WebNovels

Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: A chance to change

It had only been a month since Ray officially started his career as a dungeon explorer. But the truth was, he had registered three years ago. Back then, full of uncertainty but still holding a small hope for change, he stepped into his first dungeon. That's when he realized.

He didn't receive a skill.

Most people given a unique ability during their first exposure to dungeon energy—a personal power that became their main weapon. But not Ray. The system interface appeared, his stats showed up, but no skill ever came. On top of that, his stat growth rate was just average, with no standout attribute to make up for it.

With no skill and no sign of hidden talent, he gave up almost immediately. He quit the idea of becoming an explorer and began looking for a normal job instead.

In the years that followed, Ray kept researching. He wanted to know if anyone else like him—someone without a skill—had managed to survive as a dungeon explorer. There were a few cases, but most of them didn't last long. Usually, those people got stuck between the first and second floors. That was the limit. Beyond that point, dungeon runs required coordination, planning, and teamwork—none of which came easily when you had no skill to contribute. No one wanted to party with someone who brought nothing unique to the table.

He also learned more about how dungeons worked. Each one had a structure and pattern, but there were variations depending on the region. Generally, the deeper you went, the stronger the monsters became. That was expected. But it wasn't just their strength that increased.

The deeper floors also introduced more variety.

Take the Quadform Dungeon, for example. On the first floor, you'd only find one type of monster: Boars. They were fast, aggressive, and dangerous—but manageable once you knew their patterns. On the second floor, Wolves were added to the mix alongside the Boars. On the third floor, Sabertooths joined in, making the encounters more unpredictable. And with every additional floor, another monster type was introduced.

The further down you went, the more chaotic it became—not just stronger enemies, but a wider range of behaviors, tactics, and threats. Some monsters hunted in packs. Some were territorial. Others ambushed from above or hid underground. The dungeons themselves grew wider and more complex, turning each floor into a maze.

After finishing his dinner, Ray checked his inbox on his phone. He began scrolling through the flood of messages he'd received since his unexpected encounter with TCT.

There were all kinds. Some asked if he was secretly concealing his skill. Others were just trolls, sending random jokes or trying to provoke him. A few messages were encouraging—people cheering him on or saying they respected his courage. Some were party invitations from explorers looking to recruit him. And, of course, there were a few messages filled with hate for no real reason at all just because he doesn't have any skill.

"It's really unusual for you to be here at this time. Did you have a fight with your girlfriend?"

The voice came from across the room. A woman in a waitress uniform walked over and sat down on the opposite bench. Her name was Dianne—friendly, sharp-eyed, and someone who'd worked at the café almost as long as Ray had been a regular.

Ray glanced down at his phone.

8:02 p.m.

He blinked. Had that much time really passed?

"Looks like I got too caught up reading messages," he muttered, sliding the phone back into his pocket. "Didn't realize how late it got."

Dianne watched him closely. Normally, if she teased him about his girlfriend, he'd flinch, blush a little, and deny it with that awkward smile of his. But this time, nothing. Not even a reaction.

"I guess I'll head out now," Ray said, standing up with a suddenness that almost felt like an escape. He grabbed his bag without meeting her eyes.

"Alright. Be careful out there," she replied, her voice gentle.

She didn't stop him, even though her instincts told her something was off.

Ray was always like this—polite to a fault, careful with his words, thoughtful in a way that almost made him seem distant. Dianne had long figured him out, at least in part. He wasn't cold or aloof. He was just… careful. Too careful.

Like someone who'd been hurt before and now walked on eggshells, afraid of accidentally stepping on someone else's.

She knew he didn't mean to be distant. Sometimes he just didn't know what to say. And instead of risking the wrong words, he'd choose silence.

"Ray."

Just as his hand reached for the door handle, Dianne's voice called out softly behind him.

He paused.

"If you've got something on your mind," she said, her tone gentle but steady, "you can always talk to me. Or Master."

For a moment, Ray didn't move. The café was quiet again, the low hum of distant machines and faint jazz playing in the background.

Then he turned his head slightly and gave her a small smile—not forced, not bright, but genuine in its quiet warmth.

"I will," he said.

And with that, he stepped outside, the door closing gently behind him.

***

Once again, Ray made his way to the Dungeon Explorer Guild to retrieve his tent from the locker he had rented. The guild was still bustling with activity—explorers lined up to sell their loot, their voices blending into a steady murmur of tired excitement and occasional laughter.

