Chapter 23: The Unexplored Dungeon (1)

“Is that so…” Lord Barban let out a sigh in response to Kain’s words. “So, the emperor desires the conquest of the Demon Realms, you say?” “Scouting missions are turning into meaningless sacrifices,” Kain replied, clicking his tongue in annoyance. Lord Barcan, his face solemn, asked, “Are you serious?” “I am. No one can stop him now. Perhaps he fancies himself the reincarnation of the old emperor.” Kain shook his head. A long time ago, the emperor who had claimed dominion over the entire world had ultimately marched to conquer the White Snowfield. There, he faced defeat and death. That legend was widely known to the public. “The White Snowfield…” Kain murmured. A barbarian from that land resided in this very estate. He smirked bitterly. “ “Well, if anything happens, it’s going to happen in the distant future. We haven’t even conquered all human territories yet. The White Snowfield is the largest and most mysterious one of the Demon Realms. It’s still a long way to go, but…” “You mean to say it’s only a matter of time,” Lord Barcan said. “Exactly. This estate is part of the Empire as well, so a summons could come at any time. I thought it best to give you advance warning.” Kain leaned back against the sofa, rubbing his temple as if dealing with a headache. “The world is strange enough as it is, and now the emperor has half-lost his mind. It’s maddening.” “Are the rumors true?” “They are. The movements of the demons are becoming noticeable, one by one. The frequency of Dungeons appearing is irregular. There’s even talk that the Anomalies of the Demon Realms are seeping outside. While nothing is confirmed, the rumors persist.” Something was happening to the world, and it didn’t bode well for humanity. Kain had come to the Barcan Estate to deliver this warning. After all, this was his hometown. Seemingly recalling something, he let out a bitter laugh. “Well, if you think about it, the strangest thing is already here.” “You’re right…” They were talking about the barbarian from the White Snowfield—a human who had emerged from the oldest and largest Demon Realm. Ketal was here. “What do you think of him?” Kain asked. “I don’t know,” Lord Barcan admitted honestly. “He isn’t hostile towards us. Beyond that, I can’t say. What about you, Kain?” “I think the same. He is very considerate of others. If left alone, he shouldn’t pose a problem.” Kain gulped. The smile Ketal had shown him at the end of their encounter still sent shivers down his spine. Kain thought. Though considerate and obedient to order, Ketal was not one to suppress his will. “I guess if we let the beast alone, he won’t go on a rampage,” Kain muttered under his breath. *** George was a farmer, and it was that time of year to harvest the fruits of his labor. But there was simply too much for one man to handle alone. That was why he hired mercenaries. Every year, George brought in mercenaries to help with the harvest. They were loud, rude, and crass, but they got the job done. Their cheap rates ensured he’d never regretted the decision—until this year. “Are we harvesting potatoes?” “Y-yes…” George stammered as he replied. Before him stood a man whose arms were larger than his torso. His muscles, carved like a statue, bulged beneath what looked like a leather vest. Ketal stood before him. George thought. He had heard the rumors. A freakishly large barbarian had been spotted in the estate. But as a simple farmer, he had thought it wouldn’t concern him. Never in his wildest dreams had he expected that barbarian to respond to his harvest request. George trembled as he shuffled his feet. “Th-this way, please.” He led Ketal to the potato field. Ketal surveyed the vast expanse and muttered, “So big.” The field stretched out endlessly, so much so that it would take more than a day to harvest everything, even with constant effort. George forced an awkward smile and said, “If it looks like too much, please feel free to rest. I can manage on my own.” Usually, George would yell at the complaining mercenaries, cursing and barking orders for them to dig up the potatoes immediately. That was the best way to deal with their brutish attitude. However, he couldn’t bring himself to act that way toward Ketal. He feared that a single shouted word might result in his spine being snapped in half. Ketal shook his head. “No, I’ve taken the request, and I intend to fulfill it. “I see…” “Still, digging them up one by one seems inefficient. Hm…” Ketal stroked his chin, his gaze fixed on the field. As George watched nervously, Ketal lifted his massive foot. When his foot slammed down, a thunderous crash reverberated. For a split second, George thought an earthquake had struck. However, the tremor was confined solely to the potato field. Dirt flew in every direction, and potato leaves scattered into the air. George’s face turned ghostly pale. “What in the world…?” George shouted. “There. The