The hexagonal chamber of Floor Thirty-Nine remained as it was before—broken pillars and rubbles all over. The fight against the Moonless was still evidently there. The airs of cold and heat breezed against the three in a loop—a closed circulation of this particular floor.

  Arlene held her guard. Her hand never left the pommel of her sword. The Moonless was gone, but the site was still there. An unusual sight given how this dungeon continued to hide its damages. Perhaps this floor was different, or the destruction was too much just to be repaired or healed in two days.

  Anire seemed to be very stoked. She spread her arms out to feel the coming winds blowing against her. Her face was full of relief. Wattyson was monotone and lethargic as usual.

  Arlene glanced to Anire and was going to ask her to use her mana’s vision once more, but decided not to. If there was something interesting, Anire would’ve begun excitedly telling them already. Her current action looked like someone excited to come across cooling winds.

  Though unrelated to all of this, she was uncomfortable. There were times in the previous dive where she would hear something that other couldn’t hear. Now in this dive, she didn’t come across any of those. It irked her.

  Continuing down the route to the giant door at the end of the chamber, she paused and lingered.

  Anire stopped beside her and looked in the same direction Arlene was, though she didn’t speak up.

  Wattyson came soon after, noticing the gaze in Arlene’s eyes. “What?”

  “Nothing,” she quickly replied. “I’m just, it’s only been two days when we fought… that.”

  “The Moonless?” Anire asked.

  “Yeah.” She looked to Wattyson. “Do you think the adventurers notice anything?”

  Wattyson shrugged. “I don’t think so.” He inclined his head to the most destroyed stones of this chamber. “I’m pretty sure the entire corpse burned to a crisp.”

  The answer got Anire to puff out her cheek in pouting protest.

  “Though,” he added. “I don’t know why there are people there.”

  “People?” Arlene questioned and turned to find there were indeed people standing near the pillar with a clean hole—where the Moonless fired off its moth-like stream into. It was a group of two.

  “Shall we go there?” She asked the two. Before they could even answer back, she was already moving. Asking was just the courtesy right now for her.

  She strode to the two strangers, one hand waving while another steadied on her hilt. “Hey!” She called over. “You guys okay?”

  “Y-yeah!” One of them answered back immediately while the other looked to be hesitant to speak at all. They were both males in leathery armor with steel plating covering their vitals. Sword of steel and axe of sharpened monster bone were their weaponries. The hesitant one was leaning against the wall, and he kept scratching his arms and face. Small gestures, but consistent.

  “He’s okay?” She pointed to the scratching person.

  “He’s fine!” The other answered almost on reflex. “You’re… the Chosen One!” He said noticing the insignia on Arlene’s armor.

  “I am.” She nodded. “Don’t mind that. What are your names?”

  “I’m Werner,” he then jerked a hand to the scratcher, “that’s Timothy.”

  Timothy inclined his head shakily.

  Arlene didn’t drop her guard, as she glanced halfway to her party arriving. “Werner,” she addressed the one before her. “You should have some potions of healing. Just think of it as free gifts.”

  “Potions of healing? That would be great!” Werner quickly brightened up, but then settled back to caution. “Why though? We’re—“

  “You guys look like you need it. Maybe it’ll help your friend stop scratching himself.”

  Werner opened his mouth to retort, but quickly shut. “Alright, if you say so.” He turned to Timothy. “Hear that? Free potion!”

  Timothy still didn’t answer back, but only nodded in response.

  Anire arrived and plopped down to open her rune-bag. “I’ll only give you one each.” She said eyeing them both with her vision activated. “That’s fine, right Arlene~?”

  “Yeah, one each is fine.” Arlene agreed, crossing her arms. “That’s fine with you, right?”

  Werner nodded as he crouched in front of Anire. “That’s fine! Honestly! Free anything is great already. Thank you… Uhh?”

  “Anire—Senior Explorer of the Explorer’s Guild~.” The neko said cheerfully with a grin.

