V2 Chapter 2

“…and that’s what happened. I’m not really sure what this is all about so I can’t really say anything other than that. So can you try investigating that Gravemark for me?” Rain asked.

“Of course we will do that. However, are you all going to be okay?”

Zarda’s voice came out from the phone’s speaker.

Rain was calling Zarda to report what was going on and provide necessary support as well as investigation on the grave mark. He especially wanted to unearth what kind of mysterious thing was buried in that grave mark…and what does it have to do with him.

Zarda immediately promised him to immediately provide support and even would come personally. The beautiful Medusa was even more worried about him and warned him to not leave the room they were in for the time being and wait for them to arrive. However, whether Rain and the others would agree would be another matter.

After talking with Zarda for a while, contrary to the beautiful Medusa’s order, the group decided to explore the place by themselves. Half an hour of staying and sitting in one room is something impossible for the hot-blooded trio—though Scarlet agreed with Zarda, three to one—the odds are hopeless.

Not like the poor her had some power to stop the group from whatever they are trying to do. Therefore, poor Scarlet can only sigh in helplessness as the trio step outside the room with excited expressions.

As they walked out of the room, they found themselves in a long corridor.

Rain couldn’t see the corridor very clearly because of the darkness which felt ---- emptier in front of them. There was a warm breeze, like a subway tunnel, though only it felt older more like ancient, and more dangerous somehow. However, that’s not what caught his attention. But rather, the blue screen that had suddenly appeared in front of him.

[ Notice: You are the first adventurers to enter the cave of the Great Hero who lies in slumber

Benefits: Basic Attributes increased by 20. Double experience for a week, 2x item drop rate. The first monster killed will drop a good quality item. ]

“Hm?!!”

His eyebrows slightly narrowed, and a trace of puzzlement flashed through his mind. After all, he felt as if he had been transported into a Virtual Game, and this somehow diverted all his known logic.

“Sylphy is this you?!”

[No, Master it’s not me. However, there’s an incredible force that existed in this Dungeon, and it had been turned into a new Law. A Law that had governed this place, this entire Dungeon. This kind of power, the ability to change the law of a particular place, it’s no lesser than a God.]

Sylphy said with a solemn voice. And although her voice still retained that emotionless voice that seemed almost mechanical, Rain who had been with her for a very long time had already been familiar with it. Thus, he was capable of understanding the emotion held within that tone. Shock. Surprise. And it was even much clearer and obvious than normal.

It seems like the power that this place, this Dungeon possesses truly shocks her.

[Though for some reason, it has some resemblance to my own nature, but…rather than copied from me... rather than being copied from mine, it’s like…]

“…you were made based on the law written here, am I right?”

Rain listened to Sylphy’s words, whose voice was getting lower, somewhat confused, and bewildered.

“Then, is the Dark Goddess Atria involves in this?”

Rain felt that his guess was more likely to be. Although he has some doubts that Gods and Goddesses truly existed, there are still many things and events that couldn’t be simply explained by reason or logic. And it would be more reasonable to say that they are the strings pulled by the Gods themselves.

As to what reasons they have to do something as troublesome as this, he didn't know.

And if the Gods truly exist, then his transmigration into this world was also their doing. Especially this Dark Goddess of Chaos; Atria, who had given him her blessings, and bestowed most of his powers. Though he ought to feel indebted to her, Rain felt more suspicious rather than gratitude.

One must not just eat what food was offered to you by strangers.

Every good will always has its own reasons.

“What’s wrong, Rain?”

Lafetti came over and asked worriedly the moment she saw them standing in there. Her sudden question snapped Rain away from his thoughts. But then again, he was somewhat bewildered. He was going to ask when suddenly Sylphy who seemed to have read his mind immediately said-

[Master, they don’t know about the Game features. They can’t see it]

“What? So I’m the only one who can see it?”

[Yes, Master. Though I’m not capable of reading the entire script of the Law, this kind of Law only works on Human Beings. Lafetti and the others are treated Monsters here, and thus, they are exempted from the Trial.]

“Trial… is that what this is?”

[Yes,]

Sylphy said with certainty.

