Lisa

I woke up in my bed.

The voices of people on the streets echoed through the window, and a breeze of fresh, warm air brushed gently through my hair. I couldn't really remember how much I had been shifting around before finally deciding to get up and stretch.

My wife wasn't in bed, and the smell of freshly baked bread drifting up from downstairs made it quite obvious what she was doing.

"Honey? Breakfast is ready!"

Her voice was as sweet and soothing as always.

Every time I heard her speak, my heart skipped a beat, and my body tensed up with excitement.

Although we had been married for many years at this point, I still loved her as much as the day I met her. 

As I left the bedroom and stepped downstairs, my wife was already standing in the kitchen, just as I had imagined. Her brown hair was as smooth and silky as ever, and her emerald-green eyes slowly turned in my direction as her full lips curled into a smile. She placed one hand on her pregnant belly and hummed softly.

"You're finally awake, Renan?"

"Lisa, darling, you could try to wake me up next time," I said, sinking to my knees and placing my hand on her belly. I stroked it gently with my thumb, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my touch.

"You were sleeping so peacefully. I couldn't bring myself to pull you out of your slumber," Lisa replied with a soft giggle, placing her hand over mine. A surge of pride and warmth flooded through me, and the thought that the woman I loved most was carrying my child brought tears to my eyes.

"How is she doing?" I asked quietly, my eyes fixed on her belly.

"She's been getting quite active lately—much like her dad, huh?" Lisa teased, playfully swatting my arm.

"I doubt it's only her father who's this active. Besides... she'll probably want a sibling at some point, don't you think?" I stood upright, pressing a gentle kiss to Lisa's lips.

"Perhaps she does," Lisa replied, her cheeks flushing a soft red.

They are already here ?

A series of loud knocks echoed at the door. I squinted in annoyance, hoisted my luggage for the dungeon raid onto my shoulder, and secured my polished iron sword to my belt.

"Be careful, okay?" Lisa's voice was tinged with concern, her eyes flickering with emotion.

"Of course. It's all for our little girl. Once I finish this job, she'll even be able to afford university if she wants to when she grows up," I said with a reassuring smile.

Lisa nodded and smiled back, though her expression was visibly forced.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. Alex, my shady boss, was already waiting for me. His arms were crossed, and he let out a deep sigh of annoyance. "I told you not to keep us waiting," he grunted, pushing past me as he stepped inside.

"Sorry, Boss... I was talking with Lisa," I said, feeling a pang of shame for being so apologetic in front of someone so brutish. If it weren't for the good pay, I would've called Alex out in front of the guards by now.

"Whatever. We have two more people with us today. They're strong—strong enough to clear a platinum-class dungeon," Alex said, his smirk oozing confidence.

"Woah! How did you even manage to get their support? I mean, we're both struggling with silver-class dungeons," I replied, my curiosity now piqued. I've never worked alongside warriors this strong before.

"With a deal," Alex explained with a chuckle. "They get the dungeon and the entire loot," he added casually, already anticipating my reaction.

"What?! So we get nothing in exchange?!" I exclaimed, unable to believe Alex would agree to such a terrible deal.

"Of course not," he said, playfully patting my shoulder in a mocking manner. "They help us with the poor warriors who get lost inside this dungeon." As Alex spoke with nerve-wracking confidence, my face turned pale.

"Y-You want us to become gatekeepers?" I asked loudly, visibly shocked.

"Psst! Idiot! Don't say it out loud!" my boss hissed, clamping a hand over my mouth. The citizens on the streets of Cremia glanced in our direction for a brief moment before returning to their business.

"Just this one time, okay? Besides, everyone else is doing it. They just don't want to admit it," Alex whispered, his tone a mix of reassurance and guilt.

"You sure?" I pushed Alex back and took a deep, shaky breath, slowly calming my nerves.

Lisa would hate me if she knew what I was doing...

"Promise! Besides, half of the warriors here in Cremia are criminals in some way. Don't be too harsh. What happens in the dungeon, stays in the dungeon," Alex said with a pleasant smile.

"Fine then. Let's... just get this over with," I replied, my voice heavy with resignation. 

...

We arrived at the cave that, according to my boss Alex, was a platinum-class dungeon. However, I couldn't feel the slightest hint of magic emanating from it. "And you're sure this is the right place?" I asked, my tone skeptical.

"Dead sure! The two warriors even showed me this place in person," Alex explained confidently, stepping inside the dungeon without hesitation.

I shook my head and sighed, clearly not buying his explanation. But as long as he pays me, I'm not one to complain. "Where even are the two warriors?"

KRRTK!

No sooner had I finished my sentence than a towering warrior clad in gleaming armor appeared, wielding a massive morningstar. With a single, brutal strike, he obliterated a group of goblins, their lifeless bodies sticking to the weapon like glue. "Ah, Alex, is that your partner?" the warrior asked, his voice booming with authority. 

"Yes, his name is Renan," Alex introduced me, and I immediately felt humbled in the overwhelming presence of the warrior. His strength and confidence radiated like a force of nature, leaving no doubt that he was a platinum-class warrior.

I lowered my head respectfully, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's a pleasure to meet you..." I stammered, my words trembling under the weight of his aura.

"Eh, he doesn't look like much!" A thinner warrior, radiating a similar aura to the heavily armored one, stood beside his platinum-class partner. His slender frame was clad in high-quality leather armor, and the twin daggers he wielded gleamed as if they were crafted from pure jewels.

