Alise felt unnerved by Rayleigh's intense gaze.
Though she was accustomed to being stared at while maintaining order in the city, this felt different, since it makes her self-conscious.
It was as if she were exposing her most vulnerable side!
"It suits you perfectly," Rayleigh said, avoiding phrases like "surprisingly well" to preserve his own safety.
'Is this what they call a gap moe...?'
"Really?" Alise asked, seeking reassurance.
Her feet fidgeted against her white lace socks, her ponytail swaying with each movement, mirroring the turmoil in her heart.
"I don't have many casual clothes. My Familia members chose this outfit, but I never had a chance to wear it..."
Seeing her lack of confidence, Rayleigh understood what he needed to do.
"Alise, you are beautiful. This outfit complements you perfectly."
'Beautiful?'
'Am I really beautiful?'
"Have you had lunch yet?" Rayleigh asked.
Rayleigh had not yet eat since he forge her Zanpakuto and the shop assistants had delayed him at the clothing store.
And Alise must have spent even more time getting ready.
She likely had not eaten anything yet and they could not go shopping on an empty stomach!
"If you haven't, how about we grab something to eat while we walk?"
Alise was a straightforward girl.
Hearing Rayleigh suggest food, a bright smile lit up her face.
...
The structure of Orario was simple, yet each district grew increasingly complex.
Starting from the Tower of Babel at the center, the area at its base formed a vast expanse known as Central Plaza.
It could accommodate tens of thousands of people without feeling crowded.
Eight main streets radiated outward from the Tower of Babel, dividing the city into eight districts arranged clockwise.
The pair had come to the bustling northwest street, belonging to the first district.
The northern district was home to the renowned Loki Familia's base, Twilight Manor.
As a result, it was common to spot Loki Familia Adventurers in the area.
Rayleigh and Alise were enjoying fried potato snacks when a surprised voice called out from nearby.
"Alise, is that you little brat?!"
'Huh?'
Rayleigh and Alise turned their heads, their movements and expressions synchronized.
They both saw the same person.
A Dwarf.
Alise recognized him and called out his name.
"Ah, Uncle Gareth!"
"Is that... really you, brat?"
"Who else would it be? Have you forgotten my face?"
"No, I'm confident in my memory, but you look different from the Alise I know."
Hearing the name Gareth, Rayleigh stopped eating.
'Gareth, a Dwarf... Could this be one of the Three Executives of the Loki Familia?'
'The Level 5 Adventurer known as Elgarm?'
"Am I that different?" Alise asked, sounding annoyed.
"Hmm, before we discuss this," Gareth said, his keen eyes missing nothing, "could it be... are you two on a date, young lady?"
'A date?!'
Alise's breath caught in her throat. Though she considered this a date, she had not stated it.
She never expected the old man to call her out!
Rayleigh also felt a secret had been exposed. He could not back down or avoid the question.
"Yes, we are on a date," he replied, keeping his composure.
Hearing his answer, Alise's anxiety vanished, replaced by a sense of reassurance she could not explain.
Gareth startled for a moment, then chuckled. "You have guts, kid. Alise is a good girl—you have excellent taste."
Rayleigh nodded, his gaze unwavering as he turned to Alise.
"Indeed."
'?!'
Alise's face flushed crimson.
But Rayleigh added, "You misunderstood. We are not officially dating yet."
The girl's smile vanished.
Gareth teased, "Are you sure you can afford to take it easy? If you don't hurry, you will regret losing her."
"You're right. After all, I don't have any regret medicine."
Their conversation was interrupted as two new figures appeared, drawing a crowd.
One of them was Riveria.
"Dwarf, stop wandering! Taking care of Ais is giving me a headache. Don't add to my workload."
"Huh? What did you say, you stubborn Elf? I did not hear you. Say it again."
"I will say it as many times as you want! What is your problem?!"
Riveria seemed nothing like the composed woman she had been in the Dungeon. Instead, she resembled a rich girl who had run away from home to throw a tantrum!
'Wait a minute...'
'Why am I arguing with this Dwarf in front of everyone? How embarrassing!'
Then Riveria noticed Rayleigh.
"It's you," she said in surprise.
"Ahem."
The person who appeared with Riveria spoke up. "Alright, Gareth and Riveria, stop bickering."
The figure who stepped forward was a Pallum. He had golden hair and eyes that burned with conviction.
This was the first time Rayleigh had encountered these three.
Gareth 'Elgarm', and Riveria 'Nine Hell', stood side-by-side.
In all of Orario, there was not another Pallum who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with these two titans.
The Brave, Finn Deimne.
The final pillar of the Three Executives of the Loki Familia, and the Captain of the Loki Familia.
Currently, all three were at the peak of Level 5, but during the upcoming major event, they would all advance to Level 6.
As Rayleigh pondered this, he noticed Finn looking at him.
Finn turned to his two friends and asked, "You both seem to know this young man. Could you introduce him? Who is he?"
Riveria: "An interesting young man."
Gareth: "An interesting young man."
They answered in unison.
Even Finn was taken aback as he found it astonishing.
What kind of human youth could elicit the exact same assessment from both of his companions?
...
"This young man is the one I met in the Upper Floors back then," Riveria explained. "Thanks to him, the Evilus failed to take Ais away."
Finn's eyes flashed with interest at this revelation.
'Is that so?'
'So this is the young man...'
The Brave's curiosity was piqued.
A Level 1 Adventurer who could restrain twenty elite monsters and rescue Ais from an assassin likely at the peak of Level 3.
And he possessed magic as well.
According to Riveria, he had a recovery-type spell.
All of this left Finn intrigued.
