Finn returned with the straw doppelgangers and immediately gathered a few people into the room.
"...!?"
"What the hell is this thing!?"
Bete was the first to shout in disbelief after hearing Finn's explanation. His eyes went wide as he exclaimed.
Surprisingly, everyone else agreed with his reaction. The ability to redirect fatal damage? That was completely absurd. Wasn't that basically giving someone an extra life?
"It's seriously insane."
Tione also found the tool's function far too over-the-top and couldn't help voicing some concern.
"Captain, does this thing really work like that? If it does... why hasn't something like this ever shown up in Orario?"
Her tone made it clear she had doubts about something so outrageous.
After all, if an item that granted an extra life actually existed in Orario, it would have sold out just like spatial pouches. So why had no one ever seen one?
Finn already had an idea.
"I think it has something to do with Bell-kun's personality."
"His personality... yeah, that makes sense. He doesn't seem like the kind of person who'd make something like this publicly known."
Riveria thought back to how Bell had always operated. She agreed with Finn's theory—but she also believed it wasn't just about personality. There had to be something more behind the creation of such an outlandish item.
"Still, I doubt personality alone explains how something this ridiculous came to be. It's not even the kind of thing you hear rumors about—it flat-out shouldn't exist. Even if the 'Perseus' made something, it wouldn't come close to this."
"Ordinary magic could never reach that level. Even I, as an elf, have never heard of such an outrageous spell."
"But I think Loki already knows what's going on."
"Yeah, I think so too."
Riveria's deduction matched what Finn had been thinking all along.
"This isn't like those Rune Stones we used in the past. And judging by Bell-kun's attitude, he didn't even see it as a big deal. He even called it 'imperfect.'"
It was absurd.
Everyone there was a Level 5, and they all twitched at the thought. To call something like that flawed—what would it take for him to consider something 'perfect'?
"Bell-kun's magic definitely has aspects we haven't figured out yet."
There was something seriously off about this so-called magic. Finn even suspected it wasn't magic at all—it was something much more unbelievable.
"Before the expedition, Loki said something to me: 'If you run into trouble, go find that kid.' I remember thinking her tone was oddly vague at the time... but now, I'm sure of it. Loki definitely knows Bell-kun's secret."
At that point, Finn fell silent. Something about Loki's attitude didn't sit right with him anymore.
During this expedition, Finn couldn't shake the feeling that Loki knew something was going to happen—like someone was pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
'Is it just my imagination?'
But his instincts told him this feeling wasn't wrong. Still, Loki didn't seem like the type to play games with them without reason.
'So... is Loki involved in this? Or maybe even Bell-kun?'
That possibility made Finn feel less certain about how this expedition would unfold. If he followed that line of thought, it was hard to imagine what kind of absurd scenario they might run into.
"Riveria, Gareth, Ais, Bete, Tione, Tiona, Lefiya, Raul, and Haruhime—apply your blood."
"You'll all be involved in the operation beyond the 50th floor, and I've got a bad feeling about this expedition."
There were ten straw doppelgangers. Including himself, everyone Finn selected to take part in the post-50th floor strategy would get one.
"Finn, there's one missing."
"Huh? Missing?"
"Tsubaki's."
Finn blinked. Riveria's reminder brought him back—he had completely forgotten that Tsubaki would also be joining them beyond the 50th floor. To ensure her safety, she needed one too.
"You all go ahead and use yours. I'll speak to Bell-kun and sort hers out."
Everyone needed one of the straw doppelgangers. This expedition would bring them into uncharted territory, and there was no telling whether they might clash directly with the Dungeon's spirit forces. Preparing insurance was essential.
Tsubaki definitely needed one as well.
That said, Finn wasn't too worried. The Hestia and Hephaestus Familias were in collaboration, and getting an extra straw doppelganger from Bell for Tsubaki shouldn't be a problem.
In fact, Bell was already standing outside Tsubaki's room.
Knock knock knock!
The door opened quickly. Tsubaki stepped out wearing a simple bathrobe—without even a breast wrap.
'They're huge... and tan.'
Size-wise, she was no less impressive than Hephaestus. With her bold, carefree nature and tall, fiery figure, she was undeniably striking.
Bell gave her a brief glance, then respectfully looked away.
"Hmm? Bell-kun?"
Bell...kun?
The nickname threw him off a little, but considering Tsubaki's easygoing attitude, it was probably just how she addressed people.
"Captain Tsubaki, I need to talk to you. Sorry if I'm disturbing your rest."
"Ah, it's fine. Come in."
Tsubaki waved it off with a laugh, brushing her hair aside and stepping back to let him in.
Bell entered and closed the door behind him.
Given the time constraints, he skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.
"Captain Tsubaki, this expedition might get rough. You'll need to be fully prepared."
"Hephaestus-sama asked me to pass this message along."
"Goddess-sama, huh?"
Tsubaki scratched her cheek, a little surprised that Hephaestus had sent Bell-kun to deliver a message. Why hadn't she just told her directly before the expedition?
Still, she wasn't too bothered. There'd been plenty of times when she got so absorbed in forging that she missed what the goddess said. This was probably just another one of those moments.
"That's all she said?"
"Yes. Also, Hephaestus-sama asked me to give you this."
Tsubaki looked at the doll in Bell's hand with a hint of confusion.
"A scarecrow? What's it for?"
"It's a lifesaving tool. A straw doppelganger that can block fatal damage meant for the user."
Tsubaki's eyes widened.
At that moment, only one thought crossed her mind—
Orario has something this insane!?
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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