Chapter 45: Coincidental Meeting

"What a haul."

I couldn't control my smile. The familia's network found the remaining materials for gunpowder. The delivery took two days to reach Orario.

During that time, I organized the manual machines for sizing and loading.

(A/N: Sizing refers to equalizing the base size of bullet chambers. Meanwhile, loading involves putting gunpowder and placing the bullet itself.)

After that, I got to work. I spent an entire day processing around 180 bullets. Correspondence helped with the precision while [Eidetic Reduction] upped my concentration.

Fortunately, I didn't have to engrave the spells within each bullet as the spells are inside the gun itself.

"I don't have to conserve anymore."

The gun has a total of twelve spells. It takes around a minute and a half to cast all of them. It might be able to insta-kill Valletta as a creature. As a price, the gun will break.

Of course, that's not what I am going to do.

Click.

Click.

Click.

The sounds of bullets being put in the magazine sounded satisfying. There are still twenty bullets in the other magazine.

Click-!

With this, the Evilus fanatics can be dealt with. A single shot could deal immobilize them. I wouldn't have problems of exhausting mind to deal with the weaker fanatics.

"I can finally move to the next plan."

Due to Soma's decision, the fiasco inside his familia did not go out. My other persona is still relatively unknown.

"Ikelos Familia… Nope. They have a level five. Then…"

Come to think of it, I haven't been to the dungeon yet. Something might change if I remain cooped up here. There are around two more weeks before they struck in my memories.

That's why I am planning to do a dungeon dive—in disguise, that is. I put off my leveling progress, but it has to continue. My arsenal is long stacked up.

I have three dozen explosive magic swords in my stash. Meanwhile, there are a dozen of flashbang and ice wall magic swords. Forging a magic sword within thirty minutes is the norm. Other than that, I recreated many tactical items such as smoke grenades, tear gas, and nail bombs.

[Level 2]

Strength: SS1156 > SSS1236

Defense: SS1028 > SS1191

Dexterity: S979 > SS1178

Agility: SS1130 > SSS1221

Magic: S999 > SS1167

Hacker: G

<<Magic>>

[Orionids]

[Memoir Manifest]

<<Skills>>

[Miracle Maker]

[Child of Constellations]

[Proof of Combat (F)] (39% to be upgraded)

[Mana Furnace]

I looked at my current status. I could level up immediately, but the thought of not maxing things bothered me. This was my progress six days without dungeon prowling. I still have quite a long way to go to max everything.

"I need to level up hacker…"

With its restriction of limiting stronger spells, I barely use it in practical situations. I use them every day during practice, however. These dilemmas highlighted the need for high-level excelia.

Nevertheless, I managed to progress. Part of it was the sparring I have done with Wallenstein-san and Tiona-san. There was also the knowledge exchange with Lady Riveria—which surprisingly continued with her insistence.

Cutting off my thoughts, I locked the store. It is currently sunrise, 5:29 AM. I haven't slept yet because I took advantage of my skill buffs.

The moment I opened the door, I was greeted with Filvis-san's voice… rather, the voice of two Filvis-san(s).

"W-wait! You are me! Why are you this stubborn?!"

"I'm just testing it out! Why, can't I do that?"

"But it's the maid outfit out of all things!"

"Isn't it cute? What if Akasaka-san likes it?!"

Did I hear it correctly just now?

I closed the door and headed for its source—the second floor. There, I saw two Filvis-sans. One of them is wearing an elegant black dress. Meanwhile, the latter is wearing a maid's outfit. The former is trying to drag the latter to her room.

I mean… Just how did they get a maid outfit?

"Akasaka-san?!"

The black dress Filvis-san was startled. I could see surprise in her face.

"Welcome home, Akasaka-san."

The maid Filvis-san broke free from her grasp and did a bow with a smile.

"A-Ah..?! Akasaka-san, please don't mind her—!"

"What would you like first? Bath, Dinner, o—"

"S-stop!!!"

Maid Filvis-san's mouth was covered before she could finish it. The black dress Filvis-san gained enough power to forcefully drag her to the room.

This ordeal left me speechless.

"I'm pretty sure that came from our world…"

The infamous 'maid declaration' in my world—the situation where a heroine acts as the protagonist's maid and asks those three things. Looks like some gods knew about it and brought them down to Gekai.

I wryly smiled as I thought of a dilemma.

"Multiple Personality Disorder… is it even apt to call it like that?"

Upon using her magic, Filvis-san's appearance returns to normal. Albeit, her clone could think for herself. She inherited Filvis-san's personality. But… she seems different from Filvis-san.

If her original self is elegant as an elf, her clone is carefree and playful. They contrast each other.

"Hephaestus-sama is still sleeping…"

From Hephaestus-sama and Lady Artemis' words, I knew how I went on a rampage when I activated my mana furnace. Though, I never knew what exactly happened. My curiosity peaked but I chose not to ask further. The two goddesses should have a common consensus with keeping it vague.

"It's better not to proceed with it."

