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Stepping out of the passage connecting the 13th Floor to the upper levels, the group entered the misty grasslands of the 12th Floor once again. The number of Adventurers around them gradually increased.
By the time they exited the 12th Floor, their trio had encountered three or four groups of Adventurers. Each group eyed the others warily, with no intention of approaching.
There was an unwritten rule during Dungeon exploration: different Familias should avoid interacting whenever possible.
To prevent unnecessary trouble, Ryoji pulled a cloak from his backpack and draped it over himself.
"By the way, haven't there been a lot of Amazonesses around lately?" Line, carrying a large backpack, suddenly remarked as she scanned their surroundings.
"Really?" Lefiya, who hadn't noticed, responded.
"It does seem like it," Ryoji said, rubbing his chin.
Over the past few days, while exploring the Dungeon, he had distinctly felt his memory bank of fated encounters expand significantly, with most of the new additions being Amazonesses. Their revealing outfits and bronze skin were unmistakable.
"But it probably has nothing to do with us, right?" Lefiya said carelessly, twirling her Magic Staff.
Perhaps there was a special commission. The Guild often issued chaotic commissions, or maybe a Familia was preparing for an expedition and clearing the area in advance.
"Probably," Line agreed after some thought.
As members of Loki Familia, they were rarely bothered by others. If anything, others should be grateful that 'they' weren't causing trouble.
"…"
Ryoji remained silent, his gaze sweeping the surroundings from beneath his cloak.
"What's wrong?" Line asked.
"No, it's nothing," Ryoji replied, shaking his head to reassure her.
'Was it his imagination?' He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was up to no good. Was he being overly sensitive, or was his intuition warning him?
No use overthinking it. As the saying goes, "When the boat reaches the pier, it will go straight with the current." If it's a blessing, it's not a curse; if it's a curse, it can't be avoided. As long as he was strong enough, any schemes were just child's play.
"Oh, right, Ryoji, there's something I need to tell you," Line said suddenly, casting an apologetic glance his way.
"In a few days, Lefiya and I will be joining the Familia's expedition, so we won't be able to team up with you to explore the Dungeon."
"Expedition?" Ryoji asked.
"Yeah, Loki Familia regularly conducts expeditions. In simple terms, we dive as deep as possible into the Dungeon, reaching floors no one has explored before. It brings great benefits to the Familia."
The Dungeon was a treasure trove, filled with countless secrets that drew Adventurers from around the world. In fact, Orario itself was built around the Dungeon. Fame, monsters, trade, rare materials, and reaching uncharted floors brought a flood of rewards.
This was also encouraged by the Guild. Exploration-based Familias of a certain level were required to undertake expedition Quests. However, Loki Familia was particularly enthusiastic, embarking on one every few months.
From Line's tone, it sounded like,
"I can't go?" Ryoji asked.
"Eh?" Line and Lefiya exchanged surprised glances.
They hadn't expected Ryoji's first reaction to be 'that'.
"The depths of the Dungeon are extremely dangerous. Monsters down there can threaten even Level 5 Adventurers or higher. Only the Familia's elite can go," Line explained.
Before an expedition, the Executives divided everyone into the expedition team and the homeguard team. The expedition team, consisting of powerful Adventurers and other essential personnel, ventured deep into the Dungeon. Those left behind stayed at the Familia's base as a precaution.
Lefiya, with her exceptional firepower as a mobile fortress, was naturally selected. Line, a rare Healing System Mage, was also chosen, as her abilities could save significant potion resources.
But Ryoji? A rookie who had joined the Familia just twenty days ago, with decent strength but only at Level 1, was unlikely to be picked by the Executives.
Most combat personnel selected for expeditions were Level 4 or higher. Level 3 members struggled in the deep floors, and Level 2 members were almost never included. Line was an exception.
Ryoji didn't respond, only sinking into silent thought.
---
After leaving the Dungeon, the trio stopped at a nearby tavern for dinner. By the time they returned to Twilight Manor, it was past 7 p.m. Ryoji stowed his gear, took a bath, and headed to the top floor of the central tower.
Today was a day for updating ability values.
"There's quite a crowd," Ryoji noted upon reaching Loki's room, where a line had formed.
"With the expedition just five days away, everyone's rushing to level up," said the man in front of him, a hedgehog-haired, unremarkable, somewhat simple-looking guy around twenty years old, a few centimeters shorter than the fifteen-year-old Ryoji.
His name was Raul Nord. Despite his plain appearance, he was a top-tier Level 4 Adventurer and a core member of Loki Familia's second army. The first army, of course, consisted of Executives like Finn and Ais.
"So busy! I'm dying here! The expedition's in five days, can't you guys come back later?" Loki's exasperated yell echoed from inside the room.
Laughter erupted from the front of the line at her outburst.
"That's what you get for slacking off."
"Lazy Loki."
Ryoji peeked ahead. There were at least seven or eight people in line.
"Is Loki's blood gonna hold up?" he asked.
"Uh, it should be fine… probably," Raul said hesitantly.
"Next!"
"And the next one!"
"Ugh, my fingers are gonna rot!"
"Then use a different finger."
"Who said that?! Whoever's got the guts to say that to my face, I'm gonna punish them!"
Everyone in line turned to look back.
If they heard correctly, the voice came from the very end of the line.
"Ow!" Raul suddenly yelped, shooting a confused look at Ryoji behind him.
'Why'd you pinch me?'
"I heard it! It was him!" Ryoji declared righteously, pointing at Raul.
"?!"
Raul's face was a mix of confusion and shock before he yelped again.
'Why'd you pinch me again?'
Ryoji could feel the resentment radiating from Raul's eyes.
"He's deeply sorry and swears he won't say it again!" Ryoji said, throwing an arm around Raul like they were buddies.
"Hmph!" Loki shot Raul a fierce glare before hurrying to update the next person's stats.
The other Familia members in line cast subtle glances their way.
"Raul's great and all, but sometimes he speaks without thinking."
"Yeah, too honest for his own good."
'Fuck you all!' Raul's face turned green.
As an honest guy unaccustomed to such situations, he didn't know how to defend himself.
Twenty minutes later, Raul, after enduring a few minutes of Loki's scolding, walked out with his parchment, shooting Ryoji one last resentful glance.
Ryoji, looking every bit the honest and upright guy, stepped into Loki's room.
(End of Chapter)