SELECT DUNGEON'S STORY - Nephilim's Corruption

Chapter 20 - Ragnulf & Aliviah Vs Monster Plant

When Aleratha, Bromner, and Aliviah bought the equipment, Vezda approached Ragnulf because he heard from some members who were still at level 2 or 3 that Ragnulf and Aliviah were fighting plant monsters under the city while he was training specifically with Alfred and Catherine. No one knew the exact report and Aliviah was out, so Vezda chose to approach Ragnulf in the gathering room of the elite members of the Alliance.

“Eh? You're the only one here. Where are the others?” Vezda asked Ragnulf who was reading a piece of paper that was news of the announcement.

“They said they wanted to go out to find the goods.” Answer Ragnulf.

“Ah yes, I heard from junior members that you and Aliviah had time to fight the plant monser is not it?” Vezda asked Ragnulf.

“Iya. That's when you're not at headquarters.” Answer Ragnulf briefly.

“Is there anything I need to know?” When the question was asked, Ragnulf put down the paper he had previously read.

“I don't know the details but it looks like there's an Alliance involved.” Answer Ragnulf.

“Can you tell me? We might be able to find something.” Vezda continued the question.

“You are a pain. You know the place where you saved Aliviah and the kid she brought? Aliviah dragged me to find the place where the plant came from.” Ragnulf begins his report.

****

It was still early that day, but since Ragnulf was not heading for the dungeon with the others he chose to laze in the space where they used to gather. Ragnulf just lay on the couch and relaxed without doing anything.

“Eh?” Aliviah went into the room and saw Ragnulf sleeping on the sofa.

“Ragnulf, I thought you went with the others.” Aliviah said to Ragnulf and Ragnulf woke up.

“No. I just happen to want to be here.” Answer Ragnulf a little irritation.

“Well, how about you accompany me. Something I want to find.” Aliviah said to Ragnulf.

“Where?” Ragnulf asked.

Aliviah and Ragnulf head to the spot where Vezda saved him during the Tamer Contest. On the wall are visible traces of attacks from plants that are now being rebuilt. Ragnulf briefly looks at the inside of the former attack and leads to a sewer beneath the city.

“Ragnulf, if you smell the smell of the monster all the way here, could there be someone who has deliberately released the monster here?” Aliviah asked Ragnilf while walking down the sewer.

“Most likely, but if indeed they brought the monster from the dungeon should Archon Daimon know about the monster released.” Ragnulf said to Aliviah.

“But Daimon also just found out that there are such monsters. All monsters belonging to Daimon have also been examined by Vezda and they do not have such plant monsters.” Aliviah.

“It stops here. There is likely something behind this iron door.” Ragnulf and Aliviah stopped in front of an unlocked iron door.

By the time they entered, the enormous room was already filled with water and some parts of the wall had already been damaged from being destroyed by something extremely powerful. Ragnulf and Aliviah walked slowly and watched each part. Under such circumstances, Ragnulf was still relaxed, yet remained in a vigilant state.

“Me.” Ragnulf stopped and saw there were about 9 plants there.

“It looks like I'll stay here only.” Aliviah said and Ragnulf prepared to fight.

“Good. Don't let me see you ruined here.” Ragnulf said and immediately shot up kicking the plant monsters very quickly.

Ragnulf or ‘Ghost’ is one of the fastest adventurers in Femi. Such a large number of 9 monsters was no match for Ragnulf who could teach everything so quickly. Even Aliviah also has trouble seeing where she really is. Although Ragnulf's destructive power was quite strong, the plants were even stronger with Ragnulf's kicks and punches.

I'm pretty sure that Daimon doesn't know anything about this, there's probably another party involved. Freya and Daimon had no idea about this monster and that was more than enough. Aliviah thought while watching Ragnulf fight.

Clak clak!

This is not an ideal situation at all. Aliviah's head was hit by water droplets, but she knew exactly what was dripping water was the plant monster behind her.

Damn, there are still 1 monster back there. Ragnulf sees Aliviah being chased by the plant monster.

“Wire, the monster was fast. How about I throw this away?” Aliviah removes a small bag from her bag and the monster chasing Aliviah turns to chase the bag containing crystals from the monster.

Ragnulf quickly retreated to protect Aliviah by kicking the plant monster who shifted its focus towards another plant monster.

“Why aren't they dead yet?” Ragnulf retreated near Aliviah and the plant monsters rose again.

