“Are you new here?” She changed the topic. “I haven’t seen someone like you here before…”

“Yeah,” The silver-haired youth answered. “Just came today.”

“Ah, right ahm… my name’s, my name’s… Ju, Jayla, what’s yours?”

“Me, I’m Cris, nice to meet you…” Answered Cris. In fact, he was none other than, Allen Bando.

“Cris?” The girl frowned upon hearing his name. “That’s quite a familiar name…”

“It’s common…”

“Ah, yeah, probably… it’s just a coincidence then…” Jayla accepted. She studied him for a moment. "You have a bit of an accent," she admitted.

“Where are you from?”

"Philippines," he confirmed.

Jayla’s forehead wrinkled in puzzlement mixed with a bit of astonishment. “Oh, what a coincidence! I’m also from the Philippines.”

Cris, in fact, Allen laughed, unexpectedly. “Oh, is that so… that’s good then. We are actually, countrymen…”

Jayla seemed startled at first by his reaction, and then she too began to laugh, until the pair of them had to stop walking in front of an ice-cream stall.

"So what brings you to Greece, Cris, well not really Greece now since it’s connected to Italy, and was now called Italica well whatever, what brings you here?" she inquired, sidestepping a trio of hyper children beelining for the Ice-cream stand.

Allen settled with an ambiguous, "I just travel a lot, and decided to take a break for a few days."

“Actually, I’m a member of an organization leading this place; I think I might be able to help if in case you are in trouble…” She said as she gave Allen an Ice-cream cone.

“Oh? What organization…?”

“I’m from the Bianchi Family…” Jayla said proudly.

“Bianchi… family… I see,” Allen responded. “No need, I’m also connected to them, one way or another.”

He just laughed softly and did not speak anymore as he started licking his Ice-cream.

“Really, wow… so, you’re also a member…”

“Kind of…” Allen shrugs. He’s not really a member but, oh well.

“Ah!” Suddenly, Jayla raised her voice.

“Is there something wrong?”

“I need to go…” She answered. “Actually, my group is preparing to dive inside the Dungeon today… I need to leave.”

“Okay, nice meeting you~” Allen nodded understandingly.

"You seem really like a good person," she said. "Are you planning on staying in the area for much longer? Maybe we could... meet up again, for ice cream again or something..."

For some reason she doesn’t understand, Jayla was somehow reluctant to leave. So she proposed, just what is really happening to her…?

“Yeah, I will… Tomorrow, I and my group will also be entering the dungeon, so I think I will be here for a couple of days…”

“That’s great! Then see you again next time!” Jayla beamed. Her smiling face was pure, free of the slightest hint of malice.

This was the smile that attracted Allen to her. He nodded with a smile.

He watched her leave until she was gone in his sight.

--- ---

“Where have you been? Why return only now?” Sara asked the moment Allen entered the room.

“I went to stroll outside, love, did you sleep comfortably?” Allen teasingly asked.

Sara pouted in response: “Unwell, my headaches.”

“Is that so? Come over here.” Allen called Sara in which the latter stood up from the bed and walked towards him. Her eyes sleepy.

Allen embraced her and gently stroked her hair and then her forehead as if trying to ease her pain.

Allen’s actions were affectionate. He then carried her in a princess' carry while moving into the bed where he gently lay her.

He lay down and pulled her on his bosom, with his arm becoming her pillow, he embraced her while putting her to sleep. Sara’s action was like a spoiled child but she didn’t care.

Women like to be spoiled, she’s not an exception. She always likes being cared for by Allen, treating her so lovingly.

The day ends while the two of them cuddling together.

--- ---

While walking, Allen looked through the more than 50 gathering in front of the Dungeon entrance; he knew that these were elites of some organizations and groups.

The Dungeon’s entrance was made of a huge man-made around 10 – 12 meters gate that looked like a small temple-style building. From what he has heard, the real Dungeon’s entrance was a cave underground and this huge gate was only made so that, the owner of the Dungeon ( The one who discovered it ) can monitor the people coming in and out from it.

There were many people that looked like typical fantasy creatures but there were also people who looked like a group of soldiers, wearing vests and holding guns among them.

They come and go inside the Dungeon.

“Mr. Allen,” Someone called out.

Allen turned around and saw the group from yesterday. “Yassas*.” ( Hello in Greek )

While holding hands, Allen and Sara walked towards the group. Aside from those he had met yesterday, Allen saw 12 other people.

Compared to his predictions—or rather his expectations, all he could say was that this was far too low. They were challenging a Boss Monster here… well, although it’s only just the second floor Boss Monster, still, it’s quite a strong opponent.

Since he doesn’t enough information about the Boss, maybe they had already calculated it. Well, not like he had cared about it since for him, even the last Boss in this Dungeon was not an opponent…

“Kalimera*, Mr. Allen, Ms. Sara…Ti kanis**?” Andrea greeted as soon as they have arrived. ( Kalimera means Good day! while Ti kanis meant How are you in greek )

“Kala*…” Allen smiled and then looked at the faces of the warriors gathered. ( Means Nice )

There were two or three people here whose names he will know in the future, and vice versa. Additionally, there were around five of these people who he had seen as a member of the Dawn Alliance’ front line.

Allen’s lips curled into a smile. They were still greenhorns… probably around Lv3 or 4.

Unfortunately, he only had [ Demon Eye ] that could appraise items, not people…

Still, even without [ Identify ] he can still measure their power levels almost accurately from the Mana and aura they were emitting.

Well, he wasn’t nice to go and greet them…

Allen acted nonchalantly.

Andrea smiled bitterly then she turned to her comrades. “Now that we’re all here, we will now start our Dungeon Expedition.”

“First of all, I want to introduce our new companion for today. He is Mr. Allen Bando and this lady here is Mr. Allen’s lover, Ms. Sara. They will be accompanying us in the expedition.”

She turned to Allen. “Mr. Allen, you should have known us, but we will introduce our names again. My name is Andrea Galanis and these are my children, Barbara and Basilius Galanis, their friends Cailey Cosse and the members of the Alpha Branch, Mahail, Gregor, Mikhos, Rena, Moris…”

Andrea started introducing her companions. Some respectfully bowed while some remained arrogant and indifferent.

“…While these people are from the Epsilon Branch who will be helping us due to lack of people,” She pointed to the other four and once again introduced them.

“Nice to meet you…” Allen and Sara politely greeted.

"You're late,” One of the men wearing a nice golden, blue armor snorted in anger. He had a sword on his waist with a rifle on his back.

“Now, now, everyone… we need to calm down first.” Andrea immediately mediated. “Okay, first of all I don't think I need to say it, but... as you may have known already but a member of ours has already found the door leading to second floor's Boss Room!"

“… …”

“So before we enter the Dungeon, we will first arrange our positions.”

Six people will be in another front most, serving as the vanguard, 4 in the second line, 3 on the third line and last, six people in the last line. And amongst them, Allen and Sara was a part of the second line.

Allen didn’t care about his position, in any case, he was only here to protect Sara and increase her level. When reaching Lv5, her level had already stagnated so, this might be a good way to fasten her leveling speed.

At this moment,

“I think he should be a Vanguard as well…” one of the guys, standing beside the armored guy from before, said so while pointing at Allen. “You said that he was strong, so I believe that it’s only for the best to do it.”

--- ---