## Chapter 104 – (11)
Two weeks had passed.
In that time, the barbell had arrived, and Ethan’s body had begun to show the outlines of muscle.
A week ago, many of the knights had reacted to the noticeable changes in Ethan’s body over a short period.
The knights thought it was thanks to the exercise methods I had taught Ethan.
They began to show more active interest in barbell exercises.
And now, they were completely immersed in modern exercise.
In what they called the three major exercises.
Meals had also improved significantly.
This wasn’t really my fault; it seemed the entire knighthood had submitted some kind of petition.
Asking for more meat, or even just beans.
Was their body instinctively craving protein?
As a result, the amount of meat in the diet increased.
And changes occurred.
“We’ve completely conquered the entrance to the dungeon!”
“Really?”
“Yes! It’s all thanks to your exercise methods!”
Commander Dana said, patting my shoulder with a joyful expression.
The bleak future of the original story had changed.
Originally, they had failed to conquer the dungeon entrance, which eventually led to a dungeon break, causing the monsters inside the dungeon to pour out.
But with the knights’ strengthened forces, the support of the elves, and Lexi’s cooperation, they had conquered the dungeon entrance.
Although they still had a long way to go to reach the depths, the story was progressing in a completely different direction from the original.
Still, my real goal was still far away.
A goal I had initially thought would be easy.
To win over Commander Dana.
I could see the wall, and I didn’t think it would be too difficult to overcome, but.
Commander Dana was too busy.
Mainly because of that dungeon.
Even after returning to the fortress, the commander had no free time, unlike Cecile.
She was planning the dungeon conquest, requesting support, and checking supplies.
Once, when I offered her a massage, she didn’t seem to dislike the idea, but she refused because she was busy.
Now there was only one way.
Dungeon conquest.
I had to achieve that feat, which had never been accomplished even in the original story, to secure Commander Dana’s time.
And fortunately, the knighthood’s strength was now several times greater than in the original.
Nutritious meals, an efficient exercise routine, Ethan who had grown quickly enough to do the work of one person, and Lexi and I who were contributing to the force.
And on top of that.
I had a new weapon that had arrived last night.
A familiar-looking machete, but the materials used to make it were legendary materials that couldn’t exist in reality.
Mithril, Adamantium, Dragon’s Tooth.
All three materials used as the main ingredients were materials that could only be obtained in a fantasy world.
Not only that, but the craftsman who made it was also a dwarf, a race that only appeared in legends.
I couldn’t believe it, and I felt strange every time I looked at the weapon.
“….”
Well, I had even mingled bodies with elves, a race from similar legends.
I chuckled, remembering even more unbelievable experiences.
“Um, Commander.”
“Yes?”
The commander, who had been patting my shoulder with her small stature and praising my contributions, looked up at me, wondering why I had suddenly called her.
I hesitated for a moment before making a suggestion.
“Please allow Ethan and me to join this dungeon subjugation.”
“…You two? No, it’s not that I doubt you, but…”
The commander shifted her gaze slightly.
Commander Dana looked towards the training grounds.
Ethan, who was wielding his sword against a scarecrow, was showing skills that were hard to believe he had developed in just two weeks.
However, that was it.
He was still a bit lacking compared to the other knights, and more than anything, he had no practical experience.
It would be a concern to take him to the dungeon, even if it was just to subjugate other monsters.
But I thought differently.
“I’ll take responsibility.”
“…”
Some might think I was favoring my disciple, but I knew.
All Ethan lacked right now was experience.
Experience fighting monsters, experience fighting for his life.
If these things were added, Ethan’s growth rate would explode once again.
Then, he might become as strong as Commander Dana, the leader of the knighthood, in a few months instead of a year.
Then, conquering the dungeon wouldn’t be such a distant future.
‘…Would that be dangerous?’
What if I tried to win over Commander Dana and he tried to get revenge?
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could beat the strengthened Ethan.
Still, Ethan’s growth was essential to conquering the dungeon.
“If you say so… Fine. Both of you put on your armor and get ready, we’re going to the dungeon before lunch.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Commander Dana reluctantly nodded in agreement.
I immediately ran to Ethan in the training grounds and said.
“Get your armor and come out, we’re going to the dungeon starting today.”
