With the joint summit officially concluded, Lord Andrew Draven swiftly departed the Imperial Palace and headed straight back to the central headquarters of the Adventurer's Guild.
As his carriage navigated the bustling streets of the capital, Lord Draven replayed Emperor Shiroi's explicit instructions in his mind: The dungeon must be discovered as quickly as possible. It does not matter if the adventurer who finds it is a legendary hero or a complete novice—just get the doors open.
The moment Lord Draven stepped through the heavy oak doors of the Guild Headquarters, he completely bypassed his office and walked straight to the front desk. He handed a freshly stamped parchment to one of the senior receptionists.
"Post this immediately," Draven ordered. "Priority placement on the central Quest Board."
The receptionist gave a crisp nod, took the parchment, and hurried over to the massive, heavily crowded Quest Board. Dozens of heavily armed adventurers were already gathered around it, aggressively jostling for the best paying jobs. They parted slightly as the receptionist pinned the fresh, high-priority quest directly in the center of the board.
A seasoned, Rank B adventurer named Yatagarasu Yuta the capable warrior with a sharp eye for unusual fighting style,pushed his way to the front of the crowd. He read the newly posted parchment closely.
"Investigation: Unidentified Disturbance at Zephyr Village," Yuta read aloud. He turned to the receptionist. "What exactly is going on out in Zephyr?"
"It is a special priority request, sir," the receptionist replied professionally. "It comes directly from the local village chief, and the commission is officially backed by the Imperial Palace itself. If you want the specific details, you will need to speak directly with the Guild Master."
Intrigued by the sheer political weight behind such a simple investigation quest, Yuta immediately marched upstairs to Lord Draven's office.
He knocked once and entered. "Guild Master Draven. I want the details on the Zephyr Village commission you just posted."
Lord Draven leaned back in his leather chair, internally smiling at how perfectly the Emperor's plan was unfolding. He maintained a perfectly serious, professional expression. "Ah, Yuta. Excellent timing. According to the village chief's report, there have been massive, unexplained disturbances deep within the eastern forest over the past few days. Loud noises, strange lights... however, there have been no reports of wild beasts attacking the village itself."
Yuta stroked his chin, his adventurer's intuition flaring. "Massive disturbances but no monster attacks? Guild Master... is it possible a new dungeon has just materialized out there?"
Draven offered a perfectly practiced, noncommittal shrug. "I cannot confirm anything at this time, Yuta. We simply do not know. But in our line of work, the possibility of a new dungeon forming is always present."
Yuta looked down at the quest slip he had ripped from the board. He could already smell the massive payout of discovering a virgin dungeon. "Is this commission strictly for a full party, or can I take it solo?"
"The Imperial Palace simply wants answers," Lord Draven replied smoothly. "You can take your party or go solo. It is entirely up to you. Just investigate the forest, locate the source of the disturbance, and report your findings directly back to me."
Meanwhile, immediately following the joint summit, Vergil, his family, and Anastasya boarded their Eagleplane and flew straight back to the depths of Project D2-A.
Upon arriving, Vergil called for a quick debriefing in the main control room. He gathered Freya, their seven children, Anastasya, Kurogami, Aeka, and Valkrieya around the central console.
"Lord Draven just officially received the disturbance report from the chief of Zephyr Village," Vergil announced with a faint, knowing smirk.
Aeka leaned forward, curious. "What exactly did the village chief report?"
"Loud, unexplained commotions and unnatural noises in the forest," Vergil explained. "I suspect the villagers heard the heavy air traffic. We had Grey Knight and Custodes Guard Eagleplanes flying back and forth between the dungeon and the Imperial Palace at all hours of the day and night."
Freya nodded smoothly, crossing her arms. "Furthermore, the Guild Masters have seen our QA test recordings. Between the local 'rumors' and the official investigation quest Lord Draven is posting tomorrow, it is highly likely our dungeon will be formally 'discovered' within the next week."
"So, what kind of preparations do we need to make for our first guests?" Mina asked, practically bouncing on her heels with excitement.
