Chapter 24: Dungeon Boss

-Reyha Kingdom; Gallo's Outskirts; Goblin's Lair; 9th Floor-

"Oh... You really want to play the long game?... Well, luckily for you, I love telling stories, now sit and let me tell you about this one, I'll make it quick don't worry, after all, it would be a pity to let this guy die from blood loss rather than actually killing him." The masked woman pointed at a rock that was the right size to work as a seat, calmly talking to Kymani, if not a bit aloof.

'Is she serious?!... No, this is likely a trap, I need to keep my guard up, but let's not jump at this, and instead understand as much as I can and then go from there.' Kymani decided faced with the oddly calm masked lady.

While wary of his surroundings, Kymani took the woman on her offer, while the young man continued to try and crawl out of there.

"Ok, so where do I start?... I gues- hey! Your efforts aren't going to lead anywhere! I can just go get you on the 8th floor even if you somehow get there! Honestly, this guy really can't deal with the idea he's dying... Oh well, you lose some you win some, just don't think of it too much." The woman was going to tell Kymani about the situation but then was distracted by the young man who was still trying to escape.

'Does she know?...' Kymani immediately found himself wondering.

"You really need to work on your composure... But to answer what I believe are your doubts, yes I'm aware of the dungeon and what it does to me and my people, but don't worry, I don't take the genocide you adventurers commit on a daily basis personally." The masked lady nonchalantly said seeing Kymani's expression.

'Nobody would believe that...' Kymani was not convinced.

"Is that so?..." Keeping a deadpan expression he asked.

"Yeah, once you've died enough times, something breaks in you, and whatever you were before will probably be left behind once you build yourself up from the ground. Things like hatred, disgust, grudges, envy, and so on don't usually survive the reconstruction process." The lady continued calmly.

"How unnerving..." Kymani was at a bit of a loss for words and reverted to smiling awkwardly.

"Don't sweat it, it's just how life is for us, but on the positive side, we don't have to worry about anyone we care for staying dead, which is a plus... Unless you actually want to die, in which case... That's unfortunate." The lady expressed in a cheerful tone, with what Kymani assumed was a smile under her mask.

"A bit morbid... No?" Kymani questioned still smiling awkwardly.

"Maybe? I couldn't tell you. Anyway, I wanted to tall you about something, but... I forgot... What was it again?" The lady began slightly knocking on the bone mask covering her face as if trying to remember something.

"The guy bleeding to death... Right now..." Kymani wasn't sure if this woman was serious or just trying to mess with him, but nonetheless, he wanted to see where this would go.

"Oh that... Yeah, so my hobbies are collecting stories and trying to experience new things, but that's beyond the point. On one of my most recent escapades, I found out that individuals which adventurers refer to as dungeon bandits have been settling on the entrance warp pad of the lower floors, so I began hunting them down, and eventually, they came to me with a deal. Unfortunately, they had the audacity of breaking the deal, so I'm killing them all." The lady explained.

"Wait... I'm pretty sure we met with some of them on the 6th floor. Also, what kind of deal did you make?" Kyamani began asking.

"I can't enter the 6th floor, I can only climb up to the 7th. As for my deal, while I don't care for these fools, I'm a woman of my word and not one to talk about my deals easily." The claim with her head high and her arms crossed while having her chest puffed up.

"Fair enough, but is killing this guy really necessary?" Kymani inquired.

"You're pretty loyal to them, I guess I'll have to kill you too, which is kind of a pity, listeners like you are fun to have around, just your expressions alone make for a good show." The lady shook her head as she spoke.

"I don't work for them, I'm just trying to understand the situation, though at this point I won't try to stop you. It seems you had a deal, and he was aware of the consequences. Plus I didn't know he is a dungeon bandit." Kymani shrugged his shoulders.

"Hum... Ok, I don't think you're that bad, so I'll give you a chance, but please make it easier for both of us, and just surrender if you turn on me." The lady walked to the still-crawling young man.

"Please! Don't! You were having fun talking to that guy, right?! I'm sure you still have a lot to say! And you like the thrill of the hunt? How about at least giving me a heads-up of a few hours? Anything! Anything! Just let me live! I don't want to die! Please!" The man once again began begging for his life, being quite energetic for his state.

