Targashar was a city built around its proximity to these anomalies, and its layout reflected that purpose. The massive castle, visible from nearly every corner of the urban sprawl, occupied the northern heights, with the city guard building situated nearby for strategic oversight. To the east lay the merchant districts and the slave trader’s estate, while the western side was dominated by smithies and equipment shops.
It made perfect sense for the weapon and armor shops to be clustered on the western side. Their primary clientele consisted of dungeon raiders and explorers who frequented that half of the city. As I walked, I passed row after row of forge fires, the rhythmic clanging of hammers serving as a soundtrack to my advance. I didn't stop to browse; I already had my steel sword and iron shield. I continued past the shops until the buildings began to thin, and I soon arrived at the entrance to the dungeon itself.
I had expected something traditional, perhaps a jagged cave mouth connected to a distant mountainside, but the reality was far more alien. It looked like a massive, weathered rock that had erupted from the earth, featuring a perfectly circular, large hole in its center—big enough for an entire caravan to pass through with ease.
As I drew closer, I spotted a man standing guard next to the solid part of the rock, leaning casually against the stone. He wore the light armor of the city guard, though he had removed his helmet to enjoy the morning air. He was a man with tanned skin and dirty blonde hair, his dark brown eyes tracking my approach with mild curiosity. I slowed my pace, wondering if there was a formal check I had missed. No one had mentioned an entry fee, but in a city like this, nothing was truly free.
When I reached the threshold, the guard straightened his posture and offered a welcoming nod.
“Hello there. I haven’t seen your face before,” he greeted me, his voice friendly. “Is it your first time here?”
“Yes,” I replied, standing tall. “I came to the city just yesterday. This will be my first time entering a dungeon.”
“Is that so? Hmm...” The guard hummed, placing a hand on his chin as he measured me with his eyes. He scanned my posture and then let his gaze linger on my gear. “Your equipment is a bit too good for a complete newbie. Do you have a backing or a wealthy patron?”
“No, I don't,” I said, trying to inject a bit of pride into my voice to prove my worth. “I’ve never entered a dungeon before, but that doesn't mean I’m a greenhorn when it comes to a fight.”
“True enough,” he chuckled, seemingly satisfied. “Then, since it’s your first time, would you like me to fill you in on a few things?”
“Sure, I’d appreciate the enlightenment,” I said. “By the way, why did you choose to use the Common language first? How did you know I would understand it?”
I had noticed that many commoners in the village struggled with Common, yet the city felt different.
“I didn't know for sure,” the guard admitted. “But it’s a rule of thumb here: most people who use the dungeons eventually learn Common, at least at a basic level. Do you know why? It’s because job skills only activate if you chant their names in the Common tongue.”
I blinked, genuinely surprised. I had taken the chanting for granted because I naturally spoke the language, and I hadn't realized it was a technical requirement for the world's inhabitants. This was a significant detail; it meant the dungeon would be a melting pot where communication was possible regardless of one’s origin.
“Back to the main topic,” the guard continued, his expression turning serious. “Even if you feel strong, I advise you to be careful. Do not delve deeper suddenly. Even if you find the enemies on this floor to be simple, the difficulty on the next floor can rise without warning. Dungeons don't follow a linear curve; they have spikes.”
This was critical information. If I grew overconfident and rushed into a floor I wasn't prepared for, I could be overwhelmed before I even realized my mistake.
“Your goal is likely experience and coin, right?” he asked.
“Yes. I want to earn money while increasing my battle experience,” I confirmed.
“Good. Then you should be meticulous. Collect the coins that drop from the monsters and pay attention to every item. Don't skip anything; even the smallest drop has value in Targashar. Also, since you are currently alone, you should only delve deeper if you feel the current floor has become almost boringly easy for you.”
He was right. Currently, I had no one to watch my back. I was stronger than average thanks to my "Player Window" and my instincts, but I was still unproven in a dungeon environment. It was best to be cautious for now.
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“You can form a party if you find people you trust,” the guard suggested. “Or, if you prefer to work alone, save your money and buy a combat slave. That way, you have a partner who is legally bound to assist you, and you can benefit from their job bonuses to strengthen yourself.”
The advice mirrored what Zaydanov and Copez had told me. Having a partner was a force multiplier in this world.
