Chapter 185 – Back Hug and Front Hug
Chapter 185
Back Hug and Front Hug
Date : Day 30 of Lunaeve 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The Goblin Ruler slowly dissolved. Its body gradually broke apart into countless particles of Aethell.
The dark armor. The severed head. The sword. Everything slowly faded away until nothing remained.
Hyoren slowly lowered his Steel Kite Shield.
His entire body was drenched in sweat. A sharp throb suddenly shot through his head.
Ugh...
His vision blurred for a moment. His body swayed.
I used too much Aethell...
Without hesitation, Hyoren deactivated Accel Zone.
The shimmering field surrounding him immediately receded before disappearing completely.
During the duel with the Goblin Ruler, he had maintained Accel Zone continuously for several minutes. And he also casted Shadow Bloom multiple times during the fight with its army.
The strain on his Aethell Core had accumulated.
Elise had already lowered Moonveil Bow. She hurried over in quick steps. Her silver hair swayed behind her as she reached his side.
"Hyoren. Are you alright? Did you get hurt?"
She immediately supported him before he could lose his balance. One arm gently held his shoulder.
Jackey also hurried over after sheathing both of his axes.
"What happened, Big Bro?"
Hyoren slowly sheathed Dawn Breaker before shaking his head.
"I did get a few wounds..."
He let out a slow breath.
"But this is mostly because I used too much Aethell."
Elise nodded in understanding, though she continued supporting him.
Hyoren reached into his pouch.
He first took out a Magic Potion. The blue liquid gently sloshed inside the bottle. He uncorked it and drank everything in one gulp.
It won't instantly recover his lost Aethell, but at least it will help him regenerate more quickly.
Afterward, he took out a Healing Potion. The green liquid shimmered inside the glass bottle. He emptied that as well.
A pleasant warmth spread across his body. The puncture wound in his abdomen slowly closed. The bruise scattered across his body gradually disappeared one after another.
Hyoren finally let out a long breath.
"Thank you, Elise. I'm fine now."
Only then did Elise slowly release her support. She looked at him for another moment before smiling softly.
"You worried me, Hyoren."
Hyoren returned a reassuring smile. Then his eyes shifted toward Jackey.
"Don't worry, Jackey. I'm fine. It's just losing Aethell and a few wounds…"
He paused.
Only now did he properly notice Jackey's condition. Numerous shallow cuts covered the Beastkin's body. Most concerning of all—a deep gash stretched across Jackey's flank.
Hyoren frowned.
"Hey. You're wounded too. Go drink a Healing Potion. I won't be able to use Healing Light for a while after all.”
Jackey blinked.
His usual grin disappeared as he looked down at himself. Only then did he notice the blood staining his armor.
"Huh…? Big Bro… I didn't even notice... Haha!"
The adrenaline from battle had completely masked the pain.
He scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed laugh before quickly taking out a Healing Potion. The deep wound on his flank slowly closed, followed by the smaller cuts scattered across his body.
Watching the two of them, Elise could only shake her head. Her silver hair gently swayed with the motion.
"You two… How could you not notice wounds that big? Fufu."
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
Hyoren rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Jackey laughed sheepishly.
Then, the three of them were laughing together.
The tension that had filled the Guardian Chamber throughout the desperate battle finally melted away.
***
The three of them finally realized their condition after their wounds had healed.
They turned at almost the same time.
A short distance from them, the large Magic Stone left behind by the Goblin Ruler quietly rested on the stone floor where the Floor Guardian had fallen.
Jackey's golden eyes immediately lit up.
"WOAH!"
The Cat-clan Beastkin hurried over before the others.
He bent down, grabbed the large Magic Stone with both hands, then triumphantly lifted it high above his head.
"FREEDOM PARTY! VICTORY! WOHOO!"
His tabby cat ears perked straight upward. His tail spiraled energetically behind him.
Hyoren and Elise couldn't help but chuckle at the same time.
The two slowly walked over to Jackey, their eyes naturally falling upon the large Magic Stone.
Hyoren let out a long breath.
"Truly… There were many occasions when I thought we were going to lose."
His gaze drifted across the battlefield littered with countless Magic Stones from the fallen goblins.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
"But… We actually won against an army of one thousand five hundred Goblins..."
Elise gently tucked a loose strand of silver hair behind her pointed ear before looking toward the place where the Goblin Ruler had fallen.
