I wanted to level up, but decided to postpone my leveling, until I was completely recovered. I was not sure that killing monsters and undead kind, or former King of Iron Mountains would increase my level, but I still had one leveling potion and dungeon core, which I could use to increase my level. Unlike me, all my other party members already visited Adventurer guild and were able to increase their levels. Luara even reached level twenty as panther-girl and increased her adventurer rank to B.

  She also gathered all four ancient king's artifacts, and now could use their whole benefits. Last artifact was called Unbreakable will, according to appraisal results it was indestructible sword that could kill even immortal creatures or monsters. Also using all four artifacts increased her strength, defense, spell power by four and speed by one, and her morale changed to good. That was very impressive considering that even by themselves those artifacts gave her great benefits.

  I went back to the tavern and was greeted by Nelly, who run towards me, as soon as she saw me.

  - Good, you are back. We are supposed to go to adventurer guild. There is an urgent summoning to all adventurers in Mina.

  - Sounds troublesome. Do you know what that is about?

  - It is probably connected to northmen attack.

  - What northmen attack?

  - Oh! That's right, you do not know that. It happened while we were in the dungeon. Northmen fleet attacked a ship, that was transporting a saint. I heard rumors that northmen sent a message, they probably demanded a ransom for her.

  - What's a saint?

  - How can you not know. A girl was born less than generation ago. She had a saint job and also received a blessing from god of healing Asclepius. She is worshipped across the continent. Saint was traveling around the continent, it was like a holy pilgrimage or something. She conducted many miracles, during her pilgrimage, and helped many people.

  So, in transtion. Some reincarnated person made a deal with that Asclepius god. She got high ranking job, got bored and decided to travel around the world, but got kidnapped and now needed rescuing. Not that I minded, but northmen. They lived in north isnds. And they were famous for being cold all year long. Most of the north part of human continent had bad weather. Something to do with cold currents. Even in Mina weather was cold. There was even snow during winter. Luckily for me, we spend most of winter in the dungeon, were weather had its own rules, which had nothing to do with weather outside the dungeon. But going farther north would mean going to even colder isnds. That sounded like something that I did not want to do.

  - Sounds troublesome. Tell the messenger that I am still weak and sick, and need a lot of bed rest, so we cannot participate. Send guild a note from a healer or something.

  - What, we can do that?

  - What, you wish to drag me to some cold... I mean, I am still sick you know. Cough, cough, - I coughed and fell on the chair: - Hey can a sick person get some warm tea! - I called to waitress.

  Nelly sighed and slouched away. She seemed disappointed, but, at least for now, I could py a sick card and get away with everything, for a while.

  I was drinking my hot tea, that I secretly added sugar to, when my party members joined my table. Nelly took my cup and drunk my tea.

  - Hey, - I objected: - That's mine.

  - How come your tea always tastes sweet? - she looked at me with suspicion.

  - Well, if you want it so much then please enjoy, - I turned away and looked outside.

  - So what are we going to do now? - asked Trevor the question that I was wondering as well.

  - Ye, we should ask our party leader that, I guess.

  - You are our party leader, - objected merciless Luara.

  - Well, you forced me to accept you, so I do not want to hear any compining.

  - I did enjoy the peaceful days, but why did you not go to adventurer meeting?

  - Because northmen isles are cold. Don't cats hate the cold. Don't you love sleeping next to a firepce.

  - I am not a cat.

  - Well, panther. What's a difference?

  - So, the only reason you decided not to participate was because you hate cold weather?

  - I am still sick you know. Caugh, caugh. I still drink that horrible concoction, that your healer left me.

  Luara looked at Nelly, and she nodded.

  - She does. But she always ads sugar to it.

  - Can you bme me? It tastes horrible and bitter.

  - So, if we do not take jobs hear then where are we going?

  Kitsune run inside the tavern and jumped into Nelly's p.

  - Takiko! I was wondering where you disappeared? - Nelly caressed the fox and gave it some dried meat, that she prepared for the kitsune.

  Wasn't his name different, or whatever?

  - We could go and save Tikiko's family?

  - It's Takazuchi. Takiko is a nickname that I gave him. And what do you mean his family?

