Chapter 36: Disguised Test

Riveria Ljos Alf.

Orario's greatest mage. She could turn an entire floor into either a blazing or chilling hell. She could also provide support through her magic.

Undoubtedly, she is one of the main reasons why Loki Familia reached its spot. Having magic could easily turn the tables against their enemies, more so when they are inside an unpredictable dungeon.

"Looks like I messed up?"

It's been a week since I started training Lili. My schedule went back to normal. From 5 AM to 7 AM, I trained with Lili. I sleep from 8 AM til 2 PM. After that, I attend lessons from Tulle-san and go to the smith before diving into the dungeon until the sun rises.

This is the only way to maximize my skill [Child of Constellations].

Rumble-!

A dozen hobgoblins came from the cracks. They immediately found me and growled.

"I overdid it."

I did not know that killing most of a floor's monsters could trigger such a reaction from the dungeon. Only five minutes had passed since [Orion] descended, yet I have already killed fifty-five monsters. That is still different from my kill count with [Orion] itself.

"It doesn't matter."

A cool sensation went down my throat. The high potion restored most of my mind and mana instantly.

"It's time to test them again."

Magic techniques.

Unlike magic spells, it involves the use of a weapon. It is a weapon art given life with mana. It is something I resorted to after finding out I couldn't use swordsmanship to manipulate the mystical laws.

[Raiju] is an example of it. The simple quick draw becomes lethal. Most of my enemies in Orario weren't humanoids. As for the human ones, I could not cast them due to their insane reaction speed. If I did not lock Valletta on my position when using [Orionids], I would not have hit her.

Hobgoblins are very close to a human build.

Shiing-!

I pulled [Sora] from its sheath. Unlike before, it has the 'perfect' balance I could think of.

'Hephaestus-sama is on another level…'

A day after I woke up, she summoned me to her forge. I watched her upgrade [Sora]. Its potential was fully tapped with her hands.

It did not have new magic, but its utility increased to unimaginable levels, beating Azure as my strongest sword. Thus, I decided to test my magic techniques today.

"What should I use?"

There are fifty-something magic techniques that I know. It is the result of my repeated iterations. The most noticeable ones, however, account for five.

I drew a middle stance as I calculated. I controlled my breath to match my footsteps. When my concentration reached its peak, the hobgoblins went into my strike zone.

"[Fuujin]." (God of Wind.)

A green magic circle lit up on the ground. Sharp gusts of wind surrounded my body. The first couple of hobgoblins who attacked immediately got wounds all over their bodies.

"Fuu…"

I moved out.

Tap.

Sou-!

"Hup..!"

Within three steps, [Sora] beheaded a hobgoblin easily. The force centered on the blade did not die.

Sou-!

Sou-!

Sou-!

I continued connecting my attacks. Coupled with the correct footsteps, my momentum became stronger. By the time the final hobgoblin was killed, my blade split the ground.

Bam-!

The gathered force broke it into a crater.

"Fu…"

I canceled my spell. By doing so, I felt the stored momentum disappear.

"The sharpness is crazy."

[Fuujin] is a magic technique named after a Shinto god. It did two things, namely: surround my body with sharp wind currents and store the built-up momentum on my blade.

The winds surrounding the blade temporarily "contain" the accumulated energy that equates to force.

In fact, that is the main function of the spell.

The sharp wind currents are just aftereffects. They're not that strong. Though, it helped me in detecting enemies that stepped into my range.

The only downside of this technique was that everything has to be done in single strikes. If my blade gets stuck, the winds will disperse, hence canceling this technique. It wouldn't work with my previous weapon, but now I have the upgraded [Sora], I can finally use it.

"If I add [Wave Impact] to it…"

Once I clean up the weaker opponents and use the final strike against a strong enemy, I could only imagine the power behind it. Then again, I normally don't come close to enemies unless I am conserving mana.

A dilemma.

Why do I have tons of spells and techniques to use?

"Oh well."

After picking up the magic stones, I decided to return to the surface. Skimming through the upper floors became easier with an added magic effect to my armor: [Leap]. Whenever I activate it, I would be thrust a few meters into the air.

It is an effective travel method, I say.

Soon, I returned to the entrance. There are tents built around the guild. They serve for the purposes of logistics, medics, and so on.

