Gacha Leveling

Chapter 205 - 66 – Bride’s Waterfall Dungeon

They stopped at a small village where barely 100 people lived. The village was simply called Bride’s Waterfall, the same name of the waterfall where the dungeon appeared. It was a very tall waterfall where wind blew constantly against its waters making the water in free fall look like the veil of a bride on her wedding day.The village basically lived from tourism from people who came to bathe in the waters of the waterfall and the small lake that formed under the bride’s veil. It had only two inns, an expensive hotel that was also a farm with luxurious rooms and a small cheap motel.

Given the difficulty of the dungeon, there were very few adventurers there. All very powerful parties of level 20 and up. Most of them were staying at the motel and plenty of them knew Eric well from meeting inside the dungeons and even trading blows with the man.

The farm hotel was, however, mostly empty. The appearance of the dungeon destroyed their business, since no one wanted to spend a lot of money to see a dungeon. The ones staying there were government officials who came to manage the dungeon appearance and richer adventurers who came after Orpheu’s Sword.

From the 30 rooms the hotel had, 2 were occupied by 4 government officials and 8 by adventurers.

When Mia’s bus arrived, the hotel owner had tears in his eyes. More clients, and, more importantly, rich clients, meant he could pay his employees that month.

A room for the drivers, a room for Eric and Vanessa, a room for Matthew and Faralynn, and a room for Mia. The girl used her father’s credit card not withholding any expenses.

"You’re here for the dungeon as well?" The hotel owner asked while typing their information on the computer.

"Yes." Mia said while signing some papers.

"You look young. You know this is a high level dungeon?" The owner commented nervously, not trying to offend, but also worried about his new rich clients. "We do offer services other than the waterfall. Horse riding, milking cows, petting the animals, nature tracking..." He added trying to sell more services.

"We’re strong enough." Faralynn interjected. Her elven appearance surprised the owner a bit.

"I see. I’m sorry. But if after you finish in the dungeon, please consider enjoying what our hotel has to offer." He said lowering his head.

"Don’t worry." Mia winked at him. "If all goes well in there we’ll party enough in your pool. It’s heated, isn’t it?"

"Yes it is. It is very nice this time of the year to bathe in it during the cold night." The owner said giving them keys. "Thanks for choosing our establishment."

"Should we go to the dungeon now?" Vanessa asked, picking her key from Mia.

"The dungeon is currently closed." The owner informed them. "They’ll open it tomorrow or the day after. The dungeon inspectors are finishing evaluating it."

When a new dungeon appeared, the government immediately took ownership of them, regardless where it appeared. After that, they created a protection perimeter to protect the citizens from whatever could come out of it. Then inspectors came to evaluate the dungeon and its economic viability and national security endangerment. Based on their report, the dungeon was either sold to a guild to administrate it or it was kept under government supervision.

At that moment, 4 government inspectors were evaluating it and making their report.

"Then we have time to relax!" Mia clapped her hands excitedly. "Let’s go to the pool!" She pulled Faralynn and Matthew’s hands.

"Let’s unpack first. We can meet there." Matthew smiled at her.

"Oh, yeah." Mia smiled. She looked happier than usual. Perhaps because it was the first time she was in an adventure with Matthew since his return and not facing a war. Being invited by Faralynn meant a lot to her. So much that she was covering all the expenses.

Matthew and Faralynn went to their room where they unpacked, changed and then went to the hotel pool.

There Vanessa was already sunbathing dressed in a red and black bikini. Eric was beside her in green large swimming trunks and putting on tanning oil on her.

Matthew, dressed in red tight swimming trunks, and Faralynn, dressed in a one piece silver swimsuit with a bare back and a navel window, sat beside them.

"It’s still odd for me to see you two like this." Matthew smiled watching the intimate moment of the couple.

"It’s odd for me too seeing you all grown up with a fiancee, kid." Vanessa teased him.

"Isn’t it weird? I mean, you two were married to each other’s siblings." Faralynn asked and then covered her mouth. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be..."

"It’s ok!" Eric laughed loudly. "It was weird at first." He added.

"Especially with Katia in the house." Vanessa sat up. "But it’s not like there was nothing there." She blushed. "We were just grieving too much to really see each other."

At that moment, Mia appeared talking with a tall athletic Japanese woman, both walking towards the pool

Mia was wearing a yellow strapless bikini top and a black thong.

