According to Finn's prior arrangement, if conditions allowed today, the team might "go a little wild" and camp directly on the 39th floor.
Yes, with several First-Class Adventurers present, this was entirely feasible.
Because if it were just Renjiro (Aether) and Lumine, though both possessed near-infinite stamina and could push on without sleep, encountering certain high-powered monsters would inevitably slow them down.
But with Finn and the others present, even the Xenos on the 37th floor could be taken out in a single strike.
In this way, even if the group occasionally needed to rest, the overall proGareth efficiency with the "big shots leading the newbies" approach was far higher.
Of course, from the 40th floor downward, the environment became so extremely dangerous that even high-stat Lv.5 adventurers like Ais, Bete, and the Hiryute sisters would start feeling the strain.
So…
"The best-case scenario is that we reach the 50th floor within the next two days and successfully return to the surface within a week."
After everyone packed their gear and gathered at the Central Plaza in front of Babel Tower, Finn explained the entire schedule he had planned along the way.
It was clear this Hero intended to try testing the Unexplored Domain using the current team after the Twin Stars set the teleport anchor.
Of course, this was just a trial run, a rehearsal for the next formal expedition.
Normally, the Loki familia's expedition team, though sizable with dozens of members, ultimately relied on the core members and elite few. Everyone else… well, they were basically like boosters on a rocket.
Yes, once everyone reached the 50th floor, they would set up camp, establish defenses, and not continue further downward.
Only a select few had the qualifications to descend into deeper floors.
In this situation…
Renjiro (Aether) and Lumine, both now Lv.3, already met the minimum conditions to enter the 51st floor, or even deeper, just as supporters.
After all, these were the two superstars who had already successfully defeated the Amphisbaena. Their combat capability couldn't be measured with ordinary adventurer standards.
==========
"Ohriya~"
In the upper layers of the dungeon, Tiona was basically running rampant alone.
Whenever she swung her weapon in a high-speed spinning motion, almost all monsters would scatter.
The rest only needed to follow behind her.
Even if monsters suddenly appeared on the flanks, or ranged attackers like Hellhounds showed up, agile fighters like Ais and Bete would quickly intercept and take them down.
Speaking of which…
"This is my first time carrying stuff in a dungeon, you know."
The mischievous little sister joked half-heartedly.
Indeed, all the group's luggage was now carried by Renjiro (Aether) and Lumine.
Since this expedition prioritized speed, killing monsters was handled by Finn and the others, while the twins entered as supporters.
As a side note…
Though Tione was also a First-Class Adventurer, she carried a large pack herself, responsible for collecting Magic Stones and materials along the way.
Finn's simple instructions had turned this Lv.5 into the team's dedicated rear guard and gatherer.
Though Renjiro (Aether) and Lumine were now acting as pure logistics, this expedition was technically a private commission from the Loki familia to the Freya familia. Their rewards afterward would not be small. Finn would never shortchange his collaborators.
==========
"I'm not new to dungeon logistics," Renjiro (Aether) admitted.
"I already carried stuff once when I accompanied Welf."
While moving, he adjusted the straps on his shoulder bag… at times like this, he realized that having a space backpack made Paimon the perfect travel companion.
Clumsy Traveler, clumsy…
==========
An hour later…
"Phew~"
Tiona, the little angel, wiped sweat from her brow comfortably.
The team successfully reached the 18th floor.
Tiona planted her weapon in the ground…
"Tch, are idiots really tireless?"
"Huh? Who are you calling an idiot?"
The usual bickering between Tiona and Bete resumed.
At this moment…
"Let's go to Riviera Town and exchange the Magic Stones and materials we just obtained," Finn arranged.
"Lunch on the 24th floor."
He looked at Lumine.
"You'll be helping again then."
"No problem!" Lumine replied.
The others nodded in understanding. Especially Tiona, who immediately drooled at the mention of lunch, glancing at Lumine.
Luckily, everyone knew Tiona simply loved roasted meat. Otherwise… someone might misinterpret her enthusiasm as wanting to bite the mischievous little sister.
Sweat~
==========
The team moved as Finn planned, not dawdling, pressing onward.
By the 24th floor, they reached a tree hollow used during the previous expedition and finally rested.
Luck was on their side, the hollow had no Bloody Hive, so no pre-cleaning was needed.
Tiona smashed around the terrain with her Great Twin Blade while Lumine pulled out pots and pans from her bag, obeying orders.
Renjiro (Aether) took out a portable stove from his bag, using the lunch break to maintain Tiona's weapon, the one contributing most to the expedition so far.
Really…
"Even though Aether and Lumine could have defeated the Amphisbaena at Lv.2, they still handle all logistics… at top-level efficiency."
Watching the twins working methodically, Finn, Riveria, and Tione shook their heads, laughing in disbelief.
Nearby, Bete stood guard at the tree hollow entrance…
Ais watched as Lumine raised her hand and, with a familiak~, tossed a roasted meat portion to Tiona, who had been waiting eagerly. Her emotions were complex.
Previously, hearing about Aether and Lumine reaching Lv.2 in just a week had surprised her, but it hadn't felt real.
Now, leveling up after defeating the Amphisbaena as a feat?
Amphisbaena's potential level was Lv.5. Ais herself was now Lv.5.
Which meant…
"Ais is overthinking again."
Riveria noticed her expression and sighed.
She could tell exactly what Ais was thinking.
No choice…
"A real competitor has appeared."
Riveria glanced at Lumine.
In her eyes, this little girl was wild and stubborn.
On the way here, Lumine had said:
"Aether and I originally wanted to try defeating Goliath, but its next hatching period was far away, so we didn't want to wait."
Goliath's potential level was Lv.4… defeating it would have been amazing.
But…
"You skipped waiting for Goliath to hatch and went after the Amphisbaena instead?"
What kind of logic is that?
Ah… on second thought, it was familiar.
This was just like Ais's own thought process.
"…Riveria suddenly felt exhausted."
Really, what's harder than teaching a wild, reckless child?
Answer: encountering two wild, reckless children, one after the other, both equally unrestrained.
Oh wait… now it seemed there were more than two.
Riveria, unaware of the full picture, glanced helplessly at Renjiro (Aether).
She would never have guessed that the one she considered "wild and reckless" was actually the most cautious, strategy-minded member of the group.
Perhaps this was a case of "you think you know a person, but you really don't."
But without a doubt…
"Sigh~"
The exhausted "Mama-san" Riveria could only feel her heart grow heavier.
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