Chapter 504: The Price of Arrogance [ Magic Castle Bonus - ]

The first expedition returned from Greyfen shortly before sunset, drawing considerable attention from the Warriors and merchants gathered outside the dungeon’s entrance.

Golden light rippled across the enormous rune formation as four figures emerged from between the towering stone pillars.

Their armor was covered in dust, their boots were stained with mud, and several scratches marked their equipment. Nevertheless, all four were walking without assistance.

They belonged to the independent Adventurer party led by Lysandra Varrick, an experienced archer who had approached Greyfen’s exploration with considerably more caution than many of the other expedition leaders.

"Someone’s coming out!" a Warrior shouted, attracting the attention of the nearby crowd.

Sage, who had been discussing the day’s operations with an administrative clerk, turned toward the entrance.

"Four entered, and four returned," he observed with satisfaction. "An encouraging beginning. Let’s hope the others appreciate the importance of maintaining that particular arrangement."

Lysandra approached the temporary reporting station, where several Guild clerks had been assigned to record the movements of expeditions entering and leaving Greyfen.

The reporting station operated under provisional arrangements established by the Headquarters administration.

With the Dungeon Management Department still lacking a permanent head, Sage had authorized selected employees to handle the necessary paperwork until a more permanent structure could be established.

A young clerk retrieved Lysandra’s registration documents.

"Captain Varrick, welcome back," he greeted. "Your party appears to have returned intact. Were there any injuries requiring medical assistance?"

"Nothing serious," Lysandra answered, removing her gloves. "A few bruises and one unpleasant encounter with an enormous centipede. Fortunately, we decided against discovering whether its fangs were poisonous."

Sage approached with an interested expression.

"An enormous centipede? Where did you encounter it?"

"Near a narrow passage beyond the first underground cavern," Lysandra explained. "We noticed several smaller creatures avoiding the area. When that thing emerged from a crack in the wall, we decided we’d seen enough."

"A wise decision," Sage replied. "And did you discover anything worth bringing back?"

Lysandra smiled before opening a leather pouch.

Inside were several translucent blue crystals emitting a faint magical glow.

"We found these growing along the cavern walls. There were dozens, although we only collected a small quantity."

Sage examined one carefully.

The mana contained within the crystal was unmistakable.

"Interesting," he murmured. "Have the location recorded. We’ll arrange for an appraisal, and you can decide whether to sell them afterward."

Lysandra nodded. "We also marked several passages that appeared suitable for exploration. I’m willing to provide the details if the Guild is interested in purchasing the information."

"Very interested," Sage answered pleasantly. "Reliable information is going to become one of Greyfen’s most valuable resources."

The Guild’s first returning expedition had brought back more than magical crystals.

It had brought back knowledge.

Unfortunately, the remaining companies were having considerably different experiences.

---

Deep within Greyfen, the Crimson Talon Company was discovering that an S-Rank Dungeon cared very little about reputation.

"Captain Bastian, we should turn back," a heavily armored Warrior urged, wiping blood from a wound across his cheek. "We’ve already passed several intersections, and nobody knows which direction leads toward the entrance anymore."

Bastian Rookmere turned toward his companion with an irritated expression.

"Stop complaining, Ulric. We’ve barely begun exploring. Do you expect me to return with a few worthless monster cores after spending seven hundred gold coins on Dungeon Passes?"

The seven members of the Crimson Talon Company stood inside a vast underground chamber filled with towering stone formations. Luminous fungi covered portions of the walls, illuminating the surroundings with an eerie green light.

They had already defeated several monsters and recovered valuable materials.

Unfortunately, each victory had encouraged Bastian to push farther.

Another company member, a lean swordswoman named Celine, examined the darkness ahead.

"Captain, something’s wrong," she warned. "We haven’t encountered any smaller monsters for quite some time. Even the creatures following us disappeared after we crossed that passage."

Bastian scoffed.

"Perhaps they finally recognized our strength."

Celine’s expression tightened.

"Or perhaps they’re avoiding something stronger."

Before Bastian could respond, a deep growl reverberated through the chamber.

GRRRRR!

The Warriors immediately raised their weapons.

From behind a towering stone formation emerged an enormous quadrupedal monster covered in dark, overlapping scales. Two curved horns protruded from its skull, while thick armored plates protected its shoulders and chest.

Its yellow eyes settled upon the intruders.

Ulric swallowed.

"Captain, that thing doesn’t look like anything we’ve fought today."

Bastian drew his greatsword, forcing a confident grin.

"Then we’ll have the honor of killing something valuable."

The creature charged.

BOOM!

Its enormous body slammed against the stone floor, sending fragments scattering across the chamber.

Bastian met the attack with his greatsword.

CLANG!

The impact nearly tore the weapon from his hands.

Before he could recover, the monster swung its armored head sideways, striking him across the chest and throwing him several meters backward.

"Captain!" Celine shouted, rushing toward him.

The creature turned upon another Warrior.

Its jaws closed around the man’s shoulder with a sickening crunch.

His scream echoed through the chamber.

Ulric lunged forward, desperately attempting to drive his spear into the monster’s exposed neck.

The weapon barely penetrated its scales.

"Retreat!" Celine screamed, realizing that the battle had already become hopeless.

But their escape route was no longer clear.

Two smaller creatures had emerged from the surrounding passages, drawn by the disturbance.

And the Crimson Talon Company suddenly found itself trapped.

---

Night had fallen over Greyfen when the Ashen Wolves returned.

Their captain, Corvin Dalmere, emerged with his companions carrying several sacks of monster materials and a carefully wrapped bundle of unusual mineral fragments.

Although exhausted, the company had suffered no serious casualties.

