He had not always been like this: a low-level swindler wandering near dungeon entrances, trying to squeeze the greatest possible profit out of every encounter. It was not as simple as waking up one day and suddenly ending in such a miserable state.
He had once had a life, a job, a calling to which he devoted himself. That had been the complete meaning of his life. But sometimes life's paths are not what you expected. Losing your job, being driven from the home you had bought with your family during a mass evacuation… only to end up separated from them, living in the streets like a beggar.
That had been his life.
Family? He had not seen them in years since that day. Perhaps they had already forgotten him.
Friends? Who in hell would want to be friends with someone like him?
That was, by definition, the man the dwarves called Star.
—We're almost at the entrance now —said Swar.
—I'm still surprised you came —said Star.
—This is an important mission. It cannot be left in the hands of someone incompetent.
—I understand —Star replied halfheartedly.
They traveled in a line of caravans carrying heavy loads of runes and resources the dwarves had never fully explained to him, though they looked like precious minerals.
—So then? Got a speech prepared? —Star asked after a while.
—What are you talking about?
—You know. You'll be speaking with very important people. Surely you prepared something.
—I will say exactly what needs to be said.
—Your logic is strange —Star replied.
He sighed.
He sat inside the caravan, sheltered, which was already an achievement. Soon they would reach the entrance that led to the surface.
The surface…
How long had it been since he had last seen it?
Since that incident with the dwarves at the dungeon gate.
He still questioned that decision: selling two hundred fake pickaxes of questionable quality to the dwarves under a borrowed alias, presenting himself as the merchant named Star.
It had not ended well, as expected.
His instincts had warned him from the start, but the money had been too good.
A high price and silver-tongued persuasion were all it took to fool them.
The irony was that he always trusted his instincts. Always.
But greed, as it always had, found a way to collect its debt.
At least now he had a chance to escape—a golden ticket to freedom.
He looked out the window.
The entrance was already visible: immense and heavily fortified. Those tiny dots along the top were guards. It was secure.
The caravan advanced in line until it reached the gate.
A voice shouted from above:
—Identify yourselves!
—I am Swar the dwarf. We bring the monthly rune quota from the mining city of Kraft.
The gate began to rise slowly, heavy and massive.
They moved forward, entering one by one through a narrow passage where the caravans barely fit, forcing the cargo through single file. Soldiers quickly inspected them, verifying that everything was in order.
—Everything is perfect. Welcome to the transition post to the surface —said the soldier before walking away.
Beyond the corridor, the space opened into something much larger, with tents and armed men and women moving in every direction.
There were dwarves, elves, and finally humans.
—We will remain here for the day. In the morning, when they open the main gate, we depart.
Everyone nodded.
Star prepared to take a walk around the settlement.
—Where do you think you're going? You're a prisoner. —Swar stopped him, gripping his shoulder.
—I'm your translator.
—That gives you no privileges.
—You're making quite the drama over a stroll, beard-face.
—Whatever. You stay here where I can watch you.
Star sighed and was forced to sit back in the same transport he had arrived in.
Even so, it was better than a prison cell.
With nothing else to do, he watched the flow of people.
Swar had gone to speak with the person in charge, and the dwarves kept their eyes on him.
They were watching him.
It was not yet time to escape.
As he watched the passersby, he saw a human and an elf walking side by side toward a shop.
It seemed strange.
Decades ago, such a sight would have been impossible by nature. After all, both races had once tried to exterminate one another.
He began to play with a stone, rolling it between his hands.
It was a small stone, and unexpectedly it reminded him of that man.
The one in underwear who called himself a hero.
He really was a miserable fool.
Why was he wearing underwear in a lava hell?
One of the most terrifying and mysterious dungeons on the entire continent.
It seemed absurd that he had survived for so long.
But if what he said was true…
If he really was a hero…
No.
That was impossible.
He could not be a hero.
Star had enough reasons to doubt the claim. There was no evidence it was true. It sounded more like a cheap excuse from a fraud who had run out of ideas.
That left only two possibilities:
He was a hero—the weakest and most pathetic hero Star had ever seen.
Or he was not one at all.
There was no middle ground.
But whichever truth it was, it no longer mattered.
Right now, he must be...
What a shame.
For someone who had given him this golden ticket, Star could do nothing for him.
That idiot was destined to die.
He had no doubt of it.
There was no reason to think otherwise.
But if luck favored him…
If he somehow survived…
Then Star would owe him compensation for this betrayal.
But that was impossible.
Star nodded to himself.
—What a day —he murmured.
He sat against the caravan wall, then soon lay down across the seat.
Tomorrow would be another day.
An even longer one.
He tried to sleep, but failed.
He looked down.
The small stone he had been holding trembled faintly.
—?
The stone went from a slight vibration to shaking violently.
Soldiers began shouting.
The dwarves shouted too.
Something was wrong.
He leaned out and saw the whole place trembling.
Everyone ran in every direction searching for shelter—
Then the shaking stopped abruptly.
Star hurried outside and grabbed the first person he saw.
—What happened?
—I-I don't know. Everything started shaking all of a sudden and...
The reports were chaotic.
Some said it was only an earthquake.
Others said it was a greater threat.
Some even claimed an enemy army had arrived.
The truth was that no one knew what had happened.
Swar came running toward them.
—We leave now —he ordered.
A dwarf stepped forward.
—But the materials—
—That does not matter now. We must ascend immediately. I will assign three to handle it in my absence. And you —Swar pointed at Star.
—Yes?
—You're coming with me.
Star nodded.
Swar selected a small group of six total, including the two of them.
They were escorted to a secondary gate.
And as they ascended, Star watched the chaos below—soldiers rushing to battle positions.
A thought was born from it all.
Maybe...
Maybe that idiot really was a demon after all.
With that thought in mind,
they stepped onto the surface.