Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?
Chapter 154 - 145: Dal Joins the Hunt Tonight

Chapter 154: Chapter 145: Dal Joins the Hunt Tonight

Rewards are always the primary driving force motivating explorations, no matter when and where.

Perhaps some may be lured in by stories or other factors, but the notion of captivating explorers with merely stories of Meat Pigeons is quite unreliable.

Most adventurers are utilitarian, driven by rewards.

For example, Leon is currently brimming with motivation, dragging the unwilling Drew back into the Meat Pigeons’ levels, and they kept going all day long.

After a busy day, they successfully obtained four Historical Battle Certificates.

Drew checked out the rewards beside the altar and finally chose to exchange for Enemy Attraction Skulls. One certificate could be exchanged for ten skulls, which seemed like a good deal, especially when ten skulls lay scattered around him, giving him a sense of fulfilling harvest.

Since the description of the Enemy Attraction Skulls mentioned they could attract Monster’s attention, he wouldn’t have to worry about being chased by Monsters anymore.

The most harrowing moment today was being pursued by an Isolated Demon, absolutely disgusting; he didn’t want to experience it a second time in his life.

"You not exchanging for something?" He looked back at Leon.

Leon shook his head and said, "I want to save for better things."

His eyes on the altar were fervent, his hands crackling as if he were holding the Historical Battle Certificates right there.

This was a small step for him, but a giant leap for adventurers.

Sometimes, the effects of these blessings could be more valuable than souls; Sain Dungeon really is a treasure trove.

In the excitement, he also noticed his Straight Sword, now dented and pitted – the wear and tear from long battles; he’d have to find a Blacksmith for repairs.

Leon couldn’t tell if it was just his imagination, but he always felt that upon re-entering the levels, the strength of the Monsters inside changed.

It was a subtle feeling, hard to describe.

The Monsters that were too weak or too strong had all disappeared, replaced by those that required somewhat challenging battles for victory.

The strength of the Elite Monsters required him to engage in a perilous and hard-fought battle for a chance of victory.

It felt as though... the strength of the Monsters had been adjusted to match his own abilities.

Battling worthy opponents was indeed fun, but the joy of mowing them down was gone; only the battles before the first Elite were somewhat easier.

No need for doubts, it was Gong Qiying who had applied the Strong and Weak Balance privilege to the Meat Pigeons.

After a bustling day, Leon was still emotionally excited, but his physical strength couldn’t keep up; considering the time, they finally chose to leave the Dungeon voluntarily.

Outside was already a night sky, sparse stars hanging above, with the moon as if bitten by Jobs.

The noise of the crowds seeped into their ears; compared to the solemn Fire Transmission Ceremony site, it gave Leon and his party a sense of being worlds apart.

They say that returning to a quiet home from a bustling party can make one feel a sense of loss and discomfort, but Leon felt more unaccustomed to being in a lively place instead.

"Do you think Maru and the others have come out yet?"

He bought a few skewers from a roadside stall and, while eating, handed one to Drew.

Drew hesitated, uncertain of what meat made up the skewers; due to the influence of the gourmet area, the food around Bed City had become increasingly bizarre, leaving people unable to discern the real ingredients.

Who cares what it’s made of; as long as it’s delicious, that’s all that matters.

With a rumble in his stomach, he still accepted the skewer.

The meat of the skewer was unknown, but it was rich in fat, with a crisp, dark brown crust contrasting starkly against the interspersed pieces of green onion, sending a rich aroma directly into one’s nostrils. A single bite was a heavenly delight for any carnivore.

The weariness of the day seemed to fade away with the warm food, and Drew devoured the skewer, as long as his forearm, in two bites, still longing for more.

Leon chuckled, considering buying more, but the other waved grandly and said, "To the tavern!"

Both hot food and cold beer were required for a perfect evening.

As soon as they pushed open the tavern door, a surge of noise made them step back.

The tavern was brightly lit, not a single seat was empty, and many stood at the tables drinking. Everyone was enthusiastically discussing their day’s haul, and when it got too exciting, bouts of toasting ensued. The aroma of beer permeated the spirits of all present.

"Were there always so many people?" Leon looked around; there was nowhere to step in the usually bustling tavern – what was going on today?

"It’s been like this for a while; everyone’s drawn by the Dungeon. Of course, you wouldn’t notice since you’ve been gone for a month."

Drew pointed inside the tavern, "Let’s go; there are seats there."

Seats?

Leon looked over, only to spot familiar faces - Maru and Tal, with Gapar nowhere to be seen.

Roger, who had not been seen for a long time, was also there, hugging Tal around the waist—because he couldn’t reach the shoulder—and another young man unfamiliar to Leon, singing off-tune songs as if he was drunk, causing the patrons to repeatedly frown at him, probably nearing the limits of their Patience.

Leon suddenly didn’t feel much like going over.

"Boss, over here!" Maru instantly spotted him, waving his hand to signal.

Reluctantly, Leon went over, and as he did, Roger rushed over to hug him but thankfully dodged.

With a "thud," Roger fell to the ground, unable to get up. After a while, his snores could be heard.

"Forget him, once he drinks, he’s out," Maru said disdainfully, dragging him aside, and the strange young man also excused himself, seeming uncomfortable with the liveliness.

