Loki Familia
After finishing her morning meditation, Lefiya headed to the cafeteria to have breakfast with Ais and the others.
"Tiona, are you not feeling well today?"
Looking at Tiona, who had already put down her chopsticks after finishing just one bowl of rice, Lefiya showed a hint of confusion.
"Yeah... how should I put it..."
Tiona scratched her head. "I've been eating too much of Cain's cooking recently. I'm not really used to the cafeteria food anymore."
"Eh? It can't be that extreme, right?"
Lefiya's expression turned slightly awkward.
She also ate Cain's cooking quite often. Compared to the cafeteria chefs, his food was definitely better, but it should not have caused such a reaction.
"Lefiya, you don't need to worry about her."
Tione, sitting beside her, curled her lips. "Yesterday, this girl snuck out to eat with the Captain."
Lefiya tilted her head. "Snuck out to eat?"
Ais also paused, her curiosity piqued.
"Ahem... don't look at me like that."
Under everyone's gaze, Tiona became a little embarrassed.
"It was Finn. He went to discuss something with Cain, and I just tagged along to get a free meal."
"Besides, I'm serious. It's a good thing you two didn't go yesterday. That guy Cain poisoned the food again."
Tiona suddenly sighed as she said this.
All the ingredients were originally non-toxic, or at most harmless.
She had no idea how Cain processed them into something so lethal.
"When I ate it, there was no warning at all. After one bite, I started hallucinating within three seconds. I almost went in standing and came out lying down."
"What? That exaggerated?!"
Lefiya gasped.
Tiona's Abnormal Status Resistance had already been upgraded. She could even resist toxins from mid-level monsters.
If even a Level 5 First Class Adventurer could not handle it, who would actually order that kind of food?
Tiona continued, "That 'Stargazing Pie' is actually pretty tasty. Once your Abnormal Status Resistance improves, Lefiya, you guys should try it."
Lefiya: "..."
Never mind. There really are people willing to eat that.
...
After breakfast, the group headed toward the courtyard.
Today was the day of the Loki Familia expedition.
Even though it was still early, many members had already gathered there, chatting excitedly about recent news.
"Miss Ais! You're here!"
Raul ran over and reported, "Did you hear? Cain from the Hestia Familia has leveled up to LV3!"
Lefiya: "Eh?"
Tione: "Hm?"
Ais: "?!"
The three of them, who had been chatting casually, instantly fell silent.
Tione frowned. "LV3?"
"Yes. The news just came from the Guild not long ago."
Raul excitedly shared the latest update.
After hearing this explosive information, Ais and the others exchanged glances, their gazes unconsciously shifting toward Tiona.
Lefiya asked, "Tiona, you've been meeting Cain these past two days. You didn't know about this earlier?"
Tiona scratched her head. "I found out yesterday, but Finn said it was confidential and shouldn't be spread before the Guild made the announcement."
Lefiya: "..."
That made sense.
But still...
"Why did he level up to LV3 so fast?!"
Lefiya cried out in frustration.
She remembered the first time she met Cain. He had been selling fried rice at a roadside stall.
At that time, she was LV3, and he was only LV1.
Now, less than two months later, Cain had gone from running a stall to owning a restaurant, and his level had reached LV3.
Meanwhile, she was still stuck at LV3.
How was that even possible? Was he cheating?
"LV3..."
Ais softly repeated the words.
Compared to Lefiya's frustration, her shock ran deeper.
They had explored the Dungeon together. Why did Cain break through while she did not?
Could it be... he pretended to return to the surface with them but was secretly training?
...
"We're here. It should be around this area."
On the Eighteenth Floor of the Dungeon, Ottar brought Cain deep into the eastern forest and stopped.
"Before returning to the surface, Hedin confirmed that the entrance to Knossos is in this area."
"You didn't pinpoint the exact location?"
"No. Just as we were about to continue investigating, Lady Freya summoned us back to the surface."
Ottar glanced sideways. "She ordered us to investigate the cause of Ishtar's forced return to the Heaven, along with Allen."
"I see. Quite the coincidence."
Cain showed no awareness that he was the actual cause.
He looked around briefly, found nothing, and gave up thinking about it. Instead, he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Let's just start. Maybe the entrance will reveal itself during the fight."
"Alright."
Ottar removed the greatsword from his back.
The entrance, carefully chosen by the Daedalus lineage, was located near the edge of the Eighteenth Floor.
Normally, no outsiders would approach this area.
Even if casualties occurred, they would only involve Evilus remnants.
And for those remnants, there was no need to show mercy. Killing them outright was the best option.
...
"Hey... what kind of situation is this?"
Thanatos stood at the entrance of Knossos on the Eighteenth Floor, staring in shock at the scene ahead.
Half an hour ago, a Evilus Faction executive had rushed to him, claiming that a natural disaster had appeared.
At first, Thanatos thought it was exaggerated.
But after arriving, he realized it was not.
Deafening roars echoed continuously, and massive sword energy tore through the forest again and again.
It was like watching an ancient hero slaughter monsters. Pure, overwhelming force ripped apart the land, turning the once lush forest into chaos.
