Chapter 98: The City

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The City

Ravengard was far from sleeping when Arin decided to head outside the inn. Merchants set up their stalls, adventurers gathered in small groups, and laborers worked on the wagons. "This place doesn’t sleep," Arin said, yawning. Adnan joined him outside.

"It does. Just not for long," Adnan said. Saira stepped out after him, fastening her wrist strap. "This sounds like misery," she said. "Makes a living," Adnan chuckled. Ayan joined them, unfazed by the early hour.

"This is not an exception," Ayan said. Arin turned on his heels, watching the city. It presented an enjoyable view. Yesterday this city had been impressive. Today, it seemed lively. The latter trait was due to the adventurers.

Almost every street had a weapon shop. Potion sellers shared the space with blacksmiths, while various workshops had equipment specially adapted for delving. One of the shops had reinforced boots. Another was offering emergency crystals to teleport away from any harmful situation, but one of the shops had a wooden sign that read:

DUNGEON MAPS - UPDATED WEEKLY - NO REFUNDS IF YOU IGNORE THEM

Arin was already planning to visit this particular establishment. "It’s the maps that attract you, isn’t it?" Adnan asked. "If so, this place has given up arguing with silly adventurers," Arin replied, and Adnan laughed.

The group moved towards the city center, Arin observing the surroundings. They were filled with adventurers, who either engaged in banter or haggled over some magical artifacts. Arin smiled as he passed one argument. "Three hundred silver," one said. "And this fang is worth five hundred," another argued.

"And it has a crack," the first said. "The monster tried to use it and failed!" the second replied. "It also tried to bite me!" the first shouted. Arin knew that the nature of business never changed. The buildings grew larger as the party approached the market district.

Hotels, guild halls, auction houses, shops - all were there to serve the needs of the adventurers. They were the backbone of this town. Adventurers would enter the dungeon, survive, and bring something worth selling with them back to the surface. This was the cycle. Money flowed into the city with adventurers, and the population prospered because of it.

Arin slowed down. "Arene, look at this. This entire district exists because of the dungeon," he said. "It does seem so," Arene replied. "Because of the dungeon, specifically," Arin added. Arin glanced around. This part of the market was completely dominated by businesses that needed adventurers for their survival.

Blacksmiths armed them, potion sellers healed their wounds, and workshops supplied the equipment. Merchants bought their goods and, consequently, employed delvers as salespeople. Hotels provided the necessary rest, and guides marked the dungeon’s safest paths. Even the food kiosks were strategically placed near the entrances to the dungeon district.

That observation did not particularly impress Arin at first. To him, a dungeon was always a source of monsters and treasure, but it was growing on him. A dungeon could impact an entire settlement. This was an insight worth keeping in mind. "Interesting," Arene noted.

"What?" Arin asked. "You are studying the correlation between the dungeon and the surrounding population," Arene said. "Shouldn’t I?" Arin asked. "A Dungeon Master, who sees only monsters and traps, can hardly be aware of all interactions. He is bound to have a limited perception of the concept," Arene said.

"You are making that face again," Saira suddenly remarked. Arin turned. "I am?" "That face is called ’I think about the dungeon,’" Saira said. Arin shook his head. "I do not have that face," he said. "You do have it!" Adnan also noted. "You do have this face."

Arin turned to check Ayan. The dragon shrugged. "You have the face," Ayan said. "Traitors!" Arin said. They continued inspecting the city when the road gradually turned into a broad square. Arin understood the reason behind this change when he saw a gathering of adventurers on the square.

A part of the group was picking up various supplies, while the others discussed something on a notice board. Recruiters were talking with separate adventurers. "Need one healer for second-ring expedition!" one shouted. "Experienced shield user wanted!" another called. "Three-person party is looking for a tracker," a third said. "Material collectors paying extra for the Crinibug shells!" a fourth shouted.

Arin turned to look at this scene. "This is like a stock market but for adventurers," he said. "It is indeed," Adnan added. A young man waved a board above his head. It read: F-RANK SUPPORT. CHEAP. DESPERATE. Arin froze in place, then laughed. Saira soon joined in after reading the message.

"That used to be me," Arin said, turning towards the young man. The F-rank support specialist was surprised as he took down the sign. "You were support?" he asked. "No," Arin said. "Then what are you laughing about?" the man asked. Arin turned around. "There was no reason for it. Good luck!" he said.

They approached the center of the square, where a large notice board was located. Unlike the Guild’s notice board, this one contained special information relevant to dungeon adventurers.

On it, Arin read reports about monsters, floor changes, resources, and dangers. The last one caught his attention, as three names were reported as missing. Adnan read the note. "Recent?" he asked. There was a small time mark near the names. "Just two days ago," Arin replied.

"All from the same party?" Adnan asked. "It cannot be. It says one pair, an individual, and different time marks," Arin said. Ayan looked interested. "Do their routes coincide?" he asked. They studied the map affixed to the bottom of the board. "Not really," Arin replied.