Before I presented myself, I used [Wardrobe] and changed myself to my outside clothes—the lightweight armor.

I went to the booth that processed the materials. While placing the materials on the table, the guild employee greeted me.

"It amounts to two million valis, Sirius-san."

"I see. Thanks."

After tying the bulging bag to my waist, I left Babel. I heard murmurs when I did so.

"Tenkou..?"

"The newest rising star? The one who rose to level two in two weeks?"

"What a monster."

"I've heard he couldn't be seen anywhere above the 20th floor."

"Then, does it mean that he's prowling deeper than that? Crazy…"

Tenkou | Sirius.

That was the nickname I received. I am aware of my reputation in this city. It has been a week since the last Denatus. To continue as a registered adventurer and dive into the deeper floors, we have to report my level up to the guild.

Beyond the 25th floor, high-ranking familias like Ganesha Familia are present. There are also parties from Loki and Freya Familia themselves. Hiding my power is extremely difficult in a city filled with gods.

It could also serve as a liability for Hephaestus-sama once we mess it up. Thus, I chose this high-key development.

The most famous development though is to compare myself to Kenki. It gave people the impression that I am crazier than her when diving on deeper floors.

Fortunately, I am rarely seen going outside the dungeon. I dare those people to match my broken nocturnal schedule.

After reaching the North-west store, I opened the door with the spare key. What greeted me is a desolate office.

"Just like my lab…"

Though, someone is waiting for my return.

After some tricks, one of the tiles opened up. It revealed a black box. Inside it is the black smartphone.

{You have returned, Goshujin-sama.}

"Good morning."

{Good morning too. Are you interested in the current deduction process?}

Inside the private room, I left the black phone. It might look like a normal phone, but it has extended storage inside. It has many complex components akin to a supercomputer.

While this is a downgraded version, it has enough processing power to run Miku. She could do a big task with it. As for my laptop, that's the real beast.

She could've done everything five times faster with it.

"Sure."

{The positions of the constellation [Orion] of two worlds have been compared and analyzed. Through that, the base coordinate has been deduced.}

"An unexpected outcome…"

I asked her to process the position of Gekai's [Orion] first to strengthen my spell. Unexpectedly, it led to having a point of comparison. With the first coordinate present, this should be done within a few months.

"Thanks for your hard work. I'll send you a new song later."

{Recording finished. In case you forgot about it.}

"Yeah."

This Miku is an entire version away from the one I had. The Vocaloid songs she has is not comparable to the latter. You can put it as her regaining some of her memories.

I am glad she is here. The memories of the future do not disappoint. If I did not have those, I would have worked for decades before her version 1.0 could work.

It is the result of one hundred years of work materializing.

"[Wardrobe]."

My clothes were switched after I chanted. It is now the training clothes instead of my adventurer clothes.

"I will be coming back later."

{Understood.}

A magic circle appeared on the corner floor. A metal box could be found within it—one made of adamantine from the 30th floor. I placed the smartphone inside it.

Once I retracted the spell, the floor tile went back to normal. I am not having my last chance of returning stolen.

When I exited the store, I reactivated the magic spells engraved. Try as they might, they'll be apprehended by these spells. Even a level five could have difficulties leaving this place.

This is the work of thousands of years of magic history integrated with modern physics.

"Hm..?"

A gaze stung my neck. When I tried to look for its source, I found no one on the roof of a house.

"Information is the key."

Those observers… I deduced they are from an information familia. I am too familiar with how this worked, considering I did the same along with Miku. Hacking confidential info could be quite addicting.

"Teacher!"

A cat-eared girl called out to me. She has blonde hair and a small build.

"Teacher… You can just call me Nobu."

"No, that won't work. It would be a disrespect to call you like that!"

Lili did not back out.

A week into our training, she began developing a sense of respect for me. To her, I am her savior and mentor… or so she says.

I noticed some of her characteristics, though.

Her mind is sharp. She could grasp the 'knowledge' I am giving her. She's much like me in this regard. I could see her judging situations level-headedly in the future.

The other thing is her talent… or the lack thereof. She's having trouble learning every weapon. She is slow on the uptake when it comes to combat.

She reminded me of myself. In my first two iterations, I was also like that. It's all thanks to my cheat that I could reach my current heights. As they've said, there's nothing that couldn't be solved with time.

