I'm an Extra, so What?

In eyesight, Luka spotted the exit of the fortified settlement, and as he and the donkey approached, he noticed the gate guard taking a nap.

The man was slouched on a stool, his back pressed lazily against the stone wall. A massive sword rested against him, its hilt jutting over his shoulder.

It seemed he had no intention of doing his job properly.

Luka had the donkey stop a few feet from the man before hopping off and strolling over. He came to a halt in front of him, waving a hand before his face.

"No reaction, huh?" Luka muttered under his breath.

Seeing the keys hanging at the man's side, he reached for them.

However, just as his fingers were about to touch them, the man's eyes snapped open.

In an instant, his hand shot out, grabbing Luka's wrist:

"What the—!?"

Caught off guard, Luka instinctively tried to pull back, but the grip was like iron.

"Hey, you brat, what do you think you're—" The man started to snap, but then his eyes widened in realization. "Young Master?"

He immediately released the arm, scrambling to his feet before dropping to one knee.

"My apologies, Young Master! I didn't realize it was you! And I wasn't sleeping, I swear—I was just… resting my eyes!"

Rubbing his sore arm, Luka cleared his throat before responding, "It's fine. Stand up and open the damn gate. I've got something to do."

The man hesitated for a moment before standing up, glancing around. "Um, Young Master, do you have anyone to accompany you?"

Luka turned, ready to hop back on the donkey. "Nope. Doing some solo stuff today. Now, open the gate."

The man fell silent for a few seconds, unsure, but ultimately chose not to question it. With a sigh, he took the keys and began unlocking the gate.

"Be safe out there, Young Master," he said, rubbing the back of his head as he pushed the heavy gate open.

Luka nudged the donkey forward.

As he passed through the gate, he glanced over his shoulder, his voice sharp. "I better not catch you sleeping again, or there will be consequences. Do I make myself clear?"

The man lowered his head, bowing slightly. "Of course, Young Master. It won't happen again."

▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

'Almost there.'

Luka winced slightly. 'My butt's starting to hurt...'

Riding a donkey for hours over an uneven road made of dirt and rocks wasn't exactly comfortable.

With the map still in hand, Luka stowed it back in his backpack and urged the donkey off the road.

They then made their way through a dense forest, pushing through the foliage until, finally, they reached a massive river.

Without hesitation, Luka made the donkey follow the stream, the gentle rush of water offering a nice noise to the ears.

Pulling some food from his backpack, he began snacking, realizing with a small sigh that he hadn't eaten all day.

The donkey suddenly halted, its ears twitching as it sniffed the air, clearly drawn to an enticing scent.

Luka glanced down at the animal, raising an eyebrow in mild amusement.

"What is it now? You want some of my food?" he asked with a sigh, though there was no real frustration in his voice.

The animal immediately snorted with excitement, its large eyes gleaming with hunger.

Luka shook his head and rolled his eyes, letting out a soft laugh. "Fine, if it gets you moving…"

Without another word, he placed the apple gently in front of the donkey's eager muzzle.

The animal snatched it up in a single bite, chewing happily as it continued moving, the pace slowly picking up once more.

Luka smirked as the donkey moved forward, its reward well-earned:

"Guess you're not so stubborn after all."

▬▬ι═══════ﺤ

Luka and the donkey finally arrived at the mouth of the river.

Before him stood a massive waterfall cascading down in a powerful rush, its mist rising in a fine, shimmering veil.

The water was sparkling under the light of the setting sun.

"Behind that waterfall should be the cave," Luka murmured to himself.

Without another word, he slid off the donkey's back, feeling the familiar ache in his legs after the long ride.

"Alright, stay here," Luka said, turning to face the animal. "Don't go running off while I'm gone, got it?"

The donkey gave a snort in reply, seemingly uninterested in such words, and began nibbling at the grass around its hooves.

Luka, aware that the animal couldn't exactly understand him, was just relieved it was staying put.

He gave the donkey one last look, hoping it would behave, then turned toward the waterfall.

The roar of the water grew louder as he approached.

"Ok, I just have to make some small jumps... I can do this." With a deep breath, Luka jumped onto a nearby rock and carefully made his way along the slippery, moss-covered stones.

Each jump brought him closer to the veil of water, the mist soaking his clothes as he pressed forward. "One slip and it's over…"

When he finally reached the base of the waterfall, Luka took a deep breath and then, with a swift motion, leaped to the next rock, his feet landing with a soft thud.

As he pushed through the final misty curtain of water, he finally found himself behind the waterfall.

Wiping the mist and a trace of sweat from his forehead, he finally stood at the entrance of the Dragon Cave.

The sight ahead, however, made Luka want to throw up. "What the fuck…?"

Before a large stone door, three goblins were gathered.

One of the goblins was hunched over a bloody rock, tearing into the remains of a dead goblin—its severed limbs and scattered organs across the ground.

Meanwhile, the other two goblins were locked in a savage fight, tearing at each other with frenzied aggression.

However, all of them suddenly paused in what they were doing as a new presence registered, their eyes widening with a mix of surprise and hostility.

"Gruk! Grrraaak!"

"Gruk! Grrraaak!"

"Gruk! Grrraaak!"