  “Right. Thank you.”

  “Hmm. Answer me this! What flavor do you like?”

  “Flavor?”

  “Mm. Strawberry? Blueberry? Apple?” She jerked her chin back to the coming man in white robe. “He likes strawberry.”

  Wattyson arrived with a bored expression. “Don’t use me to advertise your product.”

  “He didn’t deny it!”

  “Uhh,” Werner hesitated as he stroked his own cheek. “Pears?”

  “Pears?! You’ll get Apple. What about your friend?”

  Werner sighed, like he knew arguing with Anire was pointless. “Apple.”

  “Two apple flavors it is.” She rummaged in her rune-bag and pulled out two vials. “Here you go.”

  Arlene watched the exchange and to Timothy who was still scratching. Why was he doing that? This Floor’s circulation and ventilation were fine as it was. Though admittedly, it felt more normal than the sauna feeling last time. It just registered on her mind.

  “Werner.” She asked that one instead, as Timothy weren’t likely going to respond. “Does this floor feel humid or hot to you?”

  Werner stood up with vials in hand. He made a confused face. “What do you mean? Feel fines to me. Like a good weather day up on the surface.” He strode to Timothy, handing him the vial. “Drink up, buddy.”

  Timothy took the vial and stared at it suspiciously.

  “Well,” Arlene continued, “I thought if it felt like that—it would explain your friend’s condition. So it’s not dungeon-related?”

  Werner shook his head. “No. I don’t think so. I honestly don’t know too.”

  Arlene raised her eyebrow, but before she could ask. Wattyson was the one who did.

  “What do you mean you don’t know?”

  His question caught Arlene off-guard. Socialization was usually left to Arlene, and now he spoke up. Why? Arlene took a small step back to get a better view between the two strangers and Wattyson.

  “Well,” Werner said trailing off, “I’ve only been with the guy for a few quests here. I needed a partner for some quests at the adventurer’s guild and so did Timothy. We just started from there.”

  “And this is your first dive?”

  “For this dungeon? Yeah.” Werner turned to Timothy. “Come on, boy-yo. Drink up. It’s not going to kill you.” He gestured to the party of three. “That’s the Chosen One’s. They’re not going to poison you or anything.”

  “I doubt healing potion would cure itchiness.” Wattyson remarked. “Can you tell us Timothy’s condition? If he told you at all?”

  Werner didn’t answer right away. He put his attention on Timothy, helped him to take off the cap of the vial. “There you go. Here. It already smelt of apple pie.” Werner joked, chuckling to himself.

  Timothy seeing how Werner encouraged him decided to drink up, downed the whole vial down, then went right back to scratching.

  “Right,” Werner muttered. “It’s not like the effect will come immediately. Or at all.”

  He finally shifted to Wattyson. “Honestly… I think telling you would be violating his trust in me.” He gulped. “But… I don’t think it’s that big.”

  Arlene interjected. “It may not be big, but it’s big to him. You sure?”

  Werner bit his lip. He looked to Timothy once more. “Can I?”

  Timothy shook, then nodded. It was hard to make out. Werner narrowed his eyes, trying to understand, then turned to Wattyson.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you three. He’s been scratching more and more since we’ve met. I don’t think it’s healthy.”

  Arlene nodded as she stepped closer, and a hand to signal Anire to just listen rather than probe with her mana’s vision. However, Arlene felt something was off. This was going too smoothly. Werner felt cooperative which is good, but too cooperative. Even more so, the armor they wore were inadequate to the danger this dungeon would present this far down. Then again, Naciv and Rinea wore more or less the same type of armor so maybe she was the one out of date here. Nonetheless, she held off her thought for now.

  Werner folded his hands into his pockets. “He’s been scratching, saying the weather is wrong for him.”

  “The weather?” Anire repeated.

  “Yeah. Like-Like when you get sick after a change of season.”

  “I don’t think I ever heard of such condition.”

  “Well,” Werner shrugged stiffly, “this world’s a very big place.”

