012 I am indeed getting stronger

"What's the matter, is there a problem?"

The sudden brief silence seemed not to perturb Reiger at all, as he prompted the stunned office clerk to speak.

"No, no problem!"

The office clerk finally snapped back to reality, quickly apologized, and continued to fill out Reiger's registration form.

However, it might have been Reiger's imagination, but the office clerk's hands seemed to move faster than before, speeding up the registration process as well.

Around them, the silence was once again filled with noise, as if nothing had occurred.

But, if one listened carefully, they could still hear many people chattering.

"Is he really a member of the Loki family?"

"Just registered as an adventurer? A newcomer, huh?"

"Another new member for the Loki family..."

"He's probably another formidable person."

"Human, eh? Seems like there's nothing exceptional about racial abilities, maybe it's personal talent that stands out?"

"Who knows..."

The voices of discussion were relentless, with some even reaching Reiger's ears, which he chose to ignore.

After all, it was nothing particularly surprising.

Being one of the strongest families in Orlé, and one of the twin kings, the Loki family was well-known in Orlé and even across the world, destined to attract significant attention wherever they went.

Since he had declared his affiliation with the Loki family, it was normal for those around him to talk.

Indeed, Reiger felt that before long, his existence would likely enter the sight of some interested parties through various channels.

The addition of a new member to the Loki family was neither a big nor a small matter, and for those keeping an eye on the movements of the Loki family, it was information worth gathering.

Of course, that was as far as they could go, only knowing that the Loki family had a new member named "Reiger Brillhaut."

As for detailed information about Reiger, those curious would find it not so easy to uncover.

Before long, having completed the procedures, Reiger left the guild and returned to the bustling street.

He did not leave the area immediately but started walking around the street.

This street in the northwest of Orlé, known as the Northwest Street, housed the administrative city and the adventurer guild's headquarters, which turned it predominantly into adventuring grounds.

Thanks to this, Northwest Street had seized this business opportunity, opening countless shops catering to adventurers.

Stores specializing in weapons and armor.

Shops dedicated to selling Spiritual Medicine and special items.

Stores like these were abundant on Northwest Street, leading many adventurers to willingly linger here, earning it the nickname "Adventurer Street."

Following Loki's instructions, Reiger also needed to purchase weapons and armor, giving him no reason to leave immediately.

"A hundred thousand phali, huh?"

As Reiger walked on the street, he weighed his initial funding.

"In Orlé, a hundred thousand phali is not a small amount, but it's not a large sum either."

Here, a serving of fried noodles cost only a few hundred phali, and a normal drink seldom cost over a thousand phali; whether this purchasing power was large or small was indeed a bit tricky to decide.

"A bottle of ordinary Spiritual Medicine used for restoring strength is also around a thousand phali, and the most basic, cheap standard short sword costs several thousand phali; by this calculation, it seems a hundred thousand phali is indeed quite a lot."

However, Reiger knew that for truly powerful adventurers, those hundred thousand phali might just be a small change slipping through their fingers.

To say nothing of the top-level adventurers' equipment which never falls below a million phali, and often not even below ten million phali.

For example, while there are weapons that cost several thousand phali each, there are also top-tier ones that cost tens of millions up to a hundred million phali.

Because the human race can receive blessings and have chances to gain "Forging" skills, which allow them to add special properties and effects to forging products, the strength of the equipment depends on the Forging Master's skill and the level of "Forging."

Generally, people classify equipment into three ranks: first-grade weaponry, second-grade weaponry, and third-grade weaponry based on their strength.

However, only those magical equipments crafted by superior Forging Masters who have learned the "Forging" ability and possess special effects enter this ranking.

As for those without special functions and hardly different from common iron, even if the craftsmanship is highly skilled making them exceedingly sharp, they are generally not likely to be classified within this system, not even the lowest third-grade weaponry.

And the lowest third-grade weaponry is usually used by those at level 3 or level 4, and a single piece is definitely valued at no less than a hundred thousand phali.

That is to say, although Reiger held a starting fund of a hundred thousand phali, he might very well be unable to afford even the lowest third-grade weaponry, not to mention assembling a full set of weapons and armor.

"It seems I can't afford special equipment for now."

Reiger was somewhat regretful.

But, only slightly so.