"True… This Floor Guardian truly was like a wall standing before us..."
A gentle smile formed on her lips.
"And we… overcame it."
Hyoren silently nodded.
He crouched beside the place where the Goblin Ruler had dissolved.
The Floor Guardian hadn't left behind its Demon Steel armor. Its dark longsword had also disappeared together with its body.
Instead, it dropped something else.
A long white pole rested quietly upon the stone floor.
Hyoren picked it up.
"This… is different from the one the Guardian was holding."
He examined it more carefully.
The Goblin Ruler's flag bearer had been roughly one and a half meters long. But this one was noticeably longer, measuring closer to two meters. The fitting used to tie a flag or banner was also significantly longer.
Even the spearhead was different. Instead of ending in a short, pointed tip, this one possessed a proper and sharp spear blade nearly twenty to twenty-five centimeters long.
While the Goblin Ruler's weapon resembled a flagpole that could also be used as a spear, this one was the exact opposite. It looked much closer to a true spear that could also serve as a flag bearer.
Hyoren tried to hold it with both hands.
He gave it a light swing.Then followed with a smooth thrust. The white spear cut cleanly through the air.
"This is a spear… which could also be used as a flag bearer."
He tested its balance again. The weight shifted naturally in his hands.
"It's very light… Easy to swing. Easy to thrust."
Elise and Jackey stepped closer to inspect it as well.
Jackey's golden eyes carefully followed the length of the weapon.
"True, Big Bro… It's different from the skulker one… It's longer… And there's no purple banner."
Elise's pointed ears twitched as her emerald eyes examined the white shaft.
"It looks sturdy..."
Hyoren nodded. He lightly tapped the shaft against the spear blade.
"The material… I think I know what it's made of."
He slowly poured Aethell into the weapon.
Immediately, the white spear faintly glowed. A thin layer of Aethell smoothly enveloped the entire weapon.
Hyoren smiled, it was as he expected.
"This is definitely Mithril… It conducts Aethell just as easily as my Dawn Breaker."
His gaze remained fixed on the weapon.
"The sound it makes… The white luster… Yes, it's Mithril."
Elise nodded in understanding.
"A Mithril flag bearer..."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Or perhaps a spear…?"
Her gaze shifted toward Hyoren.
"What are you going to do with it, Hyoren? You still have your Spear Mastery skill, right? Going to keep and use it?"
Hyoren considered the question.
He lightly swung the white spear a few more times. Each movement felt smooth and natural.
"Hmm… I'm not sure. I already have Dawn Breaker as the perfect magic weapon for me..."
He paused for a moment.
"But… This weapon is also splendid."
With a small chuckle, he planted the spear upright on the stone floor.
Holding it brought back a familiar feeling. Even though he had chosen the path of a tank now, he hadn't forgotten the spear techniques he had practiced before.
"Maybe… I'll wait until Borin appraises it."
He smiled.
"See what this flag pole… or spear… or whatever it is called, and what effect it has."
Jackey immediately grinned.
He swung both of his arms through the air as though wielding twin weapons.
"Use both, Big Bro! Dual wield! Just like me! HAHA!"
Elise let out a soft laugh.
"Fufu. Just like the Goblin Ruler? Dual wielding a spear and a sword?"
Hyoren smiled before lightly tapping his Steel Kite Shield.
"I can't abandon this shield. I can't become a tank without it."
He gave the white spear one final practice swing before storing it inside his Storage Bag.
"I'll think about it later. Whether I use both the sword and spear interchangeably depends on the situation… Or simply sell it if the appraisal turns out to be bad."
Elise nodded with a gentle smile.
"I think that's the best.”
***
They all smiled and were satisfied.
The Floor Guardian had been defeated.
And not only had they cleared the first floor of the dungeon, they had even obtained a rare weapon drop. For a brief moment, the three simply enjoyed their hard-earned victory.
Then—they realized they had forgotten something.
Jackey was the first to notice.
His tabby cat ears suddenly perked upright. His striped tail stiffened before flaring behind him.
"WAIT! What about Miss Purple??"
His loud shout immediately snapped the other two out of their celebration.
Hyoren and Elise froze. Then both of them quickly turned their heads toward the bridge.
A moment later, the three exchanged glances. Then they laughed.
"Fufufu."
