Embedded deep into the dungeon walls, blue crystals glowed both bright and dim, like a wave of fireflies in the deep of the night uhe forest opies. As the drops of water popped and spshed from the stactites, the atmosphere only grew more mystical and mysterious.

  Fures stood mesmerized by such a sight, their eyes lingering around the pce with certain looks in their eyes. Two looked at the pce with amazement, a feeling of y in their hearts, while the other two with remi eyes.

  "Strange... I thought dungeons were always full of monsters..." ［Julius］

  ented Julius as he leaned his head some more, squinting his eyes at the same time. But no matter how hard he tried to look, there wasn't a single moo be seen, not even a speck of a shadow.

  "That's just a misception. Monsters only spawhere are people present. Since we're still at the entra's only natural there isn't any." ［Grey］

  "Really? I always thought they were just there from the very beginning." ［Julius］

  "Well, that's because there are aleople challenging it. It's the reason not many people know of it." ［Grey］

  Such a discussion occurred as Julius asked more questions. Amelia also followed suit ter on and also asked things she was curious about. Their natural curiosity only proves how eager they were to learn about dungeons.

  Well, while Grey was answering their questions, he was also utilizing "Multitask" to create a pn to use for the be of the two. After all, they weren't just there to explore and admire the sery. There was a reason why Grey said they hit the jackpot from before.

  It wasn't just the monster drops nor the treasure which be obtained in the dungeon. There was also experience which is extremely valuable for Julius and Amelia's case. An experience which could prepare them for the Labyrinth ahead.

  They may only be able to train for a few days at most, but those days are enough for the two to experiehe dangers of dungeons and Labyrinths. It was the perfect training ground for the two to gain some precious experience.

  "Alright, you two, I have a pn in mind. Would you care listening?" ［Grey］

  There was no time to waste. Grey quickly expined his pns to Yuna, Julius, and Amelia. There was muformation to digest, but thankfully, the three before him were amongst the best of their peers. They were able to process things easily.

  First, the dungeon in front of them was a k dungeon which tains 6 floors, expanding in space the lower o and monsters also getting stronger in each floor just like how dungeons usually work.

  There also weren't any attribute boosts like those in Labyrinths so there weren't many dangers. If there was anything to would be that the most onsters would be Aquaeoses, humanoid water elementals whose weakness are the cores located in their "heads".

  And following such a flow, the boss is a "High-Tide Aquaeos"m a B-rank monster which resembles a golem, only that it is made of water. They could also expect the boss room to be fully submerged in water. It was something to be wary about.

  Some people also uimate aquaeoses because they think it is easy to destroy the core, but such isn't really the case. Sihey could move their cores throughout their bodies, it is much trickier. Not to mention the fact that it is also very tough. It is the reason many people lose their lives to them.

  "That's very w... It seems we will o move with utmost caution at all times, Yhness." ［Amelia］

  "I think so too, but... How do you know all of this Grey?" ［Julius］

  Both Amelia and Julius' eyes were on Grey as such a question was asked. After all, people usually dive deep before they know the rank of the dungeon, not to mention the boss. It was only strange Grey knew of it all, and so detailed as well.

  "Well, nothing too hard, really.... There's a couple signs you could take note off to determihese things, you see. You just learn from experience." ［Grey］

  Not onot twice, but thrice. Grey lied three times in a row without even batting an eye, his sdisturbed. He was lying so naturally that even he was scared of himself. It didn't even take him a sed to make excuses.

  "Really? This is the first I've heard of that..." ［Julius］

  "Well, we do learhings everyday. Just think of it that way." ［Grey］

  "Well, I guess that's one way to put it..." ［Julius］

  Impressed, Grey totally was. He was super impressed of his ability to bullsh*t his way through things. He hasn't even thought too much of those excuses and he easily mao fool the two. It was quite amazing in ways more than one.

  "Anyway, what do you think about my proposal? You back out if you want and I'll just quickly clear the dungeon with Yuna. Or you accept and experience hell for a few days." ［Grey］

  Both Amelia and Julius were silent at Grey's words. They were both ihought as they weighed the pros and s on dungeon diving. It didn't take long before they decided, their answers affirmed by each other with a simple nod.

  "Alright, we'll do it. It's not like we have somethier to do anyways." ［Julius］

  "I'm also in agreement with His Highness' decision. We'll be under your care once again, Grey, Yuna." ［Amelia］

  "Un! You've made the right choice!" ［Yuna］

  It was just like Grey and Yuna had expected. her Amelia nor Julius backed down from the challehey may be children of high nobility and royalty, but they are also adventurers. There was no way they would pass up on such a challenge.

