And I'm back, with Chapter 5.

That's about it.

Kay bye.

XXX

"So...that happened. Hmm..." The red-haired Goddess hummed as she threw herself back into the seat, hands behind her head as a smirk took shape on her face.

After the search party had patched Fuzen up, they extracted the Monster Rex's Item Drops it and made their way back up. Even though his wounds had been taken care of, Fuzen himself did not wake up during the couple of hours they needed to reach the surface, hanging unconscious over Bete's shoulder not unlike a sack of potatoes.

Though Finn had felt an unexpected sense of pride upon his Familia member's achievement in half killing a Monster Rex, he also sighed at the prospect of having to explain everything to the Guild. After all, though anything could happen in the Dungeon and no one could be held responsible for whatever was to happen, there were some...unsaid rules, to say it like that. And Monster Rexes were part of that.

Usually, when an Adventurer dwelled into the Dungeon, they could kill whatever Monster they wanted that was within their strength to kill, and as many of them as they wanted. No one could walk up to another and simply demand them to leave their farming grounds.

However, Monster Rexes were another story.

First of all, even the very first Monster Rex, Goliath, was a hard challenge for a solid party of Level 2's, and as such certain information needed to be available on the bosses at all times, mostly for the safety of Adventurers who were allowed by the Guild to go past the 17th Floor, but lacked the firepower necessary to deal with a Monster Rex.

Secondly, as long as a certain number of members were within a Familia and a certain amount of said members were of high enough Level, a Familia could request for the Guild to allow them to slay a Monster Rex before it spawned. Naturally, the Guild was more than happy to do so, as the gigantic Magic Stones of Monster Rexes and their rare Item Drops were incredible helpful to Orario's economy. With that said, many Familia would make request for the right to slay a Monster Rex, and usually the ones who were granted that right by the Guild were listed at the Guild at least a week prior to said boss re-spawn date.

It was, thus, no surprise that hard feelings could take form between Familias over this specific right. And now that Loki Familia had slayed a Monster Rex unannounced…

...Well, we're the Loki Familia, so I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to make an enemy of us simply because of this...but it's going to be a bother explaining it at the Guild…

Once back on the surface, Finn had Bete bring Fuzen back to the Manor to let him rest, while he made his way to the Guild. Once there, he explained that they were attacked on the way to the Deep Floors on a Familia-related matter and had to kill the Amphisbaena.

He could not in good conscious tell the truth.

A Level 2 half-killing the Monster Rex of the Lower Floors...it would certainly garner unwanted attention. Rivalries between Familias were not uncommon. Far from it, in fact. Even Loki herself had some disagreements with some smaller Familia out there. Taking out the promising members of a rival Familia was a common way for some to try and get the upper hand.

It had even happened to them, on multiple occasions. All of said occasions involved Ais and the Captain of the Ishtar Familia, Phyrne Jamil. The first time the frog-like Amazon attacked Ais, it was only through Finn and Riveria's intervention that the Sword Princess survived. So if their hidden rivals were to hear of a mere Level 2 being this promising…

Adventurers are human, too. Even if Fuzen could take out one or two higher Level Adventurers, if they stalk him from afar and attack when he is wounded...Yeah, not a pleasant thing to imagine…

And so, as the Captain, he decided to keep this matter under the rug. If it were to be made public he would be required to place one of the Executives on guarding Fuzen every time he dwelled in the Dungeon. He doubted the boy would want that, either.

Once his made-up story had been submitted to the Guild and the Valis for slaying the Monster Rex cashed in, he made his way back to the Twilight Manor and called up a meeting with Loki and the others.

"Yeah, that is pretty much what happened. We'll have to wait for Fuzen to wake up and hear his side of the story." Finn nodded, looking at his smirking Goddess. Unfortunately for the boy, it seemed he just gained the full attention of a troublesome Goddess.

"Still, to think he could half-kill the Amphisbaena on his own…" Gareth closed his eyes as he rubbed his beard, trying to imagine a younger him at Level 2 taking on the Monster Rex. He could probably hurt it a bit and make it out alive by running away, but cutting off one of it's head…"...That's pretty amazing. I don't think any of us at Level 2 could do that. What about you, Riveria?"

"...I can take it out now with a single spell as long as I'm not hit by it's mist which defuses Magic, but at Level 2...No. It would be impossible." The High-Elf shook her head. Overall, the Monster was too powerful to take out at that Level.

"Well, we always knew his power scaling was weird thanks to this." Loki pulled out the paper with Fuzen's last Update and held it up. "I mean, a Skill which enhances proficiency with a Sword Style but cuts off all that is required for a Level Up, Excelia and Basic Abilities? Most Adventurers would rip their hair off if they had such a Skill."

