Dessert and Destruction

Breakfast looks amazing. The soft fluffy perfectly round pancakes remind me of home. The syrup here is thick with a rich flavor. I know it's not the best for my health but I slather them in butter. The only recommendation I needed was the face Jim was making the last time I saw him eat these pancakes. I don’t usually eat breakfast in the Guild. Typically I would rather use my free meal voucher for dinner in the evening after running around in the dungeon.

I’m taking a day off today. I’ve been putting in a lot of work running around and trying out new techniques recently. I can’t believe those gloves I came up with worked so well with the frog warrior’s tongues. Too bad they aren’t reusable.

I bite into the fluffy pancake. It warms my very soul. Now for the best part that I learned from Jim. I take a huge gulp of my apple cider. Man, this really tastes like a dessert.

I really wish I could afford breakfast each morning. Maybe I should try and kill a few more monsters to make extra cash. I guess I could see if Death Clap is going on another dungeon run sometime soon and see if they will let me tag along. I know they have been out of town for a while on a contract for the Guild. I wonder how Momo is doing…

I guess since Silence is with her she will be fine. No need to worry. Everything I have heard about the Empire has not been so accepting of people who are different.

“Would you like another plate meow?”

The energetic cat-eared waitress sneaked up on me. I couldn’t hear her at all. Maybe she is just really light on her feet.

“No I wish I could but I don’t have the spare coin today.”

“That's too bad meow…I thought it was odd. I don’t usually see you in the meow-ings.”

She quickly and effortlessly collects all the dishes on the table and begins to hurry off.”

“Wait, miss.”

Her ears flick at the request. She turns her green eyes, focusing on me. They really are cat eyes. Her tail waves around.

“Um…would it be alright if I had your name? My name is Tai by the way.”

She places one hand on her hip and the other single-handedly holds up the tray of dishes without issue. She is way stronger than she appears at first glance.

“Are you kittin’ on me?”

“No, no. Sorry…I was just curious. I think I ran into your little sister yesterday day–”

“You spoke with little Gracie.” Her face lights up. “Well if Gracie is a fan of yours then I don’t meow-ind sharing. I’m Luna. Gracie doesn’t take to adventurers normally. You must have been doing something to catch her eye. ”

Luna. That is a fitting name. Her black and white hair reminds me a lot of the moon and the night sky. 

“I promised her that I would come to visit the next day when I had free time. I was thinking about going soon. She did tell me to try and–”

The large doors of the Guild hall slam into the walls. A muscular mass of black fur burst into the room. He snorts frantically trying to catch his breath. He inhales a huge amount of air. Raises his head and–

“Mroooooooooooooo!”

What has gotten into–

There is blood. Jim has wounds across his body. I shoot up.

Was he in the dungeon? Did he get hurt?

Another adventurer tries to console him. He gently pushes them aside.

“Mrooooooooo!”

“What is going on Jim! This isn’t like you.”

From the top of the steps the Guildmaster cries out towards the distraught minotaur. Slowly he works his way down the steps. Jim after seeing him sits down and patiently waits for him to approach.

“Guildmaster. The dungeon. Something is wrong with the dungeon.”

Jim is clearly struggling. He is trying desperately to speak. A priest slowly approaches him and provides a small amount of healing magic.

“Jim, what are you trying to say?”

The old man gently places his hand on the minotaurs head. Jim calms down a little bit.

There is still fear in his eyes.

“There are monsters flooding out of the dungeon.”

Flooding? That is pretty–

“It's endless. I killed so many and they kept coming. I couldn’t even get close to the entrance.”

How is that possible? The dungeon resets every morning. How could it ever produce such a large amount? Especially at this time of day.

“When I fought my way back to the main gate Keith was still there and I helped him seal it.”

Maybe the town should be okay so long as the walls hold?

“Jim, how bad is it? Can the guard maintain the defense of the wall?”

Jim shook his large head.

“I don’t think they can.”

The Guildmaster turns to the reception desk.

“Janice! Setup an emergency request. Alert the Empire…though I doubt they would care to send anybody.”

He turns and addresses everyone in the hall with a plea straight from the heart.

“This is our town. We protect our own. We will not let it fall. Able body adventurers take up posts along the walls. Those of you still nursing injuries help evacuate the citizens to the Guild hall. This is terrible timing without–”

“They are here Guildmaster. I passed Momo’s party on the way back to town. It seems like they intend to hold the entrance of the dungeon. They might even try to push the horde back in if they think that will stop it.”

Wait…

What is Momo thinking? If the horde really is endless they wouldn’t be able to take a step into the dungeon. Her size alone would make it a challenge. Silence doesn’t have enough mana. While Brutus can fight he will run out of stamina eventually.

They don’t even know if that will stop it. From the looks on everyone's faces it doesn't look like this has ever happened before.

“Jim, we can't let them enter. They have little chance of surviving. We don’t even know what is going on in the dungeon. If we just had a scout we could–”

A young adventurer steps forward.

“What about the speed demon Guildmaster?”

“Shut up boy this isn't a time for rumors. We need an actual–”

Jim stands up, his large footsteps shake the room. He begins to walk.

Why is he walking towards me?

“It isn’t just rumors Guildmaster…”

The minotaur takes a large sniff of me. I am completely confused. What is going on?

“Tai is our speed demon.”

The room goes quiet.

I’m a what now? A demon?

He places his large palm on my shoulder.

“It was you who challenged the jellyfish to a staring contest and ran past it wasn't it? Allowing me the honor of the kill.”

Wait, I do remember running into Jim in the dungeon early this week. I don’t think that makes me a speed demon.

Another adventurer runs up to join us.

“Did you use the frog warrior tongue?”

“Um…”

“You walked through the Unholy Water unscathed?”

“Yeah…but…”
The Guildmaster pushes the others aside. He grabs me. He stares at me with his noble light-blue eyes. I can see fear in them.

“From the moment that dragon appeared I knew that something bad would happen. I need to know Tai. Can you do it?”

“Can I do what?”

This is crazy. Of course I want to help the town but can I really do it? Would I even stand a chance under these conditions?

“All I need from you is to go in there and get to the bottom. Find out what is happening and leave. I need information. Not a hero. Can you do that for me? For this town?”

Can I do that? I have been practicing speed running in the dungeon for a while now. Under normal conditions it wouldn’t be too hard but now I am not so sure. I haven’t even seen the last boss fight yet.

Wait.

I don’t need to fight it. I just need to get in there and find out why the dungeon is broken. I’m fast. Apparently I am a speed demon. I can do it. I just need to get some things.

Momo and the others are out there risking their lives. I need to help too.

I can do this.

I know I can do this.

“I can do it but I will need a few things.”

“Whatever you need, the Guild can procure it.”

“Let me go get my gear.”