Dungeon, Upper Floors — Ninth Floor Passageway.
Lucas stumbled out of the tunnel, gasping for air as he leaned against the wall. His entire body trembled, and a stabbing pain throbbed deep in his skull, twisting his usually handsome face into a grimace.
"God… that was brutal," he muttered hoarsely between ragged breaths.
"First time I've ever drained my Mind this hard refining magic. Can't… take that again anytime soon."
He winced and fumbled with his supply bag, finally managing to yank out a glass vial. He popped the cork with his thumb and downed the orange liquid in one gulp.
[Name]: Magic Potion
[Origin]: Orario
[Type]: Potion
[Effect]: Restores mind and relieves fatigue
[Description]: A citrus-colored solution, typically packaged in test tubes sealed with oak stoppers. Market price: 10,000 valis, subject to fluctuation. A must-have luxury item for any refined mage.
The pricey Magic Potion slid down his throat, its cooling effect spreading almost instantly. Lucas closed his eyes as a refreshing sensation swept through his head like a flowing spring. The stabbing pain ebbed away, dulled to something bearable.
He exhaled a long sigh, sliding down to sit against the wall as his staff clattered away into the corner.
"First venture into the tenth floor. Met an orc. Gave it everything I had. Still couldn't win."
His lips curled into a wry smile, half mocking himself.
Jeanne rested her flag spear on her shoulder and looked at him, amusement and exasperation mixed in her eyes.
"You know, you really do give up fast. I can't tell if that means your fighting spirit's weak, or if you're just… incredibly cautious."
Lucas rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to snap back. Easy for her to say—she had that broken 'Holy Maiden' Skill boosting her every stat through the roof.
For Jeanne, as long as she had Holy Maiden active, it was basically a free Level-up in combat capability.
A Level 1 novice suddenly fighting like a top-tier Level 1 veteran.
A top-tier Level 1 matching the strength of a new Level 2.
In short, though Jeanne technically counted as a fresh adventurer, she was fighting with the power of a seasoned one.
And on top of that, she had battle experience, training, and a steel will honed through countless fights. No wonder she could handle multiple orcs at once while still keeping an eye on him.
"My dear Holy Maiden," Lucas groaned, rubbing his temple, "that was an orc. Forget my pitiful stats—its absurd health and defense alone are ridiculous. I nearly blew out my brain just to kill one of those damn things."
He jabbed his staff into the ground, still panting. "And let's not forget the Dungeon's charming personality. It loves to sucker punch you when you're down, then stomp on your head for good measure. If we'd stayed any longer, it wouldn't have stopped spawning trouble until we were both dead."
"So yeah, I'm calling it damage control. We'll regroup, restock, and come back prepared. That's not cowardice—that's strategy."
Jeanne pressed her lips together, then nodded, her tone softening. "You're right. I got caught up in the fight. My apologies, Lucas."
He waved her off, already feeling better as the potion kicked in. He bent to retrieve his staff and pushed himself upright.
"We'll stick to the ninth floor for the rest of the day. Let's update our map data while we're at it."
"Alright. I'll follow your lead."
--
Compared to the tenth floor's large-category monsters, the ninth felt like a walk in the park.
With Jeanne guarding the front, Lucas only needed to hang back and rain down firepower. It was efficient, safe, and—judging by his grin—way too fun.
"Scorch!"
"Scorch!"
"Scorch!"
Wherever his staff pointed, flames followed. Each flicker of magical light ended with another monster collapsing in ashes.
The air filled with sizzling and the faint stench of burnt meat.
"Hah! Now this is living!"
With his massive mind pool, Lucas was using magic like it was a basic attack. One cast per monster, two if he was feeling petty. Nothing survived.
Beside him, Jeanne silently scanned the surroundings, ever alert.
Even though their trip to the tenth floor had been short, it left a mark. Lucas was different now—less tense, more confident. He'd finally found his rhythm.
"So this is growth," Jeanne murmured softly.
The two carved their way through the ninth floor, clearing out every room and offshoot passage with ruthless efficiency.
By the time they were done, Lucas's magic stone pouch was heavy and bulging. He wiped his hands clean, pried a gem out of a carcass, and dropped it in the bag with a satisfied clink.
"Not bad at all. Bit of a rough start, but this haul's definitely worth it," he said cheerfully. "One day's work, and I've made more than I usually do in a week."
He grinned from ear to ear. "We're rich!"
Jeanne couldn't help smiling faintly at his excitement.
First real adventure… not bad at all, she thought.
Lucas glanced at his brass pocket watch and snapped it shut with a click. "Alright, time's up. Clock out, we're heading home."
--
The trip back was smooth.
They knew the path by heart now, winding through the tunnels until they reached the main route. From there, it was just a steady climb upward—ninth floor, eighth, seventh.
As they ascended, more and more adventurers appeared along the way. Lucas caught Jeanne's eye, gave a small nod, and the two blended seamlessly into the returning crowd, bags full and posture casual.
While walking, they pricked their ears at the chatter around them.
"Hey, did you hear? Astraea Familia caused a big scene on the seventh floor today."
"Yeah, it's all over the upper levels. Word is they're still pissed about what Evilus pulled, so they vented by wiping out every monster they could find down there."
"For real? Those girls don't look the type to lose their cool. Especially Alise Lovell—can you imagine her brooding?"
"Maybe not her, but what about Lyra? Those two definitely could've used a stress outlet."
The man speaking suddenly looked around nervously, then leaned close to whisper.
"I heard those two actually—"
"Shh! Do you wanna die? Watch your mouth!"
"R-right…"
Their voices dropped, the conversation dying out as fast as it started.
Lucas and Jeanne exchanged a brief glance under their hoods.
Looks like Astraea Familia took the blame for the Monster Rex incident.
Seems that way.
I was worried the Guild would come knocking about it, but now? We don't even need to make excuses. Those justice maniacs are real lifesavers.
…
Neither said another word, both silently grateful as they continued with the crowd toward the surface.
An hour later, they emerged into the broad plaza of the first-floor cavern.
Lucas felt the weight of his pack pulling on his shoulders. It was heavy, but the good kind of heavy. Inside were profit, safety, and proof they'd made it out alive.
He kept his face composed, hiding the relief bubbling up inside. No need to draw attention. The less noticeable he looked, the better.
He didn't fear trouble—but he hated pointless ones. Especially the kind that came from being flashy or careless.
In Orario, with so many powerful Familia and unpredictable adventurers wandering around, keeping your head down was just common sense.
Passing through the grand archway of Babel Tower, they stepped out onto the stone stairs and gazed at the city bathed in orange light.
The sun hung low beyond the walls, its fading glow painting the streets gold.
A soft breeze tugged at their cloaks.
The world smelled of dust, fire, and home.
"We're back," Lucas said quietly, his voice carrying the calm of completion.