Chapter 10
Rumble, rumble—
With a series of explosive bursts, the bodies of hundreds of monsters turned into ash and scattered, leaving only magic stones dropping to the ground as proof that they had ever existed.
Gulp.
Some members of the Loki Familia swallowed hard. In the sudden silence, the sound was especially clear.
A Magic with that speed and destructive power...
If they were honest with themselves, even they could not say for certain that they would come through it unscathed.
"Hey, hey, hey, what was that just now? That was Magic, right? That was definitely Magic, wasn’t it?"
Tiona grabbed her sister’s arm, pointing at the massive cage of thorny branches, so excited that her words nearly tangled together.
"It... probably was."
Tione also looked a little dazed, and even her answer lacked confidence.
Beside them, Finn felt a slight ache from his thumb.
He turned his head and asked, "Riveria, if it were you, you should be able to cast Magic of that level easily, right?"
"Of course. It would simply require a period of chanting."
Riveria stared intently at Kiriya, a flicker of surprise passing through her emerald eyes.
"Chanting? Right! That little guy didn’t chant at all just now!"
Tiona seemed to remember that detail and cried out excitedly.
In that instant, everyone’s heart shook.
Movement that allowed him to weave freely through the encirclement of hundreds of monsters, mysterious red eyes, and now chantless Magic.
This boy had one mystery after another wrapped around him, making it almost impossible not to want to dig deeper.
"Is that guy... really a Level 1?"
Someone in the party muttered quietly.
"What’s the big deal? If you want to know, just go ask him."
Tiona suddenly said that, leaving everyone stunned.
Before they could say anything, the cheerful Amazon had already skipped over to Kiriya.
"That idiot."
Tione cursed while holding her forehead, then quickly followed.
Riveria and Finn exchanged a smile before walking after them as well.
...
"Yahoo, hello there, little guy. I’m Tiona. The Amazon behind me who looks a lot like me is my older sister, Tione. That little captain over there is our captain..."
Tiona arrived in front of Kiriya and was just about to introduce everyone when the boy spoke first.
"I know. Amazon, Braver, Nine Hell, and... Sword Princess. Your names are famous throughout Orario. I’ve long heard of you all. I’m Kiriya. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
Kiriya smiled as he spoke.
"Hahaha, you’re pretty good with words, little guy."
Tiona stretched out an arm and hooked it around Kiriya’s head, giving him an alternative kind of facial treatment.
"Uh..."
Kiriya’s cheek was buried directly into her chest, and only one thought remained in his mind.
’Are all Amazons this enthusiastic?’
"Miss Tiona, this is our first time meeting. Aren’t you being a little too friendly?"
Kiriya tried hard to break free, only to discover that he could not escape the Amazon’s powerful grip.
In the end, he could only speak helplessly.
His desire to get rid of his weak physique grew even stronger.
"What’s the big deal?"
Tiona was completely carefree, waving her hand without concern.
"I like the look of you, little guy. Let’s be friends! From now on, we’re on the same side."
’This girl really is way too familiar with people.’
Kiriya complained inwardly.
"Tiona..."
By then, Finn and the others had arrived. Riveria spoke in a deep voice.
"That is far too rude. Let him go."
"Honestly, Riveria is still so boring..."
Tiona muttered, only to be met with an even sterner look from Riveria. She could only close her mouth and glance away.
"My apologies. This child is simply a little... too enthusiastic," Finn said.
"It’s fine. Miss Tiona’s straightforwardness is quite charming in its own way," Kiriya replied.
That was not mere flattery.
Tiona herself was beautiful, and combined with her bold outfit and fearless personality, she had a striking exotic charm.
"Ahaha, little guy, you’ve got good eyes. Want to spar with this big sister? If you win, you can do whatever you want."
As Tiona spoke, she even threw him a wink and posed, showing off a fiery S-shaped curve.
Kiriya clutched his chest and grimaced.
"Don’t mess with me. I’m only Level 1."
"Exactly, Tiona. There should be a limit to your jokes."
Tione grabbed her younger sister.
A Level 5 asking a Level 1 to spar? Only this girl could think of something like that.
If word got out, who knew how many people would laugh their teeth out?
"What does it matter? I’ll suppress my strength to the same level as his."
Tiona did not care at all, her interest fully awakened.
"That should make you feel safe, right, little guy?"
"I’ll pass. I’ve just gone through a long battle and I’m exhausted. I need to clean up and go home."
Kiriya refused without even thinking about it.
It was not because he was truly afraid of her, but because there was no need.
He was still only a small Level 1.
There was really no reason for him to draw too much attention. What happened earlier had been an accident, an unavoidable situation.
If he fought this Amazon girl, wouldn’t she end up seeing through everything he had?
It was better to keep a low profile.
"Enough, Tiona. We should head back."
Seeing that Tiona still seemed to want to say something, Finn spoke up.
