The Dungeon lord : Women, power and monsters

Chapter 45: Chapter 45:

Akin laughed. "That’s not an answer."

"It’s the only one I have." Temi looked down at her hands.

"I want to see more of the world." They all looked at her.

She shrugged. "I know it sounds simple."

"It doesn’t."

Temi continued. "We’ve spent most of our lives here. I want to know what other cities look like. I want to see places I’ve only heard about."

Akin smiled. "I want money."

Temi laughed. "At least you’re honest."

"I am extremely honest."

Tolu raised an eyebrow. "You’re also extremely greedy."

"There’s nothing wrong with that."

Akin leaned back. "I want enough money that I don’t have to worry about food, equipment or lodging anymore."

Tolu nodded. "Fair."

Akin looked at Ore. "What about you?"

Ore was quiet for a moment. "I want to become stronger too."

She looked at Tolu. "But I also want to see where all this leads."

Tolu understood what she meant.

She wasn’t only talking about Ilebi.

She was talking about him.

About the dungeon.

About everything they had become involved in.

Akin didn’t notice the exchange. "Then it’s settled."

Tolu looked at him. "What is?"

"We go together." Temi smiled.

Akin continued. "Unless someone changes their mind."

Nobody said anything.

"Good." Akin leaned back.

"Now we just need to figure out how we’re getting there."

Tolu nodded. "I’ve been thinking about that."

"Of course you have."

"There are several options."

Akin immediately became interested. "Tell us."

"We could travel on foot."

Temi frowned. "How long?"

"Several days, maybe a week."

"Too long."

"I agree."

Tolu continued. "We could join a merchant caravan."

Akin nodded. "That sounds safer."

"Probably."

Ore added. "And cheaper."

Tolu nodded. "But we’d have to wait for one heading toward Ilebi."

"That’s not necessarily bad."

"No."

Tolu looked thoughtful. "We could also pay for a private carriage."

Akin almost choked. "With what money?"

Tolu laughed. "Exactly."

Temi smiled. "So caravan."

"Most likely."

Akin looked toward the road. "How dangerous is the journey?"

Tolu’s expression became serious. "That depends on the route."

"We’ve traveled through the forest before."

"This isn’t the same."

Tolu shook his head. "The road to Ilebi is much more traveled, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe."

"Monsters?"

"Monsters. Bandits. Wild beasts. Everything."

Akin sighed. "Of course."

Temi looked at Ore. "At least we’re not going alone."

Ore nodded. "We’ll manage."

Akin smiled. "That’s the spirit."

Tolu looked at all three of them. "There is one more thing."

"What?"

"When we reach Ilebi, things will be different."

Akin raised an eyebrow. "How different?"

"I don’t know yet." Tolu looked toward the distant horizon. "But it’s a much bigger city. Stronger cultivators. Stronger monsters. Powerful families. Academies. Things like that."

Akin’s expression became serious. "We’ll have to be careful."

"Yes."

Tolu looked back at them. "We’re not special there."

Akin smiled. "Speak for yourself."

Temi elbowed him. "You’re absolutely not special."

"Let me dream."

They laughed again.

Tolu smiled.

But beneath the laughter, he felt something unfamiliar.

Excitement.

Fear.

Anticipation.

For the first time, the four of them were discussing a future that didn’t revolve around the small town they had grown up in.

Ilebi was waiting.

A city filled with people stronger than them.

Families whose names carried generations of history.

Academies that trained cultivators far beyond anything they had encountered.

A military force capable of defending an entire city.

Monsters that made the Mirefangs they once feared seem insignificant.

And somewhere beneath all of that...

Tolu carried a secret that none of them knew.

A Dungeon Heart.

A Level Two dungeon.

An army slowly being reborn beneath the earth.

Tolu looked at his friends.

Akin.

Temi.

Ore.

He had no idea what awaited them in Ilebi.

But he knew one thing.

He didn’t want to face it alone. "We’ll prepare for the journey."

Akin nodded. "How long?"

Tolu thought for a moment. "A week."

Temi looked surprised. "Only a week?"

"We’ve already got most of our equipment."

Ore nodded. "We’ll need supplies."

"Food."

"Medicine."

"Money."

"Clothes."

Akin looked down at himself. "What’s wrong with my clothes?"

Temi stared at him. "You’re wearing the same shirt you’ve worn for three days."

Akin looked offended. "It’s a good shirt."

"It’s disgusting."

"It’s comfortable."

Tolu laughed. "We’ll buy you another one."

Akin shook his head. "No."

"Why?"

"Because then I’ll have to take care of two."

Temi covered her face.

Tolu laughed.

Ore shook her head. "You really are hopeless."

Akin grinned. "Maybe."

They stayed there for a while longer.

The conversation moved from serious matters to smaller ones.

Which supplies they needed.

Who would carry what.

How much food they could afford.

Whether they should buy new weapons.

Whether they should stay in an inn or find cheaper lodging.

Whether they could actually afford to enjoy themselves once they arrived.

By the time they finally stood up, the sun had begun moving toward the horizon.

The decision had been made.

They were leaving.

Not tomorrow.

Not immediately.

But soon.

The small town that had been their entire world would become the place they came from.

And Ilebi would become the place where their next Chapter began.

Tolu looked at the road leading away from town.

For some reason, it suddenly seemed much longer than it had before.

He smiled. "Ilebi."

Ore stood beside him. "Ready?"

Tolu looked at her. "No."

She smiled. "Good."

Akin and Temi looked at them.

Akin laughed. "At least we’re honest."

Together, the four of them walked away from the table.

They had a week to prepare.

