27. Trouble Brewing (Patreon)

A smug-looking face greeted Luke as he turned toward the voice that had called out to him. The guy had dull green hair, slicked back as if he spent more time on his appearance than his training, and a sharp, angular face that practically begged to be punched.

Luke flexed his fingers, entertaining the thought for a moment, but instead, he kept his expression indifferent and simply replied, "Yo."

His eyes sharpened slightly as he asked, "Were you talking to me?"

The green-haired guy’s smugness twisted for a split second, irritation flashing across his features before he forced it down, replacing it with a practiced smile.

“I was asking if you wanted to do the 2-star Beginner Dungeon, 'Spider Cave' with us,” he said, his tone deliberately casual. “Since you’re a fellow junior from the academy, we’d even let you keep some of your share too.”

Luke’s eyebrow twitched at that phrasing. Some?

His gaze flicked over the six people standing behind the green-haired guy. They were all dressed in the standard uniform for second-year students at the Academy of Berch Gyara. Among them, one girl—likely a healer—stood slightly apart, while the rest were guys. But what stood out the most was their leader’s attitude.

A bunch of second-years running a 2-star Beginner Dungeon when they could easily handle a 3-star or even an Adept-tier dungeon? That was way below their level. Either they were looking for something specific or… waiting for someone specific.

And Luke had a good feeling it was the latter.

Something else set off alarms in his head—none of them recognized him.

That was ridiculous.

Luke’s face—along with the metallic serpent currently coiled around his neck—was well-known across the academy. He wasn’t the type to seek attention, but the combination of his feats, his familiar, and his distinct appearance made him impossible to ignore. The idea that these people had never even heard of him? That was either a blatant lie or a sign that they had been avoiding knowledge of him on purpose.

His instincts—his 'Instinct of the Weak' passive—warned him that these guys were up to something.

The way they spoke, the way they had already decided how much of his share he’d be ‘allowed’ to keep—it all felt off. The dungeon’s reward distribution was automatic, meaning he would get his share based on performance. Why did they act like they had any say in it?

Unless they assumed he wouldn’t be in a position to claim it at all.

Luke’s eyes flickered to their gear.

Nothing about them screamed nobility—except for one guy.

The rest of them had average stats for second-years. Their weapons were decent but not outstanding, and their names didn’t hint at any noble lineage. But there was one exception, and Luke had an idea where this was going.

He sighed internally. Looks like I need to deal with that bastard sooner than expected.

A slow smirk spread across his lips as he tilted his head slightly. His next words came out smooth but sharp.

"Tell that schemer to keep stirring shit in the background, Derrick."

The green-haired guy—Derrick McFarland—flinched.

Luke’s smirk widened.

"If I find him doing anything shady in front of me, I’ll blow his head off."

He deliberately raised his voice, ensuring that everyone in the Dungeon Hall could hear him.

A ripple spread through the surrounding adventurers—people turned their heads, curious gazes locking onto Derrick and his group. The moment public attention fell on them, Derrick’s face twisted in anger.

But before he could retort, a buzzing sound came from his pocket.

Grimacing, he pulled out a small gemstone, pressing it to his ear. As he listened, his expression darkened before he spat in frustration and stormed off, leaving his group behind.

Luke exhaled slowly.

That confirms it.

Derrick McFarland.

McFarland wasn’t a noble family per se, but they were low-tier barons with ties to the kingdom’s military. More importantly, they were a vassal house of House Atredius.

And that name? That was the problem.

Count Atredius.

A man notorious for his ambition, known for collecting vassal houses like pawns on a chessboard. He had his hands everywhere, building influence under the pretense of loyalty. And who else came from this very same house?

Damian Atredius.

Luke’s ‘classmate’ from the academy.

Moreover, the same purple-haired bastard from Lily Inn that had tried to stir trouble before.

Luke rubbed his temples. Of course, it had to be him.

That scheming son of a bitch was already testing the waters.

He had sent Derrick to pick a fight, probably to gauge Luke’s response, and now that Luke had called him out in front of the entire Dungeon Hall, Damian was probably rethinking his approach.

Luke chuckled to himself. This is going to be a pain.

But at least he knew exactly who he needed to keep an eye on.

For the past month, Damian Atredius had been weaving his little web of trouble.

Rumors. Baseless accusations. Whispers in the corridors, some absurd enough to be laughable, others with just enough sting to make people pause and wonder. None of it held weight, of course, but that didn’t seem to matter. Damian was relentless, sowing doubt and discord wherever he could.

Yet, every time they crossed paths, the bastard played innocent. Smiling. Acting as if he had no idea what was being said behind Luke’s back.

Luke had ignored it. For the most part.

Rumors had a way of dying natural deaths, especially when they were as flimsy as these. He hadn’t needed to defend himself—the sheer absurdity of some of the claims was enough to make them collapse under their own weight. But now? Now, it felt different.

Damian was pressing harder, pushing buttons that suggested he wasn’t just looking for petty revenge.

Something’s brewing.

That thought had been gnawing at Luke for days now. Damian’s antics were becoming less about jealousy and more about something else—something with actual intent. Luke wasn’t blind to the way people worked. There was an art to deception, to manipulation, and Damian was clearly dancing to someone else's tune.

That was the real problem.

Luke exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to massage his temples.

If this was just about Damian’s wounded pride, he’d have already settled it—with words or with fists—or guns for that matter, depending on what was needed. But this wasn’t just about Damian. There were always bigger players behind fools like him.

"Ah, fuck it. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it."

For now, he had more immediate concerns.

Dwelling on it wouldn’t do him any favors. Instead, he’d shove this particular problem onto someone else's plate—someone who actually owed him guidance.

