powerful leap, she slashed between the spikes, drawing blood.

The wolf howled in pain but remained standing.

"Not enough," I said, pulling a dagger from my belt. With a swift throw, it flew through the air and embedded itself in the wolf's skull. The beast collapsed instantly.

Eren let out a whistle. "You make it look so easy."

The boss dropped a Common Chest, which we looted. Unfortunately, most of the items were junk. However, the wolf's unique materials seemed valuable.

"That's enough for today," I said, turning to leave.

"Huh? But we just got here!" Eren protested, looking crestfallen.

"It's too risky to go further. We're not prepared."

"Fine..." she muttered, kicking the ground.

As we were about to leave, I noticed something strange beside the chest—a black cube with glowing red lines. It looked... alien.

"Huh? What's this?" I picked it up, turning it over in my hands.

Analyse.

Analyzing... Unknown Cube. Rank: Estimated to Common.

"Well, that's... weird."

When we returned to the surface and exchanged our loot, the receptionist handed us 2 gold coins and 14 silver coins. However, she refused to accept the cube.

"This doesn't belong to the dungeon," she explained.

"But I found it inside!"

"Regardless, it's not dungeon property."

I sighed and took the cube home.

Lying on my bed, I stared at the mysterious object, its faint glow reflecting in my eyes.

"What are you, exactly?" I muttered.

Suddenly, there was a knock at my door.

"Raiden," Emilia called.

"What is it?"

"There's someone who wants to meet you."

Confused, I walked to the entrance, only to find a woman standing there.

"Be careful, Raiden," Emilia whispered. "She's a demon. And not just any demon—the top-ranked one."

I froze. "Wait... Mino?!"

We moved to the living room to talk.

Mino sighed heavily. "I was exiled from the demon continent for disobeying Lucifer's orders."

"Damn that guy," I muttered under my breath.

"He took away my teleportation bracelet, so I had to travel here on foot. It took me four years," she said, rubbing her temples.

"Four years?! The demon continent and human continent are that far apart?"

"Yes," she said flatly.

I didn't even have time to process that before she dropped a bombshell.

"I've decided. I will be your servant!"

"What?!"

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Next: [Dungeon Conquest Continued...]

I want to make side story extra chapter between new one. So please stay tuned.