The Adventurer's Guild was louder than usual.
Recently, the Adventurer's Guild had been issuing more monster-hunting requests than usual.
It wasn't something individual adventurers concerned themselves with. Monster movement, territory shifts, and population control were matters for the guild and the city guards. For adventurers, it simply meant that monster quests were easier to find.
Arth stood in front of the quest board, eyes moving across the papers pinned to it.
Escort work.
Supply runs.
Herb collection.
After several days of doing nothing but simple, repetitive jobs, the list had started to feel dull.
He reached out and pulled one notice free.
Wolf Subjugation — Eastern Forest
The pay was decent. The location was close. And most importantly, it involved actual combat.
They left the guild soon after and headed straight for the forest.
The eastern forest greeted them with cool shade.
Tall trees stood close together, their branches blocking much of the sunlight. The ground was uneven, covered in fallen leaves, exposed roots, and damp soil. Every step produced a soft crunch under their boots.
Arth walked at the front, eyes moving constantly.
This part of the forest wasn't deep, but it wasn't safe either. Merchants used the nearby road, which meant monsters that wandered too close had to be dealt with quickly.
They moved off the path after spotting the first signs.
Paw prints—large and clear—pressed deep into the earth. Some were fresh, others partially blurred by footsteps and wind. Broken branches and flattened grass showed where something had passed through recently.
Arth crouched and touched one of the tracks.
"Not long ago," he said quietly.
They continued forward, spreading out slightly without needing to be told.
The forest grew quieter.
No birds. No insects.
A low growl broke the silence.
Movement flashed between the trees.
Wolves emerged one by one, their grey fur blending into the shadows. Yellow eyes locked onto the group as they slowly closed in, keeping their distance.
Arth raised a hand.
The wolves attacked first.
One lunged straight at Tyson, forcing him to brace and block with his shield. Another darted toward Tina from the side. Arth stepped in and slashed, driving it back before it could bite.
Jake moved quickly, cutting down a wolf that tried to slip behind them. The pack didn't retreat immediately. Instead, they circled, testing their defenses.
Steel flashed again.
A wolf leapt—then fell, split by Arth's blade mid-air.
The remaining wolves hesitated.
Their ears flattened, bodies lowering as they backed away. One let out a short, sharp growl before turning and sprinting into the trees.
The others followed.
Within seconds, the forest was quiet again.
Arth lowered his sword and scanned the surroundings, but the wolves didn't return.
"They're gone," he said.
The group relaxed slightly.
"Guess they decided it wasn't worth it," Jake muttered.
Arth nodded and gestured toward the fallen ones. "Collect what we can."
They moved quickly.
Fangs, pelts, and a few intact claws were gathered and stored away. Nothing unusual, nothing special. Just standard loot.
Once they were done, Arth wiped his blade clean.
"That's enough for today," he said. "Head back to the city."
Tina looked at him. "Already?"
"Yeah," Arth replied. "Woon asked me to head back early. Said the rush at the diner will be bad today."
Jake snorted. "Figures. That place is always packed."
Tyson adjusted his gear. "Alright. Let's go."
They turned back toward the main road and started the walk back.
Arth followed for a short distance, then slowed his steps.
"I'll catch up later," he said.
The others didn't question it and continued on.
Once the others were gone, Arth stood still for a moment.
The sounds of footsteps faded, replaced by the usual forest noises—wind brushing through leaves, distant birds, the occasional snap of a twig.
He exhaled and turned away from the road.
He wasn't in a hurry.
Arth moved deeper into the forest at a steady pace, choosing his steps carefully. This area wasn't used often. The ground was rougher, the plants thicker. Low branches forced him to duck now and then.
He kept his hand near his sword.
There were signs of movement here too, but fewer. Tracks appeared and disappeared, some overlapping, others leading nowhere. It felt like monsters passed through—but didn't stay.
After a while, the forest grew quieter again.
Too quiet.
Arth slowed down.
The air felt heavier, damp with the smell of moss and old stone. The trees were closer together, their roots twisting across the ground like veins.
Then he noticed something unnatural.
Stone.
Not a boulder. Not rubble.
Carved.
Arth stepped closer and brushed away a layer of dirt and leaves.
Steps.
Old stone steps, cracked and worn, leading downward into darkness. Moss covered the edges, and small plants had grown between the gaps as if trying to hide it.
"…A dungeon," Arth muttered.
He looked around.
No warning signs.
No guild markers.
No traces of adventurers.
That meant no one had registered it.
Or no one has stumbled upon it yet.
Arth stood at the entrance for a long moment.
He thought about the wolf packs. The rising number of monster quests. The strange feeling of this part of the forest being avoided.
I should report this immediately, he thought.
He took one step forward.
Then stopped.
" Before that…I'll take a look," he said quietly. "Just enough to confirm it."
Arth stepped onto the first stone stair.
Cold air brushed against his face.
He paused.
Woon might want to see this.
The thought came suddenly.
Arth looked down into the darkness again, then let out a short breath.
"…Later," he muttered.
He stepped back, carefully disturbing the moss and leaves near the entrance, doing what little he could to make it less noticeable. It wasn't perfect, but it would do for now.
With one last glance at the dungeon, Arth turned and headed back toward the city.
To be continued…..