*"Dungeon Gate"*
"Let's meet again a day before the raid."
"I don't really want to go," Karaku said after a brief pause, "but I've got something important to take care of in Thornveld."
"…Alright. Then see you later."
"Yeah. Bye, Karaku."
As Karaku walked away, Arthur watched him for a moment.
"What do you think he needs to do in Thornveld?" Arthur asked.
Joseph shrugged. "Who knows."
"So… straight back to the hotel?" Joseph continued. "Or do you want to go somewhere else?"
"I don't feel like going anywhere today,"
"If you want to, you can go. I'm heading back to the hotel."
"Alright. I'll come back in the evening."
Arthur walked alone through the streets, casually looking around as he went.
That was when he noticed a small shop standing quietly by the roadside.
*Did this shop exist before?*
*I don't remember seeing it.*
When he pushed the door open, a bell above it rang softly.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
"…Hmm. I don't see anyone."
"Hel—"
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you," a voice replied.
"I was looking for something downstairs. What do you need?"
An old man stepped into view. He looked close to seventy, completely bald, with an appearance that made it feel like customers rarely came here.
Arthur hesitated.
"…Do you have a good sword?"
"There's a raid in a week," he added.
"And I don't think my current sword will last much longer."
"When I saw the sign outside, I thought maybe—"
"What's your name?"
"…Huh?"
"Your name," the old man repeated calmly.
"…Arthur. My name is Arthur."
The old man stared at him.
Not just at his face—
it felt as if he was looking straight through him.
"…One second."
"Sure."
The old man moved around the shop, muttering to himself.
"Hmm… where did I put it…"
"…Ah. Here."
He placed a sword on the counter.
"Go on. Unsheathe it."
Arthur drew the blade.
For a moment, he forgot to breathe.
"…Wow."
After a short pause, Arthur finally asked,
"How much?"
"One gold coin."
Arthur paid without hesitation.
Sword in hand, he left the shop.
He returned straight to the hotel, went up to his room, placed the sword on the table beside his bed—
and fell asleep.
---
"Hey, Arthur."
"…Hmm?"
"When did you get here, Joseph?"
"Just now."
Joseph's eyes moved to the sword.
"New sword?"
"Yeah. There's a shop a little ahead," Arthur said.
"I don't remember the name, but the owner was an old man."
"…An old man?"
"What?"
For just a moment, Joseph's eyes sharpened.
"…Nothing."
"What's the plan now?" Joseph asked.
"Nothing else today," Arthur replied.
"We'll start training tomorrow."
His voice grew slightly heavier.
"You saw Durk, right?"
"We should be careful around him."
"…Yeah," Joseph said. "I was thinking the same."
---
### Training Ground
Arthur held his sword in his hand.
Then a voice came from behind.
"Looks like I'm late."
Arthur turned and smiled.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine. What about you two?"
"We're good."
Karaku hesitated for a moment.
"…Mind if I join?"
"Sure," Joseph said.
"Did you finish your important work?"
Joseph's tone was casual, but his eyes stayed on Karaku.
"…Yeah."
Karaku looked down at the ground.
"Seems like all you've been doing since I left is training."
"The raid is tomorrow," Arthur replied.
"We need to be ready."
---
### Two Hours Later
All three were drenched in sweat.
Their breathing was heavy, muscles aching.
Arthur brought water and towels, handed them over, then drank some himself.
"Karaku, stay here tonight," Arthur said.
"We'll head out together tomorrow."
Karaku gave a faint smile.
"That's why I came straight here."
---
### Hotel – Room
Joseph went to the bathroom to freshen up.
Karaku's gaze fell on the sword resting on the table.
He didn't say anything.
Just lowered his voice slightly.
"…Hmm."
Like an old memory knocking quietly at the door.
---
### Before Dinner
The three of them sat on the bed.
The room was silent.
"So… what was that important work?" Joseph asked.
"And if you don't want to talk about it—"
"There's nothing to apologize for," Karaku interrupted.
