Sophia pretended not to notice and stepped straight into the second level.

The scene here closely resembled the first level—only the foul stench hung thicker in the air, and the ore embedded in the ceiling glowed far more dimly.

“You alright?” Raging Lion approached, eyes fixed on Sophia.

She gave a slight nod, saying nothing.

Seeing Sally emerge next, Raging Lion nodded once and returned to the front of the formation.

From this level onward, danger escalated sharply for the Lion Warband. As captain, Raging Lion had to lead the charge.

The team steeled their nerves, faces grim, advancing cautiously.

Sophia rejoined the mage group and followed silently. But…

“That girl’s clearly strong—why wait until Bessie died to step in?”

“Maybe she heard Bessie insult her earlier…”

“Tch. Heartless.”

“Right? And we paid top coin to hire her…”

*Bessie*—the mage crushed by the goblin.

Sophia remained expressionless, but her fingers tightened slightly around her robes.

She also caught Windsor’s gaze—

laced with a trace of suspicion… and disapproval.

Sally, overhearing everything, offered a faint, unreadable smile. Her emerald eyes kept flicking toward Sophia’s face, studying it closely.

Luck favored the Lion Warband on the second level. Barely moments into their exploration, the first Tauros appeared.

Standing four to five meters tall—twice the height of a human warrior—it gripped a rusted, battered great axe. One direct hit would cleave a person clean in two.

“Shield bearers, block its attacks! Swordsmen and archers, follow my lead for damage!” Raging Lion murmured. “All mages, hold position.”

In this narrow, silent dungeon, explosive mage spells risked drawing more monsters.

Seeing she wasn’t needed, Sophia brushed dust off a nearby stone and sat.

The other mages clustered far away, keeping their distance.

She didn’t mind.

Meanwhile, Raging Lion’s duel with the Tauros reached its peak.

He showed no hurry to finish it—striking just enough to keep the beast roaring.

With a final bellow, the Tauros collapsed.

Raging Lion’s expression flickered with faint regret. He severed its two horns and handed them to a teammate.

Tauros horns were prized forging materials—extra income beyond the mission reward.

“The captain hoped the roars would lure its kin,” Sally said, smiling as she joined Sophia. “Didn’t work out.”

Sophia glanced at her, silent.

“No need to worry about attracting others. Tauroses dominate this level—other monsters avoid their territory.”

“Mm.”

This time, Sophia’s reply was a faint, icy murmur. Her voice felt so cold it seemed to dim the ore’s glow above.

“Ugh, guess we hunt another Tauros,” Raging Lion sighed, yanking his broadsword from the ground.

*ROAR—!*

A sudden roar echoed.

His face lit up. “Tauros pack incoming! Prepare!”

“Mages—when the Tauros King appears, unleash everything!”

“Yes, sir!”

Weapons raised, the team locked into formation.

Raging Lion fixed his gaze on the darkness ahead.

As pairs of crimson eyes ignited within the shadows, battle began.

*ROAR!*

A Tauros charged Raging Lion first. Without a word, he swung his broadsword downward.

The clash became a signal—more Tauroses burst from the dark.

Shield warriors and swordsmen surged forward. Chaos erupted.

Each Tauros required three or four fighters to gain the upper hand.

Archers’ bows hummed relentlessly; each twang sent sharp arrows piercing the beasts’ tough hides.

Sophia watched, face pale but resolute. A thin sheen of sweat blurred her features.

Just half a month ago, she had been the royal family’s carefree young prince.

She’d witnessed the capital’s fall, wandered two weeks alone…

But standing amid blood and screams still shook her.

Every warrior slashed across the chest dragged her back to that night—

her father’s blood bursting from his chest, splattering right before *his* eyes…

Now, *he* had become *she*.

*ROOOAR!*

A deeper, fiercer roar shattered her trance.

From the darkness charged a jet-black Tauros, crimson fur bristling around its neck.

The Tauros King!

Its axe whistled with every swing, slicing the air.

“MAGES—NOW!”

Sophia and the others began chanting. Multicolored magic flared, briefly illuminating the cavern.

Orbs and spells slammed into the king. Explosions tore chunks of flesh; fire reduced them to ash.

Staggered, the beast collapsed.

Raging Lion’s eyes gleamed—but the Tauros King, a tier-two apex predator, lurched back up.

Its chest was shredded, yet it barely flinched.

With a furious bellow, crimson light flared around its massive horns. It charged the mages—

*It knew who wounded it.*

Sophia narrowed her eyes, chanting on. A torrent of water erupted, hurling the king backward several meters.

Mages nearby shot her startled glances. Such raw power…