Loki wasn't wrong.

Skills were almost always a welcome addition to one's arsenal for the challenge which was the Dungeon, but if a Skill had too much of a drawback, then if said Skill had an active trigger the Adventurer in question would most probably never use it. However, Fuzen's Inazuma no Michi was a passive Skill. As such, he could never turn it off. "You are not wrong. However, Skills most often than not a reflection of one's desires and experience. For example, my Command Howl Skill. I doubt I would have gotten this Skill if I was not the Captain of our Familia as well as the commander of our forces."

"So you're saying he actively seeks this?" The Dwarf asked.

"Well...What else could it mean?" Riveria countered the question with another, and silence befell the room as it's four occupants pondered on the matter.

Then, Finn spoke up. "It's not like we'll find out. Fuzen is pretty stubborn about not giving us any information on this. However, Loki, you could at least try to find out."

The Goddess in question raised her eyebrows. "Me? How?"

"Fuzen was under another God before he came to us, right? You could try and contact him." Finn suggested, and Loki's face changed into something resembling a troubled expression. "...What's wrong, Loki?"

"Nothing, it's just...Sigh...Hachiman, huh? I never got along with that guy." She informed.

"Why not?"

"Because he's so boring!" The Goddess yelled as she threw her arms in the air. "Like, he can't even take a fricking joke! And he's so rigid you can't even tease him! It pisses me off that I can't make fun of him, because he doesn't get it that I'm making fun of him!"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"...What's with those disappointed looks, you three?"

"Nothing…" Finn shrugged, as did the other two. "Gods are truly fickle, after all."

"...I feel like you meant that like an insult, Finn. Alright, geez, I'll see what I can do about getting in contact with that rigid guy."

"It wasn't, it wasn't...Anyway, back to the matter at hand."

"You said you explained to the Guild that Ais and Bete defeated Amphisbaena for the sake of keeping Fuzen's achievement a secret. Have you informed the others who were present as well?"

"Of course." Finn nodded to Riveria's question. "All that's left is our trouble-maker himself. I don't think he's egoistical enough to snow off to anyone, but just to be sure, we'll inform him when he wakes up."

"Sounds good." Elgarm agreed. "But, isn't there another matter we should discuss before that?"

At Gareth's question, the room became silent, Loki included. Indeed there was one matter which they now knew for certain they needed to address: their newest Ace.

"Fuzen's strength…" Riveria muttered, loud enough for the others to hear. "The strength to cut down a Monster Rex, at only Level 2."

"An incredible feat." The dwarf nodded in agreement. "A bit too incredible…"

"I know, right?" Loki said with a hearty laugh, proud of what her Familia was capable of. "Then again, he is my little swordsman, so what would you expect?"

"I know about your promise to him, Loki…" Finn started as he locked eyes with his Goddess. Unlike last time, he needed to make her understand. "But this is no longer at a point where we can let just let him do what he wants. Do not misunderstand, I am as proud of his accomplishment as are all of you, but...I cannot allow him to do these careless things anymore. Whatever he went looking in the Dungeon for, he either found or did not find. Either way, he is going to do this again."

"...I know, but what do you want me to do? I made a promise to him." Loki shrugged. Naturally, she could just not hold onto her promise, but if she ever reached a point where she needed to break promises to her children, she would rather send herself back to Heaven. "As a Goddess, I need to hold my promises. Even for you, I fought tooth and nail to get you the Alias of Braver, did I not?"

"I know, and I am thankful for it." Finn nodded. Of course, despite her lecherous personality, her love of alcohol and her ever growing plots behind the scenes, he knew that his Goddess truly cared for all of them, and that she would go far and beyond to help them. "I am not saying you need to break your promise. Fuzen has his own Sword Style, and only he knows how to best train it. Let him train as he wants. However, we cannot allow him to go alone into the Dungeon again like this time around. Talk to him. Make him agree to have a party with him. If not, at least to inform us of where he will go. I will personally have a team ready to stalk him. Worst case, I'll go and keep watch over him myself."

"Whoa, whoa…Finn, I get what you mean, but isn't this a bit too much?" Gareth asked, as shocked at his Captain's determination on this matter as the other two occupants of the room.

"He's right, Finn. What has gotten into you all of a sudden?"

At Riveria's question, Finn leaned back in his seat, his eyes focused on the ceiling above him.

Why was he like this?

He remembered the fight down on the 26th Floor. The decapitated Amphisbaena head, Fuzen's determination and resolve to fight and win over a foe many times stronger than him. His final stand against the Monster's attack..."I saw something amazing."