  ‘This world’s a very big place’. That came out strangely to Arlene. This world. Wouldn’t people usually say the world rather than that? She glimpsed to Wattyson whose expression told her he had the same thought.

  “Any rash then?” Anire asked as she stood up. “If you scratch a lot, you likely have a rash no? Let me have a look. Maybe I can get something to smooth it off.”

  “No rash.” Werner threw his hand out, then point to where Timothy was scratching. “See? His arm looks as pale as snow. You would see more of red.”

  To Werner’s comment, Timothy finally nodded as if he was finally joining the conversation.

  “Is he new to this part of the world? In Toulasi?” Wattyson asked.

  “He’s,” Werner immediately paused. His mouth hung open and his pupil darted over to Wattyson—studying him further. “He’s,” he said again more hesitantly, “is a Toulasi citizen.”

  “So this is a common occurrence?” Wattyson followed up. “Timothy, does it get worse like this? How long does this scratching phenomenon usually go for?”

  Werner raced to answer. “He’s—“

  “Let the man talk,” Wattyson raised a hand. “It’s his body.”

  Arlene stepped closer to Wattyson. “What are you doing?” She whispered. “This is not an interrogation, you know!”

  “I’m thinking about something.” He murmured back.

  “Thinking doesn’t involve antagonizing someone. Tone it down will you?”

  Before Wattyson could respond, a raspy voice caught their attention.

  “It’s okay, Werner. I’ll… I’ll answer.”

  Timothy leaned a tad closer to the group. “I-yes. This is common. It usually goes away after a few weeks.”

  “A few weeks?” Wattyson raised his voice with hint of surprise and concern. “Have you got it check out? How long has this been going?”

  “I haven’t. Money’s been tight.” Timothy admitted sheepishly. “I had this since I was…” He trailed off.

  “Can’t remember?”

  “No, no. I just… I have it since I was a teenager.”

  “Right. Teenager. Ripe ages for acute condition like yours.”

  Arlene spoke up. “Is that why you’re an adventurer? You’re looking to make some money for it?”

  “I...” He trailed off again.

  “Yes.” Werner answered in Timothy’s stead. He stepped back after. “At least that’s what he told me. He said works in like bakery or something wouldn’t keep him or try him.”

  Timothy nodded to Werner’s answer. It looked like the two were acquainted enough to trust each other. That much was clear, but their answers came across too vague and unsure despite their willingness to cooperate. Desperation, or did they spend too long in the dungeon and slowly fray their mind?

  “Why did you come here?” Arlene questioned. “This dungeon? Only the two of you?”

  “Y-Yes!” Werner responded quickly. “Me and Timothy came here I would say… a few hours ago? We haven’t found anything yet. We’ve just been here. That’s all.”

  “Been here?” Anire echoed. “Not further down the floor?”

  “Further down?” Werner repeated slowly. “No,” he shook his head. “We’ve just been wandering here. Around this part for a while now.”

  A while now and wandering. Then this wasn’t just a stop to rest. They chose to linger here.

  “Why here?” Arlene continued. “I don’t think you’ll encounter any dungeonsters—“

  “Monsters that spawn in dungeon,” Anire quickly supplied.

  “—that spawned here. There weren’t any at all in the previous floors. If your concern is money, you wouldn’t find them here.”

  Werner opened his mouth to answer, but the voice was Timothy instead. “We did, but then we just kinda wander around. This floor seems much more spacious and different to the previous floors.”

  “Y-yeah!” Werner crossed his arms. “You never know right? There might be treasures or something hidden among those rubbles.”

  “Those rubbles?” Arlene asked, fully aware of why they were there.

  “Yeah. I think it’s the dungeon’s trick to hide valuable.”

  If those two were adventurers, then they would’ve heard what happened on Floor Thirty-Nine through Rinea and Naciv’s accounts. It had been two days since then!

