Chapter 5: Odd and Surprising Discovery

(Sorry slow update, Author too absorbed playing Honkai Star Rail.😂🙇🏻‍♂️)

Ryouko was unable to sleep last night because Ray didn't return at midnight as he usually does. She only put Hinami to sleep while waiting for Ray the whole morning.

Thankfully, Ray returned in the morning unharmed.

She wanted to question why Ray could even forget to return home but she kept the question to herself. Maybe he was doing his own training as he said he had done previously.

He went to take a bath immediately after returning home and hit the bed immediately.

Ryouko then went to the bathroom and found his used clothes to do laundry as she had nothing else to do.

Usually when Ray went to work, she helped herself with household chores to repay his kindness. Doing laundry, cleaning the apartment, etc.

When she washed his used clothes from just now, she could smell the heavy bloody scent from it. Not human blood but Ghoul's blood.

"Did he had a fight with about Ghoul?"

She shrugs and quickly gets the laundry done to be dried under the sun.

Ryouko noticed Ray was quite a minimalistic person, having only a few pairs of outfits and basic use of the same one everyday. That's why she must be quick to dry these clothes, especially the jacket that is quite thick.

Well, if only she knew that Ray had been using the washing machine in his workplace for his laundry all these time.

———

After taking a good sleep and well rested, Ray woke up, stretched his body and popped a few bones before he leave his bed to wash his face with cold water from the bathroom sink.

His memory of last night was a bit fuzzy after he was half conscious during the latter part of his hunt till morning.

The first thing he did was opening his Portable PIP. He remembered from his memory he saw something on his Personal Info screen.

Opening the holographic screen, he saw his ability section and a diagram of his body had some changes.

The first he look at is a new organ had formed. A Kakuhou to be exact. But still in very early development stage that it wouldn't be usable. Although, just by another RC cells sac mean my RC cells content had transcend a normal Ghoul.

The main benefits of having more RC cells is the super power granted by Ghoul Physiology had been enhanced further. For example my strength potential easily a dozen time the human limit at while baseline strength around 6-7 times. Which mean my base strength alone is near the limit of an average Ghoul strength.

(Ghoul at average have strength 7 times human limit but the strength isn't their baseline strength but their potential. Those who didn't train to grasp that strength will be weaker. Those who trained can reach or exceed.)

Although I have this much strength in my hand, I always think there is a bigger fish in the ocean. No need to say other stronger Ghoul, just knowing that the military have in their disposal already enough to make me think twice.

I don't think I can survive a missile strike yet.

Sighing, he take a shower and put on some clothes.

The meat for Ryouko and Hinami had ran out. The weekly hunt is tomorrow.

Well, they can last a day. A whole corpse can last a Ghoul a whole month. So, a day isn't much of a wait.

"I'm going out, Ryouko. Hinami."

I informed them before leaving. I still need to find another way to earn money. A job waste a lot of time for minimum wage. Even worse for me as I can only apply part time as I always avoid formal employment that requires my personal details.

I decided to take a walk around the city and even went to the hotel from last night.

*Ding*

Hmn?

I noticed a notification and opened it up after making an inconspicuous pose such as taking a look at the time to open the screen as I resumed my walk while looking at the Map which caused the notification ping.

Other than mask and bird icons in the map. A new one appeared, one that looked like an arched door. The distance isn't far either, just a few hundred metres away from me.

Curious of what the icon means, I navigated myself to the location of the icon and walked almost ten minutes with a slightly hurried pace before I ended up outside a construction site of an incomplete building.

"Is it in there?"

I asked and checked around for a place to slip in undetected.

After walking to the back of the construction site, I found a climbable route and managed to enter without alerting the workers inside.

As soon as I entered the site, the Map zoomed in and showed the layout of this half finished building. I followed the path leading to the arched door icon while evading the workers and soon found myself underground, dug out to install a sewer system probably with a pile of metal pipes stacked nearby.

When I stand directly on top of the icon on the Map, I look around for anything unusual, touching and feeling every surface since nothing looks out of place on sight. Also thank god Ghoul has better vision in the dark since it's pitch black down here.

I touched and felt each surface until my hand suddenly phased through as if I reached into a hole.

*Ding*

[Dungeon discovered.]

[Dungeon]

A place filled with enemies and also bountiful reward awaits the brave who dare to venture the danger. A dungeon is created as a result of mana concentrated in a location which could be natural with dragon vein or artificial made by powerful mana users.

[Unknown Dungeon]

No information is known.

-Danger rating unknown

-Enemy type unknown

-Potential reward unknown

"The heck."

That's all I could say after looking at the notification in front of me.

