Chapter 124 – A Plan for Tomorrow
Chapter 124
A Plan for Tomorrow
Date : Day 22 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The three relaxed in their seats after finishing their ramen, completely satisfied by the warm and rich meal. The bowls sat empty before them—traces of broth clinging to the ceramic sides. The steam had long since faded, replaced by the comfortable warmth that came from a meal well eaten.
Hyoren leaned slightly back before remembering something that had been bothering him ever since Rinne processed their spoils earlier.
The thought had been lingering at the edge of his mind. He simply had not found the right moment to ask before.
"Ina, when Rinne processed our spoils earlier..."
He frowned slightly in thought.
“I remember normal goblin magic stones being priced around 3K Kres before. So why are dungeon goblin magic stones worth 10K?”
The discrepancy had stayed in his mind ever since they left the guild counter. The number had seemed wrong—too high for creatures that were essentially the same monsters they had been hunting outside. Goblin magic stones were goblin magic stones, regardless of where they came from. Or so he had assumed.
Elise leaned forward slightly, also curious. Her emerald eyes reflected the warm magic lamplight of the ramen shop.
"That's true."
She nodded. The motion was small—a slight dip of her chin that acknowledged the validity of his question.
"As far as I know, normal goblin magic stones are usually around 3K. And Goblin Fighters are around 5K."
Ina smiled at the two of them and rested her elbow on the table. The posture was relaxed—her chin settling into her palm with the ease of someone about to explain something she understood well.
"That's because there's a difference between real monsters and dungeon-spawned monsters."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully before continuing.
"Outside dungeons, monster levels can vary depending on age, experience, and growth. But the variation usually isn't too extreme."
Her tails swished slowly behind her.
"Because once they reach certain thresholds, they evolve."
Hyoren listened attentively while Ina explained.
"Normal goblins can evolve into Goblin Fighters. Fighters might later evolve into Goblin Warriors, Shamans, or Archers."
Ina shrugged lightly.
"Scholars still don't know the exact trigger or level threshold for evolution though. There are many theories."
She then looked toward Hyoren and Elise. Her amber eyes met theirs—ensuring they were following her explanation.
"But regardless of their level, the magic stone size of a normal goblin remains mostly the same."
Her finger lightly traced a small circle on the table.
"A level 3 goblin, level 5 goblin, or even stronger goblin still produces roughly similar-sized magic stones. The stone only significantly changes after evolution."
Hyoren slowly nodded in understanding. The information was beginning to click into place—the pieces of a puzzle he hadn't even known existed.
Then Ina gestured vaguely northward, toward the direction of the Old Quarry and the newly discovered dungeon. Her hand swept through the air—indicating the location without needing to name it.
"But dungeon monsters are different."
Her expression became more focused.
"The size and value of dungeon magic stones are directly tied to their level instead of their species."
She raised one finger.
"And whether they're Guardians or not."
Elise blinked. The motion was quick—her surprise evident in the slight widening of her eyes.
"So even a normal goblin inside a dungeon can produce high-grade magic stones if its level is high enough?"
Ina nodded immediately.
"Exactly."
She smiled faintly. The expression was knowing—the look of someone sharing insider knowledge.
"A level 50 normal goblin is possible inside a dungeon. But outside? That almost never happens because the goblin would have evolved long before reaching that level."
Her amber eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"And that level 50 dungeon goblin could produce a far larger and more valuable magic stone than a completely different monster race in the same dungeon."
She gave an example. Her hands moved as she spoke—illustrating the comparison she was making.
"Even something like a level 20 Wraith in early floor might produce a smaller stone than that goblin."
Hyoren frowned slightly.
“That’s… feel strange and unnatural.”
Ina giggled softly.
“Scholars think the same thing.”
Then her gaze drifted slightly. Her eyes lost focus—looking past them toward something only she could see. The expression was distant—contemplative.
"But most theories agree on one thing."
She lowered her voice slightly.
"Dungeons don't follow the natural Law of Aethell. They follow rules created by Demon God Gidol Themself."
A brief silence settled between them. The words hung in the air—heavy with implication. The ramen shop suddenly felt quieter—the background noise of the kitchen and the distant conversation of the other patrons seeming to fade into insignificance.
"And for what reason They made dungeon monsters work like this..."
Ina slowly shook her head.
"We still don't know."
