The night passed silently.
When the first ray of morning light crested the towering spire of Babel Tower, it scattered freely across the neatly arranged roof tiles of Northwest Main Street. Inside the master bedroom on the second floor. At this moment, Haimer had long since woken up.
His black hair fell loosely, and he wore a comfortable silk bathrobe, leaning back in a chair. Although he held a thick book in his hands, his black eyes were not focused on the words on the page. Instead, he was looking at a panel that only he could see.
—There. A transparent blue screen. [Super Dimensional Familia Recruitment System].
After a full day of tossing about yesterday. From descending into this different world and recruiting all the members, to leading them to slaughter their way through the first 12 floors of the Dungeon, and finally to this series of settling down. Up until now, this was a rare moment of leisure for Haimer to sit down quietly and properly examine the status of his system.
Logically speaking, since it was a recruitment system. Yesterday, he had recruited Amou Kirukiru, Inaba Tsukuyo, and the others all at once, even getting two bears as a bonus, completing the initial formation of his Familia. Even their first day entering the Dungeon had ended perfectly, with all members' Ability Values increasing significantly.
No matter how you looked at it, this should count as a perfect starting achievement. As a result... There wasn't even a 'ding'? Not only were there no rewards, there wasn't even an achievement pop-up. This was a bit intriguing.
"Could it be..."
Haimer rubbed his chin, a possibility flashing through his mind.
"Do I have to wait until one of them truly breaks through their bottleneck, completes a so-called Great Feat, and steps into the realm of Lv.2?"
If that was the case, he could indeed plan out the timeline.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Just as Haimer was pondering, a very soft knocking sound rang out. The person knocking was very careful, seemingly afraid of disturbing the person resting inside.
"Come in."
Haimer waved his hand casually, dismissing the transparent blue screen, and closed the book in his hands.
"Click."
The door opened gently. Inaba Tsukuyo's figure appeared at the doorway. He saw that Inaba Tsukuyo had already changed out of her bathrobe and back into her black-and-red kimono combat attire, which was easy to move in—this was something Tsubaki had specially ordered to be altered to fit her figure when they were picking out equipment at the Hephaestus Familia yesterday.
Her long silver hair was neatly tied behind her head, revealing a smooth forehead.
"Good morning, Kami-sama."
After entering the room, Inaba Tsukuyo bowed slightly to Haimer, her voice calm and soothing.
"So early?"
Haimer looked at Inaba Tsukuyo, feeling a bit puzzled.
"Tsukuyo, you must have been very tired yesterday, right? Why didn't you rest a little longer?"
"As a martial artist, it is a habit to rise at the first crow of the rooster."
Inaba Tsukuyo shook her head, her delicate little face full of seriousness.
"Furthermore..."
At this point, Inaba Tsukuyo paused, and her pair of nimble ears twitched slightly again, as if catching some faint noise from downstairs.
"Kami-sama. Outside. That person from last night has come over. She is right at the main gate. It seems... she is hesitating whether to ring the doorbell."
Clearly, Inaba Tsukuyo had truly taken Haimer's words from last night to heart. Now, even the slightest sense of incongruity, she would report to Haimer immediately.
"Well done, Tsukuyo."
Haimer walked up to Inaba Tsukuyo and reached out to rub her head.
"Mmm..."
Feeling the warm touch on top of her head, Inaba Tsukuyo's body stiffened slightly, and two faint blushes quickly flew onto her cheeks. However, she did not dodge; instead, she obediently narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Since it is Kami-sama's command... Then Tsukuyo naturally ought to keep it in mind."
"Good."
Haimer withdrew his hand.
"Since our guest has already arrived at the gate, we cannot just leave her outside in the cold wind. Let's go. We will head down together."
First-floor hall.
The heavy oak door was pushed open once again. The slightly cool morning air, mixed with the freshness of dew, blew against their faces.
Outside that black carved iron gate. A slightly thin figure was standing quietly in the morning light. As the heavy oak door was slowly pulled open, the cool morning air rushed in through the crack of the door.