As one of Orario’s strongest Familias, they were all well-known figures in the city.
What would it look like if they kept pestering a Level 1 rookie?
Since the captain had spoken, Tiona could only give up no matter how reluctant she was.
Even as she left, she kept waving at Kiriya.
"See you, little guy. Next time we meet, you have to spar with me properly, okay?"
Kiriya crouched down to collect magic stones and pretended not to hear her.
He was only a pitiful Level 1, while she was a noble Level 5. So obviously, she was not talking to him.
Just as the members of the Loki Familia disappeared around the corner of the passage, a voice suddenly sounded beside Kiriya’s ear.
"Little guy, can you really pick up all those magic stones by yourself? Why don’t we help you?"
Kiriya’s movement paused.
He turned his head and saw a rather decent-looking middle-aged man standing not far away with several pretty young men as subordinates.
The way they looked him over was like they were staring at a fat sheep.
"Get lost."
Kiriya did not bother wasting words and told them to leave directly.
They were a group of weaklings, with the strongest among them only around Level 2.
Did they really think they were qualified to act imposing in front of him?
Hearing Kiriya’s blunt words, the middle-aged man and those polished pretty boys all turned cold.
"Kid, the Dungeon is deeper water than you understand. You’re young, so you can’t handle it yet. Today, this uncle will teach you one lesson. The more friends you have, the more paths you can take."
Kiriya continued picking up magic stones, his cold voice drifting over.
"I don’t make friends with trash."
"Who the hell are you calling trash?!"
One of the young men finally lost his temper, glaring at Kiriya with raised brows, looking ready to draw his blade at the slightest disagreement.
"That’s more like it."
Kiriya stood up, deciding to make one more windfall before heading back.
Judging by their dusty appearances, these fellows had probably spent quite some time in the Dungeon.
They should have plenty of loot on them.
Perfect.
It could all belong to him.
The two sides stood facing each other, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
The young men had already drawn their blades and were surrounding Kiriya, while Kiriya had also prepared to wipe out this group on the spot.
The battle was about to erupt.
But at that moment, a beautiful figure suddenly appeared between the two sides.
A face that could make even gods sigh in admiration, and golden hair shining as brilliantly as sunlight, instantly revealed her identity.
"Sword Princess!"
The middle-aged man and his subordinates cried out together.
Their heated minds were doused with cold water, and the thought of killing and robbing Kiriya vanished without a trace.
Before this top-tier Level 5 adventurer, all of them together would be nothing more than a single dish.
"What are you doing?"
The girl known as the Sword Princess tilted her head, expressionless as she looked at the middle-aged man’s group.
"N-nothing. We were just passing by. Just passing by."
The middle-aged man laughed awkwardly over and over, pulling his subordinates far away around them.
Inside, however, countless questions surged wildly.
’What the hell is this bastard’s background? Why would the Sword Princess protect him?’
As for the young men, there was no need to even mention them.
When they looked back at Kiriya, flames of jealousy were practically burning in their eyes, as if they wanted to burn him to death on the spot.
That was the Sword Princess.
The person countless adventurers in Orario admired.
And yet now, she had protected some unknown boy. How could they not be jealous?
"Are you okay?"
After watching them leave, the Sword Princess turned back and asked.
"I’m fine."
Kiriya rubbed his nose and said, "Actually, I could have handled it."
"You’re tired."
The Sword Princess was concise.
"Uh..."
Kiriya laughed helplessly. Had he dug his own pit with that excuse?
"Thank you."
He thanked the Sword Princess.
Although she had delayed his chance to earn some extra money, she had done it out of goodwill.
Kiriya had always been grateful for the kindness of others.
"...Mm."
Ais nodded, then stared at Kiriya for a while.
Her gaze made Kiriya feel uncomfortable, and he almost thought there was something wrong with his face.
"Is something wrong?" Kiriya asked.
"Your ability values..."
Ais had wanted to ask about that.
But after remembering that such things were an adventurer’s most important secret, she simply stopped.
"Nothing. Goodbye."
After saying that, Ais left.
Kiriya scratched his head, feeling somewhat confused.
After gathering the magic stones on the ground, Kiriya headed toward the surface.
Since he was traveling alone, he moved quickly.
...
Before long, he arrived at the Dungeon exit.
The moment he stepped out of Babel, Kiriya frowned.
Dozens of people had turned their gazes toward him at the same time.
"Lord Apollo, that is Kiriya-kun."
A voice sounded from within the crowd.
"Apollo?"
Hearing that name stirred certain memories deep in Kiriya’s mind, and an ominous feeling immediately rose in his heart.
"Oh my, so this is Kiriya-kun? Just as the rumors said, you really are an exceptionally adorable child!"
Accompanied by a soft voice that sounded somewhat affected, a handsome male god appeared, wearing Greek-style robes and a laurel crown.
The look he gave Kiriya was.... creepy!