'Ah... that child noticed me the moment I arrived.'
Disguised as Syr, a subtle smile curved across Freya's lips.
'That child really is something else. But he's also extremely cautious. Unless he chooses to reveal himself, I won't be able to see his true nature so easily.'
There were other methods she could use, of course—but Freya wasn't seeking an outcome that would turn them into sworn enemies. What she wanted was to confirm whether Bell was the one she had been waiting for.
If she acted too rashly and he turned out to be the one, that approach would only drive him onto a path that would never again intersect with hers—a parallel line with no chance of meeting. And that was something Freya absolutely couldn't accept.
So, no matter how strong her desire, she chose the more patient route—waiting for the moment when that child would reveal himself on his own.
After all, it was far easier to make an enemy out of someone than it was to win them over.
'Now is definitely not the time.'
Freya closed her eyes slightly, and in the next instant, the persona of Syr Flova quietly resumed control.
At the same time, as Freya withdrew her gaze, Bell turned his eyes away as well.
No matter what Freya did, this expedition would surely bring about change.
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
Loki clapped her hands loudly, drawing the attention of everyone in the plaza.
"This expedition, just like the ones before, is headed for the unknown. For all of you, it'll be an incredibly difficult journey—but also one full of meaning."
"The fame you seek, the strength you desire—it all lies within the Dungeon. If you want it, then go down there and show what you're made of."
"I'll be right here, watching every step of your performance."
Just like always, she roused everyone's spirits with her words before the departure.
For adventurers, what they sought was simple: money, power, fame, and strength. And all of it had to be earned through their own hands. The Dungeon was the perfect place for that—a stage where every adventurer could truly shine.
"Finn, it's up to you now~"
Finn gave a small nod and stepped forward.
"Team One, led by Riveria and me, will head into the Dungeon first. Team Two will be under Gareth and Tsubaki, with Raul in charge of coordination and support."
"Our first checkpoint is the 18th floor. Teams One and Two will regroup and reorganize there."
It was a cautious formation for an expedition.
Team One would clear the path ahead, dealing with any threats, making it safe for Team Two to escort the more vulnerable members forward.
After all, exploring the unknown floors of the Dungeon was no laughing matter. It was better to take things slow and ensure every preparation was in place.
There were many newcomers this time as well, so taking care of them would make the path even more demanding.
Time was the least of their concerns.
Especially considering everything that had recently happened in Orario—there could easily be more lurking in the Dungeon. Taking it slow, with ample time for caution, was essential.
More than that, Finn had a gut feeling this expedition would be far from ordinary, especially with Loki's strange demeanor.
The teams had already been divided a few days ago, and even with the inclusion of Hephaestus Familia's blacksmiths, there was no issue.
That was why Team One and Team Two were kept entirely separate.
All the blacksmiths were in Team Two, where they'd avoid heavy combat entirely, meaning the journey up to the 50th floor would be relatively safe.
Of course, once they reached the 50th floor, safety would be up to fate.
Last time, even that "safe" 50th floor had seen an attack from acid-spitting worms sent by the Corrupted Spirit's Fetus. It proved that in the deeper layers, nowhere was truly safe.
If not for the threat from the Corrupted Spirit's Fetus, the 50th floor would have been considered secure.
With the teams sorted, Finn headed over to Bell, who was finishing up his conversation with Hestia.
"Bell-kun, you'll be joining Team One."
"Mm."
Bell had no objections. He'd prepared specifically to support the front line—this was exactly the kind of situation he had trained for.
This expedition was just as important to him. It was a chance to put his preparations to the test.
As he approached, Bell quietly said, "Details on the 18th floor later."
Finn paused briefly, then nodded in understanding.
After exchanging a glance with Hestia, Bell pulled up his hood and gradually faded from view.
Hestia had expected that, so as soon as Bell vanished, she turned and walked over to Hephaestus.
Hephaestus looked at her and said nothing. Everything was unfolding exactly as planned. What came next was no longer their responsibility.
Loki also chose that moment to quietly withdraw.
...
Soon, the main group had assembled at the center of the plaza.
Team One moved out first, fully prepared to advance toward the 18th floor.
Team Two followed more slowly—they were moving alongside the blacksmiths, which naturally slowed things down.
To be clear, it wasn't Loki Familia slowing them down—it was the Hephaestus Familia blacksmiths.
Loki Familia members, equipped with spatial pouches, could store vast amounts of supplies, needing only to carry their weapons and armor on their bodies.
Watching this, Hephaestus suddenly realized her own children didn't have any spatial pouches.
"...Looks like I'll need to ask them if they need any after this expedition."
"What was that?" Loki asked.
"Spatial pouches, of course."
Loki glanced at the Hephaestus kids lugging heavy blacksmith tools on their backs, then back at her own neatly geared members with their lightweight pouches. The contrast was glaring.
"They're practically essential. Your kids are often heading into the lower areas of the Dungeon for rare ores. If they had spatial gear, they could carry more and save a lot of time."
Spatial equipment had a wide range of uses—almost every adventurer could benefit from them.
While most blacksmiths didn't spend their time in the Dungeon, plenty still ventured in to collect materials. That's exactly the kind of situation where such tools came in handy.
"And you—honestly, I thought you'd already had that kid make a few for your Familia. Didn't expect you to be this slow."
Hephaestus had no comeback. She really had dropped the ball this time.
Part of it was that when the thought crossed her mind, She was already busy preparing everything for Bell. That left little time to make requests, and before long, she'd simply forgotten about her own children's needs.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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