prep work is done. Now we just need to harvest them,” Ketal declared as he crouched and began picking up potatoes one by one. At that moment, George realized something astonishing. “Huh? Wait…” Harvesting potatoes was back-breaking labor. Since the potatoes were buried deep in the earth, the process involved digging up the hard soil and carefully extracting each potato. Many farmers ended up with sore backs—or worse—after a full day of work. But now, it was as though the field had been plowed overnight. The entire field had been overturned, and potatoes lay scattered on the surface, ready to be collected. There was no need to dig. All that was left to do was pick them up. “W-what just happened?” George stammered. With just a single stomp of his foot, Ketal had managed to upheave the entire field. A shiver ran down George’s spine. Cold sweat trickled down his back. Ketal, still gathering potatoes, tilted his head in confusion. “Are you alright? You don’t look well.” “I-I’m fine! Let me help!” “You’re the client. You can leave this to me.” “No! Really, I will help you!” George shouted desperately as he hastily began tossing potatoes into a basket. The harvest was completed at a speed several times faster than any year before. But George resolved never to hire Ketal again. *** “The job is done,” Ketal said. “Yes, I received a message from George. As always, you’re incredibly fast.” Rosa stared at Ketal with awe. Harvesting the potato field was a task that typically took at least two days, but Ketal had finished it in just two hours. His speed was nothing short of remarkable. “Here’s your payment,” Rosa said. “Thank you.” Ketal smiled faintly as he accepted the silver coins. While reviewing the task slip, Rosa spoke again. “Are you planning to take on more jobs? You seem to have plenty of time, so feel free to decide at your leisure.” By now, Rosa was somewhat accustomed to dealing with Ketal. It had been a week since he began showing up at the guildhall daily. Slowly but surely, she was adapting to the presence of this extraordinary barbarian. She wasn’t the only one; other mercenaries were also growing used to the enormous figure of Ketal. While his entrance still silenced the normally bustling guildhall, it no longer plunged the room into total stillness. Conversations resumed cautiously, ensuring they didn’t disturb him. Ordinarily, Ketal would have immediately requested his next task. But this time, he simply stared at the silver coins in his hand. Rosa noticed his uncharacteristic behavior and tilted her head in confusion. Before long, Ketal finally spoke. “It’s very little.” “Excuse me?” For a moment, Rosa’s heart seemed to stop—not figuratively, but quite literally. she thought. Her face went pale as she stammered. “W-well, of course, Sir Ketal is an incredible and skilled mercenary, but the payment for this task is already set. While I sympathize, even someone as capable as you cannot expect the compensation to be adjusted arbitrarily—” “No, I know that. I’m not blaming you,” Ketal interjected, shaking his head. seaʀᴄh thё NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rosa let out a relieved sigh. “I see.” “I just need more money,” “Are you short on funds? I assumed you’d have plenty saved up.” Though individual task rewards were modest, Ketal’s sheer volume of completed jobs ensured he wasn’t lacking for a comfortable living. No, I have something to spend on,” Ketal said. At some point, Ketal began to wonder how much longer he would have to keep wearing this leather vest. Though crafted from the hide of a beast he had slain, and undeniably functional, the vest hardly qualified as civilized clothing. He wondered if the reason people recoiled in fear whenever they saw him was because of his attire. After all, he, too, would hesitate to approach someone walking around in nothing but a leather vest in a modern society. As this thought crossed his mind, he felt a pang of regret. How barbaric had he become! After spending so much time among barbarians, even his values had begun to align with theirs. Determined to correct his mistake, he made a decision. He was going to buy new clothes. He sprang into action, stopping a passerby to ask about the nearest clothing store. The citizen kindly provided directions, and Ketal thanked them before heading off. Shopping in a fantasy world was an exciting prospect for him. With anticipation, he opened the door to the shop. The shopkeeper, however, turned pale and immediately called for the guards. Ketal calmly explained the misunderstanding, and order was restored. With that settled, he began browsing the store. It was his first time choosing clothes in this world, so he didn’t want to settle for something cheap. Fortunately, the shop was of excellent quality and met his expectations. However, there was one problem. The clothes were too small. Ketal’s physique was far larger than that of an average