Anastasya pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, her tone dripping with corporate efficiency. "Standard operating procedure. All Management personnel will remain strictly behind the scenes to observe and direct the ecosystem without interfering."
Vergil reached into a sleek metallic case on the table and pulled out nine advanced cloaking devices. He handed them out to Anastasya, Kurogami, Aeka, Valkrieya, and his five daughters and twin child.
Mina accepted the high-tech band, looking back at her parents in confusion. "Wait. Dad, Mom... aren't you two going to wear one?"
Vergil chuckled. "Your mother and I can naturally erase our presence and cloak our magical signatures without technological assistance. We don't need them."
Freya offered a proud, validating nod. When you were legendary master assassins, stealth tech was entirely redundant.
The rest of the Management Team began equipping their devices. Mina, Lira, Sylvy, Aria, Chloe, Fenrir, and Camilla fastened theirs securely. Aeka gently helped Valkrieya secure her cloaking band first, before tightly strapping her own onto her right forearm. Kurogami, however, casually strapped his device high up around his left thigh, securing it like a tactical weapon holster.
Mina blinked, pointing at her uncle wearing the cloaking device. "Wait, are we allowed to wear the cloaking devices like that?"
Vergil watched Kurogami adjust the strap and gave a pragmatic shrug. "As long as it doesn't hinder your combat mobility, you can wear it however you like."
After ask some question to Lord Draven's, Yuta marched straight back to the front desk. "I am officially taking the investigation quest for Zephyr Village," he told the receptionist.
"Understood," the receptionist replied, pulling out the official registry ledger. "Will you be undertaking this commission with your party, or flying solo?"
Yuta grinned confidently, anticipating a massive payout. "I am going completely solo."
The receptionist quickly logged Yuta's data and the quest details into the system. She then reached under the counter and handed him a heavy, intricately carved brass emblem.
Yuta inspected the token. "What is this for?"
"It is a priority Imperial verification emblem," she explained. "Show that to the village chief upon your arrival. It officially proves that you are the sanctioned investigator sent directly by the Adventurer's Guild."
Pocketing the emblem, Yuta immediately headed out of the Guild building and walked toward the capital's central transport and logistics hub. He flagged down one of the guards managing the carriages. "I need a ride heading toward Zephyr Village."
The guard checked his manifest. "You are in luck. There is exactly one transport carriage heading back that way today, but it is being pulled by a Centaur. Is that acceptable?"
"As long as it gets me to Zephyr Village, I don't care," Yuta shrugged.
"Wait right here," the guard said, jogging off. A few moments later, he returned alongside a tall, powerfully built male Centaur. The guard pointed to Yuta. "This Centaur is actually preparing to travel back to Zephyr Village right now with the village chief's personal entourage."
The Centaur offered a polite bow. "It is a lucky coincidence. We would be happy to offer an escort to an Adventurer's Guild representative. Please, climb aboard."
Yuta thanked him and stepped up into the spacious carriage. Inside, he was surprised to find the village chief himself. Instead of an elderly, bearded man, the chief was incredibly young—appearing no older than twenty.
Yuta took a seat and formally introduced himself. "I am Yatagarasu Yuta. The Adventurer's Guild sent me to handle your investigation request."
The young chief smiled warmly, glancing over at his beautiful wife sitting beside him. Yuta instantly recognized her pale skin and crimson eyes; she was a high-ranking Vampire.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Yuta," the chief greeted. "I am Shotta Amakura, the Chief of Zephyr Village, and this is my wife, Ariana."
"Nice to meet you both," Yuta nodded, getting straight to business. "So, Chief Shotta, what exactly is happening out in Zephyr Village that required a priority request to the central Guild?"
Shotta's expression turned serious. "For the past few days, all the villagers have been hearing deafening, unnatural noises echoing from the western mountain forests. We have absolutely no idea what is causing it."
Yuta leaned forward, his adventurer's instincts kicking in. "Have there been any monster attacks on the village? Any sightings of roaming beasts?"
"None at all," Shotta shook his head. "The village itself remains perfectly safe. The disturbances are strictly contained within the western mountain range."
