First Encounter

Having mused over the cityscape, we decided to take a break inside the empty room to gather our thoughts.

According to 'Dungeons for Dummies'', dungeon spaces are chaotic in their generation and are typically very nonsensical, which means that each dungeon will be different from the others because there are no patterns. However, they all share one thing in common: They are spaces that only exist inside the dungeon. No matter how hard you look for them, you won't find them, because they do not exist outside the dungeon.

But then, what is this? This is pretty obviously some random city from some time in the 1800s. This space can't possibly just exist inside the dungeon.

I looked over toward Fiorella, who was fiddling with her fingers while staring at the ground. It seemed she wasn't in as much shock as me, but that would be obvious. Besides the architectural differences, this place didn't seem much different from the capital city of Belica.

And that's because the capital city was designed by someone from another world.

Could I be correct in assuming that dungeons aren't inherently from this world, but rather a portal to others? Then that would mean I could theoretically go back to my world and possibly even my past home.

''....The only way to confirm this is by going out,''

If this really is my world, then logically there should be people going about their lives, even if it's this late at night.

I stood up from the ground. Fiorella got up at the same time and followed behind me.

'W-Where are we going...?''

''Out. It's not like we can stay here forever.''

Fiorella's face grew pale, and she answered while trembling all over:

''R-Right, of course, yeah...''

...Is this girl really fit to be here? It's not like we can go back, but she seems like too much of a nerve-wrack to be fighting in the front lines. Besides, she lost her staff and I lost my halberd, so we're both already at a pretty big disadvantage.

''Don't be too nervous, if you are then you will hesitate when fighting, and the enemy will take advantage of that.''

I said, trying to reassure her. She pumped her fists up and nodded her head, but I wasn't so sure if she actually got it.

I opened the wooden door and we were greeted by a long, decrepit hall. If I was correct in assuming, we were inside an apartment complex.

There was a familiar musty, clogged smell of mold that comes from old and humid wood, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. Fiorella's nose scrunched up at the revolting scent.

''What is this place...''

Fiorella's quiet voice echoed through the empty apartment, and she instinctively covered her mouth. But still, even with that happening, no other sound came. No footsteps, no voices, nothing, it was an eerie sight.

Is this really the world I know? For sure somebody would've at least gotten out of their apartment with how loud her voice was.

''Let's go.''

I said and stepped outside, not before putting on the iron helmet I had attached to my hip.

As we walked through the empty hall, I couldn't shake off the feeling that we were being watched. Maybe it was the unnatural silence of the building, but still the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my heart began to race just slightly. We reached the end of the hall and saw a set of stairs.

We walked down, the wood creaking under our feet as we reached the entrance room of the building. It resembled the one from the inn back at Belica quite a lot. Although, the broken tiles on the floor and the peeling paint from the walls made it clear that this place hasn't seen anybody in quite a long time.

''Everything is so empty.''

We moved towards the wooden door and pushed it open, revealing the large and completely empty city street.

''Woah...''

Fiorella said in amazement, looking at the grand buildings that casted shadows over us, making the darkness of the night even darker.

The first thing I noticed was the very familiar smell of rotting flesh and viscera, at least, that's what it smelled like to me. It was a smell I knew all too well, having spent years on the battlefield. It didn't make it any easier to stomach.

I turned around towards the building we had left and saw that the faded sign read ''Elizabeth's Inn and Treats'', all in English. I had confirmed it, this wasn't the world I was originally in.

''Yuck, what's that?''

Fiorella's nose wrinkled at the stench.

''Something rotten. Let's keep moving.''

I tapped her on the shoulder and we began moving through the street. The feeling of being watched grew even heavier, and this time, I couldn't simply shake it off. There was no doubt that someone was watching us.

I moved my eyes toward the pitched roof of one of the buildings, and my heart seemed to stop at seeing some sort of creature perched at the top.

It was a monster with a body the size of a child's, but with wings that spanned for over 2 meters. Its form was shrouded in darkness, but I could still make out something shining in its face. I couldn't see it, but I recognized what it was very clearly.

It was smiling.

Before I could say anything, the creature disappeared from my sight, and a heavy shadow fell over us. It was only a second, but I managed to see the flutter of its wings.

''---Fiorella!''

I grabbed the girl by the robe's collar and pulled her back as something heavy crashed down over the place where we were just standing.

''Ah? Uh?''

''No time to be spacing out, there's more!''

It wasn't just one, multiple shadows fell over us and formed a circle. They crashed down and revealed themselves after the mist and dust dissipated.

The creatures were unlike any monster I'd seen. Their skin was mottled and leathery, with folds and wrinkles that seemed to writhe and twitch. Their stomachs were big and bloated, which gave them an unsightly appearance combined with their small size.

Their eyes were sunken and piercing, staring not just at us, but through us. Their flat noses twitched at our scent, and their maws opened wider to cackle a revolting laugh, revealing rows of small, sharp teeth. Everything about them screamed danger, from their bat-like veiny wings to their sharp claws and to their reptile-like feet.

They looked different than what I expected, but I just barely managed to recognize them. In my past world, they used to be nothing but statues, seemingly guarding or watching over old churches.

A disgusting monster, The Gargoyle.

''Fiorella, can you cast magic without a staff?''

Her answer didn't come immediately, as she struggled to get the words out.

''Y-Y-Yes.''

''Alright then, do your best effort to stay alive.''

---14 minutes after entering the dungeon, we encountered our first enemy.