After collecting his tent and a few other essentials, Ray left the rest of his belongings securely stored inside the locker before heading out.

Leaving the dungeon city, Ray passed through the main gate. The city itself was surrounded by towering, reinforced walls and guarded around the clock by military personnel. These defenses were designed to minimize the risk of monsters escaping into surrounding territories—an ever-present threat in a world shaped by dungeon activity.

Just days earlier, Fortified Site D had suffered a sudden and catastrophic dungeon outbreak. The dungeon, dormant for the past four years, unexpectedly erupted with a monstrous horde that surged into the city in the middle of the night. Entire districts were destroyed in a matter of hours as chaos spread faster than emergency services could respond.

The primary evacuation center, though equipped for emergencies, had been quickly overwhelmed by the flood of panicked civilians. With no choice, authorities began relocating hundreds—possibly thousands—of survivors to neighboring fortified sites. Even now, the full extent of the damage remained unclear, and reconstruction efforts had only just begun.

After walking for half an hour, Ray arrived at the park—once a quiet space in the middle of the city, now fully transformed into a crowded evacuation site. Rows of temporary tents covered almost every patch of grass, creating a maze of narrow pathways between them. The air buzzed with the low murmur of voices, the rustle of tarps, and the occasional cry of a restless child.

Even before the outbreak, this park had quietly become a place where the homeless—many of whom had lost their homes to earlier dungeon-related incidents—came to sleep. Most people ignored them, pretending not to see the growing number of makeshift shelters hidden beneath the trees.

Now, the park was filled past capacity. Victims from Fortified Site D, who had lost everything in the sudden dungeon outbreak, had joined those who were already struggling to survive here.

Looking around at the crowded scene, Ray doubted he'd be able to find an empty spot to pitch his tent. So instead, he decided to search for a bench or any place where he could rest for the night. Unfortunately, most of the benches nearby were already occupied—some by families huddled together, others by individuals trying to get whatever sleep they could.

After wandering for a while, he gave up on finding a bench. In the end, he simply sat down and leaned against the wall of a nearby building—just like he used to, back when he had nowhere else to go. It wasn't comfortable, but it was familiar.

Ray opened the Dungeon Explorer app and scrolled through the recent threads as he waited for sleep to take over. Unsurprisingly, the most popular topic was the dungeon outbreak at Fortified Site D. Dozens of videos had been uploaded—chaotic footage of monsters rampaging through the streets, emergency evacuations, and panicked survivors. The comments were flooded with speculation, especially about a strange creature no one seemed to recognize.

He kept browsing, skimming past arguments, rumors, and shaky theories, looking for something that might interest him. Eventually, one thread caught his attention—it was a recruitment post. This one was specifically recruiting explorers who didn't have any skills.

The recruitment post had been made just four hours ago. It was for a five-person party, and only one spot remained.

Ray had always been interested in joining a party for dungeon exploration. Going solo had its advantages, but it was lonely, and venturing deep alone was dangerous. Still, no one wanted to add someone without a skill—especially not for serious dives. Even on the rare occasion someone offered, Ray often declined. He didn't want to be a burden.

He stared at the "Apply" button, thumb hovering uncertainly over it.

The comments section was turned off. Either the original poster had disabled it from the start, or someone had commented something toxic enough to force them to shut it down.

Ray forced himself to press the button.

For a moment, his mind felt hazy—like he'd just made a decision without fully thinking it through. But the fog cleared when the screen changed, bringing him to a page where he could write something about himself to appeal to the recruiter.

There was a text box for introductions and experience, but it wasn't required. Without hesitation, Ray skipped it and hit the "Apply" button.

He didn't care if he got rejected. At least, that's what he told himself. But deep down, a quiet part of him hoped—just a little—that he'd be accepted. That maybe, for once, he'd get to know what it felt like to explore a dungeon with someone else by his side.

***

It was already the middle of the night. Since it was dangerous for a woman to walk alone at that hour, Master always gave Dianne a ride home on his motorcycle. Tonight, he dropped her off in front of a convenience store near her apartment because she wanted to pick up a few things.

After buying what she needed, Dianne made her way toward her apartment. As she reached the front of the building, she noticed someone sleeping while leaning against the wall. At first, she assumed it was just a homeless person. But something about them felt familiar.