"Hm?"

"It's a shame you two didn't get to see it. A boy...nay, a human, grasping for the heavens..." Finn said with a chuckle, before turning to look his Goddess in the eyes. "Loki, I want to take him under my wing."

"…! Whoa, Finn, you've never showed favouritism before." His Goddess smirked.

"I'm not. But I realized something while I helped Fuzen fight the Monster Rex. He needs guidance."

"...Guidance?"

"Yes. Not like what Ais needed when she first joined us. She was simply rash and did not care about her well-being. Fuzen in contrast is disciplined, and from what Aki reported on how he behaved on the Quest a while back, he understands what is best for the party and will move accordingly. However...he needs guidance, that is what I believe."

Loki looked at her Captain, and examined what he had said. Did he truly need guidance? So far, he proved to be a reliable, if somehow distant member of the Familia. However, in the twenty-six years she had known Finn, he never asked for anyone to be put under his wing. Even Ais, the girl with the complicated background, had been guided by all three of her Familia's Executives, not just Finn himself. "...I understand, Finn. If you are willing to go so far, then fine. I'll make it happen."

"Thanks, Loki. Then, all that's left is deciding his punishment."

"Yeah, going alone into the Dungeon like that needs punishment." Gareth agreed.

"That, too. However, there's another matter he needs to be punished for."

"And what's that?"

At the question, Finn turned his chair to the right, and looked through the window at the scenery outside. The sky was blue today, a colour unlike what he felt like back then. "...He Tsked me."

"…?"

"...Fuzen. He Tsked me."

XXX

For as long as she could remember, she admired those who picked up the sword, even when her talent for Magic had been made known at a young age. And could anyone blame her? A Mage was indeed crucial, and a good Mage was even worth one hundred Adventurers. They fought from the backline, supporting their allies with great Spells that turned the tide of battle, healing spells which could allow their allies to keep on fighting and protection spells to open the way forward.

However, it was those who picked a blade that truly awed her.

Engaging enemies up front, trusting in their bodies, training and intuition to fight and win, that was truly amazing. Lefiya Viridis truly admired such people, especially because she could never imagine herself ever being like that.

It was thus no surprise that when Lefiya joined the Loki Familia and met the Sword Princess herself in the flesh, she was in awe. Not an ordinary amount of awe, but rather, an awe which turned into idolization. Some other girls from the Familia noticed this, and even asked her if sheswung that way.

This was of course not the case.

If a person met a Goddess of Beauty, would that person not be in awe of said Goddess otherworldly beauty? Would they not look up to that Goddess, and admire the something she had which they never would possess? Would they not hold that Goddess's beauty as the norm for comparison?

If so, then was it truly so strange for her to idolize Ais? She was everything that she looked up to: a sword fighter, a beauty comparable to the Goddesses themselves, a reliable Adventurer and friend, and a kind person. She wanted to help the person she admired with everything she had, and maybe in the process of doing so, she could take another step forward in becoming someone like her.

"Haa! Hmmpf!

She's really...working hard. Lefiya thought to herself as she gazed upon Ais's graceful form. After their group came back from the 26th Floor six hours ago, Ais had been training in the back garden. Lefiya herself had to study under Riveria about magic and chanting, however her mentor left for an Executive meeting half an hour ago and Lefiya was thus allowed to rest until her mentor's return.

She decided to do so by watching Ais train.

Lefiya had long watched her friend and idol train, and so she could tell that something was different this time around. Her strikes were...even more focused than usual, and her form much more graceful that how she usually moved. She pondered on why this could be, and in the end, there could only be one answer.

That boy, Fuzen...uhhh, I never got his last name.

To say she had little interaction with the foreign boy was an understatement. Besides the one time she introduced herself when he joined the Familia they had not spoken at all. Even more so than Ais herself, he kept to himself and simply trained from dawn to dusk. Apparently, as far as Lefiya was aware, he made some kind of deal or promise with Loki herself and thus was allowed free reign over his time. He even missed out on the one expedition that happened since he joined some ten or eleven months ago.

I cannot understand. An expedition into the Deep Floors is dangerous, sure, but there's not one soul who wouldn't jump at the chance to take part. Except for that boy.

Was it because he had been too young to fully understand how important to be part of an expedition actually was? Or had he been scared of the dangers?

"No, it can't be he was scared. That boy actually took on Amphisbaena on his own..."

Lefiya herself as a Level 2 could not match the speed of the group who rushed on ahead once they heard the roar of the Monster Rex, so she had not seen the fight that took place. However, on the way back up, she had heard about everything from Tiona, who could not help herself but to explain the exciting fight, as she put it.