Yuta began to analyze the situation in his head. Incredibly loud noises, but zero hostile monster activity. A new dungeon forming would explain the magical atmospheric pressure, but what about the noise?
"Is there anything else you can tell me about the disturbance?" Yuta asked.
"Well, the strangest part is how the sound moves," Shotta explained, looking perplexed. "The loud, roaring noises always seem to vanish directly up into the sky. It sounds almost like the roar of a massive dragon, or a giant mythical bird taking flight. But there are no wild dragons native to our region."
Ariana gently chimed in. "There is a noble family of the Dragon Race living in the eastern mountains. We actually went and asked Lord Viscount Von Eisenwing if one of his kin was causing the ruckus."
"And what did the Viscount say?" Yuta asked.
"Lord Von Eisenwing was just as confused as we are," Shotta sighed. "He explicitly stated that if a wild dragon of that magnitude were flying around his territory, he would have already tracked it down and made it his family servant."
Lost in the deep, dramatic of the conversation, Yuta didn't even notice that the Centaur had already pulled the carriage out of the Dark Village transport district. They were now speeding swiftly down the open road, heading straight for Zephyr Village.
The Centaur pulled the heavy carriage with incredible, effortless speed, the wheels rattling smoothly along the forest path.
Looking out the window at the dense, imposing tree line, Yuta broke the comfortable silence. "I have to admit, Chief Shotta, I've heard Zephyr Village is a relatively new settlement. It was built in a territory so notoriously dangerous that even seasoned Rank B adventurers like myself usually hesitate to wander this deep into the woods."
Shotta offered a humble, easygoing smile. "We know the risks. We simply wanted a quiet, peaceful place to live away from the politics of the larger cities."
Yuta leaned back, shifting the topic. "Have you ever heard of the Arudi Dungeon?"
Ariana's crimson eyes lit up with recognition. "I have. It was discovered about ten years ago, wasn't it? I heard that Apple Gate Town exploded in population because thousands of adventurers flocked there to challenge the dungeon."
"Exactly," Yuta nodded. "But it wasn't just a natural boom. The rapid expansion of Apple Gate Town was directly overseen by Emperor Shiroi himself. Even the Assassin's Guild established a massive headquarters there. Today, it is one of the most prosperous and bustling economic hubs in the entire Empire."
Ariana leaned closer to her husband, her eyes wide with wonder. "Do you think... if there really is a dungeon out here... Emperor Shiroi might come to Zephyr Village and initiate a large-scale development project for us?"
"Honestly? I don't know," Yuta admitted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But seeing how ridiculously wealthy Apple Gate Town has become, the possibility is definitely there."
Shotta looked curious. "What kind of person is Emperor Shiroi? I have never seen him."
"He is highly recognizable," Yuta explained. "He has striking silver hair and piercing sky-blue eyes. But despite his intimidating, god-like power, he is incredibly down-to-earth. He actually prefers to blend in with the commoners. You will frequently see him walking the capital streets in casual clothes, completely unescorted by his Custodes Guard."
"Have you ever met him personally?" Shotta asked.
"Not directly," Yuta replied. "But a few weeks ago, I was in the capital when his aunt, Lady Shiroyuki Ragnaros, triumphantly returned from the frontlines. She brought back the 13th Imperial Force Battalion of Special Operations and the rest of the vanguard from the Northern Kingdom War."
Shotta's expression grew serious. "I heard rumors from our villagers about the North. They said the Northern Kingdom possessed highly advanced technology, but they were viciously inhumane to their own citizens. Supposedly, they heavily oppressed anyone who didn't have white or silver hair, restricting all leadership roles exclusively to those who did."
"The rumors are entirely true," Yuta confirmed grimly. "But their regime is over. The Northern Kingdom completely surrendered to the Empire. Right now, they are undergoing a massive reconstruction phase, and their former high command is facing strict internal military tribunals for their war crimes."
