Clyde POV

  I'm still not sure how I feel about learning that the fifth floor isn't all forest. I guess In a way I always suspected that there had to be more to that floor. Though, I did think it was just more forest. It does make me wonder where the forest path actually leads. They did mention being able to see trees in the distance looking to either side. Those trees were probably illusionary, but if the town is anything to go by, they could indicate the location of a forested area. Which would mean we've been wandering the exterior thinking we're exploring the entire floor.

  I did think the floors layout was a little too straight forward. The only branching path, I thought, was at the beginning. This dungeon has made branching paths meet up just before the boss, so I assumed that was what was happening. The thought that I nearly missed out on exploring the bulk of the fifth floor is more than a little embarrassing. To be fair though, this dungeon hasn't made to many unnecessary rooms beyond the first floor. The occasional branching path that's two or three rooms deep but that's about it. Now however it turns out I may have made a few to many assumptions. Something I thought I had learned to stop doing.

  I made up my mind to try and find this castle Cassandra talked about, if it even exists. Right now though, seeing as the city exists, I have no reason to doubt that it does as well. Given our levels it should be no problem to explore around. I know I could use a change of scenery and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I think we've all had our fill of trees for a while. Not to mention those damned wood golems. Although we did each manage to improve our stamina so it's not all bad.

  Dungeon POV

  It was rather unfortunate that the first people to make it to the town did so when there was a large number of skeletons by the gate. That's what happens when they're set to wonder aimlessly, sometimes they gather in groups temporarily. It was just bad luck that it happen there at that exact time. Granted not all of them are set to wonder around but the majority are The only real exceptions being the shopkeepers. They are still hostile, but every shop needs a shopkeeper.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  At any rate as much as I enjoyed the look on their faces I do wish they could have had time to actually take it in. They will of course have plenty of time after the skeletons are all dead, but it's not the same as the first impression. Fortunately, I still have plenty of chances to wow them on later floors. For now though it's back to waiting for the mana to build up. Compared to when I first arrived the amount of mana I get per day is like a raging river compared to the trickle it once was. If only the I didn't need so much more than I did then.

  As I'm waiting I notice Clyde's party show up for another delve. Right on time as usual, I think to myself before going back to watching a group of soldiers on the fourth. The amount of improvement in such a short time is remarkable. They're almost up to where they're level suggests they should be. They're still making mistakes but they're no longer flailing about and relying on brute strength to simply overpower my mobs. One of them even acquired the same trap detection skill as Chandra, all be it a much weaker form. Surprising considering none of them are of the rogue class. Though I suppose ranger class can detect traps as well. It may also be like foraging where anyone with at least some talent with using healing herbs can acquire the foraging skill.

  Eventually they have to withdraw and I turn my attention to other groups. One group even managed to make it to the fifth floor though despite a valiant effort they don't make it past the first room. Eventually it's Clyde's party's turn to enter the fifth floor. This is what I've been waiting for. Surely based on the way the ladies where talking as they left word has already reached Clyde. I don't have to wait to long for confirmation though, being level 25 with some close to level 26 they make quick work of the wood golems in the first room. Even so it takes them a little time to actually find the hallway leading to the first farm room. Interesting because while I did try to disguise it it wasn't exactly hidden. At least I didn't think it was.

  Stepping into the room the looks on their faces was exactly as I had hoped for. Clearly they already knew about this area, but hearing about it and actually seeing it are obviously not the same thing. The awe lasted until the first griffon attacked. Unlike the ladies though, Clyde's party had a few more options for ranged combat. Darrel tried using water whips to grab the griffon or at least strike it. He missed but the attempts did manage to distract it long enough for one of Chandra's throwing knives backed by a skill to enhance penetration found it's mark ending the fight pretty quickly. Most of the fights went about like that. Sometimes a griffon would try to close the distance only to be intercepted by either Clyde or Cole.

  The real excitement came when they made it to the town. Unlike when the ladies visited there was only a small number of normal 'civilian' skeletons by the gate as well as two 'guards'. If they had come this way from the beginning it might have been a challenging fight. Now though, while not easy it certainly wasn't hard either. I am so looking forward to someone finally being able to explore the town properly. Maybe they'll even explore the castle.