The Frugal Mage

The chamber opened up before them, and it was definitely larger than the others they had passed.

The scent of blooming flowers was also strong now, and it carried a faint breeze that should not exist underground.

And there it was, the rare flower they had been hoping for.

Some of its petals glowed faintly with golden light, located at the center of the chamber. It wasn't fully bloomed just yet.

"Whoa~" Rayven was surprised not just because it looked beautiful, but because it also swayed gently, though no wind touched it.

Drosk's eyes softened the moment he saw it.

"The Aurora Bloom…" he muttered, almost reverently. It must be a precious flower, considering his reaction.

Rayven glanced at him. "Aurora Bloom?"

Drosk nodded slowly, never taking his eyes off it.

"It's a rare flower that gathers light from every source… From torches, crystals, and even faint traces of moonlight passing through the dungeon's veins. When it blooms, the petals glow with stored mana. Crushed into powder, it becomes one of the best catalysts for crafting healing medicines… or for strengthening a warrior's core. There is also a rumor that it can help with virility."

"No wonder it's worth more than 30 gold coins." Rayven muttered.

"The 30 gold coins price I mentioned before is just for the lowest quality. This one looks more than that. Probably worth more than 80 gold considering its size." Victor muttered.

Emma gently nodded as she was also aware of it. "But it blooms randomly and this place would normally be swarmed by Lesser Beasts. It's quite unusual to see this place quiet."

"Doesn't matter now…" Victor muttered, glancing at the three adventurers waiting for the flower to fully bloom.

Soon, the three figures turned toward them.

Judging by their equipment and presence, they weren't just ordinary adventurers.

Then, Drosk recognized them…

"These were Gold-Rankers."

The first woman wore silver plate armor with a greatsword resting against her shoulder.

The second wore a dark-green leather coat with a pair of curved daggers hung from her waist.

The last stood slightly behind the other two with a staff in hand. Her Mage Robe was easily recognized with the Mage Guild's mark.

It means that she wasn't just recognized as a member of the Adventurers Guild but also the Mage Association.

Rayven's eyes lingered on her for a moment. He couldn't sense the density of mana wrapped around her but he could tell that the woman was also assessing her.

However, she probably wouldn't find anything since he wasn't exactly a Mage. He was just wearing the Mage Robe and relying on his system to make him a Mage.

"You're late…" the swordswoman said with a faint smile. "The flower is already claimed."

Emma's shoulders slumped.

Well, she could already tell that much, but it was still quite disappointing to find that out.

Her hand just tightened around her dagger, but she didn't protest. They had expected this possibility.

"But don't worry…" the mage spoke this time, her tone calm and friendly. "The flower is ours, yes. But if you're looking for other treasures in this chamber, we won't stand in your way. Take whatever else you find."

That surprised Drosk's group. Kindness wasn't something you expected in a dungeon, especially when rare treasures were involved.

"Appreciated…" Drosk said with a nod, though his eyes stayed sharp. Just in case they were being lured to a trap.

The rogue woman smirked. "Think of it as… professional courtesy. We've heard rumors the royal family and some of the big guilds are planning to seize this dungeon soon. We're just trying to gather the valuable ones before the place is locked down."

That explained it… Furthermore, those three are already Gold Rank adventurers, and they surely wouldn't mind if they obtained some treasures worth a few gold coins around.

The tension eased as both groups spoke a little more. They didn't exchange too much personal detail, but it was enough to understand the Gold-Rankers weren't enemies.

After that, Drosk gestured to his team. "Spread out. Look for anything else of value."

They nodded and began searching the chamber.

The walls had faint cracks where veins of crystal gleamed. Old bones and broken weapons were half-buried in rubble, and the moss covering the floor hid more than just roots.

Rayven stayed at the back for a moment, then lifted his hand.

"Detect Mana Source…" he whispered. One gold coin vanished just like that.

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

[ Current Balance: 231 Gold Coins ]

His eyes lit faintly as streams of mana signatures appeared across the chamber. He could see the flower glowing strongest, but also faint flickers buried under rock and moss.

As he scanned, he felt a gaze on him.

He turned slightly.

The Adept Mage was watching him with curiosity, her staff still in hand.

Her eyes squinted, not with hostility, but with interest.

It was clear she had noticed something unusual about him.

Rayven lowered his hand, his sight still lingering on the faint threads of mana hidden around the chamber.

"There…" he pointed toward a cluster of rocks near the left wall. "Something's buried under that rubble. Emma, check it out. Should be small, but the mana trace is steady."

Emma perked up, quickly striding over. She crouched down, brushed away moss, and pried loose the stones.

With a quick tug, she pulled out a small dagger… Its hilt was half-broken, but the blade shimmered faintly. It was definitely a magic item with the lingering mana around it.

Her eyes widened. "It's still holding an enchantment!"

"Nice find…" Drosk grunted, nodding in approval. It may be broken but if sold to the right person, they could still earn some money.

Rayven glanced toward another faint glow near the chamber's right side. "Victor, under those bones. Something's hidden deeper."

Victor stomped forward, lifting aside a cracked ribcage the size of a barrel. Beneath it, he uncovered a tarnished pendant… Its chain snapped, but the gem in the center pulsed with mana.

"Not bad…" Victor said, turning it over in his hand. "This will fetch a few coins at least."

Rayven's gaze shifted again, tracing another faint flicker. "Hale, behind the moss near the crystal veins. Look carefully. Feels like a container."

Hale tugged aside the moss with her short sword, and sure enough, a small bronze coffer was wedged into a crevice…

At this time, even the three Gold-Rank Adventurers were shocked.