Chapter 33 The Clown from the Knight Order is Here

The first few floors were strange. Everything looked the same as it always had. But something was different. I noticed it almost immediately. The absence of monsters that usually swarmed us. They were still there, I could feel their presence, their watchful eyes in the hiding but they weren't coming after us.

What the hell? What is going on? Did someone clear the first floors? Who spooked the monsters? Must have been some other party before us.

We continued deeper. Floor after floor, the pattern repeated. Monsters stayed in hiding or fled the moment they saw us. The ones that did attack were half-hearted, landing a single blow before retreating into hiding, not even waiting to see if it had done any damage.

By the time we reached floor 20, I was annoyed.

I stopped in the middle of a cave, throwing my hands up in frustration.

"Damn it! What is going on here, Fiona?! Why are monsters acting like this? They're either running away, hiding, or doing these pathetic hit-and-run attacks! It's so annoying chasing after them when they bolt in all directions! They used to swarm us! They used to fight! What the hell?!"

Fiona stopped a few paces ahead of me, turning to face me with that calm, patient expression I had grown so familiar with.

"Kuzu-kun, you're simply too strong for them. Monsters in these lower floors aren't mindless. They have survival instincts. They can sense when an opponent is far beyond their strength. With that gear, with your stats, in their eyes, you're not just another dungeon crawler. You look like a Demon Lord passing through their territory."

"A... Demon Lord? What, I'm a bad guy now?"

"Or a Hero, which ever you prefer. What I'm trying to say; these monsters aren't strong enough to challenge you. They know they would lose. So, they flee. It's a bit frustrating, I know. But it's also proof of your growth. But don't you worry, monsters will become more aggressive as we go deeper. By floor 40 they'll start coming after us in earnest. And if we run into an elite monster by then, you'll get your fight."

I let out a long, frustrated sigh.

"So, I have to suffer through 20 more floors of this?"

"Consider it a warm-up. And be grateful, this works in our favor, we will save a lot of time. But I promise you, Kuzu-kun. There will be plenty of fighting soon enough."

"Fine, fine, I get it. So, what's the plan for today's dungeon run? Don't tell me we're going all the way to floor 80 in one day."

 "Oh, Kuzu-kun. You really do think I'm trying to get you killed."

"I'm just asking. You've been stalling for a week. Now we're finally here, and I want to know what we're doing."

"Floor 40. That's our goal for today. We're going to floor 40 to see how you fare against monsters, they start reaching levels around 200 there. It'll be a good test of your strength with your new gear."

"And if things feel rough? If I can't handle it?"

"Then we turn back and leave early. There's no shame in retreating, Kuzu-kun. Dungeon will still be here tomorrow. The goal today is to test your limits, not to break you."

"So, this is a test. A trial run."

"Exactly. You need to gain more levels before we can even think about floor 80. Monsters down there are on a completely different level. If you can't handle floor 40, you won't stand a chance against what's waiting deeper."

"Okay. Floor 40. Even at B rank I was able to beat monsters on floor 30. Now, I'm SR rank, I can do this."

"I know you can. Otherwise, I wouldn't risk losing you."

---

The journey from floor 20 to 30 was uneventful. Not that I was complaining. And any brave monster that tried, they fell easily, their bodies dissolving into mist before they even hit the ground. After the frustration of monsters fleeing at the sight of me, it was almost refreshing to have a few brave souls actually try their luck, nothing I couldn't handle with a single swing of my sword. 

But as we passed floor 30, I felt my steps slow. This was where I had died. This was where I had tried to trap Fiona, to get her killed, to escape her forever.

Now that I think about it, I was so stupid. So blind. I thought I was being clever, but I was just stupid. I should have listened to what Gregor told me. I wasted one of my lives for nothing. I can't believe I tried to get her killed.

I glanced at Fiona, who was walking a few steps ahead of me. She didn't say anything. She didn't look back. But I knew she remembered too.

"Fiona." 

 "Yes, Kuzu-kun?"

"I... I just wanted to say, what I did here. What I tried to do. It was wrong. I was stupid, and cruel, and I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Kuzu-kun. You don't have to apologize. I understand. You had every right to do what you did. I do not blame you."

I didn't know what to say more. So I just kept walking.

---

From floor 30 onward, everything changed.

Monsters stopped running. They stopped hiding. They stopped their pathetic hit-and-run tactics. They came at us with full force, their eyes burning with hunger and rage. It was like we had crossed an invisible line, and now we were in their territory.

I found myself smiling as I cut through creatures, my sword carving through their bodies like they were made of butter. This was what I had been waiting for. A real fight. A real challenge.

By the time we reached floor 40, I was level 30.

The monster that gave me the final push was a giant rock golem; its body made of stone and magma. It swung a massive fist at me, and I ducked, rolling beneath its arm. I came up swinging, my sword cleaving through its midsection in a single, clean arc. Golem split in two; its halves crumbled to the ground in a pile of rocks.

A window appeared in front of me.

