Unfortunately, there wasn't much to this dungeon.
It was F-rank. Axel hadn't expected anything worthwhile and the dungeon delivered exactly that. These kinds of runs were practically hand-me-downs. The real profits? Hoarded by guilds. What was left behind got rented out to the general public for pocket change.
There was only one place where those rules didn't apply.
The Black Market.
Guild less, lawless, dangerous, and open to anyone with the right access. In his past life, Axel had never cared enough to pursue that path. He was a soloist back then, stubborn and isolated.
But in the book, Axel Lycan had been handed VIP access on a silver platter. All thanks to the social orbit of rich kids like Mico Valeine, Landon Dusktone, and Selene Asper.
He checked his phone, it was 10:56 AM. He still had a lot of the day left over. He stretched his aching muscles and realized a big issue, he was drenched in bug gunk.
Ew.
He took off what gunk he could and ordered a taxi back to Atherion, ignoring the way the driver's nose twitched at the smell. Once at Atherion, he made a beeline through the dorm halls, brushing off the wide-eyed looks and muttered "Is that… blood?" comments.
His room, blessedly, had a small shower.
He peeled off the rest of his clothes, washed away the filth, and let the water run colder than necessary. Afterward, he toweled off, combed his damp hair, and changed into a plain tee and sweatpants.
Since he didn't have anything else to do, he went to the training center. It was pretty empty because it was supposed to be everyone's day off and who in their right mind would want to work out this early.
Between sets, Axel's thoughts drifted.
His bank account had 7,500 G. Not terrible, but not good either. Meals were covered by government funding. His dorm was obviously free too. Still, he needed money for long-term goals. Dungeons, potions, gear, favors, etc.
He considered taking up a job.
What would he even apply for? Cafeteria runner? Shop clerk? Librarian?
No experience. Barely any credentials. This world wasn't going to pay him to stand around and act nonchalant.
He could try out stocks, but this wasn't that kind of novel.
There was also another option, extorting the rich kids around him for profit. Who else would fit the bill better than Mico Valeine, the richest of the rich?
He could work out a deal with her, but first, he had to firmly prove his worth.
He returned to the day he died.
Stay on the plot huh.
The plot was already going left-field the moment he returned to this world with his memories attached. He'd still follow important plot points, but adding his own flair would just…make things more exciting.
He exercised until he got tired and went off to the bench. He turned on his phone and to his surprise, he had 4 missed messages from Selene.
NPC 2: |Axeellll, do you want to hangout?| 3:24 PM
NPC 2: |I can never catch you after class. It's been a while, lets catch up!| 3:24 PM
NPC 2: |Axel, are you ignoring me?| 3:57 PM
NPC 2: |(╥﹏╥)| 4:10 PM
It was currently 4:32, shit.
He contemplated whether he should text back or not. In all honesty, he still felt…uncomfortable around these people. He knows that they're different, like really different, but he couldn't help but associate the heroines with the ones in his past life. He wanted to minimize all encounters, at least until he felt more at ease.
However, in the depths of his heart, there was still a part of him that wanted to reconnect. That wanted to have fun and live.
And that part, ended up winning.
Axel: |Sorry. I was at the gym and my notifs were on silent. I'm free to hang. Wya?|
A practically instant reply came.
NPC 2: |FR?! Okay, I'm at a park rn. It's nearby Atherion. I'll send you the location.|
NPC 2: |Location sent.|
Hm, only 15 minutes away.
He couldn't go out in these clothes obviously. He went to his dorm and changed clothes. Nothing too fancy, just a button-up shirt and jeans. He put on his sneakers and headed out.
…
Axel: |I'm here, wya?|
NPC 2: |At the swings.|
He walked towards the indicated spot.
And froze.
There she was.
Selene Asper. Sitting on a swing, phone in hand, lips curled upward in a soft smile. Her brown hair caught the late-afternoon light, shifting gold as it flowed with the breeze. Her pale legs were neatly folded beneath a modest plaid skirt, and her blazer sat open, relaxed against the frame of her thin shoulders.
But it wasn't any of that that caught him.
It was the moment she saw him.
Her smile widened, beamed.
That bright, earnest expression belonged to no one else.
"Axel! When did you get here?" she called out, rising from the swing with a bounce in her step and running toward him.
He blinked and bit the inside of his cheek.
"Just arrived," he said, his voice casual.