Chapter 14: Loki Familia

A new day started a few minutes after the little level four left. Thank fucking god I decided to summon right then, or else I would have not completed my first day mission. From now on, I should just complete all the missions as early as possible, so I don't fuck things up for myself.

Signing in for the second day, I got a reward sent to my inventory. Opening my inventory, I saw the new item was a translucent glass bottle shaped like a teardrop, with the liquid inside clear. Focusing on it, a screen appeared;

_____________________

Monster Repellent Spray 

Consumable Item

Item Volume: 70 Milliliters

An odorless liquid to humans, but when detected by monsters, it transforms into a scent they despise with increasing potency based on the amount applied. The more you spray, the stronger the effect and the further the scent travels. Lasts 6 hours on skin and may last longer depending on material clothes or armor is made off.

_____________________

Good. Good. But it would have been better if I got a 'human repellent spray.' 

I collected my day 2 seven day gift of twenty-thousand exp and 10 Premium Armor Summoning Tickets from the 28-Day Check-In Rewards. The armor summoning was less exciting due to the fact I can get an item that would fit me. Why can't all items scale to my size or have an auto-fit function like an actual game?

I mean, I guess different armor would be for different classes, but still. I will be infuriated if I got a rare armor that won't fit me. Pushing the thought from my mind, I looked at my day 2 seven day mission.

[7 Day-Mission]

Day 2 (3/10)

Monster Hunter: Kill 300 Monsters (0/300) 

Money Spender: Spend 60,000 Valis (0/60,000)

Growing Stronger: Spend 60,000 level exp (0/60000)

Strength of Weapons: Equip two pieces of equipment enhanced to 6 (1/2).

New Strength: Defeat five elite-type monsters (0/5)

A hunter: Hunt in the dungeon for 6 hours (0/6)

New Items: Summon 30 times from any summon (0/30)

Stronger: Get 3 stats to level 500 at rank 0 (3/3 Completed). 

And Stronger: Reach total level 2000 at rank 0 (2000/2000 Completed) 

A-Rank: Get 1 stat to level 800 at rank 0 (800/800 Completed) 

[7 Day-Mission]

It was similar to my first day's mission, and if it stays this way for the next few days, it shouldn't be too difficult to complete them all. The three missions I already completed gave me 6300 exp in total, which wasn't really much of a reward.

'Let's just use sixty grand exp and get that over with.' I called up my status, looking at my exp.

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Status

Rank: 0 

Level: 2825(+98) [2923] 

Level Exp held: 408227

Strength: A 801 (+20) [A 821] Endurance: B 789 (+20) [A 809] Dexterity: E 436 (+19) [E 455] Agility: B 799 (+20) [A 819] Magic: I 0 (+19) [I 0]

_____________________

Quite a lot if I do say so myself, however not even close to how much I will need to max out all my stats. Enough to get my dexterity to level 624 and for those red screens to disappear, so I should be able to use 100% of my stats.

To do or not to do, that's the question.

Hmm... 'Let's do it.' I will be venturing to the lower floor, so this isn't the time to halt my level, so I could get more exp. The stats of the War Shadow looks quite dangerous, especially its agility, and I rather not get of guarded down there.

With 215134, I brought my dexterity to 624.

"Ugh." A hot, almost boiling energy surged through my body, electrifying every cell. It was agonizing, but that pain was quickly eclipsed by an exhilarating rush that flowed through my body, causing my muscles to buzz with excitement.

"Oh, fuck~" This felt nice. 

With the difference between strength and agility from dexterity now being less than 25%, I could feel the full extent of my 801 strength and 799 agility. I threw a straight punch, my arm quickly extending to its fullest with a snap, too fast for even my eyes to follow, but my senses were quickly adjusting to my newfound strength.

Left, right, straight, under, over, left, left. 

I kept throwing punches, gusts of wind literally following my fists like it was a weapon of mass destruction. One hit from these punches to a human's head would be certain death. Their skull will be completely caved like it had been struck by a sledgehammer.

I love this feeling.

But I guess I will get used to it soon. 'My mind is still adjusting, after all.' Taking a deep breath, I felt my muscles calm underneath my skin. Then I turned back to my exp.