"Quit it, Levin. He'll be good enough," the heavily armored warrior, Kalka, said, his deep voice carrying a tone of authority.

"Whatever you say, Kalka," Levin sighed, rolling his eyes before turning away. "Just follow us and keep your head down, eh?" 

I gulped heavily and fell into step behind Levin and Kalka. Their confidence inside the dungeon was nothing short of mesmerizing. They chatted casually as if they were strolling through a marketplace, discussing their hobbies, what they'd spend their money on once the dungeon was cleared, and even debating which tavern in Cremia served the best ale.

"Urgh..." Alex moaned in pain, massaging his temples. The two high-ranked warriors, seemingly oblivious to his condition, continued to cut down monsters without breaking a sweat.

"You alright?" I asked, patting his back in an attempt to reassure him.

"Yes... I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy," he replied with a weak smile.

"Let's get this over with and leave as soon as possible, okay? I'm sure some warriors will be following us soon." I'd never seen Alex in such a bad state before, and it left me uneasy.

!!!

"Hold it! The boss is coming!" Kalka shouted, shifting into a defensive stance and using his morningstar as a makeshift shield.

"A piece of cake!" Levin chuckled, darting into the darkness of the cave with lightning speed. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but as I closed the distance between myself and the two experienced warriors, I finally caught a clear glimpse of their battle. Together, they effortlessly cut down a gigantic goblin master, their movements precise and devastating.

Wow...

"Alex, look! They took down the boss with ease!" I cheered, a wide smile spreading across my face.

"Huh... yeah," Alex muttered, his eyes saggy and tired. He looked like a walking corpse by now, his usual energy completely drained.

"Are you sure you're alright?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.

"Yeah, I'm doing great. Probably just a headache," he mumbled, his words slurring slightly as if even speaking required too much effort.

Levin and Kalka high-fived each other as the goblin master collapsed, its purple blood splattering across their weapons. "Ha! Good work!" Levin smirked.

"You too. You fought well," Kalka replied, his usually stern expression softening into a slight smile.

"Now, you two," Levin said, his gaze shifting toward Alex. "We'll be here for a week, and we don't have much in the way of provisions. If no one shows up, we'll open the gate and end the dungeon. That clear?"

His eyes narrowed as he noticed Alex's condition. "Hey, are you sick? Don't tell me you're a bronze-class warrior who can't handle magic this dense." Levin's voice dripped with annoyance.

I mustered all my courage and took a deep breath. "No! Alex is a silver-class warrior, just like me. Isn't that right, Alex?"

"H-Hm, yeah," Alex groaned weakly.

Levin let out a deep sigh and turned around, striding toward the gate. "Well then, follow us."

I helped Alex along during the walk, gently lowering him to the ground as we reached the final room of the dungeon. The golden gate loomed just a few inches away, its surface gleaming faintly in the dim light. "And now we wait?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

Kalka nodded, calmly peeling an apple with a small knife. "Exactly. Since you're both silver-class, you'll survive here easily for a week," he stated matter-of-factly.

"H-How long... could a bronze-class warrior survive here?" Alex asked, his voice labored and breathless.

"A few hours at best," Levin snarled. "That's why they're no good. With you, at least we have some kind of backup. But bronze-class warriors? Useless for gatekeeping." 

With a relieved sigh, I sat down on the ground, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. Even though Alex was sick, our chances of overpowering other warriors were strong as long as Levin and Kalka were with us. And with the money we'd plunder from the warriors we trapped, my daughter could fulfill her dreams and study whatever she wanted.

Kalka and Levin were chatting and laughing, imitating some famous warriors they'd once met. Despite being deep inside a platinum-class dungeon, I felt surprisingly safe with these two by my side. 

...! 

I closed my eyes for just a second, but the sound of a strange splattering noise forced them open again. At first, I thought a warrior had fallen into our trap... but my assumption couldn't have been further from the truth.

"KALKA!" The mighty warrior had been pierced by some grotesque, mutated monster. Its distorted body clung to the last shreds of fabric that looked eerily similar to what Alex had been wearing earlier.

My eyes darted to the spot where Alex had been sitting, only to find it empty.

Don't tell me that's... Alex?!

"H-He mutated! He mutated!" Levin screamed in terror as the grotesque form of Alex swung Kalka's morningstar with brutal force. Levin's slim body was sent flying across the room, splattering against the walls and floor in an instant, painting everything in a gruesome shade of scarlet red.

My heart felt like it had stopped beating the moment the monster's eyes locked onto me. I forced myself to stand, gripping my iron blade with trembling hands. Taking a deep breath, I summoned every ounce of willpower I had left, letting it surge through my body. "I'm sorry, Alex, but I can't leave Lisa alone!" I screamed, charging at him with my blade raised high, aiming a desperate strike at his head.

"URGH!" My attack was laughable at best. I barely had time to react before the mutated arm of the transformed Alex pierced straight through my body. Blood spilled from my mouth as I crumpled to the ground, his arm retracting with a sickening sound.

My vision blurred, and my breathing grew shallow.

So this is how it ends... huh?

Tears streamed down my nearly lifeless face as the world around me grew darker and darker. Through fading eyes, I could still make out the grotesque monster that Alex had become, sprinting toward the cave entrance.

Whoever might come... please... kill Alex...

My last breath escaped my body, and with the faintest flicker of life energy left within me, I whispered my final words.

"I'm sorry..."

Lisa...