Lucas’s eyes were a vibrant blue. A deep, brilliant, emerald-tinged azure. Typically, his gaze was tender, much like a large dog gazing up at its master, but in this moment, I couldn’t quite gauge the temperature of his stare. Did he ask his question out of genuine concern for me? Or was it a test…

Their expedition had started in the afternoon, and by the time they returned, it was approaching lunchtime. They had been moving continuously through the day and night. The tension of the dungeon had masked their fatigue, but the moment they set foot outside, their bodies felt heavy almost instantly. “Today is a rest… everyone did…

Ding! Ding! Ding! The damage slot began to whirl with a vengeance. A wave of unease swept over me as I observed the frenziedly spinning numbers. I surely wouldn’t falter here… right? I won’t be greeted by any unsavoury figures, will I? “I intervened because Jupiter and Damien cannot risk injury!” Better for me to…

Our group assembled at the threshold of the boss room. The building tucked away in this side street was unlike any we’d encountered before; an imposing edifice of stone that, judging by its size, might have once served as a warehouse. Like the decrepit structures we’d passed earlier, this stone building’s entrance was blocked by…

“What’s on the market today?” Hunched over the humble stall, I posed the question to Nameless, who nonchalantly motioned towards his offerings. “The inventory’s dynamic, always changing, but one thing’s for sure: these are relics you won’t stumble upon in the world of humans.” Indeed, that much was evident. The dungeon we were in, a…

I swiftly laid out a brief plan of action. The tactic was uncomplicated. I would intentionally aggravate the Mimic, and when it swallowed me, Damien would defeat the creature and rescue me. During this spectacle, Evangeline would surely find humor in my predicament. Observing me, the emperor, acting more foolishly than her slip on the…

“From this point forward, I will be commanding you all!” I spun around. “Jupiter, Damien!” Jupiter was already conjuring magic within her palms, but Damien seemed rooted in shock. Two hulking golems had suddenly appeared, driving our stalwart knights to the brink, inflicting chaos from every direction. His stunned reaction was understandable given the circumstances,…

To be honest, for a team of our caliber, these low-tier golems were hardly a challenge. “Who would’ve thought we’d clear the entire area in under an hour…” In no time at all, we found ourselves in the final room of Zone 1. I nudged the scattered remnants of the defeated golems with my boot,…

“How long do you plan on calling me junior?” Evangeline queried, a crease appearing between her brows. I answered with a nonchalant shrug. “What’s wrong? Don’t like being referred to as junior?” “It sounds like you’re poking fun at me…” “Well, you can always call me senior in return.” “…Huh?” “Refer to me as senior….

“Are you choosing not to invite Miss Evangeline to join our ranks?” Aider pressed me further as I vacillated. “Miss Evangeline could prove a crucial asset.” “…To claim I’m not enticed would be a falsehood.” Truthfully, I was hell-bent on recruiting her. The desire was overwhelming! To possess two SSR tier front-liners at stage 3?…