Dungeon Core Academy: Books 1-7 (A LitRPG Series) by Alex Oakchest (book suggestions txt) 📕

“Aye. Want me to kill these two?”

Shadow thought about it. The idea of killing someone made her stomach twist. It was impossible to think she’d once assassinated a mayor. As if the memory belonged to someone else.

She couldn’t tell Eric that was the reason. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but he’d think she was going soft. Like the townsfolk who were scared of blood.

“Better not. It would cause more trouble for Core Beno.”

Eric kept watch over the guards while Shadow sneaked into the bakery. The guards posted at the front were chatting to each other outside. Though she’d lost her more violent skills, Shadow had lost none of her stealth talents.

She checked what Beno asked her to look at.

And then she checked again.

She made doubly sure. It was surprising even to her, even after Beno had already told her what he expected her to find.

With that done, she left without making a sound.

Back in the cold night air at the back of the bakery, she knew she should report back to Beno. But she held off a second. She glanced at the unconscious guards. They were threads left untied, and a rogue shouldn’t leave threads.

“When they wake up, they’ll remember I was here.”

Eric stared at them. “Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. Getting knocked out tends to scramble a man’s brains. But even if they remember, can things get any worse for you or Beno? I’ve heard the rumors.”

“I better get back to him.”

“Walk with me for a while. I haven’t seen you since they removed the witch’s spell from you. I’m sorry I left so suddenly, Little Wolf.”

“We didn’t get a chance to speak,” said Shadow. “They got Anna to remove her spell from me, and by the time I felt like myself again, you were gone.”

“I saw some things in the dungeon I didn’t like.”

“Beno told me. Razensen.”

“Aye. The icy beast. I know the core needs his monsters, but some things are just too dangerous. When that monster got angry…I’ve seen a lot, Little Wolf. But I’ve never seen such raw fury combined with an ungodly power. It scared me, tell you the truth. I told Beno that I wouldn’t work for him while that creature was around.”

“He’s gone now,” said Shadow.

“I heard that, and I’m out of work. That’s why I’m back.”

“Oh.”

Eric squeezed her shoulder. “I came here to see you too, of course. How are you?”

“I’m…”

Having nightmares every night. About Anna. About Redjack. I see myself killing him. Sometimes, he gets to me first, and he slits my throat. Other times, the rest of the dungeon mates string me up for what I did and watch me bleed.

“I’m fine,” she said.

“Right. Sure. You know, us barbarians stick to our own company,” said Eric. “But not always. I once ran with a group. A girl named Axe led us.”

“Her name was Axe?”

“Her Pa wasn’t very imaginative. When she was born, he had an axe beside him. Her brother’s called Shield, you know. And that’s not to mention her older brother, Loincloth… Anyway, the group of us, we raided the tomb of a demon called D’zelegghyu, brother of D’zelegghypm, son of D’ze…”

“I get it, Eric.”

“Right. Staying on track…. we killed the demon, stole goodies from its tomb, and all was well. Another fine piece of barbarianism.”

“I missed your purposeful stories that get straight to the point,” said Shadow.

Eric gave her a playful punch that almost sent her off balance. “Cheeky scamp. Point is, ever since we raided the tomb, something was wrong with Axe. She kept telling us there wasn’t, but I could sense it. Something had happened to her in the tomb. It was brewing inside her. I decided to have a little chat.”

“And her feelings came spilling out, and then you made love in front of the roaring fire?” said Shadow.

“You’ve been reading too many of Core Beno’s stories.”

“So what happened?”

“Axe kept things to herself. Then one night, she slaughtered everyone in the group. Tried to cut my throat, but I broke her hand. Before I could do anything else, she ran off the edge of a cliff. Killed herself.”

“What?”

“Turns out D’zelegghyu had possessed her. I reckoned she’d known it was coming. She was too scared to say anything. But if she had, we might have been able to get her to a red priest or a cleric or something.”

“I’m not possessed, Eric.”

“No, but you’re hiding something. Ever since what happened to Axe, I always promised myself I wouldn’t just live in ignorance. If something was wrong with a friend, I’d make ‘em tell me. So…”

“So?”

“Are you going to tell me, Little Wolf?”

“There’s nothing to tell. I’m fine.”

CHAPTER 6

The geologists had been working on the outskirts of Yondersun since the town’s inception. Barely a few houses had been built before they asked permission from Chief Reginal to study the rocks. I didn’t know why. Something to do with unnatural formations, and what they could tell them about the early days of the world. Boring stuff. I didn’t really know, because I never studied rocks. Rocks are stupid.

They conducted their research from a series of tents. The one in the middle was a great spread of canvas, bigger than a Yondersun lodge. Must have been to help them get out of the heat. They’d dig rocks when it was cool, study in the tent when it was hot. Dotted around were smaller tents for sleeping in.

This morning, many of the geologists were walking back and forth. Unlike Yondersun, where my mere presence made people stop, stare, and point, the geologists didn’t care. Here, Shadow, Eric, and I barely got a glance because they were so absorbed in their work. That would