After sating himself on curry, Rauya was released without further ado. It seemed Gobusa’s only goal really had been to treat him to a meal.
Stroking his belly—now bulging after he’d gone back for seconds—Rauya considered his next move.
So that colleague of mine is dead, he thought. That makes gathering intel much harder.
As a seasoned infiltrator, Rauya was adept at turning even the most unexpected setbacks to his advantage. According to what he had pried out of Gobusa, this town’s dungeon had been created by a certain member of the Order. Furthermore, that member was reportedly already dead by the time the dungeon was discovered.
He dodged the question of who killed him... but given the circumstances, it was likely those Molybdenum bastards.
That was Rauya’s conclusion. Based on the current situation and his limited information, it was the most logical deduction.
The moment he had heard that story, he had stopped pushing for details about the fellow cultist. Prying too deeply might reveal his own affiliation. He decided that since he was currently able to move with relative freedom, he should prioritize remaining above suspicion over securing immediate results.
The dungeon is the next logical step for the investigation, he mused. I’ve done some probing, but I still haven't quite grasped the situation.
After giving up on the lead regarding the deceased Order member, he focused his efforts on the dungeon. It was inconceivable that the dungeon wasn't behind this town’s breakneck development. Rauya suspected that by analyzing the dungeon's nature, he could uncover the secrets of the town's growth and identify its vulnerabilities.
It wasn't unusual for someone claiming to be an adventurer or merchant to ask about the dungeon. Indeed, Gobusa had shared information freely, seemingly without a care in the world. However, the details had sounded so much like a joke that Rauya struggled to believe them.
Ultimately, Rauya decided that seeing was believing and resolved to enter the dungeon himself. Fortunately, he had already completed his Adventurer Registration in another country to facilitate his undercover work.
The dungeon was located in the center of town, right near the curry shop. Since entry required permission from the Adventurer’s Guild, Rauya headed to a nearby building. It was originally the Mayor's residence, but a section of it was currently serving as the Temporary Adventurer's Guild.
The temporary guild was deserted, which Rauya had expected. In a town centered around a dungeon, an adventurer’s work consisted almost entirely of dungeon exploration. At this hour, most would be deep inside. That didn't surprise him; the real shock was the person sitting at the reception desk.
Is that... General of Calamity Dende?!
Sitting there with a surly expression was a Molybdenum warrior whose fearsome reputation was well-known to both the Bandelt Group and the Eld Caldia Order.
I heard he’d retired... but to think he’s been tasked with guarding an important dungeon. He must still be highly valued!
In reality, Dende was only manning the desk because the guild was short-handed, a fact Rauya had no way of knowing.
"New face, huh? If you’re here for the dungeon, do the paperwork."
Should he turn back? While Rauya hesitated, Dende called out to him. It was too late to retreat now; doing so would be flagrantly suspicious. Swallowing his panic, Rauya maintained a facade of composure and approached the desk.
...I might be subjected to a rigorous interrogation, but I cannot let my identity as an Order member slip.
Believing Dende to be a sentinel stationed to protect the dungeon’s secrets, Rauya braced himself for an intense background check. But—
"Here. Write your name and your rank."
"A-Ah... alright."
He wasn't questioned at all; Dende simply slid a single document across the desk. Just as the old man said, the form was incredibly basic, asking only for his name and adventurer rank. Suspecting a trap, Rauya fearfully filled in the details, but nothing happened.
"I-I’m finished."
"Hmph."
Dende snatched the document away as soon as Rauya finished. He gave it a cursory glance and snorted.
"C-Rank, huh? You’ll be fine for a while, then. But if you’re solo, I’d stick to the second floor. You hear the rumors about what’s inside?"
"More or less. Though they sounded hard to believe..."
"If you mean the stuff about the farms and the slots, it’s all true. There’s no lethal danger to speak of. Go see for yourself."
With that, Dende waved his hand dismissively as if shooing a fly. The conversation was clearly over.
What is going on? Isn't there some grand secret behind the town's growth?
Far from being interrogated, he had merely provided a name and rank. This wasn't the behavior of someone guarding a vital secret.
Still, suspicion alone wouldn't grant him the truth. Perhaps he would find answers inside. With that thought, Rauya headed for the entrance.
The mouth of the dungeon was a large hole in the ground. It was exactly as it had been when Rauya and his colleague had first summoned it. Feeling slightly underwhelmed, he descended the stairs into the depths. However, the sight that met him was nothing like the dungeon he remembered.
A vast grassland stretched out before him. For some reason, there was even a sky. He had heard of field-type dungeons before, but this was his first time seeing one in person. Dungeons created by the Order were invariably stone-walled underground labyrinths. This place had clearly been modified by someone.
"Hello there!"
"Huh? A-Ah, hello."
The voice startled Rauya. It came from a party of four who appeared to be adventurers.
Could they be Molybdenum Group assassins who’ve seen through my cover?!
His guard shot up instantly, his mind racing with the possibility of an ambush. But he quickly dismissed the thought. An assassin wouldn't call out to their target so cheerfully—and more importantly, the woman who had addressed him was wearing a bunny suit. While her three companions looked like typical adventurers, she stood out like a sore thumb.
"Um, what was it again?" the bunny girl asked, tilting her head.
Rauya obviously didn't have the answer. Help came from the only man in the group.
"That's not it. Our job is to cast Clean on the adventurers when they come back out."
"Oh, right!"
The bunny girl nodded vigorously at the reminder. She gave a little rabbit-like hop and waved at Rauya.
"We’ll have a Clean spell waiting for you when you return! Don't worry about getting dirty!"
"A-Ah. I see."
He didn't really see at all. However, Rauya wanted to minimize his contact with the locals as much as possible, so he offered a brief acknowledgment and hurried away.