From today onward, everything within the Loki Familia gradually returned to order, as though the abnormal incident Riezel and Ais had experienced on the 24th Floor had never existed at all.
Just like in the past, they began lively yet cautious preparations for the upcoming expedition.
Led by the second strings, the familia’s members ran through the streets of Orario every day, visiting shop after shop, purchasing massive quantities of supplies, and placing numerous orders without pause.
Anyone who noticed this activity immediately realized that the Loki Familia, one of the city’s largest familias, was about to set out on yet another expedition.
Besides the second strings, the familia executives were also making their own preparations.
From time to time, they even went into the Dungeon, claiming it was merely to keep their skills from getting rusty. However, every time they returned, they were covered in wounds, which left Finn and the others with constant headaches.
Even Ais began entering the Dungeon frequently, and there were rumors that she had gone to the 24th Floor once, after which, upon returning, she seemed even more driven than before.
Aside from that, she actually sought out Riezel again, asking him to spar with her.
"I don’t know what I can do right now, so I want to become stronger."
When Ais voiced this request with such firm resolve, Riezel knew there was no way he could refuse this golden-haired swordswoman who was both his mentor and his friend.
As a result, he agreed to her request and continued sparring with her every morning—the intensity was nothing like it had been before.
Not only did he use Wind Breathing, but he even used Ariel from time to time, leaving the courtyard in ruins and heavily damaged as a result.
Consequently, Riezel and Ais were scolded by Riveria, while Loki raised both hands and begged them to stop, all while tearfully hiring craftsmen several times over to repair the courtyard.
In the end, Riezel and Ais were even kicked out of Twilight Manor and sent to train in the Dungeon instead.
It was also worth mentioning that Lefiya followed along as well.
"I-I also want Mr. Riezel to train me! Teach me Concurrent Chanting!"
Lefiya seemed to have run into some problems with her concurrent chanting practice. Although she had been studying it diligently for quite some time, her progress could only be described as painfully slow.
Even after seeking guidance from her mentor, Riveria, the situation still had not improved.
In the end, even though Lefiya was extremely nervous, she still gathered her courage and made the request to Riezel—her object of admiration—with a trembling voice.
In the Loki Familia, if anyone’s Concurrent Chanting was stronger than Riveria’s, it was naturally Riezel, known as Orario’s strongest magic swordsman.
Even though he was just a rookie, his proficiency in Concurrent Chanting was widely acknowledged. Whether it was attacking, moving, defending, or evading, he could accomplish all of it with ease while chanting magic.
Lefiya had always greatly admired the combat style of magic swordsmen, and now that she was preparing to master Concurrent Chanting herself, it was only natural that she wanted to seek guidance from Riezel.
Riezel naturally did not refuse.
If anything, Lefiya had originally been the familia’s designated partner for him.
However, ever since he became a First-Class Adventurer, this partner seemed to have been left behind, no longer having the chance to enter the Dungeon with him—and this not only made her feel somewhat dejected, but also left him feeling a bit guilty.
Now, being able to bring her into the Dungeon again after such a long time and to train her personally was not a bad thing for him.
At the very least, it stirred a strong sense of nostalgia in him.
For this reason, he agreed without hesitation, causing Lefiya to shout in excitement, completely unable to contain herself.
Especially since Ais would be accompanying them as well, the three of them training together in the Dungeon made Lefiya feel as though she had stepped straight into paradise.
===
Days passed one after another, and before long, the day of the expedition quietly arrived.
In the front yard of Twilight Manor, the familia members who had woken early and finished breakfast began carrying large cargo crates and other supplies, while checking and organizing the inventory lists.
Everyone felt both nervous and excited about the expedition starting today, and conversations could be heard everywhere.
Leaders of the second strings, such as Raul and Anakitty, were also present, giving instructions to the members.
Naturally, everyone was fully armed.
Some carried brand-new weapons and items, while others wore newly acquired equipment—all of them looked ready to depart at any moment.
Among the familia’s First-Class Adventurers, Riezel was the earliest to arrive, and when he entered the front yard, everyone greeted him or bowed in respect.
"Mr. Riezel!"
"Good morning!"
"Please take care of us!"
Seeing the First-Class Adventurer of the familia appear was like seeing a ray of hope, and everyone’s spirits visibly rose, considering that the core force of any expedition was always the First-Class Adventurers.
Once they reached the Deep Floors, the role of the lower-class adventurers would shrink dramatically, and on the Deep Floors below the 50th Floor, they would be completely unable to contribute at all, with no possibility of advancing any further.
If they forced themselves to do so, they would only become a burden.
Hence, whether the expedition could achieve its predetermined goals and push into unexplored floors depended entirely on the efforts of the familia’s First-Class Adventurers.
And Riezel was the rising star among them, someone who had claimed a fragment of the strongest title despite being only Level 5.
