became the target, the Loki Familia discussion
"Ahh... that was really exhausting," Yuuki said while stretching her body after they exited the Dungeon. The orange sunset provided a beautiful view, as if paying tribute to the adventurers who had fought hard.
Behind Yuuki, Yui was jumping around cheerfully, holding her magic staff and a small pouch filled with magical stones from their battles with monsters in the Dungeon. A moment later, Noah and Asuna appeared, looking at the two girls who seemed tired yet still full of spirit.
"Asuna, if that's the case, we part ways here. You take Yui and Yuuki to exchange the magical stones at the Guild. I'll head back and wait for you at the inn," Noah said. As a god, his presence at the Guild while exchanging magical stones with them could attract unwanted attention and suspicion, as gods were prohibited from entering the Dungeon.
"Alright," Asuna replied, nodding in agreement.
"Daddy! See you!" Yui shouted, waving her hand excitedly as they headed toward the Guild located northwest of the Babel Tower.
Their presence, consisting of several beautiful adventurer girls who looked like beginners, attracted the attention of other adventurers around the Babel Tower. Especially those with ill intentions. However, experienced adventurers knew better than to act rashly before gathering more information about the three girls and their Familia. Of course, it wasn't because of their beauty, but what was more intriguing was their luxurious equipment and the pouches filled with magical stones. Adventurers were not short of beautiful women; as long as they had money, they could find beautiful women from any race in the Isthar family's Entertainment District.
Upon entering the Guild, Asuna immediately spotted Eina, who was on duty. Eina was their advisor as beginners, so without hesitation, Asuna approached her to exchange the magical stones for Valis.
"Good evening, Eina," Asuna greeted, her voice soft like the wind.
"Good evening, Asuna, Yuuki, and Yui. How was your first Dungeon experience?" Eina asked with genuine curiosity. That question was not just idle curiosity; it was also her responsibility to gather information to guide them.
"It was amazing! I saw monsters hatching from the walls. It was incredible!..." Yui exclaimed excitedly, without mentioning that they were accompanied by Noah.
Eina frowned upon hearing that they explored floor 12. "You explored floor 12? That's very dangerous for beginners like you!"
Eina scolded them for a long time, reminding them that beginner adventurers should only explore the first four floors. Asuna and the others listened seriously, although they were more attuned to Eina's concerns than her admonishments.
Common knowledge in Orario stated that adventurers not accompanied by senior adventurers should only explore floors 1-4. If they ventured deeper, most of them would not return. That's why Eina always tried to protect beginner adventurers.
However, what Eina didn't know was that they were not ordinary beginners. They had experience fighting monsters in Aincrad for more than a year, and they came with Noah. If anything went wrong, they could retreat safely.
After scolding them for long enough, a tired and thirsty Eina finally stopped and took a sip of water before asking, "So, do you want to exchange your harvest for today?"
"That's right. We want to exchange all the magical stones we obtained today for Valis," Asuna replied, taking the pouch from Yui and handing it to Eina.
Eina was taken aback by the sheer number of magical stones, which was more than double the earnings of a professional level 1 adventurer. However, she was even more shocked when she discovered a magical stone from an Infan Dragon.
"Ahh!... How did you manage to defeat the Infan Dragon?" Eina shouted, her voice causing everyone in the Guild to turn their attention to them.
"Eina, lower your voice!" Asuna said quietly, realizing that everyone was focused on their group.
Eina quickly recognized her mistake and apologized for drawing attention. How could she not be surprised? Although the Infan Dragon was a level 1 monster, it was one of the strongest at that level. It was impossible for a beginner party to have killed it.
After Eina's exclamation, many eyes began to watch them, and some adventurers started leaving the Guild, as if to convey this news to someone.
...
Outside the Guild, a group of adventurers eyeing them began to whisper. "Infan Dragon? They must have some incredible treasure to be able to kill it, maybe even a magic sword! We need to act fast before others do."
They didn't believe that beginners like Asuna and the others could have defeated the Infan Dragon by their own strength, but rather believed they relied on powerful weapons like a magic sword.
A magic sword is a sword that can only be forged by a select few blacksmiths under special conditions, supposedly only those with ties to spirits, even if they are their ancestors, can forge it. Of course, there are exceptions like Tsubaki Collbrade, the leader of the Hephaestus Familia, who can also forge it.
A magic sword would unleash a powerful magical attack when activated, but could only be used once and would break afterward. The price for the cheapest magic sword starts in the millions of Valis, so one could imagine how eager the adventurers eyeing Asuna and the others were upon realizing the possibility that they possessed a magic sword.
"Yes, we need to make a plan. If we can take their belongings, we'll score big!" one of them replied, his face filled with greedy desire.
The plan developed amidst Asuna and the others' ignorance of the lurking danger. They were simply happy with the harvest they had obtained and remained oblivious to the fact that the attention they had drawn could lead to trouble.
....
After exchanging the magical stones, they decided to take a short break at the Guild before heading back to the inn. Yui and Yuuki quickly found a place to sit, while Asuna stayed close to Eina.
"Eina, is there something strange around here? It seems like a lot of people are watching us," Asuna asked, sensing the tension in the air.
Eina nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, you need to be careful. When there's something valuable, there are always those who want to take it in unethical ways."
Asuna nodded, feeling more alert. "We will be careful."
While they rested, Yui and Yuuki began discussing their experiences in the Dungeon, explaining every detail that excited them.
After chatting for a while with Eina, they decided to head back.
....
