1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 94: Dungeon Crawl

"I’ll catch up, so...so, I won’t get in your way," Astrid said with determination.

"Right," Noah smiled, giving an encouraging thumbs-up. "I know you can do it."

While they were set on their course, he walked a lonely road for the upcoming mission–though that’s exactly as he wished. Keeping the document given to him by the Record Keeper in his pocket, he walked the busy lobby where hundreds of adventurers came and went, recalling the parting gift of information he was left with at the end of his meeting:

["...When it comes to a target like Hugo, he’s brutal in more ways than words can do service. I understand you have companions you’ve traveled with up until this point, but I’d reconsider bringing them on this mission, if you prioritize their safety.

Hugo is a callous man who operates with efficient violence. Once he sniffs out your weaknesses, he’ll use them to his advantage. Do you understand what I’m getting at?"]

’Yeah, I get it...’ He recalled, looking ahead. ’I’m not involving them in this.’

On the eastern side of the World Guild, the platform he was first warped to was overseen by men in uniforms similar to Vastro. Those that had already gathered their missions with specific destinations in mind stepped onto the engraved panels on the platform, ferried by pillars of light summoned by the World Guild.

A "Transport Station", as Vastro informed him on their way to the Record Keeper.

’She told me going to Coudale by foot would take a week, accounting for sprinting. I’m better off being warped there and not letting a guy like Hugo run around unchecked for any longer than I have to,’ he thought, stepping towards the platform.

There was a short line, leaving him stepping to the front after being in thought for some time. He stepped up, lifting his insignia as a proof of his rank before being given access.

A man in a decorated uniform outfitted with a black, half-cape gestured for him to step into the middle of the engraved platform, "Where are you heading?"

"Coudale," he answered.

The Guild guardian nodded, holding his hand out, "Place your hand on mine."

Noah followed the instruction, placing his palm against the man’s own before a warmth began to surface on the back of his hand.

"At any time, you can return here by holding this hand up and invoking "Return." Use it only when the mission is complete or you’ve decided you can’t finish it," the guardian instructed. "Ready?"

"Yeah."

As he gave his confirmation, the mystical lights enveloped him, dragging him into the pathways that bypassed natural physics altogether. A hum filled his ears, echoing through his body as he allowed himself to travel through the sublime radiance until–

He blinked, discovering an entirely different scenery.

A quick glance around found a town operating around him, with the people there stopping and staring at him as if he was a meteor that just crashed down. In reality, he couldn’t blame them for looking as he did just literally arrive in a flash.

He gave a small wave to the onlookers in a way to assure them "Don’t mind me, and sorry!"

It was a strange feeling, being out on his own. He wasn’t aware of just how used he’d gotten to the antics of his companions:

Whether it was Otto’s enthusiastic spiels of great heroes, or Redrum’s old wisdom, he already missed it.

’They’ll be fine. I’ve got to worry about handling my mission here,’ he reminded himself.

For the time being, he accustomed himself to the city, finding a nearby cafe to seat himself at. It had multiple floors, leading him to a window seat that gave him a view over the streets of Coudale.

’Hugo is targeting something or somebody within Coudale. Is it the city itself or someone within it? I guess the only way I’ll get an answer is through confrontation,’ he decided, sipping from the fresh mug of coffee that was brought to him.

Seeing the peace others had when strolling through the streets, or even those who partook in their drinks at just a table over, he yearned for the same life. At the snap of his fingers, it could be done if he simply left everything else behind and went back to his house beside the lake.

While the thought crossed his mind, he gave it no real consideration. When imagining what cruel fate might befall those he saw in peace if he let things be, he found his fire.

After finishing his coffee, he asked for some directions to the "Bamas Ruins", getting help from a kind elder.

He headed outside the city walls, finding himself following a dirt-paved road through grassy plains.

In his hand, he held the peculiar orb he won from the tournament, bouncing it in his palm while hiking.

"Still not sure how I’m supposed to use this..." He mumbled.

The springtime breeze passed by as he watched the gentle clouds move along on their march. He appreciated the quietness on his walk, though found himself expecting one of the twins to chime in at every step.

’Hope everything goes smoothly for them. Once I’m back, we’ll have a celebratory dinner,’ he thought.

There was more than a few miles ahead of him, as he ventured through the valley, between mountains and even ascending one. It was along the trail curving along the height of one giant landmark of rock and soil that he found it–an entrance.

He peered inside the dim opening within the mountain, only able to let out a quiet sigh to himself, knowing that there was no other choice but to enter.

’The things I do...I swear, the compensation does not cut it,’ he thought.

"Ten Souls: Open."

["Third Soul: Guardian Spirit of The Tulmultuous Path, Hara"]

A rather disheveled, middle-aged man came from the summoning, ruffling his own shaggy, salt-and-pepper hair with a groan, "Mornin’, Master. What’s up?"

"Just making sure I know where I’m going," Noah said.

Hara nodded, leading the way with his pale, brown coat swaying as a breeze left the mouth of the cave, "I see. I guess my skills apply here."

Into the dark, unknown passage, he followed behind the guardian spirit he summoned. While the title of a "Guardian Title" spawned the image of a mythical being, the one he relied on in the moment looked more like a jaded detective who skipped his morning cup of joe.

The interior of the mountain was built of ancient, black stone, yet somehow looked as though it’d been perfectly maintained despite the lack of a soul in sight.

"So, this place is roughly a thousand years old, give or take," Hara remarked, walking with his hands in the pockets of his coat.

["The Third Soul housed within Noah’s "Ten Souls" skill, Hara. While lacking in combat abilities, the tired man excels in navigating the treacherous and unknown path."]

"There’s a false tile in front of your right foot, watch out," Hara casually warned without looking back.

Just before bringing his boot down, Noah withheld, looking down to see a slightly out-of-place piece in the flooring. He let out a sigh of relief, instead extending his stride to avoid falling for the trap.

"Thanks," Noah said, following closely. "Though, I’d prefer more than a split second to react."

"Sorry ’bout that," Hara yawned without a care.

While they walked through the nefarious keep, the baggy-eyed man came to a stop, holding his arm out to signal them both to halt.

"What’s it?" Noah asked.

Hara pointed to the walls on either side, "There’s a line drawn along on each wall at this step. Cross it, and something nasty will happen."

"So, what’s the plan?"

"This," Hara said, snapping his fingers forward.

The very moment the sleuth extended his hand, he withdrew it as if evading the snapping jaws of an alligator. At once, a shriek emitted as a blue light cut across the corridor.

"—That’s what would’ve happened if we crossed it without evaluating it," Hara said, continuing onward.

"Good thing you checked it," Noah said quietly. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

There wasn’t any need to worry about accidentally activating a dormant trap, though it was more about the amount of time Hara would give him to react. Through the empty, ominous chambers, multiple false tiles were avoided, avoiding being cut in half by swinging axes or crushed by falling logs.

’This place would give Indiana Jones a run for his money...What gives? Is somebody really using this as a base?’ He considered, huffing as he looked up at a roof full of holes.

"Hey, Master," Hara said quietly, coming to a stop.

"Yeah?"

In the dark room, the tired spirit was facing down one of the passages leading ahead, though nothing could be seen, at least by the young man’s eyes.

"There’s something nasty approaching," Hara warned. "Mind if I sit this one out?"

"Sure thing," Noah said, flipping his axe.