Adventuring. To engage in a hazardous and exciting activity. A fitting description. For regardless of whether one sought profit or thrill, there was bound to be excitement in danger.
"Wiley, did you hear?" The voice of a young woman asked towards one of her party members.
"Hear what, Prissy?" The party member, Wiley, said with a tinge of excitement. He was currently inside of a training field performing simple spear swings. He was a B-class warrior who often sought both profit and thrill. If there was anything he needed to hear it had to be related to either of those matters making him expectant.
"There are rumors of a profitable adventure in Arbor Town." The young mage, Prissy, informed him with a hint of chastising.
"Really!?" Wiley instantly stopped his repeated stabbing as his eyes shone. He had indeed heard some good news. He actually had no idea where Arbor town was but it wasn't his duty to keep track of such things.
"Yeah, Agalia is already trying to find us a ride over." Their current location was the city Timber located in the Flamewood estate. The town was also the nearest to the forbidden forest, thus, the closest to riches and adventure.
"Awesome, I hope it's dangerous!" Wiley said his eyes still dazzling with enthusiasm.
"You are too much…" Prissy should have long since gotten used to Wiley's words and antics but she felt getting accustomed to his death wishing was a tall order.
A couple of hours later Agalia, their party leader, returned. She seemed a bit gloomy however which was a sharp contrast to her usually positive personality.
"All of the carriages are either booked or have already departed…" It didn't take them long to find out why her mood had sunk as Agalia informed them of the unfortunate news dejectedly.
"WHAT!?!" The death seeker, Wiley, was particularly affected by the news. He fell to his knees feeling as if his whole world had fallen apart.
"...Impossible, will I never be freed from my mortal coil? Gah!" Wiley's muttering was cut short by a firm slap by Prissy.
"I can't believe it… how popular are these rumors…" Prissy had only heard briefly heard the news from Agalia meaning she was not aware of the exact situation.
Agalia however was significantly less surprised. A potion had sold for an insane sum of 2,000 gold. The main ingredient was actually a small bone dropped by a monster inside of a nameless Arbor town dungeon.
Agalia and her party of three were not the only ones being disappointed. As a matter of fact, those that had expended the energy to head over to the simple-looking dungeon were far more disappointed.
"What do you mean we can't enter!?" One of such adventurers shouted in outrage towards a Freedom Union official. There were at least thirty other adventurers behind him, each of them were peering into the dull cave covetously
"Rules are rules" The guild official who was merely a peak C-class adventurer said firmly while hiding the nervosity in his heart. The only reassurance was that there were 10 other officials such as himself keeping the crowd at bay. Even the experienced A-class adventurer Clarys would pass by to help out from time to time.
The official was unsure as to why since he was not privy to such information. He also wouldn't dare try and approach the beautiful and graceful Clarys lest he taints her with his mere presence.
"Rules!? I heard that this dungeon had long since been auctioned off and explored1, you have to let us in!" A more lanky and learned adventurer pitched in and demanded.
"Sir, this dungeon failed the initial auction process" The occasions in which such a thing occurred were close to none. At the very least the news of such a happening didn't get around.
"You are all just trying to keep the profits to yourself!" The adventurer rebutted choosing not to believe the official's words.
"I didn't know the Freedom Union was so corrupt…" Another adventurer not too far away audibly murmured causing some to wonder if that was indeed the case.
"Under the Bosque's kingdom adventurer jobs act, all dungeons are accessible to adventurers!" The learned adventurer continued to nitpick laws and regulations to try and legally weasel his way in.
"Si-" The official who was on the verge of simply calling out sick became quiet after seeing a sharp gaze from a tall and lean adventurer.
"Move aside" The adventurers there naturally parted. This sharp adventurer carried a long honed blade and had an imposing figure. His voice also made one feel some shivers down their spines.
"Azrael" Clarys who would pass by casually happened to recognize the person. He was an A-class assassin and a friend of hers. They both grew up in an inconspicuous corner of Inner Bark city.
