Tier V Seeker ④
The Seeker Guild Hydrangea Branch.
I’ve often been summoned here, but this is the first time I’ve come of my own volition.
First, I went to look at the requests posted on the wall.
The requests covering the entire wall were divided by rank.
Each request form had a number. You memorize the number and tell it to the receptionist at the quest acceptance counter.
Then, after they confirm whether the request is available, you can hear the details.
Whether it’s available or not depends on duplication. Requests are fundamentally first-come, first-served.
Meaning, the rights belong to the first person who accepts the request.
The times for updating the request forms are fixed, which is why there’s a process to confirm the number.
So, if you have a request aimed at earning money or achieving a specific goal, you have to come early in the morning.
Now, the requests posted on the board are normal requests.
Anyone can accept them.
Guild requests are requests the Seeker Guild makes to Seekers.
They’re cheap and tough, but they offer high points for rank promotion.
Designated requests are those where the client directly designates a Seeker.
The Guild’s brokerage fee for designated requests is high, so they usually come from nobles.
There are basically four types of request content:
【Gathering】, 【Subjugation】, 【Exploration】, and 【Escort】.
Among these, I can imagine what 【Gathering】, 【Subjugation】, and 【Escort】 entail.
But what exactly is 【Exploration】?
It was also part of the basic requests that every Tier VI Seeker must take first.
After receiving the explanation, I thought, well, it’s necessary, but it sure seems dull.
But I was interested.
So, I decided to accept an 【Exploration】 request.
I scanned the request forms on the Tier V board.
Subjugation. Subjugation. Gathering. Escort. Gathering. Escort. Escort. Exploration. There it is.
『Water Dungeon. Investigation of the Fountain of Healing. Reward 1200 Oro』
Cheap. Compared to the others… it’s the cheapest. This must be a Guild request.
【Exploration】 includes normal requests, but also Guild requests.
Actually, according to Mr. Agaro, most 【Exploration】 requests are apparently like that.
Still, compared to scavenging in the Junkyard, 1200 Oro is a large sum.
“—Guess I’ll go with this one.”
I memorized the number and headed to the quest acceptance counter.
When I went to the quest acceptance counter, I was handed a number tag.
I took it and sat down on a nearby bench.
Getting a number tag like this, sitting on this kind of bench, waiting…
A strange sense of nostalgia washed over me.
“…Feels weird.”
“Na?”
“…It’s noisy, yet it feels strangely quiet too.”
“Na?”
Come to think of it, lately, it feels like someone has always been around.
Until just a little while ago, I was always alone… Thinking that brought a strange, wry smile to my face.
After a short while, my number was called.
“Ah, thank you for waiting… Quest acceptance, right? Please present your Seeker Tag.”
The receptionist was an Elf.
Her dark blonde hair was folded up with a simple, handmade wooden hair ornament.
She had blue eyes with prominent dark circles. She wore about four piercings in her right ear, which stood out on her long ears.
How should I put it… is she a gyaru? Her name tag read ‘Korte’.
I presented my tag. Korte-san visually checked the back.
“Yes. Confirmed. Please state the request number.”
“V-1566.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Korte-san stepped away and returned shortly with a sheet of parchment.
“Um, this one, right? ‘Water Dungeon. Investigation of the Fountain of Healing. Reward 1200 Oro’ — Ah, this one. Are you sure about this?”
After reading the contents, Korte-san asked with a puzzled look.
Well, I guess that’s a normal reaction.
“Yes. That’s the one, please.”
“Hmm, okay, I’ll explain then. First, are you familiar with the Water Dungeon?”
“Yes. I know the location.”
Hydrangea.
It’s a major dungeon city, rare even on the continent, surrounded by countless dungeons.
There are dungeons even within the city, and centering on Hydrangea, there are Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth Dungeons to the west, south, north, and east, respectively.
The Fire Dungeon is to the west. The Water Dungeon is to the south.
The Wind Dungeon is to the north. The Earth Dungeon is to the east.
And around these four dungeons, there are several smaller dungeons.
“Ah, the Water Dungeon, as its name suggests, is a dungeon with abundant water sources. Many of the monsters are aquatic, and it’s also characterized by having more liquid-type monsters compared to others. Like other dungeons, its Innermost Area is still unknown, but as you descend through the floors, dangerous liquids like poison swamps increase. Lord Wof, since you are Tier V, you are limited to Floor 30.”
“Yes. Understood. What is the Fountain of Healing?”
“Hmm, the Fountain of Healing refers to a total of three rest stops located up to the 6th floor of the Water Dungeon. Uh, it says ‘Healing,’ but there are springs gushing water of potable quality, and since you can rest there, they’re called Fountains of Healing.”
