You have friends, go FULL CON.
There’s some places where you can easily find random party (Demon Prison 2, Storage, Alemeth, and goes on…) to level without your friends.
About after Peltasta C3, I would recommend Squire C2 or C3. It gives a lot of sustain to your party, HP/SP, MaxHP/MaxSP, Repair and Weapon or Armor Buff.
I sent this image cause i saw ppl saying for you don’t rolling FULL CON, I’m leveling slowly cause I don’t grind, play Hardcore Mode or full time with a party. Most of time I’m solo and slowly doing quests.
Its viable, to level, but just slow. Keep Going for it.
When my friends log I go Dungeon with them and its really smoth and you can feel the tankiness and how hard its for the mobs kill you.
Keep Going.