That's right, that's what adventure is like!

So they came for that mission?

Roland's mind raced, guessing there must be more to this than met the eye, but he didn't intend to pry: "I can give you this task, how about it?"

Luca had left a deep impression on him last time, and this time he was absolutely unwilling to have anything to do with this evil mage team again.

It's just an exploration story; at worst, he can spend some more time returning to the association and finding a suitable new commission.

But Daphne seemed to have anticipated this, and immediately shook her head: "That won't do. What if you go back and tell the association about me, and they come and arrest me?"

Roland frowned: "So what do you want?"

He could not possibly agree to travel with a necromancer, even if the other claimed to be an apprentice, whose level of danger far exceeded that of ordinary people.

"Hmm... how about this," Daphne thought for a moment, then pointed to the orc behind her, "I'll let Torg go with you. As soon as you get what you want, I'll let you leave immediately, how about that?"

That sounds like a good suggestion.

After a brief consideration, Roland agreed, taking into account that there was only one orc and that he was in a complex dungeon environment where he could easily extricate himself, and that the danger was under control.

Togel, on the other hand, seemed somewhat reluctant to make the decision, muttering, "Following a nobody like him, who knows what dangers we'll encounter..."

With his physique of at least seven feet tall and bare muscles comparable to a hammer, he certainly has the right to make such a assessment.

But he could not go against his employer's wishes. Seeing that Daphne had already said goodbye to Roland, he could only pick up his battle axe and follow Roland back to the entrance of the second floor.

Compared to the first floor, which is right next to the entrance, the second floor has a slightly maze-like feel. Although the basic structure will not change, the path leading down changes every day.

If you don't want to get lost, you must strictly follow the instructions on the exchange scales.

To Roland's surprise, the atmosphere along the way was not dull, but rather quite lively, because Togel was a chatterbox who couldn't stop talking.

"How do you see in the dark? Did you buy that ridiculously expensive potion? We orcs are so lucky; we're born of the night, protected by all the shadows!"

"Do you know how we found you? That's right, through that despicable scale. It cost a full 200 gold coins. By the God of Beasts, my hiring fee for this trip was only 5!"

"Hey, you should know that I wouldn't be with you if it weren't for my employer's orders. Don't get yourself into any danger later..."

"Quiet!"

Roland finally couldn't help but whisper a rebuke, coldly staring at the burly orc: "This is a dungeon, not a tavern in town. Don't you have basic awareness of risks?"

Torger glared angrily at Roland, but realized he had indeed been reckless. He grunted and fell silent to avoid attracting the monsters' attention.

Roland's attitude of admitting his mistakes and correcting them slightly changed his perception of him, and this change turned into astonishment when he encountered the first monster on the third floor.

"ah--!"

The roar echoed in the confined space. Torgod's fighting style was unpretentious; his muscular body, clad in half-armor, rammed straight into a monster floating in the ghostly light like a battering ram.

It was a living suit of armor.

It hovered half a foot above the ground, its entire body cast from dark black iron, with an ancient style and covered with fine scratches. Its helmet was a smooth metal visor, and it held a two-handed greatsword.

Although it looks like someone is controlling it, it is actually made entirely of magic and is empty inside. Even after decades, it is still carrying out its master's guarding orders.

boom!

The dull thud was enough to make your teeth ache. Torger's shoulder struck the chest of the armored figure, sending it flying several feet. He merely swayed for a moment before using the recoil to spin around and swing his two-handed great axe down at an angle.

when--

The clanging of metal echoed loudly, the powerful force rippling through the air, accompanied by a roar that shattered the flying dust.

"Run! I'll hold it off!!!"

As he spoke, he raised the metal axe again and viciously slashed at the joint of the activated armor. He then used his fist, the size of a sandbag, to smash the axe handle, forcing the blade into the joint and detaching the activated armor's left arm.

But this was only temporary. The activated armor was only slightly suppressed. After regaining its footing, black energy surged from its body, reconnecting its shoulder armor to its torso, and it launched an attack on Torg.

The fact that the living armor never "dies" before its magic runs out is what makes it so troublesome.

Faced with such a monster, Torg did not dodge or evade, but persisted with his savage, simple yet effective fighting style, and once again suppressed it.

Roland watched silently from behind, several thoughts already racing through his mind: "Orcs revere violence and are physically strong, making them excellent frontal combat forces."

"This Torg may be talkative, but he's quite efficient and he's an employee... so perhaps we could try to win him over."

With that thought in mind, he immediately changed his attitude and took the initiative to help Torger.

call out--

The light crossbow fired a cold arrow, which knocked back the approaching living armor by half a step, giving Torg more space to display his skills.

"Walk!"

Roland uttered only one word.

This time, Torger didn't complain anymore and decisively withdrew, though he still grumbled, "Why didn't you use this sooner? You wasted half my day!"

Roland smiled but did not answer. He simply kept pulling the crossbow, slowing down the pace of the activated armored pursuer, until the two turned the corner and completely left the guard behind.

"I was too nervous just now," Roland put away his light crossbow and softened his tone. "There's nothing wrong with being talkative. Just speak normally."

The stark contrast before and after was enough to make even someone as thick-skinned as Torger sense that something was amiss.

He stopped, his massive frame casting a shadow that almost completely enveloped Roland. His fists clenched slightly, and his large, bell-like eyes narrowed slightly. "Hey kid, you wouldn't be... trying to trick me into telling you something, would you?"

Heh, not stupid after all.

"How could that be?" Roland denied without batting an eye, casually pulling a piece of dried meat wrapped in oil paper from his bag, taking a bite, and then handing it over. "I just felt that since we're going to be traveling together for a while, too much silence would be awkward. Why don't we chat?"

"Hmm..." Perhaps feeling obligated to help someone who had eaten his food, Torger took the jerky and took a big bite. His wary expression gradually relaxed, and he started talking again.

From his account, Roland pieced together the origins of the three orc brothers.

They originally belonged to a half-orc tribe called "Skullbreaker," and were even the offspring of an elder. They underwent countless harsh trials to become members of the hunting party.

But upon returning from a routine hunt, he discovered that in just a few days, his tribe had been reduced to ruins, with traces of scorching flames still visible on the ground.

A powerful red dragon happened to pass by and, with a casual breath, burned their home to the ground.

Left with no other choice, he wandered around with his two younger brothers until they arrived in Broken Rock Town, where he became Daphne's servant.

Speaking of this hiring, Torg looked even more aggrieved: "That stupid woman actually accepted a commission from the seventh level of the dungeon to kill the kobold chieftain! She was practically asking for death!"

"Oh!?" Roland looked surprised, but subtly steered the conversation further, "Then why are you still willing to come here?"