This level of destructive power is no less than the first stage of her magic, but it doesn't seem to cause Noah any significant damage.
Even though it was only his first time using magic, his mental strength and total Mind are probably already comparable to mine... Sure enough, this guy has the potential to become a mage. Since that's the case, I should be even more diligent and strict in my teaching. Such fine material cannot be wasted; otherwise, it would be a crime for a mage.
"Riveria?" Although Noah could feel that Riveria was smiling, he felt a chill run down his spine.
"Is it almost noon now?" After checking the time with her magic stone pocket watch, Riveria took out the Dungeon map. "In my opinion, venturing to the lower floors on the first attempt at exploring the Dungeon is extremely risky. If possible, let's stop here for today... However..."
Looking at Noah, who was still full of energy, and Ais, who was standing next to him with wide eyes, eager to try, Riveria sighed helplessly. "I imagine you wouldn't really want to go back like this, would you?"
"The monsters up here are no match for me. The previous battles were just a warm-up. I want to see where my limits are." Gripping his sword hilt, Noah looked into the depths of the cave, as if he were staring at even more dangerous monsters. Even so, he hesitated when he saw Ais's backpack, which was several times larger than her. "However, Ais..."
Before Noah could finish, Ais interrupted him. "It's okay! I can still manage!" Ais lifted the huge backpack on her small body, her tender face full of determination. "Moreover, the deeper floors... I want to know more!"
But what you're doing makes me feel guilty about child labor.
Looking at Ais's face, Noah hesitated. As the two looked at each other, a slight ripple rose in Riveria's heart.
Long before Noah appeared, Ais had already reached the edge of ranking up. The reason why Riveria, Finn, and the others hadn't told her about the condition of great feats was because they all felt her mind needed more training than her body. Fueled by hatred, the stronger Ais becomes, the closer she gets to breaking. Although they could take care of Ais and teach her how to fight, they could never truly enter her inner world.
Until Noah appeared. Riveria couldn't quite grasp it yet, but there was no doubt Ais had a longing for Noah. Although this made the high elf, who had painstakingly cared for the girl for a year, feel a pang of sadness, she also felt gratified. In Ais's mind, filled with hatred, even a sliver of light was enough.
Moreover, now that Ais knows about the condition of great feats, can she really prevent her from taking risks forever?
It seems it's time to let go.
'Young people have their own epic to complete, and we old folks can't walk the entire path for them. We must let go when it's time. It's enough to stand behind them and lend a hand when they face difficulties...'
Recalling the dwarf's rough yet reassuring voice, Riveria really wanted to punch him.
Who's old? I'm still young!
....
Having made her decision, Riveria stopped agonizing over it.
Since I can't control them, I can only take the risks with them.
Not to mention... Riveria glanced furtively at Noah, then looked away, a crescent-shaped smile curving her lips. She had secretly run away from her home to explore the unknown of this world. Did she want to lecture people all day, to the point of being criticized for being a mother hen? Isn't it all because of those ignorant young people in the Familia?
But now things were better. With Noah ahead of me, who will soon surpass me, I probably won't need to worry so much anymore.
Now, Riveria understands Finn's happiness better and better!
Since he can be the captain of our Familia, it would be easy for him to also serve as the Familia's number one mage, right?
Just as Noah was struggling with how to lighten Ais's load, he felt another chill. Yes, again. A very familiar chill. Although there was no evidence, Noah still subconsciously moved closer to Riveria. But Riveria had already looked away.
"Since you're all so insistent, let's grab something to eat and continue on our way. We'll find another adventurer team and sell them the cheap magic stones and drop items. Once we get back up there, we'll have them deliver the Valis to the Twilight Manor." She took off Ais's backpack and began sorting and tidying up the items. "You have two hours. How far you go is up to you. After that, we have to head back, or we might not be able to get out of the Dungeon before dark."
Although Riveria claimed it was a bargain, Noah was certain that the price was basically the market price when she casually stopped a group of adventurers to negotiate. If it's sold at this price, it's as if this Familia helped them move it up for free. Despite this, the Familia still happily carried their drop items and embarked on their return journey.
After a little thought, Noah understood. Although magic stones are all purchased by the Guild, drop items can be sold by negotiating prices with other Familias. Of course, under normal circumstances, adventurers will find it difficult to get a satisfactory price unless the items come from rare and valuable materials from the deep floors.
After all, if you don't sell, there are plenty of adventurers who are willing to.
However, with so many items dropping, it's a different story. Currently, due to interference from Evilus, Dungeon exploration is stagnant. Familias with even a little strength have been forced to accept commissions by the Guild, which is barely enough to ensure Orario's output. For production-oriented Familias, one or two items or materials may not make a difference, but such a large quantity can sustain clan production for quite some time, so offering some preferential prices is reasonable. Even if each item only earns a small profit, with such a large quantity, it still amounts to a considerable income.
