Chapter 1 — Ingression

Chapter 1 — Ingression

 

It was a hot summer morning in the northen part of the Karada Continent. There was a town called Atama which is known for it's wide garden of Arum flowers. These flowers were special as it drives off monsters and due to that the town of Atama is usually crowded with travelers and immigrants. However, Arum flowers are not the only thing that this town is famous for, it also houses one of the 13 pillar clans of the Karada Continent, the Zehel Clan.

 

 

A traditional mansion standing a top a mountain is the House of Zehel, which houses the main clan and the 3 sects under it. Surrounded by lushness of the wild forest, a group of youths are treading their way somewhere far too important than their afternoon tea break. Wearing a ceremonial Chinese clothes, four of the youths cary an aura of confidence and creulness while the other one can be seen as a sore thumb, with a bandage covering the left side of his face, this one can be easily misunderstood as a peasant instead of a young noble of the House of Zehel.

 

 

“Tada!!! We're here—the dungeon which has never been cleared at all!”

 

 

Shindou, the 3rd son of the family, announced with a waved by his sapphire sword.

 

 

“Whoa! Sweet dungeon, were gonna raid it until we see the last floor—huh?”

 

 

“What's wrong, Sadou?”

 

 

Shika, the 2nd son, queried to Sadou who's currently in a shock why his skill [Analyze] won't work on the dungeon.

 

 

“Eh, eto... I can't see the number of floors in this dungeon!”

 

 

“No way! Aren't your [Analyze] skill the highest of us all?”

 

 

“I'm not lying! Even the description of this dungeon is in question marks.”

 

 

“Could it be that this is a high ranked dungeon?”

 

 

Souta wondered as he tries to analyze the dungeon too but nothing comes out in the transparent pop-up screen before him. He closes it and turns his head on Sadou who clicked his tongue in remorse, his [Analyze] skill is level 44 which is able to detect ranked D-G dungeons.

 

 

“Souta's right, since we can't see the number of it's floor, that simply mean we found a high ranked dungeon.”

 

 

Souma, the first son of the family, reasoned out to the three as he readies his weapon. Ignoring the one behind them, they all made up their minds.

 

 

“Indeed! I'm excited for this, now let's stop idling here and clear this dungeon!”

 

 

Without thinking, the four awakened their powers and their bodies were surrounded by auras along with that, their hair color also changed. Meanwhile, Shuunin was scared and was hesitant to go inside. However, Souta saw this and as Shuunin was hesitating to go inside, he starts to punch the him.

 

 

“Cowering in fear, my slave? Did you forget your sin?! Haah?!”

 

 

“No, no, I'm sorry!”

 

 

As he continue to torture the latter, Souma called their attention.

 

 

“Quit it, Souta. We need Shuunin's help later on.”

 

 

Souma held out a hand for Shuunin and the latter took it. It may look like a heroic scene for others but Shuunin knew what Souma meant when he said 'help'. As per usual, Shuunin would be suffering burns and life threatening wounds from his step brothers, using him as a tanker and a shield as he usually excels at that part. It was the norm since his mother married the head of the Zehel clan and he can't even voice out his complaints about his brothers. His mother, the only person he loved dearly doesn't even sided him. This even sunken his spirit as he followed remorsefully the four in the dungeon. The main fighters were Souma, Sadou and Shika, who were using swords while Shindou may excel on mana concentration, instead of sword he he uses a staff. Meanwhile, Shuunin doesn't use swords as he was scared of killing others and not as good as Shindou when it comes to mana concentration however, he is pretty knowledgeable thanks to his eidetic memory. That, however doesn't amout to his skills and righteousness in terms of fighting, he'd be the first to die is a melee. Due to that, his stepbrothers looked down on him so he's being used as the collector of loots.