  - Legends say that Taki or whatever, used to serve King of the Iron Mountains. Well, we all saw that, when he almost killed you. His family is supposed to be imprisoned in Darkness dungeon.

  - Why would you want to save Takiko's family. I thought that you did not like him?

  - I do not. Fine. If you do not want to go, then we are not going.

  - I do want to help Takazuchi. But how do you know about his family?

  - Stupid fox told me.

  - Takiko isn't stupid. Right Takiko? You are very smart, - Nelly picked up the fox and kissed it's nose.

  I grimaced, but, luckily for me, Nelly did not noticed that.

  - Foxes cannot talk, - interjected Trevor.

  - Fine. Then someone else told me.

  - What's a Darkness dungeon? And I thought that we were finished with dungeons.

  - So did I, - I sighed: - But I run out of ideas and almost dying makes me feel depressed. So does anyone else got any other ideas?

  They exchanged gnces, but no one had any ideas.

  - Then it is decided. We are going to save Takiko's family, - happily smiled Nelly and kissed fox's nose again.

  * * *

  I wanted to leave as soon as possible, but before that we needed supplies, maps and more supplies, to cross uninhabited nds. I was studying map in Adventurer guild's library and did not liked what I saw.

  They did have a map that showed location of Darkness dungeon, but it was the only good news. According to map Darkness dungeon was located in the middle of nowhere. Closest town to it was Garya, were we spend several years conquering local ancient dungeon. We could get there using Guild portal spell, but then, in order to reach Darkness dungeon, we would need at least a year. We could cover the distance in three month on horseback, but there were no roads. So riding fast would not be possible. Then there were local monster, ck of vilges, which meant that we will need to hunt to resupply, feed horses and many other things that I could not imagine. Also, getting lost was possibility. So at best a year of travel. And since the entrance to dungeon was small we would definitely get lost and spend hell knows how much time, looking for entrance.

  Getting back was easy part. Nelly's guild portal spell could take us to any town where we registered. Too bad that spell did not work inside the dungeon, but as long as we reached dungeons tens floor, getting back would be easy. Hmm. There was that word - dungeon's tenth floor. Who knows how much time we would need to reach it. A lot, at best. Which meant that we will need even more supplies, and my Female purse was not bottomless.

  Look likes we will need to postpone our traveling, until we can gather some artifact like my Magic tablecloth, which could create food.

  Someone knocked at the door and interrupted my thoughts. Why would anyone knock to public library? I turned around and had to control myself from grimacing.

  - Miss Avone. I was told that I could find you here.

  - Hero Theodoric. What an unexpected, but pleasant surprise.

  "Great hero" smiled and took a seat in front of me.

  - I heard that you are in town, but I was told that you were feeling not well, and, for that reason, your party is not participating in saints rescue.

  - Yes. Our st dungeon expedition did not went as pnned, and I was assigned bed rest. And then more rest, and I am not allowed to use any magic, for a long time. So...

  - I see. But I am gd to see that you are doing better. I hate to do that, but I would like to ask for your help once more. If you are worried about time that you need to recover, then you will have plenty of it.

  - Did you came here on griffins?

  - Yes. We were supposed to escort Saint Adeide during her travels across towns of Rakshasar and then take here to Holy griffin empire.

  - So your griffins can carry more than one person?

  - Yes. Two or even three, would not be a problem, depending on a distance.

  - And how many did you bring?

  - As you know, I have four loyal friends, who usually travel with me. We all were gifted a griffin, but...

  - So why not take griffins and save this saint?

  - I am afraid that is not possible. Griffins do not like to fly over water. Crossing ke would not be a problem, but, even if we try to cross the sea from closest part of Rakshasar to northmen isles, we would need several days to do that. And griffins cannot fly so long without rest. The only way to reach the isnd is using a ship.

  - I see. How long do you think you would need to cross this area on griffins, - I showed him the map, that I was studying.

  - At least a month. Twenty days if we fly as fast as possible with only necessary stops on the way.

  A month ha. Not so bad. Even good, I would say. So month there. Month or two in a dungeon. With supplies in magic bags and those that griffins could carry...

  - I am gd that you show interest in griffins, but can we talk about the saint? - interrupted my thoughts Theodoric.

  - A? Yes, of course. So, what were you saying?