Half-killing a Monster Rex as a Level 2...Just what is up with that?!

"I'm still Level 2 myself but that's...not possible for me…"

So how had he been able to do it? Lefiya heard that the boy used some sort of Sword Style, but can just a martial art allow for a feat of that magnitude? How…?

...It's not just me...Everyone who was present must feel the same as me right now. Awe. That's what I feel when I think about it. So then, does Ais also…?

She looked over in the distance, to where Ais now stood still, her sword sheathed. She must have finished her training while Lefiya was pondering on what happened earlier that day. Seeing the opening she was waiting for, the Elf girl approached her idol, water bottle at the ready.

"Ais, you must be thirsty from training. Would you like some water?"

"Oh, Lefiya...Yes. Thank you." The golden swords-woman thanked and gracefully accepted the water. She had been standing there in the sun for a while now, after all.

"It's nothing! Uhh..Ais, sorry for asking this so suddenly, but...did something happen? You looked a bit...different while training right now…" Lefiya mustered the courage to ask the question on her mind, and to her surprise, Ais's face hardened as she looked at the rapier fastened to her hip. For a couple of long seconds, she simply looked at the weapon, before speaking her mind.

"...I want to win." She stated with determination.

"W-Win…?"

"Yes. I will win." Her voiced raised just the slightest bit, Ais locked eyes with Lefiya, her resolve burning within her golden irises. "Next time, for sure!"

XXX

...Finally. He thought as he opened his eyes, and was met with the sight of his plain, white ceiling. Though most would probably be surprised to fall unconscious in the Dungeon and wake within a room, he had not been. One who followed the path of the Lighting Sword Style learned many skills, and by that he did not mean Skills granted by the Falna, but rather, skills gained by training certain ways for a long time.

One of the skills he managed to reach a suitable expertise in before leaving his home country was focusing on being perpetually aware of your surroundings, even while asleep, unconscious, blinded, under the effect of hallucinogens or otherwise. He had not yet mastered it completely, however his mastery over it was high enough to be aware of what happened while he was asleep, though he still had a ways to go before also being able to hear sounds while in the same state.

As such, even after falling unconscious and falling face first in the water, he knew a pair of hands pulled him back to the surface, he felt the rather strange feeling of Magic healing his flesh and bones, and he felt how he had been carried back to the surface. A hard...something, probably a shoulder, kept pushing against the area between his chest and abdomen and made it hard for him to breath during his time being transported. Quite crude, now that he thought about it.

Must have been Loga-sama.

He pushed himself in a sitting position and sighed.

Truly, it was shameful.

I made preparation to remain in the Dungeon for multiple days. To think I almost died only some twelve hours into my trip there…

"...Am I truly this weak…?" He muttered as he pushed the blanked to the side and looked over his body. Any signs of him having been impaled and burned had disappeared, but he still felt a faint numbness all over. He had learned. He had surpassed. But, had he grown? Had he taken a step closer to his goal?

That, he could not tell.

...It's breezy...His thoughts were interrupted by his lack of clothes. It must have been Bete who took off his damaged clothes, for he still remembered how someone more or less ripped them apart from his body. All he had left now was his underwear. Not a state of being he found himself often in.

Getting up from the bed, he made his way to the only wardrobe in the room. He had some worries while on the way to Orario that he would need to adapt his clothing style to the westerners, but as it turned out, Orario was the city, and you could find anything within it's walls. Naturally, that included shops which offered clothing from the Far East.

A pair of black hakama, black keikogi and turquoise haori later, Fuzen felt much more comfortable and ready. He turned to look over at his table, where a sword wrapped in a white cloth lay.

The sword entrusted to him, and with which he would grasp the heavens.

At his current state, he was not worthy of it. Even a couple of weeks back during his party-up with the other Familia members, he did not use it, relying only on the quick draw techniques he could perform with his chisa katana.

It wasn't exactly a matter of being unworthy, per say. He did not steal the sword nor did he gain it by other, dishonourable means. He had asked to be entrusted with it's responsibility, and his Mistress allowed it. However, he felt that if he was to use it in battle at his current state, something would...happen.

Just as he shook his head and fastened the sword at his hip, the added familiar weight easing his mind, the door to his room opened.

"...Ah, your awake!" His Goddess exclaimed as she peeked through the half-opened door, a big smile on her face.

"I am pleased to see you in good health, Loki-sama." Despite her sometimes questionable antics, Fuzen did have a great deal of respect towards his Goddess, and he understood she played a pivotal role in her Familia's rise to power. It was only fair, then, that he bowed respectfully to her. "How may I be of help?"

"No need to be so stiff, Fuzen-kun~"

"...If Loki-sama says so."

