But for a Slime

* * *

Why would master tell me not to be afraid?! My master can kill legendary monsters! I have no fear now! Garnedell continued listening to Joe’s meandering conversation, interjecting statements affirming or negating Joe’s as was appropriate as much as he knew possible, but he’d already learned that these conversations were unimportant and simply filled air. His master did not expect him to pay too much attention to them, or at least his master understood that the conversation was too difficult for him to follow. The came out of the dungeon to the entrance and found the Dungeon Guardians keeping all at bay with all hands prepared for defense as the emergence of a legendary beast was a Calamity requiring a desperate defense. Behind the most robust line of defense sapients could form, the Dragon’s Spear was forming.

Garnedell looked towards the Dragon’s Spear eagerly, hoping to see any well-known hero, but only two of the Dragon’s Spear had arrived and neither were flamboyant or unique enough for Garnedell to recognize. Besides, one of them would be the local Dragon’s Spear and I never heard mention of the Dragon’s Spear here… or they’re too new? Still, the greatest defense the plane had to offer was before him and he looked eagerly towards them. His excited perusal was interrupted by the chief of the Dungeon Guardians coming towards them quickly as the Guardians dropped the guard when they saw that sapients had exited and not the Calamity.

“Report, adventurer,” The Dungeon Guardian declared imperiously to Joe.

Garnedell quickly stepped forward and offered a bow and a slight apology, “I speak for my master, great Guardian. He is a foreigner and knows not our speech.”

The Dungeon Guardian had prepared to dismiss the apprentice when he started, but quickly listened when he heard the boys explanation, shifting to respect as he remembered the rumors regarding the foreigner who was currently in the city; unconfirmed rumors, to be sure, but it was always wiser to be safe.

“Is there any word you may tell us?”

“My master wishes to remain silent and has nothing to report. But you may send the Dungeon Guardians to clear the dungeon.”

The Dungeon Guardian drew in a subtle gasp, desperately hiding it and controlling his features as well as possible, “Should we not… send the Dragon’s Spears?”

“The Dragon’s Spears are unnecessary.”

The guard’s eyes clambered up through his hair line like prey urgently fleeing, “You… He?”

Garnedell said nothing, as his master ordered, simply staring into the Dungeon Guardian’s eyes.

“Was… is…,” the guard cleared his throat, thinking things through carefully before continuing, “The Dungeon Guardian’s will be safe?”

“Yes, sir. The Dungeon Guardians should be safe to explore the first floor.”

The man’s eye’s boggled in shock. A first floor Calamity was incredibly rare, but not unheard of. They could only be grateful to this adventurer for taking the effort to hold back the Calamity for the Dungeon Guardians would not have been prepared for the Calamity’s escape so quickly, and the Dragon’s Spears would not have been here. The man gulped and nodded his head to accept Garnedell’s statement before stepping back to allow them to leave but was stopped by Garnedell’s hand resting on his forearm.

“My master seeks anonymity, if you would, good Guardian.”

The man glanced down, and blinked with a bit of shock to see a dual water core resting on his forearm, “Ah… yes… of course we can allow … uh … remain silent for your master…?”

“Of course,” Garnedell replied but said nothing else. Master wished anonymity. He would receive anonymity.

The two completed their business but the Dungeon Guardian quickly asked one more question, “Was it a … was it a Guardian?”

Garnedell said nothing, but a hint of disdain flickered through his heart. Only a guardian? A simple four core beast against my master? He destroyed two ten core beasts by himself! The flicker of disdain must have been evident on Garnedell’s face for the man’s face opened with realization and some shock.

“A Champion,” the man gasped with some awe.

Garnedell quickly schooled his face to stone hoping to keep his master’s demand of silence but the man seemed to still have been able to discover something.

“A Boss? A King?” the man’s shocked questioning continued to climb and Garnedell finally realized that he wasn’t able to control his face as much as he wished and quickly ended the conversation.

“My master is tired and wishes to retire. Please allow us to return to our inn.”

The Dungeon Guardian quickly excused himself by stepping back and offering a slight bow to which Garnedell quickly hissed, “Please. My master seeks anonymity.”

The Guardian froze in his bow, flustering for a moment before turning back to his men, “Allow these two through.”