[Level Exp held: 193093]

My DEX could have required 199092 exp to get leveled from 436 to 624, however my actual level had surpassed 3000 when my Dexterity reached 611. Due to now being 3000, the calculation for the exp needed to level up a stat changed to ([stats*(Rank+2)]*2).

So for the 13 remaining levels, I used double the exp that would have been needed. "Why did I make a system like this?" I had made this system because I wanted maxing out your stats at each rank to be strenuous and filled with grinding, but now I'm experiencing it, I don't like it.

Mind you, my magic is still at 0, and to bring that up to 1199, I would need... 

"Haah..." 

About three million exp.

Fuck.

Let's forget about that for now. 

Seeing as I will need to level up my dexterity higher before I can even level up any of my other stats, why don't we do it now? With my remaining exp, I brought DEX up by 73 levels, bringing it to 697 with only 373 exp left. 

I didn't feel the rush like I did earlier, but clenching my fist, I noticed the new control I had over my strength regulation. A good thing. 'Now, let's check this thing out.' 

I equipped 'Vi's gauntlet' and felt the weight in my hands. "Heh?" They were still heavy?

The fuck?

It doesn't seem like the weight has changed at all???

'The weight experienced by the wearier is much less than the actual length.' Does it adjust to the wearer's strength? No way right. "I must be trippin." I tried to punch with it. "I am not."

It seems like it does adjust with the wear's strength. My guess is that it will keep adjusting as my strength increases until I am lifting the actual weight of the gauntlet. After I reach that point, if my strength increases, the gauntlet mass wouldn't.

"Hmm..." Well, I guess I can use this to hunt. Swinging this massive shit around should help me increase my stats instead of only relying on exp. 'Strength and endurance should be the most affected.' 

'Ok, it's decided.' I caught a goblin out of the air, the massive palm of the gauntlet holding the creature like it was but a doll. With a simple squeeze, I popped the little shit like a balloon. 'Time to complete this mission.'

Floor 4 mission of going unnoticed for four hours in a row.

