A Quest

My body was tired and so was my eyes.

'I just want to sleep...'

I slowly drifted off into the darkness.

"Stream.... end.."

And fell unconscious.

Although that didn't last long.

"Huh?"

[Hello Adventurer.]

A hologram of the last hero who I fought a manikin version of stood up.

He had hair matching the flames and standing out within the blue particles that produced nothing but an image.

[First of all, I'd like to congratulate you for completing this dungeon that I have been part of with generations of heroes starting from the third all up until the thirtieth.]

He smiled.

[As you can see, this image of me is nothing but a recording and shown through a hologram. So there is no use of trying to ask any questions.]

[I don't want to waste your time so I'll get started. I also do not expect you to listen to my selfish desires since you are nothing but a stranger who has stumbled upon this place.]

A radiant blue light shined everywhere, filling up the black atmosphere.

[I will only ask for you to listen to what I will show you.]

Right after saying that sentence, the man stopped smiling and vanished.

The light beamed and transitioned to multiple other colors, blessing my eyes with a vivid decor,

'Hm?'

I slowly blinked my eyes and looked down to my hands.

It felt strange yet uncomfortable.

Not anything like my own body.

'Who's body am I in?'

I looked around and saw cheers erupt around me.

My thighs were sitting on top of a royal open carriage.

Numerous gazes pierced through my heart.

Not out of anything negative, but rather positive.

"It's our hero! Glory to him!"

Everyone seemed... happy to see me.

As if I was some sort of hero.

The feeling was short lived.

'What?'

"Mary! No, you bastards! Let go of her!"

I felt the voice leave my body.

It was definitely from my mouth, but I didn't feel like I said it.

In front me was a blonde-haired woman who's face I couldn't see because of a strange blur.

But there were two soldiers holding her in place as she was being dragged along.

"Aodh! Don't worry about me, I'll be fine!"

She tried to smile while looking at me.

The memory forwarded to another glimpse.

Two terrified children who were not even past a decade old stood down below me.

"U-Uncle, Aodh.. w-why is there blood all over your body?"

I smiled, or rather the body did.

I pat the two kids heads.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Just stay in this carriage and everything will be fine."

I watch as the carriage moved away while I heard soldiers coming to my direction.

The blood-dripping body ran into the forest.

It speeded up until it reached a giant stone structure.

I ran in and moved the entrance to close.

—The memory abruptly ended.

"Ah!"

"Haaa... haaaa...."

I breathed heavily in my own body.

[Adventurer, the Thateron Empire where my family was tortured, had been overthrown by traitors and the true descendants had ran away due to the large power gap.]

The hologram of the man bowed down.

[Please find the true descendants of the Thateron Empire. It is completely up to you whether you proceed with this mission or not.]

He raised his head to look straight at me eyes.

[But you will be rewarded by another descendant of a close friend of mine once you complete the mission and say, "The flames will reveal its true master.", in one of the shops of the capital city within the Thateron Empire.]

[I wish you luck, Adventurer. This will be where I part.]

The man said that as he slowly vanished into thin air.

「 Creating new quest... 」

「 Quest - Hidden in plain sight. 」

「 The tenth generation hero 'Aodh Lancer' was betrayed by the Thateron Empire. But despite all this suffering, there was only one thing of which he wished for. The safety of the true descendants. 」

「 Mission - Find and save the true descendants of the Thateron Empire. 」

「 Reward - ??? 」

「 Penalty - None. 」

「 There is another quest that has been created. To view it, please close this window. 」

Just when I thought the notifications were over.

Another rejoice placed itself in front of my eyes.

「 Congratulations. You have overcome the dungeon. 」

「 Calculating your rewards... 」

"Finally..."

After all that suffering.

「 Your rewards have been calculated. 」

「 As a reward, you have obtained an item named '1 Gold coin'. 」

「 As a reward, you have obtained an item named 'Smooth Black Armlets(D)'. 」

「 As a reward, you have obtained an item named 'Small Space Pouch(D)'. 」

「 As a bonus reward, you have obtained an item named 'A retired sorcerers pocket watch(D)'. 」

「 You have gained the title named 'Man-made dungeon explorer'. 」

'Woah..'

「 You are the first to clear a man-made dungeon. 」

「 As a bonus reward, you have gained the title named 'The First Bearer of the Hero's Secrets'. 」

Tap.

A droplet of water landed on my forehead.

My eyes sprung open.

I had woken up, laying on the floor.

I placed my hand on my face, feeling slightly dizzy after waking up from the floor.

A small drop of water had awoken me,

Although there was much more to it.

Rumble—

The stones began to bounce along with the shaking sound of the cave.

「 The dungeon is collapsing. 」

"Ah.."

I figured out my situation.

With my quick response my legs took off.

The dust had finished gathering and I was getting closer to the exit.

Crash!—

Many stones began tumbling behind me.

It chased me as I sped up at my maximum.

'Shit.'

Despite my efforts it didn't lose momentum.

The huge rocks which could crush my body in a blink were closer than before.

The entrance was only a few metres away and...

Boom!—

I threw my body out just in time.

"Haa... Haaa..."

The dungeon had collapsed.

Behind me there was just a load of stones which had lost to nature.

"You woke me up."

I looked up to a shadow above me while the day was still fairly sunny.

The dark-elf who I had completely forgotten about was looking down on me.

"It's you?"

I sighed in disappointment.

Her expression turned annoyed in her usual way of speaking.

"What do you mean? Do you want more training?"

"No thanks."

I replied almost immediately.

Why would I want anything given by her?

'Demon..'

"Then let's go."

She turned back and I followed.

We eventually reached her home.

The peaceful environment felt soothing to me when I had already gotten used to the barren atmosphere of the dungeon.