Elise covered her mouth with a hand.
"We forgot about her and already started celebrating..."
Hyoren scratched his cheek awkwardly. A wry smile spread across his face.
"Sorry, Arianna… This floor could only be cleared because of her… And we forgot about her at the end..."
He let out a small chuckle before looking toward Elise.
"How is she? Is she fine?"
Elise nodded with a reassuring smile.
"She should still be sleeping. It's the backlash from Aethell exhaustion."
Hyoren nodded in understanding.
"I see..."
He smiled bitterly as he recalled his own experience.
"I once passed out for more than twenty-four hours because of the same thing… So it's understandable. She should be fine after getting enough rest."
Jackey immediately raised one hand.
"Let me fetch Miss Purple!"
Hyoren smiled and nodded.
"Please, Jackey. Check her condition."
Jackey grinned.
"Roger!"
Without another word, he immediately bolted forward.
His footsteps echoed across the stone floor as he dashed past the bridge toward the small area behind it—towards the area where Arianna was still peacefully unconscious beneath the blanket Elise had prepared for her.
Not long afterward, Jackey returned.
Arianna was still unconscious. The young noblewoman rested quietly upon his back, her body wrapped securely beneath the blanket Elise had covered her with earlier. Without her wide-brimmed mage hat—her long, wavy crimson hair cascaded over Jackey's shoulders, gently swaying with each step he took. Her breathing looked even and her face showed peaceful expression.
Although Arianna was fairly tall for a woman, she possessed a slender, graceful build unlike her well-endowed mother, Fiona.
As a result, Jackey carried her with surprising ease. Both his hands supported beneath her legs. And he made sure both her hands were secured on his own front.
"Miss Purple still sleeping, Big Bro!"
Jackey grinned.
"So I carried her here!"
Hyoren nodded in approval.
"Good, Jackey."
He glanced at the unconscious Arianna.
"She'll probably be out cold for several hours. So carrying her is our only option for now."
Jackey's grin widened.
"Leave it to me!"
He puffed out his chest proudly.
"Miss Purple is the reason we could deal with those skulker army! So I'll help her if she couldn't walk! It was my job!"
Hyoren and Elise smiled at the same time.
Jackey always spoke in the simplest way possible. Sometimes he even acted before thinking. Yet, beneath that straightforward personality and his seemingly small brain, was someone with an incredibly kind heart.
Elise's gaze then drifted toward Arianna. She carefully looked over the unconscious noblewoman.
A moment later, her eyebrows knitted together slightly.
"Where are her staff and hat, Jackey…? You didn't forget to bring them, right?"
Jackey immediately shook his head. He did so carefully, making sure not to jostle Arianna on his back.
"Of course not, Elise! I put them inside my Storage Bag! I'll give them back to Miss Purple when she wake up later!"
Elise let out a relieved smile.
"Fufufu. That's good then."
Hyoren turned his attention toward the battlefield around them.
The stone floor remained littered with Magic Stones. Thousands of them were scattered across the vast chamber, glittering beneath the pale blue light of the dungeon's magic lamps.
"Time to go… But... let's handle those thousands of Magic Stones first."
He paused for a moment.
"Most of the goblins' equipment was destroyed by Arianna's spell… And they weren't worth much anyway. So let's leave them."
Both Elise and Jackey nodded.
"Yes, Big Bro!"
"Okay, Hyoren."
Jackey slowly crouched down.
Making sure not to wake Arianna, he carefully lowered her onto the blanket once more before they started working.
The three of them then spread out around the nearby battlefield, quickly gathering the scattered Magic Stones left behind by the defeated Goblin army.
***
After working hard to gather every visible Magic Stone—Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey finally stood atop the raised dais where the Goblin Ruler had once stood in complete silence, overlooking the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Arianna was asleep on Jackey's back. Her long, wavy crimson hair cascaded around Jackey's shoulders and back, making it look almost as though she were quietly hugging him from behind.
Hyoren smiled.
"We already spent ten days inside this dungeon."
His gaze swept across the now-empty Guardian Chamber one last time.
"We're victorious. And we got some great loot."
He looked at the two companions beside him.
"Let's go home, Elise... Jackey..."
Both of them smiled and nodded.
"Okay, Hyoren.”
"Yes, Big Bro!"
Hyoren turned toward the stone pedestal with a red orb standing at the center of the raised dais.