Yuta scoffed, shaking his head at the audacity of the defeated nation. "The worst part was their sheer arrogance. They actually tried to claim that the Kainaldia Empire was their 'brother kingdom' and should ally with them—purely because Emperor Shiroi and the Imperial Family also have silver hair. It was a massive insult."
Hearing the confirmation of the North's absolute defeat, Shotta let out a long, profound sigh of relief. He slumped back against the carriage seat, the tension leaving his shoulders. "I am incredibly thankful the Empire crushed them. Many of the residents who settled here in Zephyr Village are actually refugees who fled from the border forests between Kainaldia and the Northern Kingdom to escape that exact oppression."
"We have arrived at Zephyr Village," the centaur announced.
Hearing this, Yuta immediately moved to the front of the carriage. Before him lay a meticulously organized settlement, anchored by a notably grand building dominating its northern edge.
Relying on the intel he had been given, Yuta wasted no time and set off toward the eastern woods. The forest canopy was lush and thick, yet oddly devoid of any real danger. The fearsome monsters that once plagued the investigation site had long been pacified; the village chief had managed to tame the local Fire Wolves. Now, these terrifying beasts behaved more like highly disciplined guard dogs, leaving the woods uncharacteristically safe.
As he trekked deeper into the dense foliage, a gaping maw in the earth caught his eye. It was a massive cavern entrance, easily four meters high and five meters across. Driven by a nagging curiosity, Yuta stepped into the shadows.
The moment his boots crossed the threshold, the dungeon's detection system triggered.
Deep within the dungeon's heart, Camilla had been idly watching the scrying mirror out of sheer boredom. She sat up abruptly. "We have a guest here. An adventurer just entered the dungeon."
Anastasya quickly took the seat beside her, leaning in to look at the magical glass. "Do you think it's someone sent by the Adventurer's Guild?"
"Most likely," Camilla replied, her eyes tracking his magical signature. "I'm detecting a specific item on him. It's an official guild emblem."
Vergil, observing the exchange from across the room, smirked. "Lord Draven is a cunning man. I remember forging an emblem embedded with a tracking device for adventurers taking on classified missions."
"Wait, didn't you make that years ago?" Freya asked, raising an eyebrow.
Vergil nodded. "He likely kept it in reserve. This way, if Emperor Shiroi ever issued a quest, they could track the adventurers to ensure they wouldn't try to scam the Empire with forged reports. It seems they gave this emblem to our new guest as proof of his commission."
Freya let out a soft chuckle. "Well, there is our confirmation. The Adventurer's Guild has officially sent someone to find out Dungeon D2-A."
Yuta ventured deeper into the cavern. At first, the tunnels were swarming with rabbit-type monsters. Though their movements were remarkably fast, they posed no real threat, so Yuta confidently pressed on through the subterranean passages.
What he didn't know was that his every move was being broadcasted. Anastasya had linked the scrying feed to the rest of the dungeon. The denizens were eagerly tuned in—the monsters watched from the Grand Monster Hall, while the D2-A management team observed from the Dungeon Control Room.
As he descended further, the environment shifted. Yuta finally realized he had stepped into a genuine dungeon. Just how deep does this labyrinth go? he wondered aloud, noting that his opponents had upgraded from small, game-meat-caliber prey to terrifying, bloodthirsty wolves.
In the control room, Vergil watched the screen closely. "This adventurer is quite skilled," he remarked.
"He is about to enter the chamber guarded by Kyumara," Mina pointed out.
"Excellent," Vergil said, leaning forward. "Let's see the true strength of an adventurer sent by the central Guild."
Yuta stepped into a new chamber—a cavernous expanse easily dwarfing the previous five rooms combined. Suddenly, a massive eye snapped open in the darkness. Sensing the overwhelming danger, Yuta instantly drew his sword.
A colossal creature rose from the shadows. Yuta's breath hitched as he recognized the beast: a Nine-Tailed Fox, a mythical and incredibly rare monster.
Kyumara unleashed a deafening roar and lunged. Yuta narrowly dodged the initial strike, but the fox immediately followed up by spitting a massive fireball. Left with no choice, Yuta swung his blade, slicing the arcane flames in two. But it was a feint. Kyumara had already readied its next attack, sweeping one of its massive, heavy tails right into Yuta's blind spot.