It was a pity he belonged to the Hephaestus Familia.
But this only fueled Finn's curiosity.
With such capabilities, why would he not consider joining Orario's strongest Familia? Blacksmiths were not bound to production-focused Familias, after all.
...
Finn could not grasp the significance of Hephaestus's name to Rayleigh.
The Zanpakuto—a weapon no one had ever seen and sounding like pure nonsense—would have been impossible to sell without Hephaestus's name as a guarantee.
It might have even drawn unwanted attention.
In this world, there were countless ways to enslave a person, and those without a Familia had no rights.
Suppose he were targeted by the Soma Familia while selling his Zanpakuto—what would be the consequences?
First, they would force a Falna upon him, inducting him into their Familia and exposing his Skills and Magic.
Then, they would use the addictive nature of 'Soma' to turn him into an obedient dog.
Finally, they would force him to forge Zanpakuto, transforming him into the Familia's money-making machine.
Soma himself was a benevolent God.
Among the male deities of tenkai, he was a rare introvert, yet pessimistic.
Soma's Wine was not a product of Divine Power, but rather an inherent essence akin to the allure of the Goddess Freya—a fundamental quality that defied categorization as a mere ability.
It was as natural and inexplicable as having large or small eyes, a heart-shaped or round face.
The Captain of the Soma Familia saw potential in the 'Soma' wine.
No one could resist its allure.
By controlling the Wine, they could enslave anyone.
The Soma Familia Captain, Zanis, was ambitious and ruthless, his methods indistinguishable from the Evilus.
That man was capable of such actions.
After careful consideration, Rayleigh concluded that the Hephaestus Familia was the best choice.
Only there could he be the master of his Zanpakuto.
By contrast, joining the Loki Familia might mean losing his autonomy.
As for the Freya Familia...
Those who know, know.
Not even a dog would go there.
"We seem to have interrupted your date. My apologies. Please continue."
Finn suppressed his curiosity and led Riveria and Gareth away.
He was not just intelligent but he was also a leader.
He seemed to know how to make a good impression, always executing it flawlessly.
...
Back at hsi Familia's base, Finn reviewed Rayleigh's information.
Rayleigh had only been in Orario for two and a half months.
Before receiving his Falna, he had publicly defeated a mid-Level 1 Adventurer at the Guild. Using a thin sword, he had severed a massive steel greatsword.
The report claimed he had forged the blade himself.
After joining the Hephaestus Familia, he had not displayed any remarkable abilities.
That was until Ardi of the Ganesha Familia commissioned a custom weapon from him for fifty million Valis.
'His first commission as a Blacksmith was worth fifty million? How had this news not spread? It should have been the perfect publicity for a new Blacksmith.'
'Hmm.'
And he is also the so called Dungeon Ghost.
Moreover, even Shakti Varma, the Captain of the Ganesha Familia, seemed to have high hopes for him.
For the past two months, Rayleigh had been teaming up with the girls of the Astraea Familia to explore the Middle Floors.
'Hmph. He is an extraordinary individual.'
In just two and a half months, he had cultivated powerful connections: the Hephaestus Familia, the Ganesha Familia, the Astraea Familia, and even two favors promised by Riveria.
"His influence will only expand," Finn mused.
He trusted his intuition, for it had never betrayed him, especially his thumb.
...
Meanwhile, Rayleigh, absorbed in his date, remained unaware he had entered the watchlists of the top-tier Familias.
After strolling through the city, Rayleigh took Alise to a performance before they visited a pharmacy.
An ordinary couple on a date might not frequent such places, but they were Adventurers.
Maintaining their equipment and stocking up on potions were essential tasks.
After replenishing their supplies, they asked the shopkeeper to deliver the potions to the Astraea Familia's Base, as their date was far from over.
Feeling thirsty, Alise led Rayleigh to a café.
"Vixen?" Rayleigh asked, surprised by the name. "Is this place run by Elves?"
"That's right!" Alise replied. "I brought Ardi here before. Their coffee is delicious."
They entered the café.
Alise chose a table and asked Rayleigh to sit down while she ordered. Rayleigh sat and glanced at the owner talking to Alise.
The owner was an Elf wearing glasses, and did not seem to be a Half-Elf.
After their coffee arrived, they resumed their conversation, discussing topics they rarely touched upon in their daily lives.
In the Dungeon, one could learn about a person's combat habits, but deeper understanding required an environment like this.
Alise shared how she had joined the Astraea Familia, her words revealing deep respect for her God.
"By the way, Rayleigh, what's your sense of justice?"
Rayleigh was taken aback by the question.
"Justice?"
"Yes," Alise continued. "Everyone has their own sense of justice. Lady Astraea taught me that, but most people have not defined it for themselves."
Alise smiled faintly. "While we're at it, Rayleigh, why don't you summarize your definition of justice?"
Her expression turned serious as she clench her fingers.
It was clear that she's serious about this.
Rayleigh pondered for a moment before speaking. "My justice... it's about achieving clarity of mind."
"Clarity of mind?" Alise looked bewildered.
She had not expected such an enigmatic answer.
Fortunately, Rayleigh elaborated, "It means resolving the problems that trouble me, all the things I worry about."
"All of them?" Alise's surprise was evident.
Perhaps she found the task truly daunting. "Rayleigh, you're quite greedy, aren't you?"
"I will not deny it," Rayleigh replied, his gaze fixed on Alise's emerald eyes. "What I want, I pursue. What I want to protect, I will defend at any cost. What I lose, I will reclaim."
Sensing the deeper meaning in his words, Alise suppressed her embarrassment and endured his gaze!
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