Chapter 121 – Protected
Chapter 121
Protected
Date : Day 22 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
After they finished touring the reliefs, Hyoren, Elise, and Ina found a quiet place near one of the stone pillars to rest while waiting for Robert and Fris to finish their analysis.
The three of them sat close together on the cold dungeon floor.
Too close.
Hyoren ended up in the middle almost naturally. Elise sat on his right, her shoulder lightly brushing against his arm beneath her emerald mantle. Ina settled on his left, her tail curled beside her legs, one shoulder casually pressing against his.
At first, the closeness made Hyoren tense.
Especially Ina. Normally, even the slightest flirtatious touch from the Cat-clan beastkin woman would earn an immediate hiss from Elise. A sharp glare. Some possessive remarks. But now, nothing.
Elise simply drank from her waterskin calmly, as if this arrangement was perfectly normal.
That unsettled him more than if she had gotten angry.
The silence between the two women wasn’t hostile anymore. It was different now. Controlled. Quietly understanding. As if they had reached some kind of agreement behind his back. And Hyoren had absolutely no idea what that agreement was.
He wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved, or terrified. Still, despite his confusion, he couldn’t deny something else. He was starting to enjoy Ina’s company.
Her teasing voice. Her playful smile. The warmth she brought into conversations. At first, the thought of wanting her to stay close to him had felt ugly. Greedy. Like a betrayal toward Elise.
But, that resistance inside him had started to erode little by little. And that frightened him.
They drank quietly for a while as the pale dungeon lights flickered overhead.
Then Elise spoke. Her voice was casual—almost offhand. As if she were commenting on the weather rather than making a significant announcement.
"Ina, we decided to rent a house after this."
Ina's cat ears perked instantly. The triangular shapes rotated toward Elise with the speed of someone who had just heard something unexpected. Her amber eyes widened—the surprise genuine rather than performed.
"Really? Woah, you two move fast."
She looked between them with surprise before smiling warmly. The expression was pleased—genuinely happy for them rather than merely polite.
"But honestly, that makes sense. This dungeon is the perfect training ground for new adventurers. Having a proper base will help a lot if you plan to challenge it regularly."
Hyoren lowered his waterskin.
“Yeah. Our original plan was to move to Harvengald after I reached Level 10.”
He glanced around the massive dungeon hall.
“But now… staying in Akela seems like the better choice.”
Ina’s entire expression brightened at that. Her amber eyes gleamed. Her tails swished happily across the stone floor.
“Really?”
She leaned closer instinctively, her hand lightly touching his arm.
“That means you’ll stay here for months.”
Her voice softened into her usual playful tone.
“That means we’ll have more time to get to know each other, Hyoren.”
The flirtation returned so naturally it almost made Hyoren brace for impact.
Instinctively, he glanced toward Elise. Waiting. Expecting the usual reaction. His heart was already racing—preparing for the conflict that was sure to follow.
But Elise merely took another sip from her waterskin, calm and composed. Her emerald eyes were focused on the water—her expression unchanged. There was no tension in her posture. No tightening of her jaw.
No glare. No hiss. No possessive interruption. Nothing.
Hyoren’s heart skipped strangely. The peaceful atmosphere should have reassured him. Instead, it made him feel dangerously aware of the two women beside him. Of Elise’s warmth against one side of his body. Of Ina’s closeness on the other.
And deep inside his chest, beneath the guilt and confusion, another feeling slowly emerged. A selfish feeling. One he still didn’t want to acknowledge. Not yet.
They chatted about random things for a while. About available houses. About what kind of furniture would be important. About the benefits and drawbacks of each district in Akela. The conversation flowed easily—jumping from topic to topic with the natural rhythm of people who were comfortable with each other.
“Ina, Adventurer's District would make buying dungeon supplies easier, and the guild would be only a short walk away…”
Elise insisted on renting a house in that district. Her emerald eyes were bright with enthusiasm—her pointed ears twitching as she made her points.
Ina tried to interject. Her cat ears flattened slightly—a sign of mild disagreement rather than anger.
"But Elise, it was noisy—full of drunken adventurers, late-night celebrations, and the constant clatter of traffic. The Residential District would be quieter. Safer."
She gestured vaguely toward the direction she thought toward the city—even though they couldn't see it from inside the dungeon.
"The houses there are better built too. Thicker walls."
Elise pointed ears twitched. And said her opinion.
“But the walk to guild and market…”
The conversation flowed surprisingly naturally.
Elise talked about wanting a proper kitchen. Ina enthusiastically suggested districts with good markets nearby. Hyoren found himself listening to the two women exchange ideas back and forth with effortless ease.