“That’s about all I can tell you for now,” the guard said, puffing out his chest with a grin. “Do you have any other questions?”
“Is there an entry fee to go inside?” I asked, reaching for my pouch.
“No. This dungeon doesn't have as many visitors as the ones in the capital or the southern cities, so the local Lord doesn't charge for entry. I wouldn't say no if you decided to treat me to a drink later, though!” he said with a wink.
“I learned a lot thanks to you,” I said, pulling out a silver coin and tossing it to him. “Here. Treat yourself to something good tonight.”
“Wow, are you sure? You’re hella generous!” His eyes glittered as he caught the silver. I didn't have any copper on me, and given the value of the information, a silver coin felt like a fair trade for a bit of goodwill from a city guard.
“Yeah. You earned it,” I said, turning toward the dark entrance.
“Hehehe! I’ll be in the tavern all night thanks to you!” he shouted after me. “Let me give you one last bit of advice, then. Trust no one once you’re inside. And make sure you bring some medicine after you pass the tenth floor; the monsters from then on start using various poisons. Good luck, kid!”
I offered a final nod. I was already aware of the dangers other people posed, so the advice about floor ten was the more useful takeaway. I stepped into the massive hole in the rock.
The transition was immediate. My surroundings plunged into total darkness for a split second, and I paused, allowing my eyes to adjust. Almost instantly, a blue translucent notification flickered into existence before me.
***
Targashar Dungeon
Floor 1
***
The interface only allowed me to select the first floor, which made sense given it was my first time entering. I focused on the text, and in an instant, the world shifted. I found myself standing in a dim, silent corridor.
The walls were made of a strange, dark stone with irregular veins of glowing ore that provided a faint, ethereal light. It was enough to see the immediate area, and thanks to my Sense stat being well above average, the shadows didn't bother me as much as they might have a normal villager.
“So, this is the dungeon, huh?” I whispered, the sound of my own voice echoing slightly off the damp stone.
As I had entered the dungeon officially, I knew I should have met the criteria for a new job. I opened my Player Window and saw that "Dungeon Raider" had indeed been added to my list of acquired jobs. I used Identify to pull up the details.
***
Dungeon Raider:
- The basic job for exploring and raiding a dungeon.
- Strength increase (minor)
- Vitality increase (minor)
- Sense increase (small)
Skill: Raider’s Sack
- You can store different items as many as your level in an invisible sack.
- You can stock up on 20 items of one type unless their total mass surpasses 10kg, or just one item.
Skill: Dungeon Walk
- You can move freely between places within the dungeon unless there is an enemy nearby.
***
This was the first job I had encountered that offered a Vitality bonus, and the fact that it boosted three stats at once made it incredibly valuable. I realized I needed to equip it immediately. I decided to increase my "Extra Job" skill from Level 3 to Level 4, which cost me 8 points. This left me with 4 remaining points in my pool.
I planned to unequip Identify once I found an enemy to free up another 25 points, which I would then sink into my experience-gain skills. Currently, I was running with: Swordsman (Lvl 10), Warrior (Lvl 1), Dungeon Raider (Lvl 1), Hunter (Lvl 14), and Villager (Lvl 14).
I tried to test my new skills. "Dungeon Walk" appeared to require a destination I had already visited, so I couldn't use it to explore, but it would be a perfect tool for a quick exit later. I then turned my attention to "Raider’s Sack."
I called out the skill’s name, and a small sub-window appeared. It looked exactly like a classic RPG inventory, with a 10x10 grid of blocks. However, every single slot except the very first one featured a lock icon.
It was a clever mechanical hurdle. People in this world could likely judge a raider's experience just by seeing how many items they could carry in their subspace. Since my job level was only 1, I only had a single functional slot.
I decided to use that one slot to store my 14 gold coins. It was the safest place for them; I wouldn't have to worry about a pouch being cut or losing my wealth in a frantic fight. I transferred the coins, and the icon for the slot changed to a small stack of gold. They weighed far less than 10kg, so the skill accepted them without any issue.
With my preparations complete and my wealth secured, I unsheathed my steel sword and adjusted my grip on the iron shield. I felt the familiar weight of the equipment and the thrum of my job bonuses through my muscles. I took a deep breath, centered my focus, and began to advance into the dim corridor. The hunt was finally on.
[Edited]