She’s My Wife, So I’ll Protect Her However I Want

Chapter 05: The Dungeon First Floor

Next morning...

The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew-soaked grass. The town was still quiet, with only a few merchants setting up their stalls. The sky was painted in soft hues of orange and pink as the sun began its slow ascent.

Kael stood near the left gate, waiting. He had arrived early, just as agreed. Not that he particularly cared about being punctual—he just didn't have anything better to do.

Leaning against a wooden post, he adjusted the straps of the empty backpack they had given him yesterday.

A few minutes passed before the distant sound of chatter reached his ears. Turning his head, he saw Leon and his party approaching, each carrying an absurd amount of supplies.

Leon waved the moment he spotted Kael. "Yo! Morning, Kael!"

Mira stretched her arms with an exaggerated yawn. "Ugh… why did we have to meet so early?"

Arthur sighed, adjusting his glasses. "Because we're traveling, not sleeping in."

Elara smiled warmly. "Good morning, Kael. You're here early."

Kael gave a small nod. "I guess I am."

Leon grinned. "I was half expecting you to oversleep, honestly."

Kael blinked. "Why?"

Mira smirked. "Because that's what I would've done."

Arthur shook his head. "That doesn't apply to everyone, Mira."

"Still, it's impressive," Elara said. "You're even earlier than us."

Kael glanced at the heavy bags they were carrying. "You all seem… prepared."

Leon chuckled. "Yeah, about that." He reached behind him, grabbing a large sack before unceremoniously dumping it onto Kael's feet.

Kael looked down. Then back up. "What is this?"

Arthur cleared his throat. "Our supplies."

Mira grinned. "Your supplies."

Kael remained silent for a long moment before deadpanning, "This is heavier than my sword."

Elara let out a soft giggle. "Don't worry, we balanced the weight. You won't have to carry all of it."

Leon patted Kael's shoulder. "Think of it as strength training."

Kael sighed but hoisted the bag onto his shoulder without complaint.

Mira watched with an amused expression. "Huh. You didn't even argue. I like that."

Arthur adjusted his own bag. "We should get moving."

Leon nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go before Mira starts whining again."

"Hey!" Mira protested. "I don't whine!"

Arthur and Leon exchanged a glance.

Elara just smiled. "Let's have a safe trip, everyone."

With that, the group set off toward the dungeon, the morning sun rising behind them.

---

The entrance to the dungeon loomed before them—a massive stone archway adorned with intricate carvings. Ancient symbols twisted along its surface, their meanings lost to time. Despite its stillness, an eerie energy pulsed from within, whispering of the dangers that lay ahead.

Dungeons were mysterious structures, thought to be remnants of a long-forgotten civilization. Unlike caves or ruins, dungeons were alive in their own way—expanding, shifting, birthing monsters from their depths. Each floor was a world of its own, layered like a labyrinth, where danger and opportunity coexisted.

Leon led the group forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. As they approached, a knight clad in polished silver armor stood guard. His helmet obscured his face, but his presence alone was enough to deter the unworthy.

"Adventurer cards," the knight's deep voice echoed.

Without hesitation, each member pulled out their adventurer card—small, rectangular plates embedded with Magic, glowing faintly as they passed through the knight's inspection.

These cards were more than mere identification; they were proof of an adventurer's rank, achievements, and capabilities. Only those officially recognized by the guild could step foot inside a dungeon. Ordinary civilians were strictly forbidden, for within the depths of a dungeon, only strength and wit ensured survival.

The knight nodded. "You may enter."

The moment they crossed the threshold, a chill ran through the air. The world behind them faded, swallowed by the darkness of the dungeon. The stone walls, damp with moisture, glistened under the flickering torches mounted along the passage. Every step echoed, the sound swallowed quickly as if the dungeon itself was listening.

The deeper they went, the stronger the scent of moss and damp earth became. It was almost suffocating, a reminder that the world above was far behind them now.

Kael followed behind, carrying their supplies without a word. His footsteps were steady, his breathing calm. The weight on his back didn't slow him down; he was used to it.

Leon glanced back. "Alright, everyone. Stay alert."

Mira stretched her arms. "Obviously. Let's just hope we don't run into anything too annoying."

Arthur adjusted his glasses. "Annoying would be fine. I'd prefer if we didn't run into something that could kill us instantly."

Elara chuckled softly, her serene presence acting as a quiet reassurance.

Their first challenge arrived sooner than expected. From the shadows, several figures darted forward—small, hunched creatures with green skin and jagged weapons made of bone and rusted metal. Their yellow eyes gleamed with malice as they let out shrill screeches.

"Goblins," Arthur murmured, already analyzing their numbers.

Though weak individually, goblins thrived in numbers, overwhelming opponents through sheer persistence. But for an A-rank party, they were little more than pests.

Mira stepped forward, flicking her wrist. "Kael, step back. Leon, go ahead and warm up."

Leon smirked, drawing his sword with a sharp metallic hiss. "Consider this a warm-up, huh?"

One goblin lunged at him. Before it could even complete its swing, Leon's blade flashed—a clean, precise cut. The goblin split in two, its lifeless body hitting the ground.

Another screeched, trying to flank him. Leon twisted, sidestepping effortlessly before bringing his blade down in a smooth arc, cleaving the goblin's skull.

"Don't hog them all, Leon!" Mira complained, already gathering Magic in her hands.

"Blazing Arc!" she chanted, releasing a crescent-shaped flame. The fire carved through the air, slicing through two goblins at once. Their bodies were engulfed, turning to ash within seconds.

Arthur sighed. "Sloppy as always, Mira."

She shot him a glare. "Oh, shut up, bookworm!"

Elara merely smiled, watching their banter.

With a final swing of Leon's sword, the last goblin fell, silence returning to the dungeon.

"Easy." Leon sheathed his sword, barely breaking a sweat.

Kael, still holding the bags, watched in silence. His face was unreadable, as if he didn't care.

Mira wiped her forehead. "Okay, that was boring. Let's help Kael collect the magic stones."

Each goblin left behind a small, glowing stone—the core of their existence.

Magic stones were valuable materials, their worth depending on the monster they came from. Some contained pure magic, while others held elemental properties. Adventurers made a living by collecting and selling them to the guild.

Kael stepped forward, crouching as he picked up the stones. The goblins' stones were a dull blue—a common type, known as Azure Shardstones. These held minimal Magic.

However, rare magic stones existed—Emberstones from elemental creatures, Obsidian Corestones from shadow creatures, and even Moonstones from spectral beings. The stronger the monster, the rarer and more powerful the stone.

Kael gathered them without complaint, placing them carefully in the bag. He moved efficiently, as if he had done this a thousand times before.

Leon watched him for a moment before speaking. "Kael, you don't have to do everything alone."

Kael glanced up, his expression unreadable. "I don't mind."

Mira crossed her arms. "That's not the point."

Arthur sighed, kneeling down to help. "Just take the help. It's faster this way."

Elara nodded, also picking up a few stones. "We're a party, after all."

Kael didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stared at them for a moment before finally nodding.

"...Thanks."

It was a small moment, but in the depths of the dungeon, friendship was a treasure as rare as the stones they collected.

Leon stood, adjusting his sword. "Alright, let's move on."

With that, the group continued deeper into the dungeon, the darkness ahead swallowing them whole.

---

(Chapter Ended)