Re-begin!

~~~~~3rd person POV~~~~~

Finn Deimne let out a heavy sigh, his small frame slouched behind the large oak desk that seemed to dwarf him. The sunlight from the setting sun poured through the three tall windows on the first floor, casting a soft golden hue over the room. Papers littered the surface of his desk in what could only be described as organized chaos, a reflection of his current state of mind. His sharp, bright blue eyes scanned the numbers on the financial report, and his lips tightened.

"This is bad…" he muttered under his breath. 

As the Captain of the Loki Familia, Finn bore the weight of responsibility on his small shoulders. Many saw him as a brave and brilliant strategist, but they didn't see the endless paperwork, the logistics, the recruitment, the planning. Even with Riveria, Gareth, and the other executives sharing the workload, it always circled back to him. And now he found himself stumped, stuck on the balance between the Familia's immediate needs and their long-term goals.

The Loki Familia wasn't just powerful; it was big. 

Nearly five hundred members, all needing food, shelter, and gear. 

The strain on their finances wasn't new, but with the planned deep-dive expedition into the dungeon in a few months, they had to budget even more carefully than usual. The deep dive would require more resources, more preparation, and that meant money—money they didn't currently have.

Finn glanced down at the paper once more. "What do you think, Riveria?" he called out, his voice tired but steady as he stamped the financial document in front of him. "Should we cut the budget for this month to save for the expedition, or not?"

Across the room, Riveria Ljos Alf sat on the lone couch, a large book resting in her lap. The elegant elf, tall and graceful at 170 cm, exuded an air of calm wisdom. Her jade-colored hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, tied neatly in a ponytail that accentuated her long, pointed ears. Her ethereal beauty was undeniable, and in the comfortable green dress and light shawl she wore, she looked as though she had stepped out of a dream.

For a moment, she didn't respond. Her jade-green eyes remained focused on the book in her lap, but Finn knew she had heard him. Finally, she lifted her gaze to Finn, her expression calm.

"We cannot afford to jeopardize the expedition," Riveria began, her voice soft but firm. "It is too important to our long-term standing. However, cutting the budget will also strain the lower-ranked members of our Familia."

She paused for a moment, her fingers resting lightly on the cover of the book. "If we're forced to choose, I would advise reallocating funds from areas that won't directly affect their ability to perform in the dungeon. We could reuse, repair, and strengthen what we already have."

Finn listened intently, his sharp eyes never leaving hers. Riveria's calm analysis was exactly what he had expected, but it didn't make the decision any easier.

"And what about the equipment for the higher-ranking members?" Finn asked, leaning forward slightly. Those were always the most expensive things. "We've already made large purchases this past month. If we cut now, we risk going into the expedition under-prepared."

'Postponing wasn't an option,' he thought, tapping his fingers on the wood of the desk.

Normally, postponing an expedition would be the safest course of action. But this wasn't a normal expedition. They had timed it specifically for the spawn of the Dungeon's Monster Rexes, a time when all the slain boss monsters would respawn once after the other while they climb deeper. 

If they delayed, they would miss the alignment of the monster spawns, and with it, the chance to gain valuable experience. The plan was to run through the Dungeon's depths, taking on each Monster Rex in succession, a gauntlet that would push even their strongest adventurers to the limit. But this raid wasn't just about showing off their strength—it was about preparing the weaker members, giving them a chance to grow, and hopefully, for one of them to level up during the raid.

This meant that if the stronger members weren't at their best, or if they lacked the necessary equipment, the consequences could be disastrous. One accident in the Dungeon, especially at those depths, could spell catastrophe for the entire Familia.

Riveria closed her book gently, her jade eyes thoughtful as they rested on Finn. "It's true," she said. "We chose this time for a reason."

"Which means," he added, "we don't have the luxury of cutting corners with our preparations."

Riveria opened her mouth to respond to Finn, but before she could speak, a loud shout rang from the corner of the room.

"She's back!"

A figure shot up from the couch, where she had been sound asleep just moments before. Loki, the head of the Loki Familia, her sharp eyes immediately turning towards the door. 

Standing at 165 cm with a lean, athletic build, she had a presence that was more mischievous than goddess-like. Her thin eyebrows arched above her seemingly closed eyes, her lips always curled in a playful grin. Her light red hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, and her outfit—a white shirt that exposed her toned midriff paired with blue jeans—made her look more like a tomboyish adventurer than a deity.

Just then, the door opened, and Gareth stepped in. He stood at 151 cm, broad and muscular, his long brown beard tied neatly at the tip with his rugged face showing signs of both age and experience, with deep-set brown eyes. He wore his usual leather garb, sturdy boots, and unlike when he left earlier that afternoon to retrieve Ais, he now held something wrapped in cloth.

"AIS!" Loki's voice rang out as she dashed toward the small, blonde-haired girl that followed closely behind Gareth. However, the girl was quick to hide behind Gareth's broad figure, sending Loki face-first into the ground, rolling out of the room in a dramatic display.

"Ow…" Loki groaned, sitting up as she rubbed her head, "You're getting faster…"