"Anyway, how are you feeling?" She asked as she stepped inside the room, hands on her hips.

"I am in great shape, Loki-sama."

"That's good, that's good~ So, took on a Monster Rex on your own, did you? "

"...Yes."

"That's quite something, really impressive." Loki nodded a couple of times, the smirk never leaving her face. "So, learned anything new while fighting for your life?"

"...Only that I have not yet reached an appropriate mastery over the Lighting Sword Style to fully take on a strong lizard on my own." Fuzen informed, his head hanging low. For some reason, he felt that the Goddess before him was examining him while looking for...something.

"Good, good~" She nodded again, her expression unchanging. "I really care for you, you know that, right?"

"…?"

"I care for all of my children. You are all my children, after all. However, this?" Out of her pocket, she took out a sheet of paper, waving it around between two fingers. Looking closer, Fuzen realized it was the note he left behind before descending into the Dungeon. "I'm not going to play courier because you are reckless and going to get yourself killed, Fuzen. Do you understand?" She asked, and for the first time since he joined her Familia, Fuzen saw Loki's eyes fully open, red gazing into hazel.

Fuzen could confidently say he was not a coward. He endured great hardships in his youth while learning the Lighting Sword Style, and he even cut his first Monster when he was six years of age. Likewise, even though the lizard on the 26th Floor had been stronger than the current him, Fuzen could still fight it with courage and confidence. However, despite all that, the petite Goddess before him managed, for a single moment, to truly frighten him.

"...I understand, Loki-sama."

"...Good, I really hope you do~" She went back to her usual, closed-eyed self, pocketing the note, apparently going to hold onto it. With but two steps, she somehow managed to appear behind him, arms wrapped around him while she burrowed her face in his long hair. "Unfortunately, you are not a girl, but you are this small and cute and androgynous, so I won't allow you to die. Okay~?"

"...I need an adult."

"I am an adult~. Oh, yes, I forgot. You're getting punished for your recklessness." She informed as she finally broke away from him, just as Fuzen was about to use Lighting Drive and dash away from her uncomfortable grip.

"...I understand."

"Ohh, you're certainly more accepting of this than Ais was back then."

"I have done a foolish thing, and I understand it must be punished. Then, what shall be my punishment, Loki-sama?"

"Well, no going to the Dungeon for five days."

...Oh, that's not so bad. I can manage that-

"And no training for three days." She added quickly.

"Waitwhat?!" Fuzen's sudden outburst, so unlike his usual collected self, managed to surprise his Goddess, now holding a hand to her mouth as she tried not to laugh in his face.

"Pff...I mean, it's not that bad, is it?"

"...I'll die."

"Come on, no such extremes in my Familia."

"No, I mean...like, really. My breathing. If you tell me to stop training, I'll have to stop my breathing. I can't hold my breath for three days."

"...Sigh...Ok, let's clarify then: no physical training, no sword training, no technique training and no sparring. Is that clear enough?"

"...Can I meditate?" Fuzen asked after a moment of going over his punishment.

"Sure, but if I see you mediate for three days straight, I'll extend your punishment."

"...Why?" It was a confusing thing for him. Why was his very Goddess trying to get in his way? He couldn't understand. While he pondered on that thought, his Goddess grabbed his shoulder, getting on a knee to his eye level.

"Because you also need a break once in a while., Fuzen."

"...I can't grasp the heavens by taking a...break."

"I know. Look at it this way: you learned something new on this suicidal trip of yours, right?"

"...That is correct."

"Then for the next three days, why don't you go over what you have learned, and how you came to learn it?"

"...I'm surprised." He stated.

"About what?"

"I knew Loki-sama was intelligent, but to think you could also be wise...Wait, are you perhaps an imposter?" His gaze hardened as he looked at Loki's face, trying to see any difference from her usual self. Then his eyes looked slightly lower and he shook his head. "No, this level of flatness is...impossible to recreate."

On that day, Fuzen learned how scary females can truly be, a lesson he would remember for the rest of his life.

XXX

She took a step back, avoiding the horizontal slash from the spear and once an opening showed itself, she stepped forward again, sword lunging for the person in front of her. Despite the big wind-up motion from his last attack still in effect on his body, the man before her turned on his heel and with the end of his spear, pushed the sword back.

He quickly stepped back, to keep the range advantage he was granted by a spear.

Whoosh

Whoosh

Whoosh

Three quick jabs, two of which his partner dodged, the third she could only block with the width of her sword. Still, his Strength was higher than hers, so she could not avoid getting pushed back.

Seeing her lose her footing, he decided to end it with a powerful thrust attack. The Cat girl before him expected this, however, and she was ready.

