Since i'm here,why not.

Chapter 10

Somewhere in the North Gate Forest Area...

Mark and his team of six adventurers had been patrolling the northern area of the village for hours. As night settled in, they made camp, dividing the watch shifts.

“So far, nothing out of the ordinary,” Mark said, staring into the flickering flames.

“Glad to hear it,” Randy muttered, sounding relieved.

“These dungeons appearing all over... it’s hard not to worry,” Hugh said, his tone somber.

“If they keep showing up, we’ll be overrun by beasts. That could spell disaster for the kingdom,” Mark added.

“You think it’s that bad?” Micah asked, visibly anxious.

“It could be,” Mark replied, no hint of reassurance in his voice.

“Man, never thought dungeons could take down a whole country,” Randy said quietly.

“They usually help us more than harm us,” Micah said, frowning. “But this... feels different.”

“I’ve always wondered how dungeons even form,” Hugh mused. “What’s their purpose? Not that I’m the thinking type,” he added with a chuckle.

The group looked at each other, waiting for someone to answer.

“Don’t look at me,” Mark said, noticing their stares.

“But you’re the guard!” Randy teased with a grin.

“I’m still an adventurer like the rest of you. Don’t expect me to know everything,” Mark shot back, sounding mildly irritated.

The group chuckled before Mark got serious again. “Alright, enough. Tomorrow, we’ll push further north. Get some rest, and don’t forget your watch shifts.”

With that, the camp quieted down as the team prepared for the day ahead.

Meanwhile…

Jon, along with his team of two guards and four adventurers, was investigating the west gate forest area near the road that led to the mountains. As evening settled in, they decided to camp for the night, gathering around the bonfire while having their meal. Amid the warmth of the fire, casual conversation turned to the issue at hand.

“Jon, what’s your take on this sudden dungeon incident?” asked Simon, one of the adventurers. His question brought a brief silence over the group.

Jon took a moment, then answered bluntly, “Honestly… it’s bad. Another tragedy seems likely to happen soon.”

“Really?” asked Stein, a guard, concern creeping into his voice.

“Yeah,” Jon nodded. “About a month ago, when we were in the capital, reports of sightings came in five days before we arrived in town. The look on the guildmaster's face back then—it wasn’t good.”

“That means the dungeon could already be infested with beasts by now,” Simon said, sounding alarmed.

Lesly, another adventurer, added nervously, “You think the beasts will start rampaging soon?”

“It’s possible,” Jon replied, his tone steady but serious. “But let’s hope that’s not the case.”

The group fell into a momentary silence, each member reflecting on the possibility of facing another horde of rampaging beasts. Memories of the disaster eight years ago resurfaced, when they had fought towering monsters—lions, wild boars, snakes, and more—each over four meters tall with terrifying appearances.

Finally, Jon broke the silence, clapping his hands to draw their attention. “Alright, everyone, let’s get some rest. We’re up early tomorrow.”

“As we discussed, I’ll take the first watch,” he added, standing as the others began settling down for the night.

The camp gradually fell quiet, with only the crackling of the fire breaking the stillness as Jon remained by the bonfire, keeping watch.

Meanwhile, the third group...

Charlie, a female guard usually stationed at the west gate, leads a team of two guards and five adventurers. Their mission is to investigate the far side of the west gate forest by the foot of the mountain. As dusk falls, they decide to set up camp. The group is noisy, with some of the male adventurers displaying arrogance and trying to assert their authority. This bothers Charlie, but she keeps it to herself, thinking that’s just their nature.

However, not all the adventurers share that attitude. Garry, one of the more reserved members of the team, grows increasingly uncomfortable with their behavior and repeatedly asks them to quiet down. This eventually sparks the anger of Rick, a loud and brash adventurer, who steps up to Garry and tries to pick a fight.

"What’s your problem, man? Wanna go?" Rick says, getting right in Garry's face.

Garry remains silent, meeting Rick's glare without flinching. Clay, another member of the team, quickly steps in to defuse the situation, but Rick shoves her away, causing her to stumble to the ground. At this, Charlie finally intervenes, stepping between the two men and pushing them apart.

"Huh?! What do you think you’re doing, woman?" Rick snaps, enraged.

"Acting like a child isn’t going to help anyone. We’re here on a mission," Charlie replies, her eyes narrowing as she addresses both Rick and Garry.

"What did you just say? Did you call me childish?" Rick steps closer, his anger boiling over.

He advances on Charlie, but she stands her ground, unfazed.

"Listen here, woman. I don’t care who you are or what title you hold. You think you’re all high and mighty because you’re a guard? Don’t kid yourself. I’ll do whatever I want." Rick’s voice drips with contempt.

"So, why are you even on this mission? Just here for the money?" Charlie asks sarcastically.

"Exactly! And to find someone," Rick says with a sneer. "I came to this filthy village to defeat a man named Reggy. I’ve been searching for him for days, but no one’s telling me a damn thing. Seems like your people don’t trust outsiders."

"Reggy? What do you want with him?" Charlie asks, growing curious.

"So you know him. Good. Now tell me where he is, or I’ll keep harassing this village until someone talks," Rick threatens.

Charlie, realizing now why Rick and his group had gone off on their own during the investigation, frowns. Just as she begins to formulate a response, Rick lunges at her, throwing a punch aimed at her torso. Charlie sidesteps effortlessly and counters with a swift strike to his stomach, sending him stumbling back, clutching his midsection in pain.

Humiliated, Rick challenges Charlie to a duel. Charlie hesitates, hoping to avoid unnecessary violence, but Rick’s insults toward the village make it harder to ignore. Just as she is about to accept, Clay steps forward and volunteers to fight in her place. Rick, taken aback at first, grins when he sizes up Clay, assuming he can easily defeat her.

"Are you sure about this, Clay?" Charlie asks, concerned.

"Yes, ma’am. I can’t stand the way he’s talking about the village, and I won’t let him look down on us like that," Clay replies, her gaze locked on Rick.

"Alright. But be careful. We don’t know his full strength," Charlie advises.

"Understood, ma’am," Clay says, drawing her sword.