Corvin approached Sage with a satisfied expression.

"Guildmaster, we’ve returned with some promising discoveries. Nothing extraordinary, but enough to convince me that Greyfen possesses considerable potential."

Sage smiled. "I’m delighted to hear that. Particularly the part about everyone returning alive."

Corvin chuckled before his expression became serious.

"We also heard fighting deeper inside. At first, we assumed another company was hunting monsters, but the sounds became increasingly violent."

Sage’s smile faded.

"Where?"

Corvin described the passages they had explored.

Rowan, who had remained near Greyfen to discuss potential exploration opportunities with several Adventurers, listened with growing concern.

"That direction leads toward a branching network of caverns," Rowan observed. "We noticed several dangerous routes nearby during our earlier expedition."

Sage turned toward the reporting station.

"Which companies are still inside?"

The clerk immediately examined the ledger.

"The Silver Hart Company and the Crimson Talon Company, Guildmaster. Silver Hart registered an intended expedition of three days, but Crimson Talon indicated they might return tonight."

Sage considered the information.

A late return alone wasn’t sufficient reason to dispatch rescuers into an S-Rank Dungeon.

However, reports of violent fighting near dangerous passages were another matter.

"Record Captain Corvin’s account," Sage instructed. "And make sure the location is marked for further investigation."

Before the clerk could respond, the golden formation suddenly brightened.

A lone Warrior stumbled through the entrance.

His armor was torn, his face pale, and blood covered his left arm.

"Help!" the man shouted, collapsing onto his knees. "Please! My companions are still inside!"

Sage immediately recognized him.

Ulric.

One of Bastian Rookmere’s companions.

Several Guild security guards hurried forward. They belonged to the Headquarters Security Department, which operated under Cassian Rook’s temporary leadership, and had been assigned to Greyfen to maintain order around the entrance.

"Clear the passage!" one guard ordered, directing the surrounding Warriors backward. "Someone fetch the medical personnel!"

Sage knelt beside the injured man.

"Ulric, listen carefully. What happened?"

Ulric struggled to breathe.

"A monster," he gasped. "An enormous armored beast. We couldn’t hurt it. Captain Bastian tried fighting, but it nearly killed him."

"How many survived?" Sage asked firmly.

Ulric’s expression twisted.

"I don’t know. One of us was killed. Another couldn’t stand. Celine stayed behind to help the others escape."

Sage’s expression hardened.

He had warned them.

Repeatedly.

But there was no satisfaction in being proven correct when lives were at stake.

"Where are they?" Sage demanded.

Ulric described the route as best he could, mentioning the luminous fungi, towering stone formations, and branching passages.

Rowan listened attentively before nodding.

"I can probably locate the chamber from those landmarks," he told Sage. "But we’ll need to move quickly."

Sage rose.

"Get him to the medical station," he instructed the guards. "And send word to Headquarters that we’ve received our first emergency rescue request."

The Guild had established a temporary treatment area near Greyfen, staffed by healers assigned from its Medical Center. Although the facilities were modest, they were equipped to handle injuries until patients could be transferred to the Royal Capital for more extensive treatment.

Sage then turned toward Leon, who had remained nearby after spending the afternoon speaking with several prospective Adventurers.

"Captain Leon, would you be willing to accompany me on a rescue expedition?"

Leon rested one hand upon his sword.

"Of course, Guildmaster. If there are people still alive inside, we shouldn’t waste time."

Rowan stepped forward.

"I’ll come as well. Someone needs to navigate those passages."

Sage nodded.

"Then we’ll keep the rescue party small. Speed matters more than numbers."

Within minutes, the three men had prepared their equipment and obtained the necessary Dungeon Passes.

Sage approached the entrance, his expression unusually serious.

Behind him, Ulric watched from the ground while a healer treated his injuries.

"Guildmaster!" the wounded Warrior called desperately. "Please bring them back!"

Sage paused.

"I’ll do everything reasonably possible," he answered. "But I won’t promise what I cannot guarantee."

The golden formation opened.

Sage, Leon, and Rowan disappeared into Greyfen.

---

The rescue party moved rapidly through the initial passages.

Rowan followed Ulric’s descriptions, identifying disturbed ground, broken vegetation, and bloodstains left by the fleeing Warriors.

Leon dispatched several monsters that attempted to obstruct their progress, each falling beneath a single decisive sword strike.

Eventually, distant sounds of combat reached them.

BANG!

A desperate scream followed.

Rowan immediately pointed toward a narrow passage.

"That way!"

They emerged into a vast chamber illuminated by green fungi.

The scene was horrifying.

Two Crimson Talon Warriors lay motionless upon the ground.

Another was desperately attempting to drag an injured companion toward a narrow opening.

Celine stood between them and the enormous armored monster, her sword trembling in her exhausted hands.

Bastian knelt nearby, struggling to rise.

The monster charged toward Celine.

She raised her weapon despite knowing she couldn’t withstand another attack.

Then a brilliant silver sword light swept across the chamber.

SWISH!

The monster’s enormous head separated from its body.

BOOOOM!

Its remains crashed onto the stone floor.

Leon lowered his sword, examining the fallen creature.

"Rather troublesome-looking," he remarked calmly.

Celine stared at him in disbelief.

Sage hurried toward the survivors.

"Enough staring. We need to get everyone out."

Rowan immediately began checking the injured, while Leon moved toward the fallen Warriors.

Bastian looked up at Sage, his earlier arrogance completely gone.

"Guildmaster..." he whispered hoarsely.

Sage regarded him coldly. "We’ll discuss your expedition decisions after we’ve dealt with the consequences."

And for once, Bastian Rookmere had absolutely nothing to say.