The person standing at the door was indeed that familiar figure. —Ryu Lion.
However, when he clearly saw her current attire, even Haimer couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly.
He saw that Ryu was not wearing the adventurer's combat gear from yesterday that was easy to move in, nor had she changed into casual clothes. Instead, she was wearing a standard maid outfit.
A dark green full-length dress, a pure white apron tied around her waist, and a lace-trimmed headdress worn neatly on her dyed green short hair.
Seeing the door open and Haimer appear, Ryu immediately brought her legs together, folded her hands in front of her, and performed an extremely standard ninety-degree bow. But her movements were as stiff as a wind-up puppet.
"Good morning, Kami-sama. I am here to fulfill our agreement."
Her voice was tight. It could be heard that she was trying hard to maintain some sort of crumbling composure.
"Morning."
Haimer leaned against the doorframe, his gaze shamelessly looking her up and down.
"Miss Elf. Although I did say yesterday that I wanted you to be a maid. But... aren't you being a bit too dedicated? You actually even changed into the outfit? Or could it be... is this your casual wear?"
Hearing this obvious teasing, Ryu's body, still in the bowing posture, trembled violently.
"N-no, it is not casual wear!"
Ryu straightened her back and forced herself to explain:
"This is... This is my work uniform at the [Hostess of Fertility]! Because... Because this is the only outfit I have that is suitable for doing chores! My other clothes are not suited for cleaning! So I wore it over."
"Alright then. A work uniform is a work uniform."
Haimer waved his hand and stepped aside to make way.
"Since you are here, come on in. As a maid, on this first day of work, there are quite a few chores waiting for you."
"Yes!"
As if granted a pardon, Ryu hastily lowered her head and walked quickly into the hall.
As Ryu entered. By the railing on the second floor, several heads that had just woken up, with their hair still a bit messy, also popped out.
Hanasaka Warabi, still wearing that oversized T-shirt and rubbing her sleepy eyes, was groggily watching the green figure on the first floor holding a feather duster and vigorously dusting a vase.
"Eh? Who is that? Why is there someone wandering around our house so early in the morning? And... those clothes... Aren't those what the waitress at that tavern yesterday was wearing?"
As soon as she said this, Onigawara Rin, Kikakujou Mary, and the others next to her immediately woke up quite a bit.
"Come down and get to know each other."
Haimer waved to the people upstairs.
"This Elf lady. From today onwards, is the Elf maid responsible for taking care of this house."
"An Elf maid...?!"
As Haimer's words fell, an exclamation of surprise rang out.
The girls were stunned for a moment, and then the expressions on their faces quickly turned from surprise to sheer delight.
Suddenly, a flurry of rapid footsteps came from the second floor. Not even bothering to change their clothes properly, the girls rushed down the stairs one by one, directly surrounding Ryu, who was focused on fighting with the vase, leaving no gaps.
"Wow—! It is a real Elf maid...?! It really is that Elf miss! This outfit is so cute!"
"Hey, hey, Elf big sister, do you also meow like that cat-eared big sister from yesterday?"
Hanasaka Warabi leaned in front of Ryu, staring curiously at Ryu's pair of pointed ears.
"Also, also!"
Kikakujou Mary was also gesturing excitedly.
"The food at that tavern yesterday was super delicious! Since you are an employee there, then you definitely know how to cook it too, right? I was still dreaming about that taste last night!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Yeah, that special toasted bread from last night was also amazing! Even though we ate until we were full last night, as soon as we woke up today... our stomachs were already hungry."
As soon as food was mentioned, Onigawara Rin, who was originally a bit shy around strangers, couldn't help but swallow her saliva.
After all, that meal last night, for this group of girls who had just arrived in this world and were used to the mass-produced food of their original world, was simply a multidimensional strike to their taste buds.
Having said that, several expectant gazes focused in unison on Ryu. Those sparkling eyes.
"Uh..."
And being stared at by so many pairs of eyes, the hand Ryu used to hold the feather duster froze in mid-air. She pressed her whole body against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.