"Hold on."

Maru pulled over Leon and said, "Boss, let me introduce –"

"Dal, right?" Leon offered a warm smile, extending his hand.

Dal briefly shook hands with him, somewhat unexpectedly saying, "I didn’t expect ’Lion’ Leon to know about me."

"Of course," Leon replied with a teasing smile after returning, "I’ve heard quite a bit about you since I came back, like... the Little Fran Undead Team, Fran’s Young Wolf, the hero who slayed the Demon Clan,"

"Pfft, cough cough cough..."

Dal, who had just taken a sip of wine to steady his nerves, almost spat it all out when he heard Leon’s words.

Who came up with these nicknames? Can’t they be a bit more normal?

"Have a seat, I’ve wanted to meet the legendary you for a while now."

Dal sat down with a somewhat grave expression. As the leader of the Strategy Group, Lion Leon was said to be a man as warm as the sunshine but as solemn as a lion, perhaps with ulterior motives.

He braced himself, prepared to face whatever trials Leon might bring his way.

Dealing with big shots, that’s a trial one must accept in life!

A moment later.

"The Undead Team is just too cool, I really want to join them in a fight!"

Having polished off his eighth beer and feeling a bit tipsy, Leon wrapped his arm around Dal’s shoulder and looked at him with envy, saying, "Hey, tell me more stories about the Fran Undead Team, I want to hear more."

The latter hunched his shoulders, wondering if it was a habit of the strong people here to get touchy-feely when intoxicated.

Dal gave an embarrassed but polite smile and said, "I’ve already told everything I know about the Undead Team, there’s nothing left."

What’s going on, how can the mighty Lion Leon be like a child pestering adults for stories?!

"That’s too bad," Leon sighed, then asked, "So, how strong is the Undead Team, and how’s your strategy progressing?"

Dal shook his head, as if indicating defeat? But it seemed there was a deeper reason as well.

Oh, Leon understood; it’s just been a few days since the battle at Val City. Dal needed rest too; it looked like he hadn’t been to the Dungeon for these past few days.

"Dal has really gotten famous lately,"

This is when Roger suddenly got up from the ground, looking completely sober, and said:

"The Earl awarded him, and even recommended him to the higher-ups, adventurers think the guy is awesome, and commoners idolize him. His life is just too cool."

Dal’s mouth twitched, "So many people contributed, why do they only put me in the spotlight,"

"It’s because that video was too cool, and you killed a leader of the Demon Clan," Roger said, "As promotional material, it’s perfect!"

Dal sighed, no longer saying a word.

The impact of that video went way beyond just that.

This morning, a few people had come to his house wanting to become his disciples, asking him to teach them martial arts.

Only then did he learn that these people were survivors from Val City.

The eyes of these survivors were numb and filled with hatred, as if after avenging themselves on the Demon Clan, they would take their own lives as their lives had no other meanings.

They had come because of the rumors about the video and also knew of the legends about the Fran Undead Team. In people’s minds, the Abyss has been linked with the Demon Clan, and the Undead Team that monitors the Abyss naturally became the great heroes who eradicate the Demon Clan.

Dal’s swordsmanship, which stemmed from the Undead Team, his fighting alongside the wolf pack, and his activated Wolf Blood, confirmed people’s belief that he had inherited the Undead Team’s legacy.

The vengeful survivors, lacking the strength to storm Fran Fort, could only place their hopes on Dal.

This hope was too heavy, and Dal was still somewhat at a loss, only able to temporarily settle those people on a farm.

But these people were just the beginning. More and more people came looking for him, some wanting to become his disciples, others wishing to hire him as a bodyguard to search for Wolf Blood, and some even threw all their possessions at him, hoping Dal would slay more of the Demon Clan.

This left Dal in tumult, and like escaping, he left the farm that evening, just to be pulled into a pub by Roger, who was strolling on the street. That’s how the night’s events came to be.

Could it be that I really have to establish a new Undead Team here? But with so many people’s futures on the line, can I shoulder it?

The pub was lively, but Dal’s thoughts were tangled like a ball of yarn.

He fell silent, and the atmosphere at the table turned cold. In search of a new topic, Leon brought out a piece of painting fragment he had just acquired.

"This is from the tomb I visited. It depicts the story of Wolf Knight Artorias. It’s a pity it’s just a fragment; you can’t make out anything."

Password correct, Dal suddenly lifted his head.

What had he just heard, Wolf Knight Artorias?

Isn’t that knight an idol of the Fran Undead Team!

He clasped Leon’s hand earnestly, saying:

"Please, I must know more about the situation!"

After Leon explained everything, including Meat Pigeon and the rest, Dal looked somewhat dazed, as if contemplating something.

Resolve shone in his eyes again; what he had to do next was clear as day.

Tomorrow, he would go to the Dungeon in search of the legend of Artorias!

Perhaps the story of that hero would provide him with inspiration in his current predicament!

The next day, when Dal arrived alone at the Teleportation Gate, he bumped into someone unexpected.

"Yo ho~" Maru popped his head out from behind Leon, greeting him with a "Good morning."

Dal looked toward the people behind with an unnatural expression; there was an elderly figure among them.

Sword Saint Gappar nodded at him.

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