Chapter LXVII - Knights in Disguise (part 1)

The sunlight pierces through the small hole on the cloth that covers the inside of the carriage.

And funnily, it dropped exactly at me.

I had to sit on the deepest part of the carriage, where I had to sit behind the driver. This is because I was late on getting into the carriage, while everyone else was already seated.

I was very much accustomed to sitting on the back side of the carriage, where I can see the back of the road without having to look at anyone's faces. But now the only choice was to stare at the driver, or to the person in front of me. 

So I have no choice but to look up.

And then there's the small hole on the ceiling, where the amazing ray of sunlight was able to enter and landed on my eyes.

Now I can't look upwards. Great!

I ended up being an uncomfortable ass for the next hour. The dungeon took an hour by carriage, but an hour is nothing. 

I had to drive on a carriage for twelve hours, so this much is completely fine.

Just like any other rides, the carriage only takes us to a nearby village, closest to the target. So after arriving, I will need to walk further to get to the dungeon.

There is no forest. It's a one large open area, where all the trees had been chopped off.

This area was actually a log farm, where people chopped the trees and sold them at a high price. That's probably how they found the dungeon in the first place.

Walking to the dungeon took me about fifteen minutes, but with the sun right above my head shining on me, it felt like an hour.

It's so hot… Even though it's not as hot as Veldon. Then again, this area is quite mountainous, so it makes sense that it's hot.

"Yikes..."

I mumbled as I drank some water from the water bottle inside my ring.

I also took out an umbrella, so that I won't have direct contact with the sunlight.

This is why you don't chop down trees… Greenhouse effect and shit.

I finally arrived at the dungeon entrance, where there were multiple people investigating it. I walked closer to them, and one of them stopped what they were doing and approached me.

"Good day, Miss. On what business you have here?"

Possibly their leader. He wore a mining helmet, and he is holding a note and a pen on his hands. He was chatting with his friends before walking to me.

"I'm an adventurer. And I came to help my friends."

"Your friends... Are the Blue ranked adventurers, right?"

"That is correct."

The leader looked at his friends, who seemed to be resting on the ground. Then he turned back at me with a worried expression.

"Do you know what the dangers of this dungeon is?"

"I don't."

"What about the dungeon's map. Do you have it?"

"... I don't."

"What is your adventurer rank?"

"Purple."

He simply couldn't believe my answers. He looked back at his friends, and his friends also stood up and walked towards us.

Oh boy. This is going to be difficult.

"Ma'am, you are aware of the dual dungeon situation here, right?"

A much larger miner guy asked me, and I simply nodded.

"Then you still dare to go in?"

"Well, they are my friends..."

The miner let out a sigh.

"Ma'am. We can't let you in there."

I knew it might come to this...

"Why?"

"W-Why? It's dangerous! You will kill yourself if you went in there! It has been three days since the group entered the dungeon, and they haven't left since!"

He somehow trying to convince me to not suicide. 

Oh dear, what should I do?

Should I just force my way in...?

"I'm going. Please don't stop me."

"Unfortunately, we have to."

The workers are now moving towards the entrance. I counted seven in total. All muscular, and they don't look nice at all.

Seeing their mean faces, I can't help but chuckle.

"I understand that you are simply worried about my safety… But I will be okay."

"Is that so? Your friends were mostly Blue ranked, and they haven't come out in days. 

How will you, a Purple rank, be able to change that situation?"

His words do make sense… at least on normal condition. Too bad he doesn't know that I am secretly a White ranked.

Maybe I should have some fun… you know, just a little bit.

"Alright, then. How about this?"

I turned around and took a few steps back. I slowly turned my gaze at them, showing the mad grin I am wearing.

"If you can at least land a hit on me, I won't be going in."