human. Off-the-rack options wouldn’t suffice; he needed custom-made clothing. So, he inquired about the price. After briefly assessing his measurements, the shopkeeper cautiously provided an estimate. The amount left Ketal stunned. The price far exceeded what he had imagined. It was more than his current funds could cover. He asked if the shopkeeper was trying to swindle him, but the trembling merchant’s terrified demeanor convinced him otherwise. The sheer size of his body made crafting suitable clothing inherently expensive. This was the medieval era, after all. Unlike modern times, where machines manufactured garments, custom tailoring was a costly endeavor—especially for someone of Ketal’s size. Reluctantly, he accepted the explanation. What mattered now was earning more money. After hearing Ketal’s predicament, Rosa nodded in understanding. “That makes sense. In such cases, it’s possible to find yourself short on funds.” “Even though I’m working hard, it’s tough to save enough. Is there any other way?” Ketal asked. “Hm…” Rosa pondered for a moment. There was a way to earn more money, but she was hesitant about whether or not she should tell him. After a brief hesitation, she decided to tell him. Ketal was rational and polite, so there was no harm in sharing the information. “There is a way to take on higher-paying jobs,” she said. “What? Really?” ‘Yes. I heard you cleared a Dungeon when you first arrived in this estate. It’s something similar to that.” Ketal, currently ranked as an F-class mercenary, couldn’t accept Dungeon-related tasks on his own. However, if he formed a party, the situation would change. “With a minimum party of four, you could qualify for higher-tier jobs, including Dungeon expeditions.” “Oh!” Ketal’s eyes sparkled. When he had first cleared a Dungeon, the reward had been significant, even after splitting it four ways. More than anything, the idea of venturing into another Dungeon thrilled him. Forming a party, taking on roles, and conquering the unknown—it was one of his happiest experiences since arriving in this world. He still cherished that memory. “A four-person party, huh. So I need to gather a team,” Ketal murmured. He turned to face the other mercenaries. Those who had been quietly eavesdropping flinched. They exchanged quick glances before the sound of chairs scraping against the floor filled the hall. “Damn, I’m so busy today!” “Guys! Let’s get to work!” In an instant, the mercenaries scattered, leaving Ketal alone in the guildhall. He murmured with a disappointed look. “Everyone seems busy…” “Haha…” Rosa laughed awkwardly. She knew full well that mercenaries who spent their days idling and drinking weren’t suddenly busy. But some things were better left unsaid. In truth, Rosa hadn’t mentioned this option earlier because she doubted any mercenary would dare form a party with Ketal. “Is it impossible without a party?” Ketal asked. “Well, that’s the rule, so…” “Rules are rules, I suppose. What a shame.” As Ketal began brainstorming other solutions, the door creaked open. Both Ketal and Rosa turned toward the entrance. “What’s going on?” the man said. “Oh!” Ketal’s face lit up. “Cassan! Long time no see!” “Eek!” It was Kassan, the thief, who immediately shrieked in terror. *** Cassan was a thief and one of Ketal’s former Dungeon-clearing companions. Ketal strode toward him with his usual towering presence. The closer the barbarian got, the smaller Cassan seemed to shrink. Ketal clapped a heavy hand on Cassan’s shoulder. “It’s been a while! How have you been?” “Ah, just… getting by…” Cassan murmured, his voice shaky. Ketal beamed as he continued. “So, you’re a mercenary too? I haven’t seen you around before.” “Haha… ha.” Ketal had never seen him in the guildhall because he had gone out of his way to avoid Ketal. The rumors of the gigantic barbarian had spread throughout the entire estate, and anyone who had heard them knew they referred to Ketal. To avoid an encounter, Cassan had deliberately stayed away from the guildhall during the times Ketal was known to be there. And yet, fate had brought them face to face. Cassan’s expression grew gloomier. However, his misfortune didn’t end there. As if a brilliant idea had struck him, Ketal clapped his hands together. “That’s it! This is perfect! Cassan, how about clearing another Dungeon with me?” “W-what?” “It’s better to partner with someone experienced than someone new, isn’t it? This is a great idea! Let’s form a party and tackle a Dungeon together!” “Ah, um…” Cassan tried to say something, but no words came out. Ketal suddenly grabbed both of Cassan’s shoulders. He felt as though his entire body was being crushed under the pressure. Instinctively, he nodded. Ketal grinned widely. “Great! Rosa, we’ve got one person. Now we just need two more!” “That’s… wonderful,” Rosa said, forcing a smile. Cassan shot her a desperate look, silently pleading for help. Rosa averted her gaze.