"Oh, Clarys" Azrael was a bit surprised to see this old acquaintance but that was it.
"Why are you here?" Clarys proceed to ask although likely well aware of the answer.
"I came to challenge this dungeon" To be exact, he came to obtain some profits.
"You could have snuck past, no?" Azrael was an A-class adventurer and an expert in stealth. Even if he was only a peak B-class Clarys, as a healer, would not be confident in identifying him pass. Her combat ranking among the A-class was at the bottom.
"That's true" Azrael replied with a smirk. He could tell Clarys was still a smart girl.
"Then why are you here?" Clarys repeated her question once more. Azrael and she had grown apart from an early age. Their relationship had soured by this point but Clarys had at some point considered him a friend. Nonetheless, she was currently employed and had a duty to perform.
"I already answered, no?"Azrael answered as if to mock her. His way to gain profits was to create trouble for the Freedom Union.
A-class adventures were the cream of the crop but that didn't mean they were all saints or distinguished scholars. Most of them were actually employed by the kingdoms and organizations regardless of integrity.
Some would take a different path, a path of their own creation. Azrael was the leader of a guild of assassins. It was a guild of his own making, an organization fueled by his own desire. He wanted to see it flourish.
But his organization, angels of death, was overshadowed by the other long-established organizations on both the lawful and evil side. He found creating trouble for the top dogs to be a good way to get his name out there.
Many black markets had assassin hiring services but they weren't the same as things as a guild. Azrael's ambitions weren't so simple. He wanted his daunting shadow to strike fear into the hearts of the whole world. For the populace to know that their lives were not necessarily in their own hands.
"So, can I come in?" Azrael looked at the official and asked. He was the leader of his organization, he wouldn't usually move by himself.
"Ye- Yes!" The official was frightened into agreeing but…
"You can't" Clarys promptly said and walked over in front of Azreal before he had the time to waltz his way in. The dungeon was off-limits for non-affiliates.
Azrael sighed and swiftly brought out a paper from his pocket. He unfurled it revealing an officially signed document.
"Will this do the trick? THE FREEDOM UNION WAS KIND ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THIS FOR ME FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF BUCKS" Azreal said speaking up to make sure all could hear.
His tone was laughable and his intentions clear but the short-sighted adventurers which had already been incited by members of his guild did not catch on.
Clarys and the official glanced at the document and found that it was actually legit. She was still suspicious but she could no longer stop him from entering.
"...go ahead" She said in a soft voice.
"OKAY, I'LL GO IN THEN" Azreal pocketed the document and announced.
"Hey! Why is he allowed to go in!?" "Just because he has some money you let him in?"
Doubts were stirred among the crowd as Azrael's retreating figure entered the mossy cave.
Azrael smirked after finally reaching the dungeon steps. He actually had no intention to explore the boorish dungeon.
"Let's see, where else should I go?" Azrael stopped to ponder.
"Let us in! Let us in!" A chant had begun on the outside. "Hey! Put that weapon down!" One of the officials yelled.
Azrael decided on a next target and snuck back outside of the short cave using powers of death.
Clarys didn't miss this though as she had been prepared and cast some spells that sensed life. It could also be used to sense death which was Azreal's element.
"Hmph" Clarys couldn't do anything though. Even though she was aware of his escape she could only sit by and watch.
"Stop it!" A fireball flew into the crowd.
"They are attacking us!!!" One of the instigators yelled and the thirty or so adventurers seemed to become red with anger.
"You'll let us in one way or the other!" The riled up adventurers were finally fed up as they now planned to force their way in.
"No- Hey-! The weak C-class adventurer could only do his best to dodge certain spells or even arrows while trying to calm down the crowd.
"Let them in" Clarys' graceful voice entered his ears however forcing him to halt for a second.
"What?" The official asked back.
"You heard the pretty lady! Step aside!" One of the adventurers shoved the official aside.
Clarys was not strong enough to stop all of them. She could hold them at bay but she felt it wasn't worth the effort. As a healer, she had seen many things and got to know both the best and worst of people.