  Not to mention the party size’s requirement. Despite what Hecruz said back on the surface, the limit was still five at minimum most likely, yet here there were only two. They didn’t seem distress about losing three of their party members if they even existed.

  “I don’t think they hide treasures,” Arlene said looking over the rubbles behind her. “I mean, take a look at the floor, and those rubbles? Not much depth to hide treasure, right?”

  Werner shrugged as he looked away. “Well, you never know right? Dungeon can be deceptive at time.”

  “Are they that deceptive though?” Anire whispered with doubt to Arlene, but Arlene side-eyed her to keep it to herself for now.

  “Alright,” Arlene breathed out. “You two should head back to the surface.”

  “But!” Werner tried to protest, but he was quickly shut by something Arlene brought out her leather satchel.

  “Here. A bag of coins should be enough for a week for two people. Enough compensation for me telling you to resurface, right? Go do other quests. I don’t think you should do dungeon dive, at least not yet.”

  Werner quickly retorted. “We’re capable enough! It’s fine! I don’t think you should pity us just because you’re the Chosen One.”

  Arlene shook her head. “I’m not. Look at you two. You don’t even know the latest information about the dungeon and just wandering around on this floor. What have you accomplished? Do you want to waste time and go home with nothing or leave now with something?”

  Werner didn’t object. He took a good look at the bag of coins and to Timothy. His shoulders slumped. “Alright,” He leaned to take the coins. “I’ll… listen to your good judgment.”

  He held Timothy’s forearm. “Come on. Let’s… resurface.” His tone was mixed of dejection and wounded pride. Timothy just nodded and looked to Arlene, to Wattyson and Anire. There was something in his eyes. The look that said the three of them were inconveniencing them. Werner quickly nudged him forward to his side.

  “Let’s go.” He said again as both of them walked now, trekking through the rubbles to the stairways going back up to Floor Thirty-Eight, to the surface.

  Arlene watched them go and soon after out of their earshots, raised a question. “You know; I think they’re the most suspicious people I’ve seen since the destruction of the Citadel.”

  She glanced to Wattyson whose face was full of contemplation. He probably knew something. She looked to Anire instead. “Well?”

  Anire tilted her head, whistling with a grin. “Well?”

  “I know you’ve been scanning them with those eyes of yours. Did you find anything?”

  “Arlene~, you make it sounds like I do that to everyone.”

  Arlene smirked. “Oh? Am I wrong though?”

  Anire giggled. “Oh well. Yeah, I’ve been looking at them. Their mana flows are fine mostly.”

  “Mostly? That doesn’t sound good.”

  Anire nodded as she stepped closer to whisper in a conspiracy manner despite only the three of them were here. “That scratching fellow? Timothy? All those places he scratches were interesting.”

  She mimed, scratching her own both forearms, then her left cheek and behind the neck.

  “It’s very interesting, he never scratches anywhere else besides those spots”

  Arlene placed a palm to her cheek. “Isn’t that because they’re his usual itchy spots?”

  “Then there would be rashes wouldn’t there?” Anire grinned in a knowing manner. “His mana was like spewing out.”

  She took a step back and stretched her arms and legs out. “Imagine my body as a board right? All people have mana flows going around them like nervous system too.” She hopped and pulled her limbs back. “His was spewing out like a faulty hole in a pipe.”

  Arlene nodded. “I’m aware of the physiology of mana in our body, but do you know why that’s the case?”

  “Unfortunately,” Anire shrugged and put her two hands up, “I do not. I need to touch to diagnose. I don’t think they would let me even if you ask them to, Arlene~.”

  She eyed to Wattyson who was just being himself. “Though I suspect Wattyson know what’s up with them. He has that knowing look after all. I mean,” she strode closer, “I never thought you’re one to speak up there and even expressed a mock concern.

  Wattyson sighed. “It’s not confirmed.”

  “Ohhhhh~ So you do know something!”

  Arlene turned to the weirdo in robe. “Is it something we should be concern of?”

