The Legendary Dungeon Master

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: A very Strange Meal

Arin ran.

He did not know for how long he ran exactly. The Dungeon Master’s Blessing was still active, but it was already running out.

[Remaining Duration: 01:47]

”Not enough.” Arin turned into another tunnel. He could feel the dungeon around him. The blessing had made a great difference. He could tell which tunnels were dead-ends.

He could sense the monsters in the dungeon. He could even feel the small tremors that the creatures made in their burrows. It was all very useful. Very, very useful. But it would not last forever. Arin reached another chamber. He stopped. It was empty.

”Finally.”

The young man leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. His wounds still bled, and the pain reminded him that he had not been running for a short time. He had been running for hours, fighting and bleeding in this cursed dungeon. Then, all of a sudden, his stomach growled.

Grrrrrrr.

Arin turned around, staring at his stomach. ”Was that me?” His stomach growled again.

Grrrrrrrrr.

Arin looked down at his stomach. ”When was the last time I ate?” He tried to remember. The day before, he had breakfast before going to the Guild. Then, he went into the forest and the dungeon. He didn’t eat this morning feeling it would be a quick mission. He fought the Minotaur and fell deeper and deeper into the dungeon. He had nearly died several times. Arin frowned.

”Right.”

He sighed.

”I’m starving.”

He looked around the empty chamber. There was nothing in there. Not even a single drop of water. Arin’s stomach growled again.

”I heard you.”

Of course, the dungeon did not respond. Arin opened his bag and looked inside. There were several things in there. His mission paper, some silver coins, the magic stone he had found.

And...

Nothing to eat.

Arin stared at the bag in disbelief. ”You’ve got to be kidding me.” He closed it. Then, he heard something moving. Arin immediately stood.

His sword was in his hand as he looked around. A small creature was crawling out from behind a rock. It looked like a giant rat, with a body covered in gray fur. Arin stared at the creature. The creature stared at him.

They stood like that for a few seconds. Then, Arin’s stomach growled. The rat’s ears twitched. Arin looked at it. The rat looked at him. Arin slowly lowered his sword.

”Don’t run.”

The rat immediately ran. Arin sighed. ”Of course you’ll run.” He chased after it, but the rat hid in a corner. Arin stopped and looked around. There were several rats in there. At least ten of them.

Arin stared at the creatures. Then, at his stomach. Then, back at the rats. He slowly raised his sword. ”I feel so sorry about this.” The rats scattered, and Arin chased after them.

One.

Two.

Three.

The little monsters were not strong. Within a few minutes, they were all dead. Arin stood over their corpses, and the System notified him.

[Monster Defeated.]

[Experience Gained.]

Arin looked at the corpses. He had killed monsters, but this was different. Now, he had another problem. Arin picked one of the rats up. ”Can humans eat dungeon monsters?” He had heard that adventurers sold monster parts.

Sometimes, the meat was edible. But he had never asked about that. Arin looked at the rat’s corpse. His stomach growled again. ”That’s not a vote of confidence.”

He sighed. ”But I’m not dying because I was too picky.” Arin cleaned the meat as best as he could with his sword. Then, he looked around. There was no fire. ”No fire either.” Arin looked around. He found a few dry sticks near the wall. He picked them up. Then, he remembered something.

Mana.

He had 5 points, but he did not know any fire magic. ”Right.” Arin looked at his sword. ”I have a sword.” He looked at the sticks. ”I have sticks.” He looked at the rat’s corpse. ”I have food.” He stopped. ”I need fire.” Arin sighed. ”One problem at a time.”

Eventually, he found a small glowing crystal on the wall. It was warm, but not hot enough to cook food. However, it was enough to heat the dry sticks, and after a few tries, Arin managed to make a small fire.

Arin stared at the tiny flames. ”I did it.” They were not big, but they were flames. Arin cooked the meat, and the smell filled the chamber. Arin’s stomach growled again. ”Please.” He looked at his stomach. ”Have some dignity.” It did not listen. Eventually, Arin ate some of the meat.

He chewed it, and his expression changed. Then, he swallowed. ”It’s not bad.” He ate some more. Then, some more. Until he finished the meat. Arin leaned against the wall, and his stomach stopped growling. He closed his eyes. ”That was the best terrible meal I ever had.”

Arin felt himself relax for the first time since falling into the dungeon. Then, he remembered something. He opened his Status.

[Status]

Name: Arin Rahman

Race: Human

Level: 5

EXP: 37/200

STR: 10

AGI: 9

VIT: 10

MANA: 6

Skills:

Basic Swordsmanship Lv.1

Titles: None

Arin looked at his EXP. ”I need more.” He closed the window. Then, the dungeon shook.

BOOM.

Arin immediately stood, and the small fire went out. Another tremor followed.

BOOM.

Dust fell from the ceiling, and Arin looked towards the tunnel.

”What now?” Arin activated Dungeon Sense. The blessing was almost out.

[Remaining Duration: 00:21]

Arin’s expression changed.”Twenty-one seconds.” He looked around the dungeon. Something was moving nearby. Several monsters. But there was something else. A path. A very big path. It led downwards, and Arin stared at it.

The dungeon below was massive. He could feel power beneath him. But the blessing was fading.

[Remaining Duration: 00:10]

Arin turned around and looked at the tunnel. He hesitated for a moment. Then, he looked at his sword. ”I need to get stronger.” Arin turned around and walked towards the deeper part of the dungeon.

[Remaining Duration: 00:05]

Arin walked down the tunnel.

[00:04]

Another step. ℯℯ𝑙.

[00:03]

Another.

[00:02]

Arin reached the edge of a huge staircase.

[00:01]

The blue light around his vision disappeared.

[Dungeon Master’s Blessing has ended.]

Arin stood in the dark. He looked down the staircase. ”Well.” He swallowed. ”I guess I’m going deeper.” Arin took the first step. Then, the second. Then, the third. The dungeon was colder now, and the air was heavier. And somewhere below him. Something was roaring.

ROAAAAAR!

Arin stopped, and his stomach growled again. He looked down the staircase. ”Please tell me that’s not another monster I have to eat.” The roar echoed again, and Arin sighed. ”Forget I said that.” He continued down the stairs, and the deeper dungeon awaited him.