The men quickly stepped to the side to let Joe and Garnedell go and the Dungeon Guardian offered a last parting comment, “I will wait ten minutes before reporting.”

Garnedell nodded in acceptance of the man’s kindness, but it proved unnecessary as the dungeon entrance soon began disgorging dozens of adventurers as they fled its depths, finally freed to escape. Garnedell knew that these were the adventurers who’d been trapped on the second floor at the entrance to the first floor. They’d likely attempted to make their escape to the first floor but when they felt and heard the presence of the Calamity there, they escaped back to the second floor while waiting and hoping that the Dragon’s Spear would be able to destroy the Calamity.

When the Calamity died, those in the dungeon would have quickly felt its presence fading away as the overwhelming pressure and fear would have soon disappeared. They would have given the Calamity a good hour or so to clear the dungeon entrance before they themselves would attempt an escape.

Garnedell quickly led Joe through the break in the guard’s lines and out through the dungeon wall. If his master wanted anonymity, they needed to be clear of the dungeon as quickly as possible. Luckily, Calamities had a way of emptying cities quickly, especially city streets, and the city had had an entire day to empty. I only hope the inn is still available!

* * *

Joe wandered through the eerily empty streets, confused at why the place was so quiet. And the dungeon guards seemed to be a bit more uppity than normal? Were there more than normal? Joe tried to figure out what was abnormal back at the dungeon entrance but couldn’t really pick anything out from memory. Everything had seemed rather the same, if a bit busier than usual. Several guards were watching the entrance while the neutral zone between the dungeon proper and the dungeon wall had been filled with adventurers of all kinds. But Joe couldn’t shake the feeling that something had been different. Were they soldiers? But I didn’t see any uniform. The typical soldiers guarding the dungeon had been absent, or greatly reduced, while the area had been crowded with adventurers. Everyone there wore arms and armor of some kind. But... something felt... off... Ah well, its fine. Maybe there’s a holy day or something tomorrow? A time of solemnity?

They made it back to the inn much quicker than normal, and Joe walked in to find the common area empty echoing with an eerie silence. Joe glanced around, surprised by the silence but then went to the bar where the inn keep waited behind. The man seemed surprised and spoke to the two, too quickly for Joe to really catch what was said. But the conversation seemed to greatly cheer the inn keep and he waved the two to a seat and offered them a meal, to which Joe gratefully accepted. Today was really annoying. Joe sighed as he settled into his seat.

As they settled into their seats, Garnedell spoke, “Zhoe. Cook long time.”

“Ah… um… OK. Stay? Or go room?”

Garnedell seemed to consider then pointed up to the room, “Go room. Clean?”

“That long, huh? OK. Why not,” Joe mumbled under his breath before speaking up to Garnedell, “OK. Go room.”

The two went to their room and cleaned clothes and body quickly before swapping out to a clean set. Garnedell had been quite against changing clothes daily but Joe’s insistence forced the change and the experience of it over about a month changed him to a firm believer. Garnedell finished quicker though, and spent the time checking the room and their bags. Huh… is he feeling paranoid now from the last thief? By the time Garnedell finished checking the bags, Joe was cleaned and dressed and the two headed back down to the common room where they found a steaming meal setup on a smaller table. Ooh… looks better than normal. Wonder why?

The two settled in for an excellent meal, much better than the normal fair, but still not up to what the village inn keeper was capable of doing. Still, a good meal at the end of a frustrating day was something that really helped Joe unwind. A productive language session during supper washed away the feeling of failed productivity for the day and Joe was able to wash it away in preparation of tomorrow. Always tomorrow to look up to, I guess? The finished their meal and Joe made it a point to thank the inn keeper much more while offering a generous tip. Maybe he’ll get the hint to up his game in the food department!

Their return to the room turned out much later than normal considering they’d left the dungeon a couple hours later than normal and took longer for their meal. Is this what the town is like normally later at night? Maybe it’s just how late it is? Joe didn’t put too much thought into it simply because he was exhausted and wanted to sleep. Garnedell himself was a bit more silent than usual, his looks thrown towards Joe holding a hint of reverence that Joe wasn’t sure he understood. Joe ended the day as he always did, writing a diary of his day and then jotting down any notes regarding what he’d gained and about his jobs. The diary went quickly as did his skills. It seemed all he got was what he got at level ten. Huh… no new skills then…