My Guardian System: The Trader

"It's dangerous! Don't go there! It's a dungeon entrance!"

Miles shouted.

"D-D-dungeon entrance?" Oldman Barn stuttered. All colors left his face in an instant upon hearing it.

It wasn't the first time he heard about it, but it was the first that he saw one in person. Based on what he knew, Dungeon Entrance appears randomly. But mostly, they appeared in populated places like the urban areas. Well, based on the history of their appearances, it seemed it was the case.

However, how did it happen? How did it appear in this place? Barn asked in his mind. 

He understood that it was a piece of bad news. No wonder these monsters suddenly appeared from out of thin air.

A while ago,

He just finished his daily chores when he heard an unusual eerie growl. When he glanced outside, he saw some grotesque creatures coming closer to their house.

He immediately shouted to his daughter and granddaughter to escape while he was going to obstruct the monsters.

Though, he didn't expect that Miles would come back. What a silly girl. She almost perished along with him. Fortunately, Jem arrived and defeated the monsters while they were unaware of his presence.

It was a sneaky move from Jem. But still, Oldman Barn could not even fully understand what the lad did.

He already knew that Jem was an ex-human. But Oldman Barn had no idea how strong an ex-human was. Most of the people in the federation treated them like humanity's weapons. For him, ex-humans were no different from normal humans, probably because he hadn't seen an ex-human in action until a while ago.

After seeing Jem's action just now, he could not help but gasp.

But still, it was a dungeon he would be facing! He heard many rumors that dungeons were dens of monsters. 

Moreover, these monsters, he glanced at the lying corpses around him; they weren't easy opponents.

If there were dozens of them inside that dungeon, no matter how strong Jem was, the monsters would overwhelm him. Oldman Barn believed so. 

Frankly, Jem was only able to defeat them because these monsters didn't notice when he approached.

Their whole attention was on him and Miles.

"Right, grandfather. It's a dungeon entrance. And looking at these monsters, it is probably an above-average grade dungeon! Not even the veteran guilds in the Clearing Association would be willing to enter them alone no matter the grade!"

Oldman Barn had no idea about dungeon grades, but looking at his granddaughter's reaction, it seemed to be a serious matter. Compared to him, his granddaughter knows a lot about monsters, dungeons, ex-humans, or the Clearing Association. Well, since she studied in a human military academy.

"Lad, come back here! Let's escape together!"

Jem stopped on his feet and looked behind him.

"I'll be fine," he said without an ounce of worry on his face. His voice was the usual calm voice he has all the time.

Miles was surprised at him. No matter how she thought about it, she could not picture him as that childhood friend of hers in her memory. The current Jem was so different from that kid he used to be.

He used to be a crying, whiny and scaredy-cat kid. That's why she was looking at him like someone who needed her protection.

Yet, the current him was so calm and confident. 

After saying his reply, he returned his gaze to the entrance and started moving again. Looking at him, she felt like whatever they said could not persuade him.

Miles frowned and said, "W-wait! Let me come with you!" She gave up trying to stop him.

Jem stopped again. "You can't."

No matter what the intention of Miles, he could not let her come with him.

"Besides, you need to bring Mr. Barn to a safe place and apply first aid on his wound."

Jem guessed Miles would say it. That's why he didn't use his medicine to heal Mr. Barn's wound. So, he had a reason to refuse her.

He had no idea how much she had changed after so long. But based on what he knew about her, she was difficult to persuade.

"....."

Miles fell silent from his reply. She knew he was right. "B-but…" she mumbled. She wanted to come with him. However, he was right. She needed to help her grandfather recover.

Noticing that she understood him, Jem continued walking towards the entrance.

Even though she was skeptical about leaving Jem alone, she decided to ȧssist her grandfather in getting up. But her eyes kept darting towards Jem's direction.

<Host, I think that girl will be coming after the host later on.>

Jem heard the trader's whisper. "I see." 

His reply was short.

He was more interested in the dungeon than caring about other people. Unfortunately, he could not reveal his devil's left arm to the other people, so Jem could not trade those dead trolls just now in the presence of Mr. Barn and Miles. It would surely freak them out. Moreover, explaining was a bothersome thing.

When Jem was about a few steps away from the entrance, they heard rapid stomping noises coming closer and closer. Along with it was the vibration of the ground.

Instinctively, Miles stopped moving and looked around. Jem also stopped walking and looked to where the noises came from.

What they saw when they looked in the direction of the noises was a giant duckling. It was running in huge strides towards their direction. They also noticed some people riding on its back.

"Leader, over there!" Shouted one of the people on it while pointing her finger to the dungeon entrance.

The bald man on the front squinted his eyes. "Hm, it even appeared here. Just what was happening in the world?" muttered the baldy while frowning.

"Wait, there are some people!" One of their members pointed out upon noticing Jem and the others.

Just a couple of seconds later, they arrived while shouting to Jem, "Getaway from there! That thing is dangerous!"

"....."

Jem just stood there with a nonchalant expression.

Jem understood that it was a mutated animal. Mutated animals were too magical, though some of them were fierce and hostile. Anyway, some of them looks amazing like this duckling. And looks delicious too. He secretly licked his lips while looking at the duckling. It looks very meaty.

A bead of sweat appeared at the duckling's head. It also shivered for a second. Perhaps, sensing his bad intent.

"We are the Supa-Duckling Guild," said the bald person.

Although no one was asking, they introduced themselves anyway.