Chapter 640 – Helmet Down, Mask On.

‘Did I underestimate these adventurers? Usually, they would just leave me alone at this point.’

Roland wondered if he should simply stand up and leave. He was wearing his usual dark robe with heavy armor hidden beneath it, something that normally kept others at a distance. A high-quality suit like that usually implied power and danger, yet the two people with him did not seem to care. One of them, the smaller of the pair, was even intrigued by the craftsmanship and the subdued magic Roland was concealing, at least to some extent, with his concealment skill.

“How much do you want for it?”

“It is not for sale.”

“Nonsense. Everything is for sale. I will give you this much.”

The gnome mage held out both hands, but Roland was not sure what to make of the gesture. If the gnome was offering ten gold coins for his new suit of armor, then he was clearly trying to cheat him.

“Boring. Why not have a drink with us instead, handsome?”

That was the woman. She was suspiciously clingy and overly friendly. Even though she could not see his face, hidden as it was beneath a hood and robe, she had somehow decided from his voice alone that he was good-looking.

“Why not take off that helmet, sugar? I am sure there is a handsome fellow underneath. It is a long trip into the dungeon, so why don’t we get acquainted?”

She pressed shoulder to shoulder with the new party member, who clearly did not appreciate the closeness. He tried to shift away, only to find the other person blocking him from the other side.

“I can feel magic emanating from this equipment. Could you tell me which master craftsman fashioned it for you, my friend?”

The gnome wearing his own enchanted robe started talking. His eyes sparkled as he leaned closer, trying to get a better look at the gauntlets the newcomer wore. It was as if he was calculating the worth and how much his next offer should be.

“…”

Roland’s frown was hidden behind his helmet as the two continued to crowd him. He was not sure what this was about. Were they genuinely curious, or were they trying to probe him? He had come here with one primary goal: to escort the blacksmith safely back to his family. Still, he also wanted to observe how the superdungeon operated and how the Adventurers Guild functioned in the largest city on the volcanic island.

“Come on, don’t be shy, sugar. Just relax.”

Roland leaned away as best he could, careful not to make a scene. He understood that making enemies among the people he would soon be entering a dungeon with was a bad idea. Even if he considered himself strong, he could not be certain he could handle an entire group of tier three class holders if they decided to attack him all at once.

‘Should I just test it out now?’

He was not entirely unprepared for this journey. At first, he had planned to do things as he had in the old days and remain hidden from sight. However, there could come a moment when he would need to reveal his face. Eventually, he would have to eat in public or show proper respect to the leader of the third-layer guild outpost. With that in mind, he considered how to solve the problem and arrived at an answer: a custom-made face mask, a type of magic item that existed in this world.

These masks came in many shapes and sizes and were primarily used by the thieves’ guild to conceal their identities. At first glance, they appeared to be simple flaps of skin with little detail, but with proper adjustments, magic, and alchemy, they could become skin-tight layers indistinguishable from the real thing. Some of the higher-tier versions could even mimic muscle structure and felt surprisingly natural to the touch. One of those masks now covered his face.

Roland let out a slow breath and reached up. His metal-covered fingers found the edge of the hood first, pushing it back just enough to expose his new Rune Abyssal Drake Helmet. It had a clear dragon motif and looked as if it was fashioned from a dragon’s skull but was fully made of a black alloy.

“Ah!”

The gnome’s eyes widened even further as he took in the craftsmanship of the drake helmet and the complete absence of any view of Roland’s eyes behind it. There was no visor. Instead, draconic eyes were fully covered by a special glass Roland had acquired during his last visit to Isgard. The glass could shift colors, allowing him to see out while preventing anyone from looking in, and it was also highly resistant to damage.

Removing the helmet required a few steps. First, he had to shift it in several precise ways. Then he needed to turn off a spell that magnetized it to the silvergrace suit beneath. The suit also had a hooded portion that covered his ears and bore various runes, which he concealed at the moment with his skill.

It took a moment, but he finally lifted the helmet free as the two adventurers watched. To make matters worse, others nearby began to peek as well, and soon his face was fully revealed. A face looked back at them, one marked by long experience. It was weathered and lined with scars, the face of someone who had been through hell and back.

His hair was also not his own, made longer to fit the character of a warrior who didn’t care much about his looks. It was silver-gray and tied loosely behind his head. His eyes were the most striking part. Not because they were beautiful, but because they were empty in a way seasoned adventurers recognized instantly. They were the eyes of someone who had survived too much to be impressed by threats or flattery.

The barbarian woman froze mid-grin.

“Oh… now that’s a face of a true adventurer!”

Roland had hoped that when she saw his rather unpleasant facial expression, she would back away, but instead, it was as if she was intrigued by it. The other adventurers, who had been watching from afar, fell silent and quieted down. The face mask seemed to conceal him well, and no one seemed to notice anything out of order. After a brief pause, the others returned to their meal and drinks, leaving Roland alone once again with the two who didn’t seem too frightened by his veteran appearance.

“You seem like a gentleman with experience, friend.”

The gnome’s tone shifted. Gone was the greedy excitement, replaced by something closer to respect. He straightened in his seat and placed his mug down carefully, as if acknowledging an unspoken boundary he had nearly crossed.

“Harphon”

He said while generating a small lightning spark between his fingers.

“Great mage extraordinaire, I’ll be supporting you from the back. I don’t usually pry that much, but craftsmanship like yours… well, it speaks.“

The large woman snorted and finally leaned back, giving Roland some much-needed space. She crossed her massive arms over her chest, her muscles bulging and showcasing battle scarred skin as if she were trying to compete with his face.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Hah! Name’s Brakka.”

She said it with a grin that was less predatory now and more appreciative.

“Vanguard. I hit things hard so the squishy folk don’t die screaming. You looked like someone worth my time, sugar. Turns out I wasn’t wrong.”

For the time being, Roland decided to keep his helmet off, something he was not used to. The two adventurers quickly informed him of their positions in the party, and he decided to do the same.

“Siegfried. Not sure where they’ll put me. I can be a vanguard or a rearguard.”

The two others glanced at the large black blade he carried. It was wrapped in cloth, though the hilt still jutted out. It was a weapon poorly suited for tight spaces and dangerous to use with too many allies nearby. When delving into a dungeon, the vanguard position was usually the most dangerous, as monsters rarely approached from the rear.

“That slab does look like it’d fit a vanguard, sugar.”

She said, nodding toward the massive sword.

“But it’s nothing compared to my lovely.”