Chapter 3

...

I grip my sword and swing it around.

!!

Without any effort, I managed to carve a mark on the wall.

This wall is made up of purple emerald stone coated in blue blood.

How was I?...

I realised my proficiency and swordsmanship improved a lot too. Is this the result of Keldon's training? What did he go through to become this strong?

...

Whatever.

I look around and found a treasure box sitting at the edge of the room.

There's not much inside, only some dirty equipment.

?

This mask...

---------------

Dragonic Mask.

A mask in the shape of a skull belonging to a dragon.

can hide the user's identity.

---------------

I take a hoodie and a mask and wear them.

...

Time to see how much the outside world has changed.

I realised I was in this boss room for about a year. I don't know how and why but I'm still alive and look similar to a year ago.

Let's see...

The huge door leads to outside. The door that Tusk can't even flinch

I kick the door open easily with ease.

...

Tch, the air here is supposed to stench but somehow I already got used to it. I should get out of this damn place.

-----------

"Hmm?" Says a woman.

"What's wrong?" Asks the man beside her.

"Ah no, I felt something at our cart over there."

"?"

"Ah never mind, it's probably nothing."

I sneaked into the cart of a pair of mercenaries.

Judging by the iron they are carrying, they are probably heading for Judger, a city popular for its bustling equipment economy. Because of its high-quality weapons and armour industry, they usually buy every mineral and weapon at a higher price than anywhere else.

I wait for both of them to finish resting and travelled to Judger.

--------

"Eh? What the..."

"What's wrong again?"

"Is it just me or does our cart have one spot which is slightly warm, as if someone just sat here."

Alright, I managed to sneak into judger.

My next step is...

I look around and can see the tall tower at the end of this city. Judger is located near the mountain for it's the source of mining.

I walk toward the gigantic tower.

Nearing it, I can see people forming teams. Why?

"Looking for teammates!"

I approach the guy nearest.

"Oh? Are you a knight?" He asks, seeing my sword.

"Yes but I'm curious, why are you recruiting people?" I ask.

"Oh! You must be a traveller. They are hosting a raid. Their mines were attacked by an anonymous entity. They even called the legendary archer, Lorraine!!"

Lorraine??!!

Legendary...?

What bullshit is this?

"Legendary? That bitch?...hahaha..."

"Hm? What's wrong?" That guy asks.

"Ah nothing much, may I ask, why is she a legendary archer?"

"She is in the Hero's party and they defeated the Demon King Avelos after all. For now, peace is secured but remaining monsters are still multiplying and roaming throughout the world."

This is what happens 1 year later huh. I wonder how many fucking teammates they sacrificed to achieve such a feat.

"Anyway, sure. I'm... Nel." I say.

"Nice! I'm Rex, I will introduce you to the rest later, for now, let's register you." He says.

...

In the waiting room, I can sense Lorraine's presence. That elf likes to emit her aura out to show her dominance.

The waiting room is a small, comfortable hall. There's a slight nice fragrance here too.

"Hey, you listening?" Asks Rex.

"Ah yes. What." I reply.

"This is Jane, our tank. Kio, our healer. Poppy, our mage, and I, Rex, the vanguard." Says Rex.

"Then what's even my role in this team?"

"Uhm... Well, you can be another vanguard! Doesn't hurt to have two." Says Jane.

"Hmm... Sure."

...

"Say, you look gloomy and you haven't taken off that mask of yours yet. I feel that you-"

I sigh and take off my mask. "Happy?"

"Y-Yeah..."

The raid goes like this, the first group of teams charges in and tries to clear as many as possible. When met with a strong monster, the first group is supposed to record it down and report back to the second group where they will clear the raid.

Needless to say, the first group is full of weak and naive fighters. The team that I am in, is from the first group.

Someone opens the door to the waiting room and the noise suddenly stops.

"Is everyone present?... If so, the raid is about to start, remember what we told you and treat it seriously. I know most of you here is doing this for the money but your lives are in danger if you let your greed takes over." Says the man at the front.