The teleport orb had appeared after the Floor Guardian's defeat.
Without hesitation, Hyoren reached out and placed his hand upon it.
The moment his fingers touched the crimson orb—the surrounding world dissolved.
The Guardian Chamber, the bridge, the massive rectangular platform, everything melted away into countless streams of light.
An instant later—the scenery around them completely changed.
The four members of Freedom Party reappeared inside the familiar main tunnel of the abandoned quarry, which had now become the waiting room of the dungeon.
The spacious cavern was far livelier than the silent dungeon they had just left.
Adventurers rested around the waiting room after their own expeditions. Street vendors called out to passing customers while selling food, drinks, supplies, and various necessities.
After ten days inside the dungeon, Freedom Party finally returned.
***
Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey stepped out of the dungeon. Meanwhile, Arianna remained asleep on Jackey's back.
The moment they appeared, the nearby adventurers immediately looked toward them.
Freedom Party had already become well known throughout the Dungeon Town. Firstly, they were pioneers, the first party to dive deep and scout the unreachable floor. The second, the Baron's daughter herself, was a member of their party.
Many adventurers quietly examined the returning party.
Their eyes swept across Hyoren's dented Steel Kite Shield. Jackey's bloodstained armor. The numerous cuts covering their equipment.
Although their wounds had already been healed, the fierce battle they had endured remained clearly written across their battered gear.
Whispers quickly spread throughout the waiting room.
"Is that Freedom Party?"
"I wonder what floor they reached now."
"Huh? What happened to the Baron's daughter?"
"The young lady is on the Beastkin's back… Did she die?"
"I wonder if the lord is going to punish them?"
"Hey, but look at them. They look like they just returned victorious from a war."
"They're completely battered… but looking triumphant."
"So that's the party that caused an uproar yesterday because they didn't return on time, huh?"
"Ah... yes… It was quite a rare sight at the Adventurer Guild."
Freedom Party paid little attention to the surrounding chatter.
They simply continued walking.
However, the last conversation caught Hyoren's attention.
An uproar… Did Guild Master Fiona cause one because we returned a day late...?
The image of Fiona furiously shouting profanities throughout the guild while worrying about Arianna's safety suddenly appeared in his mind.
Hyoren couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
I guess we really need to hurry back to Akela and report…
Before something else happens...
Without another word, Hyoren slightly quickened his pace.
Elise and Jackey naturally followed beside him.
They passed the curious adventurers. Ignored the enthusiastic calls of the street vendors selling food and supplies. And continued straight ahead.
A few moments later, the three of them finally stepped out of the old quarry's main tunnel.
The bright Silver Luna greeted them the moment they stepped outside the old quarry. The cold silver sun hung high overhead at its zenith. A sign that it was already midday.
Hyoren glanced at his companions.
"Let's report to Sherly first. Then we'll head straight to Akela."
He recalled the conversations they had overheard inside the dungeon waiting room.
"Based on those murmurs... it seems our delay caused quite an uproar."
Jackey nodded enthusiastically.
"Okay, Big Bro!"
He slightly adjusted Arianna on his back to make sure she remained comfortable.
"I want Miss Purple to rest properly too!"
Beside him, Elise gently tucked a loose strand of her silver hair behind her pointed ear.
"Fufufu. Perhaps Guild Master Fiona was simply too worried about her daughter."
Hyoren smiled wryly. He couldn't exactly blame the guild master. If Arianna had been his daughter, he probably would have been just as worried.
The three of them continued walking through the rapidly growing dungeon town.
What had once been nothing more than an abandoned quarry had transformed remarkably over the past several weeks.
New buildings continued to rise one after another. The rhythmic sounds of hammers striking wood. The scraping of saws. And the voices of busy workers echoed throughout the construction site.
The settlement was steadily expanding around the newly discovered dungeon.
Standing prominently on the plaza before the dungeon's main tunnel were several permanent buildings that had already been completed.
The Adventurer's Guild branch. Merchants’ Guild buildings. And a handful of shops serving the growing number of adventurers visiting the area.
Without slowing their pace, Freedom Party headed directly toward the largest building standing at the center of the plaza.
The Adventurer's Guild.
***
Hyoren pushed open the door to the Adventurer's Guild branch. The moment the door swung inward, a loud argument greeted them.