Level up! 29 > 30
Rank: SR
HP: 23,400 > 24,520
ATTACK: 13,988 > 14,392
DEFENSE: 1,363 > 1,423
SPEED: 5,297 > 5,532
ENDURANCE: 1,363 > 1,423
MAGIC: 3,640 > 3,745

I checked my numbers, a smile spreading across my face.

Oh yeah, baby! Now we're cookin'! Not bad. Not bad at all.

I turned to Fiona, who was watching my stat screen.

"Not bad, Kuzu-kun. Level 30 in one day. That's impressive."

"Yeah, but XP gain got really hard really fast. It took forever to get those last few levels."

"That's expected. Dungeon crawlers fight for years, do dozens of dungeon runs a week, just to gain a few levels. It takes a long time to reach high levels. Your growth is impressive, Kuzu-kun. Level 30 in one day, normally it would take a month for average dungeon crawler. Even Sting, who's level 180, took 11 years to reach his current level. And he was a promising dungeon crawler with high potential."

"Speaking of levels, now would be a good time to show me your stats. I've been curious for a while."

"My stats? What makes you think I'd share that with you?"

"Come on, Fiona. You saw my many times. It's only fair. I know your strong, all powerful. Why hide it."

 "I don't think so. It would take time to undo the enchantments I've placed on myself to conceal my stats. And that is a waste of time. All you need to know is that I'm stronger than you. That's enough. Now, forget about my stats and get some rest, you've been fighting for hours. You need rest."

 "Fine. But I'm not letting this go forever. I will find out."

 "One day, I will show you one day. But for now, we'll rest here for a few minutes. Then we'll head back home. You did great on floor 40, I am confident you are ready to go down all the way to floor 60 next time."

"Yeah, monsters here were strong, but with equipment you gave me I had no problem dealing with them."

---

We took a ten-minute break in the small alcove. I even managed to close my eyes for a few minutes. One eye open, one eye closed, the way I'd learned to rest in the dungeon. 

Fiona sat across from me, her staff resting across her knees, her eyes fixed on the tunnel ahead. She was always watching, always alert. Even when she looked relaxed, I knew she was paying attention to everything around us.

---

We began our walk to the surface. 

"So, Kuzu-kun. How did it feel? Fighting monsters on floor 40. Need any adjustments to armor or sword?"

Suddenly a cave wall exploded. A massive figure burst through the stone, sending rubble flying in all directions. It was a golem but unlike the rock golem I had faced earlier, this one was made of metal. Its body covered with a dull, rusted sheen. In its hands, it wielded a massive stone pillar, the kind that could crush a house with a single swing. It was level 235 Elite Iron Golem.

Hah! Level 235. Big HP pool. But slow. Really slow.

I drew my sword, a confident smile spreading across my face.

"Fiona, I got this. No worries, this guy is just big. And you know how they say, the bigger they are..."

I launched forward, my body moving faster than I had ever moved before. The world blurred around me as I closed the distance, my sword raised high. Golem barely had time to react before I was upon it.

My blade sliced through its arm like it was made of paper, molten metal dripping from the wound. Golem's massive forearm crashed to the ground, and creature let out a roar that shook the walls.

It swung its stone pillar; the weapon moved with surprising speed for something so large. But to me, it was like watching a boulder roll in slow motion.

I turned, ready to dodge to the side but then, ground cracked beneath my feet. It was just for a split second but that was enough. My foot slipped, my balance faltered, and the pillar slammed into my body like a bullet train hitting a wall.

I felt the impact before I heard it. I was launched backward, shot through the air like a cannonball, crashing through one cave wall, then another, then another.

Stone shattered around me. Dust filled my lungs. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I was just a projectile, tumbling through the darkness, waiting for the ride to end.

And then I hit something solid.

I opened my eyes, blinking through the dust that swirled around me like a fog. But I wasn't on the ground. I was being held. Gauntleted hands supported my back and shoulders, cradling me. I looked up and saw polished steel.

A helmet. A shiny visor. And behind it, a cheerful, muffled voice that I had heard once before, in a guild hall, making a fool of himself.

"Fear not, young dungeon crawler! Sir Compensatealot has caught you! You took quite the tumble. Though I must say, you really ought to be more careful. Flying through walls like that is bad for your health."

"Umm, thanks, for catching me."

"Think nothing of it, young man! It is the duty of a knight to protect the innocent!" 

Wait, wait, wait! It's that joke knight. The clown with the ridiculous codpiece. From The Knight Order! That means... the Knight Order is here!

Behind him, I could see a group of knights in matching armor, their weapons drawn, their eyes scanning the tunnel for danger.

Fiona come rushing from the hole I made and stopped as she saw Sir knight holding me in his hands.

"Sir Compensatealot. What a... pleasant surprise."

The knight lowered me gently to the ground, setting me on my feet. He straightened up, striking a pose that would have been dramatic if not for the fact that his codpiece made it impossible to take him seriously.

"Indeed, Lady Fiona! A pleasure to see you again! I was simply making my way through these dark caves, protecting the innocent from the foul beasts of the dungeon, when I witnessed this young man flying through the walls! A most unusual sight, I must say!"

Before we could continue our conversation, a voice rang out from behind the group of knights.

"What is this commotion, Sir Knight?"