Chapter 489: First at the Gate

The sun was already sinking beyond the western hills when Sage finally called for the expedition to stop.

They had been traveling since dawn, following the southern route Rowan had selected, and although everyone was capable of continuing for several more hours, pushing themselves into exhaustion before entering an unknown dungeon would accomplish little.

Rowan located a sheltered clearing beside a narrow stream, where the six settled down for the night.

Yet despite the long journey, nobody seemed particularly interested in sleeping.

Earlier that morning, they had witnessed an enormous pillar of golden-white light rising into the heavens above Greyfen. Even from their considerable distance, the phenomenon had been impossible to overlook.

The radiance had pierced the clouds, remaining visible long enough for travelers along the road to abandon their journeys and stare toward the distant wilderness.

Sage had encountered numerous dungeon manifestations during his time in Evergreen, but nothing remotely comparable.

"Captain Leon, you’ve traveled considerably more than I have," Sage remarked while examining the small fire Rowan had prepared. "Tell me, is it normal for a newly manifested dungeon to announce its arrival as though the heavens themselves are celebrating?"

Leon shook his head, his expression thoughtful. "Not at all, Guildmaster. Most dungeon manifestations produce disturbances confined to their immediate surroundings. Some cause tremors or temporary surges of mana, but a pillar of light visible from such a distance is exceptionally rare."

Iris nodded in agreement. "The mana released was extraordinary. Even after the pillar disappeared, I could still sense disturbances traveling through the surrounding region. Whatever has appeared beneath Greyfen, I doubt it resembles an ordinary dungeon."

"Does that mean it’ll contain stronger monsters?" Mina asked eagerly, looking between them.

"Quite possibly," Leon replied. "But it could also contain exceptionally valuable resources, rare treasures, or dangers we haven’t encountered before. We won’t know until we investigate."

Sage sighed. "Wonderful. An enormous treasure chest that might also contain something capable of killing us. Why can’t valuable things ever be conveniently harmless?"

Lucan chuckled. "Because then everyone would already be rich, Guildmaster."

"An unfortunate truth," Sage admitted.

Rowan, who had been examining their route, looked up from his map. "There’s another problem. Anyone who witnessed that pillar will know something extraordinary happened in Greyfen. By tomorrow, the roads could become considerably busier."

"Exactly," Sage replied, his amusement fading. "Ordinary dungeons aren’t worth mobilizing an entire noble House over. But something that announces itself across half the countryside? That’s another matter."

Leon folded his arms. "The powerful Houses won’t necessarily know what they’re competing for, but they won’t want their rivals obtaining it first."

"Which means we have to reach the entrance before this turns into a gathering of every ambitious fool in the kingdom," Sage concluded.

Mina grinned. "Then we’ll just beat them there, Uncle Sage."

Sage gave her an approving nod. "For once, Mina, your solution involves considerably less violence than I expected."

"That’s because we haven’t met anyone trying to stop us yet," Mina replied innocently.

Sage stared at her for a moment before shaking his head.

They retired shortly afterward, taking turns keeping watch. Before sleeping, Sage reviewed everything he knew about the dungeon. The unusual mana concentration, the ancient ruins, and the extraordinary manifestation all suggested that Greyfen could become one of the Guild’s most important discoveries.

But until he reached the Dungeon Core, none of that potential belonged to him.

---

The following morning, the expedition resumed its journey before sunrise.

Rowan led them away from the main road and through the southern woodland, choosing narrow trails that avoided the settlements and crossroads where news of the manifestation would likely attract attention.

By midmorning, they had encountered several groups traveling toward Greyfen.

Some were independent Warriors carrying weapons and traveling equipment. Others appeared to be mercenary scouts, their movements suggesting they were more interested in gathering information than entering the dungeon immediately.

"That’s the fourth group we’ve seen," Lucan observed as three armed riders disappeared along a distant trail.

"And probably not the last," Rowan replied. "The main road will be even busier."

Sage glanced toward the riders. "I suppose the pillar of light was effective advertising. Unfortunately, someone forgot to ask whether we wanted customers yet."

Iris smiled faintly before turning her attention toward the forest ahead. "The mana concentration is growing stronger, Guildmaster. We should be approaching the ruins."

"How much farther?" Sage asked.

"Less than an hour," Rowan answered after examining the surrounding terrain. "There’s a ridge ahead overlooking the clearing. We can observe the entrance from there before approaching."

Leon nodded. "Good. We should determine how many people have already arrived."

They continued without further delay, eventually reaching the rocky ridge shortly before midday.

The ancient ruins lay beneath them.

Or rather, what remained of them.

Several weathered structures had collapsed, while enormous cracks stretched across the clearing. At the center stood a towering stone archway that hadn’t existed during their previous investigation. Ancient runes covered its surface, and beyond the entrance, a broad passage descended into darkness.

Even from the ridge, Sage could feel the dense mana lingering around it.

"Well," he murmured, studying the structure, "at least we know the trip wasn’t wasted."

Iris stared at the entrance with undisguised fascination. "The mana flowing from that passage is remarkable. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it."

Leon examined the archway before turning toward Sage. "We should assume the interior is dangerous until proven otherwise."

"Agreed," Sage replied. "I’d prefer our first visit not become our last."

Rowan suddenly gestured toward a cluster of fallen stones on the northern side of the clearing.

"Guildmaster, we’re not alone."

Three armed men occupied a position overlooking the entrance. One was seated beside a boulder, while the other two appeared to be discussing something as they watched the surrounding woodland.