[Although this is a Dungeon, it’s a bit different from a normal Dungeon. It’s a Trial by Fire, where humans can hone themselves and help increase their strength. This kind of Dungeon is commonly made by powerful human beings to find a proper and talented inheritor. Of course, to be able to change a Law like this, and even create Game-like Features for it, it’s a unique kind of existence in the world. Of course, I can’t say it’s unheard of throughout the history of the world, but only Transmigrators can do something like this. Those who came from the Master’s world, or at least similar world.]

“So you’re saying that this Dungeon is made by someone like me who had been thrown into this world?”

“I think, summoned would be the right word master.”

“Summoned?”

[Yes, after all, for someone like Master who had come from your world, and has the power to rewrite Laws like a God, there’s only one candidate that can do something like this…]

“And that is…?”

[The Ancient Great Hero; Arthuria R. Pendragon,]

Arthuria Pendragon?

That’s one hell of a dangerous name… don’t the author think about copyright at all?

“Rain, we have company,”

Once again, Rain heard Lafetti’s voice. But this time, it was more serious. He turned towards what she’s looking at his brows also furrowed.

Hideous creatures appeared in the corridor, and the moment they sighted them, they immediately rushed and charged towards them like rabid beasts. Every monster held a crude weapon, and every face they had held a repulsive look. These were the child-sized cave dwellers. Goblins.

“Goblins!!”

Rain turned around and glance at the others. Lafetti shrugged, while Granite grinned. Scarlet, on the other hand, can only let out a sigh. She thought she would finally be able to return home. But this sudden turn of events made her realized that home is still far away.

In this Dungeon, there would be no rest. That's what she felt. And she would be certain that it's not just a guess, but a reality.

“…we don’t have a choice, in any case, our party is all set, I say. A Tank, A fighter, A Thief/Assassin, And a Mage,”

Rain was grinning. He turned back his attention to the Goblins that were rushing towards them like hungry dogs seeing a pile of meat.

“Quite a fine balance for a Virtual Game, if I may say so.”

Of course, the Tank he said was Granite, the Fighter was Lafetti, the Thief or an Assassin was him, and lastly, Scarlet was the Mage. Her Fire Magic is something even better than an Elite Fire Mage.

Lafetti and the others look at him, not really understanding what he meant. However, they didn’t have any problem at all. Aside from Scarlet, Granite and Lafetti were in the hot-blooded and adventurer type. They are also somewhat curious and interested in this new, mysterious Dungeon. Therefore, they are eager to explore this place and see what kind of mystery it possesses.

“Let’s finish this, and explore this dungeon,”

When the Goblins was finally within ten-meter range, Rain slowly crouched down, and his fighting spirit boiled.

“Agreed,”

Lafetti grinned, and without waiting for the others, her tail coiled spiral, and before anyone could react, her body shot towards the enemies. The raging power she had unleashed had caused the broken rocks under her tail to flutter around, “Let’s deal with them fast!”

… …

A shrill scream echoed across the stone of the wide corridor inside the mysterious Dungeon. A goblin fell backward, a small knife buried in its forehead.

Without flinching, Rain kicked the corpse aside and went to kill another one.

“GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII”

Issuing out a piercing scream, the small Goblin headed towards him. But Rain only looks at it with a cold gaze. Then, without hesitation, he took a step sideways. Maintaining a form where only one Goblin's shadow could be hidden.

Rain took preparations to have a relationship where he had to defend against a single enemy. After dealing with the other monsters, it was now one on one. The Goblin that approached revealed numerous teeth while it swung the crude sword on its right hand towards him.

However, sadly for it, it was-

"Too slow,"

With a casual move, Rain swung his sword. Instantly, a brilliant purplish-blue light flashed and at the same time, the Goblin's crude, small sword bounced off, and 5 fingers also flew into the air.

“GEEE, GIIII!?"

After the shock, the Goblin immediately issued out a piercing cry. Rain took the opportunity and with the movement of the attack earlier, he rotated his body and sent a powerful roundhouse kick towards its chest.

“HIGE!?”