Curious, she stepped closer to get a better look.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

She was right—it was someone she knew. Someone she never expected to find here like this.

"Ray. Ray," she called softly, nudging him gently to wake him up.

"..."

Ray slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the dim light as he looked up at the person waking him. His eyes widened in surprise when he recognized her. Quickly, he wiped his face with the sleeve of his jacket, trying to compose himself.

"Good morning," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

"It's still midnight, dummy," she said with a teasing smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"Sorry, I'll find another place..."

Ray stood up quickly and began gathering his belongings.

"Why are you trying to make me look like a bad person?"

Dianne teased with a playful pout.

"I... didn't mean that..."

Ray replied awkwardly, still avoiding her eyes.

Dianne let out a soft sigh, then smiled warmly at him.

"Let's go inside."

Without waiting for his response, she reached out and gently took his hand, tugging him toward her apartment. She knew him well enough to understand—if she didn't take the lead, he would have refused out of sheer stubbornness.

On the way to the apartment, silence hung between them. Ray didn't say a word—he simply let Dianne pull him along without resistance.

"Here we are," she said softly, stopping in front of a door marked 203.

She unlocked it and stepped inside. "Come in."

Ray hesitated for a moment, then followed her in.

"If you need the bathroom, it's right there," Dianne said, pointing to a door just past the entrance.

The apartment was small but cozy. A warm light from a standing lamp in the corner gave the room a calm, lived-in feeling. There was a low table with a few open books scattered across it, a couch with a blanket half-folded on one end, and a kitchenette that looked clean but well-used.

Ray stepped inside, his footsteps quiet against the wooden floor. He looked around awkwardly, unsure of what to do with himself.

"You can sit anywhere," Dianne said as she slipped off her shoes and headed toward the kitchen. "Want some tea or coffee?"

Ray shook his head. "No, it's fine. I don't want to trouble you."

"You already are," she said with a teasing grin, glancing at him over her shoulder. "So let me at least pretend I'm a good host."

Ray gave a faint, embarrassed smile but sat down near the table.

Dianne returned a moment later with a cup of warm barley tea and placed it in front of him anyway.

"Thanks..." he muttered.

She sat down on the couch and hugged a cushion to her chest, watching him for a few quiet moments.

"You really planned to sleep out there?" she asked softly.

Ray didn't answer right away. He stared at the cup in his hands, watching the steam rise.

"I've done it before," he finally said. "It's not a big deal."

"It is to me," she replied. Her voice wasn't accusing—just quietly concerned.

Ray glanced at her, then looked away.

"I didn't want to bother anyone."

"You wouldn't have," she said. "Not me."

The room fell into another brief silence, but this time it felt less heavy. The tension between them had eased, just a little.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay sleeping on the couch?" she asked as she stood up and stretched lightly.

"Unfortunately, my bed's not big enough for the two of us," she added with a teasing smile.

Ray glanced away, pretending to examine the furniture instead of reacting.

"The couch is more than enough," he replied, doing his best to ignore her playful tone.

Dianne let out a soft chuckle. "You're so easy to tease."

"I'm not—" he started, but stopped himself. There was no winning with her when she was in this mood.

She walked over to a nearby cabinet, pulled out a folded blanket and a pillow, and handed them to him.

"Here. Let me at least make sure you're comfortable."

Ray took them with a quiet, "Thanks."

Dianne smiled, then glanced toward the hallway.

"I'm going to take a quick shower. Make yourself at home, okay?"

Ray gave a small nod. "Alright."

She disappeared behind the bathroom door, leaving Ray standing in the middle of the quiet living room with the pillow and blanket in his arms.

Ray sat on the couch, clutching the blanket and pillow Dianne had given him. To distract himself from the awkward flutter in his chest, he pulled out his phone and stared at the screen. A single notification caught his eye—Dungeon Explorer App.

His heart skipped for a moment.

He tapped on it.

It was a message.

"You've been accepted into the party."

Ray blinked, rereading the message as if it might disappear. He had been expecting a rejection—or no response at all. But here it was, plain and clear. He wondered if the reason he was accepted because of his encounter with TCT.

He let out a quiet breath, not quite a sigh, not quite a laugh. It didn't feel real yet. But somehow… a part of him stirred with a mix of nervousness and cautious excitement.

For the first time, he wouldn't be entering a dungeon alone.

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