Sophia didn’t shake his hand. She simply gave a polite nod. “Hello, please call me Sophia. It’s an honor to accompany your esteemed warband on this mission.”

Though she declined the handshake, the Raging Lion didn’t seem to mind. He withdrew his hand with a boisterous laugh. Clearly, he was quite pleased with her compliment.

“Chief, we should get moving,” said an elf girl with a longbow slung over her shoulder, smiling warmly.

“Mm.” The Raging Lion nodded and turned to Sophia. “This is Sally, our warband’s vice chief—an exceptional elf archer.”

“Hello, Miss Sally,” Sophia said with a slight nod.

Sally returned a friendly smile.

“Then, move out!” With a sweeping gesture, the Raging Lion signaled the banner bearer. The war standard unfurled proudly as the Lion Warband marched toward the dungeon beneath Nexar City.

Though the Lion Warband numbered only around a hundred—and merely thirty had joined this expedition—they were still considered one of Nexar City’s larger warbands. Since the dungeon lay outside the city walls, the group walked several miles after passing the gates before spotting the eerie, narrow entrance.

As the honored guest, Sophia was kept safely in the center of the formation, alongside the warband’s other mages.

“You’re really Level 7?! That’s amazing!” exclaimed a petite girl, eyes sparkling. The crimson staff cradled in her arms marked her as a fire mage.

Sophia gave a faint nod but remained silent. Ever since her escape began, she had slowly trained herself into quiet reserve.

Undeterred by Sophia’s coolness, the fire mage girl kept chatting cheerfully. “Is your name Sophia? I’m Windsor~”

“Mm.”

A faint headache prickled behind Sophia’s temples. She’d never been good with overly talkative people. Her reserved replies stirred quiet resentment among some nearby mages. *Just because she’s higher level, must she be so arrogant? Does she look down on us?* Sophia noticed their envious glances but paid them no mind. She’d grown used to such looks since childhood.

“Everyone, we’re entering the dungeon shortly. Double-check your gear and potions,” the Raging Lion called, halting the group. He cleared his throat. “Let me restate our objective: the horn of the King of Taunos! Upon completion, each participant receives seven gold coins. Should you fall, I’ll send thirty-five gold to your family and support them for two years.”

Sophia listened, her heart utterly calm. Harsh? Yes. But adventuring was a life danced on the blade’s edge. Every mission risked death. These blunt words, far from morbid, lifted burdens—freeing every soul to fight with full focus.

“Miss Sophia,” Sally approached with a gentle smile, “regarding that heart—we’ll allocate it to you after the mission.”

Sophia gave a slight nod of agreement.

As the Raging Lion finished his speech, over thirty adventurers steeled themselves and advanced into the dungeon.

“Mage—"

“Just call me Sophia,” Sophia cut in softly, her tone calm and detached.