Chapter 121

Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Old Man Wood, upon seeing Clayton’s shocked expression, immediately understood what was going on. "Hehehe, come on in, Clayton. These folks just happened to stop by too. Let’s relax together!" Clayton glanced at the group of people, puzzled. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of occasion had brought them all to Old Man Wood’s house. Meanwhile, the guests exchanged meaningful looks with Clayton. Out of courtesy, he greeted each of them politely. That’s when he noticed several gift-wrapped packages. As soon as he saw them, the realization hit him. Clayton gave a bitter smile, feeling powerless. So, these people had come for the same reason as him—hoping to pull some strings and avoid entering the dungeon. Since Old Man Wood had somehow been exempted, they figured he must have influential connections, and perhaps those connections could help them too. But clearly, others had the same idea—resulting in this awkward situation. The group made small talk, but no one dared to voice their true intentions. Old Man Wood simply smiled in amusement, fully aware of what everyone was hoping for. Unfortunately, he had no way to help anyone escape the obligation. And even if he could, there was no way he’d offer it—not when helping one person could offend everyone else. So, the group continued their strained conversation. Occasionally, someone would quietly approach Old Man Wood with a question—including Clayton. But none of them got the answer they were hoping for. As it became clear there was no help to be found, one by one, the guests began to lose interest and eventually left. As Clayton was about to leave as well, Old Man Wood stopped him. Puzzled, Clayton asked, "Is something wrong, Old Man Wood?" "No, nothing’s wrong. I just have a bit of information that might help you." Clayton’s eyes lit up. "What kind of information?" "I heard that Grass also managed to get exempted from dungeon duty. Not many people know this. Maybe you could talk to him—perhaps the connection he used can help you too." Clayton was surprised. He hadn’t expected Grass to be one of the lucky ones. A glimmer of hope stirred within him. "Thank you, Old Man Wood! If I really manage to get out of this, I’ll treat you to something nice!" Old Man Wood chuckled. "No need. Just take care of yourself." After a brief chat, Clayton left. ... The next morning, Clayton went straight to Grass’s home. Grass opened the door, looking confused—especially when he saw Clayton standing there. But the confusion didn’t last. He welcomed Clayton inside with a warm smile. After they sat down, they chatted lightly for a few minutes until Grass finally asked, "So, Clayton, what brings you here so early?" Clayton felt a bit awkward, but he decided to be honest. "I heard you were exempted from entering the dungeon. I really don’t want to go either. Could you introduce me to someone important? I’ll owe you one!" Grass finally understood and chuckled. "Hehehe... Actually, I don’t have any connections at all. The students from the academy where I work were just worried something might happen to me, so they applied for an exemption on my behalf." The more Clayton listened, the more disappointed he became. Grass hadn’t gotten out because of special connections, but because of his job. Clayton recalled that Monkey Brother had once offered him a position under one of the academy students, but he had declined. Meanwhile, Grass had accepted and had been working with them for quite some time. Back then, Clayton thought it was foolish of Grass to neglect his own farm to tend to someone else’s. Now, he realized he had been shortsighted. Grass had simply been thinking ahead. "In that case... is there any way I can get out of it too?" Clayton asked hopefully. Grass gave an apologetic smile. "I’m afraid I really don’t have a way. And I really respect the student I work for—he’s a good person, and I don’t feel right asking him for a favor." Clayton’s face fell. Seeing how disappointed he was, Grass quickly added, "But maybe you can try talking to Monkey Brother. He has a lot of connections—he might be able to help." With that, Clayton’s hope reignited. They chatted for a while longer—about farming, local gossip, and the latest news from Sunlight City. Eventually, Clayton said goodbye. Since it was still early, he headed out right away to look for Monkey Brother. ... He arrived at a tidy and well-kept house and knocked on the gate, but no one answered—even after a long wait. Frustrated, he eventually left. Over the next few days, Clayton kept searching for Monkey Brother, but he was nowhere to be found. Finally, one day, they bumped into each other on the street. "Hey, Monkey Brother!" Clayton called out. Monkey Brother, who looked like he was in a hurry, turned around. At first, he struggled to place Clayton’s face, but then recognition dawned. "Ah, Clayton! It’s you!" "Yeah, it’s me." "Hahaha, great to see you. Are you here to buy some magical material?" Clayton shook his head. "No, I was actually looking for you." Monkey Brother paused. "Looking for me? Why?" Without wasting time, Clayton explained everything. Monkey Brother listened patiently. When he finished, Monkey Brother gave a small sigh and a regretful smile. "Sorry, Clayton. If you’d come a few days earlier, there might’ve been a chance. But now, all the academy student slots are already full." Clayton’s heart sank. He’d been looking for him for days, and now that they finally met—it was too late. At that moment, Clayton truly understood why people are so deeply moved by acts of kindness—because when you’re truly in need, emotions hit much harder. They spoke briefly before Clayton excused himself, seeing that Monkey Brother was clearly in a rush. "Well... alright then, Monkey Brother. I’ll be going." Monkey Brother nodded. "Take care." Then he hurried off, clearly already late for something. Clayton headed home. With no shortcuts left, he had no choice but to prepare himself. From that day on, he didn’t leave his house—devoting himself fully to training. ... Eventually, the day came for Clayton to enter the dungeon. Early that morning, he walked out of town, following a well-worn path that countless others had taken before him. The signs were clear. At that point, he was already beyond the city limits. If he wanted to run, he could. But Clayton didn’t. He walked straight ahead—honestly and resolutely—toward the dungeon. Hidden in the bushes nearby, a few people watched. "Clayton, number XX, didn’t run," one of them said, checking his name off a list. ... After walking for quite a distance, Clayton arrived at a crowded area. Some people were stacking monster corpses, others were eating. But what stood out most were the long lines—one after another. Clayton got in line. After about half an hour, it was finally his turn. His name was recorded, and he received clearance to enter the dungeon. Standing at the gate, an officer gave him final instructions: "This is a light and dark attribute dungeon. The monsters inside include skeletons, saint knights, and others. You may enter alone or in a group. If alone, you’ll be teleported to a random location. If in a group, you’ll still be separated—but not as far apart. Exiting the dungeon can be done together or separately, depending on the situation inside..." Clayton nodded in understanding. "Alright then. Go ahead." Clayton began walking forward. Each step felt as heavy as carrying a mountain. Still, he moved forward—determined. As he passed through the dungeon gate, his surroundings flashed. Then suddenly—he was engulfed in complete darkness. Clayton looked around cautiously, his eyes going wide. He was standing at the edge of an extremely steep cliff. Too focused on scanning his surroundings, he didn’t watch his footing—and slipped. The cliff was so sheer, he didn’t even have time to steady himself. And just like that... he fell. In a panic, Clayton screamed with all his might. "AAAAAAGHHHH—!"