After taking stock of their respective gains for the week and chatting playfully for a while, the two set about organizing their equipment and items.
After this period of tempering, whether it was the hard power increase in ability values or the accumulation of soft power in skills, Experience, and technique, Fati had undergone a tremendous change.
Although Jeanne D’Arc’s systematic teaching hadn’t been for long, it had laid a solid foundation for him.
Combined with the expansion and updates to his Magic, equipment, and weapons, as well as the addition of a powerful vanguard like Jeanne D’Arc, he now had the confidence to explore deeper levels.
For tomorrow’s Dungeon exploration, Fati decided to raise the threshold.
He set tomorrow’s goal at: the 10th Floor.
“Going deep into the 10th Floor, with our Strength, the round trip will take several hours.
If the number of monsters we encounter surges or frequent accidents occur, the time will be even longer.
So we need to prepare food and water for stamina, and ‘whetstones’ and ‘maintenance oil’ for maintaining weapons and armor.”
Previously, when hanging around the ‘Upper Floors’, these consumables weren’t essential.
But by the 10th Floor, monster Strength increased sharply, and the rate of equipment wear accelerated.
These inconspicuous items became the key to maintaining combat effectiveness.
Of course, the most important thing was that maintaining equipment could effectively extend its lifespan.
Not having to update equipment in the short term would save a lot of money.
The higher the level, the more you save!
“Ropes, water skins, lanterns, maps, and other miscellaneous items will be stored together in the ‘Sundries Bag’.”
“‘Antidotes’, ‘recovery elixir’, ‘Mind Recovery Elixir’, and other various potions and elixirs must be counted and organized; these are life-saving things.
High-performance emergency bandages go in the most accessible waist pouch to ensure they can be quickly grabbed with one hand.”
All sorts of equipment and items were spread across the living room floor.
As a ‘veteran Adventurer’, Fati was giving Jeanne D’Arc detailed guidance on adventure preparation.
Jeanne D’Arc squatted to the side with her arms around her knees, listening intently and nodding from time to time.
She knew well that for an Adventurer, combat was only part of the job; rich Experience and knowledge were equally vital.
Especially when exploring this ‘living’ Dungeon, which was constantly changing and full of the unknown, where accidents could happen at any time.
For example.
When encountering danger or being trapped, a veteran Adventurer’s first choice is often not to fight, but to use their rich Experience to avoid it in advance and ensure survival.
That is the optimal solution.
Only in a desperate situation with no way out would one fight to the death.
The two were busy until evening before they finally put everything in its place.
After a quick dinner and taking turns bathing, they went to bed early to rest and build up their Strength…
The next day, early morning.
At four o’clock, Orario was still immersed in silence, with only the occasional bird’s chirp breaking the dawn’s quiet.
The two, who had woken up early, finished washing and sat at the dining table to enjoy breakfast.
“Before leaving, make sure to check your weapons, armor, and backpack again to ensure everything is perfect,” Fati exhorted solemnly.
“In Dungeon exploration, being fully prepared is an iron rule that cannot be taken lightly.”
“Mm.” Jeanne D’Arc answered seriously…
Having finished their preparations, the two returned to the living room and put on their armor piece by piece.
Jeanne D’Arc wore a dark blue cleric-style dress and black over-the-knee socks as her combat clothing, covered by a custom, high-performance silver engraved plate armor set.
When she stood there fully armed, Fati’s eyes couldn’t help but light up.
“Mm, you have the air of the Holy Maiden now.”
Jeanne D’Arc’s cheeks reddened slightly, and she reached out in annoyance to push away his face as he leaned in: “What’s there to look at…”
“Tch, I love looking, I want to look.”
“Pervert!”
…With their weapons and packs organized, as the morning sun first began to glow on the city walls, the two stepped out of the house.
As the vanguard, to ensure maximum flexibility of movement, Jeanne D’Arc carried only a few waist pouches and her primary and secondary weapons, in addition to her armor and cloak.
The burden of logistics, supplies, and the expected loot backpack naturally fell on the shoulders of Fati, who served as the rearguard and support.
At this moment, Fati’s equipment was more complete than when he was solo: a black hooded cloak concealed the light plate and leather armor underneath, as well as various pouches at his waist.
On the large backpack on his back, the scholars staff wrapped carefully in maintenance cloth and a small round shield were hung diagonally.
A quiver and short bow hung across his lower back, while a spare short sword and a skinning knife were tucked into leather sheaths at his side.