"B-Breakfast?"
Ryu was stunned. She opened her mouth, looking in astonishment at this group of girls whose faces were written all over with "please feed us."
The image of Mama Mia wielding a large ladle in the kitchen yesterday, conjuring up a table full of delicacies like magic, flashed through her mind.
Since she was now the maid here. Then... making breakfast should be a matter of course, right?
Moreover, it was just making a breakfast. She had seen the steps of cooking countless times in the tavern. It shouldn't... be hard.
Thinking of this, Ryu took a deep breath, and that inexplicable sense of responsibility belonging to an Elf took the high ground. She immediately straightened her back slightly, forcing herself to look a bit more confident.
"Of... Of course! Since I am the maid here, preparing breakfast is naturally my duty! Then, please wait a moment. I will go to the kitchen to prepare it right now!"
With that said, Ryu lifted the hem of her skirt, turned around, and walked toward the kitchen.
"Wow—!"
Watching Ryu's confident back, the girls let out a cheer.
"Awesome! We are in for a treat! Now we will be able to eat delicious food every day!"
The girls were extremely excited.
Only Haimer, standing on the side, watching that figure charge fiercely into the kitchen, and then looking at this group of silly girls with faces full of anticipation, couldn't help but let his mouth twitch.
After all, Haimer remembered clearly. In the intel from the original work, this Ryu's cooking skills... seemed to be inversely proportional to her combat power.
Or rather, besides fighting, she was a complete failure at everything else. However, seeing everyone looking so jubilant, and Ryu's resolute demeanor, in the end, Haimer couldn't bring himself to break the mood.
"Kami-sama."
At this time, Inaba Tsukuyo, who had been following by Haimer's side, turned her head slightly, her sightless eyes directed toward the kitchen where Ryu had gone. Her ears twitched.
"That Elf miss's heartbeat... seemed to suddenly accelerate several times faster just now. Furthermore... although her footsteps sounded very firm. But they reveal a sense of panic."
Inaba Tsukuyo's voice carried a trace of confusion.
"Is that Elf miss really going to be alright?"
"Who knows."
Haimer shrugged, wearing an expression of enjoying a good show.
"Anyway. It won't kill anyone, that's for sure."
And so.
In the open dining room on the side of the hall. Beside the long hardwood dining table capable of seating over a dozen people. Onigawara Rin, Kikakujou Mary, Hanasaka Warabi, Nomura Satori, and Amou Kirukiru, who was sitting at the end looking completely bored, were all seated there.
"It's taking so long..."
Hanasaka Warabi lay flat on the table, like a salted fish that had lost its dreams.
"That Elf miss has been in there for twenty minutes already, right? Does making breakfast take this long? I want to eat meat... I want to eat the big chunks of roast meat from yesterday."
"Just wait a little longer."
Although Kikakujou Mary was also hungry, she still maintained her posture of a well-bred lady. However, her eyes, which kept glancing toward the kitchen, betrayed her.
"After all, slow and steady produces fine work. Maybe the Elf big sister is inside preparing some surprise for us."
"A surprise?"
Haimer stood to the side, holding a cup of water. The meaningful arc at the corner of his mouth just couldn't be suppressed.
"Hm?"
At this exact moment, Amou Kirukiru, who likewise hadn't participated in any discussions, suddenly moved a bit. Her perky nose twitched slightly. Immediately after, her brows furrowed in an extremely rare manner.
"What's wrong, Amou?"
Noticing Amou Kirukiru's expression, Nomura Satori, who was sitting next to her, asked curiously.
"..."
Amou Kirukiru did not answer immediately. She just twitched her nose once again. This time, she was certain.
"It's burnt."
"Huh? What's burnt?"
Before the others could react.
"Clang—!"
The carved wooden door of the kitchen was pushed open from the inside by Ryu. A strong smell of smoke and fire rushed into the dining room.
No matter how good the ventilation system of this mansion was, that smell of charred carbon that shot straight to the top of the skull could not be hidden at all.