The light-weight Goblin that was kicked directly in the middle of the chest was simply blown away, crashing another Goblin that was angrily charging towards him from behind. The two Goblins were knocked away, crashing on the wall.

They let out angry cries while the other was already in its death throes.

The Goblin he had kicked was already dying, and could hardly move, its chest cave in, and perhaps even its ribs have been broken into pieces. After all, that kick was powered by Rain's skills, including [Hardened Skin] and [Enhanced Leg Strength]. The power of that seemingly casual kick was more horrifying than a kick of a horse.

The Goblin tried to struggle and pushed the dying Goblin crashing it, while its mouth keeps on speaking gibberish. But to his ears who had already understood its langue, his ears were assaulted by all kinds of profanities that somehow annoyed him.

With an irritated expression, turned his right foot as the axis and dashed with incredible speed, his figure seemed to have turned into a blur, charging towards the Goblin.

“ “ GIII!?” ”

The single strike from the sword pierced through the Goblins like a skewered kebab. Even in their crude, and tattered armors, they had perhaps picked up from somewhere couldn't stop the sword from penetrating through their flesh, and stabbing through the wall behind them. Their dying screams overlapped with each other, and Rain's favorite azure, silver rapier pierced through the hearts.

"...now, it's quiet,"

Rain let out a sigh.

"Jeez, their mouths were as dirty as their hearts. There's nothing that came from the mouths of these monsters other than dirty words and profanities. It's annoying. Then, he turned towards the others' fights and smiled faintly.

Without hesitation, he once again charged towards another group of rushing Goblins.

After a few minutes, the brutal fight was finally over.

Rain had never thought that he would get tired of fighting a Goblin but he did now.

The Goblins came rushing at them like a flood, and he felt as if almost over a hundred Goblins had been slain by him, not counting the others' kill counts. He ground his boot into the slain goblin’s cadaver. He was stained crimson with the monster’s blood, from his steel boots, knee pads, to the grimy steel gauntlet and leather armor that covered his body.

“That seems to be the last of them.”

Lafetti wiped the blood from her blade, a beautiful claymore that had recently been buried in a goblin’s throat. The flame of a fire spell that was burning a group of goblins wavered and the light danced over the carnage all around. The bodies were perhaps 90 percent goblin; the rest were the rotting remains of some kind of monsters and beasts, which unexpectedly, some looked humanoid looking at the clothes and skeletons all over.

And there, up ahead where the corridor split into countless branches, loomed a mysterious shadow.

“No… There’s something else.”

Rain that was still using his [Seismic Sense] skill to avoid being ambushed or sneak attack, suddenly caught something. As he spoke, he grabbed a long black thin dagger from his waist and throw it with all his strength. With a twang like a fine lute, the dagger sliced through the air. It arced, turning the corner as if it had a life of its own.

A moment later there was a high-pitched “Gyaa!” and then a heavy thud of something hitting the ground.

“That’s the last of them.”

“As always, your perception is incredible, Rain,”

Granite said with a wry smile, though her eyes were still flashing with an incredible astonishment and amazement.

“… Nice shot.”

“Is this a Goblin Nest Dungeon or something? Cause that’s one hell of a horde,”

Heel braced against the creature’s corpse, Rain reached down with his free hand and casually withdrew his sword from its skull. It was his beautiful and favorite rapier, but now it was drenched in the goblin’s brains and guts. He cringes from grossed out, and he hurriedly took out a clean cloth and started cleaning it.

“I think it’s because, they’ve been here for a long time already, trapped, hence, their number became larger. I don’t think this will be the last Goblin we will ever see today,” Lafetti walked over, and said with a wry smile.

“Ah, that would be…harder to take in, for some other reason. I don’t think I would want to see another Goblin face again…and they smell so bad,”

“Well, you get used to it,”

Lafetti giggled in amusement.

“That’s right, Rain…you’ll get used to it. You don’t know what I felt a long time ago when we had a war with the Western Goblins, that’s one hell of a long time looking at Goblin’s faces that I couldn’t eat much well, at that time,” Granite added with a wry smile.

