Master Of None

There was a lot of talk as the captains of each group heard that there was a massive river to the north. One that was uncrossable if they tried to swim or use a boat right now. It also got more stressful when they heard there were monsters that would attack them just for existing anywhere near them or the water. It was a harsh reality.

Yes this was a dangerous expedition and nothing would stop that. However, being told that it was too dangerous to explore was a hard hit for them. Everyone who came, the veterans in particular, had come with the desire to explore and make a name for themselves. Finding that they were limited was a harsh hit to their pride.

For the less experienced adventurers and guards, this sounded like they weren’t trusted enough to be able to defend themselves and achieve their goals.

This was exactly why Walker had brought everyone to the mapping room within the flying ship and allowed for the information on the area to be displayed. The grand mapping room in the Genesis building could show so much more, but the smaller version which used less materials, mana, and technique to make showed enough.

As the guard captains saw that the river Walker spoke about wasn’t just a larger river as they imagined, they grasped the depth of what monsters could live there. They had also seen glimpses of the markings made by the titan boa, so they could understand the immense size of what could hide within those waters.

Luckily, the direct area around their camp had already been fruitful. Walker and the party had gathered to plan out the expedition areas while the final touches to the teleportation formation were being made. This allowed for everyone to understand exactly what could be done in terms of general gathering or hunting for the time being.

It also presented another small challenge.

”There is a dungeon entrance within a large fallen tree?” The words sounded like Gil struggled to think of them properly. Maybe because he was sure that they hadn’t brought any researchers focus edon dungeons since they had opted to highlight those who could create and improve the rune formation for when they needed people to travel back and forth.

”We wanted to have you appraise it since the appraisals we have used seem to struggle to identify it with more details. It just gives us the name, slumbering forest dungeon.” One of the guard captains who had taken their team to see what this was after the scouts found it had used multiple appraisal scrolls, however, it seemed the skill was not good enough to get more information.

”I take it we will need more specialized class users who can appraise dungeons and such from now on then. It was an eventuality that the world would shift in that direction.” Since Su had seen this sort of thing in the forge or even the adventurer’s guild, it made a lot of sense.

The world might be changing, but so were the people. Instead of general skills, many had specialized in what they were best at. It was just the way everyone was growing since they could take their own class and learn or grow by their own hand. They weren’t limited by what system they were lucky to have. They all had connections to the world system and could get a class as they worked for.

”I will go and get an all around appraisal. If it seems to be something dangerous we will mark it so we can keep anyone else from accidentally going inside. If it is safer, we can set a small camp there for those who go to explore it and map it, if it can be mapped.” Walker knew that some dungeons might not be mapped.

However, as he had always thought, Dungeons might be something even more unique since they were technically alive in a sense. They absorbed mana, grew, and even offered quests. They were deeply blind to the way the world had been meant to function before the breaking off from the elemental planes.

Due to this, he considered the potential that this dungeon could be very valuable to the growth of the people of Genesis and the world. It could make this new continent exploration even more important. If it was a larger dungeon or had valuable plants and monsters, it could be the boost needed to complete the floating angel cities or even the projects to make floating workshops, healing tents, and herb gardens with elemental domes.

”Is there anything else you have found?” This was what Gil and Remey wanted to ask as Su had asked before them.

”Some herbs that we need identified for usage as healing herbs or medicine that the alchemists here wish to begin using. There are also pieces of stone to the east that seem strange compared to the color of stone we have found from the mountains or naturally in the area.”

Now Walker was torn.

He wanted to look in to this dungeon. Mostly because he had a feeling that there was something interesting about it. Not simply because it was the first that they were finding on this continent, but because he just had a gut feeling about it. Something pulled on the edge of his mind saying that he needed to get a little more information about the dungeon so that he could look deeper in to how the monster continent worked.

Yet, he was tempted to go looking in to the fact that different stones were found to the east. The ruins that they were here to search for ruins. If the ruins were there then so could be valuable documents about magic and how the ancient magic these mages used to fight literal giant monsters survived. Not to mention how their magic related crafting and runes could work with what Genesis was developing now.

”I will prioritize the dungeon. If you can send scouts to search for the source of those odd stones, then we might discover some ruins. They could hold valuable knowledge and become one of the first major locations for research. The dungeon is more important for gathering materials though, the people need that more.”

It was a purely logical decision that led to Walker giving the order. He and the party would go to check it out and potentially even go inside the dungeon if they could.

It was better if they could go inside the dungeon and see what the environment was about. The name, slumbering forest, was all and good for some theories but it was not necessarily the best description of what they might find. Especially since there was a lot of potential in what they might need for materials.

Just building permanent camps on the very edge for the teleportation formation would be major. It would be a special place for the movement of materials to Genesis and the Sigil continent. The second city was still not built up to the level that everyone needed to live comfortably.

With a large breath, Walker channeled some mana and buffed everyone. They wouldn’t be flying through the air to get to the dungeon, it was better to run. However, he did wave over Mela.

As much as Mela was a novice in terms of expeditions, battle, and adventures, she would have her puppets to check out dangerous areas. It would also be perfect to have the entire hero party show her the strength they had while they traveled. As much as others may object since it would be better to have her follow with a group of guards, the party could easily protect her just the same, if not better than a group of guards.

”Mela, you are coming with us to check out a dungeon. You will have the chance to see how every member of my party moves. Take mental notes, stay in the center of us, and if Midnight tells you to move or takes her full dragon form, be prepared for danger.”

Mela looked terrified, her hottie attitude was gone since she had just been speaking with scouts and even training with a few of the guards who learned under Gil so that she could do better with the doll she modeled after Gil. Yet, she also had a slight shake to her hands.

It was exciting. For many, this was a dream come true. She wasn’t just watching the hero party who saved her from her fate as a slave to evil demons. She was working with them so she could also become a pillar that helped others. Plus, she was using her puppets, the dolls she spent hours making using a class that she hadn’t met another else using.

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