To The Undiscovered Dungeon

After running for a few hours, Lancell and Arthur rested as Arthur was reaching her limits.

Even though she had Excalibur, she was just a normal girl who was only being empowered by a sword. It was actually quite a feat that she managed to run at full speed for a few hours.

They both sat in the shade of a tree as Arthur panted non-stop.

After a while of rest, Arthur finally managed to recover her stamina as she then stood and asked Lancell.

"Hey Lancelot, do you think she'll follow us this far?"

"Seriously, will you stop calling me Lancelot? It's creepy...Anyway, I doubt she'll follow us this far. She may be a curious person, but even she gets bored too."

"So, the chances of further pursuit is pretty low?"

"Unless she had marked us as 'interesting' in her mind, she won't keep coming after us."

".....on second thoughts, let's keep moving forward."

And so, they continued their travels.

◇◇◇

Lancell and Arthur continued their travel as they mostly walked.

It was mostly a pleasant journey, but sometimes...

"Hey... It's coming at you from behind." Lancell warned with a nonchalant tone of voice.

"I...—ugh!... I know!" Arthur managed to squeeze out a reply despite her situation.

Arthur was currently fighting a Orc Warrior. An orc variant species that is born with superior strength than your usual orcs, and it had a minimum strength of at least Level 5 in the Second Step.

Arthur contested with the monster that was leagues stronger than her through sheer combat experience, superior techniques, and faster reflexes.

She was barely able to match the monster, but it was evident with the smile on her face that she was enjoying the fight.

GROINK GROINK...GREEE!!

The orc seemed frustrated that it couldn't even beat a creature that was clearly weaker than it, as it then slammed its arms into the ground.

BOOM!

A small explosion of shockwave exploded in all directions as a Arthur was blown back. The orc then dashed as it prepared to kick Arthur, raising its leg.

However, the moment it raised its leg, Arthur suddenly stabbed Excalibur on the ground as she suddenly stopped in place, and kicked Excalibur as foothold, transitioning for an axe kick into the orcs head.

"Take this, you bitch!"

The orc was stunned as its brain shook from the impact, and Arthur materialized Excalibur and beheaded the monster.

THUD!

A thud resounded as the 2.5 meter monster fell onto the ground.

"Haaaah... Man, that was tough. But it sure was good exercise. I should do this often." Arthur cheered as she took the magic core in the orc's chest.

"Do it often, and then die? I didn't revive you just to let you die again, you know."

"Oh. It seems someone's worried. Is this love?"

"Nope. I honestly am terrified of the thought of becoming your lover."

"Huh?! The hell was that?! You pickin' a fight huh?!"

Arthur snapped at Lancell's words as she clenched her fist and hissed in anger. Lancell ignored her as he knew arguments were meaningless when it came to her, so he just kept sitting at his spot and reminded.

"Rather than waste time with me, why don't you absorb the mana inside the core already."

"Tch. Fine, I'll let you off for today."

And so, without further ado, she sat as she held the magic core in her hand, and then started absorbing the mana inside.

The man inside her saturated as she began to skyrocket in levels.

Level 10...

Level 20...

Level 30...

Level 50...

Level 70...

Level 90...

And finally, it stopped at Level 97 of the First Step.

Lancell saw that she was done, and congratulated.

"Congratulations, and welcome back. Divine King."

"Oh shut up, Divine Sword."

They stared at each other for a while, and then laughed out loud as they remembered their cringe titles.

"Haha hahahaha...Seriously, what was I thinking when I chose to accept that title?" Arthur stated as she had a nostalgic expression.

"Hahahaha...And what were you thinking when you chose my title for me?"

".....Wait... Are you still holding a grudge about that?"

"I'm not..."

Arthur sighed in relief, until Lancell continued.

"...going to forget that."

"..."

Arthur suddenly went silent as cold sweat flowed from her forehead. She then tried to change the topic.

"W-Well then, let's just move on, okay"

Lancell had no qualms about the suggestion, and nodded.

And so, the travel continues.

◇◇◇

After a few hours, Lancell and Arthur finally reached the area where the dungeon was supposed to be located.

"Were here." Arthur chimed as she puffed her chest in pride.

Lancell looked around. It was an area within a forest and the vegetation was quite thick, and various insects were making noises that resonated in the entire surroundings.

"So this is it? And where's the dungeon?"

Arthur went silent as she held her chin. "Actually...I don't know."

"..."

Lancell went silent at her words. She was the one guiding to where it was, but she actually said she didn't know where it was now.

'But maybe she has a reason?' Lancell thought as he tried to ask, but a sudden intrusion of a familiar voice cut of whatever the two of them were thinking.

"Oho.... So it was a dungeon, eh? No wonder you two were so giddy..."

Lancell and Arthur paled as they turned towards the source of the voice, and when they did, they then saw the face they were running away from earlier.

Arthur turned to Lancell in accusation and blame as she asked. "H-Hey, Lancelo—I mean Lancell. Care to elaborate why she's here?"

"Don't ask me! Why the hell should I know! Besides, she's just right in front of us, you know! Ask her!"

Aria raised her brows at their exchange.

"What are you two talking about? Do you know who I am?" Aria inquired as she was genuinely curious about how close the two were.

"Uhh...You're the princess knock-off right?"

"You're the knock off!! Lancell...was it?...Your family are all knock offs!!!"

Lancell "..."

Arthur "..."

'Was there really a need to diss even my parents?"

Lancell wondered, but he didn't dare ask. He knew of Aria's disposition, and he knew she'd lash out for an hour if he did.

However, no matter what case, Lancell was already getting impatient. He was already right in front of a way to get stronger, and he couldn't afford to waste time any more. He turned to Arthur and stated.

"Let's drag her along."

"H-Huh?"

And so, without any further talks, Lancell teleported behind Aria, and knocked her off with a hand chop to her neck. Of course, it was done with delicacy. Lancell wouldn't want a talented leader like Aria to die just like that, after all.

Lancell then activated Void Sensitivity as he tries to perceive the movements of the air to see if there was clues into where the dungeon was, and after a while, he found an airflow that seemed hidden with magical means.

He turned to Arthur who was still stunned as he then grinned, and spoke.

"I found it. The dungeon, I mean."

Arthur's eyes widened for an instant, and then she grinned along with Arthur as she acknowledged.

"Attaboy, Lancell. Now then, what are we waiting for, let's go."

Lancell nodded, and led to where the entrance to the dungeon was.

And so, they finally entered the dungeon, with a princess in tow.