It felt–domestic and warm. Like three people planning a future together. And that realization unsettled him.
Because somewhere deep in his heart, a dangerous thought had already taken root. He could picture it too clearly.
Elise cooking dinner while Ina complained beside her about prices in the market. The two of them bickering over spices and ingredients while he sat nearby after training in the dungeon. Returning home exhausted only to be greeted by warm food, familiar voices, and light filling the house.
A home. Not just for him and Elise. For Ina too. The thought made his chest tighten. It felt comforting. But unsettling.
Hyoren lowered his gaze to the waterskin in his hand, fingers tightening around the leather. Elise was his lover. The woman he had nearly lost in the Old Quarry. The woman he swore to protect.
Yet despite that, he couldn’t deny the growing warmth he felt whenever Ina smiled at him. Whenever her cat ears perked up after hearing his voice. Whenever she casually slipped herself into his space like she belonged there.
He wanted the peace between the two women to continue. He wanted this atmosphere to last. And a part of him—one he desperately tried not to acknowledge—wanted more than that.
So he stayed quiet.
Listening to Elise and Ina continue discussing houses while he wrestled silently with feelings he still didn’t know how to face.
***
With the plan set, the party moved out. Hyoren, Elise, and Ina took point. They checked their gear one last time—the familiar ritual of adventurers about to enter unknown danger.
Hyoren with his sword and shield. The Mithril-alloy blade gleamed faintly in the pale dungeon light. The shield felt solid on his arm.
Elise checked her bow and arrows. The Moonveil Bow seemed to hum with latent power—the silver wood catching what little light filtered through the dungeon's entrance.
Ina’s shortsword and throwing knives were secured on her belt and hips. The Cat-kin beastkin clerk turned into reliable scout.
Hyoren took a deep breath before stepping through the shimmering archway.
The world shifted again, but this time the transition was smooth. Nothing like the disorienting void of the initial teleportation. It felt more like walking through a curtain of water. A brief resistance against his skin—and then he was through.
He quickly scanned his surroundings. His dark eyes swept across the space—cataloging details with the practiced efficiency of someone who had learned to assess threats quickly.
A narrow stone corridor stretched before him.
The walls were close enough that three people could walk abreast. The ceiling was low—oppressive in its proximity. The stone was ancient—worn smooth by time in some places, cracked and broken in others.
When he glanced back, the shimmering portal was still there, a glowing doorway that connected this place to the starting room. Fiona and the others soon emerged from it behind them. The Guild Master stepped through with the same commanding presence she carried everywhere—her greatsword already drawn and resting against her shoulder.
Ahead of him, a true labyrinth unfolded.
Corridors stretched then branched, while the ruined stone walls were cracked, damp, and slick with moisture. The air felt still and heavy. It pressed against his skin—a physical presence that seemed to resist movement. The smell of wet stone and old earth filled his nostrils—the unmistakable scent of places that had not seen sunlight in centuries.
Somewhere in the distance, water dripped—a steady rhythm that echoed through the corridors like a heartbeat.
Ina stepped forward. Her cat ears perked up, and her tail stopped swishing completely. The change was immediate. Her amber eyes scanned the corridors with a focus that hadn't been there before—she was in combat mode.
"Stay sharp, Hyoren, Elise. Ruin-type mazes like this are perfect for ambushes."
Her voice was low—barely above a whisper. But it carried clearly in the confined space.
Hyoren and Elise nodded. The motion was simultaneous—two people who had learned to move in sync through weeks of fighting together.
"Understood, Ina. We will follow your lead."
The group proceeded carefully, their footsteps softly echoing through the confined corridors. The sound was muted—the damp stone absorbing much of the noise. But in the silence of the dungeon, even the softest footfall seemed amplified.
They moved with purpose—Ina at the front, her ears constantly swiveling to catch any sound that might indicate danger. Hyoren in the middle, his shield ready to be raised at a moment's notice. Elise at the rear, her bow held loosely in her grip—an arrow nocked but not yet drawn.
Not long after, they arrived at their first branching path. One path led left. The other led right. The corridors looked identical—the same cracked walls, the same damp stone, the same oppressive ceiling.
Fiona glanced between the two before making her decision. Her sharp eyes swept across both options—assessing, calculating.
"Ina, you go left. I will take the right path."
Without even waiting for Ina's response, Fiona already led her party toward the right corridor. Her greatsword seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. The scouting party followed without question—their movements efficient and professional.
Ina smiled helplessly. The expression was wry—tinged with the resignation of someone who was used to following orders they hadn't agreed to.
"Well, as the Guild Master says, let's go left."