Then they would leave their old lives behind and step into a world far larger than anything they had known.

A week passed faster than any of them expected.

The morning of their departure arrived quietly.

There was no great celebration.

No crowd gathered around them.

No announcement was made that four young adventurers were leaving the town to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

For most people, it was simply another morning.

But for Tolu, everything felt different.

The caravan stood near the town’s main road, several large wooden wagons lined up behind one another. Horses shifted impatiently as the drivers checked harnesses and secured the last of the cargo.

Merchants moved between the wagons, checking crates and counting supplies.

A few other travelers were preparing to leave as well.

Tolu stood beside the wagon assigned to them, his pack resting against his leg.

He had checked everything twice.

Food.

Water.

Clothes.

Medicine.

Weapons.

Money.

Everything they had decided they needed for the journey was packed.

Ore stood beside him with her bow across her back.

Akin was arguing with one of the caravan workers about where his belongings should be placed.

Temi stood nearby, watching them with an amused expression.

"You’ve checked that bag three times," Ore said.

Tolu looked down at it. "Four."

Ore smiled. "You know it’s not going to disappear."

"I know."

"Then why?"

Tolu shrugged. "Because if I forget something now, I’m not walking back for it."

Ore laughed. "Fair enough."

Akin finally walked toward them. "Everything’s ready."

Temi followed behind him. "He’s lying."

Akin frowned. "I’m not."

"You forgot your blanket."

Akin froze.

Tolu stared at him.

Ore covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

Akin slowly turned around. "Where is it?"

Temi pointed toward the wagon. "Under your pack."

Akin looked.

There it was.

He stared at it for several seconds before turning back. "I knew that."

Temi laughed. "Of course you did."

Tolu smiled.

For a moment, everything felt normal. Just four friends preparing for another journey.

Then the caravan driver called out. "Five minutes!"

The laughter gradually faded.

Tolu looked toward the town.

He could see the familiar streets from where they stood.

The marketplace.

The small shops.

The houses packed closely together.

The road they had walked countless times.

The place where they had trained.

The place where they had fought their first monsters.

The place where they had nearly died.

The place where they had celebrated surviving.

His eyes settled on the familiar buildings.

Somehow, they looked smaller now.

Not because the town had changed.

Because he had.

Ore stood beside him quietly. "You’ll miss it."

Tolu nodded. "Yeah."

Akin looked toward the town as well. "I thought I’d be excited."

"You aren’t?" Temi asked.

"I am."

Akin smiled. "But..." He paused. "I didn’t think leaving would feel like this."

Temi nodded. "I know."

For several moments, none of them spoke.

There were too many memories.

Too many ordinary days that suddenly felt important.

Tolu remembered walking these streets as a child.

He remembered following Uncle Aremu around the shop.

He remembered the first time he had held a weapon.

The first time he had gone into the forest.

The first time he had met Ore.

The first mission with Akin and Temi.

The dungeon.

The war.

The fear.

The victories.

The losses.

Everything had happened here.

And now he was leaving it behind.

Tolu swallowed. "I wonder when I’ll see it again."

Ore looked at him. "You’ll come back."

Tolu smiled. "I know."

Akin nodded. "Of course we will."

Temi smiled. "We’re not dying in Ilebi."

Akin looked at her. "That’s a very optimistic way to put it."

Temi punched his arm. "Don’t ruin the moment."

Akin laughed.

Tolu smiled.

Then he looked toward the shop.

Even from this distance, he could recognize it.

Uncle Aremu’s shop.

His home.

His family.

Aremu wasn’t standing outside.

They had already said their goodbyes.

But Tolu could still picture him inside.

Working behind the counter.

Waiting for customers.

Pretending that sending his nephew away wasn’t difficult.

Tolu’s chest tightened.

Ore noticed.

She didn’t say anything.

Instead, she quietly reached for his hand.

Tolu looked down.

Their fingers intertwined.

He smiled. "Thanks."

Ore squeezed his hand. "Don’t make me regret coming with you."

Tolu laughed softly. "I’ll try."

The caravan driver called again. "Time to go!"

The merchants climbed onto their wagons.

The horses began moving.

Akin climbed into their wagon and looked back at the town. "Well..." He sighed. "That’s it."

Temi climbed in beside him.

Tolu and Ore followed.

The wheels began turning.

Slowly at first.

The wagon rolled forward.

Tolu turned around.

The town began moving farther away.

He watched the streets.

The houses.

The shops.

The familiar road.

Everything he had known slowly became smaller.

Akin sat silently.

Temi rested her arms against the side of the wagon.

Ore remained beside Tolu.

None of them spoke.

They simply watched.

Then the caravan passed beyond the first bend.

The town disappeared from view.

Tolu kept staring at the empty road behind them.

For the first time, there was nothing familiar ahead.

Only a long road.

A new city.

New people.

Stronger monsters.

Stronger cultivators.

Families whose names carried generations of power.

Academies filled with talented people.

The army.

Dungeons.

Opportunities.

Danger.

And countless things none of them could yet imagine.

Tolu slowly turned forward.

The road stretched endlessly before them beneath the morning sky.

He took a deep breath.

Whatever waited in Ilebi, he would face it.

Ore looked at him. "You ready?"

Tolu looked at the road ahead.

He smiled. "Not even close."

Ore laughed. "Good."

Tolu leaned back against the wagon.

For once, he wasn’t going to pretend he knew what came next.

He didn’t.

And perhaps that was what made it exciting.

Behind them was the life they had known.

Ahead of them was a future none of them could predict.

The caravan continued down the road.

And the four young adventurers welcomed the uncertainty together.

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