"Hmph, we've been waiting!"
And then, the two of them charged at the monsters blocking their path.
----------------------------------
"Bang bang bang ..."
One by one, the monsters were easily and quickly defeated, and then their corpses were moved away by the supporters to avoid affecting the battle.
The speed at which the monsters were eliminated left someone dumbfounded.
Aside from usual sparring practice, this was the first time Fron had seen Ais and the others display their true strength.
That efficient posture, astonishing skills, and rich combat experience made the whole battle look incomparably smooth, a sight that was simply enjoyable to watch.
"The chance to freeload has come again."
Fron put on his hood and lowered it, then stared intently at the figures of Bete, Tiona, Ais, and the others with his golden eyes shining with blue rings, greedily absorbing and digesting their techniques and combat experience.
What's yours is mine, and what's mine is still mine.
This saying couldn't be more fitting for Fron.
With an almost photographic memory and powerful computational ability, he kept analyzing and optimizing his own combat patterns, then settling them down to ferment.
Finn was busy commanding the team, while Gareth kept watch on the rear situation, and Riveria also noticed Fron's behavior.
"That kid is learning Ais and the others' combat experience, what terrifying growth. I suppose after this 'expedition,' he'll have another frightening evolution."
Riveria did not use the word "growth" to describe Fron, but "evolution"!
Yes, in her eyes this human youth was simply a monster, taking the human talent of "learning" almost to its extreme. Even for a highborn elf with broad vision, she couldn't see how deep his potential went.
"Somehow… somehow Bete, Tiona, and the others seem even more reckless than the last 'expedition'? What's going on?"
"Hmm? Aren't they always like this?"
Fron turned his head to look at the confused elf girl, curiously asking back.
Compared to the somewhat dazed elf mage, Elfy was much sharper.
"It seems the executives' strength has all jumped up a notch, they're synchronizing body and mind."
"!"
Fron suddenly understood, so that's why!
"[Suppressing Bracers]?"
Elvi nodded to confirm.
"Looks like this 'expedition' should be a great success, and we won't take any losses."
...
...
With the more powerful executives as the vanguard, the entire team's marching speed increased again.
Compared to top-level combat powers among Lv.5 adventurers like Bete and Ais, the monsters of the "Great Tree Labyrinth" with potential only at Lv.2 or Lv.3 were simply free experience, unable to stop them even for a single step.
Indeed, in the eyes of Lv.5s, Lv.2s and Lv.3s, even Lv.4s, probably made no difference , after all, they were all the kind that could be wiped out in one slash.
Tiona, was the most insane, wildly swinging her heavy, customized dual-blade weapon [Orga] like a windmill (Blade Storm), slaughtering all the monsters in their path.
Afterward, she hoisted the massive killing weapon onto her shoulder and muttered:
"Ah, how boring. Cutting them feels so light, it's so dull. I want to cut something that's really hard!"
Everyone: "..."
Fron was drinking water from a pouch, and after hearing Tiona's complaint, he directly spat it out.
Raul wiped his face gloomily, eyes filled with sorrow.
"S-sorry Raul, it's just too shocking."
"Eh, you'll get used to it. According to my inside sources, when Tiona first requested Goibniu's master blacksmiths to forge her [Orga] to her specifications, someone even spat blood."
"..."
"Ah, apparently it took more than ten master smiths an entire week of sleepless work to finish it, poor souls."
"Not counting the processing costs and raw materials for the super-hard metal 'Adamantine,' just the forging fee alone was 120 million valis!"
"120… million!? Valis???"
Fron felt a buzzing in his head, his entire body spinning.
Even though he still had some money, he had already spent 50 million valis to commission the Goibniu Familia to build him a magical workshop, and after adding the costs of materials for weapons, equipment, and potions, only just over 200 million remained.
"This money, it really doesn't last long."
"Isn't that the truth."
...
...
The team fought with the monsters. (One-sided slaughter)
Long swords swung, giant shields defended, rapiers flashed, long spears danced.
Adventurers and monsters performed a symphony called battle, pleasant and beautiful.
Advance, advance, and advance again; the "Great Tree Labyrinth" couldn't stop their footsteps at all.
Before sunset on the surface, they had already reached the entrance to the 25th floor passageway.
"Everyone, set up camp here, pitch the tents, then start a fire and prepare dinner. As for food, try to gather it on site, we need to save the supplies we brought for the deeper floors."
"Yes!"
Finn precisely issued each command, quickly mobilizing the team.
Including Fron.
"Is Fron in charge of dinner today? This is a first!"
"As expected of Finn! Making use of everything."
And so…
Fron was forced to demonstrate his cooking skills in the dungeon.
He built a campfire with wood, hung a large iron pot above it, and waited for the water to boil.
Not long after, Lefiya and the others returned.
Fron held various kinds of fruit in his hands.
For example, yellow fruit and red pulp berries. These were among the few edible ingredients in the dungeon, often used by adventurers to fill their stomachs.
Though fragrant and filling, they were just… far, far, far too sweet.
Taking out his short sword, he cut them into pieces, threw them into the pot, then simmered them into soup. No extra seasoning was needed; the fragrance alone was strong enough. Adding a few green sour fruits and dried meat, a nutritious and tasty dungeon dish was ready.
"Soup made with yellow fruit and red pulp berries… hmm, a little too sweet for me. I'll add a little mead to adjust the taste."
When the broth's color looked about right, Fron took a wooden spoon and tasted it.
"Just about done."
"Everyone, dinner's ready!"
"Wow, soup made by Fron himself, I want some, I want some!"
Having tasted his cooking before, Tiona and the others rushed over.
"Uh, no need to hurry, it's a whole big pot. Enough for everyone to have their fill."
Meal time came; holding a large ladle, Fron filled each person's wooden bowl one by one, then they all sat around the campfire.
"Alright everyone, we've successfully achieved today's goal, so let's eat and drink heartily! Then rest well and recover energy!"
"Woooooooohhhhhh!"
As a qualified captain, it was most important to boost morale at times like this, and Finn had fully taken care of it.
Taking a bite of dried meat, eating a [mustard honey-flavored fried potato ball], then sipping the soup,
"Tsk, it has a unique flavor."
"Jagamarukun?"
The naturally airheaded blonde girl knelt on Fron's left side (forcefully claiming this spot) and tilted her head to look at the food in his hand.
"Mm, mustard honey flavor, want some?"
"Ah~"
"Mmm, I like the red bean cream flavor."
"That flavor's good too, but I alternate."
The golden-haired youth and girl's oblivious exchange made the companions eating around the fire suddenly feel their food didn't taste as good.
"Bleh, dog food."
"Uuuuu, Ais-san, I… I'm full!"
"Lefiya? Where are you going?"
"Kill dogs!"