Izparut's expression was serious today.
"Lu Cang."
"Starting today, we're leaving on a long journey."
Lu Cang was taken aback. "A long journey?"
"That's right," Kumironi replied. "The Harvest Moon is here."
"We're going to take on a very dangerous Dungeon."
"Wait," Lu Cang said. "Are you going by yourselves?"
"Can't I come with you?"
Chi Cheng leaned against the wall and nodded seriously. "Kid, this time is different."
"We're challenging a Tier Seven Dungeon."
"We can't guarantee we'll be able to protect you."
'A Tier Seven Dungeon?'
"Wait, you're only Level 5, right?"
Lu Cang was no longer the clueless newbie he once was. Over the past few days, he had been cramming common knowledge about this world.
A Tier Seven Dungeon was arguably the most dangerous type of Dungeon in the world.
A Dungeon's Tier corresponded to an Adventurer's Level.
A team of Level 2 Adventurers could challenge a Tier Two Dungeon.
Level 3 meant challenging Tier Three, and so on.
Even so, plenty of Adventurers still died in Dungeons of an Equal Tier.
The higher the Tier of the Dungeon, the more dangerous it was.
In reality, the death rate for Level 5 Adventurers exploring Tier Five Dungeons was much higher than that for Level 2 Adventurers exploring Tier Two Dungeons.
Lu Cang looked up. "Iz, isn't this too risky?"
"Lu Cang," Iz said, "we're stronger than you think."
Lu Cang countered seriously, "I know you're all strong, but jumping two Tiers... you should understand what that implies better than I do."
Lu Cang looked up at Iz. "Iz, be honest. Even you... could you have beaten a Level 4 me back when you were only Level 2?"
But Iz replied without a moment's hesitation, "I would."
Tch... 'I'd forgotten he was such a megalomaniac.'
Lu Cang didn't believe for a second that Iz could beat him at Level 4.
At Level 4, he would have at least four Divine Talents.
Forget fighting an Izparut at Level 2; Lu Cang was confident he wouldn't lose again even to a Level 4 Izparut.
Besides, the only reason Izparut could beat him now was due to his vast combat experience, his deeper understanding of Magic, the greater number of spells he had learned, and the tricks he kept hidden...
As he grew, he would gradually close the gap on all those fronts.
"Iz!"
"You're the one who taught me not to act recklessly."
Their previous missions had been one thing, but this time...
'They were seriously raising death flags.'
Lu Cang couldn't just stand by and watch them attempt something so dangerous.
However, it wasn't Iz who argued further.
It was Kumironi.
Kumironi crouched down, meeting Lu Cang face-to-face, and said softly, "Lu Cang."
"This expedition... it won't be just our team."
"This is a large, coordinated expedition. It's not just people from the Lorren Kingdom—powerful Adventurer's Guilds from neighboring kingdoms will be coming as well."
"That's why we've been resting in Raine Town. We're all gathering when the Harvest Moon arrives."
"And it's not just about the bounty. We have a reason we absolutely must go."
"You must know that if a Dungeon is left unchecked for too long, the Demons inside will emerge and bring disaster to the outside world."
"The disaster wrought by Demons from a Tier Seven Dungeon would be devastating."
"The coming Fire Moon, Cold Moon, and Moon of Death and Destruction would only amplify the disaster to an unimaginable degree."
"We must take advantage of the Harvest Moon, the month of Luck and Harvest, which is the perfect time for an expedition, and clear out this Dungeon."
"It is our responsibility."
Kumironi had made herself perfectly clear; they truly had a reason they had to go.
Chi Cheng also crouched down. "Don't worry, kid."
"We'll definitely be back."
'Hey, hey...'
'That's exactly the kind of thing I was afraid you'd say.'
'Your back is already covered in flags, Chi Cheng.'
'So many flags.'
'If you tell me right now that you have a childhood sweetheart waiting to marry you back home, you're as good as dead...'
Iz knelt as well, flashing a bright smile. "We'll be back in half a month. Trust me."
"Besides, you need Kumironi to perform the Ritual for you, right?"
"Without Kumironi around, you'll have to wait until you're sixteen to Upgrade again."
"She definitely wouldn't just abandon you."
Seeing Iz's smile, Lu Cang's anxiety only intensified.
'I really don't want to hear you say that, Iz...'
'The more you all talk like this, the more it feels like you won't be coming back.'
But...
...what could he do to stop them?
Clearing the Tier Seven Dungeon was something they had decided on long ago.
After spending so much time with them, Lu Cang knew their sense of justice wouldn't let them ignore a Tier Seven Dungeon.
Besides, they had already agreed to meet the others at a set time. Bailing on them would screw over all the other Adventurers who were waiting.
He couldn't doom everyone just because of his own personal fears.
Iz noticed Lu Cang's somber expression.
After a moment's thought, he said, "Lu Cang, the Harvest Moon is the best month to explore Dungeons."
"While we're gone, you can go explore a Dungeon, too."
"With your Talent, you'll have to explore Dungeons one day anyway."
"We can't follow you around forever."
Iz patted Lu Cang's shoulder. "I haven't left you any Magic Books."
"Because I will be back, and I will personally teach you how to proceed on your path of Magic."
Iz smiled, full of confidence. "I'm a Mage with dreams, too. I won't fall so easily before I reach the Root Source of Magic... I absolutely won't."
"Besides, I'm strong. Stronger than all other Mages. I'm the strongest Mage there is. So... nothing bad will happen. Absolutely."
Lu Cang met Iz's gaze.
He bit his lip.
This body was certainly prone to tears, but this time, Lu Cang held them back.
Lu Cang gave a firm nod. "Iz, I hope you're as strong as you say."
"I still haven't learned the material after Magic Power Enhancement."
"If you die out there, I'll be cut off from my inheritance."
Iz flashed a confident smile. "But of course."
"And me! I'm strong too, you know..." Chi Cheng added. "I'm no weaker than him! With this War Emperor on the team, you can rest easy, little guy."
"Once we pull this off, we'll be real heroes."
"Haha, though of course, we already are~"
Lu Cang glanced at the Warrior.
'Chi Cheng, you're the one I'm most worried about.'
'Iz is one thing, but I feel like you're the one most likely to die there. You spew a pile of flags every time you open your mouth.'
"It's getting late," Kumironi said. "We should be going."
"The influence of the Moon is strongest at the very beginning of its transition... We can't waste this precious time, nor the blessing of luck it provides."
Iz glanced at Kumironi. "Right."
He patted Lu Cang's shoulder one more time. "We're off. Wait for me to get back."
With that, they all waved to Lu Cang and then departed.
...
With Iz and the others gone, Lu Cang felt a profound emptiness.
He had been with this group almost constantly since arriving in the Otherworld.
After watching them leave, Lu Cang stood in the hall, staring at the doorway for a long, long time. It was as if in this entire Otherworld...
...he was now completely alone.