In the northern district of Orario, a magnificent building known as Twilight Manor stands tall. This enchanting structure is surrounded by towering pillars, seemingly safeguarding its contents from the outside world. Lush gardens filled with exotic plants enhance the beauty of the place, creating a magical atmosphere. The manor's walls are made of dark bricks, adorned with intricate carvings depicting legendary moments of adventurers who have fought and sacrificed.
Visitors stepping through the main gate are welcomed by a vast open courtyard, filled with a variety of blooming flowers. The fragrant aroma of the blossoms fills the air, giving a warm and familiar feeling. Inside the main building, a long hallway is illuminated by soft, glowing lights, creating a mysterious yet inviting ambiance, as if beckoning everyone to explore further.
Along the corridor, large paintings decorate the walls. Each painting seems alive, telling tales of bravery and friendship of adventurers who have etched their names into history. Every brushstroke depicts struggle and hope, adding meaning to the atmosphere within the manor.
At the center of the manor is a spacious main room, featuring a high ceiling and large windows that let in natural light. This room is often used for meetings and celebrations, complete with a long table made from ancient wood. Currently, they are discussing plans for an expedition into the Dungeon.
Every strong Familia in Orario is required to conduct regular expeditions and report the results of their explorations to the Guild. Of course, not everything is reported; only general information is shared. Because crucial information about the Dungeon is extremely valuable and vital for their survival, no wise Familia would be foolish enough to disclose everything.
In the midst of the crowd, a man with long, messy blonde hair and bright blue eyes stands confidently. Although he appears youthful, Finn Deimne, the captain of Loki Familia, is a respected and feared figure among adventurers. He is of the Pallum race, so even at 40 years old, his physical appearance remains youthful and doesn't show signs of aging like humans. He wears a yellow vest over a long-sleeved shirt and purple pants, his serious expression contrasting with his youthful appearance.
"Alright, everyone," Finn begins, his voice echoing in the main room. "We need to prepare as best as we can for this expedition. We will be exploring parts of the Dungeon we have never entered before."
Surrounding him, the members of Loki Familia listen attentively. Riveria, the strongest mage in their Familia, sits beside Finn. With her graceful appearance and sharp intellect, she is an invaluable source of knowledge and strategy. Gareth, an experienced warrior with a muscular build, leans casually against the wall, while Loki, their Familia's deity, sits relaxed with eyes squinted like a cunning fox.
Finn continues, "As we know, the Dungeon is becoming increasingly dangerous, especially in areas we have yet to explore. We don't know what awaits us there."
"True," Gareth agrees. "We need to form a balanced team. We must ensure that every member can support one another."
In the corner of the room, Ais Wallenstein, widely known throughout Orario and even the world as the Sword Princess, listens with a blank expression, showing no emotion.
The discussion continues, with Finn carefully noting every input from his team members. They strategize and determine who will take on specific roles in the upcoming expedition. Each member of the Familia participates in planning and providing suggestions, demonstrating their cohesion as a unified force.
After the meeting concludes, a young man of the human race with short, spiky black hair and brown eyes enters the room in a hurry.
"What's up, Raul?" Finn asks upon seeing the young man. Raul Nord is one of the leaders of the second line of Loki Familia and a level 4 adventurer.
"Captain, there's news that might interest you," Raul says as he approaches.
"Oh?" Both Finn and Loki are intrigued.
"Speak quickly," Gareth says, wrapping his thick arm around Raul's shoulder.
"Ah... let go, I can hardly breathe," Raul dramatically replies.
"Raul, just tell us what's going on," Finn raises his hand to stop Gareth's antics.
"Captain, this afternoon a new Familia is exploring the 12th floor on their very first day entering the Dungeon, and they even killed an Infan Dragon," Raul quickly explains.
"Huh?…" They are astonished to hear this news.
Tap...tap...tap...
Finn taps the table with his fingers, deep in thought.
"What do you think?" Finn asks Riveria and Gareth.
"I think they must have some kind of magic sword," Gareth says, scratching his head. As a Dwarf, Gareth has a straightforward mindset and doesn't tend to overthink things, so he answers simply based on common knowledge.
"I don't think it's possible to rely solely on a few magic swords to reach the 12th floor. It would require an immense number of magic swords; for beginners, that would be impossible," Riveria wisely counters.
Riveria is a beautiful High Elf who has a beauty better than some goddesses, she has a tall body with jade-colored hair tied in a ponytail down to her waist, her eyes are the same color and wears green clothes with yellow edges, a white cloak over it, a black belt, a yellow sash, black leggings, and long brown boots.
Pict is here
"As Riveria stated, the magic sword option is dismissed. Therefore, there are only a few possibilities: first, they are like the ancient heroes of the past who received assistance from spirits, or they possess some strong skills or magic," Finn analyzes.
"What do you think, Loki?" Finn asks Loki, who is still sipping his wine.
"Or, their Familia's god is cheating," Loki says with narrowed eyes. Loki's answer isn't entirely wrong, as Noah also accompanies them into the Dungeon, albeit rarely takes action; it's a fact that Noah provides assistance.
Finn nods at Loki's answer, as he had also considered that possibility.
"By the way, Raul, which Familia are they from?" Finn asks, growing more intrigued.
"If I'm not mistaken, they are from Vermilion Familia, a Familia that was just formed today," Raul replies, recalling information he obtained from lower-ranking members of Loki Familia.
"Huh?" They are once again surprised, as they have never heard that name before.
"Is that the Familia formed by the god who recently descended?" Gareth asks hesitantly.
"It seems so," Raul responds.
"Interesting…" Loki smiles vaguely.
"It seems Orario will be shaken up again…" Finn says, feeling the pulse of his right thumb throb as he senses a strong premonition, but it isn't a feeling of danger, so he remains calm and looks forward to meeting this new Familia.