"Cough, cough..."
Sitting closest to the kitchen, Hanasaka Warabi bore the brunt of it. She coughed twice from the smoke, covered her nose, and looked horrified.
"Wh-what...?! Is there a fire...?!"
Under everyone's bewildered and uncertain gazes. A dark green figure finally emerged from the cloud of smoke. —Ryu Lion.
However. At this moment, although she was still wearing that standard maid outfit, keeping her back perfectly straight, and wearing the same unsmiling, aloof expression on her face. But. If one looked closely, they would notice.
Several black ash marks had appeared on her originally pure white apron. That delicate lace headdress was also slightly crooked.
Most importantly, the huge silver tray she was holding in her hands was currently emitting the source of that disturbing burnt smell.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Ryu walked to the dining table. She did not even dare to look into everyone's eyes.
"This is today's breakfast. Special... toasted sandwi..."
Ryu placed the tray in the center of the dining table.
"Please enjoy."
In an instant, the dining room fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone widened their eyes, craning their necks to look at the things on the tray.
There, over a dozen black objects were stacked neatly. If one wasn't told they were sandwiches, everyone would probably think these were coal briquettes dug out of the fireplace by someone.
The parts that should have been soft white bread had now completely carbonized, taking on a bizarre deep black hue, and even shimmering with a greasy, burnt glint.
As for the vegetables and meat slices sandwiched inside... Sorry. In the face of this level of blackness, all beings were equal. It was completely impossible to tell what was what. One could only faintly discern from those twisted clumps the inhuman treatment they might have suffered while they were alive.
"..."
With a "clang," the fork in Kikakujou Mary's hand dropped onto her plate. Hanasaka Warabi opened her mouth wide, her jaw practically dropping to the table.
Can this really be eaten? Is this really not meant for murder?
"Umm..."
After a long time, it was the straightforward Onigawara Rin who first broke the silence. She tremblingly reached out a finger, pointed at the plate of black charcoal, and swallowed hard.
"E-Elf miss... I-Is this what you called sandwiches? Are you sure this thing... wasn't picked out of a fire pit?"
Hearing these words, Ryu's originally forced aloof mask instantly cracked.
"T-This is a normal phenomenon!"
"Really?"
Onigawara Rin looked suspicious.
Ryu had no choice but to bite the bullet, pick up the tongs, and try to pick up a piece to show everyone. However, the moment the tongs touched it.
"Crack."
A crisp sound. That piece of bread, which had long since carbonized, couldn't withstand any touch at all. Right in front of everyone's eyes, it crumbled into dust. Black powder fell rustling down, like a snowfall of black snow.
The wind stopped.
Or rather, it was because the air over the dining table was so solidified that even the wind didn't dare to blow in.
"Um..."
Onigawara Rin raised her hand tremblingly, pointing at the plate of things, her expression uglier than if she were crying.
"E-Elf miss... Although I know this is very impolite. But... how exactly was this thing made? I mean, although I'm a layman, even if you threw the bread directly into the oven, it wouldn't be burnt this evenly, right?"
Ryu's body stiffened.
"Because... The kitchen here..."
Ryu bit her lip, her voice getting quieter and quieter.
"The operation of those Magic Stone stoves was too complicated... I... I couldn't quite understand it. And those pots and pans... Were too delicate, I was afraid of breaking them... So. I figured, since it's cooking, as long as the food is cooked through, it's fine! Therefore... I just built a fire in the backyard... And... roasted them directly over an open flame..."
Dead silence.
A dead silence even longer than before.
"An... open flame directly roasting?"
"Did you throw the bread into the fire to burn it?!"
"How is this cooking!"
As these words came out, Ryu's last bit of stubbornness was extinguished by this basin of cold water. She silently lowered her head.
"Yes... I am very sorry... I overestimated my own abilities..."
Ryu's voice was filled with a sense of defeat.
Half an hour later.
As the girls started entering the kitchen to cook for themselves. Tsubaki walked down the stairs, rubbing her sleepy eyes and yawning.
