A Dungeon’s Survival

Fable

As we exited the Dungeon through its back entrance, I raised the glass vial in my hand up to the light. As the sun's rays caught it, the dark purple fluid within glimmered faintly. What I now held in my hand was neither the most powerful nor valuable potion in the world, but it was rare, and it would doubtlessly ruffle some feathers. Still, more than anything, what it represented was potential and opportunity.

As it was, permanent enhancers were difficult to come by. Even the weak ones were expensive, but more than that, they required connections to procure. That was a fact that was unlikely to change so long as those who currently held it refused to relinquish their monopoly. It also gave this specific sample in my hand more than just purely monetary value.

Adventurers were an interesting sort. The job attracted those of all different walks of life. Some enjoyed the freedom it provided. Others, usually those who never had any other worthwhile opportunities, were drawn to it with gold coins in their eyes. Then, there were the people, self-absorbed and stubborn to a fault, who simply lusted for power, willing to do whatever it took to obtain it.

As different and diverse as adventurers could be, though, there was something everyone in the profession had in common. They all were willing to take risks. In a line of work where putting your life on the line was a constant requirement, being comfortable with doing so was a must. It also meant that a Dungeon more dangerous than others would be seen as an acceptable risk so long as the incentives were good enough, and permanent enhancers were just about the best incentive possible. To many, even a small chance to acquire such goods for free would be a temptation they couldn't resist.

For that reason, it was truly fortunate Sir Archibald II had yet to use up the rest of the batch of Flawed Minor Mind Enhancement Fluid he'd made. Without a replacement for the vial we'd found at the start of the delve, the one I'd long since lost to the shattered mess of spilled potions in my bag, it would've made my job far more difficult. With it, however, I had at least part of the leverage I needed for what was to come. As for the rest of it–

“–So, do you think we're going to get in much trouble for this?” Sean, the exact man I had in mind, voiced his thoughts, “With the Adventurers Guild, I mean. I can't imagine the nobles are going to be too happy about everything, but that's more of a me problem, I think.”

Now seemed as good of a time as any to broach the subject, so taking the opportunity, I carefully tucked the potion I held into the ruined remains of my bag and answered the question honestly, “Oh, my grand-grandfather is going to be fuming, alright.”

“Ah. Sorry about that.”

“Seriously?” I asked in response, “Don't give me that. Where's the confidence of the man who just dared to draw his blade on me and tell me he'd fight me to the death if need be?”

He shrank back a bit at that, and Cudgel shot the two of us an interested glance, not having been there for the interaction in question, but I paid their reactions no mind as I continued, “You don't need to worry about him, though. To be exact, his ire will fall on me and me alone, so the two of you need not worry yourselves. As for Lord Cornelius, that's where our troubles actually lay. I am not certain of the specific dealings my great-grandfather has with the man, but there's little chance they'll survive this. Worse, he is not likely to take our betrayal well, and the guild will most certainly suffer his scheming attempts at revenge as a result.”

“That doesn't sound good,” the Hero commented in an exhausted tone, “I don't suppose you could blame everything on me to spare the guild the collateral damage?”

“No, that wouldn't work for several reasons,” I shot down his suggestion immediately, “While it might be possible to use your actions here to put Lord Cornelius in a tough spot, seeing as he was the one who endorsed you, the problems that would cause would far outweigh the benefits. It would require revealing too much to the man, and should we do so, especially with how invested he seems to be in this Dungeon's demise, it would drive him to dig deeper into the reasons of our failure than would be ideal. Also, that would do little to protect the Dungeon going forward. Then, there's the main reason that isn't an option.”

“And what's that?”

My lips twisted into a small, almost imperceptible smile as I answered, “That would be because it would mean handing you back over to the nobles, and seeing as how the Adventurers Guild will be poaching you, that simply won't be possible.”

“What?” he exclaimed, confusion audible in his voice but not necessarily disapproval.

“Would you be opposed?” I asked, already confident of the answer he'd give, even if he himself wasn't sure yet, “It would be the only reliable way to shield you from the nobles and, by extension, keep the information we've uncovered today under wraps. It would also give me the bargaining power I need to smooth things over in regards to this Dungeon.

“Obviously, you'll still end up being used by powerful people as a means to their ends, at least to a certain extent, but unlike before, you won't be treated as disposable, this way. You are a valuable asset, even if the nobles fail to recognize it. In fact, it is only because they fail to recognize it that this will work. They've hardly invested enough in you to put up a real fuss so long as you still contribute to the war effort.

“I'll see to it that you actually get the resources you are deserving of, and as my semipermanent party member going forward, I'll have enough influence to ensure you find yourself in a position where you can actually make use of what we've learned today. Compared to merely being shipped off to wherever Lord Cornelius thinks you'll be able to earn him the most accolades or, worse, being imprisoned by him for counts of treason, I believe the merits should be clear. Oh, and Cudgel, the offer is open to you as well–to join my party, that is, at least for the duration of this war.”

