Chapter 35: Exploring the Dungeon (I)

Once Zhen entered the dungeon with his arm hanging around Aaron's shoulder, he felt a strong sense of death looming around the dungeon.

Inside is completely dark and you could barely see with the naked eye. There is some cobweb hanging in the side of the cave and water dripping sound.

It is your typical spooky dungeon environment that's trying to scare some people who have no courage. 

However, it clearly didn't matter much to the people here as Zhen heard multiple footsteps and loud voices that were speaking some instruction.

"You check the left flank and make sure no monster comes out from there."

"Yes, I shall check for traps and mechanisms then."

"Good, now let's get rich boys."

Many of them were excited and have no fear of death when greed is all they have in mind.

Meanwhile, Zhen was still trying to comprehend this new dungeon before seeing Aaron arrogantly walk forward like a fool. 

Zhen can't help but use his fist to knock Aaron in the head.

*Boink*

"Are you trying to die by walking like an idiot? Do you not know the meaning of cautious and carefulness?"

"Ouch," Aaron rubs his head, feeling pain from being knocked but couldn't retaliate as the person who did it is stronger than him. 

Not to mention, he's now a servant to him which means he's equivalent to a slave.

"Yes, I know there are booby traps around here but I have the newest map that states where they are," Aaron answered politely in response to Zhen's remark before showing the map from his spatial ring.

'Hmm, so he has a map, no wonder he confidently walks, and here I thought he was a fool overall.'

Seeing the new map, Zhen knew he blamed Aaron wrongly but still, he would not admit it since he has the bigger fist.

"I see, but you still deserve the knock on the head since you didn't take it out for me to see," Zhen said as he snatched the map from Aaron's hand before scanning it.

While Zhen is scanning through the dungeon map, Aaron couldn't help but want to punch him.

'Why is it my fault that I didn't take the map out? You extort 50 gold from me so wouldn't it be reasonable to deduct you have a map to explore the dungeon. Who would come here being so unprepared?'

Alas, Aaron's remark could not be right in the mark as Zhen indeed did not have a map. He was too stingy to buy one and rather spend the money to eat with Sara.

Not to mention, he believed with Sense, he could see where the traps are located and direction to the treasures.

However, Zhen only noticed his so-called Sense was limited for the first time since he transmigrated here. 

This new dungeon was like a separate dimension which is why Zhen decided to be cautious as he walked and warned Aaron to not be an idiot.

Although Zhen didn't exactly have a good first meeting with Aaron, Aaron is still capable of being saved from his arrogance since he was simply born in an environment suited for his personality. A prodigy with a good background, who wouldn't have a little pride in them?

Therefore, Zhen continues to analyze the new dungeon before finding it a little suspicious. 

There was a small open area with nothing on it but he couldn't tell what was wrong. It's his first time in a dungeon so he doesn't know what is normal and abnormal.

Giving off a soft sigh since he doesn't have much knowledge and Kuro is the same since he barely explored anywhere until he was booted out from his camp.

"Aaron, since you know the dungeon well, you shall be the guide and my lovely guinea pig to detect any random danger." 

Zhen said with a bright smile on his face since Aaron could be the human GPS to guide him.

"..."

Aaron twitched his mouth not because of Zhen making him a guinea pig but from his honesty. 

'Who the heck in this world would let the person know they're being a guinea pig and not be discreet about it...?'

"Enough with your garbage expression and walk. We wasted enough time as I heard more people being excited in the deeper area." 

Zhen ignored Aaron's pain expression and rushed Aaron to hurry up.

'I could care less about his feelings since a servant's duty is to protect its master at all times. Of course, there is a different category for servant and Kuro is not one who I would sacrifice to obtain some valuables.'

While they continue to walk, Aaron starts using his flame to light up the area as it becomes impossible to see with the naked eye. 

Zhen couldn't help but wonder how the rest of the people managed to enter this dungeon and have a map already.

=================

In Grotto's Inn, 4th Floor~

"Where the heck is Zhen at?" 

Sara loudly complained as she was ordered to stay in the room by her father.

Not only that, there is a formation preventing her from escaping or sneaking out alone. 

'How hateful' 

Sara cursed inwardly when she's like a bird trapped in a cage.

Sara was mad at the treatment she's getting and her boyfriend gets to explore the dungeon without any obstruction. Mentioning him now tilts her even more.

'He lied to me about teleporting me away. He definitely agreed with father's word and believed it's better for me to stay in the inn.'

Believing her word is true, Sara starts stomping her foot on the floor to release some anger.

In addition, Sara noted on her mind to prevent Zhen from having sex with her for at least 3 months.

=================

Back in the Dungeon~

"Achooooooooooo," Zhen suddenly sneezed when he was following behind Aaron. 

Aaron was scared and turned around to stare at Zhen with an expression saying 'what the hell are you doing?'

"It's nothing, just a sneeze, hurry up and continue on," Zhen told Aaron to continue walking with an irritated tone.

Aaron wanted to explode since it was Zhen who scared everyone for no reason but without much strength, Aaron could only stuff it up and continue being a guinea pig.

Meanwhile, Kuro stared at Zhen suspiciously as he wouldn't believe his Master would randomly sneeze.

'Master must have committed some atrocity and is being cursed at right now.'

While they continue moving forward, Zhen couldn't help but think about his sneezing. 

'Who is cursing at me right now? I-It couldn't be Sara, right? Sigh, it has to be Sara for me to sneeze like that.'

Zhen didn't know how to explain to Sara about ditching her to explore the dungeon with Kuro and leaving her out. 

Zhen couldn't afford to risk it all and put her in danger.

With a sigh, Zhen could only hope Sara could understand his emotion and pain to leave her behind.

===============

Back in Sara's Room~

"Curses! Father's formation is extremely hard to break." Sara gritted her teeth when she tried to use her spell to break the formation.

However, the formation didn't even break, much less a crack on it. 

Dropping on the floor lightly, Sara couldn't help but clench her fist as she remembers that ungrateful bastard.

'BASTARD! How could you leave me alone in my room?' 

Sara wants to smack the hell out of Zhen for ditching her while lying with his cheeky face.

When Sara wanted to continue to curse, right at this moment, Sara suddenly felt a strong aura coming from her stomach, giving her an unusually high amount of mana. 

Sara couldn't help but be shocked as she noticed her power increasing.

From a low-rank 3 mage, her prowess suddenly rises to around high-rank 5, almost reaching the peak-rank too.

Sara was a low-rank 3 mage since she couldn't defeat a mid-rank 3 Likra back in their first meeting.

"What is this increasingly pure mana coming out from my aura? Whatever, I think I can break this formation now with this prowess."

Sara said as she got up and started to manipulate her mana to prepare to knock out the formation that's trapping her.