Rivira Town was a place where "fish and dragons mixed." Leaving aside everything else, even the nominal mayor, Boars, had been involved in more than one murder case.
The permanent residents here were either people with criminal records or black marketeers skilled in extortion.
However, despite the chaos, it was the best rest stop for adventurers who went deep into the Dungeon.
Besides adventure-related services like bars, weapons shops, and gear stores, there were also ridiculously expensive inns.
And once there were inns, there were men and women coming to rest.
After a great battle, people who were physically and mentally exhausted inevitably sought a night of pleasure to fully release their stress.
Willy's Treehouse, a black inn with the highest price and lowest quality, was otherwise ordinary.
"Heh heh, I never thought I'd run into a beauty like you in town~"
The man with a rugged face was now filled with lust. He was bare-chested, stroking the alluring face of the woman beneath him.
The curve of her profile alone was an exquisite sight.
"You're very generous, booking the entire place." The woman's cool voice carried a hint of curiosity: "Did you take on some lucrative quest?"
"Haha, you guessed it!"
Driven by a need to show off, the man decided to brag about his recent gain before getting down to business.
"A very simple commission—to go to the 30th Floor and get some unknown item. There were some minor complications, but it was a piece of cake for me."
"Is that so?" The woman's red hair gave off a strange sheen in the dim light. Her emerald eyes gradually narrowed, turning into vertical slits like a snake's.
"A piece of cake, you say..."
Her pale, slender hand rested on the man's cheek, then moved across his neck. The delicate, pale fingers slowly tightened.
!!!
The man's sense of danger completely flared up at that moment!
His neck felt like it was being clamped by a humanoid monster; the force was so immense that even he, a Level 4 powerhouse specializing in physique, couldn't budge an inch!
"Gah! You!!"
The man's eyes were bloodshot, and foam spilled from the corners of his mouth. But the woman merely watched his agonizing struggle, devoid of any pity.
Pfff!
Her five fingers clenched, and a bloody head rolled onto the floor.
"Because of your 'piece of cake,' I had to make a special trip."
The woman stood up with apparent lack of shame, her entire body as white as snow and just as cold.
When her full appearance was revealed in the light, she was none other than the large-breasted—ah, no—the emissary of the Fallen Spirit, Revis!
Because of a certain entity's commission, this man had actually stolen an "Orb Embryo."
This mistake caused simultaneous trouble for the Fallen Spirits, the Evilus, and "Enyo."
Luckily, Revis had eventually recovered the lost item...
No.
When she violently tore open the man's package, various adventure-related items were present. But the Orb Embryo was missing!
It's not here!!
How can it not be here!!!
Revis's expression gradually became ferocious. Her body trembled, and physical strength beyond the imagination of mortals vibrated the air in waves!
Damn it!!
Where did you hide it!!?
Looking at the man who could no longer answer her, Revis's anger was uncontrollable! Like an enraged beast, she ruthlessly stomped on his terrified face!
Splatter!
Blood splashed several feet!
Although the inn's owner had also gone out drinking, such an incident would eventually be exposed. If she wanted to stay in town and continue her investigation, she would need a disguise. And ideally... a man's disguise.
Revis's eyes were chillingly cold.
She looked at the face that was already half-destroyed. Then she bent down and silently began her work.
Throughout the night, disturbing noises continued to echo from the inn.
...
The next day.
The Seventeenth Floor.
The Boars Room.
"They're here!" Tione gave a loud warning.
In front of them, the ten-meter-tall giant Goliath roared deafeningly! It lunged at the few minuscule insects before it, but before it could take two steps, its foot suddenly slipped.
Tiona leaped in the air and kicked, her light body exploding with immense power, easily knocking the seemingly formidable giant beast to the ground!
An ordinary, durability-specialized Goliath at Level 4 could easily be killed by the Amazon sisters if they chose to, even two or three at once.
The reason they went through such trouble was to give Lefiya, who was their little tag-along, a chance to face pressure.
"Lefiya! Chant now!"
Tiona dodged back and forth amidst the flying stone debris shaken up by Goliath, all while distracting the giant.
She was like an agile little fish, effortlessly evading its attempts to swat her.
Meanwhile, Lefiya, who had started practicing "Simultaneous Chanting," was running horizontally, desperately trying to focus and gather the massive magic power.
Simultaneous Chanting meant chanting while moving.
This was a highly advanced technique, as magic was inherently dangerous, and a lack of concentration could easily cause self-harm.
In the words of the Gods, learning this technique initially was like "dealing with a bomb while fighting."
"Oh, proud warrior, oh forest archer troop. The advancing looter is before us; pick up your bows..."
A bright and fiery magic circle began to form around Lefiya. She was practicing with the simplest straight-line run.