She saw the green figure holding a broom, silently sweeping the floor in the corner of the hall.
"Hm?"
Tsubaki was momentarily confused, and then her single eye scanned the surroundings. Finally landing on the tray by the dining table that hadn't been cleared away yet. There was still a little bit of black powder remaining there.
"?"
Tsubaki walked over, pinched a bit of the black ash with her fingers, and placed it under her nose to sniff. That familiar bitter burnt smell made her frown.
"What's this? Where did this charcoal ash come from? First thing in the morning... Who is so leisurely that they're playing with burning charcoal at home?"
Hearing these words, Ryu, who was sweeping in the corner, stiffened her back.
In the end.
Today's breakfast commotion was finally settled by a flurry of activity from the girls pouring into the kitchen. Although it couldn't be called some rare delicacy, at least it looked more like human food than the plate Ryu brought out that was roasted directly over an open flame until it turned to carbon.
"Very simple."
Haimer turned around.
"Kirukiru. Are you full?"
"Yes."
Amou Kirukiru put down her napkin, raised her head slightly, and looked calmly at Haimer with her pitch-black eyes.
"Since you are full."
Haimer smiled, turned sideways, and pointed toward the spacious hall ahead.
"Perfect. If you don't do a little activity after eating, it's not good for digestion."
Hearing this, Amou Kirukiru seemed to realize something, and ripples instantly stirred within her. An excitement akin to a beast catching the scent of blood emanated from her slender body.
"God's meaning is..."
Amou Kirukiru stood up.
"It just so happens."
Haimer pointed at Ryu, who was still standing in the corner and hadn't reacted yet.
"This newly arrived maid miss, although her cooking skills are a little... you know. But. When it comes to fighting. She is an expert. How about it? Are you interested in sparring with the Elf miss?"
After all, regarding one of Amou Kirukiru's skills: —『Battle Craze』.
The effect of this skill was simple and brutal.
[The extreme obsession with "strength" becomes the firewood for growth.]
[The acquisition speed of all Ability Values and proficiency receives a massive increase. This increase has no upper limit and depends on the depth of the obsession.]
[If fighting against a target deemed a "must-surpass goal," the growth speed of all Ability Values is doubled.]
This was the fundamental reason why Amou Kirukiru could raise her Ability Values to such a terrifying degree in just a single day. For this girl, who thirsted for battle like a moth to a flame in pursuit of "truly living," this obsession itself was her most powerful weapon.
However.
Although her stats had skyrocketed. The Dungeon monsters from last night, in Amou Kirukiru's eyes, probably didn't count as a "must-surpass goal." At best, they were just a bunch of moving sandbags with a bit of strength. Muscles built by hitting sandbags might be solid, but they ultimately lack soul.
Although Haimer knew very well that he himself had eighty percent likely become that "must-surpass goal" in Amou Kirukiru's heart. But... Using him as a target was a bit too distant. Although her ambition was grand. If she couldn't reach it for a long time, this obsession might turn into anxiety due to a lack of positive feedback, or even lead her to go berserk.
Therefore, Haimer had an idea.
—To set up a staircase-like progression of targets for Amou Kirukiru. Be it human or beast. To evolve, one must set visible and tangible steps for oneself. One footprint at a time. Climbing up by stepping on the corpses of losers one by one—this was the fastest shortcut.
—Ryu. Was undoubtedly the most perfect whetstone for Amou Kirukiru at this stage. As long as he could make Amou Kirukiru feel that "even a maid is stronger than her, and she needs to surpass her." This way, he could continuously stimulate the skill's activation triggers. Moreover, Ryu surely wouldn't let herself be easily defeated by Amou Kirukiru.
"A sparring match?"
Hearing Haimer's proposal.
"Really?"
Amou Kirukiru's eyes lit up. She immediately turned her head and locked onto Ryu. Like a sheathed demonic sword suddenly exposing a section of its chilling blade. Desire. Naked desire.
