Random Skills: Exploring Dungeons - Chapter 8
Chapter 8: Return
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Kane was bathed in the golden light that passed through the leaves of the giant tree. Having recovered his strength, he began to rush to the tree hole where he had rested the day before.
He went to the tree hole, tidied up what was left, and packed the trash away.
Kane took a deep breath and uttered, “Return.”
The air was suddenly filled with a thick white mist that wrapped itself around Kane. When it cleared, he was gone.
…
When Kane opened his eyes a second time, he was back where he had fallen into the dungeon, but the surroundings were not like that of the previous day.
The surrounding stone walls had been polished flat, and the irregular circular cavern had been transformed into a square hall.
The wall lights at the top and on the wall gave off a white flame that glowed softly and brightly.
Even the place where Kane stood had become a round, heavy stone disc, carved with open doors surrounded by mist. There was an open eye in the door.
Another time travel? That was the question in Kane’s brain when he saw his surroundings.
A movement at the entrance of the cave pulled his thoughts back.
Three men came straight at Kane from the entrance of the cave, no, from the hall.
The old man in the middle was dressed in a white robe. He had white hair and white eyebrows. Most striking of all was his beard that fell to his chest and was woven into three long braids of equal length. A huge vine-wrapped wooden staff floated beside his hand. At the top of the staff was a large blue gem.
On the left was a tall, lean, good-looking man with long, gleaming blond hair that was neatly styled. He was dressed in a gorgeous hunting outfit, with a huge green long bow on his back and a sword at his waist. He looked elegant and noble.
The burly man on the right wore an opened animal skin tunic that revealed his chest. He had a fiery red porcupine head. A pair of huge double axes hung on both sides of his waist. He exuded a feral aura.
“Let me introduce myself. My name is Gordon Willister, the president of the Guild of Explorers in the border city state. They are my useless disciples.” The old man was the first to introduce himself and pointed to the two people beside him.
The tall, thin, handsome man stepped forward and politely placed his hand on his chest. “Muhan Bozo, leader of the Forest Sentinel expedition. Congratulations on clearing the level safely. If you’re willing, you can consider joining my team. You have extraordinary talent.”
When the big guy at the side heard this, he immediately stood up and said hurriedly, “My name is Radke Sage, the leader of the Hell Walk expedition team. My manly team is much better than the sissy group beside us. If you want, you can consider us.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Muhan gave him an elbow. Radke caught it and counterattacked, slashing at Muhan with one hand.
Just like that, the two of them started fighting.
Kane just stood there, stunned. He asked himself, Is it normal for them to be like this?
The three people in front of him seemed very polite. After he activated his Eagle Eye, two golden magic balls and a colorful magic ball appeared in front of him.
What are you talking about? Can you not act like there’s no one else around? I’m panicking now! Kane shouted in his heart.
The old man called Gordon turned away, his calm and serious expression finally breaking. He roared, “You two idiots, get out of here.” The tall staff floating beside him seemed to have received an order. It leaned over eagerly and struck the two men, who were already rolling on the ground.
The two people who were sent flying out of the hall no longer had any elegance or unruliness.
The stern Gordon turned around, and his face had reverted to its previously unflappable expression. What was puzzling was how such serious people could have two students with such ‘personality’.
“Ahem, very nice eyes. Make good use of them,” Gordon said admiringly to Kane.
“New Mist Warrior, let me introduce myself first.”
Hearing this, Kane quickly said, “President Gordon, hello. I’m Kane LaFleur, a hunter from Kara Town. Just call me Kane.”
“LaFleur?” Gordon murmured, hearing Kane’s name.
“Just had an adventure. Looks like you could really use a break to give you the energy. We will talk tomorrow if you have any questions. Now is the time to rest, isn’t it?”
With that, Gordon shouted out of the hall, “Nando, take this champion to his resting place.”
Then an ordinary middle-aged man walked in. His ordinary figure conveyed a sense of stability. He said politely to Kane, “Please come with me, Mr. Kane. I’ll take you to where you can rest.” Then he led the way.
Kane nodded to Nando and thanked him politely. Beside him, Gordon nodded to the leader to send Kane on his way.
When Kane left, Gordon stood on the stone platform and disappeared into the mist.
When they left the hall, they were greeted by the sight of a much changed environment. The cave had previously stood on a small hill, but now the slope leading to it had become a flight of steps.
The trees around the flat ground below had been cleared. Dozens of tents formed a semicircle around a pile of slatted wooden chests that were being disassembled.
The wooden chests were stacked, and a huge transparent gem hung in the air beside them. A few streamers of pale blue particles glowed and flowed slowly from the air into the huge gem.
Suddenly the gem erupted into a beam of light, and two uniformed men and a pile of goods appeared beneath it.
Seeing that Kane was staring blankly at the teleportation device, Nando, who was in front, introduced it. “This is a teleportation array that the Council studied and created 200 years ago. The general principle is to exchange spaces to achieve the purpose of rapid travel.”
“The Council is quite something, isn’t it? Such a marvelous creation.” After Nando’s introduction, Kane saw this power in a new light and was impressed.
Following Nando’s lead, they walked towards the camp below and soon stopped in front of a long tent. On the tent was a painted picture of a fork, indicating that this was a place to dine.
“This is the camp’s temporary dining area. Follow me, Mr. Kane.” Then he lifted the curtain and gestured to Kane.
Inside, the long space held groups of tables and chairs. It felt like returning to his former student cafeteria. Or rather, this was the staff cafeteria, because there were already scattered council workers eating inside.
After finding a seat for Kane, Nando left and returned shortly with a tray.
Kane looked at the food on his plate. How to describe it? It was much better than he had expected. A small plate of white bread, a bowl of thick soup, and a mixed stew with meat and vegetables. Just the appearance of it was appetizing. From the fragrance it seemed to use a lot of seasoning.
As if reading Kane’s confusion, Nando sat across from him and said,
“There’s no need to wonder. Food like this isn’t unusual out there. It’s just that the border is developing a little worse than the area farther in. Trust Mr. Kane would get out of the border soon. You’re a Mist Warrior, after all.”
At this, Kane wondered, “Are Mist Warriors rare?”
“Every Mist Warrior will make something of himself in the future,” Nando affirmed.
At this answer, Kane stopped talking and ate in silence.
Nando took Kane through the camp again after the meal and took him around a row of small tents. He pointed to one of them and said to Kane,
“Mr. Kane can rest here for the night. We just built an outpost here, so it’s relatively simple. I hope you don’t mind.”
Then something else occurred to him and he said,
“If you need any help, come to me at the temporary office in the middle of the camp. I am at your service. May the mists bless you.”
After saying goodbye to Nando, Kane ducked into the tent.
He looked at the tent with its single bed and didn’t mind. He lay down heavily on the bed and placed the weapon beside him.
He closed his eyes and rested. Soon he started snoring softly.
The days in the dungeon had made Kane very tense. The past few days had been exhausting.
