"The Loki Familia's Expedition"
Drake walked down Rivira street in the small town on the 18th floor.
This being the 18th floor of the Dungeon, accessible only to Level 2 adventurers and above, the town naturally lacked substantial permanent structures; most buildings were makeshift wooden houses and tents.
For adventurers, the greatest challenge of venturing into the deeper levels is the supply of logistical support.
This world doesn't have the convenience of spatial storage items; all supplies must be carried personally.
Food and water can be replenished on several floors of the Dungeon, but weapons, armor, and medicine, items frequently consumed and difficult to replace, are a constant concern.
Furthermore, adventurers need to allocate space for carrying loot; excessive weight significantly hinders combat effectiveness.
Therefore, this safe floor has a small town specifically for adventurers to replenish their supplies.
Beyond supply replenishment, the town also offers blacksmiths for equipment repair, medical facilities for treatment, and inns for lodging.
Adventurers even set up stalls along the streets, buying and selling materials and supplies.
However, prices at both shops and stalls are exorbitant. Compared to prices on the surface, a three-to-fivefold markup is considered reasonable; unscrupulous merchants often charge more than ten times the surface price.
This isn't entirely price gouging; the cost of transporting goods to the 18th floor is considerable, justifying the higher prices.
Drake strolled around, even discovering stalls selling Unlock Potions and Renewal Potions in the deeper parts of town.
Both potions are made with added divine blood and are considered forbidden medicines in Orario.
Unlock Potions reveal an adventurer's Divine Blessing stats, while Renewal Potions, as the name suggests, allow adventurers to refresh their stats.
An adventurer's stats are their most closely guarded secrets; casually investigating another Familia member's stats could easily lead to conflict.
Therefore, the Guild heavily restricts the circulation of these potions. However, they do have legitimate uses.
For example, Unlock Potions are used to gather intelligence from captured Dark Faction members or to aid unconscious adventurers.
Renewal Potions, used during expeditions, might increase the chances of survival.
On the surface, these potions are only available from the Guild or a few Familias capable of producing them.
But in Rivira, beyond the Guild's control, they can be purchased for a price—a very high price.
Drake also heard that grimoires capable of teaching magic are occasionally sold here.
These already rare items are even more valuable here, with reported transaction prices in the billions of Valis.
Drake, with barely enough Valis for a single meal, couldn't even dream of affording such items.
After his exploration, Drake prepared to leave. As he reached the town's entrance, a large group approached.
Their banner displayed a jester's mark, instantly recognizable in Orario.
The group attracted considerable attention; surrounding adventurers watched and discussed them.
"It's the Loki Familia!"
"Rivira's leading them! She's the pillar of the Loki Familia; what presence!"
"Bete's there too!"
"And Lefiya! The rising star everyone's talking about!"
"But the most striking is…"
"Yes…"
"It's Ais!"
"The Loki Familia's elite are all mobilized. Are they going on an expedition?"
"I wonder how far they'll reach? Will they break the record?"
…
Drake recognized the group as members of the Loki Familia, one of Orario's Twin Kings.
Leading them was Riveria Ljos Alf, 〈Nine Hell Princess of the Elven Kingdom〉. As an elf royal, she's arguably Orario's strongest mage.
Several demi-human races exist in this world: dwarves, little people, beastmen, Amazons, and elves.
Each race possesses inherent strengths. Dwarves excel in strength and endurance; little people in dexterity and agility.
Elves are a naturally magical race, possessing superior magical aptitude and mana compared to humans.
Riveria, being of royal elf blood, possesses exceptional magical talent.
Adventurers with magical aptitude typically have one to three magic slots upon receiving a Divine Blessing; each slot can be filled by learning a spell or using a grimoire.
Riveria has all three slots filled but can utilize the effects of nine different spells by cleverly splitting incantations.
Her title, 〈Nine Hell Princess of the Elven Kingdom〉, is derived from this ability.
Behind her was Bete Loga, a werewolf, title 〈Vanargand〉, a renowned Level 5 adventurer of the Loki Familia.
Beside Bete was Ais Wallenstein, 〈Sword Princess〉, the heroine of this world.
Daughter of the Mercenary King, Wallenstein, and a powerful wind fairy, she holds the current record for the fastest Level 2 advancement and is the Loki Familia's most dazzling star.
But Drake focused on the elf girl closely following Ais.
Lefiya Viridis, 〈Thousand Elf〉, is only Level 3 but an exceptional prodigy.
This is due to her awakened magic, "Arcs Ray," which allows her to cast thousands of elf spells if she knows their effects and incantations.
This is the origin of her title, 〈The Thousand Elf〉.
Furthermore, Lefiya possesses the skill "Fairy Canon," which doubles the effect of attack magic.
Upon reaching Level 4, she'll awaken "Double Canon," allowing her to store one spell as an Elf Ring and activate it while casting a second spell.
In essence, she can cast two spells simultaneously, offering countless strategic options with the Elf Ring.
Despite being only Level 3, her firepower rivals that of an entire rearguard unit.
The Loki Familia possesses many exceptional adventurers, truly deserving their dominance in Orario.
Riveria was leading only a portion of the expeditionary force.
This is standard practice for large Familias; they typically split into smaller teams entering the Dungeon, converging at predetermined floors.
This approach mitigates risk and provides valuable training opportunities for newer members.
Was the Loki Familia embarking on an expedition? Drake recalled the relevant plot points from his memories.
The original story only details the Loki Familia's second expedition, where they encountered new insect-type monsters on the 51st floor whose blood corroded equipment.
This resulted in a premature end to the expedition, and a Minotaur riot on their return trip that reached the upper floors.
Ais then rescued Bell Cranel, marking the true beginning of the main storyline.
This, therefore, must be the Loki Familia's unmentioned first expedition.
The original story doesn't describe this expedition's process or outcome, only mentioning its conclusion, coinciding with Bell Cranel's arrival in Orario.
Drake stepped aside, allowing the Loki Familia's expeditionary force to pass. Their aura of power far surpassed that of the surrounding adventurers.
Suddenly, Drake noticed Ais, who had been looking straight ahead, turn her head to look at him.
Their gazes met, and Drake saw her beautiful but strangely lifeless eyes.
After a brief moment, Ais turned away and continued walking.
The exchange was fleeting, lasting less than a second, but Lefiya noticed Ais's unusual reaction.
"Ais-san, is something the matter?"
Ais shook her head, offering no explanation.
For some reason, seeing that man had evoked a feeling similar to facing her father.
But that was impossible; this unknown person couldn't possibly be like her father.
Her father was the legendary Mercenary King, Wallenstein.
In the era before Divine Blessings, the Mercenary King Wallenstein, relying solely on his swordsmanship and the aid of a powerful wind fairy, managed to blind one of the One-Eyed Black Dragon's eyes.
The same One-Eyed Black Dragon that annihilated the combined forces of the Zeus and Hera Familias, which included a Level 9, two Level 8s, and numerous Level 7 and 6 adventurers.
The fact that Wallenstein, without the benefit of a Divine Blessing, managed to blind the Sky King's eye is a testament to his legendary status.
Such a legendary hero was beyond comparison to ordinary individuals; Ais dismissed her reaction as a mere illusion.
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