As I wrapped up my explanation, it was silence from the Hero that met my words. Clearly, he needed a moment to think them through. As for Cudgel, on the other hand, his response, which took the form of a question, was almost immediate.

“Will there be battle, danger, and opportunities to prove myself should I accept?”

I chuckled at that. The man was any one thing, it was predictable.

“Yes,” I answered, “We will still be participating in the war but, likely, not as directly as other parts of the guild. Should you join us, our clashes with the empire will almost exclusively be against their elite units. There will also be the added dangers of powerful monsters, cultists, assassins, and, potentially, if things go horribly wrong, level one hundred fairies that could kill us with little more than a flick of their tiny fay fingers or worse if they feel like it. It will be a perilous quest for sure, and death will be likely.”

“Ha!” the naked and still blood-soaked giant bellowed at my words, “Sister, you had me at, 'yes.' The rest is just icing! We are already siblings at arms, and I trust you to not to hit me with artillery magic, more than I can say of some. I would be happy to join your band for the duration of this war.”

“Excellent,” I said cheerfully, “What of you, Sean?”

“I don't know how I could refuse after a pitch like that,” he gave his answer, “but I do have one question.”

“And what would that be?”

“You said me joining you would help us hide the information Connie gave us. Shouldn't we try to make at least some of those details known?”

My mood instantly fell at his words.

“Ideally, yes,” I agreed, “but things are rarely so simple. Much of what she had to say mirrored the sentiments of the cults. If we came out warning of a cataclysm and trying to protect Dungeons, we wouldn't be taken seriously, and even if we were, neither the nobles nor my great-grandfather would likely act on we've learned in any positive way. There's too much riding for them on this war, and as for the nobles, they aren't the kind of people to place the greater good above their own personal gains. We're better off influencing slow changes under the guise of our own politics.

“Then, there's the Fairy Council to consider. It doesn't matter if they prefer to act from the shadows. If they possess a council of fifth tier elders and enough mana to summon multiple Heroes, forget our kingdom; I imagine they could lay waste to our entire continent if they so wanted to and were willing to accept the costs of doing so. We do not want to do anything that could attract that kind of attention from them.”

“I see.”

His response was subdued, the picture of our situation that I'd painted for him likely enough to cause him to realize how bad of a position we were actually in.

In contrast, Cudgel merely chuckled and said, “It sounds like there's much we're up against. Good. Many opportunities and challenges should await us. What is our next step, then? I take it our quest for Dungeon Slayer titles is over?”

“No, not at all,” I answered to the Hero's visible discomfort, “Regardless of the true nature of Dungeons, our mission in Castallia remains a priority. Even Connie said that situation in an anomaly, and with the damage our nation has already suffered to it, things there need to be resolved there before the war with the empire starts in full. There is no alternative if our nation is to survive.”

“Will there be danger?” Cudgel asked, and I couldn't help but to shake my head at him.

“Yes, potentially even more than we found here.”

“Wonderful!”

With his agreement, that was one of my companions down. That left only one I needed to confirm the status of.

“Sean,” I began as I stopped in my tracks and turned to the somber man, “you do understand the importance of this and the consequences of failure, right?”

“I do,” he answered simply.

“And you won't turn against us again should you have to choose between another Hero sealed in a Dungeon Core and the safety of our kingdom? With the risks involved, we won't be able to afford anything other than complete trust and cooperation between us going forward. I understand why you acted in the way you did here, but from now on, whatever we do and whatever decisions we make, we'll need to act as a united front. Can you accept that? I need confirmation.”

He nodded at my words and took a deep breath. I knew these kinds of moral dilemmas weren't easy for him, but they were unavoidable, and they needed to be resolved ahead of time.

“I'm sorry for–”

“–No, I don't want to hear it,” I cut him off, “This delve was a mess. Our minds were impaired, and the circumstances were extenuating.

“Make no excuses for your actions. Doubt clouds judgment. Speak with only certainty and resolve. Can you accept what I have just said and stand by it?”

“Yes,” he nodded, as did I in return.

“Good,” I said as I turned back to the path through the forest I was leading us down, “Now, cease all discussions of these matters. We are approaching the local branch head and the baron. Say nothing of what happened inside the Dungeon, and leave dealing with them to me.”

I paused for a moment at that as my mind shifted and I thought of something else.

“Cudgel?” I called out to the big man.

“Huh?”

“I know Sean hasn't, but you've at least used a full set of permanent enhancers, right?”

“Nope,” he answered, much to my surprise

“Huh. Well, not to worry. I'm sure I can work something out. Between the regional lord he was supposed to be monitoring, us sparing this Dungeon he is reliant on, the horribly incomplete information he gave us, the death of Ivan we can hold against him, and all that we have to offer, I should have more than enough bargaining power to handle the baron. Leave the negotiations to me.”

With those words, I confidently strode forward until I met gazes with the man. It was the first of much diplomacy I would have to deal with in the coming days. It was only a shame he was still under the effects of Apethis Tea. Had he not been, Cudgel's current appearance would've likely been enough to grant us another advantage.