I walked through the illusory surface and entered a hallway made of stone brick that felt ancient but untouched yet also clean. The short hallway was dimly lit by a glowing rock embedded in the ceiling and in front of me is an arched door similar to the icon.

I touch the door without fear and gently push it open but it won't budge. Instead, another notification appeared.

[Enter 'Unknown Dungeon'?]

[Yes / No]

[Participant limit, none.]

I selected yes and the door swung open immediately and what laid on the other side was what looked like an ancient sewer.

Also, the smell! It's god awful. Especially because Ghoul has an enhanced sensory system. It's very overbearing. But with the promise of bountiful reward, I stepped in and quickly turned back to see the door thankfully didn't close on me, which is a relief but also a worry as enemies inside could probably leave or was there a mechanism to prevent that?

I walk into the sewer and use my enhanced eyes to peer through the dark as I explore the ancient sewer.

Minutes went by as I carefully tread the pitch black tunnel until I end up with a door. It was made of wood and surprisingly isn't rotten and still very tough. Using my strength, I budge it open slowly and then peek my head through the gap first to assess what's on the other side before entering myself.

It was a spacious empty room and half of the room that had lower ground was submerged in shallow murky water that came from the small holes on the wall. I looked around the room and noticed a pile of something.

I walked closer to take a look. It was a pile of bones with rotten clothes that's probably been here for too long.

I rummage the pile for anything as my gamer instinct tells me something should be hidden in here. Which is true, I was rewarded with a parchment of paper, an unlit torch and a quite worn dagger but usable I think. Though, my Kagune made weapons something unnecessary for my current endeavour unless magic is involved. With how things turn out, it's not surprising if something in here can use magic.

I took the parchment and saw a clumsy writing and some dried blood stained. Probably this guy's dying message.

[Beware of the foul diseased beast. Its attack has poison.]

I noted this probably hints about the enemies. Considering this is a sewer filled with filth, whatever that survived down here must also be filled with filth that carries bacteria or viruses that cause disease.

Though, a Ghoul is practically immune to most diseases, poison and venoms due to RC cells that will purge and erase any that invade my body. But, I lose nothing by being careful.

I give the dead guy a prayer for his soul before reaching for another door with a dagger in my hand, ready to attack.

This other door is harder to open with human strength as I resorted to once again force the door open that turned out to be locked but I already ripped it out of the doorframe. I noticed the keyhole a little too late.

Inside was lacking any enemies but I noticed gold… gold coins! In piles too! Just small piles but still piles!

"If I can sell these… I'm fucking rich!"

I'm imagining buying a gaming PC, new home, etc with that money. I walked in carefully and picked one up to see if it's real or not. Only then something dawned upon me.

How will I carry these? Gold is heavy and those coins cause noise too that can compromise my stealth.

Instead, I walk back and take the rags from the pile before. Wrapping these gold coins into a bundle before carrying them with me. It's a worthwhile risk and if there's any enemies that appear, I can put it aside and pick it up later.

There's a total of 200+ gold coins I collected and wrapped in a bundle.

Then I continue exploring the previous room for any more doors to advance.

Strange thing is I found none. That is until I remember how I discovered the dungeon and start knocking the walls until one of the stone walls gives a sound only knocking at the wooden surface could.

The stone wall rippled before turning into a wooden door that is much easier to push open.

I walked into the tunnel until I reached a forked tunnel. I didn't have much hesitation in fear of getting lost as I have a Map. I picked the left one and continued exploring until I heard squeaking and water splashing for something walking through it.

I stopped moving and instantly lowered my body unconsciously into a pouncing position.

*Squeak* x4

It's walking toward me, I can feel it. It's hungry and elated to find prey. It finally appeared in my vision, a giant rat the height of a man, with a pair of red eyes that looked at me eagerly and its mouth salivating uncontrollably.

*Hiss*

It didn't hesitate and rush toward me to pounce on me, to sink its teeth into my flesh. Until it saw the tendrils that expand out of the red mist from my back.

"Fuck, its just damn rats!"

I shouted indignantly that my expectations were ruined. I was thinking maybe the enemies were something horrifying but turns out it's just oversized rats and nothing else. The rat even looks cute for some reason if I ignore its hungry and eager look to eat me.

I tensed my leg and jumped forward as my Kagune pierced the rat's body, ripped it open violently, spilling it's bowel out and all other gores as one of my tendril pierced it's beating heart on the floor, killing it instantly.

[You killed an Ancient Sewer Rat.]

[You received 5 Exp and 1 dungeon point.]

The notification made my previous anger disappear as I looked at it with a confused expression.

"Exp? I don't remember having a levelling system."

I opened my PIP to find a completely new menu specific for the dungeon.