The impact sent Yuta flying, his body slamming hard against the stone wall. Before he could recover, Kyumara was on him again, jaws snapping down to crush him. Yuta threw himself to the side, rolling desperately out of the way. The maneuver put him right back at the chamber's entrance door.
Realizing he was outmatched, Yuta didn't hesitate. He scrambled up the stone staircase he had come from, sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him. As he reached the top of the stairs, a spatial distortion washed over him. Yuta gasped in shock—he had been instantly transported back outside to the dungeon's entrance.
Back in the control room, Vergil chuckled. "Kyumara is an absolutely terrifying boss for the first five levels, but I suppose that is exactly what a dungeon boss is supposed to do."
"Yuta is quite tough himself," Freya noted. "He actually managed to dodge Kyumara's assault."
Kurogami nodded in agreement. "Kyumara did request special training specifically to fight adventurers. It shows."
Meanwhile, Fenrir and Camilla let out synchronized sighs of disappointment. "Boring. He chose to run away," Camilla complained.
Over in the Monster Hall, the atmosphere was rowdy. The monsters found the human's performance highly entertaining.
"That human is interesting," one of the monsters commented. "He actually survived a brutal attack from the Fox!"
The Orc King cracked his knuckles, a feral grin on his face. "If that is the case, I will fight just as brutally when these adventurers finally reach me."
Beside him, the Lich King's eye sockets flared with ghostly light. "Indeed. Watching him fight against Kyumara fills me with excitement. I cannot wait to see what happens when they finally reach levels six through ten."
Yuta stood outside, momentarily disoriented by his sudden return to the surface. Then, a memory clicked into place. Arudi Dungeon. Back when he and his old adventuring party had explored the Arudi labyrinth and been forced to retreat, the dungeon's system hadn't just bumped them back a floor—it had expelled them completely to the outside world. This new dungeon clearly operated on the same unforgiving rules.
Pulling a glass vial from his pack, Yuta downed a healing potion. As the magical liquid went to work soothing his battered body, he immediately began the trek back to Zephyr Village.
The return journey felt remarkably short. His mind was racing, entirely preoccupied with the thrill of discovering a labyrinth even more challenging than Arudi, complete with a fascinating and dangerous ecosystem.
Yuta arrived back at Zephyr Village just as the late afternoon sun was beginning to dip. He made a beeline for the village chief's house, where he found Shotta gently cradling his infant son.
"Chief Shotta," Yuta greeted, eager to share his findings. "I found something incredible out there. It is a dungeon, and its mechanics bear a striking resemblance to the Arudi Dungeon."
Shotta nodded thoughtfully, adjusting the sleeping baby in his arms. "That is valuable information. However, the last transport heading back to Dark Village has already departed for the day. You are much better off spending the night here."
Realizing he had no other viable options, Yuta agreed to stay.
"Excellent," Shotta said with a warm smile. "We hold a communal village banquet in the evenings anyway. Tonight, you shall be Zephyr Village's guest of honor."
True to the chief's word, as night descended, the entire village gathered for a grand and lively feast. Yuta found himself completely swept up in the welcoming atmosphere.
As he enjoyed the hearty food, he took a moment to observe the crowd around the fire. It was a breathtaking sight. Elegant, exclusively female High Elves and delicate Titanias mingled effortlessly with towering Centaurs and muscular Minotaurs. Scaled Lizardmen shared drinks and laughter with various Beastkind. It was a living, breathing testament to Emperor Shiroi's deepest wish: a world where entirely different races could sit at the same table and dine together in total harmony.
As the festivities began to wind down, Shotta approached him once more. "We went ahead and prepared a guest room for you, just in case you returned too late to travel."
One of the High Elf maidens gracefully stepped forward to escort him to his quarters. Exhausted from his brutal battle with Kyumara and the sheer excitement of the day, Yuta collapsed into bed and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep until morning.