Although it seemed simple, the young girl felt like her mental energy was almost depleted.
She had to stabilize her footing while ensuring a consistent flow of magic.
To describe it, it was like running while holding a full basin of hot oil! She couldn't spill a single drop! Otherwise, she would either injure herself or tip the entire basin over!
Even though Lefiya was being extremely careful, accidents were always plentiful in the Dungeon.
Crack!
A sudden fissure in the floor blocked Lefiya's path. She snapped back to attention, steeled her heart, and deftly jumped over it.
But just as she landed, a rolling stone appeared right beneath her foot!
"Ugh!!"
Lefiya's ankle made a crisp sound, and she tumbled backward onto the floor. And the magic circle she had been struggling to maintain instantly failed!
"Lefiya!?" Tione rushed over when she saw her companion injured, quickly applying a potion.
"I, I can still do it!"
Lefiya forced herself to stand up before Tione reached her, about to start chanting again.
But someone had already lost patience.
"Shut up, you useless waste!"
Bete's harsh abuse came from the side. His eyes were cold, and his words were merciless.
"If you can't do it, stop making a spectacle! Get out of the way!"
"Hey! Bete, what are you doing!" Tione glared at the Werewolf, who was already warming up. "Didn't we agree to leave this opportunity for Lefiya!"
"Who would make an agreement with a weakling like her?" Bete scoffed, a sneer escaping his nose. "In the Dungeon, one mistake means death!"
"A corpse should just withdraw from the stage!"
"If you want to play with the weakling, stay up here and mess around!"
He pushed off the ground with his feet, leaping up towards Goliath's head!
"This great me is in a hurry to get down there!!!"
Boom!!
One strike! Bete's leg swept out like a scythe, releasing a fierce wind pressure.
His seemingly plain boots were actually high-quality, top-tier equipment.
That hardness combined with the Werewolf's divine speed was enough to instantly kill this Level 4 giant.
Splat...
A burst head sprayed blood everywhere. Tiona cursed and dodged, but still got spattered.
"Stupid Dog! What was that for!" The two sisters angrily questioned him, but they received no pleasant look in return.
"I'll hit anyone who gets in my way."
Having witnessed Ais's power, Bete was overcome with urgency.
Even now, he still delusionally dreamed of catching up to Ais one day and conquering her with his so-called "masculinity."
Truly, a Werewolf was just an incompletely evolved, lower-grade being.
"I can't be bothered with you all." With that final remark, Bete headed toward the lower floors without looking back.
As for Tiona and the others, having lost their practice target, they could only take Lefiya and head towards the 18th Floor.
"Hmph, at least we got the Goliath's magic stone! We can exchange it for a room at the inn tonight!"
"We don't have to sleep on the street like that Stupid Dog!"
The two sisters casually comforted Lefiya, who managed to force a smile.
Too weak.
Although Mr. Bete's words were excessive, with the way I am now, I can absolutely not become a source of support for others!
She recalled all the times she had been saved, and the time she was mercifully spared.
The fire in her heart reignited.
Lefiya quickly shook her head, clearing away the distractions.
What others think is irrelevant to me! I just need to do the best I can with what's in front of me!
I failed this time, but next time, I will absolutely master it!
With this positive, fiery mindset, Lefiya continued her training journey.
And just after they had left, before the mess had been cleaned up, a slender figure in a dark green cloak appeared.
Her mouth and nose were covered by a mask, and a long wooden sword hung at her waist.
It was Ryuu, who had accepted Eugene's commission and come in search of a certain item.
"Loki Familia, huh... This makes things a bit tricky."
She was almost right behind Lefiya and the others.
Because Goliath was blocking the way, Ryuu had given the fighting opportunity to them.
If possible, she wanted to minimize the chances of having to fight.
No fighting if possible, with personal safety as the top priority.
Looking at the Flying Thunder God talisman with strange runes in her hand, Ryuu felt a warmth in her heart.
With this, she could retreat safely anytime.
Moreover, according to Eugene, he had arranged for a "partner" who could absolutely guarantee Ryuu's safety.
"That guy and I have a bond forged in life and death; we're like each other's left and right hands." That's what Eugene had said.
Though Ryuu wondered why he would hide such a powerful helper, she still followed Eugene's rule: ask less, do more.
Ryuu quickly traversed the 17th Floor. Following the stone slide between the floors, she silently arrived at the wide and brightly lit 18th Floor.
Rivira Town was clearly visible in the distance.
"Alright... Let's begin." She repeated Eugene's instructions.
"First, find the Hermes Familia member hiding in the town, the black-haired, tan-skinned, dog-person girl."
Her name is Lulune Louie. The package Ryuu was looking for was in Lulune's hands!
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