Seeker 205

Test

Chapter 205. Fire And Ice Dungeon

As morning broke, the search for the dungeon began promptly. 

The dungeon search itself was to be conducted by the dynamic duo of Bargamund-san and Yusepfia-san, the 8 Heroes. 

Kazane-san, Yuzuki, and I, along with the 3 Dwarf warriors, were tasked with the town's defense. 

In other words, we were on guard duty. 

It was because 8 Heroes were chosen for dungeon exploration quite simply: their combat capabilities. 

They were highly likely to handle encounters with the massive hordes of monsters outside the village, where the fortress's defensive effects did not extend.

It's worth noting that Bargamund-san's level was 77. 

Both he and Yusefia possessed exceptional strength, as befitting worldwide heroes. 

By the way, I wasn't just on guard duty; I also conducted aerial reconnaissance riding a griffin. 

Griffins allowed me to fly through the sky while mounted, although the flying time in that state was not very long. 

I would take off from the fortress, conduct a few minutes of reconnaissance, return for rest, and repeat the pattern once I replenish my stamina.

The dungeon search proceeded in this manner, but results came relatively quickly. 

There should be signs on the way to the dungeon's entrance, and Barzamundo's intuition was spot on. 

Following traces of trampled grass and other signs, they discovered what appeared to be the entrance to the dungeon in just a few hours since the start of the search.

However, the report brought back by Bargamund-san and Yusefia-san upon discovering the cave was somewhat unexpected.

"Two teleportation magic circles... you say?"

I asked them this question as I welcomed the 8 Heroes back at the gate.

Bargamund-san nodded slowly and passed through the gate, heading up the hill towards their residence.

"Yeah. When I ventured into what seemed to be the cave entrance, the paths inside the cave split left and right along the way. The left and right paths had teleportation magic circles at dead ends."

"And there was a stone monument at the branching point. Judging by the text inscribed on the monument, it seems to be indeed the entrance to the dungeon."

Yusefia-san said as she followed Bargamund, shrugging her shoulders, along with us.

When I heard about teleportation magic circles in this world, I couldn't help but recall the first time I met Aria-san. 

We had ventured toward a cave rumored to be inhabited by orcs, only to encounter an unexpected teleportation magic circle along the way, which sent us into an unknown dungeon. 

Back then, we defeated the dungeon's boss, Stone Golem, and returned safely.

From Bargamund-san and Yusepfia-san's accounts, it seemed that dungeons in this world generally followed a similar format. 

You would get transported into the dungeon via a teleportation magic circle, and this transport was mostly one-way. 

You couldn't escape until you defeated the boss and "cleared" the dungeon.

In return, this world's dungeons typically don't have the depth of dozens of floors like our world's. 

Usually, they either don't have floors or, if they do, they might have a maximum of around 4 floors.

Yusefia-san added the following.

"The issue is what was written on the stone monument at the branching point. It says, 'Fire And Ice Dungeon. To challenge the dungeon, you must have two or more people enter the two magic circles simultaneously.'."

Um... what does that mean? 

Let's organize what we heard from the two. 

First, the name of the dungeon they found is "Fire And Ice Dungeon".

Even when compared to the monsters that have attacked the village so far, this dungeon is likely the root of the problem. 

What's unique is that there are 2 teleportation magic circles at what seems to be the entrance to the dungeon. 

According to the inscription on the monument, to challenge this dungeon, you need to enter both teleportation circles simultaneously with a group of people.

Furthermore, when we recall the attributes of the monsters that have attacked the village, they were Fire, Ice, Fire, Ice. 

There was never a combination of 2 different attributes. 

What we can infer from this is that the destinations of the two magic circles are likely different, with one leading to the Fire Dungeon and the other to the Ice Dungeon.

To challenge this dungeon, we might need to form 2 groups and simultaneously conquer both dungeons. 

Though it's not confirmed, it's a possibility we should consider.

"But that stone monument? Who wrote something like that? This is a newly formed dungeon, right?"

Yuzuki asked this pure question. 

Bargamund-san responded.

"Dungeons themselves are a peculiar and mysterious enigma. That's just how it is. How such things can be created is beyond our comprehension. There's even a common belief that it's the work of the Evil God Lathima, who rules over games and pleasures."

Lathima, who rules over games and pleasures, sounded familiar to me. 

I remembered that the cultists who had attacked Dwarf village earlier worshipped a god with that name. 

However, Yusefia-san wasn't happy with that explanation and interjected.

"Hey, Bargamundo. Let's forget that common belief for now, But it's a bit different to call the goddess Lathima an evil god. There are just a lot of idiots among her followers who misinterpret the teachings."

"Is that so? If there are many scoundrels among the followers, it's usually an Evil God."

"That's completely different, you fool."

It seemed that Yusefia-san had a particular attachment to this issue. 

Well, for those of us who were not well-versed in the religions of this world, it was a trivial matter.

In any case, we found something resembling the entrance to the dungeon, and that was progress.

Upon returning to the garrison, we held a strategy meeting based on this discovery. 

We would venture into the dungeon and try to conquer it the same day because haste makes waste.