Using the natural agility granted by her race she jumped up, despite the force from the push still having effect on her momentum, and avoided the spear thrust. With a leg she pushed the training weapon into the ground, breaking it in two, her sword inches away from her partner's neck.

"...Sigh...You're too nimble, Aki." The Chienthrope with a sigh as they both took a step back.

"And you're too strong, Cruz. I needed to brace myself with all I had against that last thrust."

They laughed and made their way towards the nearest bench. The two had been going at it for over half an hour. Though they had both reached Level 4 a while ago, and this sort of activity did not truly burden their stamina anymore, a rest would be welcome.

"...We still got a ways to go." Cruz said as he leaned back on the bench, looking up at the sky above. It was clear, no clouds in sight. A few hours passed since they came back from the Dungeon with their swordsman, and it was nigh evening the sun starting to set in the distance.

"...Yeah. Our Familia is filled with Monsters, we can't even compare."

The reason behind their sudden desire to train was no other than the boy who, at the moment and unknown to them, was getting scolded by Loki herself for bringing up the one thing he should not. Back then, as the Captain and the others rushed ahead the two of them had to stay behind and match their speed to Lefiya's. The girl was only Level 2, and even though the Captain did not order it per say, they both know what to do. As such, they have not seen the fight against the Monster Rex, but they heard all about it from Tiona on the way back. Besides that they also saw the aftermath from it: one head cleanly cut off, another halfway cut through, a Monster Rex defeated and in the middle of it all, a single boy.

They were also not the only ones who found themselves ready to train: on the other side of their location, to the far left of the garden, Tiona and Bete were letting it all out in what the two guessed was a fist fight to the near-death. Still, the two Level 5's were too fast so they couldn't exactly tell what was going on.

"...It's hard being left behind all the time." The Chienthrope sighed after observing the devastating fight between the two battle-crazy Executives for a few moments.

"...Ahhh!" The sudden scream angered scream from his comrade almost managed to make his heart jump out of his chest. Confused, she looked over at at Aki, who jumped to her feet, and turned to face him. "Let's go."

"...Where?"

"The Dungeon, where else?" She reproached.

"Now?"

"Yeah, now. Actually, no, I first need to talk with the Captain. Tomorrow morning."

"...Why the sudden desire to go?" Cruz asked, confused.

In return, Aki simply pointed towards the two Executives, still fighting. "Do you want to be left behind by them all the time?"

"...No."

"Forget the Executives, they are already in their own league. But now, even a ten something years old boy managed to make us eat his dust. I'm grabbing every single Second Class Adventurer in our Familia and we're launching a small-scale expedition into the Lower Floor and beyond."

"...Heh." Cruz laughed. It was rare to see the usually collected Aki this fired up about something. "Why the hell not? Let's go!"

"Yes! We're Adventurers too, we gotta show we're the real deal!"

And so, unbeknownst to him, Fuzen managed to rile up his seniors into launching a sudden expedition into the Dungeon. Again unbeknownst to him, a certain Pallum Captain would blame him just a day later for the sudden work he would need to take care of.

Damn it, don't just decide on things like this one day before asking me...An expedition needs a lot of planing!

XXX

"So...I take it you don't want it?" Fuzen asked the silver-haired Medic as she just blankly gazed upon the item he decided to gift her. "Is it...is it because it expired or something? If so, I apologize."

After his talk with Loki and after getting scolded by her for bring...flatness into the discussion, she sent him off into the city to go and have some fun, whatever that meant. Apparently, the Goddess noticed that ever since joining, Fuzen had not left the Manor except for the Dungeon, to the Pharmacy or to Tsubaki for his regular sword maintenance.

And so, with his restrictions on him: no sword, no training and no Dungeon dwelling, he was sent into the city.

Before that, however, he also discussed the Monster Rex gains with her. After all, the Magic stone from the Amphisbaena was worth some one hundred and forty thousand million Valis. He did not defeat it alone, however the Captain and the others agreed that he deserved the greater part of the reward.

Fuzen had simply told Loki to use it for the Familia, and only requested for his debt to Tsubaki for his replica Raiju no Yoki to be paid off, as well as two hundred thousand Valis of the reward. He would need that for potions later on.

They were not cheap, after all.

The Goddess agreed to the terms, and then gave him the Drop Item as well: Amphisbaena's Dragon Liver. As the name suggested, it was a large liver, and worth more than what small Familia were able to make in a year.

It's one of the few Item Drops that Medics truly go beyond the norm to get their hands on. Finn explained after Fuzen went to see him about it. We all decided it's yours, so do whatever you want with it. If you want to earn some money, try to sell it to a pharmacy. The usual price is roughly ninety millions, but depending on their shortage of similar materials, they might buy it for more.

