Chapter 9: Solcrest’s Unwelcome Committee

The mist faded behind them, and sunlight finally broke through. Solcrest's towering stone walls peeked over the horizon, maybe a half-day's walk away.

"We made it!" Aria cheered, exhausted but relieved.

Garth wheezed. "I'm never walking again. Someone carry me."

Ren yawned. "Yeah, I'll get right on that. Maybe tomorrow."

[Quest Progress: Reach Solcrest — 98% Complete]

Ren smirked. "Almost there."

Aria gave him a suspicious look. "Why do I feel like something horrible's about to happen?"

Ren blinked. "Why would you think tha—"

Before he could finish, a new notification popped up.

[Urgent Quest Activated: Solcrest Siege]

[Objective: Defend the town gates from incoming raid]

[Enemies: 200+ Bandits, Level 20-35]

[Bonus Objective: Protect Solcrest's Lord ] [Reward: ???]

"...Oh," Ren muttered.

Aria groaned. "You just had to jinx it, didn't you?"

---

They barely made it to the outskirts when the sound of chaos hit them like a wave. Smoke curled from the distance, and Solcrest's massive gates were shut tight. Bandits in mismatched armor swarmed the perimeter, shouting and ramming a battering ram against the walls.

A burly, scar-faced man at the front barked orders.

[Enemy Leader: Captain Bragus]

[Level: 35]

Bragus grinned, raising his jagged axe. "Tear the gates down, boys! Solcrest falls today!"

Ren scratched his head. "So... should we, like, help or something?"

Aria stared at him. "Yes, Ren! We should absolutely help!"

Garth raised a shaky hand. "Counterpoint: what if we didn't?"

Ren grinned. "Garth's got a point."

[New Passive Activated: Reluctant Hero]

Increases EXP and rewards for helping out while pretending you don't want to.

"Well, I guess now we have to," Ren said, sighing dramatically. He stepped forward.

The bandits noticed them immediately. One scrawny guy pointed. "Hey! Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Ren blinked. "Me? Oh, I'm just passing through." He paused. "...But if you guys could all group together for a sec, that'd be great."

The bandits looked confused — and angry.

Bragus snarled. "Kill 'em."

They charged.

---

[Skill Activated: Tactical Procrastination]

The first wave of bandits tripped over their own feet, skidding into each other like a human avalanche.

Ren tilted his head. "Huh. That's unfortunate."

[Enemies Stunned: +3 Style Bonus]

A second group rushed him, blades raised.

[Lazy Dodge Activated]

Ren leaned back just slightly — enough for them to miss. The nearest one swung too hard and smacked his buddy in the face instead.

[+5 Agility]

[+2 Schadenfreude Bonus EXP]

Aria gawked. "This is insane."

Garth nodded weakly. "Yeah. Insanely lazy."

The remaining bandits hesitated, watching their comrades groan on the ground.

Bragus growled. "Useless idiots! Fine — I'll do it myself!"

He stomped forward, axe swinging.

[Boss Fight Initiated: Captain Bragus]

[Danger Level: High]

Ren glanced at him lazily. "Eh. I've seen scarier."

[New Skill Unlocked: Passive Aggressive Taunt]

Automatically enrages enemies while sounding like you're not trying.

Bragus' eye twitched. He roared and charged.

Ren waited.

[Skill Activated: AFK Counterstrike]

Automatically counters the first physical attack received while stationary. Bonus damage increases the longer you stand still.

Bragus swung his axe down.

Ren didn't move.

The second the blade connected..

CRACK.

Bragus was launched backward like a thrown ragdoll, crashing into a wagon.

[Critical Hit!]

[Boss Staggered!]

Ren stretched, yawning. "Man, that looked exhausting."

The remaining bandits stared in horror. Some dropped their weapons.

One guy pointed, trembling. "I-I think he's a demon or something."

Ren smirked. "Close enough."

[New Title Unlocked: "Demon of the Lazy Dawn"]

Enemies are 20% more likely to flee before combat starts.

---

With their leader out cold and Ren still looking like he didn't care, the bandits scattered.

[Solcrest Siege: Completed!]

[Rewards: 20,000 EXP, +3 Levels, 500 Gold, ??? (Reward pending)]

Ren blinked at the last one. "Huh. Wonder what that is."

The gates groaned open. A man in elegant armor, presumably the lord, stepped out. He looked around, stunned.

"You… saved us?"

Ren scratched his head. "I mean… technically?"

The lord stepped forward, offering a small pouch of gold. "Please, take this reward."

Ren stared at it. "Oh, cool."

[Quest Reward Modified by Lazy Hero Title]

Reward Doubled for Minimal Effort: 1000 Gold Received

Aria sighed. "Why does the world keep rewarding you for doing nothing?"

Ren grinned. "Guess it likes me."

The lord cleared his throat awkwardly. "If you're heading into Solcrest… be careful. There's talk of something darker stirring in the ruins nearby."

Ren tilted his head. "Darker how?"

The lord hesitated. "Whispers of an ancient dungeon awakening. A place no one has returned from."

Ren stared blankly for a second. Then he nodded. "Cool. Not my problem."

Aria groaned again. "It's absolutely going to be our problem, isn't it?"

Ren smirked. "Probably."

They walked through the gates as the sun began to set.

Behind them, smoke rose from the distant hills — far too dark and thick to be natural.

[Main Quest Updated: The Dungeon Stirs]

Objective: Uncover the truth behind the awakened dungeon.

Ren sighed. "Yeah… definitely our problem."

---