"But..." Adnan cast a dubious look at Arin. "Only dungeon casualties can appear on this board," Arene reminded everyone. "You do not have to invent some mystery around this," she said. "I am not inventing anything. This is suspicious enough," Arin replied.

Arin looked at the map again and recalled that one of the missing adventurers was last seen near the third explored district, and another one around a resource tunnel. The third vanished after entering what should have been a mapped zone. It was not enough information to link these people and events.

Everything could be random, but Arin highly doubted it. "Look at this," Adnan said, pointing at another sign. Another report was pasted under the names of the disappeared adventurers. It read: TEMPORARY ROUTE CLOSURE. SOUTHERN PASSAGE. REASON: STRUCTURAL INSTABILITY. Arin read the notice.

Three days ago, the passage had partially collapsed, and exploring it was currently prohibited. "Recently happened," Arin noted. "So, we avoid that place," Ayan said. "I did not say that," Arin replied. "Actually, you did. You are about to," Ayan said. "I did not," Arin insisted.

"Will you stop lying to me?" Saira laughed. "He did," she said. Arin groaned. Everyone knew him too well. The dungeon district was located at the edge of the central square, which marked the beginning of the true district. Buildings grew larger and more reinforced, and warehouses took the place of shops.

Healing halls were placed throughout the area. Workshops stood adjacent to the warehouses, and blacksmiths were busy at their forges. Several large wagons waited outside, preparing to head back to the city with the injured. Arin paused to gaze at the memorial.

Not far from the healing halls, a modest building had small metal plates on the wall. Each plate had a name, representing a person who lost their life during an adventure. Arin could not describe the feeling that was growing in his chest. Everyone was excited about the dungeon, but no one thought about its cost.

"Exciting," Adnan said, looking over the names. "But my first teacher said that any place like this may seem more impressive when you realize how many people do not return," he added. Arin remained silent. He knew what it meant. A person could become an adventurer for various reasons, but he always put his life at risk in exchange for gold and experience.

A tall and sturdy construction was built around the stairs, forming a barrier against... something. The entrance was blocked and patrolled by the Guild guards. Multiple wards were placed around the base of the structure. Arin could feel the energy flow in the area. His markings slightly warmed as he recognized the presence.

"This dungeon is active," Arene noted. "I know. Don’t ask me to use the Authority," Arin replied in disbelief. "Actually, you thought of it," Arene said calmly. "I wanted to examine it," Arin lied. "My curiosity will not hurt anyone," he added. "Curiosity has already left you injured," Arene said.

"Be reasonable," Arin said. "This word has become an uncomfortable trap when you use it," Arene replied. Adnan turned to look at the entrance. Travelers came out of the dungeon in steady groups. Some went directly to the Guild, while others gathered near wagons, preparing to leave for the surface.

Wounded warriors who came out of the dungeon were placed on stretchers, ready to head to the city’s hospitals. Bags of glowing stones were taken out of the tunnels, along with various artifacts and equipment. A single adventurer came out, leaning on a support. Arin smiled. He was becoming an adventurer again.

"You never stopped being one," Adnan said, watching Arin’s face. "Technically, yes," Arin replied, followed by a chuckle. "I thought your F-Rank made you happy," Adnan said. "A little, I was/am," Arin admitted. Saira grinned. "You know you can get promoted," she said.

Arin turned to the entrance again. "We prepare," Ayan said. "Agreed," Arin replied. Arin turned on his heel and led the way back towards the inn. From now on, they learned more about the dungeon. They purchased an updated map and asked questions regarding monsters and dangers.

The group bought potions and bartered for equipment. Arin also learned where the safe campsites were supposed to be. Most importantly, he learned what people said. Adventurers always shared news. A group of newly promoted adventurers moaned about creatures that appeared in unwanted places, while another claimed to hear strange sounds from the dungeon’s depths.

One warrior said that something was changing within the dungeon, but another traveler said that it was just fantasy. Arin did not know who to believe, but the common idea was that something was changing in the dungeon, and not necessarily for the better. They returned to the inn in the late afternoon and spread out the map again.

Saira, Adnan, and Ayan were already in the room, and Mira prepared some potions on the table. "Tomorrow, we enter," Arin said, tapping the map. "How far do we plan to go?" Adnan asked. "Not that far," Arin replied, which caused Saira to look at him puzzled.

Adnan shrugged. "We establish the third campsite as the farthest point unless conditions are suitable for us," Adnan said. Arin frowned. "This is fine," he said. Saira stared at him in disbelief. "You gave in again," she said. "I am growing," Arin replied. "No, something is happening," Saira said.

Arin ignored her and studied the map. He would find out what changes had happened in the dungeon when they entered it tomorrow. Not much changed in the morning, but Arin knew that this could turn into an adventure. It most likely would become one. Arene said in his mind, "You are thinking too assuredly."

"Simple," Arin replied internally. He looked outside his window as Ravengard continued to work. Blacksmiths made weapons, shops sold potions and equipment, while adventurers prepared for the day’s work, and the city waited for them. Tomorrow, Arin would be a part of that again, only now he would not only be an adventurer. He would also be a Dungeon Master who studied the dungeon of another person.