The deeper they went the more crowded the Dungeon became. Kai had expected fewer people the farther they went, but somehow it was the complete opposite. The narrow paths eventually opened into a huge underground area filled with people walking around, shouting, bargaining and carrying all kinds of strange objects.
There were stalls everywhere, some made from wood while others were simply piles of rocks with items placed on top. Kai even spotted someone selling glowing stones that looked like they belonged in a fantasy game. He slowed down, looking around in confusion as Hana walked beside him.
"Is this another market?" Kai asked, looking at the amount of people gathered there.
"I think so" Hana said, looking around curiously.
Kai noticed a large wooden sign hanging above the entrance to the crowded area. The words BLACKDUNGEON were carved across it in large letters. He stared at it for a few seconds before shrugging. It was probably just the name of the market. Nothing about this Dungeon surprised him anymore.
"BlackDungeon? Weird name" Kai muttered as he stepped inside.
Hana followed him, but the moment they entered, both of them stopped.
Kai’s eyes widened.
There was a massive spider chained to a metal pole a few meters away from them. It was far larger than the spider he had fought before, with thick black legs and several rows of sharp-looking teeth. It kept pulling against the chains while several people stood around it, examining it like they were looking at livestock.
"What the hell is that?" Kai whispered, staring at the creature.
"I don’t know" Hana whispered back.
Kai slowly looked around again and realised the spider wasn’t even the strangest thing there.
A man was selling some kind of glowing blue plant inside a glass container, another stall had several strange looking eggs sitting in a basket, and further ahead he could see something that looked like a giant lizard with scales covering its entire body. People were buying things without looking particularly surprised.
"Are we sure this is a normal market?" Kai asked.
"After everything we’ve seen, I’m starting to think there is no such thing as a normal market anymore" Hana replied.
They continued walking, trying not to stare too much. Kai didn’t want to attract attention, especially after learning that Hori could be somewhere in this place. If the people here were selling creatures like that giant spider, there was no telling what they would do if they found out a little boy was wandering around without anyone protecting him.
Eventually Kai spotted an old woman sitting behind a small stall. Unlike the others, she wasn’t shouting or trying to convince people to buy anything. She simply sat there arranging several small stones in neat rows. She looked harmless enough, and Kai decided she was probably their best chance of getting information without causing trouble.
"Excuse me, ma’am. Have you seen a little boy around here?" Kai asked, approaching her carefully.
The old woman looked up at him with a curious expression. "A little boy? What does he look like?" she asked.
The woman thought for a moment before her eyes widened slightly.
"I might have heard about him" the old woman said.
Kai immediately leaned closer. "You have?"
"Perhaps. There was a young boy brought through here recently. I don’t know if he was the one you’re looking for, but if it is him, he may have been taken to the BlackDungeon selling area" the old woman said.
Kai frowned. "BlackDungeon selling area? Isn’t this already called BlackDungeon?"
The old woman gave him a strange look before chuckling softly. "You don’t know what this place is, do you?"
"No" Kai admitted.
"This market is only the outer part. The deeper section is where the valuable things are sold. Rare monsters, strange creatures, special materials and even people who possess unusual skills can be bought by those with enough rank or money" the old woman explained.
Kai’s expression slowly changed.
"Wait... people?" Kai asked.
The old woman nodded.
"Some people sell things they capture in the Dungeon. Others buy them. The higher your rank, the more access you have to the deeper parts of the market" the old woman said.
Kai felt his stomach tighten. Suddenly the giant spider he had seen earlier didn’t look like an animal someone had simply found. It had probably been captured and brought here to be sold.
"Hori might be there" Kai muttered.
Hana’s expression became serious immediately. "Then we have to go."
Kai nodded, but before they could leave, Hana grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait."
Kai looked at her.
"We can’t just walk in looking like this" Hana said.
Kai looked down at himself. "Why not?"
"Because in anime, whenever people need to sneak somewhere, they wear cloaks" Hana said with complete seriousness.
Kai stared at her.
"I’m completely serious" Hana replied.
Kai looked at the people around them before sighing. Considering the amount of ridiculous things he had already experienced, wearing a cloak suddenly didn’t sound like the strangest idea.
"Fine. Let’s find some cloaks."
They quickly found a stall selling simple dark cloaks and bought two. Kai pulled his over his clothes while Hana lowered hers over her pink hair, making sure most of her face was hidden.
"See? Much better" Hana said.
Kai looked at her. "You just wanted an excuse to wear a cloak."
"Maybe."
Kai shook his head before looking toward the deeper section of the market. There were guards standing around the entrance, and unlike the casual sellers outside, these people were heavily armed.
The old woman watched them from her stall before speaking again.
"If you’re really looking for that boy, be careful. The BlackDungeon isn’t a place you enter without a reason" she warned.
Kai nodded.
"Thank you for telling us" Kai said.
The old woman smiled faintly. "If he’s your friend, don’t waste time."
Kai turned toward Hana.
"We’re getting Hori back."
Hana nodded, pulling her hood further over her face.
"Let’s go."
Together, they walked toward the entrance of the BlackDungeon, blending into the crowd as best they could. Kai had no idea what waited on the other side, but one thing was certain.
If Hori really was being sold there, he wasn’t leaving without him.