At this moment, he was fully armed, his image bearing a striking resemblance to a certain Link.
However, with his current basic abilities, this weight was still manageable and did not affect his combat.
Especially with Jeanne D’Arc taking on the primary close-combat pressure, he had more flexibility as the fire support.
“Let’s go.”
“Mm.”
Locking the door, they left the familiar residential area.
Their figures wove through the quiet, tree-lined alleys.
Before long, they stepped onto Adventurer Street.
Gazing at the iconic, magnificent grey-white building at the end of the street, Fati said to Jeanne D’Arc, “We’ll head to the [Guild Headquarters] first to complete your registration, then begin your first Dungeon exploration.”
It was still early, and the usually bustling [Adventurer Street] was empty and desolate, with few people in sight.
The two walked along the clean, flat grey-white flagstones, occasionally encountering Adventurers in small groups or alone.
Some walked with hurried steps, head down and focused on their destination; others appeared relaxed and aimless, stopping and starting.
These varied figures gave Jeanne D’Arc a more intuitive understanding of the “Adventurer” group.
“A mixed bag, good and bad alike…” she whispered thoughtfully.
The alley they turned out of was not far from the [Guild Headquarters], and in less than ten minutes, they stood before the solemn and imposing entrance.
Fati swept his gaze over the [Notice Board] posted with various commissions and announcements at the entrance.
After confirming there were no major updates, he led Jeanne D’Arc into the relatively quiet hall.
Since it was still early, there weren’t many people in the hall handling commissions or gathering information from the notice board.
If they had waited for the morning rush, they probably would have had to queue.
Fati whispered to Jeanne D’Arc, explaining the Guild’s operations and precautions, while walking towards the service counter.
However, a flash of red hair caught his eye instantly.
“Huh?
Rose?
Were you on the night shift yesterday?”
Behind the counter, a wolf-girl with shoulder-length red hair and an impressive figure was listlessly resting on the counter.
She radiated a heavy sense of fatigue, appeared similar in age to Fati, and possessed a mature, intellectual aura.
Hearing someone call her name, she lazily lifted her eyes to look at the newcomer.
When she saw Fati’s face, whose handsomeness was hard to hide even with his full gear, she was slightly taken aback.
Immediately, she propped herself up, let out an elegant yet weary yawn, and said in a lazy voice, “I wondered who was disturbing my dreams so early in the morning…
It turns out to be you, you stinking scumbag.”
She glanced at the Magic Stone Clock on the table, “The sun hasn’t even shown its face yet, it’s not even six o’clock.
When did you become so diligent?”
“…” Fati’s heart skipped a beat, and he secretly cursed.
A stinking scumbag?
Is there a story here?
Jeanne D’Arc tightened her grip on the Banner Spear in her hand, her gaze sweeping towards Fati beside her like a sharp blade.
“Uh, Rose, it seems the night shift isn’t just exhausting, it’s also putting you in a bad mood?” Sensing the cold gaze beside him, Fati hurriedly and awkwardly changed the subject.
Rose unhurriedly tidied her hair, which was slightly messy from resting, crossed her arms, and let out a cold laugh, “Of course I’m in a bad mood!
Especially when I’m forcibly woken up during the night shift, only to open my eyes and find that the person who woke me up is some irresponsible scumbag.”
At this moment, Fati felt cold in his hands and feet, especially with Jeanne D’Arc staring at him with a playful look, which made him sweat profusely.
“Hey, hey!
Rose, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t just say whatever you want!” Fati said urgently in a low voice, “Last time was purely an accident!
Besides…
it was clearly you who got dead drunk and insisted on dragging me to your place!
I’m the victim here, alright!”
“You still have the nerve to bring that up?!” Rose’s voice suddenly Rose, like a she-wolf whose tail had been stepped on.
Feeling the teasing, gossipy gazes from those around them, and hearing the low whispers, Fati became even more anxious, “Rose, keep it down!
Can you at least give me some face?”
“Hmph, you still care about face?”
“…”
“Don’t pull me…”
“Let go, you scumbag!”
“***** bastard!”
“…”
Wonderful!
Truly wonderful!
Being able to eat such big gossip early in the morning, the bystanders were delighted.
It’s just a pity that the scumbag seemed to have some Skills, as the little episode was suppressed by the other party before long.
Fati kept wiping away cold sweat and let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Although some dark history had been exposed in front of Jeanne D’Arc, but…
no big deal.
Men, you know how it is.
Who hasn’t made a few mistakes?
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”