———

Level: 1 (5/20)

Ability: -

Skill; 1 SP

-Combat: -

-Arcane: -

-Support: -

———

The dungeon specific menu didn't contain much except having skill trees that interest me. It requires Skill Points that I guess obtained through levelling to unlock those skills.

I wonder if these abilities are also usable outside the dungeon. If it is, it's a game changer.

Anyway, I continued walking down the tunnel with my Kagune retracted. At the end of the tunnel are more forked tunnels.

After five more rats and two more forked tunnels, I found a door that led into a room. Inside, I found some items such as rations that were surprisingly clean and untouched by the rats. A leather cloak and an unknown green concoction.

I noticed these items are odd and surrounded by faint glow until I touch them. Perhaps these are loot handed out by the dungeon? That's why the rats cannot touch these things.

Anyway, in the room I noticed two more doors. I select a random one and open it to find a small room with nothing but an unknown scroll on the floor.

Next room is empty with nothing inside. I even wasted my time touching and feeling every surface.

Last room was a room filled with rats. Perhaps a nest with how many filth, bones and faeces on the floor. I retreated and let them come out before slaughtering those rats. I didn't even dare to enter as I was already feeling nauseous just by standing by the door of this enclosed room and taking a whiff of the smell from inside.

I traced my way back and took the other tunnels I haven't walked through. I explored a few more rooms that have nothing but more rats to kill.

Finally, the last door looks slightly different, which is why I left it as the last one, thinking it's a boss room.

My spoils so far are 200 odd gold coins, an unknown potion, an unknown scroll, a dagger and a leather armour of leather jacket, leather leggings, leather glove and boots.

The leather leggings and jacket I turned into a makeshift bag since I don't really need one as their teeth break when trying to bite my flesh.

I push the door after checking on myself. What greets me is a room with floors that are submerged in murky sewer water. This is gonna be a pain without the boots keeping the smelly water off my pants and legs.

The boss appeared when I entered the room. It's the same as any rats I encountered except its fur and skin have an unhealthy green layer of oily substance soaked in it. Even its saliva was greenish which indicates its entire body was poisonous.

*Screech*

It let out its warcry and rushed towards me but as usual, I released my Kagune and killed it. Although, the boss was noticeably tougher by a few folds compared to other sewer rats. Still very weak though.

[You killed Fetid Marsupial Rat.]

[15 Exp and 5 DP]

———

Level: 3

Ability: -

Skill; 3 SP

-Combat: -

-Arcane: -

-Support: -

Point: 31 DP

———

Upon killing it, the room suddenly drained of the sewer water and the room brightened up with a glowing ore on the ceiling. In the middle of the room, a wooden chest appeared.

I opened the chest to find a dirk dagger in pristine condition, three potions of the same colour and a small pouch containing gold coins.

Once I took the things out, the chest disappeared and a hunched and robed person appeared much to my shock. I almost attack it if not for the person suddenly greeting me that I reel back my Kagune.

"An interesting customer indeed." The robed man said with an old hoarse voice and wheezed slightly.

"Pleased to meet you, I am a Dungeon peddler. I sell wares and services for appropriate prices."

I attempted to talk to the peddler but he didn't respond to any of my questions and stayed silent except if I asked about the things he offered.

"Ho Ho. My wares would cost gold while services would cost Dungeon points."

The wares are honestly very expensive and mostly useless to me since they are weapons and armors. Also the cheapest is like five hundred golds.

The service though, is the most important. Identify objects, cleanse curse, healing and repair equipment durability.

Each are 5 points and I identified each of the unknown potions and the scroll.

The potion turns out to be three healing potions from the chest, a paralytic potion. The scroll is an upgrade scroll.

After getting my stuff identified, the merchant npc simply stood there uncaringly as I walked to the door that appeared after I opened the chest. Opening it led me back to the entrance of the dungeon.

Once I left the dungeon entrance, the whole place disappeared completely. Looking at the map, the arched door icon also disappeared.

I walked back home, still thinking about the dungeon and noticed later that I spent almost three hours in the dungeon.

—————

Obviously, the dungeon was inspired by Pixel Dungeon games, used to be my favourite games I spend hours playing after I return from school. It's part of the fantasy world and the real introduction of the fantasy element will come probably after I reach a conclusion for the Tokyo Ghoul arc.

Levels don't give stats like the game. But it allows Ray to get skills that are not really op but useful. Like inventory maybe, cantrips etc. Need to do more research first.

———

Level: 3

Ability: -

Skill; 3 SP

-Combat: -

-Arcane: -

-Support: -

Point: 16 DP

Item: [Healing Potion x3], [Paralytic Potion x1], [Scroll of Upgrade x1], [A Bundle of Gold Coins], [Small Pouch of Gold Coins]

Equipment: [Dirk dagger], [Leather glove], [Leather boots]

———