Freedom Party instinctively stopped in place.
"Please calm down! It wasn't unusual for them to stay inside the dungeon for several days before!"
"That's different! This time is different!"
The familiar female voice nearly shouted.
"Back then they were only inside for six days! This time it's been ten days! Ten days!"
"But both Unbreakable Will and Merry Go Round reported that Freedom Party was safe and planned to clear the second floor!"
"But that was two days ago! Let me post a rescue quest!"
Hyoren immediately recognized one of the voices. It belonged to Sherly. The guild clerk sounded as though she was desperately trying to calm the other person down.
"Then who's going to accept it? Freedom Party is the one who has ventured the deepest out of every party so far!"
"Tch! Then I'll call a Gold-rank party from Harvengald!"
"Please calm down… A party from Harvengald would need a week to get here."
"Please be patient. Even Guild Master Fiona said to let Freedom Party do their job."
"I CAN'T CALM DOWN! Hissss! Then I'll go look for them myself! Don't you dare stop me!"
"No! Please stop, Vice Guild Master! Senior Ina, stop!"
Hyoren stood frozen.
He had assumed the one causing all the commotion would be Guild Master Fiona. After all, Arianna was her daughter. It would have been natural for Fiona to panic.
But, from the argument unfolding before him, he realized he had been completely wrong.
The person causing the uproar. The one who had been worrying herself sick. Was actually Ina. She had been so worried about Freedom Party that she was even prepared to dive into the dungeon alone to search for them.
Hyoren felt a warmth spread through his chest. He hadn't expected she would worry about them this much.
At that moment—Ina, who was struggling against Sherly's grip as the guild clerk desperately tried to hold her back—finally noticed the entrance.
The guild door remained open.
Standing there in complete silence. Were Hyoren, Elise, Jackey, and the still-unconscious Arianna resting on Jackey's back.
***
When Ina realized who had just entered the guild branch. Her amber eyes widened. Her cat ears shot upright. Even her tail froze completely behind her.
For several long seconds. No one moved. No one spoke. The guild branch fell into complete silence.
Then, Sherly reached out, trying to stop Ina. But the Cat-clan Beastkin woman slipped free from the guild clerk's grasp.
"Hyoren!"
She threw herself toward him without hesitation.
Hyoren barely had enough time to open his arms before catching her.
"Hyoren! Hyoren! Hyoren! You're back!"
She wrapped both arms tightly around him.
Tears immediately streamed down her cheeks, soaking the front of Hyoren's clothes as she buried her face against his chest. The usually energetic petite woman had become a complete mess.
Hyoren smiled gently. He slowly wrapped his own arms around her.
"I'm back, Ina. I'm sorry for worrying you..."
His hand gently stroked her soft brown hair. It had grown noticeably since he first met her. No longer cut short, the silky strands now brushed against her shoulders.
"Hic… Hic… I thought… something happened to all of you..."
She sniffled between every word.
"You were supposed to come back yesterday… Hic… Hic..."
She slowly lifted her head.
Her beautiful amber eyes had become red and puffy from crying. Fresh tears still clung to her long eyelashes.
"I know… you all decided to try clearing the second floor… But… This was the longest you've ever been gone… Hic..."
Hyoren raised his hand. With his thumb he gently wiped away the tears running down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry for making you worry, Ina."
A warm smile appeared on his face.
"And thank you… Thank you for worrying about us."
He pulled her into another gentle hug.
"We're fine."
He glanced toward Elise. Then Jackey. And Arianna, who was still sleeping peacefully on Jackey's back.
"We're battered… but..."
A proud smile slowly spread across his face.
"We're victorious. We defeated the Floor Guardian that forced us to retreat before."
Ina quietly inhaled.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment. As though finally allowing herself to believe he was truly standing before her. Then she slowly opened them again.
Her tear-filled amber eyes met Hyoren's calm black eyes.
"Hic… I'm… glad..."
At last, a genuine smile bloomed across her face. Small. Gentle. Filled with relief.
"And… congratulations."
Hyoren smiled back.
"Thank you."
Around them, the people inside the guild branch quietly watched the reunion unfold. No one interrupted. Even Sherly lowered her hands and smiled in relief.
The warm atmosphere spread throughout the room as everyone silently gave the two of them the moment they needed.
***
Elise was the first to break the silence.