"Just think of it this way, at least you got to live to this point, and death is not the end, just a new being such are the teaching of Glovnort! May your soul be punished adequately once you die." The masked woman without waiting, as soon as she finished speaking decapitated the young man quickly leaving only silence.

{Master, will you take any of these human bodies as your own?} Lavenica questioned.

{... No, I want better treatment than resembling a dungeon bandit... And I've even considered building one myself, I mean in this crazy world with magic and gods it shouldn't be impossible, right?} Kymani replied.

{It is indeed possible, but many things will be necessary for that.} Lavenica clarified.

{Great! We can get back to that once we return to the palace.} Kymani was excited.

Some time passed, and the silence still dominated, but it was then broken by Kymani.

"Just who exactly are you?" he questioned.

"I'm the great chiefess Rakuia, though adventurers tend to refer to me as the dungeon Boss, which in a way I guess I am, though I think it would be more accurate to call me a glorified prisoner, however, that's beyond the point. Anyway, are you going to introduce yourself? Oh and is the girl taking cover near the warp pad with you?" The lady once again puffed her chest out, as she introduced herself before pointing at Lavenica.

{The cover was blown, let's just go with it, she seems reasonable enough... To an extent...} Kymani told Lavenica.

{Understood, but please stay alert.} Lavenica responded.

"Oh, I'm Kymani and that's Lavenica, we're adventurers." Kymani answered.

"With that attitude, you feel more like sage students to me. Most adventurers just jump into the fray no questions asked, and even those who don't, aren't really going to casually talk to me." Rakuia expressed.

"Didn't these guys strike a deal with you?" Kymani asked.

"Yes, but they are or better were more so bandits than adventurers per say, adventurers are monster hunters, and that's their main thing, unlike mercenaries who deal with more non-monster related situations or the thieves guild, who deal with information and assassination. Adventurers are thought of as the jack of all trades, which to an extent they are, but their specialty and priority is and always has been to deal with monsters. If you don't even know that, you might not be suited for this." Rakuia explained.

"That's an interesting way to look at things, and I guess you're not wrong..." Kymani was a bit surprised by her perspective on things.

"... And you seem to know a lot for someone who's always been here." Lavenica pointed out.

"As I told him, I listen to stories as a hobby, and eventually I learned a lot about the outside world. I even have a few friends who will visit on occasion." Rakuia replied.

"I hope you don't mind it too much, she's just worried. But I got a bit curious, why sage apprentices? That's quite specific..." Kymani diverted the conversation to something else.

"It's because of two friends of mine, and I can tell you about it some other time when you visit the 10th floor, for now, I have to go." Rakuia said.

"Actually, Master is trying to complete the dungeon, and I would like to request you at least take his challenge." Lavenica spoke up.

"Hum... I don't want to fight right now or here, but if you really need to do it, you can either kill me here, I won't fight back and it spares me the trouble of having to go back to the village or you can come with me, and I can even tell you that story later there. The fight could be after that." Rakuia was not bothered by Lavenica's words and instead stopped to think before calmly responding.

'She's unusual for someone who just hunted down a whole group of bandits and killed them all..." Kymani narrowed his eyes at Rakuia's attitude.

"I guess it won't hurt to go to your village... Honestly, I didn't even consider a village existing in this dungeon. So... Lead the way." Kymani decided.

{Master, this could be a trap, so you can't let your guard down. Though I advise against this decision, I've come to notice that you are stubborn and probably won't change your mind, so at least be wary.} Lavenica immediately told Kymani.

{I'll be careful, don't worry... When have I ever not... You know what scratch that, but this time, I'll be careful.} Kymani reassured her.

From there, Kymani and Lavenica both followed Rakuia, Lavenica being much more aware of her surroundings than the rather easygoing Kymani, not that he wasn't paying attention, just not nearly as much as her.

Along the way, they found more goblins, and to both Kymani and Lavenica's surprise, Rakuia herself was killing them as they came to be in their way.

"Aren't they your people?" Kymani inquired curious.

"Not necessarily, they have basically no intelligence of their own and will attack anything that doesn't prove itself stronger than them. So they are more like wild animals than anything, the ones in the village are more like me, or Iketica. Oh right, I never got around to asking you. Why do you look like him?" Rakuia questioned.

"... Cause I guess I got this body from him... The one I killed... I won't get into detail but it's something like that." Kymani somewhat almost explained.

