It had already been two days since they entered Medes Forest.

Under the harsh conditions, their emergency rations were dwindling. With their supply lines cut, they were forced to forage for food and water themselves.

’Damn it. To think I’m wandering around in this state after coming all this way. The Paslan Empire would weep to see this.’

Darun, possessing a Transcendent body, fared somewhat better, but the soldiers and mercenaries following him were a different story.

Plagued by constant hunger and thirst, they tried their best to scrape together meals from the forest’s flora and fauna, but their grumbling grew louder by the day.

The soldiers grew particularly anxious at the lack of any sign of the other squads. With every complaint, Darun’s patience chipped away, nearing rock bottom.

"...Your Grace, shouldn’t we use the camping items?"

"Ugh. We have no choice. Do as you please."

Since they had already suffered through terrible sleeping arrangements more than once, Darun didn’t pick a fight this time.

Cliff let out a sigh of relief and pulled out the items, finally providing the party with a comfortable place to rest.

However...

"Aaaagh!"

Even after night fell, the screams did not cease.

It was unmistakably the voices of the scattered Imperial Army soldiers.

As a Duke of the empire, Darun couldn’t just sit still.

"Y-Your Grace, you mustn’t," Cliff urged. "If you move around at a time like this, we risk being ambushed."

"Are you daring to doubt my skills? They’re just monsters. No matter how dark it is, their tricks are nothing to me."

"That’s not what I meant—"

"Besides, you aren’t worried about me; you’re busy worrying about yourselves. You’re only stopping me because your own lives will be in danger if I leave."

Under Darun’s icy glare, the mercenaries couldn’t say a word.

It was true—if he left, the remaining men would have to fend for themselves.

But regardless of the truth, Cliff was burning up inside.

’Items! Using items would solve everything, but because of his damn pride...!’

Constantly suspecting others like this would only sour their relationship.

It wouldn’t solve a thing.

Unfortunately, the arrogant Darun failed to realize this. Eventually, one mercenary couldn’t hold back and lashed out.

"I can’t follow you anymore! If we keep listening to you, we’re all going to end up dead. So what if you’re a Duke?! I’m going to—"

A swift slash of a blade silenced him.

The price for defying the Duke was immediate death.

The surrounding mercenaries trembled as they stared at the man’s severed head.

"You mercenary trash. You should consider it an honor that I’m even letting you accompany me," Darun spat. "I’m only keeping you around because you possess the skills necessary for survival. Normally, I would have cut you down immediately and moved solely with my soldiers."

The mercenaries fell silent.

"If you understand, start figuring out how you can be useful with those trivial little tricks of yours."

Having said his piece, Darun marched straight toward the source of the screams.

The remaining mercenaries and soldiers exchanged glances before glaring at Cliff.

In a way, the Duke’s anger was largely his fault.

’This is driving me absolutely insane!’

As the relationships within the party tangled and deteriorated, the night of their second day slowly passed.

---

[Cliff’s Stress Level: 70]

[Darun’s Stress Level: 67]

[Mercenaries’ Average Stress Level: 71]

[Soldiers’ Average Stress Level: 65]

A disastrous relationship chart appeared before his eyes.

It was the result of days of painstaking effort.

Most of the small squads remaining in Medes Forest had already been cleared out, leaving only Darun and Cliff’s party.

"Since Darun personally killed a mercenary, their Favorability must have dropped even further. And naturally, Cliff will bear the blame for everything."

Trust and relationships were crumbling simultaneously.

Taehyun, who had been monitoring the situation moment by moment through a hidden Familiar Supporter, smiled in satisfaction.

One was hopelessly arrogant, and the other tried to make the most realistic judgments possible. It was inevitable that they would clash.

Furthermore, the mercenaries and soldiers traveling with them acted as catalysts.

"They’ll inevitably be even more stressed because of these guys," Taehyun muttered.

—Taehyun, it’s fine that you’re smirking, but how long do we have to keep doing this?

"Oh. You’re still there?"

Kadum fell silent.

Just then, the man who had just eliminated a commander on the screen let out a sigh.

It was Kadum, the man known as the human hunter in Balak.

He was very on edge because he had been dragged out here a day ago, forcing him to break a promise to his daughter, Vera.

Of course, Taehyun remained unfazed.

"Come on. I told you I’d prepare a separate gift for her next time. Don’t be so mad."

—Do you even know how many times you’ve said that?

Such an attitude stood no chance against the Demonic King, Taehyun.

Meanwhile, the elf traveling with Kadum collected her arrows and let out a long yawn.

—This is so boring. When is it going to end?

"Just hang in there a little longer, Neru. There aren’t many soldiers left now."

—Still, since it’s a request from you, Master, I’ll try my...

Contrary to her loyal words, the High Elf Neru immediately dozed off.

It seemed fatigue had finally caught up with her after continuously tracking the soldiers.

Taehyun watched her sleep soundly before turning his gaze back to Kadum.

"Hmm. Since she’s out cold, please wrap things up for now, Kadum."

—You’re a real bastard!

In the end, Kadum and the trackers eliminated all the remaining soldiers.

Darun’s party ended up leaving the forest without being able to join up with any other units.

Now, the only major areas left were the uphill path near the cave and the inside of Radik itself.

However, the party, having not rested properly for days, could not effectively respond to the sudden ambush by the Siege-type Soldiers.

—Damn it. They just keep appearing out of nowhere!

—C-Cast a shield spell!

—Aaaargh! My arm is gone. Heal me, hurry!

