Chapter 200

Chapter 202: Feeling a little fired up?

In the grand dining hall of the Headquarters.

After updating his Ability Values, Izay left Loki’s Divine Room and before long, it was breakfast time.

“Good morning! Izay, you’re a bit late today compared to usual.”

“It’s because I got held up by something.”

As always, Tiona greeted Izay with her usual innocent cheerfulness as he came in for breakfast.

“Izay, you seem to be in a pretty good mood today. Did something good happen?” This was Tione speaking.

Considering Izay’s response and his seemingly happier-than-usual mood, Tione naturally assumed Izay had encountered some good news.

Setting down his breakfast nearby, Izay smiled: “Kind of, I just went to see Loki.”

“——!?!” Tiona and Tione slightly froze upon hearing the reply.

Glancing at each other, the sisters realized they were on the same wavelength.

What else could prompt Izay to seek out Loki?

“…Level up?” Ais tilted her head cutely to the side.

The young girl seemed to want to express her surprise? Unfortunately, her emotionless nature made her emotional fluctuations very subtle, making her look more like she was being cute instead.

“Yeah, just leveled up.”

“So does that mean Izay is now Level 4!?”

Suddenly rising from her seat, Tiona couldn’t hide her excitement, her eyes shining brightly.

“!”

Instantly…the ears of all the members at this long table perked up, their eating motions pausing for a moment.

All the high-ranking Adventurers seated here found it incredibly easy to catch the conversation, especially with Tiona’s announcement-style shout.

Almost immediately, the grand dining hall became noisy.

Besides Ais and the others, Raul, Anqi, Alisia, Cruz, and others turned their gazes over, giving Izay the treatment of a “cherished creature” within the Familial Group once again.

From first-tier Adventurers to lower-ranked members, everyone was surprised and delighted by this news.

Izay leveling up to Level 4 meant that another core member had been added to their Familial Group, which was a tangible boost to their faction’s combat strength.

Within Loki Familia, Level 2 was the most common rank, with the largest number of people. Level 3 was the squad leader level, where initial combat capability began to form.

Level 4 represented the true backbone force. Most second-tier combatants were at this level, and they already had the qualifications to participate in frontline battles alongside the officers.

And Izay wasn’t just any ordinary Level 4 either.

Living under the same roof, they were among the Adventurers who understood Izay’s exploits best.

Each time Izay leveled up, it was through over-class monster hunts, showcasing utterly brutal combat prowess.

There was even an unspoken rumor within the Familial Group about Izay being “unbeatable at the same level and crushing higher levels.”

“Perhaps we should be conservative. I say from today onward, our group’s combat strength includes another top-tier Level 5 Adventurer. Do you agree?”

“Absolutely! What you’re saying makes sense.”

“That’s a must! We have to agree!”

“Me too!”

“…”

Conversations like these were happening all over the grand dining hall, including reactions from the second-tier members.

“Level 4, huh? Sigh… Izay has finally reached this point…” Raul sighed softly, his youthful face filled with a sense of reflection. He looked every bit like an old man.

Just as he finished speaking, a hand slapped him from nearby—Anqi. “Huh? Izay leveling up is perfectly fine, but when it comes out of your mouth, it sounds like a fish out of water about to dry up. Can you speak properly?”

“Sorry……”

Big Brother, today also failed to perk up.

“Uhhhhhhhh……!”

Not far from Izay, Refia clenched her small fists, trembling.

Her body driven by indescribable emotions, incomprehensible sounds leaked from her cherry lips.

It wasn’t envy or jealousy—those base feelings.

Rather, it was a kind of anger directed at herself.

She didn’t understand.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t figure it out!

Even though Refia had joined many Dungeon explorations after Izay reached Level 3, why was Izay still so much faster than her?

Subconsciously viewing Izay as a rival, Refia, who vowed to level up before Izay surpassed her, felt like she’d been struck by lightning, even wanting to cry.

But what predominated was a fiery determination not to lose.

She would train! She would level up too! She couldn’t let Izay get too far ahead!!

Refia ignited with a blazing fire of determination.

“That kid…what is she thinking right now? It feels a little…intense?” Alisia, the elven elder sister, lightly touched her lips, finding her younger kin’s expression somewhat peculiar.

“Don’t know…” Lene blinked innocently beside her, indicating she had no idea the reason.

“Ara? Big Brother Bert! Where are you going?”

“Tch, don’t ask so many questions, kid. I’m heading to the Dungeon!”

Looking somewhat irritable, Bert clicked his tongue while everyone was discussing Izay’s level-up. He quickly finished his breakfast and quietly prepared to leave with his plate.

Only a few second-tier members sitting near Bert noticed his departure.

Watching the werewolf’s back disappear through the dining hall door, Koz and others exchanged glances.

“This is…”

“He’s been spurred on, huh?”

“Yeah, understandable. Still the same old Big Brother Bert!”

Before the situation unfolded entirely predictably, Izay handled the congratulations from his companions fairly calmly.

Having finally responded to everyone, a new voice suddenly sounded beside him.

“Hey hey, Izay! Since you’ve leveled up, let’s find some time to go celebrate today, how about it!?”

Tiona approached with a radiant smile, making the suggestion.

Upon hearing this, Izay looked at her with slight suspicion.

“That’s a pretty good idea, but…don’t I feel like you’re just looking for an excuse to go out and play?”

“Hehe, caught me!”

“No concealment whatsoever, little angel admitting straight away.”

Just because she was feeling good today and wanted to go out and play…

“How about you, sis?”

“Me? How about going to the Dungeon and having a good fight?”

Great, very Amazonian thinking.

Izay twitched the corners of his mouth, unable to muster a smile as he glanced at Tiona.

Are you actually considering this proposal seriously?

Come on, please don’t…

Just as Izay was about to interrupt their line of thought and change the subject, Ais suddenly spoke up: “How about we go eat fried potato balls together?”

The young girl was genuinely considering the celebration proposal.

What better way to celebrate than indulging in one’s favorite food?

Ais remembered that Izay liked fried potato balls too…

“We just ate breakfast? Is it really appropriate to talk about this now?”

“Well, how about we do it in the afternoon?”

“What do you think, Izay?”

“….I think it’s fine.”

At least it’s more reliable than celebrating in the Dungeon.

Well done, Ais!

“—?”

Suddenly receiving approving eye contact from Izay, Ais slightly tilted her head, her expression somewhat bewildered.

Next to her, Refia, fueled by her newfound determination and perhaps feeling ignored, thought: What about me??