Hundreds of fights made me competent.

As usual, we did our usual jog to Daedalus Street. I mapped out more than 70% of it within a week.

What could I say?

[Correspondence] is a hack. It lets faint magic waves bounce everywhere, constructing a place's structure. Its evolutions improved it further, which led to this.

"Here are our offerings, Penia-sama."

"Take our suffering away."

"Please…"

On our way, we passed by one god. Her followers made some offerings to her.

I looked at Lili. I saw that she is visibly disturbed by this scene. It made her remember the Soma Familia.

"..."

In the end, nothing happened. She chose to bury that feeling. She had not left that familia yet—in fact, she did not prowl in the dungeon yet. A few days aren't enough to stuff in everything she needs to know about survivability.

Not all people have a cheat like mine.

Carelessly diving into the dungeon without any precautions leads to death. Even my guild advisor completely agrees with it, and so do I.

"We have arrived."

The guard on duty happened to be an acquaintance.

"Oh, Sirius-san! Good morning."

"Morning." I replied. "We're going to the usual place."

"I see! There's no need to talk to us guards if it's just that. We trust you."

—and the reputation Hephaestus Familia holds.

"This formality doesn't bother me. Just to be sure, right?"

"Right." He replied to me.

If I recall correctly, the guard is a member of Ganesha Familia. Most of them are, actually. They are responsible for maintaining order inside Orario. The guild is the government while they are the police.

After going through the stairs, we arrived at our destination—a desolate training ground.

Just as usual, we did our sparring and lessons. Everything took more than an hour and a half to do.

"Do you want to see my world?"

"Your… world?"

"Battlefield."

For a week, I have been preparing Lili for the dungeon. My teaching methods are unorthodox as there wasn't anything not painful.

Physical training until she was exhausted.

Knowledge about the dungeon.

These two things took up her time. She handled it well thanks to her skill, [Artel Assist].

Beneath her sleeves and pants, there are a total of eight weights—two on her arms and two on her legs. Its total weight is 100 kilograms.

Interestingly, she began to struggle at 80 kilograms. The compensation her skill gave could no longer catch up to that weight. As a result, it became unbearable for her to wear them.

Still, she kept on doing so until it no longer fazed her.

"You know Orario is not the only one that has strong adventurers."

"Telskyura…"

The nation where amazons originate. It is no longer a rumor that they have monstrous warriors. Despite lacking something known as [Dungeon], they are strong.

"But teacher, they are still not a match for Orario itself."

There are the Loki and Freya Familia inside Orario. The strongest adventurer, the Warlord, is at level seven. That alone is a testament to its strength.

"Do you think there are people who could rival his power? Someone alive."

"Uhm…"

"There could be a person like that."

This decision would not reveal much of my information. I also doubt Lili will spread what she is about to see. If she did, then my judgement of people should be re-evaluated.

Just to be safe, I also planned to introduce everything as a 'fake' story.

'Calculations complete.'

"Hold my hand."

"U-un!"

While confused, she followed my instructions. Her hazel pupils kept looking at me and my hand.

"Apertus inanua terra mirabili." (Open the door to my wonderland.)

Bright light surrounded the two of us. When it died down, the area changed into a ruined city.

Sou-!

Lili only had a short time to dodge the sharp rubble. A wound was drawn to her cheek.

"Remember the rules I taught."

"Teacher?"

"Survive."

With that, I disappeared from her sight.

*****

"Teacher?!"

Lili was confused. They were on top of Orario's walls a second ago. Now, she found herself on a battlefield.

"I touched teacher and…" Her mind organized everything. "This is his lesson!"

Unlike their previous lessons, this will be a more realistic one.

"But… what should I do?"

Lili observed the area. She found out that it is a kind of ruined city. It is currently nighttime, dropping her visibility to low.

Flash-!

Bam-!

"What was that?!"

In the sky, she saw a bright flash before an earthquake occurred. She nearly lost her footing.

"I need to go farther."

'Survive.'

That was what her teacher said. She needs to adhere to this goal, and going away from whatever caused it will help.

Soon, she found humans. To be exact, a human and a talking panda.

"A civilian?"

"A kid?! Shit!"

The middle-aged man hurriedly picked Lili up. She did not have the time to react to his speed. Soon, she found herself thrown in the arms of the panda.

