Hidden Floor

Rey's POV ***

When I opened my eyes, it seemed as if I was in a room of some kind. Everyone were also present there and were taking a look at the situation.

"Hey! Have you ever heard of this hidden floor." Jim asked with a clear hint of fear on his face.

"Never!"

"Me neither."

Both Natalie and Kale shaked their heads in disappointment.

I checked the room we were currently in, there was a single door for the exit. The room was also quite big, as if made for at least ten people. It reminded me somehow of the store room of a big mansion as there were trash everywhere. The walls were done nicely as if this place was a living habitat.

Also one more thing I noticed was that there was no system message after coming in this floor. Also it is said that the status of mage can only go up, once the mage goes out of the dungeon. Since there hasn't been any updates in my status, that means we are still in the dungeon.

"Hey Natalie, did your guild has ever told you about something like this?" Kale asked.

"No, I don't. . . . . . . Wait! Rey, you were saying to stay alert at all times, did you knew something was going to happen?" She asked me with wide eyes.

Along with her, everyone else's attention was also on me.

'I knew this was coming...'

"Well. . u-uhm. . The only thing I can say is that, I have very keen sense skill. It is a Passive skill. It is only activated when something very wrong is going to happen. That's why, when we entered the first floor, I got an alarm from the skill."

I lied and made up a very possible scenario.

'Well, it's not like I trust them enough to let them know about Jerry. Even if we are friends, I am only going to stay here for 6 months.'

Everyone looked at me with skeptical eyes. I understand where they were coming from.

Kale sighed.

"Give it up Natalie, he already told us about a possible danger. He also has his reasons and everyone has one or two secret skills." Kale said with clarity in his voice.

"I believe you too Rey!" Jim also made his stand clear.

And we all looked at Natalie.

"Eeh!. . . Wh-Why are you all looking at me? I just asked him a question. Rey I believe you too, without you and your training, we wouldn't have increased our strength nor we could have challenged this dungeon. I just wanted to ask if you knew anything else."

"I don't know. I am as clueless as you are...." I replied with an helpless expression.

'If only that Jerry was a little more reliable and regular.'

Sigh~

Then suddenly in the middle of our discussion, a similar light which teleported us from the second level, appeared on the other side of the room.

When the light subsided, there were five familiar people standing.

They were the five stars of Grace Academy's Class - A - 1.

'Talk about unexpected..... I have a really bad feeling about this.'

The light completely went out and both the groups stared at each other for a good few moments.

Garrett broke the silence between the two groups by pointing towards us and asking -

"Who are you? And why are you here?"

As soon as he said that, I could see a vein bulging out of Natalie's head. I get the second question, but this guy doesn't know his own classmates.

'Is he dumb?'

"You - . . ."

As soon as Natalie started saying, she was cut off by Amisha.

"Natalie Ridd , Kale Denise , Rey Hilde and the other guy, I apologize on behalf of Garrett who couldn't even remember his own classmates. But, how are you here? Can you please explain."

She asked us with a polite smile.

For some reason I didn't like her attitude at all. She was being polite on the outside but she just wanted to hear our situation without explaining theirs to us. It was as if we were just a bunch of nobodies.

And not to mention the outright disrespect for Jim. She was an elitist but clearly favored the Elliott guy but when it comes to others she is back to her true nature.

"His name is Jim!" Natalie also didn't liked her attitude and rebuked her. She went on saying-

"And why should we tell you about our situation when it should be us asking you!!"

As Natalie made her stand clear, Amisha and the others were stunned still for a moment. I guess this guys never heard someone saying no to them.

Elliott was the first one to recover and said -

"Ahm. . . We were clearing the E-Rank dungeon 'Stone Age'. After we completed the second level of the dungeon, a message about the hidden floor popped up and we were teleported in this room. Now please tell us how you got here!"

When Elliott asked, all three of them looked at me and following their eyes, now everyone in the room was looking at me.

' A leader should handle all the difficult problems I guess. . . . . '

"It was basically the same thing for us except we were clearing the F-Rank dungeon 'Goblin's Den'. We cleared the second floor and the message popped up. Boom! We were teleported here. We came here around five minutes earlier than you lot."

"What are we supposed to do now Somia? I have never heard from my father about a hidden floor. And to add to our miseries, this lot of low level baggage is now with us!!"

The speaker Garrett looked at our group with contempt. He was different from Amisha who was an elitist, he was someone who only respected the people on top of the rankings. He is always around this particular four people because they are at the top in their own leagues. Elliott was an exception because he had personal issues with Garrett.

"This scum. . . . " Natalie couldn't take anymore insults and went on her rant of sweet words. Kale had to hold her mouth with all his power to make her shut up. Me and Jim were thoroughly enjoying the couple's funny scene.

While we were having a laugh, the other side was quite a serious discussion.

CLICK~

Suddenly the door opened and everyone's attention was drawn towards the two old people who entered through the door.

When I looked closely, the old man with short height, skinny body and his skin color kind of green reminded me of a goblin. While the other one was definitely a human. He was tall and muscular.

When they entered the room, we all took a step back instinctively. I can tell that I will die no matter what I do if these old man attacks us. They were both insanely powerful. If I have to compare their presence with someone I knew than these guys would probably be in the same league as the old man from the pagoda.

"Oh my kekeke! Don't be scared little mages, we are not here to fight you or harm you. I will start by introducing myself, My name is Gaby and this right here is my old friend Alvan. We are the Dungeon Masters of 'Goblin's Den' and 'Stone Age' respectively." The goblin like old man spoke first and addressed himself as the dungeon master.

"Are you the 'Supreme Stone Alchemist' Alvan Klasc?" It was Somia who asked the question to the muscular man.

'Here goes the academic nerd. . . . '

"Hmm. Little girl, you are very knowledgeable about our history. Good, Good!" The old man was clearly happy that he was recognized by others.

"And you Sir, must be the Goblin King." Somia added while looking at Gaby.

"It is an old title which do not matter anymore. What does matter is the special quest you all will be receiving now from both of us." Gaby said with a big smile.

"Can we decline? I mean the special quest." Surprisingly it was Jim who asked the question.

"I am extremely sorry child but you cannot. This quest only activates every 18th trial of the dungeon dive. Once you completed the second level, you cannot back down." Gaby spoke with an apologetic tone.

"Loser! I will accept. What is the quest?" Garrett butted in once again. But this time everyone of us also nodded. Even I was curious about the quests from the supposedly legendary figures.

At that time a system notification popped up.

[ A special quest from the hidden floor has been triggered. ]

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QUEST : BELPHEGOR'S CASTLE

Objective : Split in pair of two and collect the five parts of the holy relic that are scattered throughout the castle. Avoid being caught or killed by Belphegor's servants who protect the remains of the relic. After collecting all five remains of the relic, go to the main chamber of the castle and seal the weakened body of unconscious Belphegor inside the relic.

Reward : The party of Rey can ask for any treasure or skill from the Goblin King.

The party of Elliott can ask for any treasure or skill from Alchemist Alvan.

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