Chapter 30: THE RIFT’S CONQUERORS
Ash’s jaw slackened, his mind racing as Lirien’s words echoed in his ears: "We conquered the rift." His gaze darted between Lirien, Aeloria, Yomi, and the beast girl. His thoughts whirled in overdrive. Could they truly be S-class adventurers? That would explain their survival. No ordinary group could withstand a red dungeon’s challenges, let alone conquer one.
Sliding off his horse, Ash took a deep breath to steady himself. His boots crunched against the gravel as he strode toward Lirien and Aeloria, his sharp eyes watching their every move. Despite their battered appearances, there was a quiet confidence in their stances, an unspoken assurance of their abilities.
Stopping a respectful distance away, Ash gave a slight bow. "Ash Yolkervier," he introduced himself, his voice firm but deferential. "A-class scout under the Aegis of the Fates Adventurers Guild. On behalf of the Tethlan branch, I commend you for what seems to be a truly extraordinary feat."
He straightened, carefully choosing his next words. "I’d like to invite you back to the Melanos branch. We’ll need to take your statements and assess the situation in full." He snapped his fingers, signaling to one of the mercenaries behind him. "Bring them a pouch. Something to carry their gold. They probably didn’t have time to loot properly before the dungeon reset."
The mercenary hurried forward with a large leather pouch, holding it out to the group. Ash noticed how Yomi shifted slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing as if sizing up the offer. Lirien, however, raised a hand, declining.
"That won’t be necessary," Lirien said, her voice calm but firm. "We... appreciate the gesture, but we can’t accompany you."
Ash arched an eyebrow, intrigued by her hesitation. "Why not?"
Lirien hesitated, glancing at Aeloria, who avoided her gaze. Aeloria’s lips pressed into a thin line, and Yomi remained silent, his expression unreadable.
The truth weighed heavily on Lirien. She knew the rules of the Adventurers Guild. Reporting a new dungeon’s emergence was an unshakable duty for any registered adventurer. But her group had violated that sacred oath, lured by the promise of rare, high-quality loot from the first drops of an untouched rift. They’d believed it to be a mere yellow or blue-tier dungeon, a manageable endeavor. Instead, it had been their undoing.