With that in mind, he did the one thing he knew was the correct way to use the Item Drop: gift it to the person who gave him a discount.

"...Uhh, no. I would...gladly accept it, but...where did you get it from?" Amid asked after taking her eyes off the rare Item Drop. Now, it was time for Fuzen to stare blankly back at her.

You need to keep this a secret for now. Those were the Captain's words to him. I don't want to downgrade your achievements, however I believe it would be in your best interest to keep quiet about defeating the Monster Rex.

With those words echoing in his mind, he could not tell Amid he half-killed Amphisbaena himself. But then again, if he said he was simply part of a party and that the Executives slayed the Monster, then how would he explain exactly why he was allowed to keep the rare, very rare, Item Drop?

And this is why I hate lying…

"I don't know." He answered with the straightest face possible.

"You...don't know how you got hold of a Monster Rex Drop Item?" The girl asked, unsurprisingly enough, confused at the vague reply.

"I do know, however I was told not to say, and as such, I don't know. With that said, I can confidently say that I...don't even know where I'm going with this anymore. Sigh..."

"…"

"…"

"I understand." Amid nodded. "I can see you are conflicted about this. Yet, I can guess you did not steal this, nor that you are trying to sell me a replica."

"Of course not. You gave me a discount and I simply wish to repay your kindness. Captain Finn said this Drop Item is sought after by Medics, so I thought you might want it, Teasanare-sama."

"…! You do realize...this Drop Item is worth many, many millions of Valis, right?"

"Yes." He nodded.

"And still, you would gift it simply because of a discount you received from it?"

"...Is it not the right thing to do?"

"…Pfff…" She laughed. The doll-like beauty who never changed her expression chuckled, a hand covering her mouth. To think someone would go by such a logic..."If you think that is the right thing to do, then I will accept this gift."

"I am pleased to hear you say that, Teasanare-sama."

"Of course, I will also share the Elixir I can make out of this with you, so that it's not a total loss for you."

"Elixir?"

"Yes. This Drop Item and it's high detoxification attribute can be used to craft an Elixir of Ailment Cure. It does not possess healing properties, however, it can cure most ailments and diseases."

As he listened to the explanation, Fuzen's eyes shot wide open. "Can it also cure tuber-uhh, the disease where you cough blood and lose weight?"

"Do you mean tuberculosis? Then yes, it can cure it."

His palms slammed on the counter, and he almost jumped over to Amid's side. "I need it! Uhh, not me personally, but a friend of mine! Please, make it!"

"…! I understand, Fuzen-kun. Then, I shall use this Drop Item you gifted me to make an Elixir of Ailment Cure."

"I'm sorry for asking this of you after gifting you the item, but please do!" He jumped down from the counter, and bowed his head at a perfect forty-five degrees angle. "Thank you!"

"Hmhm, your friend is truly lucky to have you as a friend."

"...He's been sick for as long as I remember." Fuzen explained, his eyes glued to the floor. "His parents passed away in the war, and he became an orphan. He always had wanted to pick up the sword with me, but his weak body halted him from doing so. If it wasn't for Hachiman-sama's Falna…"

Amid, as a Medic, was quite familiar with death and pain, even at her young age of seventeen. However, hearing such stories never failed to make her sympathize with those who were afflicted. "...That's...quite sad."

"I always send money back home, however the Far East is not nearly as developed as Orario or other countries. Besides medicine to ease his pain, there's no available cure there. To think there were cures here in the city...I blame myself and my ignorance for not knowing about such an Elixir existing in Orario…If I knew, I would have gathered money before, bought this Elixir-"

"Fuzen-kun." The negative direction his mind was going towards was halted by the silver-haired girl extending an arm, placing it on his shoulder. "I witnessed many people doing exactly what you are doing right now. It never ends well. Your friend is still alive, right?"

"...Yes."

"Then, let's save him together, okay?" He looked at the smiling girl before him, and all he could think of was that her Alias was truly spot on. He thought little of Aliases, even if the Gods themselves bestowed them, however with Amid they truly did a good job.

She...really is a saint…Dea Saint...

"Yes. Thank you."

"Don't worry, we'll have your friend back on his feet in no time."

"Yes! Uhh...how long will it take?"

"Unfortunately, it will take several weeks to prepare. Unlike potions, the Drop Item must be carefully prepared in order to extract the most useful properties out of it, and then those properties must be combined with other materials...Three weeks. In roughly three weeks, I will have the Elixir ready."