  With everythiled, everyohen prepared themselves for the battle ahead of them. Amelia prepared her trusty whip whilst Julius also grabbed his spear from his ste ring. As frey and Yuna, there was o worry as their Armament Rings were also with them.

  "By the way, Grey, Yuna, since we're doing this.... It's only fair that we ask for a reward, right?" ［Julius］

  Said Julius as he tucked his boots and checked for any disfort. It was a question only someone as boisterous and vocal as Julius would ask of, but it wasn't in any way unreasonable. After all, it could serve as motivation for their dive.

  "Hmm, I don't mind... What about you, Yuna? What do you think?" ［Grey］

  "As long as it isn't anything unreasonable. I'm also fih it." ［Yuna］

  "Don't worry, it isn't much... I'd just like a feast once we're finished. A lot of desserts would also be nice." ［Julius］

  It was a very Julius-like answer. Rather than something more beneficial like a favor or something of the sort, he only wished for some sweets to enjoy with Amelia. It wasn't a request too hard to do. Grey and Yuna were pnning on doing so even without him asking anyway.

  If there roblem, it would be what kind of dishes and desserts they would prepare. There were too many to choose from. Well, the celebration would still be a few days away, there wasn't ao stress too much about it.

  "Haah... Alright. We'll cook you up a feast." ［Grey］

  "Alright! Now we're talking!" ［Julius］

  Julius' spirit was through the roof as such a decration echoed in the dungeon. And even though Amelia didn't request a thing from them, she was already satisfied. They both looked forward to the feast they'll be receiving afterwards.

  Everything well and ready, everyohen finally took their first step ihe dungeon. As soon as they did, mana swirled throughout the pd gathered in little spots, taking the shape of monsters irance.

  Two manners of beings maed out of thin air. One were rge blobs of mana which bounced ever so slowly, while the other were green-skinned monsters who held primitive wooden clubs at their disposal. They were slimes and goblins, the weakest of the weak amongst monsters.

  "They really do spawn out of thin air, huh..." ［Julius］

  "Yhness, this is no time for suents." ［Amelia］

  "Yeah, you're right. Let's finish this quickly!" ［Julius］

  "Uood!" ［Amelia］

  Clouds of dust were left in Julius and Amelia's wake as they both charged at the e the same time. As frey and Yuna, they didn't move an ind just tinued as per their agreement. They would only be making their moves when necessary.

  "Haap!" ［Julius］

  "Hyaa!" ［Amelia］

  Lashes and sshes rained down upon the slimes and goblins as the two passed through them like raging winds. There was o use magic, just the immense gap in their physical strength was enough to incapacitate them with a sirike.

  As Amelia's whip shed towards the front, all slimes present quickly burst to pieces until there were only essences left behind. The goblins which suffered the brunt of the same attack were also sent flying, their bodies broken as their screams filled the air.

  Opposite to Amelia's enemies, Julius' oppos didn't make a single sound. Before they could, their heads were already sent flying as Julius' spear ected to their necks, spilling their blood all over the battlefield. Not a single one ared.

  The defeated bodies soon turned baana with passing of time until such that there weren't any more moo be seen. It erfect clear, Julius and Amelia not even breaking a single sweat.

  "That's the 1st area cleared, Yhness." ［Amelia］

  "Yeah, let's tinue." ［Julius］

  But they didn't simply just stop there. As soon as all enemies were defeated, they then headed straight to the area, heading further into the 1st floor where more monsters awaited the two of them.

  Of course, the drops weren't just left behiher. No matter how small of a value they have, when they accumute, they'd still be worth a lot. Of course, siheir goal was training, it was the right decision for Julius and Amelia to leave them behind.

  It was alsht to leave immediately. After all, if they just dilly-dallied aed there, monsters would start spawning again and they would start another cycle of fighting again. They may be inexperienced but at least they possessed the basiowledge of challenging a dungeon.

  The massacre tinued as Julius and Amelia traversed the 1st floor, noting of the paths they have entered aed, all the while having their hands full fighting the slimes and goblins which charged fearlessly towards them.

  "Tsk. It's another dead end." ［Julius］

  "Yhness, let's make haste to the other path before the monsters start spawning once again." ［Amelia］

  "Alright, let's do just that." ［Julius］

  Well, fighting monsters wasn't the only aspect Julius and Amelia had to learn, there was also the navigation of dungeons, the honing of deaking and multitasking skills. Well, there was also improving their teamwork, but such was sedary sihey could learn it anywhere else.

