The World Is Mine For The Taking

After a while, they came to a halt.

"This is the end. This is where we stopped last time," Raymond said, his voice carrying a weight of familiarity as he surveyed the dungeon.

The atmosphere was thick with an eerie silence. There were no monsters, no distant echoes of movement—just an unsettling stillness that made the space feel abandoned yet alive at the same time. The air itself felt heavy, as if something unseen was watching from the shadows.

Yet, the unease I felt wasn't something as simple as fear. It was deeper. Something was lurking beyond this point, far beneath the surface, just out of reach.

"Aww~..." Estelle pouted, rocking on her heels. "Can't we go just a little deeper?"

"I'm afraid not," Raymond replied, shaking his head. "That area is off-limits, even for us. Even though we're officially adventurers now, we still can't enter."

"You're officially adventurers?" I raised a brow, crossing my arms. "I thought you two were just doing manual labor. And wait—are you saying you two are actually a team now?"

"Judging by your reaction, I take it that sounds bad for us?" Raymond said, scratching his cheek with a finger, his expression awkward.

"Why would it be bad?" Estelle asked, tilting her head, her crimson eyes glinting with curiosity.

"Well, it's not exactly bad, but the academy doesn't really like cadets becoming adventurers," I explained, letting out a small sigh. "The whole reason the academy was founded was to keep people from having to resort to adventuring as a lifelong profession."

The academy didn't outright despise adventurers—after all, one of its founders had been an adventurer himself. But that very same founder had been the one to issue the decree against it. He knew better than anyone just how perilous the life of an adventurer was. He wanted people to have stable, respectable professions, ones where they didn't have to gamble their lives just to earn a living.

"Well, as long as we don't get caught, I think we'll be fine," Raymond said with a casual shrug. "Now then, shall we head back? We were actually on our way to grab some food in one of the nearby villages when we ran into you two. How about we all eat together?"

"Oh? Food? I want food! Let's go! Count me in!" Estelle's eyes practically sparkled at the mention of food. She didn't waste a single moment before jumping at the opportunity. Duncan and Raymond exchanged pleased looks, clearly thrilled that she had agreed so easily.

"Well, I guess I'll come too," I said.

"Great," Raymond grinned. Though he still looked pleased, there was a noticeable difference in his reaction compared to when Estelle had spoken. His enthusiasm wasn't quite as strong. It didn't take a genius to see that he was utterly captivated by her.

I still had no idea what to make of Estelle. She had told me she was here because Lilith wanted her to meet me, but I couldn't shake my doubts. While my initial suspicions had weakened over time, they hadn't vanished entirely. And now, she wasn't just seducing one of my friends—she was charming two.

Still, there was no point in being overly paranoid. For now, keeping an eye on her was the best course of action. Besides, I didn't get the sense that she was the type to cause me any direct trouble.

After walking for some time, we finally arrived at the village Raymond had mentioned.

And the moment I laid eyes on it, a strange feeling washed over me.

"Oh..."

It was as if I had stepped into an entirely different world. The air was different, the colors were different—it didn't feel like Cohona at all.

The country of Cohona was plagued by drought, a land where poverty stretched as far as the eye could see. Dry, cracked earth and struggling settlements painted a picture of hardship. Yet, this village—while by no means wealthy—stood miles ahead of the capital in terms of livability.

"I figured you'd say that," Raymond said, a faint smile on his lips. "Actually, this isn't so much a village as it is a settlement built by adventurers wanting to be closer to the dungeon. The country of Cohona still imposes taxes on the people here, but considering they earn far more than what's taken, it's not really an issue."

"I see."

That explained it. Rather than a traditional village, this place functioned as a hub, allowing adventurers to remain as close to the dungeon as possible. Over time, it had taken on the appearance of a proper settlement, complete with shops, homes, and even a sense of community.

"Wow..." Even Estelle's eyes sparkled with fascination.

"I'm glad you like it," Raymond chuckled. "Now then, I know someone here who's a great cook. Their food is really something else."