"I see. Then, I will look forward to the end result. Again, thank you, Teasanare-sama."

"Don't worry about it. You brought me such a rare Drop Item, it's the least I can do."

"...I see. Then, I will not trouble you anymore, and be on my way." He bowed again, ready to leave. "...Ah, may I ask a question?"

"Always."

"What do you do in order to have fun, Teasanare-sama?"

"Hmm? That's a sudden question...I would either read, or make potions, or go out shopping...Why do you ask?"

"I'm getting punished for my reckless behaviour, and I was entrusted by my Goddess with the task of having some fun. I decided to ask people about it, but everyone so far said something else...I'm confused. What even is fun?…" With a shrug and a sigh at the task at hand, he left the Pharmacy, leaving behind a confused silver-haired Medic.

"Does he...not know how to have fun…?"

XXX

She got lost...again. How, she did not know. One would think that the heaven-piercing Tower of Babel in the distance would be the best landmark for one to use as a reference: however, when said tower looked the same on all sides, such a thought proved invalid.

Naturally, she had asked people on the street for directions, however one explanation was more confusing than the last. The girl sighed, stopping in her tracks.

Even though I'm fourteen years old...getting lost is embarrassing…

She and her Familia had moved to Orario just three days ago, having come from the far away country known as the Far East. It was more of a necessity than a desire: they needed money to support the shire they had all lived at.

With that said, they were just getting started: registering their Familia at the Guild, getting to learn the city, learning which Familia might be helpful to them, smithing Familia and medical Familia alike, these were the things they did for the last three days since arriving. As such, they did not yet brave the Dungeon, by decision of their Captain.

Getting prepared was better than not, he said.

And still, I can't even find the inn we are staying at...This is so embarrassing…Outside, it was already starting to get dark, the sun's last rays dying out as it hid behind the horizon.

"Uhh...Excuse me, you are standing in the middle of the street." She felt someone pull on her sleeve, and turned around. There was a boy shorter in height than her, with long hair caught in a high pony tail. Upon looking closer, she noticed he was wearing clothing from the Far East.

"Ah, sorry. I apologize."

"...[Are you perhaps from the Far East?]" She was surprised to her the boy ask in the eastern language after looking at her for a few moments.

"[Oh, yes! You too?"]"

"[Yes. My apology if this is a sudden question, but are you perchance troubled by something? You were standing in the middle of the road…]" He asked, tilting his head. Was he truly concerned for a complete stranger?

What a kind boy…"[Uh, it's just...I arrived in the city three days ago with my Familia, and I...kind of...got lost…]" She said, her head hanging low.

"[I see. May I have a description of where you wish to go?] She gave him all the information she could think off about the inn her Familia was staying at, and after a couple of seconds of thinking, the boy nodded. "[I know where it is. The seventh District. If you wish, I can take you to your inn.]"

"[Really?! Ahh, but I don't want to trouble you…]"

"[Nonsense. Please, follow me. It is quite a distance away from here.]" The boy shook his head, and gestured ahead. With a nod, the girl decided to follow him. She did not get the feeling he was a bad person, after all. "[I am getting punished by my Familia anyway, so it's not like I have anything to do at the moment.]"

"[O-Oh. You are an Adventurer, too?]" She was quite surprised to hear this. The boy did not look older than ten, maybe eleven. To be an Adventurer at such a young age…

"[Indeed. I am part of the Loki Familia. And my lady, if I may ask?]

"[Takemikazuchi Familia.]"

"[Ah, I remember my former God, Hachiman-sama, talking about Takemikazuschi-sama. He said he is a kind God, who cares for Children.]"

"[He is!]" The girl exclaimed loudly.

"[And your whole Familia came to Orario from the motherland?]"

"[Yes. We are...uhh, in need of money. For the shrine back home, where we all grew up.]"

"[A noble cause.]" The boy nodded, understandingly. "[I hope your dream comes true, uhh...I apologize, I did not ask for your name.]"

"[It's Mikoto. Yamato Mikoto.]"

"[Yamato-sama, then. I hope your Familia all the best on your path.]"

"[Thank you, uhh…]"

"[Apologies, I forgot my manners. I am Fuzen. Just Fuzen.]"

"[...I see. Then Fuzen-dono, thank you again for helping me. If I may ask, why have you become an Adventurer at such a young age?]" The girl, Mikoto asked the question that was on her mind. In return, the boy pointed a finger upwards, at the clear darkening skies above them.

"[Simple. With my sword, I will grasp the Heavens.]"

...Wait, what…?

And so, a young girl from the Far East met an even younger boy also from the Far East.

XXX

Oh boi, do I have some plans for Mikoto down the line….