"I only came to take a look after hearing the news, but this is even more absurd than I expected."
A casual voice sounded from behind.
Thanatos turned to see a young man wearing goggles and carrying a crimson spear stepping out from the Labyrinth.
"Oh, isn't this lil Dix? Perfect timing. I need your help."
"Help? With what?"
Dix raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you want me to stop those two monsters fighting out there."
"Bingo."
Thanatos snapped his fingers. "You've seen how intense the battle is."
"If attacks like that hit the Labyrinth directly, even it might not withstand the damage."
"As a descendant of Daedalus, you wouldn't want that to happen, right?"
"Hard to say."
Dix revealed a cold grin.
Unlike his brother, he had no interest in fulfilling the family's cursed duty.
Rather than maintaining Knossos, he would prefer to destroy it and break free from the bloodline curse.
Unfortunately, that was impossible.
Even if Knossos were destroyed, the curse would still force him to rebuild it.
Thanatos knew this well, which was why he chuckled lightly.
"Just think of it as protecting yourself. Go stop them."
"Shut up. You're annoying."
Dix frowned.
These gods always seemed to see straight through him.
Still, he turned his gaze toward the forest, which was gradually quieting.
Unlike the Evilus members, he had a legitimate identity in Orario.
It was far safer for him, an LV5 adventurer, to investigate personally.
...
"Stopping already?"
Ottar halted his movements.
Despite the fierce battle, his body showed no injuries.
Even his clothes were only slightly dusty.
Cain's condition was nearly identical.
Thanks to the regeneration from Super-Speed Regeneration, he had fought Ottar for nearly an hour without sustaining damage.
At this rate, they could continue fighting for an entire day.
However...
"Let's stop for now."
Cain looked to his right. "I think I found the entrance to Knossos."
"You found it?"
Ottar showed slight surprise.
Even he had not detected anything. How did Cain manage it?
"Electric Field Perception."
As if answering his question, Cain raised his hand. Golden lightning spread outward around him.
After consuming the Perfect Demon King Potion, his Current Propulsion ability had evolved.
It was no longer just support magic.
Now, he could disperse electric currents across the surroundings, forming a detection field.
Moments ago, he sensed a presence comparable to a First Class Adventurer appearing nearby.
"Ottar, he's coming."
"Yes. I feel it too."
Ottar focused his gaze.
Under their watch, Dix stepped out from behind several tilted trees, holding his spear.
"Yo, isn't this Ottar from the Freya Familia? No wonder there's such a commotion."
His eyes shifted to Cain.
"And who might this be?"
"Ottar, grab him."
Cain spoke immediately. "He's a descendant of Daedalus. He might have the Labyrinth map."
"???"
Dix froze.
In the next instant, a terrifying aura locked onto him.
Before he could react, Ottar appeared in front of him.
Boom.
A single strike ended the battle.
Against the strongest in Orario, even an LV5 adventurer was no different from an ordinary person.
Without holding back, Ottar defeated Dix with one punch.
"Nicely done."
Cain walked over.
Only by fighting Ottar directly could one understand how absurd his strength truly was.
Even at LV3, Cain still had a gap.
"Cough... damn it..."
Dix leaned against a shattered tree, barely conscious.
"You're Cain from the Hestia Familia."
After a moment, he finally recognized him.
"How do you know about me?"
"Because I am..."
"?"
Dix stared, completely confused.
Ignoring him, Cain searched his body and pulled out a black notebook.
"Ottar, found it."
"This is the Daedalus Notebook. It contains the map and structure of Knossos."
Ottar flipped through it silently.
He did not fully understand it, but it was clearly a map.
"What should we do with him?"
"Take him back for interrogation. As a Daedalus descendant, he should know quite a bit."
Cain broke all four of Dix's limbs and knocked him unconscious.
An LV5 had strong vitality, so it was safer this way.
"You carry him. We'll return to the Freya Familia. Interrogation is where the Goddess of Beauty excels."
"..."
That is not how Lady Freya is supposed to be used.
Ottar hesitated but said nothing.
...
Carrying Dix, they soon reached the passage to the seventeenth floor.
Just as they were about to enter, a group carrying clown banners emerged.
Ais, at the front, stopped.
"Ottar? Cain?"
Recalling the news she heard earlier, her expression shifted.
[Cain broke through to LV3.]
Seeing them together, she came to a conclusion.
"So this is how you got stronger."
"?"
Cain froze.
Even he had no idea how she reached that conclusion.
"Good morning."
Finn stepped forward.
His gaze lingered on the scene.
"I didn't expect to meet you here, who is that?"
"No comment."
"One million Valis."
The two answers came at the same time.
Ottar glanced at Cain.
"Don't be so rigid," Cain said seriously. "You're the captain of the Freya Familia. Learn to use your resources. If not your members, then at least use them."
"..."
Ottar thought about the repair costs of Folkvangr and Cain's expensive, toxic dishes.
Then he looked at Finn.
"Ten million Valis."
Finn: "..."
Do I look like an idiot to you?
...
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GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.