Ryu, on the other hand, hesitated slightly. After all, this God already knew her true strength. Since that was the case, there was nothing to hide. But, a look of difficulty appeared on Ryu's face.
"Kami-sama... I... I am not good at guiding others. And... I have always been very clumsy when it comes to controlling my strength. People often complain that I always overdo it, and once I start fighting, it's hard for me to pull my punches."
Speaking of this, the image of the tavern's back alley couldn't help but surface in Ryu's mind. "Black Cat" Chloe and "Black Fist" Lunor had often complained after sparring, pointing at her nose while clutching their bruised and battered arms.
"Therefore..."
Ryu looked at Amou Kirukiru's slender and seemingly frail build.
"If I accidentally hurt your Familia member, that wouldn't be good."
This was also the truth. Although she had been retired for two years, those killing moves and instincts carved into her bones couldn't be forgotten just like that. Especially when facing a newcomer who was clearly a warrior type. Once her stress response was triggered, she was afraid she might accidentally demolish this place.
"You don't need to worry about that at all."
Haimer seemed to have already anticipated Ryu's concerns.
"The seller of this house told me that the flooring here is specially made ironwood. Treated with master-class craftsmanship, its hardness is comparable to granite. Even if you demolish the house here, you don't have to worry about crushing it with your feet. If it really breaks, it'll give me a good excuse to settle the score with that guy. As for whether it will hurt anyone..."
Haimer turned his head to look at Amou Kirukiru, who was already eager to fight.
"That will depend on the Elf miss's skills. This child... Her skin is much thicker than you think."
Hearing Haimer's words, Amou Kirukiru also stretched her wrists, producing crisp cracking sounds.
"If you are just worried about hurting me. Then that is completely unnecessary. You can just come at me with everything you've got. If I die. It will only prove that I amounted to nothing more."
At this point, the battle intent continuously rising from Amou Kirukiru pressed forward like something tangible. —A pure, unadulterated desire for battle.
"Since you have that kind of resolve."
Hearing this, Ryu took a deep breath. She gently leaned the broom in her hands against the wall. Following that, she untied her apron strings, neatly folded the white apron stained with black ash, and placed it on a nearby chair.
"Since both Kami-sama and you insist so much. Then. I will suppress my Level. And act as your opponent."
With this. In the center of the hall. The two confronted each other. The others had retreated to the edges of the hall, leaving the space for the two of them.
Even Tsubaki was now leaning against a pillar with her arms crossed, looking on with great interest. Although she didn't know Ryu's background. However, she recognized that the clothes Ryu was wearing were exactly the employee uniform of the [Hostess of Fertility].
"You're not using a weapon?"
Ryu looked at the still empty-handed Amou Kirukiru, frowning slightly.
"I don't need one. This is my weapon."
Amou Kirukiru coldly shook her head. Her long straight black hair swayed gently with her movements. She brought her five fingers together and straightened them.
"This is my weapon. For me. As long as I wish it. Any part of my body can be sharper and harder than swords."
"?"
Her body is a weapon? What was this? Martial arts? The problem was, this was way too arrogant.
Ryu frowned slightly. Although a Lv.1 rookie capable of reaching the 12th floor of the Dungeon in a single day would naturally have some skills. But to be so arrogant as to not use a weapon against her? Was she looking down on her?
A trace of anger flared up in Ryu's heart. Since that was the case. She would let this person suffer a little and learn that there is always someone better out there.
"Please be careful!"
With a low shout, Ryu moved. Even without using Magic, and even intentionally suppressing her speed, her physical prowess made her figure as fast as lightning.
Just a simple thrust. Her hand, flat like a blade, had already sliced right in front of Amou Kirukiru. Aiming straight for the side of her neck.
For this strike, Ryu only used thirty percent of her strength. As long as she pulled her punch the moment it hit, she would at most knock her out without causing substantial harm.
However. Facing this strike as fast as a thunderclap. Amou Kirukiru surprisingly neither dodged nor evaded. Even, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a spine-chilling, maniacal smile.
"Bring it on!"