Even an A-Rank Hero couldn’t shrug off the accumulated fatigue forever.

With the mercenary priests dying one by one, managing their stamina became impossible.

As the situation worsened, the number of mercenaries who couldn’t handle the mounting stress and deserted began to rise.

—I’m getting out of here!

—Darun and Cliff are both ready to abandon us at a moment’s notice. I can’t trust them anymore!

—Damn it. So what if he’s an imperial Duke? My life is more important!

Of course, every single one of the deserters was swiftly dealt with by Kadum.

Arin, who was watching the screen in the Master Room with Taehyun, couldn’t help but marvel at his increasingly astonishing strategic skills, while the Radik soldiers freely slaughtered the mercenaries and soldiers under their brilliant master’s commands.

By the time another day passed without any major losses on their side, Darun’s party, pushed to their absolute limits, finally entered Radik.

[Enemies have entered the first room.]

The internal environment of the dungeon was already set for each room.

It remained to be seen just how long those exhausted bastards could hold out.

"Alright, alright. Our gullible customers have arrived. Prepare to welcome them."

—Boo. Dragged out here again. I wanted to rest comfortably.

—Are there any women among the humans we’re blocking this time? Kuma Kuma.

A smile formed on Taehyun’s lips as he listened to the voices of the newly summoned Balak soldiers.

---

The Radik dungeon they finally arrived at was, as expected, a cave-type dungeon.

They had suffered every hardship imaginable to get here, but as long as they took care of the Dungeon Master, the request would be fulfilled.

Believing this, Cliff secretly used a radar without Darun knowing.

[Number of Rooms: 9]

[Number of Traps and Installations: 5]

’At least it’s a relief that it’s a B-grade dungeon. If we just break through eight rooms, we can target the Dungeon Master’s room right away.’

The low number of traps and installations was questionable, but his immediate concern was the atmosphere within the party.

When they first joined, his comrades only held a grudge against the Duke, but now they were glaring at Cliff as well, grinding their teeth.

’We’re going through all this trouble so we can all survive together, but instead of recognizing that, they’re lumping me in and cursing me too. Pathetic bastards!’

Even his officers wore expressions of distrust.

Cliff suppressed his deep anger and sighed heavily.

Meanwhile, Darun tried not to show his fatigue and took the lead, marching straight into the first room.

"I’ll break through in one go. You damn Dungeon Master."

"Y-Your Grace?!"

"Everyone shut up and follow me."

Without any time to prepare, the remaining twenty or so personnel entered the first room.

Instantly, a biting chill seeped into their bones.

Unlike the outside, the inside of the room was a harsh winter environment with a raging blizzard.

"Ugh, it’s cold. To think the first room has this kind of environment."

"Damn it. With a blizzard like this, the torches will go out in no time."

"Haah. Let’s just keep moving and follow the Duke for now."

As the cold hit them in earnest, their bodies gradually grew sluggish and their noses became stuffy.

They had followed along without any special preparation, trusting only in the thousands of Imperial Army soldiers.

Now, it looked like they would collapse from illness before they even fought.

"Rawr!"

"Rawr!"

While trudging through the snowfield, white-furred yetis attempted an ambush.

However, even with the disadvantage of the terrain, Darun was one of the continent’s strongest Transcendents.

A blade flashed through the air.

"...Ugh. It’s uncomfortable to move in this snow."

The Mad Dog voiced his complaint after slicing the yetis apart in an instant.

At that sight, the mercenaries tried hard to avert their eyes, while Cliff carefully examined their surroundings to prepare for any unforeseen situations.

’Still, once we get out of this room, that bastard Darun should realize the necessity of items to some extent. I’ll have to throw out some bait little by little then.’

If the environment put them at a disadvantage, they just needed to counter it by appropriately using buff items.

Of course, counter items could be triggered, but they still had an Effect Reversal Card and a Companion Rescue Coin left.

’I’ve also kept a trump card in reserve, so it’s definitely possible.’

He had even brought extra items just in case.

He was fully prepared for the psychological warfare that would unfold within the dungeon.

Thus, the party followed Darun across the central bridge, breaking through the continuously ambushing monsters as they headed toward the second room.

But at that moment...

A heavy thud shook the ground.

A large Bear Doll appeared right in front of them, derailing their plans.

"I’m disappointed. Kuma. To think there are no women. This is too harsh a reality. Kuma Kuma!"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting? I’ll cut you down in a single strike—"

"Aaaargh!"

Just as Darun was about to draw his blue blade, the soldiers in the rear were attacked by werewolves.

Darun immediately took a stance to support them, but even that was impossible.

A deafening blast ripped through the air.

The werewolves exploded in a chain reaction.

Whether bombs had been planted in advance or it was their innate ability, the mercenaries nearby also suffered heavy damage.

"Damn it. Everyone, scatter for now!"

"Don’t give us orders!"

"Shut up and listen!"

The mercenaries, who tried to rebel until the end, eventually scattered in different directions.

Only then did Cliff take a breather, pull out his bow, and skillfully shoot the werewolves, causing them to explode just before they got close.

"You damn Bear Doll bastard. Get out of the way!"

"Did you just curse at me? Kuma?!"

"W-What?!"

The monster’s behavior baffled even the Duke. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Before they knew it, the Bear Doll was running around the field with an angry expression, causing massive tremors.

And then...

"A-An avalanche!"

"Everyone, dodge! No, run across the bridge!"

"Aaaargh! S-Save me!"

The worst-case scenario had unfolded.