Extra: Ghost Mist Dungeon II

Although her voice was very soft, Galan could hear it clearly.

"Of course we're just friends, Lia, don't get the wrong idea!"

Hmm:

Despite her attempts to explain herself, Lia still looked at her with suspicion, seemingly not quite believing her.

It's all Clinton's fault! If you're curious, just say so! You came to apologize in the first place, but what are you doing here now, coming to poop?

Now things are really complicated. Not only is the relationship between him and Serie unclear, but even Lia is starting to believe that there's something indescribable between them.

"Everyone, assemble! Let's go!"

Just as he was racking his brains trying to figure out how to resolve the issue between the two, a loud voice amplified by magic resounded throughout the area. It was clearly the association's leader informing them that their break time was over.

"Galan, I'm going first. Don't fall behind."

Having become completely convinced of his own ideas, Clinton held Serie's "rumored boyfriend" in utter awe.

What extraordinary abilities does he possess to win that person's heart?

A love story between a human and Elf... it's truly a legendary tale...

On the way back, this usually composed man unusually showed excitement at having stumbled upon some juicy gossip, his eyes revealing no judgment about the possibility of the matter, only an affirmation of his own keen "insight."

"What's wrong with the captain? Didn't he just say he was going to help Pass wipe his butt? Why is he grinning like an idiot when he comes back?"

The girl wearing the purple magic hat noticed Clinton's unusual expression and was somewhat surprised.

In her memory, the captain was the epitome of a mature man. Many times, she would swoon over his calm profile when he was thinking, to the point of fantasizing about the future.

But the way she's behaving right now is exactly like a young, unmarried woman who's overheard some juicy gossip at the village entrance...

"Team leader?"

When Pass saw Clinton return, he rushed forward and asked nervously:

"Captain... I... have I been targeted by someone? Please don't let this affect everyone..."

"Hmph, so now you remember us? Weren't you so quick to talk your way out of it before?"

Clinton was somewhat annoyed when he saw Pass coming towards him.

I specifically told Galan not to do anything reckless before he came, and what happened?

They completely forgot about it the moment they turned their heads.

Looking back now, Pass is still standing here purely because Galan was magnanimous enough not to pursue the matter further.

Otherwise, based on that relationship alone, Lady Serie could easily slap him to death.

"You should be grateful you escaped with your life... The relationship between Galan and Serie isn't as simple as you think."

"Huh? What exactly is their relationship?"

"This... I can't tell you, otherwise something bad might happen to everyone."

Seeing the serious expression on Clinton's face, which didn't seem like he was lying, Pass and the girl who had overheard their conversation were somewhat surprised. "Such terrifying consequences... could they be...?"

As if they had clicked, the three of them stared at each other, speechless for a moment.

"Alright, what are you standing there for? Let's hurry up and move on, the rest of the group is already far ahead!"

Seeing that the two were struggling to process the massive amount of information, Clinton quickly reminded them and then led them to catch up.

I can't let Galan find out... Oh no, even though I didn't say it outright, I feel like I've been a bit too talkative...

He mentally slapped himself as he walked, wondering how he could have been so reckless.

Is it because this news is just too explosive?

After walking for about two hours, the group, led by their guide, stopped.

They stood there, gazing at the magnificent and imposing Palace ruins before them, their pupils wide with awe. Two stone pillars, covered in deep green plants, still stood there, the passage of time smoothing over the ancient inscriptions on the stone tablets, leaving only shallow dents that conveyed a heavy sense of vicissitude.

Sunlight slanted through the ruins, casting dappled patterns of light on the moss-covered stone slabs, seemingly telling the world a story.

In the distance, a crow perched on a broken rock, tilting its head, its dark eyes rolling slickly as it coldly watched the group of uninvited guests.

Although everyone present was an elite who had seen great things, the Dungeon ruins before them still gave them a unique sense of awe.

Just looking at it like this, it feels as if you can be there in that ancient era and have a dialogue with that time.

Galan and Lia, who were at the back, had also arrived at this open space in front of the Dungeon ruins.

Along the way, Galan could clearly sense that Lia was somewhat downcast after hearing about the ambiguous things between him and Serie.

While he was pleased that she was starting to develop strong feelings for him, he was in big trouble if he was "jealous" because he suspected there was something between him and Serie.

To avoid any misunderstanding, he had to give a perfect explanation and spent the entire journey convincing Lia that, including this Dungeon raid, he was simply working for Serie. They were really just ordinary friends, or at most, a business relationship.

"Well, I do believe Galan... But why are you so concerned about this and keep explaining it to me?"

Good heavens... wasn't all of this to avoid you misunderstanding?

"You've arrived."

Not far away, Clinton, squeezed in the crowd, saw Galan, who was talking to Lia, push through the crowd and walk over.

"Is this the Ghost Mist Dungeon? I don't see any mist at all."

Seeing that someone had managed to give him a talking point and get rid of him Galan felt a sense of relief. "The fog is in the Dungeon...:... Young man, you can't afford to be so careless with your information."

"I heard from the association that only one person from the first team to go in for reconnaissance came back alive... The rest either went missing or died at the hands of the traps in the Dungeon..."

3

"You should know that because this Dungeon is exceptionally large, the advance team sent by the association consisted entirely of elite adventurers as a precaution."

"Even so, this is still the result we got in the end... That's why the association took this operation so seriously; no one could predict the dangers involved."

Even elite adventurers could perish here at any moment.