Finn smiled. "You're finally back," he greeted Gareth, who let out a sigh as he closed the door behind Loki, who had just managed to reenter the room.

"When I went down to get her, she was returning to the surface because her sword broke," Gareth explained, moving forward to the center of the room. "But then she went back down after getting a new one."

Riveria's eyes widened slightly, her jade gaze shifting to the girl dodging Loki's relentless advances. "She asked someone for a sword?" Her voice carried a hint of surprise. That was unusual for Ais.

Gareth chuckled, walking forward with the wrapped object still in hand. "It wouldn't seem that strange once you see it."

With that, he unwrapped the cloth, revealing a gleaming Gold-Plated 3-Ring Rapier. Loki finally managed to grab hold of Ais, wrapping her arms around the girl, but she still whistled at the sight of the weapon. 

"Looks like an expensive decoration," she teased, grinning.

But Finn saw it differently. "A first-class sword?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, as his brows furrowed. "Who would give her such a weapon?"

Gareth chuckled, shaking his head. "This is much better than a first-class sword," he said, inspecting the blade more closely. "Ais hunted with it for almost four hours, and I watched her for two of those. This sword didn't chip, didn't dull, even after she went suicidal on a monster parade on Floor 35."

He gave the sword a light swing, and it moved through the air with a clean swish. "Not a single scratch, even after cutting through hundreds of Oozes. And we all know only a sword infused with Durandal can handle that."

Riveria's eyes caught the sword's edge glinting in the setting sunlight. "It doesn't seem to possess Durandal attribute."

Gareth grinned. "It doesn't," he agreed, "yet it has a durability that rivals one, without needing to pay for its offensive power." He held the sword high like a trophy. "The smith who made this surpasses every smith in Orario. No one here would be able to recreate this. Not even Tsubaki."

Finn stood from his chair and walked over to Gareth, who handed him the sword. Finn grabbed the handle, feeling its weight in his hand. For a level 6, it felt like nothing, but he swung it multiple times, each movement creating a sharp whip-like sound. Finally, he stopped, adopting a stance before lightly tapping the blade's tip with his finger.

"…!" Finn's eyes widened. The blade had pierced his skin, and blood welled up at the tip of his finger.

"???" He stared at his hand, the confusion clear in his expression. It was just a light touch, yet it tore through the skin of a level 6. 

He blinked. 

"Even if a level 1 swung this sword," he muttered, "it would be able to cut through a level 5. Or even a 6…"

Gareth laughed at Finn's reaction, clapping him on the back. "How expensive was this?" Finn asked, his tone serious. He was going to buy this sword, no matter the cost.

"Five hundred million," came a small voice from the side. Ais had finally managed to wriggle out of Loki's grip and now stood beside Finn. 

"Five hundred million?" Finn repeated, and he frowned. The price was too cheap. Too damn cheap for something of this caliber. "It should be worth more than that," he murmured, "closer to seven hundred million—or even more. This could be priced with a favor or some kind of camaraderie…"

He turned to Ais, looking up into her golden eyes. "Did the seller say anything else?"

Ais blinked innocently, her mind working to remember. She could barely even remember the man, only knowing he was bigger than everyone in this room. Her mind was focused on the sword while he spoke, so it was hard for her to recall what came out his mouth.

"He said something about…" She paused, "Interest?"

Finn's eyes narrowed, but it was to be expected and Ais continued. "...he said every day without payment, there's an interest."

Riveria, who had just lifted her tea cup, froze, her eyes wide. "How much interest?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with urgency.

Ais frowned slightly, thinking hard. "Um… one thousand?" She nodded, confirming. "Yes, one thousand percent interest."

A long, stunned silence fell over the room.

"And..." Ais added, as if remembering something else, "he said it's compounded interest. Every day."

Riveria's cup slipped from her fingers, shattering on the floor. "A thousand percent… compounded… daily," She whispered, her voice barely audible.

Ais smiled, oblivious to the growing tension. "We can pay that, right?"

Finn's shoulders shook, and a low, menacing chuckle escaped his lips, building into something far darker than joy. His face twisted into a sharp grin, and his blue eyes gleamed with an intensity that sent a cold wave through the room.

"Hah… Hahahaha!" His laughter grew louder, more manic, resonating off the polished wooden walls of the office. It wasn't the laugh of someone amused—it was the laugh of someone who had been pushed to the brink, someone teetering between rage and incredulity.

The unsettling sound cut through the air like a blade, causing Ais to instinctively take another step back, her golden eyes wide as she quickly hid behind Gareth, peeking out at Finn. Gareth raised an eyebrow, watching the Pallum closely, while even Riveria's usually composed expression faltered for a brief second.

"KAHAHAHA!" The man laughed as a pressure fell down on the entire Twilight Manor. 

Everyone present felt it and looked towards the tallest tower.

"Well...I'll be damned…" The red-haired Goddess muttered, her eyes half-opened. A rare sight indeed, even for her Familia. "Someone made him angry…"

~~~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~~~~

Was writing this chapter then remembered I had a programming project. Then after, I didn't feel like to write so I went to sleep and woke up motivated once more. Too bad I had to code a program to calculate the MC exp usage and leveling shit. Easy but annoying.

That's beside the point, I found an image that looks like Rachel Tolbert, the MC advisor, will post it here.