Hyoren fell into deep thought after hearing Ina's explanation. His brow furrowed—his eyes losing focus as his mind turned inward. The spoon that had been resting near his empty bowl caught his attention—he turned it over in his fingers without really seeing it.
He already had his own theory about it.
Outside the dungeon, the world seemed to follow the laws created by the Law of Aethell. Monsters evolved naturally after reaching certain thresholds. Growth followed a logical progression. A natural order that made sense—where stronger creatures became more valuable and more dangerous creatures yielded greater rewards.
But dungeons were different. They were pocket dimensions created by Gidol. And inside them, the rules themselves felt artificial. Controlled. Almost like with intentional design…
Hyoren slowly looked up toward the ceiling of the ramen shop.
RPG video games back on Earth were always like this. Levels determined everything. Magic stones, monster strength, progression. A level 50 goblin inside a game would naturally be stronger than even a level 10 dragon simply because the numbers said so.
And stronger enemies always dropped better loot. Bigger magic stones. Better rewards. Exactly like dungeon monsters.
Hyoren slowly exhaled.
It really feels like Gidol came from Earth… Or at least from some parallel version of Earth. Because the logic behind dungeons felt far too similar to game systems from earth... The loot scaling. The way that numbers determined everything regardless of what made natural sense.
His expression became slightly complicated. Because as far as he know. There is no god or demon on Earth.
Hyoren leaned slightly forward in understanding.
"I see. It's unnatural. And honestly feels artificial."
He tapped the table lightly.
"But... the rules are clean. Easy to track and organize."
Ina nodded immediately. The motion was quick—her agreement evident.
"You might be right. There are many strange monsters inside dungeons. Some of them don't even resemble creatures native to Kresneger at all."
She glanced toward the window absentmindedly. The evening light had begun to fade—the warmth of the lamplight inside growing more pronounced against the gathering darkness outside.
"A lot of dungeon monsters can't properly be categorized together with normal monsters outside."
Then she smiled faintly. The expression was wry—acknowledging the absurdity of the situation even as she explained it.
"So these rules actually make categorizing magic stones much easier for us. We simply categorize them by level instead of species."
She pointed toward the empty ramen bowl. The ceramic caught the light—reflecting the warm orange glow of the magic lamps.
"Unlike normal monsters outside the dungeon."
Elise nodded in understanding. The motion was slow—her mind clearly processing the new information and filing it away for future reference.
"I see..."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"That definitely makes loot processing easier."
Ina grinned.
"Exactly."
Then she suddenly giggled. The sound was unexpected—a burst of amusement that seemed to come from nowhere.
"There's even a joke among scholars about this."
Hyoren raised an eyebrow curiously.
Ina tried to suppress another laugh before speaking. Her lips pressed together—fighting against the smile that threatened to break through. Her cat ears twitched with the effort.
"They say Gidol intentionally made dungeon rules simple so adventurers' small brains wouldn't get overwhelmed trying to calculate loot prices."
Elise immediately covered her mouth to hide her laughter. The gesture was futile, the sound escaping anyway in a series of muffled giggles that shook her shoulders.
Ina continued while grinning mischievously. Her tails swished behind her with renewed energy—the motion reflecting her amusement.
"Level 10 monster? 10K Kres."
She raised another finger.
"Level 15 monster? 15K Kres."
Then she spread her hands dramatically. The motion was expansive—a theatrical flourish that emphasized her point.
"Simple. No adventurer's brain is going to get fried from too much thinking."
For a moment, silence lingered between them—before all three burst into laughter together.
Honestly, the scholars' joke might not even be wrong. There was a certain truth hidden in the humor—a recognition that the simplicity of the dungeon system was almost suspiciously convenient. As if someone had designed it with the explicit purpose of being easy to understand.
None of them truly understood why Demon God Gidol created dungeon rules this way. But at the very least. Everyone was thankful the system was simple enough for adventurers to understand easily.
***
Their laughter slowly died down afterward, replaced by a comfortable silence. The warm atmosphere of the ramen shop wrapped around the three of them pleasantly for a while. The sounds of the kitchen drifted through the shop—Terry's occasional humming as he cleaned, the soft clatter of dishes being stacked, the gentle hiss of water hitting hot metal. Outside, the evening had settled over Akela—the light from the magic lamps casting long shadows through the windows.