  Wattyson raised his hand and wiggled them slightly. “Not sure. Could be a future problem if they kept going on the road they’re on.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Wattyson looked to her then to Anire. “Since you already told Anire about the supernatural, I guess I can tell you what I think.”

  The mention of supernatural beamed Anire up, enough for her to pull a notebook and a pencil. Arlene sidestepped to Anire’s side, just to keek into what she would write.

  “Arlene,” Wattyson called to her. “Do you remember what I’ve said about werewolf?”

  Arlene blinked. She didn’t expect to be called upon right away. “Yeah? How they are irritated by city life because of their heightened senses and they are prone to transform forcibly when they are too corrupted or stressed by those modern conveniences?”

  Anire eyed between those two like they were archives being opened. “So you did know more than Arlene, Wattyson. And when did you hear about this Arlene?”

  “On the way to Toulasi, so am I right, Watty?”

  Wattyson inclined his hand down to his side. “Yes, and remember that we fought a corrupted werewolf in this very floor right?”

  “Yes. We did.” She replied before immediately clicking it in her head. Those two said they were just wandering around this area for hours. Their reasons were to look for buried treasures. Their stories didn’t line up right. “You don’t mean?”

  “I don’t mean it,” Wattyson stressed. “This is just speculation. I think whatever they were doing here, and if they were indeed fanatics of Gaia. They were likely snooping around for clues or info about their corrupted kin.”

  Arlene quickly interjected. “But what about the story of the ‘Moonless’? Surely that would’ve been enough.”

  “A story is just that. A story and only work on people who don’t know any better. These supernatural know better hence they came checking just in case.”

  Arlene narrowed her eyes. “And those scratching by Timothy?”

  “Likely coping mechanism before that one lost its mind,” Wattyson said as he walked toward the pillar, leaning on it. “That’s why I said it could be a future problem. If that Timothy kept being here, and with the unusual condition of the dungeon like you two said is true—“

  “It is true,” Anire chimed in. “We just don’t know what kind of unusual it is.”

  “Then,” Wattyson continued, “we would’ve to fight another corrupted werewolf in the near future and then another ‘Challenger’ or ‘Moonless’ infested the dungeon.”

  He had a faint smile in the corner of his lip. “You just saved the people near this dungeon by being yourself. You stressed they need to return up with kindness and compromise rather than letting waddle here further.”

  Arlene didn’t answer and gazed to the floor instead. She didn’t expect Wattyson to compliment her in the middle of a lecture like talk. “Thanks,” she muttered.

  Anire raised her hand to Wattyson. “So those two were supernatural?” Her curiosity was flipped.

  “I don’t know, they could be.”

  “That’s not good data!”

  Wattyson shrugged before crossing his arms. “Why do you want to know?”

  “Because I can see mana flows! Wouldn’t it be helpful if I know what their system is like so I can differentiate them?”

  “That would be helpful wouldn’t it?”

  “Right?”

  “But I don’t know. I can’t just say,” he pointed vaguely behind Anire, “’Yes, that’s one of the supernatural’. This kind of thing need to be process accordingly and meticulously so we don’t just assume everyone is.”

  He added, “Beside, I can’t see their mana. How would that information help me?”

  Anire puffed her cheeks. “Fine~ Then next time you see one. Tell me! I want to take a good look at it!” She widened her eyes as if to mimic what she would do upon meeting one.

  “I make no guarantee.”

  “Good enough~.”

  “Also, don’t talk so openly about this topic just because we’re down here. At least talk more discreetly.”

  Anire’s ear nodded. “Okay, Wattyson~.”

  Arlene stepped to lean beside Wattyson. “Let’s rest here for a bit then. I didn’t expect to find a possible supernatural down here after… that Moonless.”

  “Will we follow those two after we clear this dungeon?”

  “No,” both of them said.

  “Unless they pose a threat.” Arlene clarified. “Come on. Get your head out of that supernatural space. We still have an unusual dungeon to clear.”