Amou Kirukiru's eyes lit up; instead of retreating, she advanced. Raising her hand as well, in an extremely brutal posture, she met Ryu's hand blade head-on with her forearm.
She wanted to clash head-on? Was she crazy? How could mortal flesh and blood possibly clash head-on with her attack?
Startled, Ryu instinctively tried to pull her strength. But it was already too late.
"Bang—!!"
A dull sound of impact exploded in the hall. Immediately after, Ryu's expression changed. Not because she had hit her opponent. But because... Numbness.
A piercing numbness spread instantly from the point of contact through her entire arm. That sensation didn't feel like hitting a human body at all. It felt more like hitting a solid steel pillar wrapped in a thin layer of human skin.
So hard! Is this really a human body?!
Alarm bells rang wildly in Ryu's heart. Using the reaction force of the collision, she quickly retreated to open up some distance.
"Again!"
Without waiting for Ryu to stop, Amou Kirukiru pressed her advance. This time, her offensive was even more ferocious. Hand chops, elbow strikes, knee thrusts. Every part of her body transformed into a lethal weapon.
Furthermore, what alarmed Ryu the most was that this black-haired girl's attacks completely abandoned any defense. Her hands became sharp blades, her legs like battle axes. Every strike carried the howling sound of tearing through the air.
A martial art from the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom named [Uechi-ryu]. In Amou Kirukiru's hands, this was not just martial arts. This was the most primal, barbaric art of slaughter after tempering the body into a weapon.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Dense sounds of collisions rang out in the hall.
The more they fought, the more alarmed Ryu became. This Lv.1 rookie... What on earth did she eat growing up?
—In this momentary lapse of focus. A sharp glint flashed in Amou Kirukiru's pitch-black eyes.
"Caught you."
Fingers pressed together. Thrusting straight for Ryu's ribs!
"This girl..."
Ryu dared not be careless anymore. Forcibly twisting her waist, she shifted her footing.
"Bang!!"
A muffled thud. Amou Kirukiru's hand blade chopped viciously onto Ryu's arm.
Although Ryu had the Ability Values of a Lv.4 protecting her body and took no substantial damage. But, that pure, barbaric, terrifying physical strength that seemed to want to sever everything, still pushed her back, sliding half a meter across the ironwood floor. The friction between her soles and the floor produced an ear-piercing screech.
Ryu retreated three steps in a row to steady her stance. In her sky-blue eyes, there was no longer any reaction of underestimating Amou Kirukiru.
Ryu glanced down at her right hand, which was still slightly numb. She was greatly shocked internally. She finally understood what Haimer meant by "her skin is thick."
This kind of bodily durability. If a normal blunt weapon hit it, it wasn't certain which of the two would break. She was simply a humanoid lethal weapon wrapped in human skin! Since that was the case, she could afford to get a little serious now.
"Lord Haimer."
At this time, Tsubaki couldn't help but turn her head and look at Haimer.
"This child, Amou... Could she be some kind of half-human monster hybrid? I've never heard of humans being able to train their bodies to this extent."
"This is what you call being tempered a thousand times."
Haimer did not explain too much. After all, this was 『Keshinriki』. Even before receiving [God's Grace]. Amou Kirukiru's specially trained body was already capable of withstanding simultaneous sword attacks from Onigawara Rin and Kikakujou Mary without taking a single scratch.
However, even so. The battle did not last much longer. After all, no matter how heaven-defying Amou Kirukiru's constitution was, and no matter how much her 『Battle Craze』 thirsted for victory. The chasm named "Basic Ability Values" between a Lv.1 and a Lv.4 was, in the end, an objectively existing law of physics.
Ten minutes later.
"Bang!"
Following the final collision. Amou Kirukiru was sent flying backward. Her feet hit the ground and skidded for several meters before she barely came to a halt.
At this time, Amou Kirukiru's breathing was completely disordered. Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her black long hair clung somewhat messily to her cheeks. But. Those eyes. In those pitch-black eyes. There was not a hint of defeat.
