It Is Right to Take the Next Step in the Dungeon

by CaedmonCousland

A single change can cause a cascade. From a coin flip landing on the other head, a King claimed a sword. With a sword, he slew the monster. With the monster slain, he Leveled up. And the fire in the hearts of true adventurers was kindled anew, and Orario started to move forward again. Or, Ottar manages to beat Balor.

13. Ottar V

Ended up with a few more social scenes this chapter, but whatever. Hope it helps. Even if they once again reminded me how hard it is to have a quiet MC. Just about every MC I've written is much easier to write as talking freely. It's own challenge though.

Also, warning, appraisal scene got a bit long because...well, hard to hold back on elaborating on drop items and crafting system when you start talking about them.

JonnyBobboThe1st - Thanks for all the reviews.

torresjuan010 - Filling in crafting system is a bit hard, but glad if I can keep it somewhat entertaining. In my view, staffs are more to stabilize, enhance, and store extra magic. Extra mass to store magic in, sort of, and built of materials that facilitate that. You can cast without them, but they help with big spells and more control demanding tasks. I won't confirm villains. Dungeon does have more than 71 floors, since I feel it would be a letdown to not.

InsaneMakaiosin - 3a) I thought it better to differentiate what 'common' blacksmiths like Tsubaki do and the ultra-rare Mystery users. Explained a bit more on this AU's Mystery DA this chap. It doesn't often overlap with Blacksmithing, since the latter is more technical. 1b) After the 24th pantry battle, Revis was always portrayed as a serious threat that any of the Level 6's could face without serious caution. While some is just power escalation, especially by end, but does imply a 'well-fed' Revis is at least high Level 6. Although doesn't mean success though. Can you imagine if Syr/Freya and Hestia were killed like this? 2b) We don't have numbers of Zeus/Hera familias besides Level 9 Empress, Level 8 Maxim, Zald, and Alfia. I just settled on Zeus having had 1 Level 8, 3 Level 7's, and 11 Level 6's as main fighting force. Hera as 1 Level 9, two Level 7's, and 10 Level 6's. Not necessarily right, but my thought was to have them be roughly equal to start-of-canon Orario if everyone received ranked up once. At least high level people. So that round of rank ups put them (at least in levels) equal to Zeus/Hera before they started the Great Quests, with Haruhime then giving their top tier the edge. Could be wrong, but I had to come up with something till we actually receive canon numbers.

---

Ottar's eyes opened as long-honed instinct flared to tell him it was time to awaken.

He rose slowly, but deliberately. The scarce sleep he'd managed more than enough. Careful, automatic movements removed the blanket, got him out of bed, and fixed the bed without damaging anything. He then continued the morning routine. A cup of water. Dressed himself appropriately.

Then, he started his workout.

He grabbed one of the magic items and strapped it to his wrist. He then did two more on the same limb, and the same to the other arm. Then five for each leg. A belt strapped with them went around his waist.

Stretches followed alongside a series of unarmed strikes with each limb. Then a series of acrobatics. All to adapt to the weights he'd applied to himself.

When he was ready, he grabbed a specially designed backpack designed to hold dozens of the weight. As he affixed it to his back, his feet sunk into the ground that had previously resisted. He ignored it, a few more movement followed to ensure there was no issue. There wasn't any, so he moved.

Air flowed around him as he jumped. A leap took him to one of Folkvangr's tall walls, and another sent him soaring towards the city wall. One bound allowed him to hit the wall halfway up, fingers catching onto the small imperfections of the vertical wall and allowing him to leap up again. This time his hand caught the edge at the top, and he pulled himself up.

From the top of the great city walls that circled Orario, he took a moment to survey the city. It was several hours before sunrise. The quietest time for Orario, which rarely fully slept. Before the sunrise that would harken the start of the day for most early risers. Too late for the late revelers who had already fallen into exhausted slumbers. Only those like him were up. Those whose tasks would only be hindered by more people.

In the pre-dawn darkness and cold, he started to jog.

The distance of the wall fell away as he moved. Each step a crack from the weight he carried, muscles straining from the exertion. They did not fail though, and meters were consumed on after another. Then kilometers. Finally, the entire circumference of the Labyrinth City.

One lap.

He sped up.

Two laps.

He sped up.

Three laps.

He sped up.

The number of laps soon fell away. His mind turning instead towards his internal sense of time, tracing how much time each previous lap took. Intent on lowering that time with each new rotation. Even when he hit his top speed, each lap was treated as a new challenge to break his previous record. He did not always succeed, but that hardly matters.

