S-rank Dungeon

After browsing for a while, Liya and Mia each picked out two exquisite sets of mage robes, while Fira chose a beautiful pair of long boots.

Zoldat and Bruce only watched the whole time, intending to freeload, and did not buy anything. The weapons in this shop were good, but the prices were simply too expensive.

After one round of shopping, the pouches holding Roxy and Cain's Asura Gold Coins had grown considerably flatter.

"Cain, you can't spend money so carelessly. It would be one thing if you were buying things for yourself, but don't buy anything else for me. I mean it. With this ring... I'm already very satisfied..."

As Roxy spoke, she pursed her lips. Her face inexplicably reddened, and her voice grew softer and softer.

Why was Teacher Roxy getting shy again? This was a life-saving tool, not a proposal ring. Surely she wasn't getting the wrong idea?

Cain scratched his head helplessly, smiled at Roxy, and extended his hand down from the carriage toward her.

Roxy steadied her emotions, patted her small chest, then tightly grasped Cain's outstretched hand and was pulled up into the carriage.

Zoldat's Thunder Adventurer Party was fairly large and included supply, transport, and mining personnel.

As a result, they always had ample manpower for dungeon raids. They could swiftly carry loot and mine magic crystal ore, allowing them to quickly accept more dungeon commissions or other jobs after clearing a dungeon. Their efficiency was several times that of other adventurer parties.

Of course, combat members were the most important part of an adventurer party. The other positions could be replaced.

"Now, onward to the dungeon!"

"Oh!!!"

At Captain Zoldat's command from the lead carriage, three huge lizard-like domesticated Magic Beasts pulled three heavy carriages toward the A-rank Dungeon, Red Dragon's Grave.

Even though he had never been an adventurer, Cain could not help but be surprised by the orderly adventurers marching both ahead of and behind them.

"Are all adventurer parties like this?"

Roxy, seated beside him, also looked somewhat surprised. But upon seeing Cain's curious expression, a faint smile rose to her lips, and she felt a little smug inside.

Looking at Cain like this, she seemed to have regained some of her dignity as both his teacher and senior.

"Not all adventurer groups are like this, Cain."

"Really?"

"Yes. The Thunder Adventurer Group has very clear internal divisions of labor, so handling magic crystals and other loot is very efficient. Even in the past, I rarely saw adventurer groups that were this orderly and disciplined."

Roxy tilted her head up as she spoke, her face slightly flushed. This let her recover a bit of the feeling of a teacher passing experience on to her student in front of Cain.

Cain nodded slightly. As expected of Teacher Roxy—she knew so much.

The sunlit, lush green woods streaked with snowy white gradually gave way to a thin white mist. The roads around them became narrower and narrower as the convoy slowly entered the depths of the forest. Somewhere nearby, small Demonic Beasts let out unsettling shrieks before flying away.

Roxy pursed her lips, fear in her eyes. Her body unconsciously edged closer to Cain, and she tightened her grip on her staff.

Cain frowned slightly as he surveyed the surroundings. There was a reason no one had accepted the commission for the A-rank Dungeon, Red Dragon's Grave, for so long. It was obvious that there had been no human presence here for a very long time.

Soon, the convoy arrived at the entrance to the A-rank Dungeon, Red Dragon's Grave.

The rocks around the entrance were covered in moss, and hanging vines nearly sealed the entire opening shut. At a glance, it was clear that no adventurers had entered to explore it in a long time.

The three carriages quickly cleared an open space outside. Zoldat led the others in cutting away the vines at the entrance, revealing a pitch-black cave opening three meters tall, as well as a rusted warning sign outside that read: No Entry.

"Cain, unless it's absolutely necessary, never use fire magic inside the dungeon."

"Cain, we're clearing this dungeon as a team. Don't act alone."

"Cain..."

Roxy stood before Cain with a serious expression, carefully cramming him full of basic dungeon knowledge. Even though she knew her student was strong, in a sealed dungeon, oxygen, traps, and many other things could become problems for someone without experience. It was better to be cautious.

After making their preparations, they began exploring the dungeon. Zoldat and Cain took the vanguard and cleared the way ahead, while Brook and another reserve swordsman guarded the rear, mainly protecting the mages behind them.

Roxy stood among the mages and served as the main source of firepower. After all, she could even strike a fast-moving Red Dragon. Her casting skill and experience were far beyond those of mages like Fira and Nina.

Unlike the environment outside, the Red Dragon's Grave dungeon lay deep within the forest, where sunlight was already dim. The conditions inside the dungeon were even harsher.

Roxy felt uncomfortable all over. The cave was filled with a damp, moldy stench that made her miserable, leaving her with the clammy sensation of being soaked through.

"Cain, I'm counting on you..."

Roxy looked at Cain's back, lightly tightening her grip on her staff as she murmured softly. Yet no one responded in the tense party.

Cain kept his gaze fixed on the pitch-black tunnel ahead. Seemingly sensing something, he slightly turned his head and gave Roxy a smile before immediately facing forward again and carefully advancing alongside Zoldat.

The party did not clear the dungeon quickly. They proceeded step by step. Since they had abundant supplies and a large, well-organized support team behind them, they could always retreat to rest and reorganize if anything went wrong.

Furthermore, as an A-rank Dungeon, the Red Dragon's lair had at least twenty floors. Rushing in carelessly would only create unnecessary danger.

Cain's calmness somewhat exceeded Zoldat and the others' expectations.

By all rights, a swordsman of the Sword God Style should have been impatient, not this patient.

"Enemy ahead! Straight in front of us!"

At that moment, Cain, who was advancing at the front, shouted loudly, instantly snapping Zoldat out of his thoughts. He gripped his sword tightly and stared ahead.

"What type of enemy is it, Cain?"

But before Zoldat had even finished speaking, Cain had already swung his blade like lightning. The deadly long-range Blade of Light became an invisible edge, instantly slicing an unknown Demonic Beast dozens of meters away in two.

"An unknown Demonic Beast. It felt like I struck bone."

Zoldat's mouth twitched as he looked at Cain.

"Next time, could you tell us before you strike?"

Zoldat had just felt as if he, standing to Cain's side, had nearly been cut down along with the enemy. Was this the pressure of a Sword God?

"Sorry."

"I'm not blaming you, Cain. It's just that I couldn't see your attack at all..."

Zoldat scratched his head and sighed. This was no time to worry about his pride. He truly could not see Cain's attacks.

Was this the gap between a Sword God and a Sword Saint...?

Thinking this, Zoldat pursed his lips and retreated to the back. In front of Cain, unless one was a swordsman of the same level, one could only be a burden.

He had been foolish. In such a dangerous environment, who would have time to tell everyone around them what type of Demonic Beast it was?

"Forget it. I'll act as a floater, responsible for coordinating, filling gaps, and watching for traps. Cain, leave the exploration to you. You'll lead the way." Zoldat spoke, then gave Cain an apologetic smile.

Cain nodded slightly with a serious expression. After making a few adjustments, the party continued advancing deeper into the dark dungeon in an equilateral triangle formation.

When they passed the thing Cain had cut apart earlier, they saw that it was a C-rank Tomb-Raiding Skeleton Soldier. Its left hand still held a rust-covered shortsword.

"Looks like it was once an adventurer... It's been dead for a long time." Zoldat frowned as he spoke, and the party fell silent for several seconds.

"It seems no one has come here for many years. The Adventurers' Guild may have stopped evaluating this dungeon's magic power long ago."

Zoldat knew what that meant. This dungeon was destined to be much more difficult than an ordinary adventurer dungeon. It might even have grown into an S-rank Dungeon.