Is it not very normal for a level 1 newbie to be unable to afford special equipment?

Not just level 1 newbies, but mostly even level 2 ones can't afford special equipment.

The usage of special equipment is predominantly concentrated above Level 3, accounting for 99%.

Reiger figured it would be some time before he could use special equipment with levels and effects.

"Let's just buy some higher-quality ordinary items then."

Having realized this, Reiger started frequenting various shops along the street.

Two hours later, Reiger had successfully gathered all the equipment he needed.

First, he spent twenty-four thousand farlis on a sword.

The sword was a kind of thin-bladed sword that could be used with one hand, light and quick in attack but weak. It was very agile and easy to handle, making it the weapon Rieger found most suitable for himself after comparing various types of weapons and what he was most comfortable using.

From the trend of his ability values growth, it was evident that Reiger's "Agility" and "Dexterity" grew more, while "Strength" and "Endurance" grew less, proving he was more towards speed and skill in combat.

Therefore, Reiger chose a light, thin sword with fast attack speed and reasonable attack range as his primary weapon so that he could maximize his speed and skill.

Apart from the light, thin sword, Reiger also spent eleven thousand farlis on a dagger as a secondary weapon for emergencies.

Regarding armor, since heavy armor would hinder his movements and decrease his speed and skill, he did not choose metal armor with high defensive power, but instead opted for leather armor.

This set of leather armor consisted of an inner armor protecting the upper body, armor for protecting key joints such as elbows and knees, and also gloves and boots focused on hand and foot protection.

Both the inner body armor and joint armor were lightweight protective gear that could be worn under clothes, not needing to be worn over them.

Since it was almost weightless and didn't impede movement, Reiger was instantly taken by it and swapped into this set of armor on the spot.

Especially the gloves and boots, Reiger, who had fought over a day and a night, knew their practical utility well.

Just because there was no protection on the hands and feet, Rieger, after fighting all day yesterday, ended up with his sword-holding hand chafed raw and his fists, which he used to punch monsters, injured unknowably with lots of blood lost.

The same happened to his feet. Running around in ordinary shoes in the underground city environment led to chafed feet within minutes; if not for the Spiritual Medicine provided by his senior family members upon returning home last night, which rapidly healed his injuries, he wouldn't be this spry today.

Considering the wounds he received fighting all night, it was just good that the remarkably effective Spiritual Medicine was available, otherwise, Loki who saw Reiger in a much worse condition yesterday, wouldn't have let him off easily.

This entire set of armor cost Reiger a total of forty-eight thousand farlis.

Together with the primary and secondary weapons, Reiger had now spent eighty-three thousand farlis, leaving him with only seventeen thousand farlis from his initial one hundred thousand.

This level of expenditure, these kinds of expensive equipment, frankly, a novice Level 1 could hardly ever reach.

Even the veterans among low-tier Level 1 adventurers probably wouldn't have gear totaling over thirty thousand farlis, far inferior in quality to Reiger's equipment.

Reiger's gear was almost on the level of Level 2.

"This should do, right?"

After preparing his equipment, Reiger could no longer hold back and headed to the Tower of Babel and entered the underground city.

He was too eager.

Eager to try his new weapons, to test his current strength.

And naturally, the result was pleasing.

"Gah!"

When the kobold, like a beast that clings on relentlessly, launched its usual flying tackle at Reiger who was approaching, Reiger also charged boldly as usual.

The speed, very fast.

"Splat!"

The silver arc slashed through the air and, as it swept past in front of the kobold, the creature still maintained its leaping posture in mid-air, unable to even begin to react before the light silver blade decapitated it.

Blood splattered, staining the ground red as well as the fallen body of the kobold.

"That was easy."

Reiger stood in front of the body, looking at his hands in surprise.

"The speed has gotten so much faster, and my strength has also increased a lot since yesterday."

Just a slight upgrade in the basic capabilities and such a big change?

This left Reiger both surprised and exhilarated.

"I am indeed getting stronger."

Having realized this, Reiger couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement — that would be a disservice to all the effort and resolve he'd shown thus far.

"It's just a pity, now that I've gotten stronger, these kinds of enemies probably won't excite me anymore."

Reiger greedily looked down at the body of the kobold at his feet, his expression turning to one of regret.

He still preferred more thrilling challenges.