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“Ouch! Can’t you be more careful?” Stelle hissed as Dan Heng was bandaging the wound on her arm, his piercing gaze checking for any details of her injuries he may have missed.
“I’m sorry, it’s almost done.” His gaze softened as he turned to look at Stelle’s face for a moment. “Maybe don’t charge right into the middle of an unexplored room before we have a chance to check it for traps or enemies? Please?”
“Ugh, I can’t stay mad if you make puppy eyes at me. Unfair.” The woman pouted, averting her eyes and hugging the scabbard of her sword with one arm. “Besides, the areas before that were safe and easy enough. We encountered a couple of slimes and goblins, but nothing more than that. I was beginning to think this is some kind of abandoned beginner dungeon.”
“Stelle, you can’t lower your guard down in a dungeon, even if you think it seems easy.” Dan Heng – the Mystic Knight of the party, chastised her. “How do you expect me to do my job if you always jump in before I can even enter the room?”
“Guys, while we don’t have to rush since it seems clear so far, I wouldn’t stay here for too long.” March – the ranger of the party, chimed in from her lookout spot. “Also, this place gives me the creeps. Why did we have to take this quest again?"
“Because the pay is enough and it’s located close to the zones for the beginner adventurers. It would be bad if an unknown dungeon ended up being too much for the rookies to handle, they would die before they can even develop their skills.” Dan Heng explained.
Their party specialized in reconnaissance of unexplored places for the Adventurers’ Guild and consisted of three people:
Stelle – a Fighter, who used a two-handed sword, liked to charge in and fight monsters, and could sometimes be found dumpster diving near the guild, claiming that: “Dumbasses throw out useful equipment all the time!”
Dan Heng – a Mystic Knight, who excelled in both offence and supporting his teammates with magic. He most often played the role of a party leader when negotiations and critical thinking were required.
March 7th – a Ranger, who specialized in archery, recon and traps. At least when she wasn’t sleeping or using a Recording Crystal to take pictures of her surroundings.
While many wondered how they even managed to function as a party, both their survival, and the list of completed quests spoke for them.
“Well, this should hold up until we get back to the Guild.” Dan Heng said, finishing up with the bandages on Stelle’s arm. “Unless, of course, you decide to rush in again.”
“Oh, I know you love me for that anyway.” She winked at him, standing up and stretching her arms.
“I do, but I also hate seeing you get hurt when I could have prevented that.” Dan Heng helped her put the scabbard back on. “I’ll be useless if you don’t give me a chance to protect you.”
“Hey, don’t be like that! We’re a team, and you always protect me anyway. And I also don’t want to see you hurt, so it goes both ways.” Stelle countered as the pair went back to meet up with March. Soon after the trio was moving out into the deeper parts of the dungeon.
***
“Worst. Quest. Ever.” March’s quiet declaration was only met with weak nods from a couple walking behind her. Well, the only one actually walking was Dan Heng, who was carrying Stelle on his back. Everyone looked exhausted, and in some places covered in slime.
This sad state of affairs could be explained by a simple fact that the very last room in the dungeon ended up being a slime breeding ground, which the group did manage to destroy, only to be almost drowned in slime remains.
“I need a bath.” Stelle whined, clinging to Dan Heng’s back for dear life. “And I want a vacation. This quest really sucked.”
“Well, we don’t have to immediately pick up another quest, so we could take a couple of days off if you want to.” He told Stelle, slightly turning his head back to look at her.
“Yes!” She quietly declared. “I’m down for some ‘Rest and Recreation’ after we take care of this mess.”
“Ugh, guys! I don’t want to hear you being gross!” March screamed from the front. “Keep it down, please! My maidenly ears don’t need to hear it!”
In response to this, Stelle giggled, while Dan Heng only smiled and sighed with exasperation, while not refusing Stelle’s invitation.
And so, the trio of adventurers marched on.