Until Elise suddenly spoke. Her voice broke the silence gently—not jarring, but drawing attention nonetheless.
"Ina, tomorrow is your day off, right?"
Ina glanced toward the calendar hanging on the wall. The paper was slightly yellowed—marked with dates and notes in neat handwriting. She already knew her schedule well, but she checked it anyway out of habit. Her eyes scanned the dates quickly—confirming what she already knew.
"That's right. Tomorrow is day 23 of Grimleaf. Unity Day."
Her tails swished lightly. The motion was relaxed—reflecting the ease of someone who had been looking forward to a day of rest.
"My weekly rest day. Why?"
Elise briefly glanced toward Hyoren before continuing. The look was quick, barely a flicker of her emerald eyes in his direction.
"The dungeon won't officially open until next week. So we have around six free days."
She smiled softly. The expression was warm—carrying a hint of something more beneath the surface.
"We already told you we're planning to rent a house, right?"
Ina nodded slowly. The motion was measured—her mind clearly working through the implications of what Elise was saying.
Elise leaned slightly forward. The shift in her posture was subtle but significant—closing the distance between herself and Ina.
"So... what about accompanying us?"
Hyoren immediately understood what Elise meant and nodded as well. The realization came quickly—connecting the pieces of what Elise was proposing.
"Right. Renting a house."
He looked toward Ina. His gaze was direct, offering an invitation that was both practical and personal. He enjoyed Ina’s company, and if they got the same free days, why not they went together?
"Elise is right. Come join us if you're free."
Ina fell into thought for a moment. Her amber eyes drifted slightly, unfocused as she considered the offer. Her tails stilled behind her. The silence stretched for a few seconds, comfortable rather than awkward.
Then Elise suddenly smiled mischievously before leaning toward Ina and whispering directly into her ear, making sure Hyoren could not hear it. The motion was smooth—practiced almost—her silver hair falling forward to obscure her lips as she spoke.
"You'll live in that house sooner or later anyway, so it's better if you help choose it too. Fufu."
The two women looked at each other silently for a few seconds. Their eyes met—exchanging something that Hyoren couldn't quite read. An understanding. An agreement.
Then Ina giggled softly. Her amber eyes sparkled with excitement—the light catching them in a way that made them seem almost golden.
"You're right, Elise."
She nodded. The motion was certain—her decision made.
"I'll go."
Hyoren stared at the two suspiciously. His brow furrowed slightly—the expression of someone who knew he was missing something but couldn't quite figure out what. He had absolutely no idea what they just whispered to each other. The secret passed between them like a lock clicking shut, excluding him from whatever understanding they had reached.
But after a moment, he simply shrugged. The gesture was resigned—accepting that some mysteries were not meant to be solved.
"You two and your secrets again..."
He smiled helplessly. The expression was wry—tinged with amusement rather than frustration.
"But oh well."
Then his expression became more practical.
"So it's settled then. Tomorrow we'll look for a house."
He glanced outside the ramen shop window. The evening light had faded further now—the streets outside illuminated by the steady glow of magic lamps.
"Wanderer's Rest is comfortable, and Martha's cooking is really good..."
A small smile appeared on his face. The expression was appreciative, acknowledging the comforts they had enjoyed over the past week.
"But if we're staying in Akela for months, it'll become expensive."
He crossed his arms lightly. The gesture was thoughtful. His mind clearly working through the practical considerations.
"And having our own base will give us more freedom too."
Elise nodded immediately. The motion was quick, her agreement evident.
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
Then she stretched her arms lightly. Her emerald mantle shifted with the motion—the fabric catching the warm light of the ramen shop. The movement was languid—the kind of stretch that came from genuine exhaustion rather than mere affectation.
"Anyway, now that our plan for tomorrow is settled, how about we end the day? To be honest... I'm exhausted."
Ina and Hyoren both nodded in agreement.
The long scouting mission had finally caught up with them—the adrenaline of the dungeon fading into the familiar ache of tired muscles and heavy eyelids. Two days of running, investigating, and combat had taken their toll, and the warm meal had only made them more aware of how much rest they needed.
Afterward, they paid for the ramen and exited the shop together.
The bell above the door chimed softly as they left—a pleasant sound that marked their departure. They walked on this side street towards the main thoroughfare.