“Anyway, you’re okay?”

Rain nodded his head. Aside from grime and goblin blood, there’s no problem at all.

“You’re saying a Goblin’s nest here would be very big?”

“Ah, and I think there might even be some Goblin Lord. That kind of monster is strong, though you best be careful if we ever found one. A Goblin Lord is not something easy to deal with like a Hobgoblin or Goblin Elites.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,”

Rain shrugged his shoulders. He then started walking towards a corpse leaning against the wall, and his brows furrowed. He nonchalantly propped up the body of a human-looking corpse. A bit of rotten flesh tumbled to the ground.

The corpse had been so well-chewed by something, perhaps monsters in this place that it was no longer possible to tell whether it was male or female, but he didn’t hesitate. Chain mail darkened with dried blood. A broken helmet. This was probably a warrior once. Their item bag had already been torn to shreds.

“This is a human adventurer, isn’t it? But why is there a human here?”

“Perhaps there is not one entrance to this Dungeon,”

Lafetti suddenly said as she looked around the corridor.

“Perhaps, there is some as well in some other places.”

A Dungeon like this commonly has more than one entrance to some other places. And one of them just happens to be in the Desolate Cave. Perhaps outside of the Desolate Cave, and was a bit closer to a human settlement, there is also one, hidden entrance as well. Though, judging from the lack of humans as well as trails left by them, it must not have been found yet. And these people are those unluckily found it by chance…getting trapped inside.

“What you said might be true—after all, this corpse has yet to have died for that long. I’m guessing, quite recently—maybe months,”

After speaking, Rain looked through everything the goblins hadn’t already stolen and took a long sword, scabbard, and all, from the body’s hip. He drew the blade and found a cutting edge with no rust at all. Perhaps it had been well-oiled?

“They must have been ambushed.”

Suddenly, Granite said as she inspected another corpse as well. One blow to the head most likely. Not even a chance to draw their weapons. The sword was too heavy and long for a goblin, but it wasn’t a bad weapon at all. It might have been bought with a large amount of money. It’s just a bit inferior to what Miyabila made.

“Well, for humans, that’s not surprising. Humans tend to underestimate Slime, much less a Goblin, not knowing what these little pesky monsters could do. And if this Dungeon has a Goblin Lord, well underestimating them is the worst thing you could ever do.” Lafetti said with a nonchalant tone. Nevertheless, even if there is a Goblin Lord here, it’s nothing they can’t handle.

Rain thought for a while, then he turned towards the Goblin Corpses. One by one, they started to shatter into countless colorful polygons, until the smallest bit of blood. It was an incredible scene to see like glassworks breaking.

“I see,”

“Hm? Is something wrong?”

Rain stood up, entranced by the scene. Then, he suddenly heard Lafetti’s voice and turned at her.

“It’s nothing,”

Lafetti replied with a smile.

“Look at there,”

Rain turned where she was pointing and suddenly saw several shining objects. His eyes widened in shock after recognizing them, and he excitedly walks over. These shining things were none other than items that are certainly not owned by goblins.

Gloves, Gauntlets, Boots, swords, Helmet, and many other things. They sparkled as if they were made newly. Then, this can only be one thing; “They are Drops… Monster Drops. Disappearing Monster corpses and leaving Drops, the one who made this Dungeon is truly a hardcore gamer,”

Despite a large number of monsters killed by them, aside from several monster parts such as Goblin Fangs, Goblin Eye, Goblins Nails, which seemed to be of use to Alchemy and Blacksmithing and other crafting professions, only twenty or so item and weapons drop.

Depending on this, one can easily surmise that the drop rate in this Dungeon is no joke. And most of all is that the quality of the items. Though they are made with better qualities, there are no magic items among them. They're all normal items made of copper or iron.

"Tension up~"

Nevertheless, Rain enjoyed picking up loots. He felt as if he was truly in a Virtual Game, and it made everything so much more fun than usual.

“We got to move on,”

Rain picked up whatever is left on the ground, as he had his backpack, whatever useful he could see, he will pick it up and throw it into the bag pack. After a while, they continued walking through the dim corridor.