First, I recalled the dungeon’s structure.

The Buffalokins, upright bulls, are creatures specializing in strength.

The Wandering Orcs are those abandoned by their kin, like the one-eyed orc I met before. They’re just guys who only have experience to boast about!

The open-field type dungeon is characterized by its vast expanse. If it’s called the 1st floor, it probably means this entire area is the dungeon.

’And it’s an annihilation battle, meaning I have to take down all the mobs. Of course, the last one will be the named mob’s turn.’

There are three more dungeons besides this one, but I’ll leave them for now.

Because I need to clear them when it’s more important.

’From now on, it’s spectator time. Alright, I’ll Show and Prove!’

I drew my sword and increased my speed.

"Hwoooooong!"

The Buffalokins appeared, letting out monstrous roars. Regardless, I sliced down every monster that appeared.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Nameless Pierce]

Pucheoook

[Vane Severing Sword Style - White Lightning Strike]

Sseogeok! Poohwaak!

"Woohuhng!"

One Buffalokin hid behind a pillar and then lunged at me. Calmly, I delivered a front kick to its abdomen.

Thamp!

The Buffalokin was stunned, with stars circling above its head. I immediately slit its throat.

I accumulated a good number of points by defeating monsters. Though they were low-level monsters, so it wasn’t much.

’Ugh, it’s a shame there are no goblins. It would be easier if I could exploit them.’

Unlike before, I could defeat the monsters without much difficulty. I’ve really grown.

Tutatatatatat!

I heard the sound of gravel scattering from somewhere as something charged. It was a Buffalokin activating its specialty, a head-first charge.

"How varied."

One of the easiest ways to deal with it.

I subtly dodged the charging creature. From its side, I swung my sword.

Done.

The charge was always in a straight line, and its speed wasn’t fast, making it less threatening. However, Hero Candidates still died frequently to these creatures.

They often died after trying to endure it with their bodies or block it with shields, only to be pushed back by unimaginable force.

"For honor!"

"My life for a wanderer’s life!"

"Heads, off! Ogaa!"

The Wandering Orcs appeared, shaking their horsehair manes. There were roughly seven of them.

Even for me, facing all of them at once would be inefficient.

’However.’

I openly provoked them.

"Come on, come on. How pathetic do you have to be to get abandoned by your kin? Hehehe."

"You bastard!"

The orcs charged, gripping greatswords and maces.

I immediately ran sideways. I bounced off the terrain as I ran.

Following me caused them extreme stamina depletion. Additionally, I fought them by utilizing the narrow passages.

"Ugh, get out of the way!"

"I’m first!"

Swooosh..Shrrrek... Swoooooshhhh

I finished them all. So easy, so easy.

’I’ve definitely gotten stronger. I can even defeat them without using aura.’

I felt unnecessarily smug.

’Dont get smug, Luciannn!’

"I won’t let my guard down. I have to protect Goddess, after all."

Then why is her voice so sweet and sticky at the end? Anyway, Goddess is so cute, so cute, so cute!

I moved forward, defeating monsters. I rummaged through artifact chests here and there.

[Acquired 50 Gold!]

[Acquired ’Iron Ingot’!]

[Acquired ’Soft Beast Bone’!]

This is the charm of dungeons.

As I proceeded, a space enveloped in a translucent membrane appeared.

I stood before it and grinned.

"More precisely, it’s a boss room. The concept is that if you defeat the creature here, the dungeon disappears."

"Of course! Watch me!"

I stretched my neck and stepped forward. As I pushed through the membrane, I gradually felt as if I was becoming one with the space. At the same time, I thought.

’There’s a byproduct from defeating this guy. It will be a great help in recovering Jeremy.’

I flicked the blood off my sword and smiled silently. I was excited that things were proceeding exactly as planned.

’There was a quest in the game to save the heroine of a sick village, and this was used for it. I’m sure. Come out, Lizardman!’

I raised my head. The boss was visible.