He is wearing a black tuxedo... As if he is some sort of high-class rich man.

"Nice! I'm so excited." Says Rex.

"Heh, did you even hear what that guy said? Our lives are in danger." Says Jane.

"Shut up. Let's go." I say and leave myself.

They are too noisy.

I look in the direction of Lorraine's aura.

That elf wearing a huge pointy hat and greenish armour with the world staff...yeah that's Lorraine alright, the bitch who is in love with Carlo and favours him so much.

Despite that, I don't see Carlo around. That must be the reason why Lorraine look so bored and pissed.

I smirk at the sight of her.

"Hm?" Lorraine turns around.

"High sage, what's wrong?" Asks the butler beside Lorraine.

"No, nothing... I just sensed some killing intent."

-------------

We enter the cave. The loud noises generated from the numbers in group one is frustrating.

...

I attempt to slip away but Rex stops me. "Where are you going? We are supposed to follow the route."

"This route is better, it's up to you whether you want to follow me," I reply.

Rex looks to Jane and the others before everyone nods. "Alright, lead the way."

...

Finally a bit of silence. We are quite far from the group now.

I touch the ground and sense a little vibration.

There's something ahead.

I draw my sword and that alerted my teammates.

"W-What is it-"

"Shh!" I silence them.

...

...

"SYAH!!!"

Claws? That's a Rac!

A Rac is similar to a simple rat but instead, it's 4 times bigger and fast and has sharp claws which can decapitate a normal human.

The Rac jumps at me and attacks.

I dodge back and step forward once the Rac misses.

From above, I slice down and cut the Rac into two.

"Nice!" Says Rex.

"Shut up, don't celebrate too early. Rac travels in groups." I say.

"Groups?!" Exclaims Jane.

A bunch of Rac ambushes Rex from above.

!!

Rex jumps back to dodge and Poppy immediately lights the group of Rac on fire.

They die immediately but that's not the end.

Jane plunges her huge shield into the ground, protecting Kio and Poppy while Rex charges upfront and kills the wave of Racs one by one.

Their teamwork is not bad...

Three Racs tries to attack me from behind, I turn my body and use the momentum to slash those Racs into two in one swing.

"Everyone goes behind Jane! Poppy, light them up on fire!!" Says Rex.

"Got it!" Says Poppy.

I did as instructed and Poppy starts to cast a spell.

"Fire beam!!" She shouts and a beam of fire shoots through the dark cave, illuminating it and killing every Racs.

?

The smoke disperses and reveals a giant Rac.

Unlike the other Racs, this Rac is standing on two feet and is wielding a sharper claw.

That's...

"A Rac champion?! Why is it here?!?" Exclaims Rex.

Hmm...

I dash ahead of Jane.

!!!

"Nel! Don't!" Says Jane.

I ignored her warning and continue charging forward.

The Rac champion strikes its blade down on me but I jump to avoid it and counter-attacks by attempting to decapitate it.

It knows what I am aiming for and lays onto the floor to dodge my high attack.

Tch!

This Rac champion is quite intelligent eh?! No problem!!

I use the ceiling as a boost and rain down with my sword's tip aiming for its head.

!!!!

With one swift thrust, I killed the Rac champion and levelled up.

"Phew..."

I release my sword from its lump of meat and sat on the floor.

"T-That was amazing!!" Exclaims Rex.

"Are you some sort of an elite knight?!" Says Kio.

"I'm not, I'm just a traveller."

"Don't lie. You must have some sort of special background, no ordinary traveller can be that skilled in swordsmanship." Commented Jane.

I sigh. "But I just am one," I say and got up. "Putting that aside, this is weird. Why will there be Racs in a mining cave? Not to mention, Racs are usually passive monsters and don't attack humans unless humans agitate it."

"True..."

...

There's only one explanation for this... Something attacked the Racs in this cave and enraged them... Something strong is in this cave...

I smirk.

Good... I can finally get some decent exp.