NOVEL NEXT Chap 221: An urgent call.
The sound of knocking on the door wakes me. Is it Brendu? I check the clock—it's almost time for dinner on the last day of the week. Should I take a day off now? Maybe just one every two weeks. I'll think it over during the next week.
When I open the door, I'm surprised not to see the blonde princess—standing there is Secretary Clari Peles, looking a little agitated and with a face that doesn't bode well. I open the door immediately. "Hi, Clari—what's wrong?" When she hears my voice, she shakes her head from side to side.
"Maki, Director Susan is looking for you. She wants to speak with you. It's urgent!" Clari doesn't give me time to react—she turns and runs off at an unexpected speed. I have to reinforce my body to keep up with her.
When we arrive at the office, Clari dismisses me before turning and rushing off to who knows where. I don't even have time to knock—the door opens on its own. I enter as fast as I can and find Susan standing, staring out the window.
"You know, Maki, I fought hard and worked like never before for this city and this school. I spent decades making it a reality and bringing it to where it is now." I sit on the same sofa as always to listen.
"I love peaceful times. I sit at my desk and review school matters and city affairs, I relax watching the new generation improve and I enjoy some situations—like yours." She finally turns and sits on a sofa opposite me.
"But every year, every month, every week brings complications; usually I can solve them on my own without needing others, and only on a few occasions do I have to ask for help." She looks at me seriously. "You look like a child to most adults, but you behave and act more rationally and maturely than 90% of the adults I've met." She sighs.
"I have a proposal for you. It's up to you to accept or not—I won't force you, and I won't hold any grudge if you refuse; our relationship will remain the same either way." Susan looks at the ceiling for a moment and exhales.
"First, let me explain something. A few months ago, things that look like dungeons started appearing on the surface. The main difference is you don't have to enter a crack or platform—they occupy land on the surface. Today they found the third one near our territory." Occupying land? A dungeon on our surface?
"So far, the three discovered are grade-3—they only allow Sapphire-rank people to enter, just like an ordinary dungeon. Another problem is how to destroy them: according to research, you must defeat the boss; that's the only way." Susan's eyes grow serious, and I understand why.
One example is when my group got trapped in a dungeon—we could force our way through and break it as we went. Diamond and Obsidian ranks can break lower-grade dungeons without entering. I don't know exactly how it works, but I've read about dungeons forming in cities and being broken before they damaged the structures. If these new "dungeons" are impossible for an Obsidian rank to break, that's a serious issue.
"You've probably noticed. A colleague of my own rank tried to break the protective shield and it caused no damage. At first it wasn't too worrying—after all, a peculiar dungeon could be a benefit or blessing if managed properly; it could be a good source of income." I nod softly—my territory has grown in that way.
"We began to worry when the protective sphere started to grow again after a few days and didn't reduce its size until researchers went in and hunted some monsters. We also learned that Sapphire ranks have the benefit of entering and exiting at will." That's a problem and, in another sense, a benefit.
"After several studies we discovered something: the monsters don't actively try to escape the sphere, but they can leave as easily as we can—and they are ridiculously stronger. Only the elite of Sapphire rank can fight in those conditions; everyone else would be cannon fodder." I see a flash of sadness in Susan's eyes.
That's a huge problem—if their territory grows with the monsters increasing in strength or number, it could expand uncontrollably, occupying areas with vital resources or, worse, inhabited places.
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"Near where that mysterious abomination appeared there's a strategic resource site, and we planned to build a small citadel there. We don't want to risk having a bomb nearby. If we can't control the dungeon properly or destroy it when necessary, we'll have more problems than benefits in the short and long term." Exactly what I had thought.
"We also don't want to put people's lives at senseless risk. We don't like gambling with others' lives in such a dangerous area. A normal dungeon can be managed by groups of Sapphire ranks; this place needs strong people like my daughter's group or veterans with experience, so we decided to destroy it as soon as possible." Susan's gaze is resolute.