When they arrived at the main streets of the Adventurer's District were still lively as they walked back under the warm evening lights. The crowds had thinned slightly as the night deepened, but there were still plenty of adventurers moving about—some heading toward taverns, others returning from late quests, and a few simply enjoying the evening air.
Eventually, they arrived at the intersection leading toward Wanderer's Rest. The familiar side street stretched before them—lined with the same buildings they had passed countless times over the past week.
There, the three finally stopped. Ina looked toward Hyoren and Elise. Her amber eyes reflected the lamplight—adding a warm glow to their usual depth.
"Then tomorrow morning. When and where should we meet?"
Elise tapped her chin thoughtfully. The gesture was unconscious—a habit that accompanied her planning.
"We'll fetch you at the dormitory."
She smiled. The expression was warm, carrying the promise of a pleasant day ahead.
"Maybe shortly after sunrise."
Ina nodded. The motion was certain, her acceptance of the arrangement clear.
"I'll be waiting then."
She waved lightly before turning around and walking toward the Guild Staff dormitory near Adventurer's Guild Headquarters. The gesture was casual—a simple farewell that carried no weight of finality. Her tails swayed gently behind her as she disappeared into the busy streets—their movement catching the lamplight before fading into the crowd.
Hyoren and Elise watched her leave for a moment before continuing their own walk back toward Wanderer's Rest. The inn's familiar facade grew closer with each step—the wooden sign and warm windows a welcome sight after the long day.
The inn’s communal room was as lively as usual. The sounds of conversation and laughter drifted through the door—mingling with the clatter of dishes and the smell of Martha's cooking. Adventurers sat at tables—eating, drinking, and sharing stories of their day's exploits. The atmosphere was warm and inviting—the kind of place that felt like home even to those who had only been there a short time.
After entering, they informed Martha they would not need dinner before quickly heading upstairs toward their room.
“Rest well, dears. You two earned it!”
The innkeeper had nodded understandingly—her motherly gaze taking in their tired faces with the practiced eye of someone who knew when her guests needed rest rather than food.
The familiar room that had become their temporary home for the past week welcomed them quietly.
The space was modest but comfortable—a bed large enough for two, a wardrobe for their belongings, and a window that looked out over the street below.
Elise placed her storage bag beside the wardrobe before removing her emerald mantle and hanging it neatly nearby. Her fingers worked the clasps with ease.
Then she picked up her familiar emerald-colored nightgown from the chair beside the bed. The fabric was soft—worn from use but still beautiful in its simplicity.
"Let's shower quickly and sleep, Hyoren."
Hyoren nodded while rolling his shoulders tiredly. The motion produced a soft pop—the sound of tension releasing from muscles that had been held tight for too long.
"Yeah... after two straight days of quests, I want to sleep immediately too."
Elise smiled softly at him before entering the bathroom first. The door closed behind her with a soft click—the sound of water running following shortly after.
Not long after, she returned with damp silver hair.
The strands clung to her shoulders—catching the lamplight in a way that made them seem almost luminescent.
And in exchange of her emerald leather armor, she now wore her favorite nightgown. The fabric hung loosely on her frame—comfortable rather than revealing. The green color suited her—complementing her emerald eyes in a way that seemed almost deliberate.
Hyoren quickly took his own shower afterward. The water was warm—washing away the grime and sweat of two days in the dungeon. He didn't linger—his exhaustion making even the simple pleasure of hot water feel like a luxury he was too tired to fully appreciate.
Then, once he finished, he immediately joined Elise on the bed. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight—the familiar creak of the frame a sound he had come to associate with rest and safety.
Elise snuggled closer to him naturally. The motion was automatic—her body seeking his warmth without conscious thought. Her silver hair spread across the pillow—creating a contrast with the dark fabric that was almost artistic.
"Good night, Hyoren."
Hyoren gently kissed her forehead. The gesture was tender—a simple expression of affection that required no words.
"Good night, Elise. Sleep well."
And without waiting any longer, both of them quickly drifted asleep together. The exhaustion from the past two days finally claimed them completely—pulling them down into a dreamless rest that was as profound as it was necessary. Their breathing synchronized—rising and falling in a rhythm that spoke of comfort and trust.
And outside, the sounds of Akela continued—the city that never truly slept carrying on without them as they recovered from the trials of the dungeon and prepared for whatever tomorrow would bring.