Her tails swished once—a brief motion that conveyed they need to move quickly.
The three continued deeper into the maze.
Ina took the lead, her movements fluid and nearly silent as she carefully checked each corner and stretch of corridor for traps or hidden danger.
Her cat ears constantly moved—swiveling toward sounds that Hyoren couldn't hear. Her tails were still now—held low and ready for balance.
After walking for about few minutes, she suddenly stopped before the corner and raised her left hand, signaling them to halt. Her cat ears twitched slightly.
"Enemies. Eight of them."
Her voice was barely above a breath—but the warning was clear.
Hyoren and Elise immediately readied their weapons. Hyoren's hand found his sword hilt. Elise's fingers tightened on her bowstring.
Hyoren stepped forward, shield raised. The surface caught the faint light—gleaming dully in the dim corridor.
"Let me take point."
Ina and Elise nodded.
Hyoren carefully peeked around the corner. He moved slowly—inch by inch—keeping most of his body behind the stone while his eyes adjusted to the new space.
A small stone chamber opened before him.
The walls were cracked in several places, covered with dust and hanging webs. Cobwebs draped from the ceiling like tattered curtains—swaying slightly in air currents that seemed to come from nowhere.
The floor was uneven—flagstones broken and shifted by centuries of neglect. It truly looked like ancient ruins abandoned for centuries. The kind of place where forgotten things gathered. Where danger lurked in shadows that never saw light.
And in the middle of the chamber, eight goblins lounged around lazily.
Their green skin was mottled and dirty—their postures slouched and relaxed. They were not on alert—they were not expecting trouble. Some were picking at their teeth with bone splinters. Others were sprawled against the cracked walls—eyes half-closed in what might have been sleep.
Five carried crude melee weapons like clubs and rusted blades. The clubs were little more than branches—thick and heavy with rough edges. The blades were rusted and notched—but still capable of killing.
The remaining three wielded bows. The bows were crude—made from bent branches and sinew. But the arrows looked serviceable—fletched with what might have been bird feathers. They were positioned slightly behind the melee fighters—covering the entrances to the chamber with their weapons ready.
Hyoren activated his Aethell Sense. The skill responded instantly—his vision shifting to accommodate the new layer of perception.
A new layer of vision spread across his sight as faint information appeared over the monsters. He guessed the goblin level by the amount of Aethell on their core.
They were level 10. Just as the Runic Tablet says. Gidol, despite Their wickedness, seems to reward anyone who prepared themself.
He quickly pulled back behind the corner.
"Ina was right. Eight goblins. All around level 10. But there's a complication. Three of them are archers."
Ina's expression darkened instantly. Her ears flattened against her head—a sign of concern that Hyoren was learning to recognize.
"Goblin Archers..."
The words were heavy—carrying the weight of experience. She knew what archers could do in confined spaces. How they could turn a straightforward fight into a deadly encounter.
Hyoren looked toward her. His dark eyes met her amber ones—seeking guidance from someone with more field experience.
"What should we do, Ina? Their levels are not a problem for us, but the archers could complicate things."
Ina tapped her chin for a brief moment. Her tails swished slowly behind her—the only outward sign of her mental calculation.
"We can deal with it."
Her gaze shifted toward Elise. The look was assessing—evaluating the ranger's capabilities with the practiced eye of someone who understood what archers could do.
"Elise, you and I focus on the archers. Hyoren, draw the aggro of the melee goblins."
Elise and Hyoren nodded without hesitation. The motion was simultaneous—two people who trusted experience. Ina's level might be lower than Hyoren's, but her field experience was far greater.
The moment Ina gave the signal, they moved.
Hyoren charged into the chamber with his shield raised high, prepared to block any incoming attack. His boots struck the stone floor with heavy thuds—each step deliberate and powerful.
His Mithril-alloy Broadsword was held at the ready—its edge catching the faint light of the dungeon. The training with Ronald had prepared him for this. The countless hours of practice, the aching muscles, the sweat and exhaustion—they all led to this moment.
The goblins immediately noticed him. Gurgling snarls erupted from their mouths as they scrambled to their feet. The lazy lounging was gone—replaced by the frantic energy of creatures who had spotted prey.
Behind him, Ina and Elise launched their attacks.
“Double Shot!”
Elise activated her skill. Two arrows exploded forward at the same time with sharp swooshing sounds.
THUMP. THUMP.
One pierced straight through the forehead of the leftmost Goblin Archer. The shaft punched through the green skin and bone as if it were paper—emerging from the back of the skull in a spray of dark blood.