"Oh, so you're some sort of body-stealing parasite? That's quite terrifying, but now I definitely want to hear more about you!" Rakuia expressed with an air of curiosity and excitement.

'You don't sound terrified at all... But more importantly... Things like those exist in this world?!' Kymani thought to himself as chills went down his spine thinking of the existence of such a creature.

Deciding to not say I else, Kymani just lets her believe her story.

The trip continued as moved on, killing the goblins in the way and Kymani was rewarded for his continuous grind.

[You have met the experience point requirement. Your level has risen to 9.]

He then continued to go deciding to check that later, and they slaughtered through hordes of goblins all the way to the 10th floor.

-Reyha Kingdom; Gallo's Outskirts; Goblin's Lair; 10th Floor-

After getting there, they continued to track through until eventually, Kymani received a few notifications.

[You have met the experience point requirement. Your level has risen to 10.]

[As you have reached level 10, your unique ability <Challenger Ascension> has been activated.]

[Challenge #1: A Real Warrior

Description: You must prove to be a real warrior, one who can fight under conditions that do not favor you. In line with the dark cave tunnels in which you find yourself, show what you got and do it blindly.

Objective: Defeat Rakuia the great, without being able to see.

Failure conditions: Defeat, utilizing your eyes during battle, or death.

Rewards: Random Skill, +1 Willpower, +2 Magic, +2 Dexterity, +1 Agility, +1 Luck]

'... I don't know if I can do this, but I can't pass on those rewards... Plus there are no punishments, so lets at least try.' Kymani decided.

Eventually, they reached a village with large wooden walls surrounding all of it. As soon as they got close enough, the goblins guarding the entrance greeted Rakuia, then coming running was Iketica alive and completely uninjured as he jumped at Rakuia trying to hug her.

"Great Chiefess! How I missed you!" Iketica was smiling widely.

Only to be stopped she grabbed him by the face and slammed him on the ground cracking it.

"Not here you idiot! Plus you lost a fight so you still have to sleep outside for a few days." Rakuia responded with an evil smile that Kymani saw as sadistic in nature.

"Oh yeah, this is my husband, Iketica, as you probably already know since you were the ones to defeat him." Rakuia then turned to the party and explained.

"You can't be this cold... I haven't seen you in months..." Iketica complained.

"Be mindful of your role as the strongest male in the tribe, you're the mini-boss for a reason. What will I do with you?" Rakuia shook her head before sighing and picking up Iketica then guided the party to her house.

On the way, they could see various wooden houses, and many goblins going back and forth, but most of them were high goblins, rather than the typical smaller ones of which only a few could be seen.

Soon they found themselves in Rakuia's house, where she was tending to Iketica's bruises that she herself caused calmly and gently using some green substance and bandages, while he told her about how he lost to Kymani, unable to make himself look a bit better since Kymani was there.

"You're such a hot head, why would you just go and use your incomplete technique like that!?" Rakuia scolded him very clearly mad.

"Sorry! I just got pumped up seeing how he was the best opponent I've had in ages! It's not also really fair! I deserve a rematch! Up there on the 5th floor, I can't use my full power, but here I'm sure I would be the winner!" Iketica expressed.

"Don't be rude, they are our guests, and Kymani will fight you if he wants to, otherwise don't bother him." Rakuia said.

"Hmph! How could I?! He basically stole my body! My body!... You know what, it doesn't matter, as long as you give me the rematch I'll forgive you." Iketica turns to Kymani.

"I don't mind, let's just accept the result no matter what it is." Kymani replied.

"Fair enough! Hehehe!" Iketica was satisfied with the response.

"You just got back and are already trying to get into a fight with the one who killed you, and here I thought you actually missed me with that display earlier." Rakuia commented with a smirk.

"Of course I did! But that is that, and this is this. Man must resolve their conflicts before anything else." Iketica answered.

"Ok then, but it will have to wait. Let's have something to eat, and then it's story time, only after that will we do the fighting. Understood?" Rakuia declared.

"It's not going to take that lon-" Iketica wanted to refute, but was interrupted.

"Understood?" Rakuia got serious.

"O-Of course!" Iketica conceded.

{She wears the pants it seems...} Kymani commented.

{Indeed} Lavenica agreed.