"Have you two caused enough trouble yet?"
Just as Bete's killing intent was beginning to rise, a golden-haired, blue-eyed Pallum appeared in the courtyard with a smile plastered across his face.
"Fighting in the courtyard first thing in the morning, waking everyone up, and turning the place into this mess… you two are really something!"
Although the captain of the Familia was smiling, there wasn't the slightest hint of amusement in his eyes.
What filled them instead was pure morning grumpiness.
He was still wearing his pajamas, meaning he had probably worked late into the night before being jolted awake by the loud noise. Anyone would be irritated with that level of sleep deprivation.
"I'd like to report something, it was Bete who came looking for trouble with me!" Ryoji glanced around the surroundings before speaking in an extremely serious tone.
The entire courtyard looked as though it had been ravaged by a typhoon. Flowers and plants were flattened against the ground, many stone tiles were shattered, even the central fountain seemed damaged, and dust and dirt were scattered everywhere.
"Is that true, Bete?" Finn turned toward Bete.
"Grrrk…!"
Bete ground his teeth furiously, but he couldn't say a word in rebuttal.
Because it really was true that he had gone to pick a fight with Ryoji, and he had also been the one to suggest the match.
He had already prepared himself to be punished by Finn, but hearing Ryoji outright report him still made him feel deeply aggrieved, especially right after being falsely accused of being gay!
"I see. Then that settles it." Finn sighed.
"In that case, your punishment is to clean the courtyard before breakfast, and then pay for all the repairs yourself."
"…Got it." Bete lowered his voice, practically growling the words out.
'Money was a small matter. Cleaning wasn't a big deal either. But the fact that Ryoji got to walk away without a care in the world made Bete itch with frustration.'
"Oh, right. Ryoji, come to my office after breakfast. There's something I need to discuss with you."
Just as Finn was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to say that to Ryoji.
"Alright."
Though confused, Ryoji nodded in agreement.
Only Bete, watching the two leave as though nothing had happened, felt nothing but desolation in his heart.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
After opening the door, Ryoji stepped into Finn's office.
A crimson carpet covered the floor, huge bookshelves stood quietly in the corners, and Finn's small figure sat behind a mahogany desk. Behind him hung the Familia's flag embroidered with a jester emblem, alongside a massive floor-to-ceiling window.
The entire room could be described as spacious and luxurious. As expected of the captain's office, appearances were taken very seriously.
"I'm here… Riveria and Gareth are here too?"
Walking up to the desk, Ryoji noticed the Fairy Queen and the dwarf warrior standing nearby.
"You came at the right time." Finn put down the documents in his hand and nodded toward him.
"We were discussing the upcoming expedition."
Standing nearby in her usual mage robes, graceful and composed as ever, Riveria explained things to Ryoji.
"An expedition? Are we starting another one already?" Ryoji's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing that.
An expedition was basically a gigantic experience pack!
After advancing to Level 5, the difficulty of leveling up again had practically multiplied exponentially for Ryoji. If he stayed in this DanMachi world the entire time, then relying solely on normal training and dungeon exploration to level up would probably take at least half a year to a full year.
But an expedition could drastically shorten that process. A single expedition could provide an enormous amount of Excelia!
"Exactly. That's also what I wanted to talk to you about." Finn nodded and continued explaining. "You could basically say our last expedition ended in failure. We were all quite unwilling to accept that result, so ever since then I've been planning a second expedition."
During the last expedition, after reaching the 50th Floor, Loki Familia had been attacked by the new species of monster known as the Virga. The first-tier elites of the Familia had nearly all their weapons destroyed, leaving them unable to continue exploring the deeper floors.
Although they had brought back quite a lot of spoils, to the Loki Familia, who viewed the exploration of unknown dungeon floors as a matter of glory, that expedition was practically no different from a failure.
"As it happens, the next expedition has already been scheduled to begin the day after tomorrow."
Finn informed Ryoji of this.
To be precise, the date had actually been finalized several days ago.
It was just that Ryoji had only recently returned and happened to arrive at the perfect timing.
"Take me with you!" Ryoji stepped forward immediately, speaking to Finn with complete understanding.
"Even if you hadn't said it, I was going to bring it up myself." Finn spread his hands and smiled. "After all, during an expedition, every Executive-level combatant is extremely important. If you didn't want to go, I might've ended up forcing you to come instead. Hahaha."
'As long as I could go, that was enough.' Ryoji secretly let out a sigh of relief.
He wasn't sure how long he would be able to remain in the DanMachi world this time, so naturally he wanted to strengthen himself as much as possible before eventually leaving.
"There's one more thing."
Finn paused briefly before looking at Ryoji with an expectant smile.
"Starting today, I'm officially promoting you to become a new Executive of the Loki Familia. I hope that from now on, you'll continue advancing and striving together with the Familia!"
'Promoted to Executive?'
Ryoji paused slightly.
"Normally, anyone who reaches Level 5 can become an Executive." The beautiful Fairy Queen, Riveria, also turned toward him, her emerald-like eyes filled with approval.
"But becoming an Executive also means taking on greater responsibilities."
Beside her, Gareth let out a hearty laugh as he offered his warning.
"Things are different now. You're already far stronger than the vast majority of people in the Familia. Everyone will follow your commands, but that also means you have the responsibility to protect everyone's safety!"
Even for Finn and the other two, this was an unbelievable experience.
In less than three months after joining the Familia, this junior member had surpassed Raul, Aki, Alicia, and the other original Executive candidates, becoming the eighth Executive of the Loki Familia!
One had to remember that Ryoji had the least seniority in the entire Loki Familia. Every single member had joined earlier than he had. Just two months ago, Finn had still been planning to train him as a future Executive candidate.
Yet in the blink of an eye, he had already become a full-fledged Executive.
"I understand!" Ryoji nodded seriously.
The Loki Familia had treated him extremely well.
When he had been weak, Line, Alicia, and the others had generously accompanied him into the Dungeon to help him level up. When he had fallen into crisis, the Familia had dispatched half its members to support him and even captured the captain of an enemy Familia.
Repay a peach with a plum.
To Ryoji, the Loki Familia was undoubtedly one of "his people."
He had both the responsibility and the obligation to guide and protect the Familia's members, as long as it was within his power.
Besides…
Where else was he supposed to find a Familia with this many beautiful girls?
(End of Chapter)
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