The second buried itself deep into another archer's eye socket. The arrowhead sank into the brain—killing the creature before it could even register the attack.
Both goblins collapsed instantly. Their bodies hit the stone floor with wet thuds—limbs splaying at unnatural angles.
"Precision Throw!"
Ina activating her skill while sprinting parallel to Hyoren. Her arm moved in a fluid arc—the throwing knife leaving her fingers with practiced ease.
SWOOSH.
Her throwing knife spun through the air in a clean arc before striking the final Goblin Archer directly in the throat just as it was about to loose its arrow.
The blade sank deep into the creature's neck. The goblin let out a choking gurgle before collapsing to the ground. Its bow clattered to the stone—useless now that its wielder was dead.
Hyoren did not wait to see the result of Elise and Ina's skills. He already trusted they would do their job. His focus remained entirely on the goblins rushing toward him.
Four goblins charged at him head-on, while the last one was intercepted by Ina, who had already unsheathed her shortsword. The cat-clan beastkin moved with fluid grace—her blade flashing in the dim light as she engaged her target.
Hyoren braced his shield. The mithril-alloy surface faced forward—a wall of metal between him and the approaching horde. His legs were planted. His weight was distributed evenly—ready to absorb impact.
The first goblin swung its crude club wildly. The attack was telegraphed—the creature's arm pulling back before swinging forward in a wide arc.
If this had been the old Hyoren, he would have sidestepped the attack, trying to rely on speed. The instinct to dodge was still there—buried deep in his muscles. The urge to avoid rather than absorb. But against four enemies at once, a speedy fighter could easily get surrounded.
But now, he was no longer a speedy fighter. He was a Guardian. A tank. Just as Ronald had trained him, Hyoren planted his legs firmly and absorbed the impact head-on. The stance was different from what he was used to—grounded rather than mobile. Solid rather than evasive. But it felt right. It felt like what he was meant to be.
BANG.
The crude club slammed against his steel kite shield, but Hyoren barely moved.
The impact reverberated through his arm—a jarring sensation that traveled from his fingertips to his shoulder. But his stance held. His legs absorbed the force—the training with Ronald paying off in this moment.
He immediately shoved his shield forward, forcing the goblin to stagger backward. The creature stumbled—its balance disrupted by the unexpected resistance.
Another goblin lunged from his right side.
The attack came faster than the first—this goblin wielded a rusted blade rather than a club. The creature aimed for his exposed side—trying to exploit what it perceived as a weakness.
Hyoren reacted instantly.
His Mithril-alloy Broadsword swung out and parried the rusty blade aside.
CLANG.
In same motion, the blade continuing the swing into a counterattack. The movement was fluid—one action flowing into the next without pause. The parry became an extension—a natural progression rather than a separate action.
SQUELCH.
A deep gash tore across the goblin's torso. The mithril-alloy blade cut through the creature's crude leather armor as if it were paper—opening a wound that spilled blood onto the dungeon floor.
But before he could rest, his instincts screamed again. Another attack. Hyoren pivoted sharply—his body turning to face the new threat from third goblin.
CLANG.
A rusted sword struck his shield instead of his body.
The impact was jarring—but the shield held. The goblin lost its balance from the failed strike. Hyoren immediately kicked it in the chest. His boot connected with the creature's sternum—the force of the kick sending it stumbling backward.
At the same time, the fourth goblin swung at his head. The attack was desperate—a wild swing aimed at ending the fight quickly.
Hyoren ducked beneath the attack and stepped forward. The club whistled through the air—missing Hyoren's skull by inches. His sword flashed upward in counter attack.
SQUELCH.
A clean slash cut through the goblin's throat. The blade passed through flesh and sinew with barely any resistance—the mithril-alloy edge severing everything in its path. The creature collapsed while clutching its neck—blood spurting between its fingers as it fell.
Hyoren had personally killed two goblins.
He quickly searched for the remaining two, only to realize they were already dead. The goblin he had staggered earlier now had an arrow buried deep inside its eye socket. The other had a throwing knife jutting from its skull.
***
Hyoren stood amidst the goblin corpses, his breathing still calm and even. The battle had ended quickly—almost too quickly. His heart rate was elevated, but not racing. His muscles were warm, but not burning. Fighting eight level 10 goblins, even with three archers among them, had not been much of a challenge for them.
It might be because they were three people instead of two now. Or it might be his new role as a tank creating a good balance in the party. Or maybe it was both.
Ina pulled her shortsword free from the last goblin's chest. The blade came out with a wet sound—a sickening squelch that echoed briefly in the stone chamber before fading into silence. Dark blood dripped from the edge—splattering against the floor in small drops that seemed too quiet for what they represented.
