The Unawakened Porter's Divine System

D-Rank Expedition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Xavier stared at the Holy Maiden.

“Five minutes?”

“Yes. Five minutes.”

It was so casually said that Xavier wasn't sure if she was joking.

“Do you even have your gear ready?”

“My gear?” Xavier asked.

“Your hunting equipment.”

Xavier paused.

Then he chuckled a bit.

“I don't really have any.” He said.

The Holy Maiden blinked.

“You don't?”

Xavier shook his head.

“The only things I have are a pickaxe and a few knives.”

For a moment, she simply stared at him confused.

Then she covered her mouth.

“Oh.” She suddenly remembered.

She looked slightly embarrassed.

“Sorry. I forgot you were working as a porter not long ago.”

“Yhh, It's fine.” Xavier replied.

The Holy Maiden turned.

“Alexandria.”

“Yes, Holy Maiden?”

“Get him some equipment.”

Alexandria stepped forward.

“What weapon would you prefer?”

Xavier thought about it.

“Any.” He answered.

“Any?”

“I've never really had a chance to develop a preference.” He explained.

Alexandria looked at the Holy Maiden.

The Holy Maiden considered him for a moment.

“Get him a good sword and a pair of enchanted leather gloves.”

Alexandria nodded.

“Yes, Holy Maiden.”

She walked out of the room.

Xavier watched her leave.

Alexandria spoke to an attendant outside and came back in.

He watched her move back to her spot beside the Holy Maiden.

He then looked back at the Holy Maiden.

“Wait...”

The Holy Maiden glanced at him.

“What's wrong?”

“Didn't you say five minutes?” He asked.

“Yes.”

“Then why are we still here?”

She smiled.

“Relax. We will leave in five minutes.”

Xavier frowned.

“Hmmm.”

“Relax.” The Holy Maiden stated.

She picked up her tea again.

“Since this is your first time entering a dungeon with us, you should relax while you can.”

Xavier stared at her.

‘Saying something like that just makes me more nervous.’

Three minutes later, they were walking down the sanctuary's grand staircase.

By the time they reached the entrance, exactly five minutes had passed.

Xavier stepped outside.

As soon as they stepped outside, an attendant walked towards Alexandria and handed over a long package.

A group of hunters and several large vehicles were waiting a short distance from the sanctuary.

The vehicles looked more like military transport than ordinary cars. Heavy, reinforced, and large enough to carry several people and their equipment.

The hunters noticed them.

Then they noticed who was walking at the front.

The Holy Maiden.

The entire group immediately straightened.

Some lowered their heads.

Others silently whispered prayers.

Everyone seemed to freeze and compose at the sight of her.

The Holy Maiden smiled as she approached.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Holy Maiden.”

Their voices came almost simultaneously.

She stopped before them.

“Thank you all for accepting the request from the Dominion Church. I know clearing a D-rank dungeon is not a simple task, and I'm grateful that you've agreed to undertake it.”

The hunters listened attentively.

“You're doing this not only for the reward you've been promised, but for humanity as well.”

Her golden eyes swept across them.

“May the Divine watch over you.”

The hunters bowed their heads.

“May the Divine watch over us.” They repeated.

Then one of them noticed the person standing beside her.

His eyes narrowed.

Who was that?

A young man with messy black hair and clothes that looked far too ordinary for someone standing beside the Holy Maiden.

The others noticed him too.

Their expressions changed.

Who was he?

And why was he standing beside her?

The Holy Maiden didn't seem bothered by their stares.

But Xavier was.

Not that much but it felt like the usual looks of disgust he had always gotten due to his eyes.

Just then, the Holy Maiden suddenly dropped a bombshell on them.

“In addition, I'll be accompanying you today.”

Silence.

The hunters looked at one another.

One of them finally spoke.

“Holy Maiden... you're coming with us?”

There was clear surprise in his voice.

“Yes.” She replied.

A Holy Maiden accompanying a group of D-rank hunters into a D-rank dungeon was unusual.

“Is there a particular reason?”

The Holy Maiden smiled.

“I simply want to observe the expedition myself.”

It was true.

Just not the whole truth.

Her gaze shifted briefly toward Xavier.

She wanted to see him fight.

She wanted to see him move.

She wanted to understand exactly what kind of person could accomplish what he had done despite being unawakened.

“And there's one more thing.”

She gestured toward Xavier.

“He'll be joining you.”

Every eye turned toward him.

“This is Xavier.”

She paused.

“I believe he would be a very reliable companion.”

That was all she said.

No rank.

No explanation.

Nothing else.

The hunters exchanged glances.

Some were clearly skeptical.

But none questioned her.

If the Holy Maiden had brought him, there had to be a reason.

“Understood.”

One of the hunters nodded.

“We'll take care of him.”

Xavier wasn't sure how to feel about that statement.

The hunters began moving toward the vehicles.

Alexandria approached the Holy Maiden.

“Your vehicle is ready.”

She shook her head.

“I'll ride with them.”

Alexandria paused.

“Holy Maiden...”

“I said I'll ride with them.”

Alexandria sighed quietly.

“As you wish.”

Hearing this, smiles spread across the hunter's faces.

They immediately began making room.

“Holy Maiden, please.”

“You can take my seat.”

“No, mine.”

“There's plenty of space here.”

The Holy Maiden smiled.

“Thank you.”

She climbed inside.

Then she looked toward Xavier.

“Xavier, come sit here.”

The entire vehicle went silent.

Xavier blinked.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

He climbed inside and sat beside her.

Alexandria took the seat on her other side.

The hunters stared.

Some looked away immediately.

Others tried very hard not to show their irritation.

None of them said a word.

What exactly could they say?

The Holy Maiden leaned back comfortably.

“Everyone ready?”

“Yes!”

The engine roared.

The vehicles began moving.

Xavier looked out the window.

He had only ever entered E-rank dungeons before.

He had no idea what waited for them inside that dungeon.

But something told him this was going to be very different from the dungeons he'd entered before.

Far away from the sanctuary...

Deep within the darkness of the dungeon...

Two crimson eyes slowly opened and flashed within the darkness.

It glowed for a moment before disappearing into the darkness.