Chapter 97: An Adventurer Again 2

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: An Adventurer Again 2

Adnan was already at the notice board, looking over the various requests. Arin led the way to the nearest counter, where a young woman with dark hair was looking over the adventurers’ names. "Welcome to the Adventurer’s Guild," she said. "What can I do for you?"

"We’re planning to explore the dungeon near Ravengard," Arin said. "We’re looking for information about the current conditions and any preparations necessary to enter." The young woman nodded. "Of course. Are you registering as new adventurers or updating current records?" she asked.

"Updating current records," Arin replied. "Right hand, please," she said. Arin held out his hand and the young woman took his guild card, skimming over it before tapping in a few commands on the small magic device on the counter. A blue light shimmered out from the card and several lines of text floated above it.

The young woman frowned slightly as she read over the card. "F-Rank?" she asked. Arin gave her a charming smile. "Apparently," he said. She looked up at the young man and then back at his card. "Your registration is up-to-date, but you haven’t taken a level evaluation recently. If you’d like to update your adventurer rank, you’ll need to go through the proper evaluation process. Level isn’t the sole determining factor in an adventurer’s rank."

"I understand. Would you like me to schedule an evaluation today?" she asked. "Not today," Arin said. "We’re here to explore the dungeon," he clarified. The young woman nodded and handed back the card. "Very well. Is your entire party registered with the Guild?" she asked.

Adnan stepped forward, presenting his identification, and the rest of the party followed his example, allowing the young woman to scan their cards. She put the last card back on the counter and pulled out another map. "The Ravengard Dungeon is one of the main reasons people come to this city. The upper levels have been thoroughly explored and mapped by members of the Guild, but the conditions within can change on a daily basis as monsters migrate. Explorers should always assume that an old map might not reflect the current state of the dungeon," she explained.

She spread out the map on the counter. "Before heading into the dungeon, I recommend you study the routes on this map and decide on the extent of your journey. You should also bring extra supplies in case of an emergency," she added. Arin leaned forward. "Can you tell me anything about the monsters that dwell within?" he asked.

"The monsters of the upper levels are fairly common, but the distribution is irregular. Some areas are suitable for beginners while others are too dangerous to be worth exploring. The lower regions have less predictable conditions and should not be explored without a thorough knowledge of combat and survival techniques," she said. She tapped at an area on the map.

"The Guild also recommends collecting any magic stones dropped by the monsters you encounter. They are valuable, and you can trade any you collect at the appropriate counters," she continued. Arin nodded in understanding. He already knew most of this information, but it was still good to go over.

"What about recent events?" Ayan asked. "Have there been any irregularities in the monster patterns or distribution?" The young woman looked thoughtfully at him. "We’ve had some reports of abnormal monster sightings, but nothing that has officially been classified as dangerous. The dungeon is always changing, and monsters can be unpredictable. If you’re concerned about specific dangers, we can look over those records with you," she offered.

"That would be nice," Arin said. The girl gathered up a stack of documents and passed them across the counter. Arin skimmed over the pages as the young woman continued. The upper reaches of the Ravengard Dungeon were littered with established routes, marked with temporary encampments where adventurers could regroup and organize their equipment.

Beyond them, monsters grew stronger and the dangers multiplied. Some areas were unmapped, and the Guild did not recommend unprepared parties wandering into these places. Arin especially wanted to explore those areas. Not to go straight into the heart of the dungeon and fight the strongest monsters, but to observe and learn.

He now had the skills of a Dungeon Master, and it was time that he learned to use them. "Arene, do you see any inconsistencies in this map?" Arin thought. "I can analyze the text you’ve provided," Arene replied, "but I cannot access the dungeon through the map."

"Can you see any irregularities?" Arin asked. "By all means, allow me to look over the text. I’ll see what I can find," Arene said. Meanwhile, Arin read over the documents that the young woman had given him.

"Several areas on this map have been remapped," Arene noted. "That is to be expected. I believe that some of the descriptions are incomplete. You should consider the possibility that the map only covers a fraction of the dungeon’s true extent," she explained. "That makes sense," Arin said.

