Chapter 31: Departure

Izpalut's expression was very serious today.

"Lu Cang."

"Starting from today, we are going on a long journey."

Lu Cang froze for a moment. "A long journey?"

Kumironi answered, "That's right. The Harvest Moon has arrived."

"We are going to subjugate a very dangerous dungeon."

Lu Cang: "Wait, are you going by yourselves?"

"Can't you take me with you?"

Akashiro leaned against the wall and nodded seriously. "Kid, this time is different from before."

"What we are challenging is a Rank 7 dungeon."

"We might not have the strength left to protect you."

A Rank 7 dungeon?

"Wait, you guys are only Level 5, right?"

Lu Cang was no longer the clueless novice he once was; over the past few days, he had diligently caught up on much of the common knowledge of this world.

A Rank 7 dungeon was, for all intents and purposes, one of the most ferocious dungeons in the world.

The rank of a dungeon corresponded to the level of the adventurers.

A team of Rank 2 adventurers could challenge a Rank 2 dungeon.

Rank 3 could challenge Rank 3, and so on.

Even so, many adventurers still died in dungeons that matched their own rank.

The higher the rank of the dungeon, the more dangerous it was.

Exploring a Rank 5 dungeon as a Level 5 adventurer actually carried a much higher mortality rate than a Rank 2 adventurer exploring a Rank 2 dungeon.

Lu Cang looked up and asked, "Iz, isn't that too risky?"

Iz: "Lu Cang, we are stronger than you think."

Lu Cang countered earnestly, "I know you are strong, but skipping two entire ranks—you should understand the concept better than I do."

Lu Cang looked up and questioned Iz, "Iz, ask yourself honestly: even you, could you have beaten me when I was Level 4 back when you were Level 2?"

Iz responded without a moment's hesitation, "I would win."

*Tsk...*

He forgot he was an egomaniac.

Lu Cang did not believe for a second that Iz could have beaten him at Level 4.

At Level 4, he would have possessed at least four God-tier talents.

Forget fighting an Izpalut with Level 2 strength; even against a Level 4 Izpalut, Lu Cang didn't believe he would lose again.

Furthermore, the only reason Izpalut could win against him now was due to factors like seasoned combat experience, a deeper understanding of magic, having learned more spells, and holding back various tricks...

As he grew, he would gradually close those gaps.

"Iz!"

"You're the one who taught me not to act blindly, right?"

Previous actions were one thing, but this mission...

They were truly setting up death flags.

Lu Cang could not just stand by and watch them do something so dangerous.

However, the one who continued the argument was no longer Iz.

It was Kumironi.

Kumironi knelt down to face Lu Cang and spoke softly, "Lu Cang."

"This subjugation isn't just our team."

"This is a large-scale mobilization. Not just the Kingdom of Loren, but powerful adventurer groups from neighboring kingdoms will also come."

"This is also why we are resting in Rain Town. When the Harvest Moon arrives, it will be our day of assembly."

"Moreover, this dungeon isn't just about the bounty; we have reasons that make it a necessity to go."

"You should know that if a dungeon is left unattended for too long, the monsters will leave the dungeon and head into the outside world, bringing disaster."

"The disaster brought by the monsters of a Rank 7 dungeon would be catastrophic for the world."

"The subsequent Months of War and Fire, the Months of Storage and Cold, the Months of Death and Destruction—they will undoubtedly expand the devastation to unimaginable levels."

"We must take advantage of this month of luck and harvest, a suitable time for a campaign, to clear this dungeon."

"This is our responsibility."

Kumironi spoke very clearly; they indeed had reasons that made the mission unavoidable.

Akashiro also knelt down. "Kid, don't worry."

"We will definitely come back."

*Hey, hey...*

*That's exactly what I'm afraid of you saying.*

*Your back is already covered in flags, Akashiro.*

*It's absolutely riddled with them.*

*If you were to say right now that you have a childhood friend waiting back home to marry you, you'd really be dead...*

Iz also knelt down, flashing a bright smile. "We'll be back in half a month, believe me."

"Besides, you need Kumironi to preside over your ceremony, right?"

"Without Kumironi here, you won't be able to continue leveling up until you're 16."

"She certainly won't abandon you, either."

Seeing Iz's smile, the worry in Lu Cang's heart deepened.

*I don't want to hear you say things like that, Iz...*

The more they spoke, the more it felt like they wouldn't be coming back.

But.

What could he do to stop them?

Clearing the Rank 7 dungeon was something they had long since decided upon.

After spending so many days together, Lu Cang understood their sense of justice; they would never turn a blind eye to a Rank 7 dungeon.

Moreover, they had made an appointment with others to assemble. Breaking that promise would be a betrayal to the adventurers waiting for them.

He couldn't let everyone suffer just because of his own personal worry.

Seeing Lu Cang's dejected expression, Iz thought for a moment and spoke up. "Lu Cang, the Harvest Moon is the best month for exploring dungeons."

"While we are away, you can also go explore dungeons yourself."

"With your talent, the day will come when you need to explore dungeons sooner or later."

"We can't follow you every single moment."

Iz patted Lu Cang on the shoulder. "I didn't leave any magic books for you."

"Because I will come back. I will personally teach you how to walk the path of magic that follows."

Iz smiled with full confidence. "I am also a mage full of dreams. Before reaching the source of magic, I won't fall easily... absolutely not."

"And I am strong—stronger than all mages, the strongest mage. So... nothing will happen to me."

Lu Cang locked eyes with Iz.

He bit his lip.

This body was indeed prone to crying, but this time, Lu Cang held it back.

Lu Cang nodded firmly. "Iz, I hope you are as strong as you say."

"I haven't learned the content that follows the increase in mana yet."

"If you die there, I will lose my inheritance."

Iz gave a confident smile. "Naturally."

Akashiro: "Me too! I'm very strong, okay? I'm not weaker than him! With a Battle Emperor like me in this team, you can rest easy, little guy."

"Once we finish this job, we'll be true heroes."

"Haha, of course, we are already~"

Lu Cang glanced at the warrior.

*Akashiro, you are the one I'm most worried about.*

*Iz is one thing, but I feel like you're the most likely to die there. Every time you open your mouth, it's a pile of flags.*

Kumironi: "It is getting late. We must depart."

"The beginning of the Moon's transition is the moment when the influence is most concentrated... we cannot waste this precious time, nor can we waste the protection of luck."

Iz looked at Kumironi. "Mm."

He patted Lu Cang's shoulder once more. "Let's go. Wait for my return."

With that, they waved to Lu Cang and departed one by one.

...

The departure of Iz and the others left Lu Cang feeling empty.

Since arriving in this different world, he had almost always been with this group.

After watching them leave, Lu Cang stared at the doorway in the hall for a long time, as if this entire different world had suddenly become a place where he was all alone.