  Grey and Yuna tio follow the two for the hour and it was only after then that they finally found the stairs leading down the 2nd floor. It was fortuhat they found the stairs, but there was just one slight problem...

  Blub Blub Blub Blub

  In front of the stairs, a rge number of Lesser Aquaeoses standing guard. They may not have eyes, but everyone was certain that their attention was all focused to them, the intruders who suddenly appeared in front of them.

  Spsh Spsh Spsh

  Hundreds of spshes echoed oer another as the enemies quickly charged towards Julius and Amelia, their feet spilling water all over the pce, turning the ground muddy with the passing of time.

  ??Lightning Cascade!?? ［Julius］

  Unfortunately for the enemies, Julius possessed the lightning attribute. With just a single spell from him, all of them were electrocuted, their cores showing signs of crag, uo hahe power of an Intermediate-level spell.

  The sound of shattering gsses soon echoed as the cores of the lesser aquaeoses broke oer aheir bodies bursting with them soon after. In just a matter of seds, Julius cleared out dozens of enemies without much effort.

  "Alright, the stairs are ope's head to the sed floor." ［Julius］

  The journey tinued and everyone soon desded a floor with Julius on the lead. Just like the Labyrinths, the stairs were a safe area, no monster spawning and the perfect pce to rest. But the group didn't do so. They still have energy to spare.

  Whooosh Gurrikkkk Buhiiikkkk

  Three varieties of sounds echoed in the Labyrinth the very moment everyoepped foot on the sed floor. There were fire wisps, hobgoblins, and orcs awaiting for them. It was a very warm wele.

  "Hmm... This is a lot tougher tha floor..." ［Julius］

  "Fufufu, thehat mean you'll be giving up?" ［Yuna］

  "Nah, no way. After all, no matter how many they are, they're still G-ranks! Are you ready, Amelia?" ［Julius］

  "I only await your and, Yhness." ［Amelia］

  Excitement only burning fiercer in their hearts, Julius and Amelia brute forced their way through the horde of ehey have bee a lot stronger, but all it took were just a couple of strikes to finish them all off.

  Such simplicity tihroughout the whole 2nd floor. Julius and Amelia now have to use spells stantly, but that was the only ge. It took twice as much time to find the stairs leading to the 3rd floor.

  There, everyoed themselves for several minutes before heading towards the third floor. Julius and Amelia in particur were discussing their experiences on the previous two floors and took a peek at the third floor's moo devise a pn ahead of time. It was a good decision.

  ??Lightning Cascade!?? ［Julius］

  ??Explosion!?? ［Amelia］

  Lightning boomed and fire crackled all over the pce as Julius and Amelia rained down a barrage of spells towards the enemies. Be it ogres, pixies, aquaeoses, or lesser minotaurs, all of them were burnt to a crisp in the end.

  Of course, both Julius' spear and Amelia's whip were also brandished stantly. Whehe monsters survived the spells fired at the beginning, their ons would do the work and greet them "warmly". Slig, pierg, and shing them without mercy.

  If there was something to be worried about, it was that the dungeon became wetter aer the deeper they went. It roblem for Julius and Amelia's lightning and fire attributes. Especially when they were running out of mana as well.

  The walk tinued and dozens of monsters were sughtered by the hands of Julius and Amelia. As luck would have it, they got lucky and mao find the floors to the 4th floor in just a little uhree hours.

  Blub Blub Blub Blub

  But it doesn't mean they are going straight to the floor. Just like the previous floors, there is a horde of monsters guarding the stairs. They were mostly aquaeoses with a single siren in the mix. Their luck has run out.

  Although the Siren was an F-rank monster just like the others, it has a special ability called "Death's Symphony", an ability which makes people sluggish and rexed, a mi unfit for battle. Thankfully, Julius and Amelia were still far away from the monsters' attack range.

  "Yhness, I... I don't think I tinue anymore. My mana pool is also running low." ［Amelia］

  Another problem has arisen. Since Amelia has the fme attribute, she poured muana to elimihe enemies. Julius was also running low, but Amelia's mana pool was almost dry. It was a desperate situation.

  "Grey, Yuna, do you have an elixir we borrow?" ［Julius］

  "Hmm, we do." ［Grey］

  "Great, then I'llー" ［Julius］

  "But we won't be giving you any." ［Grey］

  "What?!" ［Julius］

  The hope Julius felt was quickly crushed by Grey's follow up. He then looked towards Yuna's dire but the tter also had the same expressioher of the two wao give them any elixirs to recover mana.