Sage narrowed his eyes. "Mercenaries?"

"Most likely," Rowan answered. "They appear to have been here for some time."

The three men belonged to Hektor’s scouting party. Having witnessed the dungeon’s manifestation the previous morning, Hektor had sent two of his original five mercenaries back to deliver reports, leaving himself and two companions to observe the entrance.

Unfortunately for Hektor, observing an extraordinary dungeon and claiming ownership over it were entirely different matters.

"Can we approach without crossing their position?" Sage asked.

Rowan nodded. "There’s a path along the western slope. It leads directly into the lower ruins."

"Then that’s our route," Sage decided.

The six descended carefully, keeping to the cover provided by the remaining structures. However, their approach didn’t go unnoticed.

Hektor spotted them almost immediately.

"Someone’s coming," he warned his companions, rising from his position beside the fallen stones.

One mercenary reached for his weapon, but Hektor raised a hand to stop him.

"Don’t do anything foolish," Hektor ordered. "We don’t know who they are."

His caution proved justified when he recognized the man leading the approaching group.

"Guildmaster Sage?" Hektor exclaimed, visibly surprised.

Sage stopped several paces away and offered a pleasant smile. "Good afternoon. I see we’re not the only ones interested in the local architecture."

Hektor glanced toward the enormous archway. "You came to investigate the dungeon?"

"Naturally," Sage replied. "It would be rather embarrassing for the Adventurer Guild to ignore something like this."

Hektor studied the five people accompanying him. His expression changed when his gaze reached Leon.

"Captain Leon Drakar?" he asked, straightening instinctively.

Leon acknowledged him with a slight nod. "We’re here to investigate. Have you encountered anything dangerous around the entrance?"

"Nothing outside it, Captain," Hektor answered. "My men witnessed the manifestation yesterday, but we haven’t entered. We don’t know what kind of monsters might be waiting inside."

"A sensible precaution," Leon replied.

Hektor looked toward Sage again. "Other groups have started arriving, Guildmaster. I expect the larger organizations won’t be far behind."

"Then we’d better avoid wasting time," Sage answered.

He had barely finished speaking when voices emerged from the eastern woodland.

A group of seven approached the clearing, consisting of several armed guards, two traveling attendants, and a finely dressed man wearing a cloak embroidered with a noble House’s crest.

The noble representative stopped when he saw the archway.

"So the reports were true," he declared, excitement spreading across his face. "An extraordinary dungeon, right here in Greyfen!"

One of his guards noticed Sage’s party and leaned toward him.

"My lord, others have already reached the entrance," the guard warned.

The nobleman’s expression hardened. "Then inform them that House Velmhurst intends to investigate this discovery. Nobody should enter until the matter of access has been properly discussed."

Sage heard every word.

He turned toward Lucan with an expression of profound disappointment. "There it is. The first noble has arrived, and he’s already discovered a way to make standing beside a hole in the ground unnecessarily complicated."

Lucan suppressed a laugh. "Shall we speak with him, Guildmaster?"

"Absolutely not," Sage replied. "If we start discussing access rights with every noble who appears, we’ll still be standing here when winter arrives."

The noble representative began approaching, accompanied by two guards.

"Hold there!" he called. "I represent House Velmhurst, and we need to discuss—"

Leon stepped forward, placing himself between the approaching men and the expedition.

The noble representative stopped abruptly.

His eyes widened as he recognized the knight.

"Captain Leon?" he exclaimed. "I wasn’t aware the Ardent Sun Knight Order had taken an interest in this dungeon."

"I’m accompanying the Adventurer Guild," Leon replied calmly. "And we’re about to enter."

The nobleman hesitated. Whatever objections he had prepared, openly confronting the captain of one of the kingdom’s strongest independent Knight Orders was clearly not among his preferred options.

Sage smiled politely. "Wonderful meeting you. Unfortunately, we’re operating on a rather tight schedule."

Without waiting for permission, he turned toward the entrance.

Rowan moved ahead to examine the passage, while Iris studied the runes surrounding the archway. Mina followed with obvious excitement, and Lucan remained close beside Sage.

Leon brought up the rear, ensuring that nobody attempted to interfere.

The six crossed beneath the enormous archway.

A cold current of mana washed over them as the daylight gradually faded behind their backs.

Sage glanced into the descending darkness, his expression growing serious.

They had reached the entrance ahead of the larger organizations, but their advantage wouldn’t last. Hektor’s messengers were already carrying reports toward the capital, and other scouts would undoubtedly follow.

Soon, more expeditions would arrive.

Some would seek treasures. Others would seek influence. And a few would undoubtedly attempt to claim the dungeon for themselves.

Sage intended to disappoint every last one of them.

"Stay together," he instructed, looking toward his companions. "Our priority is finding the Dungeon Core. Everything else comes second."

Leon drew his sword and moved ahead of the group. "Understood, Guildmaster. I’ll take the front."

Mina grinned as she prepared her weapon. "Finally, Uncle Sage! I thought we’d spend the entire day talking to people outside."

"Trust me, Mina," Sage replied, following Leon into the passage. "I’d much rather deal with monsters than nobles. At least monsters usually make their intentions obvious."

Behind them, the entrance remained open as more Warriors gathered around the ancient ruins.

The Guild had entered Greyfen.

But somewhere within its unknown depths lay the Dungeon Core, and reaching it before their rivals would determine who ultimately controlled the extraordinary treasure that had appeared beneath the wilderness.