  - We received a ransom note from northmen chieftain. He demands three hundred orichalcum coins, but he wants our strongest adventurers to bring the coins.

  - That's unusual.

  - Yes. I thought so as well. And also strongest adventurer party in Mina is yours.

  - That's usually a thing in Rakshasar. Not a single A rank adventurer. But you are adventurer as well. Have you not reached A rank by now?

  - No, my level is still cking. Even your party members, who recently reached B rank's, have higher level than me.

  - That does not mean much. Not since you have a hero job.

  - Even so. My own men could not be enough. For that reason, I need your help. Of course you will be compensated for your time and efforts.

  - Hmm, when do you pn to leave?

  - In four days time. Even with a fastest ship, that town lord will give us, we will need at least a month to reach closest northmen isnd, where we are supposed to bring the ransom.

  Dammit. That would take us two month to go there and back.

  - That's a lot of time. And we are cking time right now. But considering our good retionship I think that we can help each other.

  - What do you mean?

  - How about in exchange for my help you help us with our travels. That's the reward that I would want from you.

  - I would gdly help you. But once we bring back the saint my job is to escort her during her pilgrimage.

  - But you are not responsible for her safety during your travels. Are you not? Once you deliver her to town, you can leave her for local town lord to babysit?

  - Well, yes, but...

  - Good. Then it's settled. My friend Nelly can use Guild portal spell and we are registered in all five biggest town's in Rakshasar. Once we return, she can deliver her wherever you want. Then she can stay there, while you take us where we need to go and return after her then. Is that acceptable? Otherwise, I am afraid we will not be able to help you. Not to mention that travel by sea could worsen my health, but I am ready to take such risk to help you.

  - I think, I can agree to that, - nodded Theodoric, after thinking for a while: - Does your friend Nelly already reached master level in Wisdom skill?

  - Yes. Not long ago. And registering in all the town's that we visited turned out for us to be a wise decision.

  - I see. Thank you, miss Avone. I will be counting on you then.

  - And I on you, - we bowed to each other, and Theodoric left the room.

  That was lucky, and just in time. But now I needed to prepare. I asked local receptionist for permission to use leveling crystal, but just as I suspected my level did not increase. I had to destroy the dungeon core and use leveling crystal again. Familiar words appeared in front of me, with surprising results.

  High elf, LV 35 - 36

  Name - Avone;

  Job: Ranger;

  Status:

  Health: 157 - 917;

  Mana: 640 - 650 (-100=550);

  Strength: 15 - 16;

  Defense: 11 (+2=13);

  Spell power: 21;

  Luck: 1 (+1=2);

  Speed: 7 (+4=11);

  Morale: Neutral

  Skills:Archery (Advanced);

  Night vision (Advanced);

  Mana rapid recovery (Advanced);

  Magic resistance (Advanced);

  Wisdom (Advanced);

  Earth magic (Advanced);

  Arcane butchery (Advanced);

  Water magic (Advanced);

  Air magic (Advanced);

  Intelligence (Advanced);

  Fire magic (Advanced);

  Life magic (Advanced);

  Master swordsman (Novice);

  Increased speed (Advanced);

  Throwing (Advanced);

  Hunting (Advanced);

  Weapons master (Advanced);

  Primordial magic (Advanced);

  Dual wielding (Advanced);

  Demon style martial arts (Advanced);

  Double skill slots;

  Light magic (Advanced)

  Possible skill acquirement:

  - Master swordsman (Basic);

  - Light magic (Master);

  Please choose one skill!

  My Health increased a lot. That did sometimes happen, when I killed monsters with high amount of Health points, but not by so much. I was angry at King of Iron Mountains for giving me Master swordsman skill, but now reconsidered my opinion. As far as I knew, after reaching master level with this skill, I will be able to use dimensional ssh with my sword. But in order to activate that skill, I had to pay ten of my Health points, that I would not get back. At first I thought that I will never use that skill, but with more than nine hundred Health points, I could afford lose some of them.

  Also I had four more days, so I used my st leveling potion. It will allow me three days ter to increase my level once more and get my Master swordsman skill to basic level. Things were going well, and this days turned out to be a lucky one for me. Now all I needed to do, was tell my party that I dragged them to another dangerous adventure.