With that, we followed Raymond as he led the way. Soon, we arrived at a small establishment. Calling it a restaurant would be a stretch—it was more like a humble diner. No, perhaps a bar would be a more fitting description, given the nature of this place and its inhabitants.

The moment we stepped inside, the lively atmosphere hit us like a wave. As expected, this was less of a dining area and more of a gathering spot for adventurers. Instead of quiet meals and polite conversation, the room was filled with boisterous laughter, the clinking of tankards, and the unmistakable sounds of arm-wrestling matches. Some were celebrating victories, others cheering on their companions, while the scent of food and ale thickened the air. It was a chaotic yet fitting scene for a village built entirely by adventurers.

"Thankfully, there's a table over there. Let's go," Raymond said.

The four of us strode toward an empty table tucked away in the far corner. Once we sat down, a woman in an apron approached us. She looked to be a waitress, her posture relaxed yet efficient.

Her striking orange hair caught my attention.

Hmm... I mused inwardly. There was something familiar about her.

"What's your order?" she asked, her voice steady and businesslike.

Raymond glanced at the menu before pointing to a few items. "Uh, some of this. And this. As well as this one." Then, he turned to Duncan. "You want the usual, right?"

Duncan gave a silent nod.

"Alright, we'll add this one too. Leon, how about you?"

I picked up the menu, scanning over it without much expectation. The selection looked fairly standard, nothing particularly eye-catching. But who knew? Maybe the taste would prove otherwise. Raymond did seem confident in his recommendation, after all.

Estelle, on the other hand, had already made her choice and relayed it to the waitress with enthusiasm. The woman jotted it down with ease.

Then, as her gaze shifted toward me, something in her expression changed.

Her eyes widened slightly, betraying a flicker of recognition.

I knew that reaction. She had realized who I was.

And in that instant, I remembered her too.

She was the waitress from the restaurant Titania used to frequent.

However, instead of acknowledging the recognition between us, she must have chosen to play it off. She simply smiled at me, her expression composed and professional. Well, I supposed it made sense—there was never anything between us, not even a passing acquaintance. The only times I saw her were during my visits to the restaurant where she used to work, always alongside Titania. That restaurant had since closed down for reasons unknown to me, and now, here she was. I also knew she had some connection to Shredica, though the extent of it remained unclear.

"This one," I said, pointing to an item on the menu. "And maybe a drink too."

With a nod, she jotted down my order before addressing us with a polite tone. "I'll be back in a few minutes to prepare your meals. Please wait for a while. In the meantime, there are complimentary chips here that you can enjoy." She bowed slightly before turning away, heading towards what I assumed was the kitchen.

However, before she could take more than a few steps, a man suddenly moved behind her, his hand reaching out.

A sharp smack echoed through the air as he grabbed her ass.

"You've got a fine ass, girl," the adventurer said with a grin, his voice oozing arrogance. "Say, why don't we have some fun?"

The men around him erupted into laughter, their jeers filling the room.

Despite the clear violation, the waitress remained composed, offering the man a practiced, professional smile. "I'm sorry, but I'm incredibly busy right now," she replied smoothly. "There are still many customers who haven't received their orders yet."

"Hey now, you can forget about that for a while," the man said, stepping closer. "Just come with me. I'll make sure you get compensated more than what you'd earn here in ten years. Just one night. One night with me. And I promise, I'll make you the mother of my children."

I never thought I'd hear something so vile spoken so casually. But then again, these were adventurers—men hardened by battle, their words often as rough and ragged as their appearances.

At that moment, I saw a subtle but chilling shift in her expression.

She was still smiling. But that smile…

It was terrifying.

A vein pulsed on her forehead, betraying her barely restrained fury. The air around her seemed to grow heavy, thick with an ominous pressure. Though her lips curled in a seemingly warm and pleasant manner, there was something deeply unsettling about it. A smile like that—so deceptively kind yet radiating pure menace—I never imagined I'd witness something so unnerving in person.

Even I felt a cold shiver creep down my spine. The hairs on my arms stood on end.

Something told me that fool had just made a grave mistake.