 

 

“What are you idling for? Move your butt shithead! ”

 

 

Aside from being a loot collector and a shield, Shuunin is their cat's paw. Dungeons were usually filled with traps, and Shuunin has a very exceptional eyes that can find traps and avoid them. The next 5 floors were easily cleared up by their group however, as they go each five floors, the monsters were getting harder and harder to kill. Souma, who was the best fighter almost lost his life is an acid slime and Shindou who is good at mana concentration cannot even kill a kobold much less injure it. Their group then moved to a safer place after Shuunin found a cave with Arum patches, he immediately told them. Then, Shindou started to heal the injured and for half an hour they started to clear the dungeon again. It was in level 18 of the dungeon when Shuunin felt that their life is really in danger. They were surrounded by vampire bats and the three main fighters were almost out of mana. Then again, seeing an Arum patch, Shuunin saved their lives by hiding inside a cave. As they five replenish their mana, Sou.a decided to change again their plan however, no one is listening to him, except for Shuunin who silently watch the three brothers bickers.

 

 

“Shika! I told you not to carelessly charge like an idiot! It's your fault I got a big wound in my chest! ”

 

 

“Who are you calling an idiot?! I killed the kobolds anyway. You should tell that to Sadou-niisama!”

 

 

“AHH?! I killed a lot of vampire bats, you know! Unlike you all, I was the one who was fighting honestly with Souma-niisama! ”

 

 

“Hey I did my best too!”

 

 

“So did I!”

 

 

“SHUT UP!”

 

 

Souma suddenly raised his voice which silenced the rest. The three apologized and lowered their heads, their brother is usually calm and graceful in manner. For him to be like this is very surprising so they all cowered before him. As they all calmed down, Souma started to survey everyones level. Shika is level 36, Sadou is level 47, Shindou is level 51, and Souma is level 69. Meanwhile, even though they don't care, Souma asked Shuunin's level anyways.

 

 

“And, what's your level, Shuunin?”

 

 

Shuunin was sweating a lot. He feared this question in his life because whenever someone asked him, they wouldn't believe him so much that they would have to use analyze to really believe his words.

 

 

“I-I'm level 111.”

 

 

“Eh, say that again? Did you say it's over 100? Or did you wrong say it?”

 

 

“N-No, my level is really 111.”

 

 

“You're lying! You fucking turd! I'll use analyze—”

 

 

A sudden silence in between Shika and Shuunin as the latter grabs Shuunin's neck. His mouth went hanging as the pop-up identification states that Zehel Shuunin is level 111 (76.4%) but when he saw Shuunin's weird stats, he started laughing.

 

“Wha—haha!! Gosh, brothers this guy has a great level but his attacks and defense are all lower than an intermediate ranked Junior High Student!”

 

“Eh, so that level 111 is just for show? How stupid.”

 

Calling Shuunin stupid was an irony because his Intelligence is above them all which is due to his Eidetic memory.

 

 

Zehel Shuunin

Level 111 (76.4%)

HP 120/420

MP 290/328

ATK 143

DEF 485

AGL 329

HIT 425

INT 2158

 

 

“Shika, sit down already. You're making Shuunin uncomfortable.”

 

 

Souma ordered and Shika staggered whilst sitting down the floor. Shuunin cleared his throat and avoided any eye contacts. A few hours later, hia watch ticks 7pm in the evening. He then mentions it to Souma who tells him to ignore it. They were now entering the 20th floor when they meet some extreme bloodshed. The floor was filled with carcasses of kobolds and ogres. They gulped audibly as they made their way deeply inside. After seeing the long tail of a certain lizard, Shuunin's went pale and his eyes dimmed. As he was in front leading his step brothers, they all looked at him amusely and snickered.

 

 

“What's wrong with you, Mamma's boy?

 

 

Sadou teases as he walked over him, unlike Shuunin who has an extra ordinary eyes, he couldn't see the monster up a head.

 

 

“Sa-Sadou-niisama, don't go there!”

 

 

“Ahh? Don't go ordering me around, fucker. You're just a son of a mistress. ”

 

 

“That's enough. Sadou, come back here. Now, calm down Shuunin. Tell us what's up ahead.”