It was a Wandering Orc, its entire body dyed red. It had a monstrous physique, pumped with muscles.

Wait, just a moment?

’What, the boss monster is different from what I knew?’

I blinked silently. Did I come to the wrong place?

No, this is the right place, isn’t it? This is the only dungeon where Buffalokins appear?

’Damn it, don’t tell me the settings are messed up again!’

A sigh escaped me. Originally, the boss monster here was a Lizardman.

If I played it well, I could finish it by overwhelming it with either speed or strength.

But that guy was different.

’Right, I expected this. It’s a strange orc instead of a Lizardman, but it’s doable. At this level.’

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. I kicked off the ground.

Tak! Hoowook!

I advanced with my sword forward. I floated through the air and swung my sword as soon as I touched the ground.

The orc swung its axe in return.

A clash of power!

Sparks even flew between the weapons.

I was sent flying backward by the overwhelming force. It was absurd.

’I’m being pushed back in terms of strength. But what if aura comes into play? Au! Ra!’

I activated my aura. I charged at the orc again and clashed with it.

Kahaang!

I braced myself, clashing weapons with it. I naturally leaned into the force by lowering my upper body. I firmly planted my feet on the ground and gripped my sword with both hands.

I was pushed back, scraping the ground.

’Crazy, why am I being pushed back? I shouldn’t be!’

Screeech!...

It should only be around D-rank, so why am I being pushed back?

The orc trembled and then roared.

"Khaaaaaaak!"

The orc closed the distance in an instant. As soon as I saw it, I delivered a front kick to deter it.

But it calmly circled to my side and swung that heavy axe repeatedly as if it were a spoon.

Taetaetaetaeng! Taetaeng!

I calmly blocked or dodged the frantic barrage and circled around.

Whenever I saw an opening, I launched a counterattack.

The orc swung its axe diagonally. I dodged it by sliding sideways.

Unbelievably, the axe came from the opposite side. I raised my shield to block it.

With a sound like air bursting, the arm holding the shield trembled as if it would shatter.

As I gritted my teeth and endured, it roared again.

Looking closely, it was enveloped in a red aura, similar to my own.

’What kind of power is this...? A head-on confrontation is a no-go. I’ll lose!’

As the orc swung its axe with all its might, I barely twisted my upper body to dodge. The wall behind me cracked significantly and shook violently.

’Where is this a 1-star dungeon, what the fuck.’

Even if the settings are messed up, there’s a limit. This is too much!

"Khaaa!"

I barely managed to block the axe it swung with my sword. Both my arms kept vibrating, feeling as if they would fall off.

However, as strong as it was, it had many openings. Every time it attacked, I launched small counterattacks.

I slashed its thigh, stabbed its chest, and sliced its ear.

I induced bleeding to make it die over time. Of course, as time passed, its aura grew even stronger.

’Is that aura, or what? That red thing.’

The red aura gradually intensified, conveying a sense of pressure. I moved rapidly left and right, swinging my sword with off-beat timing.

My sword pierced its chest, but it, in turn, grabbed my sword with its bare hand and threw me away.

I gritted my teeth as I was slammed into the wall. It charged at me menacingly, swinging its axe. When I blocked with my sword, its fist slid past my sword and flew at me.

A fist slammed into my chest.

My breath hitched. I was grabbed by the collar, and the world began to spin.

I was slammed around while being held by the collar. My forehead was torn, and the back of my head was cracked.

My vision quickly turned red. It jumped up while holding me.

"Kuhwaaaak!"

It slammed me directly onto the ground. Even then, as if its rage wasn’t sated, it continued to roar.

’Fuck, it’s not even a berserker. This damn bastard!’

I coughed. Blood mixed with my cough.

My body was already in bad shape. Nevertheless, I limped to my feet.

The orc swung its axe with all its might. I barely dodged and raised my sword.

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Nameless Pierce]

I accurately stabbed its chest. Yet, it moved well.

I forcefully pulled out my sword and retreated.

’It’s getting faster. It’s becoming harder to deal with.’