On the contrary. It was as if a fire had been ignited in those black eyes. This was the high mountain she had to cross. The blood in her body was boiling. The switch named 『Battle Craze』 was firmly pressed down at this moment. She couldn't wait to turn this freshly suffered defeat into the fuel for becoming stronger.
"Alright."
Haimer, who was watching from the sidelines, clapped his hands.
"Let's stop here."
The objective had already been achieved. In fact, it was even better than expected. It seemed that the seed of "competition" had already been planted in Amou Kirukiru's heart. Next, he only had to wait for it to sprout, bloom, and bear fruit.
Hearing Haimer's words, Ryu lowered her stance and looked at Amou Kirukiru with a complex expression.
"You are very strong. If you were at the same Level as me... The one who lost just now might have been me."
"A loss is a loss. There are no 'ifs'. I lost. But tomorrow, I will challenge you again."
Amou Kirukiru didn't care in the slightest, burning with fierce fighting spirit.
"I will be ready anytime."
Ryu replied softly.
With this, the time for morning practice ended.
As the group left their base and headed for the Dungeon entrance. When Ryu hurried back to the [Hostess of Fertility].
Although it was still morning and the tavern had no customers yet. However, the tavern had already started getting busy. Mama Mia's booming roar would occasionally echo from the kitchen, shaking the glasses on the tables.
"Where is everyone?! Where the hell did you go?! Are the potatoes peeled yet?!"
"Coming! I'm coming, nya!"
Anya rushed out of the storage room in a panic, holding a basin of potatoes bigger than her head, almost tripping over her own feet and eating dirt.
DanMachi: Memoria Freese.
Anya Fromel, waitress at the Hostess of Fertility, a cat person who gets along well with Chloe. She calls herself the poster cat... and is an incredibly cheerful idiot.
CNCc.
Before Ryu could sneak in unnoticed.
"Yo~ Isn't this our Ryu?"
An eccentric voice drifted out from the shadows nearby.
She saw two figures in maid outfits leaning against the doorframe, staring at her with malicious intent.
—Black Cat, Chloe Lolo.
—Black Fist, Lunor Faust.
"You guys..."
Ryu's body stiffened, and she instinctively wanted to retreat. But it was too late.
"Swish!"
One on the left, one on the right. Two hands gripped Ryu's shoulders like iron pincers.
"Missing first thing in the morning. You didn't even show up for the morning cleaning shift, nya. Making the two of us do twice the work."
Lunor leaned close to Ryu's ear, a dangerous smile hanging on her face.
"Spit it out. Where were you messing around? Could it be... You went to meet some lover?"
"N-no!"
Ryu was flustered by this sudden barrage of accusations.
"Don't talk nonsense! I was just out working!"
"Working?"
Chloe's cat ears instantly perked up. Like a cat smelling fish. She circled around Ryu and twitched her nose twice, seemingly sniffing for any lingering scent on Ryu's body.
"Nya? This smell... Is the smell of high-class incense, nya? Ryu! Fess up honestly, nya! Did you go to some rich person's house?"
Facing the interrogation from these two. Ryu's body suddenly stiffened. Even though she tried her best to hide it. Having lived together for years, the panic of having her secret exposed still showed in front of Chloe and Lunor.
"Looks like we guessed right, nya."
Seeing Ryu's reaction, Chloe was absolutely certain.
"What's this? Is the salary Mama Mia pays you not enough to spend? To actually run off to that kind of place to work odd jobs?"
"Spit it out, spit it out. Which wealthy household is it exactly?"
Lunor also leaned in close to Ryu.
"I..."
Faced with their interrogation, Ryu ultimately sighed helplessly, having no choice but to tell the truth.
"I did go to someone else's house to work as a maid..."
"A maid?!"
Hearing these two words. The two were shocked on the spot.
"Are you serious? Where?"
"A very large stone house in the high-class residential area of Northwest Main Street. Don't tell Syr about this. I went... to... repay a favor to that person."
"Hiss—"
As these words came out, Chloe and Lunor couldn't help but gasp.
____
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