"Where did that guy run off to?"
"We entered the Dungeon at basically the same time as him. At a normal new adventurer's exploration speed, he should only be able to reach the 3rd Floor area."
"Besides, he's carrying that much weight!"
They locked onto Ron as their target.
Bruno, together with members of the Soma Familia, hurried into the Dungeon to search for his trail. No one could accept letting a fat sheep completely slip past right in front of their eyes.
And then—
They split up and searched, nearly turning the 3rd Floor area upside down, yet still failed to find any trace of Ron.
These were all veteran adventurers who had gone in lightly equipped and were extremely familiar with the Dungeon environment. It was impossible that this guy had run to even deeper Floors, right?
So why couldn't they find even a single new adventurer?
At this thought, Bruno's inner anger became impossible to suppress. Even the way he looked at his familia companions was filled with undisguised contempt.
A bunch of useless trash!
He forcibly reined in his fury. "Are you sure the inspection is complete?"
"Wald, you're guarding the stairway leading to the 4th Floor. During this period just now, did you see that guy heading deeper?"
"No."
The adventurer called Wald shook his head decisively.
But he still maintained his rationality and analyzed hypothetically: "That guy is carrying so many things. There's no reason his speed would be faster than ours."
"Since we've already searched the 3rd Floor area…"
"Mr. Bruno, do you think there's a possibility that this guy never reached the 3rd Floor at all, and is still wandering around the 2nd Floor area?"
"…"
No matter how much of a newcomer he was, even without any adventuring experience, with that set of equipment backing him up, the monsters in the 2nd Floor area absolutely could not pose any threat to an adventurer.
And just as Bruno was racking his brains,
a member of the Soma Familia who had gone to gather information from passing adventurers returned, speaking with resentment: "Boss, I just asked a few people who were passing by."
"That guy does seem to have been lingering around the 2nd Floor. I didn't ask too carefully about the specific reason…"
"Then we'll look for him."
Bruno made the decision on the spot.
If Ron had rushed ahead to deeper Floors before they could search, that would mean his strength was not that of an ordinary newcomer.
But now that they had obtained accurate information—that he was still wandering around the 2nd Floor area—then Ron's strength was absolutely nothing to worry about.
To be safe, he spoke to Wald once again: "Searching the 2nd Floor will take time. You keep squatting at the stairway leading to the 3rd Floor and wait for this guy."
"You won't be short of divine wine when the time comes!"
"Thank you, boss."
"We're heading back to the 2nd Floor. Remember to hide the familia emblem and everything that can symbolize our identities. Don't leave any traces behind."
After issuing detailed instructions,
Bruno decisively led the other familia members back to the 2nd Floor area where Ron was, continuing to search in the same split-up manner as before.
As soon as he returned to the 2nd Floor area, he felt a faint chill.
"Damn."
"Why does it feel kind of chilly?"
He did not think too deeply about it. His desire for divine wine ultimately overcame that slight sense of unease, and this kind of full-scale search did not take particularly long.
Very soon, a teammate from one of the squads brought back good news.
"Mr. Bruno, I saw that guy in the cave passage up ahead. He's definitely a new adventurer—just look at that exploration attitude…"
"He's terrified of running into danger even on the 2nd Floor!"
"Lead the way."
A new adventurer—perfect!
Timid and afraid of trouble was practically a label stuck on them. Besides, for this guy to be cautious to such an extent even on the 2nd Floor area—
With just a bit of intimidation, the set of equipment on Ron's body could be obtained with ease.
After that, as long as he kept a slightly low profile in Orario, Bruno truly was not worried that the other party could pose any real threat to him.
"Just think about Lord Zanis's divine wine."
"With this money, we won't need to go into the Dungeon for at least half a month!" he said as he carried out the final mobilization toward the other familia members.
Bruno led the team forward at speed.
Soon after, not far from that tunnel passage, they found their final target—mainly because it was rare for an adventurer to be armed to this extent.
All kinds of armor were piled onto the body.
There were even multiple types of weapons equipped—looking all-rounder, but did he really think of himself as some kind of weapon master?
Bruno could not even be bothered to sneer. Choosing weapons that suited oneself was far more effective for an adventurer than piling up sheer numbers and flashy but impractical gear.
Especially when he noticed that Ron in the distance seemed to be locked in a struggle with a monster.
The smile on his face could no longer be restrained.
"Let's go."
"It looks like this rookie newcomer has run into a problem he can't solve. In that case, as fellow adventurers, helping each other out is only natural, right?"
There was no attempt at concealment. Their eyes were filled with an unspoken certainty of taking the plump newcomer for all he was worth.
And as Bruno, together with the members of the Soma Familia, steadily closed in on Ron's position, they did not clearly see the Corrupted Lizard that was locked in confrontation with him.
"That's right."
"But the benefits definitely can't be lacking."
However, as they gradually drew closer and, with faint illumination, they finally saw the massive monster that defied common sense, and the atmosphere froze in an instant.
Dungeon lizards were highly recognizable.
The scales covering their bodies would reflect light under the glow of illumination, yet the monster that appeared before Bruno lacked this characteristic entirely.
If one had to put it into words, this hulking creature could barely be considered a lizard at all.
Its corrupted body—shreds of decayed flesh seemingly stuck between the bones—looked ready to fall off with any movement, exuding an intensely pungent stench.
Even from a great distance, one could feel its overwhelming oppressive presence.
"What on earth…"
"…is this monster? Why have I never encountered it before?"
After all, he was a seasoned adventurer. Bruno maintained his composure, yet what truly sent a chill down his spine was the battle that Ron initiated of his own accord in the distance.
Facing an enormous disparity in size.
The Corrupted Lizard launched a full-power charge. When it slammed into the brass heavy shield, the dull thud produced by bone colliding with metal alone made the gap in strength unmistakably clear!
The crucial point—
Ron, holding the brass heavy shield, took the monster's impact head-on and was pushed back only a few steps.
Immediately after...
Ron's movements were simply far too fast. All that could be seen was a flash of crimson sword light sweeping past in an instant, and the Corrupted Lizard's massive head had already been completely severed.
The continuously dispersing black dust symbolized the monster's demise.
Bruno's emotions were difficult to describe. Being able to scrape by alive in the Dungeon until now was due to the keen instinct for danger that he prided himself on.
Before his eyes was the fat sheep he had taken Ron to be—a new adventurer who supposedly knew nothing about proper equipment combinations—yet Ron was able, in an extremely short span of time, to cleanly and decisively deal with this unprecedented massive monster.
"This guy… is absolutely impossible to be a newcomer!"
Bruno weighed the situation inwardly, unwilling to show any sign of fear in front of his companions.
Meanwhile, a member who had long been unable to wait for the divine wine stepped past Bruno and walked to the front. Looking at Ron, who had swiftly finished the fight ahead, he said: "A new adventurer?"
"Running into us means you're lucky. Recently, abnormalities have appeared in the Dungeon, and it's not suitable for you to be exploring. But now there's an opportunity for you."
"…"
Bruno's eyelids twitched violently.
Before he could stop it, he saw the youth who had bent down to pick up the magic stone and then cast his gaze in their direction. There was not the slightest ripple of emotion in those eyes.
Yet within that utterly calm, ancient-well-like gaze—for some reason—
Bruno could clearly feel it: the boy's completely undisguised, naked killing intent!!
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