  "Hey, don't be stingy!" ［Julius］

  "Look here, Julius. The moment you agreed to the offer, the test had started. You should have asked us before you went dungeon diving." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu. There isn't a potion shop inside dungeonsー Ah! But I think we could go back up to the entrand do trade. That's what adventurers do, after all." ［Yuna］

  "Oh, that's a great idea, Yuna! That would make the simution much more realistic. Should we do that then?" ［Grey］

  "You two..." ［Julius］

  Julius could only heave a sigh sigh at the couple in front of him. While he could uand where they're ing from, he was ahat every single aspect siheir agreement art of the test. They really were demonic teachers.

  Still, he couldn't take his attention off their current situation. Their fatigue, mana, eime limits before other eart spawning, he sidered all aspects as he thought of a pn. But no matter how hard he tried, only one solution came up.

  "Amelia, I'm sorry for this." ［Julius］

  "What are you talking about, Yourー Kyaa?!" ［Amelia］

  Anelia couldn't even finish her words when Julius suddenly pced his hands on the back of her knee and back, carrying her princess carry style. It was so sudden that Amelia couldn't help but blush all the while remaining fused.

  "Hold on tight, Amelia. We'll be dashing our way through." ［Julius］

  "E-Eh? Yhness?" ［Amelia］

  "Just trust me this once, alright?" ［Julius］

  Amelia didn't ask anymore after that. She just decided to just hold Julius by the neck with her delicate-looking hands, her face burning red and her heart pounding mad. All the while ed whether she was too heavy for Julius. She was still a maiden in love, after all.

  Amelia in his arms, Julius circuted all of what remains of his mana throughout his body, exploding them skillfully when they arrived at his lower body. And ij a quick burst, he quickly darted through the halls, leaving clouds of dust and lightning sparks in his wake.

  Like a wild stallion galloping through an open meadow, Julius bolted his way through the enemies. Some tried to attack him, but before they could hit, Julius was gone before their attack ected. Not even the Siren was able to start her song.

  By the time all of the enemies noticed, the two were already at the entrance of the stairs. Julius' pn worked successfully, only that he had finally ran out of energy, his legs immediately giving out as soon as they were safe.

  "Haah... That was scary..." ［Julius］

  "Yeah. It really was. Things would have gotten ugly if your mana was even a tab bit lower. Thankfully, you two made it." ［Grey］

  "That's true, we gotー Ahh! When did you get here?!" ［Julius］

  "Huh? We ran with you, you know?" ［Grey］

  It wasn't only Grey, Yuna was also there beside him. Julius was too focused on running towards the stairs, he didn't even notice those two running with them. Not breaking a single swear, no less. They really were monsters.

  Well, the two were S-rankers. They were beings who could swiftly destroy mountains in a sirike. There was o pare himself to such people. Such was what Julius thought to fort himself.

  "Haah... So, how did we do? Must be pretty pathetisidering we ran away from the enemies, right?" ［Julius］

  "Hm? What do you mean? I think you made the right decision. I'd also run away if I was in your pce." ［Yuna］

  "Wait, really?" ［Julius］

  "Yeah. In that situation, it's either you escape or just dash your way through. It's only stupid to engage in needless battles when you're tired... Julius, just what do you think dungeon diving is all about?" ［Grey］

  "Uhh... Defeating all monsters aing to the deepest floor?" ［Julius］

  Grey and Yuna were frozen at Julius' answer. While he wasn't teically wrong, his cept was a little off. It wasn't just about fighting and making achievements. There were also a lot of things to sider such as mapping, gaining experience, colleg, making decisions and a lot more.

  People do them subsciously so they don't think too much of them, but they are also just as important. Well, Grey and Yuna wouldn't be telling him right away. It's for him to figure out by himself.

  "Well, let's leave it at that for now. And Julius... you might want to let go of your fiancée for a moment. I think she's already had enough." ［Grey］

  "Fufufu, that's right. Amelia's so red already!" ［Yuna］

  It was only then that Julius realized his hands were still holding Amelia ever so tightly. Her face blushing profusely was the very reason she has been quiet all this time. Her mind was already overheating from too much stimution, prompting Julius to turn red soon after.

  Amelia's face as red as one be and teasing smiles pstered on Grey and Yuna's faces, the night proceeded just as usual. There was dinner, bathing, a nice long friendly chat, and of course, a well-deserved sleep for everyone, readying themselves for the tomorrow soon to e.

  CHAPTER 173 END