“Dungeon… with Commander Dana?”
“Yes.”
Ethan ran into his room with the brightest expression he had shown so far.
His excitement was a bit unsettling, but I figured he’d manage.
He wouldn’t be the protagonist for nothing.
Even if he was like that now, he would do his job when the moment of crisis came.
I also went into my room, put on my armor, and swung my sword a few times to get a feel for the weight.
It was a bit heavy, but thanks to my swordsmanship and increased strength, it didn’t seem like it would be a big problem in combat.
When I came back outside, many of the knighthood members were already lined up in two rows, waiting.
Commander Dana was at the front, and Lexi, the elf, was right next to her.
Ethan and I naturally joined the line.
The members, who knew that Ethan’s skills had improved considerably through hard training, no longer bullied him.
However, it wasn’t like they acknowledged Ethan as a knight either.
On the contrary, the knights were more interested in my weapon than in Ethan.
“It looks unique.”
“Isn’t it too short?”
Everyone seemed worried about the machete, which was shorter than even a one-handed sword.
They were worried because I would have to fight monsters at closer range because it was short, and it wouldn’t be easy to land a finishing blow.
I couldn’t guarantee anything either, since it was my first time fighting monsters, but I was confident because I had already experienced the power of this machete several times.
When we came out of the city, about four wagons were waiting.
They weren’t luxurious wagons, but wagons like trucks that carried cargo.
The knights naturally got into the wagons.
Ethan and I also climbed into the wagon, following their lead.
It seemed to be a bit of a distance to the dungeon, so we had to ride this wagon for about 30 minutes.
And finally, I began to see the terrain that I had seen in the original story.
“This is…”
Ethan swallowed nervously.
I didn’t show it, but I was also a little excited.
The wagon stopped, and we got off in front of a huge cave called the dungeon.
It looked like just the entrance to a cave, but the alien space visible inside made us realize that this was the dungeon.
A space several times larger than the appearance of the cave was spread out inside the cave.
Torches were kindly installed at regular intervals on the walls, and wooden boxes and jars of unknown origin were placed throughout the cave.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Unlike Ethan and I, who were stunned by the unknown space.
The knights, who seemed to be used to it now, began to walk in a line at Commander Dana’s command.
Ethan and I exchanged glances and followed behind them.
The inside of the dungeon was more pleasant than I thought.
That’s why it was even more bizarre.
If this was the inside of a cave, there should have been dampness or the sound of our movements echoing, but there wasn’t.
After walking for a while, the front stopped abruptly.
“Prepare for battle. Orc.”
At Commander Dana’s words, everyone drew their weapons at once.
Ethan and I did the same.
“There’s one, Ethan, Sunghan. Want to try?”
This was a kind of test that Commander Dana gave us.
Ethan and I stepped in front of the knights without complaint.
Orc.
Green skin, muscular body, especially the muscles in the neck were amazing, the neck looked like the thigh of an average adult.
The guy holding a wooden club lowered his center of gravity, wary of us as soon as he saw us.
I was also quite big, but I seemed to be three heads shorter than the orc.
Then, I happened to remember what Lexi had told me and looked at the orc’s crotch.
…It’s similar here?
I felt a sense of camaraderie as a man, and suddenly Ethan charged.
“Uwaaa!”
Ethan, who ran with a spirited shout, clashed his sword against the huge wooden club that the orc was holding.
Bang. The two weapons collided in the air with a huge sound.
As a result, Ethan’s body floated in the air, but Ethan managed to maintain his balance in the air with good technique and landed successfully.
“Heeuuk…”
Ethan grabbed his hand and let out a faint groan, as if his hand was numb from the weapons colliding.
The orc turned its huge body and began to approach Ethan.
Seeing that, I moved without hesitation.
The orc widened its eyes as I suddenly appeared in front of it.
The orc raised its hand to counterattack, but it was already too late.
Crack.
The machete, which was raised upwards, drew a trajectory and cut the orc from its chest to its head in half.
It was more powerful than I thought.
I had only put a little internal energy into it, but it cut through even the head, which I wouldn’t have been able to reach because of my height.
Thud!
The orc’s huge body fell to the floor with a loud noise.
Everyone in the knighthood except Ethan was staring at me with their mouths open.
