Change

As the group of adventurers prepared to delve deeper into the Dungeon, Ryuu approached Luna. Gently, he placed his hand on her shoulder, offering a reassuring pat. His gaze was fierce and determined, yet there was a hint of warmth and care in his eyes as he looked at her. "Good luck, Luna," he said, his voice deep and commanding.

Luna couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat at the gesture. She knew that Ryuu held great trust in her abilities, and his encouragement meant everything to her. She nodded, determination etched on her face as she stepped forward, ready to lead the expedition.

As the group set off, Ryuu and Ais moved with lightning speed, their movements a blur as they disappeared deeper into the Dungeon. Their bodies seemed to move in unison, flowing like water as they danced through the corridors. Their steps were light and precise, leaving behind nothing but a faint trail of dust. With each step, any spawning monster was reduced to ashes in seconds as they were not considered a threat worth noticing.

They were like two unstoppable forces, cutting through the darkness with ease…

---

"Let's stop here for today"

Since Luna had already killed the 17th Monster Rex, they didn't encounter it after easily passing the highest floors. They chose to stop there for today. To explore the deeper floors, proper rest was important. Even the highest level adventurers present wouldn't be so full of themselves to directly avoid resting just to decrease the overall time needed for the expedition.

Of course, as Ais and Ryuu were a duo, such a thing wasn't a problem at all.

"…Impressive. You really have what it takes to be a commander"

Although Luna didn't know this person, she still appreciated the support.

"I'll do my best."

It was the first time anyone directed such gazes at her. She was slowly getting used to soloing the floors of the Dungeon, and while she was home, most of the time, it was her Master who was always so incredible to surpass any given expectation or limit.

Luna felt as if her presence wasn't as important as a fighting adventurer. Her master could take care of everything by himself. Though, as someone recognized she had talent, she felt that maybe that was what could be her unique strength…

The person who directed these words to her nodded as she felt somewhat nostalgic.

'They are indeed similar'

She watched over Ryuu first, and now, she was watching over Luna. Asfi felt as if she was somehow the Hestia Familia's caretaker, which is why she offered words of support in the first place…

---

After the night, the Hestia Familia's expedition went smoothly for most parts as the group Ryuu gathered was truly impressive.

Of course, some problems were bound to show themselves, such as…

"Haruhime, be carefu-"

Before she could finish her words, a Lizardman appeared behind her.

Haruhime's movements were swift and precise as she deftly dodged the Lizardman's sword. Her hand reached for the dagger at her side with a fluid motion, and with a quick flick of her wrist, the blade found its mark in the creature's leg. The Lizardman roared in pain as it tried to chase after her, but before it could take a step, it was met with a barrage of weapons that tore its body apart.

As she reached Luna, Haruhime's eyes were focused, her breathing steady. She didn't show any signs of panic. Instead, her body moved with a fluid grace, almost as if she had been trained for years to face such a monster. Her movements were not that fast, as she was only a level 1 with measly stats, which was still much better than standing there doing nothing.

Luna, who was beside her, couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for her companion. She knew that Haruhime had been through a lot, and seeing her grow stronger with each passing day was a sight to behold. She knew that Haruhime still had a long way to go, but she was confident that she would get there.

"…T-That's some nice sense."

The Takemikazuchi Familia members were all shocked. They understood Haruhime had changed a lot, but they didn't think it would be this different.

"If the Hestia Familia keeps gathering strong adventurers like these, there won't be much time before they grow in the rankings. Perhaps even surpassing the Freya Familia."

The strongest currently in Orario, holding a level 7 adventurer, Ottar. Not even the Loki Familia could compare since the difference between a level 6, and level 7 adventurer couldn't be filled even if the latter held more level 6 than the former…

Rumors were only rumors, though. They liked to speculate, though none of them seriously considered it as it would be a reality they would have to face many years in the future, or at least, that's what they thought.

Many praised her quick decision, and others speculated on the future of the Hestia Familia, though none of them dared to slack off. They were on the 19th floor, meaning anything could happen that could generate casualties among them, which was something they all wanted to avoid.

How embarrassing would it be if so many top echelons of several Familia gathered only for it to result in deaths in such high floors? Reputation was important for all of them, after all…

---

As the Hestia Familia expedition progressed, Ryuu and Ais relentlessly pushed forward. Ryuu's fists were like thunderbolts, decimating any weak monsters that dared to cross their path with a single punch. With her rapier in hand, Ais sliced through her foes with precision, reducing them to nothing more than a pile of debris on the ground. Despite the gruelling journey, the pair felt no fatigue, their bodies fueled by adrenaline and their spirits driven by a fierce determination as they reached the 27th floor.

As no one had beaten the Monster Rex Amphisbaena, it appeared in front of them with all its glory. Being a Dragon, Ryuu could've easily subjugated it with a simple command, though there was no need to do that…

"…What…a nostalgic feeling."

As Ais stood before the roaring monster, her expression remained calm and collected, a stark contrast to the immense anger she once felt towards dragons and their kin. The memories of her past battles against it were still fresh in her mind, yet now she felt a sense of detachment as she faced this monster. A realization dawned on her as she turned her gaze towards Ryuu, who stood beside her with a small, challenging smile. It was his presence, his guidance and support that had allowed her to let go of her past traumas and face her enemies with a clear mind. A feeling of gratitude washed over her, as she acknowledged his profound impact on her, even though he may not have even realized the extent of his influence yet.

---

Notes:

- Preparing my thesis is hard, so expect chapter's release rate to drop a lot this time, though never worry about the novel. I will keep writing whenever I can!