Some adventurers even made the trip all the way to the library just to ask Leon directly, "Can we really trust the Xenos?"
To this, Leon gave only a simple reply. "Just treat them like fellow adventurers. Trust when it's earned, and stay cautious when it's not."
This straightforward answer resonated deeply. It wasn't blind support but neither was it rejection. It was balanced, reasonable, and most of all, it was how adventurers treated each other already.
Friend or stranger, trust was earned. Bonds were built. And betrayal could come from anywhere, whether the other party had scales, horns, or a smile.
Following Leon's lead, many adventurers adopted the same approach. Treating Xenos as ordinary adventurers, wary when necessary, open when deserved.
As far as Leon was concerned, that was enough. He'd given them his endorsement. From here on out, it was up to the Xenos themselves to prove they were worthy of trust. After all, with June by their side, there was little need to worry about a few bad apples among the adventurers trying anything funny.
Speaking of which, Leon had already fed both Ellie and June the magic stones he'd harvested from the demi spirits.
The result?
The two had successfully evolved, both now standing firmly at Level 8 strength.
In the days following the battle, Leon had not returned to the Dungeon. Instead, he spent his time on the surface, enjoying a well-earned break.
Sometimes he stayed at the library with Hestia and the others.
Sometimes he dropped by the Hephaestus Familia to chat with Tsubaki.
Other times, he strolled through the Demeter familia's manor, engaging in philosophical discussions about divine life with Demeter herself.
And sometimes, he simply joined Tione and Tiona on a carefree shopping spree across Orario.
When he had time to spare, he made visits to Riveria, engaging in magical research. He would test and verify the magic techniques he'd acquired during his battle against the corrupted spirit, exchanging insights with Riveria and refining his own magical prowess.
It was mutually beneficial. Riveria, despite not having updated her Falna yet, had clearly stepped into Level 7-tier magical firepower.
Were she to update her status with Loki, she would almost certainly ascend to the next level. Finn and Gareth were in similar circumstances.
On another note, the ever-eager Lefiya had also gained a great deal during this time.
The little elf girl stuck to Leon like glue, always watching intently with sparkling eyes whenever he and Riveria discussed high-level magic.
She had even picked up several new spells from those sessions alone.
It was during one of those visits, as Leon looked at Riveria with a pensive gaze, that a thought crossed his mind.
Should I ask her about the 60th floor?
But in the end, he didn't.
...
Leon hadn't yet approached the Guild to request information regarding the 60th floor nor had he inquired about the unknown relic discovered there.
That mysterious relic... Leon had a hunch it was something deeply significant to Riveria. And without knowing exactly what it was or its connection to her, he wasn't sure how to bring it up.
But after several days of rest, he had finally made up his mind. It was time to begin planning a new expedition.
Thus, Leon found himself standing in the Guild Headquarters, looking for a certain familiar pig-headed man.
"I didn't expect you to come looking for me on your own initiative." Royman said, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"I was actually planning to call you in a few days." He added, giving Leon a long, scrutinizing look across the table in the Guild reception room.
After learning about Leon's monstrous strength from Fels, Royman had been debating whether to hand over the intel on the 60th floor to him. The incident with the artificial labyrinth had only just ended, and there were still numerous loose ends to tie up.
Besides, Royman had wanted to give Leon time to rest before burdening him with more information. He hadn't expected Leon to come knocking first.
"I've had enough rest." Leon replied with a smile. "I'm ready to resume expeditions, so I came here to ask for the information on the 60th floor."
"Ah, that's no problem. I'll get the information ready for you shortly." Royman said, nodding in agreement.
"However…" he continued, his expression growing more serious, "I strongly recommend that you act together with the Loki Familia. The 60th floor is extremely dangerous."
Royman had been sitting on this information for quite a while now. But the truth was, the 60th floor's threat level had always exceeded expectations. He had deemed it too risky to hand over to even the elite Freya and Loki Familia.
In Royman's professional judgment, even if both Familias teamed up, the expedition would still be incredibly perilous. And considering that those two Familias were essentially at odds with each other, he couldn't afford to let either group go in blind.
But now, with Leon in the picture, things were different.
Thanks to Ouranos' reports, Royman was fully aware that Leon's strength had soared to the pinnacle of Level 8, perhaps even breaching into Level 9 territory.
He didn't know how Leon had grown so absurdly strong so quickly and he honestly didn't care. All that mattered now was that Leon's power was real, and it could make this expedition viable.
"I'll need to speak with Finn and the others about that." Leon replied calmly. "I came to see you today mainly for one other reason."
"The relic the Guild recovered from the 60th floor, I want it."
"There's something I need to ask Riveria, and I think that item might be the key."
"Though, if you happen to know what it is, would you mind telling me?" Leon asked, his tone casual, but his eyes focused.
At that, Royman froze for a moment, his smile faltering.
"You knew about that, huh..." Royman muttered, rubbing his chin before letting out a long sigh. "But I can't tell you much. It concerns the royal family. If anyone should talk about it, it's Riveria-sama."
Royal family? Leon's brows twitched. He hadn't expected that answer.
Royman didn't elaborate. Instead, he stood up from his seat and grunted, "Wait here. I'll get the data and bring you the relic."
As Royman waddled out of the room, Leon silently watched his retreating figure, deep in thought.
Royal family... what is Riveria hiding?
In the Twilight Manor of the Loki Familia, Riveria's eyes widened as she stared at the fragments Leon held in his hands.
Her hands trembled ever so slightly.
"...Leon, where did you get this?" She asked, her voice low and distant, eyes fixed on the shattered weapon pieces.
Beside her, Gareth, seated on the high stool near the desk, had also narrowed his eyes. A heavy atmosphere began to fill the room.
"I got it from the Guild." Leon answered plainly. "They said it was retrieved from the crevice between the 60th and 61st floors."
"I'm preparing to explore that floor, so I came across this item and I had a feeling it might have something to do with you."
The moment he said that, silence fell over the room.
Finn, Gareth, and Leon all looked toward Riveria, waiting for her to speak. But Riveria didn't respond. Her delicate fingers reached out to touch the broken weapon, her expression vacant, lost in a sea of memory.
Seeing her state, Finn subtly shook his head at Leon, silently signaling him to let her be.
Leon nodded, understanding without needing words. He already knew that this relic must carry immense weight for Riveria. Her reaction confirmed it.
Ten minutes passed in solemn silence. Then, Riveria finally stirred.
She looked up at Leon, her voice calm but filled with emotion. "This was my mother's weapon."
"…!"
Leon's pupils contracted sharply.
***
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