Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Chapter 58 The person standing near Clayton eagerly explained, "They say a dungeon just opened up outside the city! We can raid it, and there’s bound to be tons of loot!" Clayton perked up at the news. "A dungeon? What’s that?" he asked curiously. He’d heard the term dungeon before, but only vaguely—and he had no idea what it actually meant. The people around him gave him puzzled looks. "You seriously don’t know what a dungeon is? It’s like a separate world full of monsters, rare items, and hidden knowledge—just waiting to be discovered!" Becoming the center of attention made Clayton feel awkward. He realized that, aside from studying magic, he should start learning more about the basics of this world of swords and sorcery. That way, he wouldn’t keep embarrassing himself like this. Soon after, Clayton joined the conversation more actively. From their discussion, he started to piece things together. Apparently, not far from the city walls, a cave had been revealed to be a hidden dungeon. For some reason, it had only recently become accessible to the public. Unlike typical dark, monster-filled underground caves, a dungeon was a self-contained world with its own ecosystem and rules. Sometimes, specific conditions had to be met in order to enter. This particular dungeon, for example, only allowed low-ranking apprentice mages to enter—those between one-star and three-star rank. It was a golden opportunity for newcomers. Hearing all this, Clayton grew even more fascinated by the world’s mysteries and surprises. He chatted with the neighbors, so caught up in the moment that he completely forgot about making breakfast. "Hey, Clayton? Didn’t expect to see you out here!" Clayton turned and saw Arthur approaching with a broad smile. "Oh yeah, I had some free time, so I thought I’d talk with the neighbors." Arthur nodded. "I see. So, have you heard about the newly discovered dungeon?" "Yeah. I got curious and started asking around." "In that case, want to join us for the raid?" Arthur asked, eyes full of hope. Clayton quickly shook his head. "No, no. I can’t join. I’ve got a lot of work to do at home." Arthur looked a little disappointed, but he was used to Clayton avoiding unnecessary risks. "All right then. But could you prepare some magic scrolls for us? Just to make things safer?" "Of course. I’ll make the best scrolls I can," Clayton said confidently. They continued chatting about the dungeon. Once he felt he had learned enough, Clayton excused himself and headed home. The neighbors nodded as he left. ... The next day, Clayton watched as crowds made their way toward the outskirts of the city. Arthur’s group looked especially prepared, equipped with professional gear. They had been hunting together for a long time, so their tactics and tools were well-practiced. Bravus, having heard about the dungeon too, refused to be left behind. He led his own group to join the raid—but unlike Arthur’s team, Bravus’s group was sloppy and disorganized. Watching them, Clayton could only think, They’re definitely going to get themselves into trouble again... Many other groups were also trying their luck. Among them, the most eye-catching was a band of vagabonds who had recently started appearing in the city. Strangely though, Clayton didn’t see the specific group of vagrants he had encountered before. What he didn’t realize was that those same vagabonds were the group of bandits he had eliminated using the Abyssal Vortex spell—the ones who had ambushed him near the central district before Dingo came to the rescue. Had he known, the coincidence would have felt eerie. But unaware, Clayton simply returned to his training and focused on making magic scrolls. ... Back home, Clayton sat cross-legged in meditation. Magic energy slowly condensed around him, making his figure glow faintly. The phenomenon lasted a while, then the magical pressure around him suddenly surged. Feeling the shift, Clayton smiled in satisfaction. "Heheheh... Finally, I’ve leveled up." He had purchased a potion a while back to accelerate his training, but only recently had time to use it. The results were excellent. Combined with consistent practice, he had finally advanced to a two-star apprentice mage. Both the quantity and quality of his mana had improved greatly. Excited to test his new abilities, Clayton headed to the lake with his mini skeletons in tow. ... A few days later, Arthur’s group returned from their dungeon raid. Meanwhile, Clayton remained at home, busy with his usual routine. He was itching to ask about the dungeon but decided to wait until they had rested. A few days later, he visited Arthur’s house. "Hey, Brother Arthur! How are you? Everything all right?" Clayton asked eagerly. Arthur’s bright smile said it all—Clayton immediately guessed the raid had been a success. "Haha, I’m doing great. What’s up, Clayton? It’s rare to see you drop by." "Ah, nothing much. Just thought I’d visit," Clayton said awkwardly, silently admitting to himself that he usually only showed up when he needed something. Arthur didn’t mind and invited him in. They sat down and chatted. "So, how did the dungeon raid go?" "Haha, amazing! We got tons of light- and dark-attributed materials!" "Seriously? You must’ve made a fortune, huh?" "Of course!" Arthur replied, glowing with excitement. From their talk, Clayton learned that the dungeon had been themed around undead and holy creatures. Naturally, the materials they brought back matched that theme. Arthur eagerly recounted their many interesting experiences. Clayton listened intently, genuinely fascinated. Seeing him so absorbed, Arthur teased him. "Well? Regretting not joining us now?" "No, I’m just curious, that’s all," Clayton said, a little defensive. Arthur laughed. "We’re planning another raid in a few days. Want to come?" "No thanks. Still not interested. I’m just curious, not tempted." Arthur sighed. The guy really avoided getting involved in anything dangerous. They talked a while longer before Clayton stood to leave. "All right, Brother Arthur. I’ll head home now. Still got work to do." Arthur nodded and tried once more. "If you change your mind, let me know." Clayton gave a faint smile. "Yeah, sure. I’ll be going now!" ... On his way home, Clayton passed a group of neighbors gossiping. He intended to greet them politely, but accidentally overheard something shocking. Apparently, the group that had gone dungeon-raiding with Bravus had suffered a serious accident. It wasn’t just minor injuries this time—almost the entire team had died. Only three or four survivors remained, Bravus among them. Clayton fell silent. He had suspected they might run into trouble, but he hadn’t imagined it would be this bad. Even though they were just neighbors, hearing of their deaths left him feeling hollow and unsettled. After exchanging a few polite words, he quickly continued on his way home. ... That night, while eating dinner heartily, Clayton suddenly felt something strange. His body began to feel off. The sensation grew stronger and stronger, leaving him panicked and confused. It felt eerily familiar... too familiar. The discomfort intensified, and Clayton collapsed from his chair, falling to the floor in convulsions. "What... what the hell is happening?!" he muttered in a panic. He had felt perfectly fine just moments before. No warning signs. Now it felt like a storm was raging inside his body. As the pain spread, hazy memories began to swirl in his mind. Clayton finally realized what it was. "Damn it... I thought that illness was cured. Why is it coming back...?" he whispered, pale and despairing.