“It looks like this plant monster is very resistant to blunt attacks. Samir's wind and sword as well as Syllia's magic worked very well against that monster.” Alvia said to Ragnulf.

“You should have said from the beginning.” Ragnulf said to Aliviah and took out a bright red blade.

“Whoaaa. Magic sword.” Aliviah was surprised to see the weapon Ragnulf had issued.

“I don't want to wear it here, but there is no other option.” Ragulf used the magic from the sword to put it back into his gloves and shoes.

Magic swords fall into the category of magic equipment. It's shaped like a sharp weapon of any class. Magic swords could be used as ordinary swords, but magic swords of the best quality could actually be used as sharp weapons in general. The downside of a magic sword is its extremely thin durability compared to other conventional sharp weapons. Whether using a magic sword to cast magic from that sword or using it as a conventional weapon, the magic sword must have been destroyed quickly.

“How much is that magic sword?” Aliviah asked Ragnulf who was ready to destroy the monsters in front of her.

“2 million platine.” Ragnulf casually replied and began blindly to all the monsters that existed and destroyed them.

Ghost of Aliviah is a term known to many other adventurers to Ragnulf. Ragnulf's movements were very fast and sometimes because of his speed other adventurers could see Ragnulf's afterimage. One of the fastest adventurers in Femi City and also the fastest member in the Alliance, Ragnulf Oswald The Ghost of Aliviah.

“At the end of the day there is no clue as to who got in here or someone involved in the case.” Aliviah said while holding the crystal that was removed from the plant monster.

“Despite that, I can smell someone's scent, but it is very faint and the water has already washed the scent almost completely.” Ragnulf said to Aliviah.

Because of this, they returned to the surface and decided to go home. While on the way, the two of them cross paths with an Archon and 1 member of his alliance. Archon Nero and Celaena Glynfir. They were both quite famous in Femi City because Archon Nero and his alliance were very kind to the citizens around their main headquarters.

“Yo, Nero.” Aliviah greets Nero and his members.

“Aliviah? Tumben once you walk all the way to this district.” Nero said and Aliviah was about to approach Nero.

“Wait a minute, Aliviah.” Ragnulf held onto Aliviah's shoulder and held Aliviah to advance closer to Nero and Celaena.

“Why Ragnulf?” Aliviah asked while looking at Ragnulf's extremely wary facial expression.

“Aliviah, I can explain what really happened and why we had to go to the drain.” Nero began to defend.

Finally the four of them headed to the cafe not far from them to talk about this. Ragnulf was very wary of Nero and Celaena. Aliviah looks ordinary even though in fact Aliviah is also suspicious of Nero.

“Ragnulf, you just wait outside.” Aliviah said and Ragnulf just nodded.

“Celaena, you wait here. This is a talk between 2 Archon.” Nero told Celaena to wait outside.

“Good.” Answer Celaena briefly.

While Ragnulf and Celaena were waiting outside the cafe, Aliviah and Nero were already sitting down to discuss what kind of problems they had just faced at the moment. Ragnulf was currently just waiting outside and looked to be just relaxing, but Ragnulf was extremely wary of Celaena.

“Nero, give me your defense now.” Aliviah said to Nero.

“First, I want to straighten out this misunderstanding. I was from the sewer, but I went there to investigate the plant monster.” Obviously Nero.

“But, then you know there is actually this plant monster?” Aliviah asked.

“Iya. I know the existence of this monster since 1 month ago when my member was killed with a neck crushed by someone with a high level.” Nero's explanation surprised Aliviah because there was a murder and Nero members became victims.

“Continue.” Aliviah said briefly as Nero paused for a moment.

“In person, I did an investigation and I found a crystal that was already cracked from a monster, but the color is different. It was a sign that my slain members saw something they were not supposed to see. After that, you take crystals from monsters that turned out to be plant monsters after being killed by members of your alliance during the festival.” Nero said and took out a crystal stone similar to the one that ALiviah had.

“Then, when Celaena and I went into the waterway where Ragnulf smelled our scent, we saw the monster, and, but since the monsters are all stronger we choose to retreat and not continue our investigation.” Nero.

“Means you took the crystal before United took it, right?” Ask Aliviah to Nero.

“Of course.” Reply Nero with confidence.

“Good. For a while I believed what you said. Until my aliansiku finds something, I'll give you confirmation.” Aliviah answered Nero.

“Good. Then I strongly believe that there was an Archon who caused a riot during the festival the other day. So, I would like to ask you to do this investigation as well.” Nero said to Aliviah.

