Chapter 34: Weird Feeling

Perseus POV

"Don't be rash kid, if I wanted to turn you in, you would have been caught a long time ago." the shopkeeper then beckoned me to a chair and gave me a cup of coffee as he sat down at the opposite end.

"I'm confused."

"Shouldn't be...after all, I guess, I'm kinda one of you."

"You don't look...like one of us."

"Because my skin ain't dark and my hair ain't white? Well, my great-grandmother was one of the few secret escapees who came along with a retired slave who was let free, anyway...long story short, I got certain benefits, and yet, I don't look like the rest, so I'm fine."

"That...doesn't answer how you know what I was. I could just look like a Southerner."

"I may be old and frail, but I can piece a few things together. There was already news of an escapee your age, you can get by pretending to be just a Southerner, but you look way too scrawny...plus the bald head...clearly a former slave."

"You're not going to turn me in?"

"Why would I? The money offered is a joke, 10 silver coins? Psh." he scoffed

"How do I know that you're not lying?"

"You want me to dunk my head in the water? You can stay by me and count the time."

"Sure."

"You got a lot of trust issues, but sure."

"If you live like I have, having trust issues is normal."

*****

"I didn't want to ask, but might as well, why here?" the shopkeeper asked while drying his head with a towel, "And why so long? It's been an hour since I've dunked my head."

"The dungeon, I plan to live and hide in the rest floors for a while."

"They appear every 5 floors, but to get into it, you're going to have to beat the boss who respawns now and then." he then took a book out and opened to a page with a symbol of a bat, "This symbol will appear on your hand and stay there for a couple of days, it would mean that you gain permanent access to the area."

"How difficult is the boss?"

"Quite. It's a giant flesh-eating bat, you're going to need a large group of novices if you want to beat it, all you have to do is land an effective hit, and the dungeon will register your contribution, and give you access."

"You went in there before?"

"I've made it to the 8th, and just hunted there regularly, it was enough for a living."

"And now you sell fake licenses in the slums."

"Some will pay a lot more than you think, if you weren't a former slave like my great-grandmother, I would have charged you full price...here's your money back, you'll need it more than I do."

"Can I ask you rumors about the southern prince? Well the slaves that are with him?"

"Ah don't worry, if him being the hero is true, those who are in the vicinity should be relatively safe...it's you who made the terrible choice."

I know, but it's not like I was wrong either as a few did die due to assassinations, though the blame falls on a few members of the nobility who couldn't stand our presence. They have also gone unpunished...so it's not that much better.

"Do you know anything about sacred weapons within the abyss dungeon?"

"There's one that I know of, but It's within a secret room that relocates every few days, it's on the 4th floor, but no one managed to ever pull it out if my memories serve right."

"Thanks...can I pay you to send a mail? There's another old man who needs to have some update."

"Sure, but you'll have to pay me for that one though."

"It's fine."

*****

My heart pounded in my chest as I stood in line, waiting to enter the abyss dungeon, and I couldn't shake the feeling of nervousness that gnawed at my insides. If I was caught with my forged license, it would be the end of me.

One by one, adventurers ahead of me presented their licenses to the guards, and each time, my heart skipped a beat, fearing that my ruse would be discovered. But as the line inched forward, I forced myself to remain calm, steeling my nerves for the inevitable encounter.

Finally, it was my turn. I approached the guard with trembling hands, and I held out my forged license, praying that it would pass inspection. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as every nerve in my body screamed in anticipation as he thoroughly inspected the license.

After what felt like an eternity, the guard nodded curtly and handed the license back to me. Relief flooded through me like a tidal wave, and I couldn't suppress the grateful smile that spread across my face. I had passed the first test.

"No armor?" the guard asked

"I prioritized mobility, so no."

"Alone."

"Yes, sir."

"You might want to party up soon, each floor is more difficult than the other."

"Thanks."

"Go ahead."

With a quick nod of thanks to the guard, I stepped past him and walked on top of the platform that extended over the large hole. I then jumped in and entered the gaping maw of the abyss dungeon. The darkness swallowed me whole as I descended into its depths.

The sensation of hurtling through darkness consumed me as I plunged into the abyss. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and then, in the blink of an eye, I found myself standing in a labyrinth of rock tunnels. It was as if I had been transported to another world entirely.

The air was cool and damp, and the faint echo of dripping water reverberated off the walls around me. I stood still for a moment, taking in my surroundings and trying to make sense of this strange new place.

"Man, that felt...weird and somewhat nostalgic."