Although people called it trouble, in reality, it did not affect the normal operation of the bathhouse at all.
After all, those who came to find fault were merely Guild employees. Earning a base salary plus a bonus of only twenty or thirty thousand Valis a month, to put it bluntly, their resentment toward their superiors was far heavier than any grudge they held against Levi.
Furthermore, being on the front lines of work, they were the ones who most clearly understood the dominance of the Hestia Familia—or rather, Levi—within Orario.
Why would they choose to truly offend the latter?
Thus, they simply came by every day to take a look around, requesting that the floors be swept cleaner, the hot spring water be changed more frequently, and the service staff's attitude be a bit better.
They didn't even demand that the bathhouse close temporarily for rectification.
As a fellow wage earner, Daphne also understood the plight of these unlucky souls. As long as they didn't act too excessively, she generally just smiled and indicated that she would heed the Guild's persuasion.
As for what happened afterward? Well, naturally, everything remained exactly as it was before.
However, the daily appearance of the Guild employees allowed the other Familias of Orario to slowly understand the relationship between the Hestia Familia and the Guild.
Clearly, compared to the intimacy shared when the Hestia Familia first rose to prominence, the two parties now showed an obvious trend of parting ways.
It was just that Levi, as the Captain of the Hestia Familia, and Royman, the Guild Head, were both still exercising restraint, not allowing the scene to become too ugly.
But if expectations were correct, that day probably wouldn't be too far off.
On the twenty-first day after the Exchange Shop's inventory update.
Levi personally made a trip to the Guild. Slightly different from the previous two times, this time, the monthly sales of Sparkling Wine had been slashed horizontally.
Even though many new varieties had been put on the shelves, the total sold amounted to less than 2 billion Valis.
However, this was normal. According to the girls from Artemis's Familia, the Sparkling Wine sales counter, which was originally placed in the most conspicuous position, had been moved to a corner starting last month.
Facing inquiries from adventurers, the staff mostly claimed ignorance.
Coupled with the fact that the Magic Nations had clearly made breakthroughs in their research on Sparkling Wine—not to mention the Regeneration Wine, High-Grade Regeneration Wine, and Ice and Fire Wine that currently only Levi could produce—weakened versions of other strengthening-type potions were actually already available for sale on the market.
Levi was actually mentally prepared for the arrival of this day. Even if he didn't fall out with Royman, he would at most only be able to delay the inevitable for a little while longer.
Fortunately, while he wouldn't say he planned three steps ahead for every one step taken, he was still a cautious person with a complete plan for the future.
Although the Sparkling Wine revenue in Orario was greatly discounted, the shipyard located in the port town of Melen had been raking in gold daily during this period.
On average, three to four modified ships left the yard every day.
According to reminders, a single ship could be sold for a minimum of 20 million Valis.
Yet, there was absolutely no shortage of buyers.
It was only because the Hestia Familia was merely one of many shareholders that they obtained returns equivalent to approaching 1 billion Valis worth of Magic Stones.
Less than 2.5 billion in Magic Stones.
Counting the fruits of the labor from the Spirit Clones working day and night during these days, there was undoubtedly enough to help Filvis, who was located within the Elsoth Ruins in the Great Tree Sea, step into the 'Demigod' status of a monster.
In fact, Levi did exactly that.
On the day he received the Magic Stones, he greeted Hestia and Hephaestus.
When his figure reappeared, he was already at the edge of the continent.
Filvis could be said to have been living quite well during this time.
After all, the few experiments that were most torturous to the body and spirit had all been completed right at the very beginning.
Added to this was the fact that Levi had visited once in the interim, using the Hōgyoku to raise her Monster Level to Lv.9. Accompanying the renewed elevation of her physical constitution, the spirit and energy of this 'Banshee' could be described as completely revitalized.
Unfortunately, the moment she saw the blonde demon in her field of vision again, Filvis's expression, which had been relatively calm, instantly changed.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!"
She howled in terror, yet could not speak a single word.
Her body twisted uncontrollably on the test bench, seemingly wanting to flee, but being restrained, she could go nowhere.
Levi stepped forward with a faint smile hanging on the corners of his mouth, paying no heed whatsoever to the reaction of the 'white shrine maiden'.
A large amount—one could even say a massive ocean—of Magic Stones flew out from his Inventory, piling up beside the young girl.
Subsequently, a palm carrying a slight warmth was pressed against her chest—or to be precise, against the Magic Stone embedded in her chest.
When the last Magic Stone fell, Levi did not hesitate.
[Limit Break requires 256,000 (128,000) points of Mana. After Limit Break, the Monster Level of 'Banshee' Filvis will rise from Lv.9 to Lv.10. Hōgyoku cooldown time: 2.8 (1.4) days.]
The next instant, as his consciousness touched the 'Confirm' button.
The Magic Stones piled up into several small mountains all melted into a viscous liquid, surging toward Filvis's chest.
And very quickly, they formed a black vortex that seemed capable of devouring everything.
"Ah... Ahhh~ Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!"
The black-haired elven monster lying on the test bench, after two initial low moans of comfort, suddenly let out a howl of agony.
Had her whole body not been restrained, she might have long since curled up into a ball.
Even so, the girl's appearance was undergoing a rapid transformation.
A layer of pitch-black, viscous liquid began to secrete from her pores, quickly covering the entire exterior of the 'Banshee' and gradually solidifying.
Even her limbs, which had originally been severed, were actually slowly recovering within Levi's field of vision.
At the same moment.
In Orario, and among the gods residing in other nations.
Counting every single one of them, they seemed to sense something, suddenly stopping the matters in their hands and looking toward the direction of the Great Tree Sea.
Especially Ouranos, who sat on the pitch-black throne continuously suppressing the Dungeon; at this moment, he frowned slightly.
"The 'One-Eyed' clearly has not yet been subjugated, yet a new 'Black Dragon' has actually been born a step ahead?"
He seemed to murmur, seemed to whisper.
Then he looked beneath his feet, or more accurately, toward the Labyrinth.
"Do you hate us that much?"
Ouranos's question was destined to have no one able to answer it.
Because they lacked the necessary intelligence, he, along with the multitude of deities in the Lower World, did not even know that the one who created the 'Black Dragon' this time was not the Dungeon, but the 'Hero King' in whom quite a few gods had placed their hopes.
The only two who knew everything, because they had heard of Levi's plan early on, showed mostly calmness despite the surprise on their faces.
On the sofa in the hall, Hephaestus looked at her good friend and sworn sister: "Can Levi succeed?"
Hestia crossed her arms, smiling confidently upon hearing this: "When has he ever disappointed us?"
Between her words, there was a tone filled with trust in her lover, and pride.
____
👻🔥The Director is back! But with a brand new look, heheh...🔥👻
New Story: Classroom of the Elite: Black Sphere Academia
✅ New releases are dropping, plus get exclusive content & updates.
✅ Help us unlock community rewards:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters of ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnut-chan