Noah stood in the Guild hall early that morning, leaning against a marble pillar while Eina sifted through a stack of quest scrolls behind the counter.
The place was alive with noise—adventurers bartering, laughing, shouting about floor clears and close calls. But somehow, the moment he walked in, the noise around him seemed to dip.
He was being noticed now.
Watched.
"Found something," Eina finally said, sliding a sealed envelope across the counter. "A subjugation mission. Not posted on the wall. A private request."
Noah raised an eyebrow. "Special treatment?"
"Or someone testing you," she replied. "Either way, the reward is high. There's been a sudden surge of monsters between floors nine and ten. A merchant's scouting party vanished. This is a recovery and purge mission."
He took the envelope, tore it open, and scanned the details.
"Clean up and locate survivors. Dangerous terrain. Limited light. No magic backup."
Eina hesitated. "You don't have to accept it."
Noah looked up and gave her a calm smile. "But I will."
"…Then at least promise me something," she said, lowering her voice. "If things go bad, don't try to be a hero."
He chuckled. "I'm not a hero, Eina."
She stared. "Aren't you?"
He tapped the guns at his hips. "No. I'm something the Dungeon will learn to fear."
And with that, he turned and walked out, his coat fluttering behind him.
---
Dungeon, Floor 9
The deeper floors were a different world.
The walls pulsed faintly like living flesh. The air smelled of rot and ancient stone. Monsters moved in packs now—more intelligent, more aggressive.
Noah stepped into the dark, his eyes scanning the surroundings like radar. He didn't rush. He didn't speak.
He was hunting.
And being hunted.
He could feel it—shadows watching from behind fallen pillars, distant footsteps that didn't echo quite right.
Then came the sound.
Screaming.
He sprinted toward it, boots slamming against cracked tile. A few corridors in, he found them.
Three adventurers—young, armored, terrified—surrounded by mutated goblins.
One was already down, clutching a bleeding leg.
The goblins hissed and advanced.
Noah stepped into the clearing without a word and drew both pistols.
BANG. BANG. BOOM.
Three goblins dropped before the others even knew what hit them. Flames exploded on impact, consuming them in violent bursts.
The remaining monsters turned toward him—and froze.
Noah didn't hesitate.
He moved through them like lightning, bullets flying with perfect accuracy, each shot fired at just the right angle to knock them back or take them out clean.
The surviving adventurers stared in shock.
"…Who the hell is he?" one whispered.
"He's not even sweating."
Noah knelt beside the injured one. "You can walk?"
He nodded, pale and shaking. "Y-yeah. I think so."
"Then go. Exit's northwest. Avoid corridor B—collapsed path."
"How do you—"
"I mapped it earlier," Noah said simply. "Move."
They obeyed without question.
He turned away from them, checking the area again—and that's when he heard it.
Clapping.
Slow. Mocking.
A man stepped from the shadows—a veteran adventurer, taller than Noah, wrapped in dark gear and flanked by two others.
"Well, well," the man said. "If it isn't the new prodigy."
Noah said nothing.
The man smiled coldly. "Noah, right? Hestia Familia. All alone."
The way he said it wasn't friendly.
"I don't recall asking for an escort," Noah replied flatly.
"You're taking food from the table," the man growled. "You clear quests too fast. Kill monsters too efficiently. You're messing with the economy. People are not happy."
Noah's fingers twitched near his pistol. "So what? You're here to teach me a lesson?"
The man grinned, drawing a curved dagger. "Just a little one."
His two partners spread out, blades drawn.
Noah sighed. "I was hoping for actual monsters."
[Warning: Hostile Adventurers Detected.]
[Fusion Warrior: Threat level—Moderate. Calculating counter-strategy…]
Noah didn't wait for the analysis to finish.
He moved.
CRACK—BOOM!
The first shot shattered the left attacker's knee, sending him screaming to the ground. The second slammed into the wall behind the right one, but the explosion still sent him flying.
The leader charged with impressive speed, dagger aimed for Noah's throat.
Noah ducked low, spun, and drove his knee into the man's ribs—then flipped backward, both pistols aimed point-blank.
BANG. BANG.
The man was blasted off his feet, coat igniting as he slammed against a stone wall and slumped.
Noah stood over him.
"I don't care about your politics," he said coldly. "But if you touch anyone from my Familia again, I'll make sure you never walk out of this Dungeon."
The man coughed, eyes wide with fear.
Noah turned and walked away.
Behind him, the Dungeon trembled slightly.
And so did the city.
---
Later, in the Guild, Eina stared at the written report Noah had handed in. Three rescued. Thirty-one monsters slain. One confrontation with rival adventurers. No injuries.
She looked up at him.
"You're starting to scare people."
"Good," he replied.
---
Back at the church, Hestia stood waiting in the candlelight. She saw the blood on his coat, the soot on his cheek—and ran to him.
"Noah…"
He hugged her with one arm. "I'm okay."
"Did something happen?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle."
She pulled back slightly, eyes searching his face. "They're going to keep coming, aren't they?"
He nodded. "The stronger I get, the more they'll try to stop me."
"Then I'll just have to get stronger too," she whispered.
He blinked. "You?"
"You're not the only one with pride, you know," she said, crossing her arms. "I'm your goddess. If they come for you, they're coming for me. And I won't let them take you without a fight."
He smiled softly.
"Then let's fight. Together."
And from the rooftops above, someone watched them disappear into the church.
The shadows were growing restless.
But so was Noah.
And the Dungeon hadn't seen anything yet.