 

 

“....on... It's.... It's a...”

 

 

Shuunin was scared of it. Only known in the books and internet pages, this monster is at the peak of the hierarchy of ancient monsters.

 

 

“Speak clearly already!”

 

 

Shika grabbed him again on the collar and he coughs.

 

 

“It's a dragon! A dragon!”

 

 

As he mention that the color of their face drained. Shika once again asked Shuunin and the latter could only cough as his grip tightened on his neck.

 

 

“There's no way a dragon would be in this dungeon. Shuunin, could it be you're toying with us?”

 

 

Souma glared at him. 

 

 

“How could I lie when you even put a curse on me?”

 

 

Shuunin reminded Souma and the latter could only nod. Now that the rest believed him, it was also the moment that thw dragon had woken up. An earful of roar passed the five like a strong hot wind which almost scald their skins, Shuunin and co screamed in horror. The dragon was awakened by their voices and now that they lost the chance to escape, the only route is to fight it. The sprinted and ordered Shuunin to find some Arum patch due to it's strong smell and power to drive away monsters. Just as when they were in panic, Shuunin remembered an item he packed in his bag. 

 

 

“I-It's here!”

 

 

The other four's eyes glimmered at the Teleporting Scroll. It was a rank F scroll which can teleport two person.

 

 

“Good job, Shuunin! You graduate from being our slave to a butler!”

 

 

“Give it to me already!”

 

 

“Ye-yes, here.”

 

 

As Shuunin gave two of the scroll, he suddenly felt his back scorching in hotness. It was the dragon's breath that almost reach them.

 

 

“Hurry! Teleport us to House of Zehel!”

 

 

Sadou and Shika was the first pair to teleport. When he was looking for another scroll, the dragon was already drawing near them. Without hesitation, Souma took the scroll on Shuunin's pocket and started chanting.

 

 

“Teleport us to House—”

 

 

“Wait, Souma-niisama! Shindou-niisama!”

 

 

Shuunin grabs the feet of the two and cried. In a haste to go to the dungeon, Shuunin must have miscounted the number of scrolls to pack since he can't find the other scroll. Now if the rest leave him, he's good as dead!

 

 

“Do-Don't leave me!”

 

 

“Ahh?! Don't touch me, peasant!”

 

 

Shindou shouted and kicked him away from his pants. Shuunin was persistent and stucked at the two like a lich so Shindou persistently kicked him. Seeing the dragon's figure, the three was again reminded of their grim situation. What happened next to Shuunin was out of his expectations. Souma sliced his arms and he screamed louder than the coming dragon. Shindou also screamed, he can't believed something as cruel would be done by his graceful and perfect brother.

 

 

“Hiii! So-Souma-niisama?!”

 

 

“Shut up! Teleport us to House of Zehel!”

 

 

Only the echoes of Souma's voice and Shuunin's screams were left on the dungeon. Along with the arrival of the dragon, Shuunin sees the end of his life. As he continues to scream, his mother's image came to him. He wondered if she would be alright if he suddenly died. A laugh then slips from his mouth. His mother wouldn't even help him when she sees him being tortured by his stepbrothers, so why would she even spare a thought about him. His father too, would be glad he's dead. After all, what the House of Zehel wants is a girl in the family as women of Zehel clan usually would mean the continuation of their bloodline. When his mother bore a boy, Shuunin was then seen as a curse of the clan. However, now that his mother is again pregnant, he was right away forsaken. His only last wish was to see his 'real' mother, her gentle smile before she got blinded by the head of Zehel clan.

 

 

“...mo..ther...”

 

 

Shuunin breathes his last breath and the dragon looks down at his corpse, sniffing on his body. The dragon open's it's mouth and swallowed his whole body. It's silhouette then vanishes on the 20th floor along with Shuunin's body, leaving only a puddle of blood and a sword.