"To destroy it, we agreed to send powerful fighters who can sustain long battles until they defeat the boss. We learned this from asking the Emperor—there was a similar one in the Empire months ago and they gathered a lot of data." That's why she called me—they need to eliminate this new dungeon as soon as possible.
"Will I go with Areci's group? Shouldn't they be here?" The somber look on Susan's face answers me.
"I haven't asked them. The only person I allow to go is my daughter. The others are children of other Obsidian ranks—I can't risk their lives and earn the hatred of their parents or families." That's true; Susan could get into much more trouble if something happened to them.
"They also don't have the experience to be thrown into such a dangerous place—they haven't lived three years inside a grade-3 dungeon." For the first time in the conversation Susan cracks a smile and jokes.
"My daughter is strong, you've seen that firsthand, but she lacks experience and has a soft heart. I haven't let her go through harsh or lethal experiences because of me. This place needs not only physical strength but mental fortitude—mental strength is even more important." Susan looks sad saying that.
I can't blame her—I don't know how to raise a child either, but if I were in her shoes I wouldn't let my children suffer what I suffered. I would let them experience life slowly and gain experience over the years. Not everyone is lucky enough to remember a past life.
"I don't know whether to ask her or not. I have this week to think about whom to send. As a last option we could hire a strong mercenary group and promise them rich rewards. All city leaders face the same dilemma." She raises her hand to her forehead as if she has a headache.
"Before I continue explaining, let me ask if you're interested. Your life is important, Maki—you have unlimited potential and people you love. I won't be upset if you refuse. You have a week to think about it." Her voice changes at the end—I can sense the conflicting emotions.
"Has the Empire been able to contain that strange dungeon? Has it not become large enough to be a threat?" I'm a little worried about its location and the problems it might cause.
"Yes—the Empire has much more manpower; they can afford to send huge groups and reward the brave in many ways. If you're worried about your territory, you can be calm: that dungeon appeared in the archduke's territory and in a place that was just an enormous forest." I breathe a sigh of relief.
I relax. If that dungeon had appeared in the marquis's territory or near my family's land, I would have returned immediately. I'm glad it's in a remote, desolate area.
"Susan, count me in. I'll go stop it." I raise my hand to interrupt her and continue speaking.
"I'm your protégé—at least I should do this for you." A soft smile forms on her face. "I also need a good training ground, and that dungeon seems like a special place where I can improve my new skills. At the same time, I'll gain good rewards if I destroy it—I don't see any downside."
Are the monsters stronger? It doesn't matter—they're still Sapphire rank. Will I be there for days or weeks? I've already spent years inside a dungeon. I've been in worse situations before; now I'm a completely different person.
"Are you sure? I know your physical and mental strength, but this is unexplored territory." Susan looks both sad and happy.
"Yes—don't worry. I'm prepared to face any challenge." I've never been cowardly. Hard situations come with greater rewards.
"Does it bother you if you're the only one sent in my group? I don't know if I can find anyone else unless they're hired mercenaries—I don't want to risk my students." Susan's smile fades.
"You said it yourself—I have the experience of spending many years in a dungeon. Fighting some slightly stronger monsters won't be a problem, and if I go alone I'll get all the rewards." Susan's near-vanished smile returns.
"Thank you, Maki. I'll be eternally grateful. Just promise me you'll take care of yourself inside, and if you find yourself in a life-or-death situation you'll escape no matter the cost." Her serious eyes make me feel cared for—she's very worried about me.
"I promise. I want a long and good life. I promise I won't die in there." My resolve is written on my face—I won't die to those damned monsters.
"Thank you, Maki. During the week Clari will come to contact you. You can start preparing—there's lots of paperwork for me to review and more thinking to do about this new problem." I stand up to give her a hug; Susan returns it strongly.
"I'll be waiting, Grandma—trust me." I wink at her before turning to leave.
"I have for a long time." We smile at each other and I close the door.