"Hmm... I never knew you could be this sentimental, Ina. Fufufu."
Jackey nodded vigorously.
"Yeah! Big Sis is always like that! Tough at the guild, but total mush the second someone she likes is in trouble! HAHA!"
Still wrapped in Hyoren's embrace, Ina immediately froze.
A deep blush spread across her face. Her cat ears shot upright. Her tail puffed up in embarrassment.
"Jackey! Shut up!"
Everyone burst into laughter. Even Sherly covered her mouth as a soft laugh escaped her lips. The heavy atmosphere that had filled the guild only moments ago completely disappeared.
Ina finally loosened her arms and stepped away from Hyoren. She hurriedly wiped the remaining tears from her face with her sleeve before awkwardly smoothing the wrinkles on her Adventurer's Guild Clerk uniform.
She straightened her posture once more. The reliable Vice Guild Master had finally returned.
She looked toward the members of Freedom Party and smiled.
"Okay… Sorry for my unbecoming display. Congratulations, everyone. And... welcome back."
Her gaze naturally shifted toward Arianna resting on Jackey's back. One glance was all she needed. Years of experience as both a senior guild clerk and Vice Guild Master immediately told her what had happened.
"And it seems Arianna completely depleted her Aethell Core…”
She nodded knowingly before smiling again.
"Then let's finish your report quickly. So we can all return to Akela and let her rest."
Elise smiled mischievously.
"So Ina was really worried after all."
She tilted her head innocently.
"Don't tell me you stayed here in the Dungeon Town since yesterday?"
Ina immediately blushed again.
"W-Who would do that?!"
Unfortunately for her, Sherly offered no assistance whatsoever. The guild clerk simply nodded.
"That's right. Senior Ina arrived last night and keep bothering me to make a rescue quest..."
She paused.
"I also heard she caused quite a commotion at the Akela branch. She wouldn't listen even after Guild Master Fiona said Freedom Party was probably just working harder than usual."
Ina immediately spun around.
"Sh-Sherly! Shut up!"
Her tail had gone completely stiff behind her from sheer embarrassment.
Hyoren couldn't help smiling. He gently patted her head.
"Ina… You really were worried about us."
He looked at her with warm eyes.
"But we're fine. Being a day or two late isn't unusual for adventurers, right?"
Ina looked away.
"Well… That's right… But…”
Her voice became much quieter.
"I also… missed you... so much... ten days already... It was too long..."
For a brief moment, the guild fell silent again.
Hyoren smiled. Then he gently pulled her into another hug.
"I missed you too, Ina."
Elise walked over with an amused smile.
"There. You should've just admitted you missed him from the beginning. No need to be embarrassed. Fufufu.”
Ina's tail instantly sprang upright again.
"S-Shut up! I was worried about all of you! Why am I getting teased?!"
Another round of laughter echoed throughout the guild hall.
The Cat-clan Beastkin vice guild master looked ready to bury her face in the floor.
Desperately trying to escape the attention, Ina quickly turned her head toward Sherly.
"A-Anyway! Go report your results!"
She pointed toward the still-unconscious Arianna.
"Poor Arianna. She needs to lie down soon!"
Everyone laughed once more. It was painfully obvious she was trying to change the subject before anyone could tease her any further.
Hyoren chuckled.
"Fine. Ina's right. We shouldn't delay any longer."
He glanced toward Arianna.
"She needs proper rest."
Then he turned toward Sherly.
"We'd like to report our dungeon expedition."
The atmosphere inside the guild subtly shifted.
The warmth of the reunion remained, but now it was time for official business.
Sherly gave a small professional bow before returning behind the reception counter. Although the smile on her face had yet to disappear.
"Understood. Freedom Party, let's hear your report.”
Hyoren nodded before handing over their Guild Cards.
"As usual… The second floor map and the Floor Guardian information will be reported directly to Guild Master Fiona as part of the Scouting Quest."
He paused.
"So we'll only report our earnings and the successful clear of the Floor 2 Guardian."
Sherly accepted the cards before inserting them into the familiar verification magic tool. The runes engraved across its surface glowed with a soft blue light for a brief moment.
She looked at the displayed information. Then, her eyebrows twitched.
"Okay… 10 days of Dungeon Exploration Quest confirmed."
She continued reading.