He paused.
"I went to Thornveld… to get this sword."
Arthur and Joseph fell silent.
"That old man…"
Karaku's fingers slowly tightened.
"He was my saviour."
"This sword—he gave it to me."
"But I left it there."
Joseph's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I never wanted to use this sword for personal revenge."
A brief pause.
"But during the raid…
I felt this sword belonged there."
Silence spread through the room.
The sword lay quietly on the table—
as if listening.
Then—
*Knock. Knock.*
All three stood up without a word and headed for the door.
Joseph opened it, and they went downstairs for dinner.
After eating, they talked for a while.
"Arthur… Karaku, sleep on my bed with me,"
Joseph said.
"I move around too much in my sleep."
Arthur chuckled.
"…Joseph."
Joseph laughed, and soon all three went to sleep.
---
In the middle of the night, a strange sound woke Arthur.
He slowly turned toward Karaku.
Karaku wasn't just restless—
his entire body was soaked in sweat.
Arthur's heart began to race.
He leaned closer and whispered,
"Karaku… are you okay?"
Karaku's eyes opened.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he took a deep breath.
"…Just a nightmare."
Arthur understood.
Karaku's past still followed him—
like a shadow that never truly disappeared.
---
"Joseph, wake up."
"…Ahh… good morning."
"Morning. Hurry up and get ready."
"Where's Karaku?"
"He's already downstairs."
Arthur and Joseph grabbed their gear and weapons and headed down.
"Good morning," Joseph said.
"Morning," Karaku replied.
"You checked everything, right? Nothing missing?"
They checked once more.
"All good."
"Alright," Arthur said. "Let's go."
The three left the hotel and headed toward the dungeon.
As they walked, Arthur observed the streets.
Citizens were talking among themselves—mostly about one thing.
"Do you think they'll clear the Sleeping Ghost Dungeon this time?"
"I think they will. Didn't you hear? Durk Karmish is leading the raid."
"Yeah… the previous leaders were all selfish.
They'd do anything just to save themselves."
One voice lowered.
"…Sorry."
Listening to those conversations, the three reached the dungeon entrance.
The dungeon lay slightly beyond the North Gate.
There were several routes to reach it—
but for Arthur, Joseph, and Karaku, this was the shortest.
As soon as they arrived, Arthur's eyes went to the gate.
A massive iron gate—nearly ten feet tall.
Just looking at it felt heavy. Dangerous.
Nearly a hundred adventurers had gathered outside.
Some discussed strategies with their parties.
Some greeted old friends.
Others nervously checked their equipment.
Everyone was busy.
After watching for a while, Arthur's gaze shifted to a corner near the gate.
Durk Karmish stood there with three priests, speaking quietly.
*Healers, maybe,* Arthur thought.
He noticed something else.
The atmosphere here wasn't as heavy as it was in the guild hall.
Durk didn't feel as intimidating as usual.
*Maybe… he's holding himself back.*
Then—
a voice reached Arthur's ears.
Very quiet.
But filled with suppressed rage.
It felt like the speaker was barely holding on—
as if madness was only a step away.
Arthur turned sharply to his left.
Karaku.
His eyes were narrowed.
Sweat covered his face.
One hand gripped the hilt of his sword—
so tightly it looked like the only thing keeping him upright.
Arthur's heart skipped.
He followed Karaku's gaze.
A man sat there in armor, likely in his forties.
Several others stood around him.
Two or three women as well.
Probably his party.
Arthur understood immediately.
Karaku had said it himself—
one of the three would be here.
Arthur silently placed a hand on Karaku's shoulder.
"Calm down," he said softly.
"Not now."
Joseph was already there.
He had seen everything.
He stepped forward, standing in front of Karaku.
"Arthur's right," Joseph said.
"Not now."
Karaku's anger didn't fade easily.
After a long moment, he finally steadied himself—
but the rage inside him was still there.
Alive.
Bound.