Endless Leveling Done Right!

Chapter 105: You Really Look Like A Villain Right Now

”Are you finally entering the dungeon?” asked Dwayne, one of the third-years from Frieden Academy.

”Not exactly,” Alex replied. ”But we do plan on entering the dungeon at midnight.”

The three third-year students currently on guard duty simultaneously looked at the group of six people standing before them.

Alex, Cairo, Lavinia, Roselia, Elaine, and Efa were in full combat gear, ready for battle. They planned to first scout the dungeon and check if there were still trial takers inside.

If they found some lost lambs inside, they would guide them to the exit so they would not be affected by Charles’ Challenger’s Mark once the latter finally entered the dungeon.

Charles had been left in the inn with Dim Dim, who had been asked to watch over him.

The teenager was well aware of the plan and hoped that Alex and the others would be able to lead everyone to safety. Only then could he finally challenge the dungeon. Hopefully, he could do so by tomorrow midnight.

Roselia looked at her pocket watch. ”Thirty seconds before the first floor resets.”

Everyone nodded in acknowledgment and waited for the final seconds to tick by.

”We can enter now,” Roselia reported.

Just as planned, they waited for two more minutes before stepping into the dungeon, just as the terrain of the first floor was starting to stabilize. As soon as the changes stopped, Alex immediately activated his Map of Forgotten Paths.

”There are still around twenty people inside the dungeon,” Alex reported. ”Follow me!”

Since they were in a hurry, the group ran as fast as they could, with Cairo and Efa leading the charge.

Alex and Lavinia were at the center of the formation, while Elaine and Roselia guarded the rear.

”Turn right at the next intersection, then turn left!” Alex shouted.

Cairo and Efa followed his directions without hesitation, cutting down every monster that lunged at them along the way.

”Who are you people?!” asked an anxious voice, coming from a young lady being guarded by two lady adventurers. ”A-Are you here to kill us?!”

”No,” Alex replied. ”We’re here to lead you to the exit.”

”And why should we believe you?” retorted the young lady as she reached for her weapon, ready to move as soon as Alex showed any sign of hostility.

”Because if you don’t, we’ll have no choice but to knock you guys out and carry you outside of the dungeon,” Alex answered coldly. ”We don’t have much time, so it’s up to you whether you will believe us or not.”

”Wow, you really look like a villain right now,” Lavinia commented. ”Very convincing.”

”Thank you.” Alex smirked.

Knowing they were completely outnumbered, the young lady finally relented. However, Alex didn’t immediately take them to the exit.

There were three more groups near them. He asked Lavinia and Roselia to stay and watch over the first party they had met inside the dungeon while his team picked up the others.

Just like the first party, the second party was also very wary of them.

”Thanks but no thanks,” a teenage boy with short blonde hair scoffed, not even bothering to hide his contempt. ”We can find the exit on our own. No need for you to hel—argghh!”

Cairo smacked the living lights out of the teenage boy, and he collapsed on the ground.

”How about the two of you?” the Catkin asked the escorts of the teenage boy. ”Are you going to come willingly, or should we negotiate using our weapons?”

”W-We’ll go with you!” one of the escorts replied anxiously.

”Good, pick them up and follow these two ladies,” Alex instructed. ”There’s still another party waiting there. We’ll just pick them up first. After that, we will all travel to the exit. Elaine, Efa, make sure to guide them well.”

”Got it.”

”You can count on us, Alex!”

Alex and Cairo didn’t waste anymore time and headed to their next destination.

Fortunately, the third party was desperate to find the exit, so they were quick to trust the master-disciple duo, who guided them to the meeting place.

”Now, please follow me,” Alex said. ”There are still a few stragglers left, and we want to get them out as soon as possible.”

As they traveled along the winding path that led to the exit to the City of Harmonia, Alex and Cairo often separated from the main group to pick up the nearest trial takers to their location.

Just like Alex expected, helping the trial takers wasn’t easy.

He didn’t bring them directly to the exit, only to the halfway point.

He then left them clear instructions as to what path to take, so they could reach the exit by themselves.

It took them nearly eight hours to evacuate everyone from the dungeon. The Map of Forgotten Paths had long lost its effect, but before the cooldown started, Alex had marked the areas where the rest of the trial takers were last located.

On top of that, Catkins had an uncanny ability to remember the paths they had taken.

The same could also be said for Efa, who was now a Shadow Scout.

”Have we gotten everyone out?” Cairo inquired.

”I think so, Master,” Alex answered. ”Now, let’s head to the fourth floor of the dungeon to check if the Mini Boss has respawned.”

Alex had also marked the location of the secret path that led to the fourth floor on his map when he could still use the Map of Forgotten Paths.

When they reached the fourth floor, they decided to split into two teams to look for the Mini Boss.

Alex could see the location of his party members on the map, so he was confident about instantaneously locating them.

Alex, Cairo, and Elaine formed one team, while Lavinia, Roselia, and Efa formed another.

Their lineups were pretty balanced and should be able to deal with most situations within the fourth floor of the dungeon.

Two hours later, Alex’s team found Vraxxis, the Thornforged, and didn’t hesitate to engage it in combat.

Since Cairo could practically solo the Mini Boss and he had the help of both Alex and Elaine—who was now a Rank 3 Flame Swordsman—the battle didn’t last very long.

After Vraxxis was defeated, the Boss Monster dropped two items—the Thorn Sword and Thorn Boots.

Cairo handed the rare equipment to Alex, and the latter gratefully accepted them. In any case, they were very valuable items.

———

< Thorn Boots >

Type: Armor (Boots)

Item Grade: Rare

Bonus Effects:

— Grants 10% movement speed when moving through natural terrain (forests, grasslands).

— Grants +50% Climbing Speed and ensures secure footing on unstable or slippery surfaces (ice, mud, rocky cliffs).

———

< Thorn Sword >

Type: Weapon (One-Handed Sword)

Item Grade: Rare

Attack: 42–58

Bonus Effects:

— Grants +15% Armor Penetration.

— Increase bleed damage by 20%

— Tangled Rage (Passive): When Bleeding enemies are nearby, gain +10% attack speed.

———

’With this, we won’t have to worry about Vraxxis ambushing us tomorrow.’ Alex breathed a little easier because one of the most annoying monsters had been dealt with. ’Time to meet up with Lavinia and the others.’

During this nearly ten-hour dungeon dive, Alex was able to gain three levels, which was a good thing.

”You guys are back?” Professor Elias, who was guarding the gate, was surprised when he saw Alex’s group emerging from the dungeon.

Judging from their expressions, he could tell that they were very exhausted, which made him chuckle.

He thought that the group had gotten lost and decided to withdraw for the time being.

”Don’t worry. You still have a few days before the second trial starts,” Professor Elias reminded them. ”Don’t lose hope and continue to do your best, everyone.”

Alex and the others were too tired to say anything, so they didn’t bother explaining to the professor, who was looking at them with a smug grin on his face.

They knew that the middle-aged man was finding joy in their hardship, but even if they told him everything, he probably wouldn’t understand.

When the group returned to the inn, everyone quickly let themselves collapse on their beds.

Tonight, they would once again dive inside the dungeon and face a threat that none of the other trial takers needed to face.

Charles felt guilty, knowing everyone was working hard for his sake.

The least he could do was follow the plan and hope that, by the time the sun rose the next day, he and the others would have safely arrived in the City of Harmonia, where a new Chapter of his life was about to begin.