The Adventurer's Guild had never been this crowded before.
Usually the hall was loud—adventurers arguing over contracts, boasting about monster kills, or gambling away their last copper coins while the bartender pretended not to notice.
But today the noise had a different edge.
Excitement.
Curiosity.
A little bit of fear.
Nearly every adventurer in Briar's Hollow had gathered inside the large wooden hall.
The quest board was packed with people.
Tables were full.
Even the staircase balcony above the main room had adventurers leaning over the railing to listen.
At the center of the hall stood the royal messenger.
The man wore polished silver armor stamped with the crest of the kingdom—an eagle clutching a sword in its talons.
A crimson cloak hung from his shoulders, dusted with dirt from long travel.
The man had clearly ridden hard to reach the town.
His boots were still muddy.
And the expression on his face said the news he carried wasn't exactly cheerful.
Mira stood beside him behind the reception desk, her glasses catching the lantern light.
She tapped the desk once.
The sound echoed through the guild hall.
"Everyone quiet down."
Gradually the room settled.
The messenger stepped forward and unrolled a long scroll.
The parchment snapped open with a crisp sound.
His voice carried across the room.
"Adventurers of Briar's Hollow."
"You are hereby addressed on behalf of the Royal Council of Luminar."
The adventurers straightened slightly.
Even the drunk dwarf in the corner stopped mid-swig.
The messenger continued.
"Three days ago, royal scouts reported a sudden surge of dungeon activity near the northern border."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"Dungeon activity?"
"That's bad."
"How many?"
The messenger raised a hand for silence.
"Our scouts have confirmed the appearance of multiple dungeon entrances in the northern wilderness."
That got everyone's attention.
Multiple dungeons appearing at the same time was extremely rare.
Normally a dungeon appeared once every few years.
Sometimes decades.
But several appearing simultaneously?
That was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The messenger's voice grew heavier.
"These dungeons have begun spawning monsters at an accelerated rate."
"Several nearby villages have already reported monster sightings."
"The creatures are migrating south."
Someone near the back muttered,
"Toward us."
The messenger nodded.
"Exactly."
"If the situation is not contained, the monsters could reach populated areas within weeks."
The room fell quiet.
Adventurers were used to danger.
But an uncontrolled dungeon outbreak meant something much worse than ordinary monster hunting.
It meant waves of creatures.
Endless waves.
Enough to overwhelm entire towns if left unchecked.
The messenger rolled up part of the scroll.
"The crown is therefore issuing an official request for adventurer assistance."
He paused for emphasis.
"Any guild members willing to travel north and assist in clearing these dungeons will receive royal compensation."
A ripple of interest passed through the room.
The messenger continued.
"Rewards include the following."
He raised three fingers.
"First—gold coin payment for every dungeon cleared."
Now the murmurs became excited.
Gold coins were a serious reward.
A single gold coin was worth dozens of silvers.
More than enough to change an adventurer's fortunes overnight.
The messenger lifted a second finger.
"Second—royal recognition."
Some adventurers scoffed.
Others nodded.
Recognition meant reputation.
Reputation meant better jobs.
Better jobs meant more money.
The messenger lifted a third finger.
"Third—adventurers will retain rights to any rare dungeon loot recovered during the operation."
That one caused an explosion of whispers.
Rare dungeon loot could include enchanted weapons.
Magic armor.
Artifacts.
Items that could make an adventurer rich or powerful.
The room buzzed with excitement.
One burly warrior leaned toward his companion.
"Gold coins AND dungeon loot?"
"Sign me up."
Another adventurer frowned.
"Multiple dungeons though… that's dangerous."
"Yeah but the payout…"
The messenger raised his voice again.
"Guild master Mira will organize volunteer parties shortly."
"We ask that all willing adventurers step forward."
The room erupted into chatter.
Groups formed instantly.
Some adventurers discussed strategy.
Others debated which dungeons would be the most profitable.
At the back of the room, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, Ryuji Kuroda watched everything with a slow grin.
"Man."
"Dungeon outbreak."
He cracked his knuckles.
"Sounds like a good time."
Beside him Lumi floated lazily in mid-air.
Of course no one else could see her.
"You realize that's a potential disaster," she said.
"Yeah."
"And you're smiling."
"Yep."
"You're impossible."
Ryuji shrugged.
"More monsters means more experience."
Lumi sighed.
"You really do treat this like a game."
