Chapter 44: Haruka’s Story
The shadows of the forest stretched long under the dim light of dawn. The soft rustling of leaves filled the air, accompanied by the faint chirping of birds that had dared to venture back after the chaos of the dungeon battle.
Kenji sat cross-legged on a patch of soft moss, his thoughts lost in the events of the past night. Argoth’s hulking form stood nearby, motionless yet brimming with silent power, like a storm waiting to be unleashed. The shadows of the forest played across the beast’s dark, muscular frame, a reminder of the strength Kenji now commanded.
Haruka sat a few feet away, cleaning her fur meticulously. Every now and then, she glanced at Kenji with a mixture of amusement and concern. Her movements were graceful but tense, as though her mind lingered on the remnants of pain and uncertainty from the dungeon battle. The children had been left in the safety of a nearby glade, a short trek from their current position. It gave Kenji some much-needed time to think—and recover.
"Master," Haruka said, her pink eyes meeting his. "You should eat something before we move on."
Kenji looked up, blinking as though shaken from a dream. "You’re probably right. But I don’t think my stomach’s ready after everything it’s been through." He gave her a weak smile, though his eyes betrayed the storm of thoughts racing in his head.
"That is true. Oh, and Master, I got this for you!" Haruka immediately began rifling through her fur, searching for something. "Aha!" she exclaimed, pulling out a crystal and tossing it to Kenji.
Catching the crystal in his hand, Kenji’s eyes widened in shock. He slapped his forehead. "The dungeon core! How could I have forgotten?" he exclaimed, delight coloring his voice as he fiddled with the core.
This crystal was the key to his whole quest.
When a dungeon boss is defeated, the dungeon collapses, having fulfilled its purpose. What remains is a dungeon core—a crystal akin to a beast core, but one with the ability to elevate the level of its holder.
Kenji’s initial instinct was to use it immediately. But if he did, it would come at a cost: he’d lose his chance to report the quest completion to the Adventurer’s Guild—or worse, get assigned another grueling task.
Sweeping himself off the ground, Kenji smiled proudly. "Finally, after this, that receptionist lady won’t be able to do a thing to me!" Happiness overflowed on his face as he tucked the core safely away. His hands tightened around the crystal momentarily, as though he could feel the weight of the opportunities and challenges it represented.