“The King is gone, huh?”
“You’re not surprised!”
“Well, I was curious why you seemed to do everything. I figured a decision like being made a Viscount would require the King?”
Prince Aberis sighed, shaking his head. “No, I do have the authority to make you a Viscount, but only just. I would have made you an even higher rank if I could have. Of course, the reason for that is simple. It’s a means of gaining your assistance.”
“I take it you want me to find your father?”
“Mmhmm… there are only a few people who know that my father is missing. You are now one of them. Unfortunately, if I get the adventuring guild involved, I won’t be able to keep the news from spreading. Our situation with the Imperial Cloud Meadow is on thin ice right now, and the Ost Republic has been testing us lately. All it would take is for Dioshin to start acting up and we’d be facing pressure from every side.”
“That’s why you gave me the wilderness?”
“Well, it’s not like there are people living in the wilderness. However, you have a growing reputation as being kind to the animalkin. You’ll likely placate Dioshin’s worries, but also be able to increase our security there. Until now, we’ve depended on the monsters of the region to protect the borders.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, I mean the wilderness. It’s the wilderness because a lot of curses congregated there. There hasn’t been a census, but there is believed to be as many as 5 dungeons spread throughout the area. These are all abandoned by man, so naturally they have overflowed. Chalm was only safe because of Old Chalm. Every dungeon pulls mana from the earth and carves our an ever-increasing territory. When two dungeons collide, they block each other. Karr’s Dungeon kept the other dungeons at bay, and the priest’s barriers kept Old Chalm from being swallowed by Karr’s Dungeon.
“However, now that the dungeon has collapsed, it’s only a matter of time before monsters from the other dungeons try to make Old Chalm part of their territory.”
“You really didn’t do me any favors, huh?”
“I mean no disrespect, but neither Old Chalm nor the wilderness need to be our responsibility. The Church already erected a barrier that you happened to bring down.”
It seemed that I didn’t just retake Old Chalm, but removed Aberis’s western protection from the curses spreading into Aberis. “S-sorry…”
“It’s fine. Even though giving you permission to claim the wilderness in our name is a risk for Aberis, I decided it was worth it. I just hope you understand, we’re a country, not a charity…” The Prince sighed. “I did what I could for you. I won’t force you to do anything, but I don’t want you to be unaware either. It might take a few decades, but if you do nothing, Old Chalm will be destroyed. However… if you help…”
“I understand. With challenge offers opportunity or something like that.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Then, what does the wilderness have to do with your father?”
“A mine was recently found on the border of the wilderness in the north. Unfortunately, a nearby dungeon’s corruption has spread to it, making mining impossible. Thus, for the last few months, there has been an open guild quest to have this dungeon destroyed. Supposedly, a group had broken through to the final level and intended to fight the boss.”
“Don’t tell me. Your father wouldn’t be so reckless as to actually partake in it.”
“Ai… he used to be an S-ranked adventurer. He’s a bullheaded man and likes showing off. I’m afraid, it’s exactly as you say. Despite warnings, he headed into the battle and attacked the dungeon boss. However, after the men went in and the doors shut, the dungeon suddenly turned extremely aggressive. Everyone who has made it to the bottom floors is either dead or incapacitated. With no one to check the dungeon door, we don’t know the fate of the men who entered.
“After this much time, if your father hasn’t come out…” I started.
“I know…” The Prince closed his eyes tightly. “It is very probable my father is dead. If this is the case, I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep the kingdom together. That’s why I need you. You have defeated several dungeons before and even enslaved a demon lord. Will you conquer the Widow’s Dungeon, and find out the fate of my father?”