Chapter 208: Dungeon Clear News
Morning light spilled through Sora’s window as she settled into her chair. Camera on. Microphone checked. A cup of coffee steaming beside her keyboard.
She smiled at the lens. "Good morning, everyone."
The chat flooded instantly.
You’re late!
Tell us about the Verdant Abyss!
Did they really clear it in one day?
Kai and Sera are back!
She laughed.
"I knew this would be today’s topic."
Behind her, the dungeon board glowed on the wall, pulled up and ready.
Dungeon Information
Verdant Abyss
Rank: B
Status: Cleared
Clear Time: 1 Hour and 20 minutes.
Participants: 2
Kai.
Sera.
Sora let it sit there for a second before she started explaining.
"It’s actually been several weeks since Kai and Sera accepted a dungeon mission."
"Instead, they’ve spent almost all of their time building the Abyss Watchers."
She smiled.
"So seeing them return to dungeon clearing..."
"...felt nostalgic."
...
The chat exploded.
I forgot Kai was actually a hunter.
Same.
He’s been solving city problems forever.
Remember when they cleared C-Ranks every other day?
We’re so back.
Sora laughed.
"I don’t think they ever left."
"They were simply protecting the city in a different way."
She paused.
"But..."
"I’ll admit."
"It was nice seeing them back inside a dungeon."
...
Across the city, the day moved with a little more warmth in it than usual.
At the Hunter Association, a small crowd had gathered around the completion board.
Hunters came and went between missions, but every so often someone stopped long enough to glance at the newest dungeon reports.
One hunter whistled low.
"Verdant Abyss..."
"I haven’t seen that dungeon cleared this fast."
Another folded his arms.
"When was the last time those two actually entered one?"
A younger hunter frowned as he thought.
"...Weeks?"
An older hunter laughed.
"Longer than that."
"They’ve been busy running half the city."
Someone else nodded.
"First the Abyss Watchers."
"Then organizing patrols."
"Then helping rebuild."
Another smiled as he looked at the board again.
"...Feels right seeing their names back on dungeon reports."
Several people nodded in agreement before quietly returning to preparing for their own missions.
...
At the equipment shop, the owner updated his inventory list, humming to himself. He smiled the moment he saw the notification pop up on his screen.
"Kai’s back to making money for blacksmiths."
...
At a café near the Central District, two older hunters sat over their coffee, unhurried.
One chuckled.
"I was starting to think they’d retired."
The other shook his head.
"They were just busy."
...
In the market, a group of children were pretending to fight, sticks and brooms standing in for weapons no one their size should be holding.
One little boy swung a stick wildly.
"I’m Kai!"
Another grabbed an old broom, pointing it forward like a spear.
"Then I’m Sera!"
A third child immediately ran behind them.
"I’ll be the monster!"
"No!"
"You always lose!"
"I want to win this time!"
"You have to lose!"
"That’s how the story goes!"
The children burst into laughter, chasing each other between the market stalls while nearby merchants shook their heads with amused smiles.
One elderly shopkeeper chuckled.
"I remember when those two weren’t much older than them."
His neighbor smiled.
"They’ve come a long way."
...
All through the streets, merchants haggled, researchers carried folders between offices, guild members traded gossip outside the Association gates. Nothing about the day was extraordinary.
Everyone just seemed a little happier.
Not because something remarkable had happened.
Because things felt normal again.
...
Back on stream, Sora leaned back in her chair.
"You know..."
"I think the best part wasn’t the clear."
"It was knowing they could finally take time for themselves."
"They’ve earned it."
She reached for the camera.
"See everyone tomorrow."
The stream ended.
...
Evening settled over Mythal in soft orange light. Kai and Sera stopped at a small pizza shop on the way home, the smell of fresh dough already drifting out onto the street before they reached the door.
The owner recognized them immediately.
"The usual?"
Kai nodded.
"Extra cheese?" the owner asked.
Sera answered before Kai could.
"Two."
Kai sighed.
"I was going to say one."
"You were wrong."
...
The apartment door opened, and the smell of pizza filled the room before Kai had even set the boxes down.
Leo appeared almost instantly, eyes wide.
"You brought pizza?!"
Kai lifted the boxes.
"I figured you’d smell it."
"I actually did."
Mina walked in behind him, laughing.
"He’s not joking."
Everyone sat around the table. Boxes opened. Leo grabbed a slice before anyone else had touched theirs.
Kai watched him.
"...Didn’t even wait."
"I’m growing."
"You’ve been saying that for years."
"It’s still true."
Between bites, Leo suddenly remembered something.
"Oh!"
"I saw the Hunter Association board today."
Kai looked up.
"The Verdant Abyss."
"You cleared it."
Sera nodded, already reaching for a second slice.
"It wasn’t bad."
Leo nearly dropped his pizza.
"Not bad?"
"People avoid that dungeon."
Kai shrugged.
"It was peaceful."
Leo stared at him.
"...You’re impossible."
Mina laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink.
"Only Kai could describe a B-Rank dungeon as peaceful."
Sera grinned.
"He wasn’t completely wrong."
Leo looked between the two of them, shaking his head slowly.
"I’m never going to understand you two."
...
The conversation drifted, easy and unhurried. Leo asked about the monsters, leaning forward with his elbows on the table.
Sera exaggerated, straight-faced.
"The wolves were terrifying."
Kai nodded, matching her tone perfectly.
"I almost ran."
Leo blinked.
"...Really?"
Sera burst out laughing before she could hold it together.
Kai still didn’t break.
"It was close."
Leo narrowed his eyes, suspicious now.
Mina shook her head, reaching for a napkin.
"Don’t believe either of them."
"They’re messing with you."
Kai finally smiled.
"A little."
Leo groaned, dropping his head into his hand.
"I’m surrounded by terrible people."
Sera raised her slice like a toast.
"You love us."
"...Unfortunately."
Everyone laughed, the sound filling the small apartment, easy and warm, interrupted only by someone reaching across the table for another slice.
...
Later, the pizza boxes sat stacked and empty on the table. Leo had already fallen asleep on the couch, one arm hanging off the edge. Mina moved quietly around the table, gathering the last of the plates.
Kai stood near the window, looking out at the city.
The lights of Mythal stretched into the distance, scattered gold against the dark. The city was calm.
Not because nothing was happening.
Because people were handling it.
Behind him, Sera walked over and stood beside him, looking out at the same view.
"Thinking?"
Kai nodded.
"...It’s nice."
"What is?"
He smiled.
"Coming home."
Sera smiled too.
"Yeah."
Outside, the city kept moving quietly through its evening, one small light at a time.
For tonight, everything was exactly as it should be.