The Japanese woman walking with her had hazel eyes, a long hair tied up in a ponytail by round golden bells. Her left torso and arm was covered by tattoos depicting a dragon surrounded by red chrysanthemums. She was wearing a white bikini with frills. A very cute piece of wardrobe that didn’t really fit her imposing presence.

"Hi guys!" Mia skipped in their direction. "This is Kaoru, she’s the leader of the Wandering Swords guild." She introduced the woman. "She came with her party to explore the dungeon as well."

"It’s an honor to meet you." Kaoru bowed respectfully.

"This is Faralynn Laufgraan and her fiance Matthew. This is Eric, leader of the Valhalla Riders guild and his girlfriend, Vanessa." Mia introduced them.

"Nice to meet you." Everyone said in their own voices.

"Wandering Swords, you guys are famous. Going around collecting artifacts." Eric commented.

"Thank you." Kaoru was polite. "I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but I’m not familiar with the Valhalla Riders."

"Not at all. We’re just a small guild, we barely have 20 members." Eric laughed loudly.

"Wait. Isn’t that Matty?" A female voice said from afar, interrupting them.

They all turned to see a blue eyed and red haired woman dressed in a navy blue one piece swimsuit with a wide cleavage, thin straps and showing plenty of skin. It was Catherine, the head of the adventurer department of the Tower of Ryvylin guild.

"Didn’t think I’d meet you again so soon." She added getting near the group.

She quickly introduced herself with a smile, immediately recognizing Kaoru as the leader of the Wandering Blades.

"You’re after that sword?" Catherine asked Kaoru.

"Yes." Kaoru was succinct.

"Another Katana for your collection." The red haired woman teased.

"Yes." The Japanese woman didn’t react. "If it’s a physical weapon."

A short blond haired and dark skinned man with silver eyes approached them. Matthew could recognize him as Catherine’s husband. He was wearing just a black, red and blue speedo and carrying a pair of towels.

"Hey honey. Who are these?" He greeted his wife with a kiss on the cheek.

Everyone introduced themselves again. His name was Kleb, a human from another planet, genetically very similar to Earth humans, but who had silver eyes, dark skin and light collared hair.

"You’re after the sword too?" Matthew asked Catherine. "I expected Claudio to be drooling all over it."

"He is!" Catherine laughed. "And yes, we’re here for the sword. However, what we really want is to buy the rights for the dungeon, so, first, we’re doing a survey if it’s worth it." She smiled at Matthew. "The hotel alone is worth it. Have you guys seen the horses? They’re beautiful. Nuilynn Tall breed."

The same breed that Faralynn’s horse, Aurfax, was.

"We just arrived today." Mia shook her head. "But Lynn is Nuilynn nobility. We’ve seen plenty of Nuilynn Talls."

The conversation soon went to horses and breeds. Catherine kept mentioning her daughter and how she loved animals. Kaoru started a parallel conversation with Faralynn about Nuilynn and the weaponry the elves used and their metalwork, especially.

They didn’t seem to be at the doors of a dungeon exploration. The sun high up in the sky, the cheerful talking, the smell of tanning oil and the hotel owner running the drinks for them, since he had to send most of the staff home for lack of guests, made it all seem more like a vacation to Matthew.

He laid back on the pool chair and relaxed, feeling the sun warming his skin and his Vital Shield protecting him from the worst of the radiation.

The next day, however, things were different. All the parties in town were heavily armed in front of the Bride’s Waterfall where a shimmering blue gate stood behind the white waters.

The eyes on the adventurers watching and measuring each other revealed tension. Once inside, it was clear that fights would occur.

It was a new dungeon, with no owner. There was no government security. Once inside, things would get ugly.

The government officials read their findings out loud for the adventurers, they collected fees for those who were going to enter. The dungeon rights were going to be sold in the next months to come, but, until then, the government was going to administrate it.

Therefore, from that day forward, the dungeon would be open.

Matthew looked at Catherine dressed in her silver bikini and black cloak and her party. He then looked at Kaoru wearing a silk red hakama, a silk white haori and bandages covering her chest. She also was accompanied by her party.

Just yesterday they were all having a good time. But how would they behave inside the dungeon?

Matthew took a deep breath. It was time.