Noah, who started with a debt of 40 million Valis, didn't care about this amount of money, but for small and medium-sized Familias, it could allow them to live a comfortable life for a while.
This is probably why rookies want to join large Familias. In the early stages of becoming an adventurer, the two biggest problems are lack of experience and lack of money. No matter how promising an adventurer is, they are very weak in the early stages, and this is when their mortality rate is highest. Although horrific deaths of first-class adventurers occasionally occur in the deep floors, the total number of adventurers who die in the middle and upper floors overwhelmingly exceeds those in the deep floors.
Secondly, earning money and accumulating equipment by fighting monsters in the upper and middle floors is a very long process for rookie adventurers, since the equipment of the Hephaestus Familia starts at hundreds of thousands or even millions of Valis. The wear and tear rate of cheap weapons will slow down the speed at which rookie adventurers save money to buy equipment. There are often unlucky adventurers who use cheap equipment to save money, only to die in the Dungeon when their weapons break just as they are about to have enough.
In large Familias, both of these problems can be solved well. With experienced adventurers on the front lines protecting and guiding them, it's much safer than exploring alone. Moreover, even if a rookie is just a supporter for a first-class adventurer and picks up some 'trash' that the members don't want, they can easily earn several times more income than an adventurer team of the same level in a short time. These two advantages attract rookies, which in turn strengthens and expands the powerful Familia.
After overcoming the weight issue, the three resumed their exploration of the Dungeon. Or rather, it's the start of an assault on the lower floors.
Dark blue arcs of electricity surged around him again as Noah charged into the monster horde, unleashing a one-sided massacre. Like thunderclouds descending upon this abyss, a continuous series of lightning strikes accompanied by explosions, and a dark blue light flooded the view like a tidal wave. After that skin-tingling roar, the monsters ferocious roars immediately turned into wails, and then they were reduced to ashes in the explosion.
However, Noah kept his purpose in mind and began to adjust the magic surging around him during the advance. As the assault and attacks continued, the lightning arcs gradually subsided, no longer radiating their dazzling brilliance that illuminated everything. With the help of the electric arcs wrapped around his body, Noah greatly reduced his Mind consumption while his speed and defense increased significantly.
The sword was instantly stained like crystallized ice after being enveloped by dark blue electric arcs. But this object, beautiful as a work of art, silently speaks of its horror through the horrific scene of a single sword slaying dozens of monsters.
Occasionally, the Dungeon Worms that drilled holes in the walls would suddenly burst out and open their abyssal maws, filled with dozens of rows of sharp teeth, at Noah. Noah's movements didn't falter at all. With a flick of his wrist, like a skilled chef, he cleaved the disgusting monster, which was over ten meters long, in two from head to tail.
The middle floor monsters that Noah had just experienced the joy of battle became utterly unchallenging again under the influence of magic. Even when it broke through to the 17th floor and encountered the Minotaur, which was rated by the Guild as the strongest normal monster in the middle floors, it did not change. Neither his skin, as tough as iron, nor his massive, swollen muscles could withstand Noah's sword.
As they continued their advance, the surrounding caves gradually expanded, the divergence between paths decreased, and the roads became increasingly wide and tall. The frequency of monsters appearing around also dropped drastically, as if they were suddenly decreasing out of fear. This feeling is as if the Dungeon is specifically preparing for the appearance of a gigantic monster.
Upon arriving at a vast and spacious hall, Noah confirmed his suspicions. This is a large hall that is flat and rectangular, formed from rough rock blocks. But only the left wall is different.. it is a white stone surface that looks like it has been polished by a craftsman and covers the entire wall like a mirror. In such an environment, its beauty and cleanliness only give people a strong sense of unease.
The Wall of Grief, the birthplace of Goliath, the Floor Boss that occupies the 17th floor.
"Phew, let's call it a day then. We need to hurry back, or we don't know when we'll be able to get back to the surface." Riveria judged that today's exploration was finally coming to an end, so she turned around and started walking. However, there were no footsteps following.
"Huh? Noah? Ais?"
Confused, Riveria turned around and saw Noah standing motionless, gazing at the Wall of Grief in the distance.
"Riveria, I remember it's been about half a month since Goliath was defeated last time, right?"
Seeing the hint of excitement on Noah's lips, Riveria felt a sense of foreboding. "Hey! Noah!"
"Um, Riveria, could you..."
Before Noah could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Riveria.
"No! Impossible! Don't even think about it!"
Riveria's eyebrows furrowed, and her emerald eyes flashed with an anger and severity far exceeding any she had shown before.
"Trying to fight the Floor Boss on your first Dungeon exploration?! There's a limit to how much nonsense you can do!!"
The Goliath that appeared on the 17th floor was equivalent to a Level 4 monster. Although that's the case, given its unique monstrous strength, enormous size, and regenerative abilities, it was still a powerful monster that required the combined efforts of several Level 4 adventurers to defeat reliably.