The next morning, Yuta quickly gathered his gear, eager to formally report his findings to the Guild. As he stepped out of his room, he was surprised to find Chief Shotta, his wife, and several villagers already waiting for him. With a warm smile, Shotta handed Yuta a fresh loaf of bread and a flask of cold milk for the road.
The same Centaur who had brought Yuta to Zephyr Village was outside, hitching himself to a large transport carriage heavily laden with agricultural goods bound for Dark Village. Yuta climbed aboard, and they set off.
As he enjoyed the chief's breakfast on the road, Yuta looked over the massive haul of supplies. "Does Zephyr Village always export this much food?" he asked.
"We used to sell even more," the Centaur replied, keeping a steady pace. "But over the last few years, we've had to hold back a bit to account for taxes and to build up our own winter reserves."
"How long has the village been established, anyway?"
"About three years now. But because we are located so close to Dark Village—the capital city of the Kainaldia Empire—selling our harvests is effortless. The city merchants absolutely love the quality of our crops."
Before long, the carriage passed through the gates of Dark Village. Yuta hopped down, thanked the Centaur for the ride, and made a beeline for the Adventurer's Guild headquarters.
Inside the bustling guild hall, Yuta approached the reception desk to report his findings. The moment he mentioned the dungeon, the receptionist's eyes widened. She immediately stood up, asked him to wait, and hurried up to the second floor to fetch Lord Andrew Draven, the Guild Master.
Moments later, Lord Draven descended the stairs with the receptionist in tow. He waved his hand, dismissing her back to her duties, and turned his full attention to Yuta.
"Speak," Draven said. "What did you find?"
"I located a dungeon in the eastern woods of Zephyr Village," Yuta reported. "I even engaged the boss guarding the fifth floor. It is a Nine-Tailed Fox."
Draven's expression turned dead serious. "And how would you rate the first five floors?"
"The first three floors are packed with fast but weak monsters, perfect for beginner training. But the boss... it is terrifying."
Draven let out a heavy sigh. "Did you manage to slay the fox?"
Yuta shook his head. "No. The beast is incredibly strong. Trying to fight it solo was nearly impossible; it will definitely require a full, coordinated party to bring down."
Draven nodded slowly. "Wait here."
As the Guild Master turned back toward the stairs, Yuta called out, "Sir? What about the reward? The original quest board posting didn't list a payout for this mission."
"Just wait," Draven repeated over his shoulder, disappearing back into his office.
Yuta leaned over the counter and whispered to the receptionist, "Is he always this impossible to read?"
Before she could answer, Draven returned, lugging a massive, heavy sack that clinked with the distinct sound of gold. He gestured for Yuta to follow him into the guild's attached tavern.
Stepping into the loud, crowded tavern, Draven cleared his throat and bellowed for silence.
"Listen up!" Draven announced to the room. "A new dungeon has just been discovered in the eastern forest of Zephyr Village! For this monumental discovery, I am awarding a bounty of 5,000 gold coins. Furthermore, in honor of the pioneer who found it, it shall officially be registered as the 'Yuta Dungeon'!"
The tavern erupted into deafening cheers. The high-ranking adventurers were thrilled; they had grown incredibly bored and frustrated trying to defeat the stubbornly difficult dragon guarding the final floor of their current dungeon, and they were desperate for a new challenge.
Draven handed the heavy sack of gold to a stunned Yuta. "I will be reporting this directly to Emperor Shiroi," the Guild Master said. He then gestured to the cheering crowd. "Go on. Tell them what awaits."
Yuta looked out at the sea of eager faces, from rookies to seasoned veterans. "I went toe-to-toe with the boss of the fifth floor," Yuta called out. "A ferocious Nine-Tailed Fox. Judging by the magic density, I suspect this labyrinth goes incredibly deep. It might even be deeper than the Arudi Dungeon."
The adventurers roared in excitement, immediately scrambling to their tables to start organizing parties and checking their gear.
Watching the chaos unfold and feeling the heavy weight of the gold in his hands, Yuta smiled to himself. With this much money, he thought, maybe he would just pack up and permanently move to the peaceful Zephyr Village after all.