Chapter 46: The Hidden Depths of the Dungeon
The morning sun cast a golden glow over the town as Rio stretched, feeling refreshed after a chaotic night. However, his moment of peace was short-lived.
He checked his purse—and froze.
"Wait… what?" Rio blinked. He turned the purse upside down. Not a single coin fell out.
Iris peered over his shoulder. "Huh. So we're broke now?"
Retina sighed, crossing her arms. "Looks like someone forgot to manage his expenses."
Rio groaned in frustration. "I didn't think we spent that much! The inn, the food, the hot spring—wait… Did you two order extra meals last night?"
Iris and Retina both avoided eye contact.
"…I see." Rio sighed. "Well, there's only one way to fix this. We need money, and the best way to earn it fast is by taking a high-paying quest."
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The A-Rank Dungeon Quest
At the Adventurer's Guild, Rio checked the available quests.
"Most of these don't pay enough…" he muttered. Then his eyes landed on one that stood out.
[Quest: Clear the Ruins of the Forsaken – A Rank]
Reward: 500 gold coins
"That's perfect," Rio said, taking the request.
The guild receptionist looked surprised. "Are you sure? That dungeon is dangerous."
Rio smirked. "Don't worry. I can handle it."
Retina and Iris exchanged looks. "You really picked an A-rank quest just like that?"
"Of course," Rio said. "Besides, it's just a dungeon. What's the worst that could happen?"
That was his first mistake.
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The Dungeon's Secret
The dungeon appeared normal at first—dark corridors, scattered traps, and waves of undead monsters.
Rio, Iris, and Retina cleared them effortlessly. "This is easier than expected," Rio remarked.
Eventually, they reached the boss room.
Inside, a massive Undead Knight wielding a cursed sword stood at the center, its red eyes glowing menacingly.
The battle was intense, but with a combination of Rio's sword skills, Retina's magic, and Iris's beast-like agility, they successfully defeated the boss.
Just as Rio was about to relax—
The ground trembled.
The walls cracked. A strange energy surged through the air.
A new system notification appeared before him.
[Warning! Hidden Dungeon Discovered!]
[You have entered a Double Dungeon!]
"…What?" Rio's eyes widened.
Suddenly, the boss's corpse was dragged into the ground, and the floor beneath them collapsed, revealing a dark abyss.
Before they could react—they fell into the unknown.
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