Back in her room, Hyacine reasoned that Robin and Aiden couldn't possibly be that bold. Besides, she lived right next door; if there had really been any intense commotion last night, her ears would absolutely have caught it.
So, she must have been overthinking it.
But... Aiden coming out of Robin's room wearing pajamas was an undeniable fact. Even if they hadn't hit a "home run" like she imagined, they had absolutely started with a "double."
She hadn't expected Aiden to move so quickly.
Here she was, a strategist swearing to be the ultimate wingwoman, and she hadn't even exerted much effort yet before he charged straight in and conquered Robin's heart. His progress was surging like a rocket.
This suddenly gave Hyacine a sense of impending crisis.
As his wingwoman, was she going to end up dragging herself into the crossfire? After all, Aiden had previously made it abundantly clear that he had thoughts about her too.
"Are you sure you're okay? Your face is so red," Tifa asked, looking with concern at Hyacine's flushed cheeks.
"I'm really fine! By the way, Tifa dear, are you going to make breakfast? Let me help you!" Hyacine immediately shook her head, tossing the messy thoughts out of her mind and proactively hooking her arm through Tifa's.
"Mm, having your help would be wonderful." Tifa smiled and nodded.
The two entered the kitchen together.
As Hyacine skillfully washed the vegetables, she casually started a conversation. "Um... Tifa, what do you think about Robin and Aiden?"
"Them?" Tifa paused her cooking, a genuine smile blooming on her face. "I'm so happy for them. It's wonderful that they were able to come together. I will sincerely bless them."
"Just a blessing?" Hyacine carefully observed her expression, probing further. "You don't have... even a tiny bit of any other thoughts? Like, feeling a little uncomfortable in your heart..."
"How could I?" Tifa chuckled softly. "Why would I have those kinds of thoughts or emotions? They are both my most important family members. If my family finds happiness, I will only feel joy."
She shook her head, firmly denying Hyacine's implication.
However, when she lowered her head to focus intently on pouring the egg wash into the Magic Stone-heated frying pan, the smile on her face unconsciously faded a bit, a flash of loneliness settling deep in her eyes.
"Sigh, honestly, our dear Aiden is incredibly greedy, and he's a total womanizer too." Hyacine took all this in and decided to give Tifa a push, while simultaneously building up her own defensive line. "You have to keep a close eye on him normally, Tifa. Don't give him any chances to go out and fool around with other flowers."
Exactly. By dragging Tifa onto the battlefield, Aiden's target won't shift to me so easily. I am a genius.
"Hm? Isn't that something Robin should be doing?" Tifa looked up, confused.
"Oh, come on, we're Robin's best friends! Of course we have to help her keep an eye on him. This is called a united front, understand?" Hyacine stated it as if it were the most natural law of the universe.
Tifa thought about it and felt it made sense, so she nodded and said earnestly, "Mm, you're right. I'll help keep an eye out."
Excellent. Hyacine snapped her fingers in her mind. Plan successful.
Large Tree Labyrinth, 20th Floor.
This was an unexplored safe zone within the Dungeon, serving as the secret home of the Xenos.
Luminescent moss dotted the massive tree roots and walls like scattered stars, emitting a faint, tranquil blue glow that bathed the cavern in the ambiance of a dreamlike kingdom. The air carried the fresh scent of soil and vegetation, standing in stark contrast to the bloody decay of the upper floors.
Within a natural council chamber formed by colossal, twisting roots, the atmosphere was exceptionally grim.
"Did you find her?"
Lyd, the red Lizardman Xenos, was wearing a set of gear that was clearly adventurer-styled, making him look entirely out of place in this environment. He frowned as he looked at a companion who had just flown in from the outside.
"I found her."
Ray, the Siren with magnificent golden wings, landed softly. Her voice was crisp, but laced with deep confusion. "She's already entered the deeper floors. And... she's hunting monsters purely on instinct. But the strange thing is, she isn't eating the Magic Stones."
Ray spread her wings, revealing a bloodstained Magic Stone resting quietly on her feathers, emitting a faint glow. It was something she had retrieved from the battlefield the "monster" had just left behind.
"Lyd, what exactly is she?" Ray looked up, her beautiful eyes filled with incomprehensible doubt.
"I don't know." Lyd's tone was heavy as he shook his head. "All I know is that she was also 'birthed' by the Mother, and she's getting stronger. Not by devouring the Magic Stones of our brethren like Enhanced Species or us Xenos do, but by training and adventuring... just like an adventurer."
