Volume 3 - CH 5

Chapter 5 – The Appearance of a Dungeon

After passing through the crowds, Eto and his party finally arrived at the Guild Master’s room. Inside, in addition to the Guild Master Sidrake, there was also Grandmaster Trie, who was present when he was making his report on the Hero’s party.

“Long time no see, Trie-sama. If even Trie-sama is here with Sidrake-sama, does that mean something big happened?”

As Eto straightforwardly asked, Trie deeply nodded.

“A dungeon has appeared near Atsusa village, east of the royal capital.”

It was precisely near the place where a Hobgoblin appeared during Amou and Sorano’s B-class promotion exam, where Sorano felt a murderous gaze directed at them, and where Amou got a bad feeling.

Turns out, right after Eto made his report, the Guild Master sent two C-class adventurers parties to investigate. Unfortunately, only one of the parties came back, and they reported that they discovered the entrance of a dungeon near Atsusa village. According to them, there were numerous Goblins gathered around it, and the said village was already in a state of destruction. Lastly, they couldn’t confirm if there were any survivors in the village as the number of Goblins were too many.

“Isn’t it a stampede?”

Sorano asked, in the same tone that she used when she spoke with her party members. Hearing that, Eto hoped that the Grand Master wouldn’t get angry at her, while being exasperated by his own small-fry-like thought which worried about social standing even in the midst of crisis.

“Ee, looking at the situation, there is indeed an indication of a stampede. However, leaving aside an old dungeon, I’ve never heard of a situation where monsters gathered around a dungeon that has just appeared. In other words, we are in a situation where we can’t even find an answer from past events.”

Guild Master Sidrake replied instead.

“A new dungeon, large number of Goblins, and signs of a stampede…”

Sorano seemed to ponder the situation, while muttering some keywords of the events.

“In any case, the first wave of monsters has actually already approached the walls of the royal capital. But since the number wasn’t that big, they were successfully repelled by the knights and guards. Currently, even the magic corps is joining to protect the walls.”

“Trie-sama, so the first wave has already attacked the royal capital?”

Surprised by the news, Eto asked for confirmation.

“Yes. And the reason we summoned you guys here was because the leader of the magic corps is asking Eto for his assistance. You know him, right? It’s Puke the fabulous1.”

Immediately after joining the Hero’s party, Eto had received training from Puke, the leader of magic corps. And Puke highly valued Eto’s support magic. Although the surrounding people said that Puke was an eccentric person, whom they couldn’t figure out, Eto respected Puke, who was very enthusiastic about magical research without being bound by stereotypes.

“Ee, I once received training from Puke-sama. I see, so Puke-sama requires my assistance. Understood. Where should I head to?

“I see! So you will go! Puke is currently on the spire between eastern wall and southern wall meet. I’ll have the guild staff to escort you there. I’m counting on you.”

Eto then looked at his party members, telling them that he was indebted to Puke and told them that he really respected Puke. Thus, if Puke needs his help, Eto tells them that he would like to respond to it.

“If Eto said so, then I will go too”

“Even if I go back to the Inn, I don’t think I could sleep. If you want to strengthen the defense of the wall, then my bow should be useful.”

“If there is something I can do, just give me an order.”

The three immediately told Eto that they would follow him.