Chapter 12: Dungeon Posters.
They walked through the neighbourhood, entered a jungle, and kept walking for a few more minutes until they reached a place in the forest; the area was broad, as its floor was made of polished marble.
Two fountains stood on each side of the area; a few shops selling hunting-related goods, like potions and armour, were placed at each corner. People clad in armour, some wearing just robes, as if mages were standing next to each shop, were trying to buy some things.
A huge building with a floor-to-ceiling mirror was located in the middle of the area. In the mirrors, multiple people stood in groups of five. Some of them were mages, some were knights, and some seemed to be tanks and healers. They were nothing more than a typical party to hunt dungeons.
Sara and Ethan made their way inside the building. Ethan’s gaze swept across the area as he noticed huge bookshelves were kept alongside the walls; they carried books which radiated mana.
At the centre of the chamber stood a huge table covered with numerous documents and files. A woman stood on a chair beside it, wearing spectacles and a hat, her blonde hair falling around her face. Several groups had gathered around her as she went through their documents and signed them one after another.
Ethan observed that the documents pertained to various dungeon quests. The rewards usually included money, potions, artefacts, and dungeon scraps.
But Sara didn’t stop there; she kept walking forward towards a wall on which a huge wooden board was hung. Multiple posters which were related to the dungeon quests were spread across its surface.
Next to the board, two men and a woman stood. When Sara approached them, she crossed her arms and said. "Hey!!" A strange smile curled up on her lips.
All three of them turned around. The woman wore a round purple hat with a pointed top, decorated with golden engravings. In her hand, a wooden staff rested, its head glowing with a gentle yellow mana.
Her blue eyes matched her long blue hair, making her already beautiful appearance stand out even more. She was the first one to notice Sara. She quickly lunged forward and embraced her in a hug. "We were waiting for you, big sis."
Sara hugged her back, wrapping both arms around her as she gently patted the woman’s back. "As friendly as ever, Sylv."
’Big sis? She definitely looks around my age... does that mean? Wait!! What the fuck?!’ Ethan shouted inwardly.
Soon the remaining two men stepped forward; one was standing seven feet tall with an immaculate broad muscular frame.
He carried a long sword which was strapped across his back; his hair was messy, and his eyes looked heavy, as though he hadn’t gotten enough sleep the previous night. "Let’s finish this dungeon; I want to go back and take a nap."
A sigh left Sara’s mouth; she gently caressed her temple. "You’re always sleepy, Max. You spend time messing around during the night and always rant about useless stuff during work."
The other one was short, reaching around a male’s average height. He was wearing a white robe on which silver engravings were done neatly.
Specs rested around his eyes. His gaze remained fixed on the ground, while several pieces of jewellery adorned his body, each carrying symbols and designs that seemed to belong to a particular church.
"H-hello, Sister Sara." His voice stuttered slightly.
"Hello, Micah," Sara replied with a polite smile.
Then, she extended her hand and pointed it at Ethan. "This is Ethan, a friend of mine."
Max raised a brow in confusion; his arms remained crossed. "What is he doing here, though?"
"What do you mean? He’s going to attempt a dungeon with us."
"What?!" Max exclaimed out loud.
Max’s gaze trailed Ethan from top to bottom before he continued. "The way he’s built, the way he’s holding his sword... everything states that he’s just a new adventurer."
Ethan scratched the back of his head as he cut in between the conversation awkwardly. "I still am not an adventurer."
Those words landed differently on each member. Micah had grabbed the rosary and started chanting the name of God as his sweat trailed down through his temple.
Max’s expression darkened. First, confusion flashed across his face, quickly followed by disbelief. He couldn’t understand why Sara had brought someone who wasn’t even an adventurer yet.
Sylv didn’t say anything; her gaze trailed Ethan once before hugging Sara back in a deeper hug.
"Don’t worry, we’re not going to attempt something dangerous today."
The moment Max heard her words, his shoulders curled tiredly. "Here goes today’s fortune."
"Max, everything isn’t about loot. We are capable enough to do better dungeons, but right now we’re helping someone who can be our future party member." Sara explained.
"Sure, let’s do as you say. But don’t rant if that newbie dies in the dungeon."
Sara spared Ethan a glance before returning her attention to Max. "We will see."
Multiple dungeon quests were in front of them. Ethan glanced at the posters as he read them thoroughly.
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DUNGEONS AVAILABLE
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[Orc Village]
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[Suitable Tier: A]
[Distance: 14.8 km]
[Location: Crimson Highlands]
[Monsters: Orc Warriors, Orc Hunters, Orc Berserkers, Orc Shamans]
[Description :
[An orc settlement occupied by warriors and powerful shamans. The monsters fight in coordinated groups, which makes this dungeon suitable for only experienced adventurers. Defeating the village chief offers a chance to obtain high-grade equipment, rare mana cores, and valuable crafting materials.]
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[Stonefang Ogre Cavern]
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[Suitable Tier: B]
[Distance: 9.6 km]
[Location: Ironstone Mountains]
[Monsters: Stonefang Ogres, Ogre Brutes, Cave Trolls]
[Description :
[A vast underground cavern inhabited by massive ogres and cave trolls. Their overwhelming strength and durable bodies make direct confrontations extremely dangerous. Clearing this dungeon rewards adventurers with refined mana crystals, rare ores, and high-quality monster materials.]
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[Dire Wolves’ Den]
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[Suitable Tier: C]
[Distance: 6.4 km]
[Location: Shadowpine Forest]
[Monsters: Dire Wolves, Alpha Dire Wolves]
[Description :
[An enormous den occupied by numerous fierce dire wolves. Their speed, teamwork, and hunting instincts pose a serious challenge to unprepared adventurers. Those who survive can obtain beast cores, enchanted fur, and agility-enhancing crafting materials.]
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