Chapter 3：A Debt (2/2)
”But…” Alan's voice was hesitant.
”Hey, what are you doing?” The surprise could be heard in Beatrice's voice. Arthur then felt someone getting closer and he opened his eyes slowly. It was Yuran who held a flask in his hand that contained a red liquid. The liquid glowed magically as if it was alive.
”Are you really giving him such a high-tiered potion? To a porter?” Juan was now shouting at Yuran. The latter simply ignored him and opened the flask. He then proceeded to gently open Arthur's mouth and pour the potion in it.
Arthur felt like his body was burning. However, clarity was being brought back. After five minutes of resting, the wound was gone and he was back to normal. He examined his body as if it was the first time he saw it. Even though the potion worked more effectively because he has not an awakener, he still found it wondrous.
”Are you okay?” Yuran came over and asked as the group was resting. He seemed genuinely worried about Arthur's wellbeing, something the latter failed to understand the reason for.
”Yes, I'm fine thanks to you. I… I almost died. I can never repay enough.” Arthur's voice cracked as he escaped the clutches of death.
”Forget it. I did it because I felt like it was the right thing to do. That's all that matters to me. Furthermore, that potion was useless to me. Why did you take the risk of becoming a porter?”
Arthur proceeded to tell him how he used to work as a scavenger and how many scavenging abilities came to light lately, robbing him of his job. Yuran sighed and patted his shoulder in a warm gesture of consolation. Arthur felt a warm feeling at this unexpected friendliness, reminding him that there are good people in the world. Since Yuran appeared to be older than him by at least 5 years, Arthur wondered if this was what it feels like to have an older brother. Someone who would look after him and save him. He then remembered his younger brother at home, and how had Arthur neglected him due to work and worries. He made a mental note to treat him better. As the group was drinking water and resting, a rumbling earthquake shook the ground and the whole dungeon.
”It seems to have started.” Alan's face grew solemn as he stated. He was obviously referring to the boss hunt happening at the sixth layer. The dungeon had seven layers in total with the boss residing in the sixth. The seventh layer had the gate to the other world, and creatures venturing from there unrestrained by rank. Alan turned around and sent Yuran a questioning look and the latter shook his head. This went unnoticed as the rest were to busy with the earthquake.
The group resumed their hunting and they arrived at the third layer after another four hours. The third layer had a passageway shaped structure allowing the group to ignore their rear defense. Therefore, Arthur was asked to stay at the back since it got dangerous. He gladly complied and he stayed to rest at the back as the group fought against the beasts of the third layer, Earth Golems. As they advanced, the group finally found their goal in the third layer, the Regeneration Golem. It was a mutated type of Earth Golem that had a regenerative function. It was said that its mana core can be used to make regenerative potions, a medicine of higher grade than a healing potion. It seemed that the group was aiming for this, and from how Alan treated Yuran, Arthur guessed the latter was the one in charge of this party hunt.
”Assume formation!” Alan roared as the giant Golem started dashing toward them. Each step sent shockwaves shaking the whole passageway, proving the enemy in front of them was no regular monster, but the boss of this layer. Although The White Fangs have already killed this monster before their party, it was a rule that the Sins Dungeon would recreate the monsters in each layer every hour. Meaning, they couldn't outnumber the monsters to conquer this dungeon. However, their party didn't plan on clearing this dungeon, but only harvesting the regenerative core.