Chapter 24: First Dungeon Exploration

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Standing guard outside the Ashud Dungeon is one of our soldiers.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Young Master, take care.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Ben, make sure to be a shield for the Young Master!”

“What? So I’m just Toma’s shield now?”

“Of course.”

The soldier slapped Ben’s back with a loud whap.

“Ow, that hurt!”

“Do a good job.”

“Alright, I’m off then!”

Carrying a torch, we moved cautiously into the dungeon.

The mansion had records about this old tunnel. According to them, it’s about four kilometers long, with three branching paths. However, now that it has turned into a dungeon, the layout is reportedly entirely different.

In other words, we have very little information.

“Ben, initially we’ll encounter Long Rabbits and Slimes. Stay alert as we go.”

“Got it!”

Guided by the dim light of the torch, we proceeded cautiously. Passing the spot where I was previously attacked by a Long Rabbit, we came across a fork in the path that hadn’t been there before.

“Both paths converge deeper inside. Which way do you want to go, Ben?”

“Let’s go this way,” Ben chose the path on the right.

“There it is.”

“It’s a Long Rabbit.”

“Leave it to me!”

“Are you sure?”

“Heh, fresh meat has come right to us. I’ll eat it up!”

Ben really doesn’t waver, does he?

“If things get dangerous, I’ll back you up.”

“No need for that!”

Ben blocked the Long Rabbit’s charge with his shield, skillfully using his knee to absorb the impact—a solid defense.

“Take this!”

He swung his spiked morning star down onto the Long Rabbit.

Pikii...

With a sickening crunch, the morning star’s spikes pierced the rabbit’s abdomen, silencing it with a single blow.

“You’re strong, Ben!”

“Of course I am!”

Ben’s smile, as he flexed his muscles, was dazzling.

“Have you fought monsters before?”

“Hehe, my dad took me hunting a few times.”

So that’s why he could stay so calm.

“Well, I better show you something good too.”

“I’m watching.”

First, we bled the Long Rabbit and removed its organs. Using a dagger, I cut off its head, drained some blood, then opened its belly.

“Dealing with the aftermath takes more time than the fight, huh?”

“No kidding. Haha!”

Ben packed the Long Rabbit into the large rucksack he’d brought.

“Isn’t that bag too big?”

“I’m planning to hunt a lot. The more we catch, the more we can eat.”

That sounded so like Ben that I couldn’t help but laugh.

Moving forward, we encountered another Long Rabbit.

I nocked an arrow, drawing the string of my bow.

The Long Rabbit noticed us, its eyes glaring with a murderous red gleam.

Whoosh.

Pikii!

The arrow lodged in the root of its hind leg.

“Alright!”

I drew my sword and charged.

“Haah!”

Slash!

With a clean slice, I beheaded the Long Rabbit.

“Good cutting edge.”

“You’re saying that because you know it’s a sword crafted by Ben’s dad.”

“Haha.”

Ben laughed as he handled the aftermath of the Long Rabbit.

▽▽▽ Side: Baron Rob Ashud Roxfall ▽▽▽

My parents and my wife passed away from an epidemic. It was a hard blow, but I couldn’t abandon the people of my domain, so I managed to pull myself together.

Then, came a proposal to adopt the child of the former Marquis of Lightstar.

Though my late wife and I had a good relationship, we hadn’t had children. I wasn’t planning on remarrying, so I knew I’d need to adopt someday. But the idea of adopting from the Lightstar family was concerning.

My father once owed a debt to the Lightstar Marquis of two generations ago, but neither the previous nor the current marquis could be considered honorable.

After the death of that older marquis, there’s been almost no interaction between our families over the last twenty years, aside from exchanging formal greetings.

Since the marquis was my sponsor and a high-ranking noble, I couldn’t refuse outright. First, I needed to speak with the child. That’s why I traveled to Bald Territory, governed by the Lightstar family.

During my meeting with the Marquis, he demanded that I marry as well as adopt his child.

Leaving midway was not an option. I had no choice but to meet the prospective wife. It seemed she was his true objective all along.

The woman was one of the Marquis’s concubines. She herself revealed she’d been a slave with no memory of her origins.

The Marquis had assaulted Alyusha, who was once a slave, and she bore him a child.

“If you wish to refuse, that’s alright. I’ll find a way to live, whatever that may be. But if I could rely on your mercy, I would ask you to take care of my son, Toma.”

Alyusha prostrated herself, begging for her son.

Given the Marquis’s temperament, it was easy to believe they were mistreated. I asked around through my contacts within the Lightstar household, and I learned that both Alyusha and young Toma had indeed been poorly treated.

After meeting with Alyusha three times, I decided to take her as my wife.

Her love for Toma was clear, and she was a modest and respectable woman.

It happened a while ago, yet closing my eyes brings it back as if it were yesterday.

“Well, time to get through the unpleasant stuff…”

With a sigh, I arranged four letters on my desk: three from the Duke of Bayerlein, and one from the Marquis of Lightstar.

The Duke’s letters included one thanking me for the Horse King I gifted during the New Year greetings, another expressing interest in purchasing as much Horse King as possible, and a final letter praising its exquisite flavor.

The content was polite and filled with gratitude for our household.

In contrast, the letter from the Marquis of Lightstar demanded control over the dungeon, claiming we were incapable of managing it, and insisted on exclusive rights to the Horse King, claiming he would buy more of it.

His arrogant tone left me more exasperated than angry.

The Lightstar family has held a bond with ours for many generations, but this is beyond tolerance.

“It’s about time to cut ties.”

I’ll have to discuss this with my close friend, Baron Rittenheim.

Without delay, I began drafting a letter to him.