This damn Archon does want us to interfere in this investigation. I'm pretty sure and have confirmed with Vezda that Na’ava released the monster back then. Na’ava himself was confused as I told the plant monster. Then there was another Archon involved. Aliviah thought for a moment.

“Then to kill a level 2 adventurer quickly from your members, they must be level 4 or more adventurers.” Aliviah said to Nero.

“More, but the problem is there are some Archons who do not report the actual level of their members. During this time Archon Cathur often hid the level of his members from the Union and reported false levels to avoid taxes.” Obviously Nero.

“Oh, so it can be done.” Aliviah just knew that level could be hidden from the Union.

“Because of that all the Archons in Femi City could possibly be suspects.” Nero said that clearly to ALiviah.

“Do you suspect me and also my members?” Aliviah asked Nero.

“No. From every record of your alliance there is no one to prove that you are coming along and you are innocent.” Nero said that.

“If you want me to investigate this, the number of Archons in Femi City is very large and there is no way I can check it 1 per 1. Plus the Daimon Alliance has nothing to do with the monster.” Aliviah.

“Although Daimon has nothing to do with it, the question is, was Archon Adinatha not involved? Because the planning of the Tamer Festival is the idea of the Union and also prepared by the Union with the help of Daimon.” Nero's question surprised Aliviah because Archon Adinatha was the Archon who held the control of the Union and also maintained the security of the entire city of Femi.

“Wait a minute, that's very unlikely. He became the keeper of Femi City and where possible he used the Union for such a ridiculous thing.” Aliviah said to Nero.

“That's why I want to ask you to investigate Adinatha and United. Karen If United turns out to have an army, there's no way I can fight it. After all you are an Archon who has one of the Strongest Alliances in Femi.” City Nero said so lightly and Aliviah was shocked to death.

“What??! Who would want to do such a stupid thing?” Aliviah said with a surprised expression.

“I'm sure if you do it will be better than me.” Obviously Nero.

“You!! From the beginning did want to drag me into this problem is not it?” Aliviah yelled a little at Nero.

“Ah, no. This is just a coincidence and indeed you are an Archon with a powerful Alliance for sure. Of course, I will also conduct an investigation in my own way. So, please consider this.” Nero said and walked out of the cafe along with Pants.

“Aliviah, is everything done?” Ragnulf said after a moment Nero and Celaena left the cafe.

“Ragnulf, I'm sorry. Looks like you should accompany me even longer.” Aliviah said to Ragnulf and they both went to the Union office.

The Union is the seat of government in the city of Femi. Everything related to adventurers, they recorded it from beginning to end and all records regarding dungeons were open to anyone who came. The guilds also exchanged crystal stones from monsters into platines as well as those who arranged a supply of standard quality for adventurers who would enter into the dungeon. Every employee in the Union must not receive a Blessing from Archon, is not allowed to have an alliance, and is not allowed to have his own army outside the alliance.

“Ragnulf. It looks like it's going to be hard. But, if I don't return in 1 hour, you're free to act as if something happened to me.” Aliviah said to Ragnulf.

“Good.” Ragnulf only assented to Aliviah despite the many questions on his mind for Aliviah.

Let's see what I can get from United and Adinatha. Aliviah stared at the enormous Union building and mentally prepared her to enter and confront Archon Adinatha.

****

“Then afterwards Aliviah came back without saying anything.” Ragnulf completed his report to Vezda.

“Good. I understand what's happening now. But, you didn't ask anything about what Aliviah got from her confrontation to Archon Adinatha?” Vezda again asked Ragnulf.

“No. From Aliviah's expression as well he doesn't look burdened and I'm pretty sure also that United has nothing to do with this.” Answer Ragnulf.

“I am also very confident that the Union and the Daimon Alliance have nothing to do with this considering that one member of the Daimon Alliance was also killed in a more sadistic way by a controlling figure the new species.” Vezda.

Vezda again messed with what had just happened, but at least it covered some of the holes that were still empty about it. Apart from that Vezda also can not blame anyone or suspect anyone. Adinatha and Daimon certainly had no connection whatsoever with the new species monster. Archon Nero was a victim in this incident. On the other hand, Vezda had to abandon his intention to discuss this because soon the Alliance would most likely make an expedition back to a much deeper floor.

“It's good we don't think about this first. It is likely that in the near future we will also have to make another expedition.” Vezda to Ragnulf.

****