"Go send her to a safe place! I'm going first!"

Kusakabe went ahead to the signal sent by Momo. He knew the decisive fight has to be there.

"Don't be scared, little girl."

"A… monster?"

Lili's mind went blank. She could not process what had happened within seconds.

"Oh…"

Panda was visibly downcast.

"I don't know how to use mind manipulation…"

"Mind manipulation?!" She reacted when she heard a dangerous word. "You are really a monster!"

She escaped from his embrace. She rolled down several times before she recollected herself.

'Where's my spear..?!'

Only now did she realize the absence of her weapon. Fortunately, it appeared right into her hands as she called it.

She pushed back her amazement and used [Wind Dance].

"[Wind Dance]!"

She sprinted in the opposite direction as Panda's.

"That's dangerous!"

Three seconds later, Panda caught up and lifted Lili through her collar.

"Eek..!"

Her mind looked for viable solutions.

"It's dangerous there. You can trust me for now."

"How should I trust a monster?!"

"I am not a monster!"

"Then what?!"

"A Sorcerer!"

"Sorce—what?"

The terrified and confused Lili looked at Panda's big eyes.

"We vanquish curses and restore peace. We're a kind of superhero if you think of it!"

Bam-!

Not far away from them, huge walls made of ice rose. Then, they saw the current fight.

Bam-!

Bam-!

Psst-!

The aftermath reached their place due to how strong it was.

"Okay, little girl."

Panda put her down.

"Run. Or else those monsters would eat you."

It pointed out the beings causing this aftermath.

"I…"

Lili was speechless. She met a monster and saw strong people fight in less than five minutes.

"Okay."

In the end, she ran away. She did not forget to send a complicated look at the Panda who saved her.

While she ran, she did not meet any people. Running towards the route the Panda gave was the correct decision.

However, it changed when she met several strange people. They are dressed in weird outfits—one she had not seen on Orario. They are all running away from the source of that fight. Feeling their strength, she did not come with them.

She felt everything is dangerous in this place, and that included humans.

"Give… me…"

Suddenly, she heard a voice behind a huge rubble. Her body halted as she sensed something bad from it.

Immediately, she dashed away from it without looking back.

'So this is what teacher meant!'

Sweat gathered on her forehead. Her compensated body is under great duress due to the continuous running and escaping she has been doing.

"Give… me..!"

She found out that it managed to follow her. When she looked back, she saw a strange creature. It has a single pupil on its face and four arms. It crawled all the way to her.

Feeling her exhaustion, she sought her vicinity. She tried to look for solutions and kept herself calm as best as she could.

"No… It would not work..!"

The goose chase occurred for a good ten minutes. The curse behind her did not stop chasing after her.

"I need to resolve it soon."

She felt fatigued overcoming her body. Ten minutes of tension exhausted her way faster than it should have. Nobu mentioned this phenomenon once. He said that tension exhausts the body faster due to her heart beating faster.

It is Lili's first time encountering this situation.

'Okay…'

Abruptly, she stopped running and turned to the curse.

"[Flame Dance]!"

A fire coated her qian spear before the curse ran itself through it. The flames spread to its body, making it writhe in pain.

Lili hastily pulled her spear out of its eye. She also deactivated [Flame Dance] to conserve her mind.

"Fu…"

She observed what happened to the creature. It was being affected by the flames. She took this opening by initiating a downward strike.

"Hup!"

Clang-!

Her spear bounced off from the curse.

"W-what?"

She realized that physical attacks do not work on these monsters. Only cursed energy as well as mana, its equivalent, worked against curses.

Lili recalled how it was affected by flames and not by her attack.

"Only those attacks work!"

Activating [Flame Dance] once more, she struck it before the flames on its body died down. She kept doing this until she saw the curse disintegrate into the purple light.

"It… worked."

Her legs gave up as she lay sprawled on the ground. She took her deep breaths and wiped her sweat.

"Survive."

She understood what Nobu wanted to teach her. A battlefield is different. She would have ' died ' if she hadn't followed her intuition.

'I need to continue running away.'

Before she could stand up, her vision blackened.

*****

A/N: If anyone's wondering, Lili is currently at the end of the Shinjuku fight. It's the time when Kenjaku ingests Mahito with [Uzumaki] and starts the Culling Game.