“I see…”
“And the investigation involves using this investigation kit, which I’ll give you, to examine the Fountains of Healing. The Fountains are on the 1st, 3rd, and 6th floors. There’s a map showing the way there, so don’t worry.”
“A map… I hear the Water Dungeon is vast.”
“That’s right. So please make use of the map so you don’t get lost.”
“Understood.”
“Hmm, is there anything else you’d like to ask?”
“Since it’s water, would fire be effective?”
“Ah, yes. Having the fire attribute would certainly give you an advantage. However, it’s not something you can rely on solely to advance. It just provides an advantage. If you don’t have an attribute, I recommend carrying cheap Legacies like Fire Stones or Impact Stones.”
“Impact Stones?”
If I recall, those are disposable Legacies, like Attribute Stones, that create an impact when thrown.
“Impact Stones are convenient. On the shallower floors, they are effective against most monsters.”
“Thank you. I’ll buy some right away.”
“There’s just one warning. Lord Wof, do you possess the lightning attribute?”
“No. I don’t have any attribute Relics.”
“Hmm, in that case… just keep this in mind. Lightning is dangerous. Water conducts lightning, so if you’re careless, you could die.”
“Understood.”
“Uh, any other questions?”
“Does this request have a time limit?”
“Ah, yes. One week. Also, hmm, just so you know, if you sell the investigation kit and map, we’ll find out immediately.”
“People sell them…?”
“Uh, occasionally. Occasionally.”
So people actually do that. Korte-san gave a wry smile.
“…Understood. I have no more questions.”
“Then I’ll hand over the investigation kit and the map.”
Korte-san brought out a small wooden box and a scroll.
Then she opened the wooden box.
“Ah, let me teach you how to use the investigation kit.”
“Please do.”
I listened carefully to Korte-san’s explanation.
After her explanation ended, I expressed my thanks, and then I headed towards the Water Dungeon.
From Hydrangea, it felt like a little over two hours on foot.
By shared carriage, maybe about 40 minutes. The ruins of a sunken town began to appear in the surroundings.
Beyond the ruins lay a large lake.
It was unnaturally perfectly circular, its surface like a water mirror.
Almost like a vessel of water—like Hydrangea itself.
“…So this is it.”
“Na!”
The lake’s name is Hydrangea.
Confusing, I know, but this lake is the origin of the name of the city we live in.
Though, almost no one calls it by that name.
The Water Dungeon—that’s what this lake is called.
Approaching the lake, I could see the ruins of an old fort.
It was completely surrounded by walls, and within those walls were several taverns, inns, and general stores.
Oh, and there was one chapel too. I looked around as I entered the fort ruins.
“Quite a few people here.”
Most were likely Seekers. There were street vendors too.
Suddenly, my eyes caught a barrel haphazardly filled with swords outside a general store.
“…………”
No. I’ll save that for another time. What I’m looking for is further ahead.
At the back of the fort ruins was a pier, and there lay the entrance to the Water Dungeon.
“Is that it…?”
A large hole gaped open in the lake’s surface, connected to the pier.
It was surrounded, for safety I suppose, but it was a strange hole into which water somehow didn’t flow.
“Na?”
“Ah, that’s right. We’re going down into that hole now. There are guards, so keep quiet.”
“Na!”
“…”
As I approached the entrance, there were four guards.
They eyed me warily. When I showed them my Seeker Tag, they nodded.
Taking that as permission to enter, I passed through the entrance.
The Water Dungeon. The entrance resembled the dungeon in the city.
A high ceiling of rock face. Long, wide stairs continued downward.
One difference was the small rivers flowing along both sides. And I could feel the dampness.
I reached the 1st floor.
“Oh, woah…”
The 1st floor of the Water Dungeon.
It was a limestone cave. There were numerous small holes and chambers.
Water flowed from everywhere, and the intense sound of a waterfall could be heard from deeper within.
A little further in, there was a small stream, and a little further, a small pond. I wouldn’t have trouble finding water here.
The monsters I encountered were Water Slimes and some weird thing with an eyeball inside a mass of water.
Also bats… though those aren’t monsters. Since it’s still the 1st floor, no formidable monsters appeared.
Following the map, I headed towards the first Fountain of Healing.
Eventually, I found a place that seemed like it.
It was across a crude bridge. Slanted stone statues were scattered about, and in the center was the fountain.
It was a stone-built fountain, and indeed, this area looked suitable for resting.
Oh, someone’s here. Just one person. Sitting on the edge of the fountain, resting.
And it’s a girl… wait. Could it be?
“Bid-san?”
When I called her name, she turned around.