Reincarnated as an SSS-Ranked Blacksmith Who Refuses to Forge Weapons-Chapter 74. Before The Torturing

Chapter 74: 74. Before The Torturing
Three Weeks ago,
The entrance to the Sunken Citadel was just as scary as Marina had thought it would be. A huge stone archway carved into the side of a mountain, worn smooth by years of wind and rain, led into darkness that seemed to eat up light.
There were ancient runes on the door that no one could read anymore, but they all said the same thing: "Give up hope and strength, all who enter here."
"Okay," Kael said as he adjusted his bow and checked his arrows one last time. "That’s not scary at all."
"Stop being dramatic," Denna said, but even though she sounded sure of herself, there was an edge to her voice. "We’ve cleared dozens of dungeons, and this is probably just another job we can ace like we always used to!"
Ryn quietly corrected, "This isn’t just another dungeon, though." Her mage’s instincts told her that something was wrong with the place. "The amount of magic here is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. It feels like it’s alive."
Marina touched the communication crystal at her neck and felt its comforting warmth. Greg’s modified version had an unlimited range, which made her feel close to him even here at the edge of darkness. "We have his tools."
"The best gear that any expedition has ever used. We’ll be all fine."
The rest of the expedition gathered around them. There are a total of twenty adventurers, all from five different groups across the continent.
Warriors with an S rank, mages with a lot of experience, and healers with a lot of experience. This group was supposed to be the one that finally took over the Sunken Citadel.
Commander Thorne, the leader of the expedition and an old soldier, raised his hand to get everyone’s attention. "Don’t forget the plan. We work together as a team!"
"No one goes off by themselves. The communication crystals keep us in touch even when we’re in different parts of the dungeon."
"Greg Greyson’s gear gives us advantages that no other expedition has had, so we’ll have to use them wisely."
Marina took out her Lantern of Undying Radiance, and the soft light pushed back the darkness at the door. Other adventurers did the same, making a constellation of lights that made the scary archway look almost friendly.
"Okay," Thorne said. "Let’s write history for legends tomorrow!"
They went down.
The first level was almost too easy, which was a letdown. Goblins and slimes are common enemies in dungeons that even a bronze-rank adventurer can handle.
But Greg’s tools made what should have been a long, boring process into something that was almost simple. The lanterns never went out, so it was always easy to see.
The ropes held up against weights that should have broken them. The dungeon tried to mess with people’s sense of direction, but the compasses kept everyone on track.
"Your blacksmith friend is a genius," one of the other adventurers told Marina as they beat the first level’s boss, a fat goblin chieftain who died in seconds when they all attacked him together. "This gear is wonderful."
"He is," Marina said, feeling a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the fight. "Greg never does anything halfway."
Level two was harder, but it was still possible to get through. Although the undead warriors required precise strikes to their cores, Ryn’s magic made quick work of defeating them.
Greg’s emergency supplies healed everyone and kept them in excellent shape. The protective spells on their gear also stopped blows that would have been crippling.
The group was in a positive mood by the time they got to level three. They were getting things done faster than anyone had thought they would. The Sunken Citadel’s legendary difficulty seemed too high.
"Don’t get too full of yourself," Thorne said, but he was smiling too. "Level four is where past trips started to have real problems."
Level four showed that he was right. The monsters were smarter, stronger, and faster. Cursed creatures that learned how to deal with their tactics and strange things that shouldn’t happen in nature.
The expedition’s speed slowed, and they lost their first people. The injuries were minor, and the healers took care of them, but it was a reminder that this was still dangerous.
Kael came back from scouting ahead with a worried look on his face while they were setting up camp in a chamber that was fairly safe. "We have guests."
"Another group is coming from the west passage."
Everyone got tense and reached for their weapons. When you met other adventurers in dungeons, you could either work together or fight each other. Down here, though, competition could turn deadly.
Then the other group came out into the light, and Marina’s blood ran cold. "He is...!"
A man with silver hair and golden eyes led them. His armor was clean even though they were in a dungeon, and his sword shone with an unnatural light. He walked around like he owned the place, knowing he was the most dangerous thing in any room.
The man said, "Well, well," his voice full of laughter. "How nice to meet other adventurers down here."
"And there are so many of them."
The Crimson Falcons were shocked seeing that, out of all people, the one they don’t even want to meet again comes. "N-No way...!"
"Why the fuck is he here...?" Kael looked confused.
"God fucking dammit, I’ll kick his ass!" Denna punched her own hand.
Denna was about to make problems with him, but then Marina stops her and the rest of them. "We better not make any trouble here. As the Crimson Falcons, we need to let all of this come to pass."
"What?!" Denna hissed. "Marina, don’t you remember what he did last time?"
Kael leaned in and said in a harsh whisper, "You’re really telling us to stay still? After all he’s done in the village back then?!"
Marina gave both of them a dirty look. "I know. I remember. But this isn’t the right place."
Denna gritted her teeth. "So we’re just going to grin and bear it?"
Marina said, "We’re going to make it. That’s the most important thing."
Kael put his arms across his chest. "Tch. Okay. But if he gives me a negative look, I’m going to deck him."
Ryn nervously pulled on Kael’s sleeve. "Please don’t. We don’t even know why he’s here..."
Denna made a clicking sound with her tongue. "Yeah, well... It can’t be good if you know him."
There was a lot of tension between them, and they were barely able to keep their anger in check, as the unwanted man kept smiling at them. "It’s okay... we have Commander Thorne and the rest of the adventurers with us."
Commander Thorne said, "Elias Grimhart," with a tone of recognition and caution. "What makes an S-rank solo adventurer come to the Citadel?"
"Same as you, I guess," Elias said, his golden eyes scanning the group and lingering on Marina with an uncomfortable intensity. "Fame, riches, and the joy of beating what others couldn’t."
"I see you’ve brought a big army, though."