Arthur.

If there was anyone who could give him solid advice—or at least provide a different perspective—it was his so-called ‘master.’ Whether Arthur actually had useful advice was another question entirely, but Luke would deal with that when the time came.

Right now, he had dungeons to clear.

------------------

The Dungeon Hall was as busy as always, with adventurers of all ranks and backgrounds moving between its various sections. Some were gathered near the mission boards, others at the exchange counters, where loot from recent expeditions was being traded for sils and gold. The air was thick with conversation—excited, frustrated, urgent.

Luke ignored most of it as he turned back to the large wooden board covered with parchment sheets.

The missions varied. Some were mundane—requests for herbs, bones, or rare plants. Others were riskier, targeting specific dungeon creatures or retrieving valuable materials. He skimmed over the options, filtering out the ones that weren’t worth his time.

Then, two missions caught his attention. They were something he could likely clear at once.

Mission 1: Spider Eggs Collection

• Objective: Collect Spider Eggs from the Spider Cave dungeon.
  
  

• Reward: 1 gold or 10 sils per egg.
  
  

• Requester: Master Alchemist Roflen, seeking a large batch for experiments.
  
  

• Requirements: None—any adventurer can take part. No prior registration necessary. Unlimited completions.
  
  

Straightforward. Find the eggs, bring them back, get paid. Given the payout and the fact that Roflen wanted a large batch, Luke figured the alchemist was stockpiling for multiple experiments.

Then, there was the second mission.

Mission 2: Queen’s Venom Sack

• Objective: Obtain a Queen’s Venom Sack from the mini-boss of Spider Cave.
  
  

• Reward: 22 gold per sack.
  
  

• Requester: The Dungeon Hall, for research purposes.
  
  

• Requirements: Registration required. Limited completions available.
  
  

This one was trickier. Unlike the egg collection, which was open-ended, this mission had limited slots. Too many people were hunting the Queen Spider at once, yet the drop rates seemed really low. It was a request from the Dungeon Hall itself, so most likely they were trying to control whatever the stock of the venom sacks were.

Luke grabbed one of the mission parchments and turned toward the receptionist’s desk.

------------------

The receptionist was a young woman with auburn hair tied into a neat bun, flipping through a thick ledger while ink-stained fingers twirled a quill absentmindedly. She looked up as Luke approached, offering a polite but impersonal smile—the kind reserved for the endless stream of adventurers passing through daily.

Luke placed the mission parchment on the counter. “I’d like to register for this.”

She took the parchment, eyes scanning the details. Then she reached for a form and dipped her quill in ink. “Alright. Name?”

“Luke Raynott.”

She noted it down, then glanced up expectantly. “And your party members?”

Luke paused, then tilted his head slightly. “Just me.”

The receptionist blinked. “…Just you?”

Luke smiled, tapping his shoulder. “And him.”

Her eyes followed the gesture, landing on the metallic serpent coiled lazily around his neck. Szeth lifted his head with a slow, deliberate movement, silver-black scales catching the light. He flicked his tongue out and let out a soft, almost smug hiss.

The receptionist stared. “…Your familiar?”

“Familiar, partner, bodyguard—take your pick.”

She exhaled, setting her quill down. “Look, I don’t mean to pry, but you do know that this is a 2-star Beginner Dungeon, right? Most people don’t go in alone.”

Luke leaned an elbow on the counter, resting his chin against his knuckles. “Is that concern I hear?”

She gave him a flat look. “It’s called doing my job.”

“Sure.” He flashed a grin. “But if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were worried about me.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. “I’m just saying—it’d be a waste to see someone with a face like yours get eaten.”

Luke placed a hand over his chest, feigning shock. “Now that’s just unfair. First, you call me reckless, and now you’re saying I’m too handsome to die?” He leaned in slightly. “Careful, Miss Receptionist. If you keep flattering me like this, I might have to start making promises about coming back just for you.”

She let out a soft snort, shaking her head as she stamped his registration slip. “Alright, charmer. You’re all set. Try not to die.”

“No promises,” Luke said, tucking the slip away. “But since you’re so worried, I’ll make sure to return in one piece.”

“Good.” She smirked. “I’d hate to deal with the paperwork.”

------------------

Luke stepped past the registration counters and into the Dungeon Hall’s main chamber, a vast space where dungeon portals were neatly arranged in a circular formation.

Thirteen gates stood tall, each labeled with their respective difficulty rankings. They ranged from 1-star Beginner to 5-star Veteran, glowing in various hues to indicate their levels.

The busiest portals belonged to the 3-star Beginner and 1- to 2-star Adept dungeons. Lines stretched long, filled with eager adventurers. Meanwhile, the Veteran dungeons had no queues whatsoever—reserved for the truly experienced, or the reckless.

Luke approached the 2-star Beginner section, falling in line for Spider Cave. The queue wasn’t too long.

At the entrance, a dungeon gatekeeper stood, dressed in light armor.

“That’ll be 2 gold or 20 sils per party member,” the gatekeeper said.

Luke handed over the money and flashed his Bronze Dungeon Card. This was exactly where the dungeon card was the most useful since it allowed one to enter any dungeon alone.

The moment the gatekeeper saw it, his casual demeanor stiffened a bit. But, to his credit, he didn’t make a scene. He simply nodded and stepped aside.

Luke noted the color of the portal—still green, like the 1-star Beginner dungeon he had tackled before. But this time, the shade was clearly darker, signifying it was a higher-difficulty dungeon.

Without hesitation, he stepped through.

Szeth let out a low, eager hiss as the swirling energy of the portal swallowed them whole.