’’This is surely going to be fun.’’

The same thought ran through the couple’s mind as they stopped before Elfie’s counter, the latter raised her heavy eyelids and welcomed them.

’’Welcome you troublemakers!" a blunt welcome indeed.

Lilith rolled her eyes at Elfie’s blunt welcome.

"How sad, Fifi. Look how cute and adorable we are. How dare you call us troublemakers?"

Elfie almost exploded upon hearing that nickname. With inhuman willpower, she managed to rein in her boiling emotions as she massaged her forehead.

Gabriel watched all of this from the side, wearing a smile.

"Did you hear on your way back about the two unusual individuals who arrived yesterday late evening to register?"

Facing Elfie’s question, the couple nodded.

"Of course we heard about them. Two poor souls trying to copy us," Lilith lamented, with Elfie rolling her eyes at her this time.

"You mean two poor souls sent to monitor you, isn’t it?"

Lilith, feigning ignorance, switched subjects.

"We are here for our first dungeon exploration. Let’s head to the upper floor."

Elfie was too exhausted to fight back. She sighed before beckoning the couple to follow her, which they did. Soon they were on the upper floor reserved for black rank adventurers. They sat on a comfortable sofa, and Elfie sat across from them. In her hand were countless files. The couple judged they must be information on various dungeons.

The elven receptionist, with a serious face, began to explain the basics to the couple.

"As you must have guessed, dungeons are classified by rank just like adventurers. From the lowest rank, Green, to the highest rank, Black. There are six ranks in total: Green, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Red, and lastly Black. The highest rank doesn’t necessarily mean more floors; it depends entirely on the dungeon. Some high-level dungeons have only a few floors, while some low-level dungeons have more floors. We judge difficulty by how powerful the monsters and the dangers are, and of course by the amount of mana as well. Dungeons are formed by the accumulation of mana in certain areas; they can pop up whenever. This time we selected a dungeon suitable for your rank—a newly formed dungeon. The rank is Red; only Black rank adventurers and above can explore it. This newly discovered dungeon is showing signs of going berserk. It must be cleared, otherwise there will be an overflow, causing the surrounding areas to be destroyed while monsters rampage, wreaking havoc."

After hearing Elfie’s lengthy explanation, the couple nodded, gaining a rough understanding of dungeons. The prospect of exploring something new—an uncharted dungeon filled with danger—thrilled them so much they unconsciously began grinning.

Looking at the devil-like couple, Elfie felt pity for whatever monsters were inside the newly discovered dungeon, because those two would use them as guinea pigs to test their strength. She had no doubt they would succeed in clearing this dungeon. If anyone besides them could, it could only be them.

After filling them in on the information about the Red level dungeon and in which city it was located, she sent them away.

The couple immediately departed, taking the magic train—a true blend of magical and technological wonder.

The train itself was a marvel that defied simple description. Its exterior was forged from dark, burnished metal that seemed to drink in the sunlight, yet veins of luminous blue mana coursed along its length like glowing arteries, pulsing with a steady, rhythmic light. The front of the locomotive was shaped like a snarling dragon’s head, its crystal eyes gleaming with stored energy, as if the beast itself was alive and eager to devour the tracks ahead. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Each carriage was connected by shimmering arcs of contained lightning, crackling softly but never escaping their invisible prison. The wheels did not simply roll on iron rails; they hovered a hair’s breadth above them, suspended by enchantments that reduced friction to near nothing, allowing the massive construct to glide with an almost eerie silence.

Inside, the carriages were divided into compartments. The walls were paneled with polished oak, inlaid with brass fittings and small mana stones that emitted a warm, golden glow instead of candles or lanterns. Plush velvet seats in deep crimson lined the windows, each seat enchanted with a subtle warming charm for colder journeys. Above the doors, crystal displays showed the route map, with tiny glowing dots representing stations, moving in real time as the train progressed.

Large windows, reinforced with transparent mana barriers, offered an unobstructed view of the countryside rushing past—but at the speeds the magic train achieved, the landscape blurred into streaks of green and brown. Occasionally, the train would pass through a mana tunnel, a cylindrical structure lined with focusing crystals that recharged the train’s core as it passed, allowing it to travel across the entire kingdom without ever stopping for fuel.

The couple found a private compartment at the rear of the second carriage. Gabriel slid the door shut, and instantly the ambient noise of the train faded to a gentle hum. Lilith settled into the window seat, her hand resting on the cool glass, watching the world blur by.

"Impressive," she admitted.

Gabriel nodded, sitting across from her. "The people of this kingdom know how to blend magic and machinery."

A soft chime announced their departure. The train glided forward, smooth as silk, then gradually accelerated until the landscape became a watercolor painting. Despite the speed, there was no jostling, no vibration—only the faint whisper of wind against the reinforced windows.

They traveled in comfortable silence for several hours, passing through rolling hills, dense forests, and small towns that appeared as clusters of tiny lights in the gathering dusk. Vendors walked the aisles occasionally, pushing carts filled with snacks, warm drinks, and small trinkets. Gabriel bought two cups of spiced tea and a paper bag of honeyed nuts, which they shared while watching the sun sink lower.

As the sky deepened into shades of orange and purple, the train began to slow, announcing their approaching station with a melodic chime.

They had reached their destination—the third biggest city in the kingdom.