Naturally, the members of the familia placed great expectations on him, hoping he would follow in the footsteps of the familia’s top executives and step into underground domains they did not even dare to imagine.
Moreover, he had previously revealed his level-boosting magic only once, yet its effect had been overwhelmingly powerful.
For that reason, there was every reason to believe that he had already become one of the familia’s greatest pillars and combat forces.
With him, and with all the preparations made specifically for this expedition, everyone’s hearts were filled with both anticipation and confidence.
"Good morning, everyone."
Bathed in gazes of expectation, trust, and admiration from the members, Riezel, now accustomed to such scenes, nodded calmly to everyone.
"I’m here!"
"Has the Captain arrived yet?"
"S-Sorry! I’m late!"
Not long after, Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya ran out into the front yard—one excited, one pretending to be calm, and one panting heavily.
"You’re always so damn loud. Isn’t that annoying?"
Bete walked forward with an aloof stride, curling his lip as he spat out sharp words that made Tiona bristle.
"Hmph, like I’m scared of you or anything. I’m gonna jump straight to Level 6 and leave you, you annoying werewolf, way outta the dust this time!"
"Hah? Who the hell do you think you’re talking to, you dumb amazoness? Like I’d ever get left behind by someone like you."
"Bleh bleh bleh, whatever. You’re just Bete."
"And you’re just a dumb moron."
"Don’t call me dumb!"
"You are dumb!"
Just like that, the two began arguing loudly without any regard for their surroundings, prompting Raul, Anakitty, and the others to hurry over and break them up.
"Miss Ais!"
Lefiya was just about to step forward to help when her sharp eyes caught a glimpse of gold emerging from the manor, causing her to immediately perk up and wave excitedly.
"Everyone..."
Ais was equipped with her usual light armor, which protected only her vital areas, with a silver sword hanging at her waist. Her long golden hair swayed as she walked straight to Riezel’s side, doing so with effortless naturalness.
"Are you okay?"
Riezel smiled at Ais and asked casually.
"Mm."
Ais nodded, seeming to have returned to her usual self, even wearing her cool and resolute expression.
Now, she put on the mask of the Sword Princess, transforming into Orario’s strongest swordswoman as she prepared herself to head for the battlefield.
Everyone gathered in the front yard, chatting animatedly, while the members staying behind at the manor—those unable to participate in the expedition—watched on with envious expressions.
"It looks like everyone’s here."
Before long, when the sun had fully risen, the three top executives finally arrived.
"Captain!"
"Lady Riveria!"
"Old man!"
One by one, everyone paid their respects to Finn, Riveria, and Gareth.
"Are you all ready?" Riveria asked seriously, receiving unanimous nods in response.
"Very good! Guhahaha!" Gareth laughed loudly beneath his helmet and armor. "It’s finally time for another expedition. Last time we failed, but this time—no matter what—we gotta succeed. You hear me?"
"Gareth’s right." Finn chimed in with a nod. "The challenge left behind by God Zeus and Goddess Hera, aimed at the unexplored floors—once we take that step, our name will once again shake the world, and the name of the Loki Familia will echo across it."
"So this time, we can only succeed. Failure is not an option."
"Everyone, make your preparations."
""YES!""
Hearing Finn’s calm instructions, everyone responded loudly once more.
"Well then, let’s move out."
With Finn’s command, everyone set off in great numbers toward the central plaza, where Babel stood at the heart of Orario.
"Be careful, everyone!"
"Come back victorious!"
"Be careful!"
"Good luck!"
As the members staying behind shouted their farewells, many of those departing turned back to wave.
"They’re heading out..."
From the window of her room, Loki poked her head out and watched her children march toward Babel in a vast procession, a wide grin spreading across her face.
"Looks like I gotta work hard too."
In the past, Loki had been terribly bored whenever the familia went on an expedition, but this time, she actually had things she needed to do.
"First things first, I’ll swing by the Guild and fish for some info. If I can, I should find a way to meet that old fart who’s been hiding underground for like a thousand years. No way he doesn’t know something."
"And then there’s the Ganesha Familia. How did those flower monsters that caused chaos on East Main Street even make it to the surface last time? I gotta ask them straight up and see if they smuggled them out during Monster Feria."
"And then... oh right, right, Denatus should be starting soon, huh?"
Thinking of the superstar rookie in her familia who had earned the nickname ’monster rookie,’ Loki let out a sly grin.
"Well, since Finn specifically told me to handle it, I guess I’ll actually try this time and get a really good alias for that brat."
"By the time he gets back from the expedition, Denatus will already be over."
"When that happens, I kinda wonder if he’ll be happy when he sees his new alias."
With everything she needed to do firmly in mind, Loki stretched lazily.
"Mm... I’ll take another nap first!"
And with that, the utterly undignified goddess hopped back to her room to take a nap.
===
[A bonus Chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
[Support me and read next Chapters early at: /VALRRR]