As she walked closer, the goblin corpses began dissolving.
Their bodies broke apart into countless white particles before scattering into the air and disappearing completely, leaving behind only magic stones and scattered equipment. The particles rose like inverse snow—drifting upward instead of down—before fading into nothing. The smell of blood and death that had begun to permeate the chamber dissipated with them—replaced by the cleaner scent of old stone and damp air.
It was the same phenomenon Hyoren had witnessed when he killed Hifoppe. The memory was still fresh—the Goblin Knight dissolving into light after their desperate battle.
He watched the dissolution with calm mind.
It seems the dungeon monster was really just made from Aethell. And dungeons would reuse the ‘materials’ to spawn more monsters later. It was just like a game. Really. The outside world felt realistic and not game-like, other than the status system. But here… in the dungeon..
He shook his head to dispel his thought as Ina approached him.
She grabbed a filthy goblin rag and wiped the blood from her shortsword. Her cat tails had already started swishing again—the tension of combat draining from her body as quickly as it had come.
"Good work, Hyoren."
Her voice was warm—genuine. Acknowledgment of a job well done.
Elise also walked toward him. Her silver hair, tied in a practical ponytail, swayed gently with each step. The Moonveil Bow was still in her hand—held loosely at her side. Her emerald eyes were bright—reflecting the satisfaction of a clean victory.
"You were completely different, Hyoren."
She smiled softly. The expression was warm—tinged with something that might have been pride.
"But it was refreshing. Watching you handle those four goblins so easily without even breaking a sweat..."
A faint giggle escaped her lips. The sound was light—musical. A contrast to the violence that had just occurred.
"It felt reassuring. I truly felt protected. Fufu."
The words settled into Hyoren's chest—warm and unexpected. Protected. She had felt protected. The whole reason he had taken up the shield—the whole reason he had endured Ronald's punishing training—was summed up in that single word.
Ina nodded immediately, her cat ears standing tall. The triangular shapes rotated toward him—focused and attentive. Her amber eyes were bright with genuine admiration.
"She's right. Honestly, if someone told me you had always been a tank instead of spearman, I would have believed them. It's unbelievable you only trained with a shield for less than a week."
She looked at him with genuine amazement.
"You're a natural at this."
Hyoren scratched his cheek awkwardly. The gesture was self-conscious—his way of deflecting praise that he didn't feel he deserved. The warmth in his face was visible—a flush that crept up from his neck.
"It's thanks to Ronald's teaching. He was incredibly precise. It already feels like the shield became second nature to me."
The words came out haltingly—his attempt to redirect the praise to where he felt it belonged.
Ina and Elise exchanged glances before softly giggling together. The sound was synchronized—two women who had reached some unspoken agreement finding amusement in the same moment. Their laughter mingled in the air—light and warm against the cold stone of the dungeon.
Elise stepped closer and gently touched his left shoulder. Her fingers pressed against the leather of his armor—finding the seam where the shield strap crossed his body. The touch was light—almost reverent.
"Ronald might be a good teacher, yes. But a teacher can only guide someone."
Her emerald eyes looked straight at him—holding his gaze with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.
"If the person himself lacked effort, discipline, or talent, then no amount of teaching would matter."
The words were simple—but they carried weight. An acknowledgment that the training was only part of the equation. That the real work had come from him.
Ina nodded and lightly tapped the arm holding his shield. Her fingers brushed against his arms.
"Exactly. Skills don't magically become part of your body just because someone explains them well."
Her tails swayed slowly behind her.
"You trained every day until your muscles remembered the movements. You endured Ronald's harsh training. And more importantly..."
Her amber eyes narrowed slightly with admiration.
"Honestly, what surprised me most wasn't your strength."
Her grip on his left arm tightened. The pressure was firm—not painful, but present. A physical anchor for the words she was about to say.
"It was how calm you were. You didn't panic when four goblins rushed you at once. You kept positioning yourself properly, controlled the flow of battle, and never let them surround you."
The observation was astute—coming from someone who had been watching from a different angle. Someone who had seen the battle unfold from the perspective of a support fighter rather than the front line.
For a moment, Hyoren could only stay silent while the two women praised him from both sides.
The warmth spreading in his chest felt strangely pleasant. It radiated outward—from his heart to his limbs—filling him with a feeling he couldn't quite name. Not because they praised his strength. That was just a number—a measure of capability that could be improved with time and effort.
But because they acknowledged the effort he had desperately poured into changing himself. The hours of training. The aching muscles. The frustration of learning something new. The determination to become something more than what he had been.
To become a wall that was going to protect his loved ones.