It felt as if it was getting stronger by the second. When an axe appeared from the front, I dodged it.

Just like before, a fist flew from the side. I barely blocked it with my shield.

But then its fist opened, grabbed my neck, and squeezed.

As it tried to throw me again, I used magnetism to lift my body and delivered a high kick.

The orc was stunned and staggered.

’Orcs are weak to magic and status effects! In that case....’

[Vane Severing Sword Style - Branch Cutter]

I unleashed a frantic barrage. It was clearly a fatal wound, but it moved as if it felt no pain.

It was truly an exasperating creature.

As I dodged to the side, an elbow it swung struck my cheek.

"Keoeok!"

I collapsed to the ground, catching my breath.

’One more hit and I’ll be dead. In that case, there’s no choice.’

The orc charged as if to finish me off. I watched it approach and extended my hand forward.

The ring glowed.

"Kihhihihing!"

I summoned Lyn. I mounted Lyn and shouted.

"If I can’t do it alone, I’ll fight with my clone!"

I charged towards the orc.

As we ran, Lyn let out a cry towards the orc.

"Heeheeheehing!"

[Lightning Strike]

A bolt of lightning struck the orc. Its posture crumbled as it charged.

In that opening, I rammed it with Lyn and thrust my sword.

[Enemy defeated!]

[Acquired 25000 Collector Points (CP)!]

Trash mobs give 3000, 6000, but the boss gives 25000, damn it.

"Heo, Pooh-heuh!"

My nose felt blocked, so when I exerted force, blood streamed out. It’s sticky, sticky.

A pouch the orc had rolled over and stopped at my feet.

’This is?’

[Lizardman Elder’s Heart]

Type: Special Item

Description: A medicinal ingredient used to cure difficult or rare diseases.

「A pale but thick and tough heart.」

Thank goodness, the reward was still there!

I immediately ran towards the manor. My appearance was a mess, and I should have regenerated first, but it didn’t matter. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

This was a situation where I was rushing without even checking the dungeon rewards.

If I regenerated on the way, I wouldn’t die at least. I arrived at the manor riding Lyn.

[Title ’Spirit of the Warrior Race’ activated!]

[All Stats increased by 20!]

If a title activated, I must have been in a truly dangerous state. Huh, well.

"Don’t worry, Goddess! Irryat!"

I passed the Lord’s residence and entered the mansion. The servants were surprised to see me, but I didn’t pay them any mind.

I rushed to Jeremy’s room, where Fiora and Zara were still present.

"Please boil this and give it to the young Lord Jeremy. It should resolve the issue."

"Lucian!"

The two women were aghast. I shook my head.

"Right now, it’s for the young Lord Jeremy, not me, understood?"

I handed over the Lizardman Elder’s Heart and rested near the room. The two women moved busily, but my head was a bit dizzy, so I just kept my head bowed.

After some time passed, Fiora and Zara rushed over to me.

"Jeremy has opened his eyes again! And for some reason, his complexion has returned!"

"Could it be that he’s completely recovered? Ahh-huk!"

"Lucian, how on earth...?"

"That’s right. How did you get it?!"

I had resolved the situation. I simply smiled faintly and nodded my head.

Knowing my condition, the two women expressed their gratitude to me. Fiora, in particular, gave me a gaze that seemed to melt.

"Thank you, Lucian. You are our Hero and Savior."

"It’s nothing. Acting Lord, this much is only natural. I am a Hero, after all."

[Affection for ’Fiora Ravenscoft’ increased!]

[Current Affection with ’Fiora Ravenscoft’: Lust♥♡→Lust♥♥]

[Affection for ’Zara Ravenscoft’ increased!]

[Current Affection with ’Zara Ravenscoft’: Favorability♥→Favorability♥♡]

The increase in affection was a bonus. Fiora approached, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Let’s go to the infirmary together. I’ll personally tend to you."

And then, a suggestive eye-smile. Fiora, surely this isn’t?!