"You should also keep in mind that your Dungeon Sense does not make you an expert in dungeon architecture. It is one thing to know what surrounds you and quite another to learn how it was constructed," Arene warned. "I know that," Arin replied. "Then you’re ready."

"I suggest you study these reports before you decide on the extent of your journey. You may also want to visit the equipment shops in the eastern square. Several of them specialize in supplies for adventurers," the young woman said. "Thank you," Arin said. He gathered up the documents and stood to go.

Saira was already waiting for him. "So, what’s the plan?" she asked. Arin looked up at the inn, then back toward the square. "We find ourselves accommodations and purchase any supplies we may need. Tomorrow morning, we enter the dungeon," he said.

Adnan joined them, holding a piece of paper he had torn off the notice board earlier. "I found some good requests," Adnan said. "Including one that involves retrieving materials from the dungeon. We could make some money and take this journey," he suggested. "Let’s focus on the dungeon first," Arin said.

"If we like the conditions and terrain, we can decide the extent of our journey. Once we’ve made those decisions, we can look into the rest of the requests," Arin added. Adnan nodded. Ayan studied the map. "I suggest we agree on a retreat condition before we enter the dungeon. We should not continue exploring if the path ahead isn’t worth it," Ayan said.

"That’s a good point," Arin said. Saira raised an eyebrow at the young Dungeon Master. "So, what happened to the Arin I know and love? Have you truly outgrown your petty little desires and finally learned to be reasonable?" she teased. Arin stared at Saira, then back at Ayan.

"What? Who are you and what have you done to my friend Ayan?" Arin asked. "I can be reasonable," Ayan said. "More often than not," he added. Mira chuckled as she adjusted the strap on her bag. "Let’s find that inn before you two start an argument," she said.

---

The group found accommodations at an inn not far from the Adventurer’s Guild Hall. After a long day of travel, they spent the evening preparing for their expedition into the dungeon. Arin and Adnan visited several stores near the edge of the square, purchasing a number of supplies. Arin spent a long time studying the wares on display before making a purchase, inspecting every item to make sure it would be useful in the dungeon.

Saira browsed the selection of replacement weapons and gear, while Ayan considered the various accessories and eventually dismissed most of them as unnecessary. Mira gathered a selection of medicinal supplies, and the group sorted everything out before returning to the inn. By the time evening closed in, the supplies were neatly arranged on the beds and Arin was seated near the window, studying the map one more time.

The streets of the city were lit by swaying lamps and the sounds of wandering adventurers could be heard drifting through the open window. Arin traced the lines on the map with his fingertip. Tomorrow, he would explore another dungeon. The details and challenges would be different, but the dangers and the mysteries would be just as intriguing.

The reason he wanted to learn about other dungeons was to understand the principles behind their architecture. He wanted to see what made one dungeon different from another, to see what set the structures of monsters and monsters alone apart from a mixture of both. Arin’s thoughts strayed to the Pocket Dungeon.

One day, once his Dungeon Master Authority had reached Level Two, he would be able to activate it and shape it into something unique. Arin smiled at the thought. He would create something only he could design, a dungeon of his choosing, with his monsters, his traps, his treasures.

Every adventurer who entered it would have to test their skills, intelligence and nerve in a place crafted solely for that purpose. He would make it challenging, so that no adventurer would expect a single room to be more complex than the next, and exciting so that every one of them would live the adventure of a lifetime. "Yet another place I shall create and call my own," Arin murmured.

"You’re thinking about your Pocket Dungeon again," Arene said. "It is rather obvious that you are," she added. Arin chuckled and leaned back against the cushioned seat. "I have many ideas," he said. "I suggest you gain enough authority to carry them out," Arene replied.

"I will. You’ve also mentioned that my exploration of this dungeon is of greater importance than my architectural musings," Arin said. "That is correct. In case you hadn’t noticed, your explorations will take up the entire course of tomorrow. Perhaps I should remind you to keep focused," Arene said.

"I understand. This will be quite the challenge. Tomorrow, I will explore another dungeon, and I will return with all the information I can gather," Arin said. "With your history, I wouldn’t expect any less. You truly are a prodigy," Arene said. Arin laughed and leaned toward the window, gazing out over the rooftops of the city.

The entrance to the dungeon awaited his party’s arrival at dawn.