"The Mother's changes recently have been drastic," he added, dropping his voice even lower. "Pass the word down. Tell everyone to be careful and absolutely do not approach her. Right now, she... is very dangerous."
"I'll notify everyone." Ray nodded. "But the one who fought her initially was the adventurer Fels mentioned, the one who likely caused the Mother's changes—'Flamescion', right?"
"Yes, that's him." Lyd took a deep breath, a glint of solemnity flashing in his eyes. "A companion happened to witness 'her' birth and her battle with 'Flamescion'. I've already watched that fight through the Oculus Fels provided. Fels said that the adventurer named Flamescion just leveled up to Lv.3... Are you kidding me? How is that the strength a Lv.3 adventurer should have?!"
Recalling the earth-shattering battle that erupted on the 19th Floor sent chills down Lyd's spine. Neither the red-haired girl reborn from the flames nor the white-haired boy capable of unleashing terrifying sonic waves and fire was someone he could defeat.
And those two were still constantly growing stronger. One had carved a path into the deeper floors, growing madly through slaughter, while the other was already recognized throughout Orario as an adventurer whose growth speed was practically monstrous.
"Anyway, we just need to avoid her," Gros the Gargoyle, who had remained silent until now, spoke up in a deep, gravelly voice like grinding rocks. "Hasn't that always been how we live?"
Meanwhile, at the Guild Headquarters, deep within the subterranean altar of the Pantheon.
This was the absolute core and forbidden ground of Orario. The air was thick with an eternal, solemn majesty.
Within the massive circular space, the stone walls were carved with ancient, divine runes. The floor was cut from a single, massive piece of polished obsidian, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the faint, eternal glow from the dome above.
In the center of the altar, the Chief God Ouranos sat with his eyes closed, having prayed continuously here for a millennium.
"Ouranos, what is that?! What exactly is the Dungeon trying to do?!"
A figure shrouded entirely in a large black robe appeared before Ouranos. His unique voice was sharp and out of control, filled with shock and bewilderment.
"If I'm not mistaken, she's the 'Crimson Flower of Justice' of the Astrea Familia, Alise! She's been resurrected by the Dungeon! What is happening?!"
Fels's voice trembled slightly with agitation. An Oculus in his hand was projecting a holographic image—it was the fierce battle between Aiden and the reborn Alise on the 19th Floor.
Ouranos slowly opened his eyes. Those irises, which seemed to bear the weight of a thousand years, looked quietly at the image in silence.
Only after a long while did he let out a faint sigh. "She is experimenting. She is preparing for the Promised Time. We don't have much time left."
"I know we didn't have much to begin with!" Fels gritted his teeth. "The dragon sightings near Dragon Valley are becoming more frequent, yet the Dungeon chooses now to act. Is this good or bad for us?"
"It doesn't matter. The heroes are still growing. What will be, will be. Let us observe the changes," Ouranos said, staring deeply at Alise in the projection, his thoughts unreadable.
"Sigh, I suppose that's all we can do." Fels let out a helpless sigh. "I just hope they can grow up quickly. This world... needs heroes."
His gaze shifted to the other protagonist in the projection—Aiden.
"Speaking of which, the Focalors Familia hides their depths incredibly well. That 'Saint of Battle Rhythm' actually possesses a level-boost magic. If I saw correctly, the resurrected 'Crimson Flower of Justice' has the bona fide strength of a Lv.5 adventurer and retains the skills and magic from her past life. Yet she fought to a mutually destructive draw with a Lv.3 'Flamescion'."
Fels's voice was filled with awe. "A level-boost magic combined with his own enchantment magic actually allowed him to bridge a two-Level gap in combat... This is simply cheating. If he can mature smoothly, he will absolutely have a place in the expedition team to slay the Dragon of the End."
"And that 'Saint of Battle Rhythm'," Fels's tone turned deadly serious. "Her magic will undeniably become our trump card against the black dragon. She is far too important to us."
"Leave this matter to Royman," Ouranos said calmly. "He knows what to do."
"Royman..." Fels pondered for a moment before nodding. "Although that fat pig is full of flaws, it's fitting for him to support the Focalors Familia."
He knew very well that although Royman Mardeel was greedy, corrupt, and addicted to power and lust, he understood better than anyone exactly who was bringing him all the luxuries he enjoyed.
Because of this, he desired a hero to appear, defeat that Dragon of the End, and save this doomed lower world more than anyone else. Otherwise, all the luxuries he currently enjoyed were nothing but flowers in a mirror or the moon's reflection on the water—fragile and easily shattered.
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