Brave

Adventurer A's Report:

I'm Bronze Rank, but when it comes to dungeon exploration, I'm no worse than Silver Rank. I went into Zane Dungeon this time out of curiosity, wanting to see what it had become. The result was beyond expectations. I've seen Poisonous Swamp terrain more than once, but never with such intense toxicity. Embarrassing to say, I didn't think to prepare antidote potions for my pets, so they died shortly after entering. My reconnaissance ability took a huge hit.

In my view, the Swamp Area's terrain isn't complex—it's even simple. But the same scenery stacks up heavily, making it look homogenous. People with poor sense of direction can easily get lost. The terrain beneath the swamp is treacherous; you'll step into deep pits or sharp traps from time to time. The common point is that the damage is minor, but they restrict movement.

Once movement is restricted, it's a death sentence here. Monsters lurking underwater swarm in madly. Unfortunately, I died because I stepped into a deep pit and couldn't pull my leg out in time before the monsters killed me.

Adventurer B's Report:

Fuck this swamp, fuck these Skeleton Monsters, fuck these Fishmen, fuck this Gargoyle, fuck these giant rats!!!

I'm never coming back in this lifetime! I'm going back to the countryside to farm, goodbye forever!

Adventurer C's Report:

A monster scholar commissioned my team to investigate whether new monster species have appeared in Zane Dungeon after the mutation. He was generous, so we prepared more supplies than usual—unexpectedly a big help.

The Levitation Spell scroll I bought for fun came in clutch. My partner and I never touched the swamp the whole time. The monsters have almost no anti-air capabilities. Aside from a few archers among the Skeleton Monsters, the rest can only throw mud at us like kids. A low-tier magic barrier blocks it all. After our persistent investigation, we really did find a new monster. It looks quite peculiar, like an enlarged frog, and most importantly, its ability—

This is exclusive content. If the City Lord wants to know, he'll have to show some sincerity~

Adventurer D's Report:

Holy shit holy shit holy shit, it's so thrilling. There's a monster I've never seen before, looks like a frog, its huge eyeballs almost scared me to death. It breathed on me and I died. That black smoke seems to insta-kill people, no idea why, hahaha, I'm going back to face it again.

Oh yeah, my wife opened a treasure chest and it exploded, hahahaha, so funny. Who'd expect a chest to hide a Flame Burst? She died on the spot. Later I saw another chest, threw a fireball from far away, and guess what? It was a normal chest! I blew up the treasure myself, got nothing!

Investigator's Note: This adventurer appears to have mental issues.

Adventurer E's Report:

Piss off.

Investigator's Note: This adventurer insulted a noble and has been detained by the guards.

Miner's Report:

Um, well, I didn't collect any Bloodstone today. You won't dock my pay, right? No? Thank you, thank you, I thank you on behalf of my whole family.

What? You ask what I saw in the dungeon? Hmm, let me think... it was like wala gaga monsters, whoa whoa wind, jibber jabber swamp, gada gada skeletons.

Investigator's Note: Completely unintelligible.

A Dungeon Worker's Report:

People in my line of work, the older we get, the more we regret. Over the years, I've done a lot of wrong things, disappointed many people, lost many people. I have no face left to enter a dungeon. I just wander around the outskirts. Don't ask me.

Investigator's Note: This person provides guided tour services for Zane Dungeon to out-of-town visitors—i.e., a Guide.

Ka Rong's Report:

I'll give a detailed report later, so don't bother me now. Where's Vierde? Why isn't he back yet?

Investigator's Note: Young Master Ka Rong seems to be in a bad mood.

"How's it looking, friend? Confident about conquering this place?"

Sally brought a pot of Red Tea, gracefully pouring a full cup of the reddish-brown liquid for the girl. The fragrant aroma immediately caught her attention.

Two candies dropped into the tea. Sally chuckled, sat down on the opposite sofa, and stirred the tea, instinctively crossing his legs.

The girl stared at him for a long moment, then said softly, "I have a name."

"My bad, sorry about that, Elsa."

Seeming to realize his posture was a bit off, Sally crossed his legs the other way and asked, "Remember our agreement? You help me take the head of the family position, and I become your companion."

"Mm," Elsa nodded.

"If I can conquer the dungeon before my brothers, it'll definitely add weight to my case. So, friend—Elsa—please help me conquer this place."

Watching the girl agree, Sally could barely hide his smile.

A year out in the world, and Elsa was his greatest find!

A lone Brave, yearning for companions, still a naive little girl. Earning her trust was so simple!

Sally had just set up a scheme, hired a group to play bandits, and had them rob him on Elsa's path. That way, after being robbed, he could naturally thank Elsa, get close to her under the pretense of repaying the favor, and quickly strip her identity bare.

She was an orphan, awakened as a Brave when demons massacred the orphanage, and had since set out on the path of slaying demons, with the ultimate goal being the Demon King's head.

In fairy tales, a Brave always has a group of close companions. Elsa had only read fairy tales, so she firmly believed she had to find companions before setting out to defeat the Demon King.

By the way, Bravery isn't unique. Anyone with hatred for demons, enough talent, and just the right sense of justice can become a Brave. History records that at one point, twenty-three Bravery appeared simultaneously.

But only the one who successfully defeats the Demon King gets recorded as the true Brave.

Sally clenched his fist, only to feel his arm sore and weak, barely able to lift it.

This was the effect of overtraining. As for why he overtrained—

Because to be a Brave's companion, you at least need some strength, right! So he, a guy, a young master, was training seriously, training his body.

Though sharp in some ways, Sally was a man of his word. And he believed Elsa could really help him become the head of the family.

"These two days, I'll show you around. Once we have more intel on the dungeon, we'll make our move. How about it?"

Elsa held the Red Tea, sipping it in small mouthfuls, and nodded slightly.

Suddenly, she lifted her head sharply, her little nose twitching as if catching a scent.

"What's wrong?" Sally was drawn by the unusual movement.

"There's a disgusting smell," Elsa wrinkled her brow in disgust, then shook her head. "It's gone now. I must have been mistaken."

Sally's face flushed red—he had just silently let out a fart.

He'd need to spray more perfume in the future.

In the corridor, a tall figure had just passed by their door, seemingly heading out.

Under the light, his features came into view.

A very familiar face.

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