Chapter 384

Chapter 389: Subtle Growth~ (Please Subscribe!)

It has already been the fifth day since the Loki Familia expedition team left the fiftieth floor, and the members are currently resting on the eighteenth level, preparing to spend the night.

At this moment, only the male members of the group, like Raul, are patrolling or busy around the campsite, while the female members have gone deep into the forest to take a cold-water bath.

This was an instruction given by Finn out of concern for everyone’s accumulated fatigue and gloom.

The plan is that once the girls finish bathing, it’ll be the boys’ turn.

However, there are always some impatient ones who want to check out the situation deep in the forest first.

Just like now, Cos and Cruz stealthily sneaking up to Izay.

Besides them, there are a few others gathered together fearlessly.

Under the guise of a “Holy War,” they aim to make a big move.

In reality, their perverted intentions are well-known, and they’re proud of it while trying to drag Izay into their scheme.

“How about it? Izay? Want to come along? We’ve saved a spot just for you!?”

The young beastman Cruz temptingly suggests with a grin. He thinks that if Izay joins, using perception magic would easily allow them to avoid the patrols near the sacred grounds, making victory in this “Holy War” inevitable.

“Ah, no thanks, not interested.” Izay shakes his head awkwardly. “It’s obviously not going to work anyway, why are you so fixated on it?”

He remembers this isn’t the first time such a situation has arisen, but Cruz and the others have never succeeded. Every time, they end up staring helplessly at the patrol members around the sacred area before retreating sheepishly.

Sometimes they’re caught sneaking around, and poor Raul gets scolded.

“One must always have dreams! What if we actually see something!?”

“Yeah, yeah, dreams~ But I’ve passed the age of chasing dreams. I won’t join your antics. See you later~”

Facing Cos’s seemingly fiery gaze, Izay dismissively waves him off.

This could be attributed to growth.

If he were still new to Orario, he might have been interested in such things.

But the current Izay is no longer satisfied with the low-level stage of peeking.

Wouldn’t it be better to flirt with Haruhi or build a relationship with Ais?

Besides, don’t they realize why Ais, Anqi, and the other girls always split into two groups when bathing on the eighteenth floor? One group bathes while the other guards around them.

Such precautions ensure that unless one climbs to the top of the tallest tree, the chances of successfully peeking from the ground are zero. This is based on experience.

…

After parting ways with Cos and the Cruz brothers, Izay chose to wander aimlessly since he had nothing else to do.

The pure white scenery above blooms like flowers, and the crystal pillars at his feet illuminate the forest path.

With his hands behind his head, Izay looks up at the white light, reflecting on the gains from this expedition.

“With my training this time, I should be able to reach Level 6 after we return, as will Bert, Tiona, and Tione…”

These three have long awaited reaching Level 6, and finally, their wish is coming true.

As for Izay himself, after dealing with monsters, the Dark Faction, and the strongest urban forces, along with continuous daily training and the experience points from the polluted fairies, reaching Level 6 was just a natural progression.

It took over half a year to reach Level 5 due to being held back by “great deeds.”

During that time, the floor boss Balor was in its birth phase, and the Udaeros monster encountered during Ganesh’s Familia expedition was eliminated early, leaving no suitable “great deeds” monsters for Izay, thus holding him back.

With enough powerful opponents and “experience packages,” his power growth would undoubtedly be unmatched.

By then, the Loki Familia would gain four more “Hero Domain” level combatants.

“Counting Haruhi, who is almost ready to upgrade to Level 2, our faction has surpassed Freya’s Familia in overall strength.”

Izay objectively evaluated the facts.

There was more a sense of accomplishment than joy.

Regarding the matter of their faction becoming the strongest in the city, he didn’t feel much happiness.

After all, though Freya’s Familia’s main deity occasionally evades taxes, they aren’t malicious villains, and the relationship between the two main deities is good; there’s no need for life-or-death competition.

At most, it’s a healthy rivalry where the executives of both sides dislike each other.

Plus, he privately gets along well with their deity, having shared countless drinks.

“Hmm… Another ‘Crystal Candy’? How many ‘Crystal Candies’ have I encountered on this journey!?”

Passing another forest trail corner, Izay once again spots the wild blue-white glow at his feet.

Within the glowing crystal pieces lie tear-shaped fruits resembling droplets.

“Crystal Candy”: Known as the noble-class dessert among Dungeon natural fruits.

One small piece can sell for tens of thousands of Valis, with excellent taste, but very rarely found, so few adventurers encounter them.

And Izay’s harvest… Well, it’s nearly filling his pockets.

“Chewing them like raisins is pretty good.”

With a wave of his hand, he collects the fruit inside the crystal, holding the excess in his hand and popping one into his mouth.

Walking further, he notices someone nearby.

“Let’s not talk about those new species. Before the expedition, we commissioned Shun to forge indestructible weapons, bought nearly fifty Magic Swords from Izay, and handed over the ultra-deep layer drop items to the blacksmiths. The Familia will likely face financial strain for a while!”

“For the love of… Please don’t remind me of these things now, Gress…”

In the quiet forest, the leaders’ voices echo.

Gress jokes lightly, while Finn sighs, saying it gives him a headache.

“Well, let’s stop with the pessimistic talk before the main person hears it.”

Among the three giants, Riviria detects someone approaching and smiles at Izay.

Gress follows her gaze and says, “Oh? Izay, what brings you here!?”

“Uh… Just wandering aimlessly because I had nothing to do… Am I interrupting?”

“No, we’re just relaxing a bit.”

Izay steps out from the bushes, and Finn shrugs in response to his words.

“Since it’s a rare opportunity, shall we walk around together?” Riviria raises an eyebrow slightly, surprised to meet him here, and extends an invitation since their purposes seem similar.

“Sure, I don’t mind.”

“I’m fine with it too.”

“The old man doesn’t care.”

“Oh, I have Crystal Candy. Do you want some?”

“So many!? Did you find a Crystal Candy nest!?”

“Uh… Lucky guess~ So does the old man want some?”

“Hmph, free food is free food!”

An accidental meeting leads to the four spending their time relaxing together.

According to the plan, they were supposed to return to the surface tonight.

However, while passing through the lower levels, the team encountered a “Monster Feast” situation, with an overwhelming number of toxic slug swarms.

Needless to say, the poison from these traditional monsters is troublesome.

Though Izay, the healer, possesses detoxifying magic, the tense journey and constant battles left most members exhausted.

Not every expedition member possesses the incredible “durability” of a top-tier adventurer.

Even Raul, at Level 4, is considered an elite within the expedition team.

Most members are still at Level 3.

Finn considers the state of the members and decides to rest overnight on the eighteenth level, returning to the surface tomorrow.

As for the information regarding the polluted fairies, Finn had already written a letter during the camp setup and entrusted Tool Wolf Bert to deliver it to Loki ahead of time, so there’s no rush.