Everything ended without a fuss… or it should've been. Just as I was about to head out and buy breakfast, I saw Filvis-san wearing a white dress.

"Filvis-san?"

"It's repayment."

She suddenly hugged me. I don't know what to do, so I let her be. I have a feeling it's for something serious.

"We are bothering you too much, no?"

"That's not true... Actually, I should be the one who should be apologizing. You are stuck in this house because of what I did."

Right now, Dionysus is searching for Filvis-san. That's why I asked her to remain in the familia house—there aren't any other people except during special occasions.

"Please don't apologize. We are the helpless ones who couldn't solve our problems. That's why we thought of repayment."

"Repayment? As long as you are happy, that's fine. You are also doing the house chores already."

"They are not enough. But, with my body—"

"Akasaka-san!"

A beet-red Filvis-san wearing a black dress ran to me. This time, the black dress Filvis-san stopped speaking of her volition.

"Why—?"

"We know it in our hearts. We are already indebted to him."

"I know! It's just… Akasaka-san isn't that kind of person?"

"Trying doesn't hurt."

…

I think I got a grasp of it.

"There's no need to do this, Filvis-san."

I gently removed her arms from my body.

"As I've said, your happiness is enough."

I recalled Filvis-san from my future memories. There's a thing she liked to do—

Headpats.

I patted her head.

"Don't push yourself too hard. Resisting those voices is already a pain, isn't it?"

I could distinguish the original Filvis-san and the clone by their eyes. The black dress Filvis-san is the clone.

When she used her cloning magic, it brought away her 'monstrous' form. However, that only separated it into her clone. The original Filvis-san returned to her normal self, but her clone had to suffer the demi-spirits' voices. The creature characteristics are also more dominant with her clone.

Hence, the three of us in the familia home treated her with care. Even, Filvis-san felt guilty about this.

"...Give me a name."

"Hum..?"

"You can't keep calling us 'Filvis-san'. I know I am just a doppelganger."

I fell silent. When I looked at Filvis-san, her guilty eyes pleaded to me. She wanted me to grant the girl's request.

"A name…"

Dozens of words passed in my mind. Then, a word popped up.

'Her previous name…'

In that shitty future, Filvis-san called her clone 'Ein'. She herself thought of it back then. I am apprehensive about choosing this name. Then again, why would I be apprehensive when I promised her happiness this time?

"Ein. Is that good enough?"

"Ein… I like it."

*****

"I haven't seen you lately, Sirius-san."

"Well, I have to take care of orders."

"I see. Good luck!"

After passing the registration, I entered the dungeon.

"Velamen nox." (Veil of the Night.)

The spell took effect. It made me invisible in the eyes of others. It didn't stand out due to the crowd of adventurers around me.

"I can make this now…"

I took out a black face mask made of spirit cloth. A magic circle was drawn into it. Upon wearing it, my face changed. My hair turned red along with my pupils.

This is my disguise during the Soma Familia raid. It was inspired by Lili's magic. Once I got the proper magic herbs, I made an ink—the kind used for magic items.

Tap.

The mask turned invisible. It's as if I am not wearing anything on my face. Its purpose is to reduce suspicion. I mean, someone will probably find a masked man suspicious.

Lastly—

"Wardrobe."

My attire changed into the back hoodie. Underneath are armor plates to protect my chest and arms.

In my waist is a dagger that serves as a catalyst. Meanwhile, a sword is present on the other side. It is an upgraded version of the magic sword I used in my first dive.

With the new Dark Steel—the one with the above 50 mohs score—the sword wouldn't break easily. The reforging is a success which kept the four spells from before.

If the Blood alloy of Hogni-san's sword is specialized for magic, Dark Steel focuses on versatility—both sharpness and magic. Still, nothing could surpass the dir orichalcum Hephaestus-sama made.

"I will skip these floors."

I started sprinting. My surroundings swiftly changed with my newfound status. I am different from the level one adventurer few weeks ago.

It took me an hour to reach the twenty-seventh floor. The bodies of water greeted my sight. They shone a blue light due to the lighting always reflecting on the water.

"I'm back…"

I don't have time to mull over those memories. I came back to check something.

I arrived at the shore of a lake. It is the place where Valletta fought the Amphisbaena.

"It's not here. Loki Famili must've got it."

In the past, Valletta wielded a cursed sword. She left it here to fool the others and make them think she was dead.

In the first place, the twenty-seventh floor incident is an open trap. If Orario did not respond to it, their morale would be very low. If they did respond to it, they'll spend manpower to save people, all the whilst completing their goal of faking their deaths.

Although, they did not expect something—Finn's decision.

He chose to strike on their unattended bases while it was left unattended.

"Revelares, Veritas." (Truth be revealed.)

I tried to track its remaining traces, but to no avail.

Kree-!

A kelpie started charging towards me. I activated the hidden compartments on one of my gloves. Each compartments could be found on the tip of my fingers, allowing for its flexible use.