"1,665 Level 10 Goblins. 1,500 Level 12 Goblins. 5 Goblin Shielders. 2 Goblin Lancers. 2 Goblin Sabers. 2 Goblin Assassins."
She paused before reading the final entries.
"1 Level 15 Goblin Berserker. And… 1 Level 18 Goblin Ruler."
Sherly blinked.
"Over 3,000 Goblins… in just 10 days?"
She was already used to Freedom Party accomplishing unbelievable things. Even so, these numbers still shocked her.
She slowly shook her head.
"I thought I would never be surprised by your party again… but this..."
Hyoren smiled wryly.
"Those 1,500 Level 12 Goblins came from the Floor 2 Guardian's army. The rest came from our grinding to help Arianna level up."
Ina glanced at the numbers displayed on the magic tool and smiled softly.
"You guys are truly something."
Sherly quickly finished writing the hunting record.
"Okay… How about the loot? The Magic Stones?"
Hyoren nodded before gesturing toward Elise.
Elise smiled faintly.
"There are... quite a lot. So be prepared."
She opened her Storage Bag.
The next moment, an enormous stream of Magic Stones poured onto the counting magic tool beside the reception counter.
Thousands of Magic Stones piled together, producing a continuous chorus of crystal-like sounds.
Sherly silently operated the counting magic tool.
The engraved runes glowed brightly as they processed the pile.
"I've confirmed the count."
She looked at Hyoren briefly, before looking at the number again.
"The magic stones number matched your kill tally… your party was meticulous as usual…”
She maintained her professional composure despite the absurd amount before her.
"Your earnings are… 16,650,000 Kres from the Level 10 Magic Stones. 18,132,000 Kres from the Level 12 Magic Stones. 750,000 Kres from the Level 15 Guardian Magic Stone."
She paused.
"And… 900,000 Kres from the Level 18 Guardian Magic Stone."
Sherly finished the calculation. She looked up from the magic tool.
"The total is… 36,432,000 Kres."
Hyoren smiled in satisfaction.
"Good… Over 36 million Kres."
Repairing everyone's damaged equipment would consume quite a bit of money. Fortunately, these earnings would more than cover the costs. Not to mention, they still had the green greatsword and silver mace waiting to be sold.
Sherly let out a small cough.
"Okay. That's really... absurd."
She looked back at Hyoren.
"Okay then… Did you also bring any weapon drops? Rusted weapons like usual?"
Hyoren shook his head.
"Most of them were destroyed. We prioritized clearing the battlefield as quickly as possible. Arianna's spell was quite destructive. And we decided to leave the remaining equipment behind."
He shrugged.
"They would've taken too much space inside our Storage Bags."
Sherly nodded understandingly.
"I see… That's quite a shame. The blacksmiths were very happy receiving all those rusted weapons to melt down before."
Hyoren smiled apologetically.
"Maybe we'll start collecting them again after buying another Storage Bag."
Sherly lightly waved her hand before smiling.
"Oh… No need. The other parties have already been collecting plenty. We got plenty of rusted equipment."
She smiled professionally.
"Freedom Party's priority should remain clearing and scouting the dungeon. As Guild Master Fiona ordered."
Hyoren nodded.
"Understood."
He accepted the explanation without objection.
"Then that's everything. We should head back."
Sherly glanced toward Arianna, who remained peacefully unconscious on Jackey's back. She understood they were exhausted.
She gave a small nod.
"Of course. I won't keep your party any longer. You all deserve a proper rest."
She removed the Guild Cards from the magic tool before handing them back with a polite bow.
Hyoren accepted them.
"Thank you, Sherly. We'll excuse ourselves."
Elise also smiled politely.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Ina gave Sherly a small nod.
"Okay then, Sherly. My inspection period here is finished. I'll head back to Akela."
Sherly straightened her posture.
"Understood, Senior Ina."
She tried to remain professional. But the slight smile on her face betrayed her relief.
Hyoren couldn't help chuckling inwardly.
She's still trying to make it sound like she only came here for an inspection…
Choosing not to expose her excuse, he looked toward his companions.
Elise. Ina. Jackey.
"Alright. Let's go home."
Everyone except the sleeping Arianna nodded.
Together, they left the Adventurer's Guild branch.
Everyone wore a satisfied smile. They were victorious. Even if they were tired, they had returned safely.
And now—Freedom Party were finally going home.