"Hey."
He gestured toward the room.
"Look around."
"Everyone here is thinking the same thing."
She glanced at the adventurers eagerly discussing rewards.
"…Fair point."
Ryuji pushed off the pillar and walked toward the front of the room.
Mira noticed him immediately.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Of course he was going to volunteer.
She'd been expecting it.
The royal messenger finished his speech and stepped aside.
Mira cleared her throat.
"All volunteers step forward."
Dozens of adventurers moved.
Some cautiously.
Some eagerly.
Within seconds a line formed in front of the desk.
Ryuji stepped into it.
Several adventurers glanced at him.
Whispers followed immediately.
"That's the guy."
"The one who beat the Black Vipers."
"I heard he cleared a goblin nest alone."
"Yeah right."
"He's only F-rank."
The whispers grew louder.
One tall adventurer with a spear turned around to face him.
The man smirked.
"You lost?"
Ryuji blinked.
"…What?"
"This line's for experienced adventurers."
"Yep."
"You're F-rank."
"Yep."
"So what are you doing here?"
Ryuji shrugged.
"Volunteering."
The man laughed.
Several others joined him.
"Kid, this isn't some tavern fight."
"These are real dungeons."
Ryuji scratched his cheek.
"Pretty sure goblins were real too."
The spear wielder rolled his eyes.
"You got lucky once."
"Sure."
"You should stick to killing rats or something."
Ryuji grinned.
"Rats don't give good experience."
That got a few confused looks.
The spear wielder snorted.
"Come on."
"Leave the serious jobs to people who know what they're doing."
Behind the desk, Mira finally spoke.
"Enough."
Her voice cut through the conversation.
The room quieted.
She looked directly at the spear wielder.
"Step aside."
The man frowned.
"But—"
"That wasn't a suggestion."
He muttered something under his breath and stepped away.
Mira adjusted her glasses.
Then she looked at Ryuji.
"You're volunteering."
"Yep."
"For the northern expedition."
"Yep."
She studied him for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"Accepted."
The spear wielder nearly choked.
"WHAT?"
Several adventurers turned toward the desk in surprise.
Mira continued calmly.
"Ryuji Kuroda has already demonstrated combat ability above his rank."
She opened the guild ledger.
The pages flipped quickly under her fingers.
"Solo goblin nest clear."
"Mugger suppression."
"Black Viper gang confrontation."
The room murmured again.
The spear wielder frowned.
"That doesn't prove anything."
Mira looked up.
"It proves he survives."
Then she wrote something in the ledger.
"Ryuji Kuroda will be assigned to a northern expedition team."
She closed the book.
"Next volunteer."
The spear wielder stared in disbelief.
"…You're kidding."
Ryuji grinned at him.
"Guess I'm going north."
The man shook his head.
"You'll get yourself killed."
Ryuji shrugged.
"Probably."
He stepped away from the desk.
Lumi floated beside him.
"Well that was dramatic."
Ryuji chuckled.
"People really underestimate me."
"That tends to happen when you look like a street thug."
"Hey."
"I am a street thug."
She rolled her eyes.
"Technically."
Mira called out again.
"Expedition teams will depart tomorrow morning."
"Prepare supplies tonight."
"Anyone participating should report at sunrise."
The adventurers began organizing.
Some rushed to gather gear.
Others argued about team formations.
The spear wielder glared at Ryuji one last time before walking away.
Ryuji stretched his arms.
"Alright."
"Guess we're going on a road trip."
Lumi floated upside-down again.
"You're way too excited."
He grinned.
"Multiple dungeons."
"New monsters."
"New loot."
"Sounds perfect."
She sighed.
"I swear if you punch another dungeon wall…"
"No promises."
Outside the guild hall, the sun was beginning to set.
The sky glowed orange across the rooftops of Briar's Hollow.
Adventurers hurried through the streets preparing for tomorrow's expedition.
Some sharpened swords.
Others bought supplies.
Rumors spread quickly.
A dungeon outbreak.
Gold rewards.
Royal recognition.
By nightfall the entire town knew.
Meanwhile Ryuji stood near the guild entrance watching the excitement with a satisfied smile.
Tomorrow he would leave Briar's Hollow.
Head north.
Toward new dungeons.
New monsters.
And a lot of experience.
He cracked his knuckles.
"Finally."
Behind him, the guild began forming the expedition party that would soon head toward the northern frontier.