It was late at night when Rayos returned to this land.
The sentries were on duty with the magic tools, ‘Night Vision’ and ‘Magic Sense’.
They sensed a vast amount of magic power near the town.
Using ‘Night Vision’ to its maximum, they looked in that direction.
They visually confirmed the appearance of a large rock.
Several people rushed to the scene on horseback.
The rest reported to the town’s influential figures.
These influential figures had been unable to sleep soundly, worrying about the safety of the Tou brothers, who were descendants who had delved into the dungeon.
The influential figures asked the sentries who came to report, “Rather than such a report, what’s happening inside the dungeon?”
Just then.
A messenger, flustered, reported that the village in front of the dungeon entrance (which the influential figures had not allowed them to build) was under attack.
The influential figures exclaimed, “Why now of all times…”
If the descendants inside the dungeon returned,
They would be grilled about the village’s security and the town’s response.
If they were displeased, their heads would literally fly off.
The influential figures issued an urgent request to the Adventurer’s Guild.
To subjugate whoever was attacking the village in front of the dungeon entrance.
The reward was five times that of bandit subjugation.
A generous offer.
Immediately, even though it was the middle of the night.
With little concern for their disturbed sleep,
A detachment of 50 men departed for the village in front of the dungeon entrance.
The influential figures began preparing the reward from their own pockets, expecting a swift defeat.
It was a painful expense.
But it was better than losing their heads.
No one begrudged paying.
There was no squabbling.
Their wallets were equally pained.
“Still not back?” “They’re taking too long.”
They waited for a messenger while drinking tea.
But none arrived.
The influential figures issued a request to the Adventurer’s Guild to investigate the situation in the village.
The reward was cheap, even with hazard pay.
However, the Guild Staff also felt uneasy due to the lack of contact.
They gave a priority request to adventurers who understood the importance of this job, despite the low pay.
Several hours later.
Three devastating pieces of bad news arrived:
The village in front of the dungeon entrance, the village in front of the dungeon’s 1st floor entrance, and the fortress built in front of the dungeon’s 1st floor exit.
“Why!?”
The influential figures and the Guild Staff cried out upon hearing the reports.
They couldn’t believe it was some kind of joke.
“Um, those descendants… they’re safe, right…?”
“How would we know? We have bigger things to worry about now.”
“Who are the attackers? Even if the 50 adventurers are defeated, the fortress at the entrance of the dungeon’s 1st floor should have had at least 300 trained town guards stationed there.”
“I sent my private soldiers to that fortress too. The fortress falling? That’s a lie!”
“If only it were a lie… We must send the next subjugation force immediately. What if something happens to the descendants…”
“We know that!”
Fearing that the descendants would return injured by someone, the influential figures issued an urgent request to the Adventurer’s Guild, stating, “Money is no object,” for the immediate formation of a large-scale subjugation force.
However, upon hearing that the previous detachment of 50 had been annihilated,
The adventurers, woken by the commotion, found their legs frozen and were reluctant to gather.
The reward was incredibly high, enough to make one’s mouth water.
Indeed, with one successful hunt, they could retire from their dangerous adventuring life.
But the probability of failure was high.
Therefore, some hesitated to accept…
“Please somehow gather a subjugation force!!”
The influential figures managed to stir up the adventurers from elsewhere.
They enticed them, promising passage to the dungeon’s 2nd floor.
A subjugation force of about 300 people was assembled.
The sun was already fully up.
Morning, they thought.
“I’m counting on you.”
“Warriors of the dawn.”
“We await good news!”
“Come back alive!”
Their necks were on the line.
Their thoughts were a jumbled mess.
Before they knew it, they were seeing off the subjugation force as if they were actors performing in some play.
No messenger arrived even by evening.
No messenger arrived even by night.
There were many of them.
Even if the monsters of the dungeon’s 1st floor attacked them all at once, it wouldn’t be a problem.
They had safely descended to the dungeon’s 2nd floor.
And were currently engaged in combat with someone.
There was no need to worry. No need to worry. No need to worry, right?
The influential figures were consumed by anxiety.
Inside the watchtower overlooking the town,
Wrapped in furs, they kept watch with the guards.
Several days passed.
One of the influential figures fell ill.
And was taken to the bed of the town’s renowned doctor.
“Please…”
“A good report…”
“My neck…”
“It’s not my fault…”
Muttering, they were in a mentally unstable state.
Their nutrition was also lacking.
The renowned doctor prescribed an IV drip of nutrient solution and sedatives.
To the nurses, he instructed, “If the patient asks to eat, prepare a gentle, easily digestible porridge.”
The Guild Staff speculated that the subjugation force had been defeated.
And wondered who among them would take on the role of investigating the dungeon’s 2nd floor.
“Cough, cough. I have a bit of a cold…”
“Ahem, ahem, I might have a cold too…”
No one went to investigate.
The Guild Master, the Head of the Adventurer’s Guild, looked at the pathetic state of his staff.
“Until I return, I’m counting on you to manage the Guild.”
“Yes!”
The Guild Staff saw the Guild Master off to the town gate.
Sighing, he headed to the ruins of the village in front of the dungeon entrance.
“This is terrible…”
There were zero survivors.
To be prepared for the next time someone or something, even a monster, launches a surprise attack.
He descended into the dungeon, remaining vigilant.
The dungeon’s 1st floor.
The village and the fortress were gone, their remains swallowed by the dungeon.
Only debris and bloodstains remained.
“Equipment… nothing seems usable.”
The fortress had been built with town tax money.
It was a significant deficit.
As he descended to the dungeon’s 2nd floor.
“Huh? What?!”
The fortress, where monsters had moved in an organized fashion in the center, had vanished without a trace.
Where the fortress had stood, trees now grew.
“Was all the information up to now a lie?”
Perhaps the location was different.
The Guild Master looked around the forest and grasslands.
Finally, he peered into the bottom of the swamp.
He returned to town to report that not a single person – him, the descendants, or any survivors – was present.
