I can't really bring myself to resist Jorgen on any level anymore. All I know is that I can't run away. And that he brings pain, whether I obey him or not.

"The critters on the first level here are probably the nastiest critters on any other dungeon's first level" He explains to me, while we trod through a forest. My first time seeing one in this world, but I can't really get excited. "However, with how tough your skin is now, their fangs shouldn't even pierce your skin, you'll see." He forces a smile on his face, but when I look at him, he averts his eyes and scratches the back of his head. Did he realise that he has done something awful?

After a bit of silent walking, he starts speaking again "Sometimes the best decisions can be painful to make you know? But you will see here today, that the improvement is real, and that the pain was worth it. Don't make me out to be such a bad guy, alright. You'll see". It sounds like he has a bit of remorse for his actions, but it is too late. I have already decided on my new purpose in life. It is to get strong enough to send this old geezer straight to hell for what he has done!

We arrive at the dungeon, still in the middle of a forest. It looks strange, like rocks unnaturally sticking together to form a hallway. It seems like the inside has these rocks cover every surface, making the ground ridiculously uneven. At the top of the dungeon, there is a sign. It doesn't look like any language I have seen before.

"Ah, that sign. Seems that the dungeons were named back in time immemorial, or even by God at the dawn of time. This one is called "meadow", allegedly. Funny name for a dungeon in the middle of a forest, right?"

Allegedly? So he can't read either. Wonder how common it is in this world. Maybe only the priest Yuro could read in the village.

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"Here, before we enter, take this" Jorgen hands me a metal sword and shield from a sack he brought with him. They are surprisingly lighter than the training weapons, at least the ones with weight added to them. As I receive the sword, I briefly consider surprise attacking Jorgen, but this old man is strong as hell. In the few spars we have had, I have not managed to land a single hit. It is still much too soon.

"Now, just to show you the fruits of your... efforts, let the first pack we encounter bite you"

There is no light in the dungeon, but Jorgen quickly fetches a torch from the sack, and grabs a weird, orange stone too. As he scrapes the stone with his knife, sparks fly and the torch is quickly lit.

"We are little light on manpower for this" Jorgen says. "Usually you'd have 6 hunters as a vanguard and a support group"

I don't pay any attention to him and continue in, Jorgen just follows. A little bit later, I encounter my first monster. A group of three. They are about the size of a rabbit, which powerful-looking hind legs of one to boot, covered in grey skin and have a head resembling that of a rat but with two large fangs sticking out. Two of them jumps at me, but I just let them bite me as Jorgen instructed.

There is no pain, only a sense of some sort of pressure being applied to my arm and leg, where the two of them had attacked. I then quickly stab the one at my leg, tear off the one on my arm and do the same. Appears the last one had gone for Jorgen and is already taken care of. I didn't even hear a sound. This old man is much too formidable.

"Now, let's head a little deeper, I know the way past the first five floors or so" He says, now taking the lead. "What I want you to learn in this dungeon is how to kill. Monsters have weaknesses, and being able to identify them is one of the most important aspects of being a hunter." he kicks one of the dead beasts while passing them. "Not gonna happen with these ones. Small ones tend to die no matter where you strike them. But larger beasts awaits us on the fourth layer"

I meekly follow, quickly killing any of those rats. None of them seem to avoid us, all attack on sight. I eventually get down how to kill them in the middle of their leaping attacks, but my tunic is already heavily busted up. Not that it even fits me that well anymore.