Thin strings went out of it and attached themselves into the dungeon. It is something I requested from the Moirae Clothing Store. Coupled with magic engraved to the gloves, it started vibrating at high-speeds.

The kelpie did not notice it and ran towards me. When it ran through them, cuts appeared on its legs. The force gathered by his charge caused its feet to be completely severed.

Thud-!

It fell to the net of strings. Wounds started appearing from its head and body. Soon, it whimpered in pain.

I drew the sword with my left hand. The other hand is used to keep up the strings.

Shiing-!

"Bis Firmus." (Twice Robustness.)

The spell was enhanced due to the magic sword's effect.

"Crescent Moon."

A crescent light was drawn with the sword's tip. It passed through the kelpie's neck, killing it. When it was trapped, it no longer had any chance of surviving.

Psshk-!

I gouged the magic stone out. The corpse soon turned into black ashes. Just as I was about to take it—

"..!"

I felt a strong pain in my chest. I felt like puking blood, but nothing came out.

"Hah… Hah…"

My eyes widened. The influence of the eighth iteration is still here even after five days had passed. This pain mostly occurred during night-time, but it was reduced as the days passed. It only happened again now.

I took deep breaths. I waited until I calmed down. I have experienced this dozens of times.

"That spear…"

Just like my dismemberment memories, I could feel that spear going through my chest. It is not bad compared to having my head eaten or being dismembered in an instant.

Thinking of those memories, my face paled.

"Shit… It's not the time for that..."

Sheathing my blade, I fought many monsters in this floor to relieve my frustrations. The fights became swift with the addition of my new gloves, [Secas]. The level three equivalents could be immobilized with the strings. After that, I followed up with my sword. It showed how easy it was with the help of magic tools.

"Return."

The thin strings started detaching from the walls and ceilings. They were called back to their small hidden compartments.

A few hours later, I collected more than two hundred magic stones. It is an unthinkable efficiency brought by magic and weapons.

"It's also here."

When I began my return to the surface, I aimed for the true purpose of doing a dungeon dive. I checked the hidden entrances to Knossos. They are hidden beneath a rock wall—something done by the dungeon's regeneration—but I detected the hidden orichalcum.

From the twenty-seventh floor up to the nineteenth floor, there are a total of two hidden entrances. Each of them could only be opened with a Daedalus Orb.

"Aside from the twelfth floor, there are two more entrances…"

(A/N: The twelfth floor entrance was used by Thanatos in an attempt to kill Aiz in her first year to Loki Familia; mentioned in the Sword Oratoria.)

I might find more entrances as I go to the surface.

Tap.

Tap.

I arrived at the eighteenth floor. I am back to the safe zone. The crystals illuminating the area above the floor momentarily blinded my eyes.

It is time to inspect this floor. I have a suspicion they also have an entrance here. After all, it is a very convenient place to plant one.

"Hm..?"

My [Correspondence] detected orichalcum within a certain radius.

"This is…"

I kept my distance from it. There could be a surveillance camera planted there. I recall Knossos having those small orb embedded on the walls.

Swoosh.

I heard the sound of branches moving. I looked at the source of the noise. Not far away, someone stood on top of the tree branch. This place is surrounded by trees.

"Huh?"

I saw a masked adventurer. Her tattered green cloak fluttered with the wind. I saw her slip a red orb in her pouch. It has a large "D" mark in it.

"Ah."

Isn't that…

Isn't that…

That's it, right?

A fucking daedalus orb?

Are my eyes playing with me?

Am I hallucinating?

How would I find that this easily?

How come?

I chose the most logical course of action—

"Hello, miss. Can we talk?"

"..."

She ignored me. She stepped on those branches and left. Her green silhouette dispersed with the wind. Soon, she blended in with the trees.

"Ah, shit." I subconsciously cursed. "Wait a minute! Miss! We could talk this out!"

I threw [Kukyo] at her direction and used its teleport skill. With this, I could see her figure again.

"You hate Evilus, no?"

Suddenly, the masked adventurer stopped running. She looked back, bloodlust seeping out of her eyes.

"..."

"I know this is abrupt, but Evilus is my enemy." I said sincerely. "I want to wipe those bastards off the surface of Gekai."

"...Prove it."

A cold tone came out of the female adventurer.

"What?"

"Prove it. Prove you're their enemy."

I decided to reveal my recent findings.

"From the twelfth floor up to the twenty-seventh floor, there are at least four entrances similar to the one you saw. They used it to enact the twenty-seventh floor incident. And yes, how could I forget about this—!"

I recalled their common feature that shouldn't be known yet—an information that is known by those who fought with the batch from Thanatos.

"They are fond of using Inferno Stones as a form of suicide attacks."

"..!"

The masked adventuerer's eyes widened.

"How did you—?"

"I fought with them." I shrugged. "Those crazy bastards popped up and tried to kill everyone on the 27th floor incident."

"...I understand."

She paused for a while before nodding.

"Tell me. What do you want to talk about?"