Faster. Faster. Faster.

The training hardly changed even when his breath started coming heavy, and his limbs finally cried for relief. It only added to the challenge. The rising burn that ate at his breath. The growing debilitation as his muscles weakened. It was all merely a challenge before him he had to meet.

Don't stop. Faster. Don't stop. Faster. Don't stop. Faster.

Eventually, the time for this came to an end. He came to a halt, presenting the sight of his breathless and sweating form. He only had one thought, however.

"Too light."

He lifted an arm to look at the three magic items strapped to his wrist.

"Too little weight."

These were specially ordered magic items. Despite all being fitted and sized for ergonomics, they were far heavier than appeared. With the ones on his limbs, waist, and in the backpack, he carried a tremendous weight. He had used them for years as a Level 7. Yet…

"It's not enough," Ottar concluded with quiet disappointment.

He was Level 8 now.

He jumped from the walls and returned to Folkvangr. To the small side building that was Ottar's own private quarters that were nestled against the wall. He landed in the small courtyard created between the quarters and the wall itself.

The magic item weights were removed from his body one by one. He then stacked them again with all the ones he had available. Taking a full inventory while calculating what he could in his mind.

"I cannot simply purchase more," he concluded quietly to himself once he decided that more would simply become unwieldy. "I'll put out a reward for any improved version."

These ones were already sourced from Altena and produced by Mystery-users, but…

He'd rather not add onto the array of equipment that he could no longer use productively.

Despite that thought, Ottar did not stop here. Even after noticing deficiency, that did not mean he couldn't still benefit. That he could allow himself to give up scratching and scraping for anything that he could do to push himself even the slightest bit higher.

…So, he picked up the strapped together bundles of weights and started a new set of exercises inside the courtyard.

It would probably be minimal. In his final two years as a Level 7, he had only gained 134 stat points total. As a Level 8, even with his basic abilities set back to I0, it was unlikely the same weights and exercises would be more valuable. Not even with increased duration and reps.

…He jumped to slide his legs into a high bar set up to support massive weight, hands grabbing onto a bundle of weights, and starts hanging suit ups.

His other methods weren't much better. As a Level 7, he didn't have any rivals left in Orario. No one to truly fight and test himself against on the Fields of Folkvangr. Exploring the Dungeon had hit its limits due to facts other than sheer strength. He could only do this. Self-training. Constantly exercised flesh. Refining skill and instinct. Level 8 changed little of that.

Even with his breakthrough in the Dungeon offering new options in terms of 'exploration', it would be limited if he couldn't break through the 71st floor that had stymied and limited those more talented than he for centuries.

…He dropped the weights, shifted to hang from the bar by his hands, hooked his feet in the weight, and started hanging leg lifts instead.

Arguably the greatest gain of these exercises would be helping to adapt to his new Status. While the relative gain of ranking up lowered as one reached higher levels, if anything the dislocation between mind and body only increased. Lower leveled individuals generally had rougher, less refined fighting techniques. Styles where increased strength and speed alone could be massive boosts even with less control. Once one reached the realm of first-tier adventurer though, rarely did that remain. By that point, an adventurer had years upon years of experience. Faced death and hardships more times than they could count. Years of backbreaking training to use everything they had available. Their bodies and their capabilities intimately familiar. Every move was calculated to where milliseconds and millimeters could make or break openings, even slight disruption shifting the direction of a battle.

Ottar might be stronger now if he fought as a 'beast', but paradoxically his 'defense' would likely be easier to break now than before.

Intense spars were the best way to adapt to these changes, but that was not an option for him. It was why he had chosen to head into the Dungeon as soon as he leveled. He hoped that the battles there would substitute well enough, but his equipment and the vast differences in fighting monsters proved an issue. It appeared he would have to satisfy himself with a longer, harder adjustment.

…He moved to a handstand position, and soon started pushups with one hand while using his feet and remaining hand to juggle weights.

In the end though, none of that mattered. The good or the bad. He'd still be doing this regardless. Putting in this effort.

After all, Ottar had joined rarified ranks. Only eight people in a thousand years had ever reached Level 8. Each a venerable and respectable individual worthy of defining their generation without question.

Only one had ever reached Level 9.

Ottar intended to be the second.

Before he went further beyond still.

Ottar had his advantages, even if he deemed himself nothing special in regard to talent. He was not like Maxim, [Sword Emperor, who started as an adventurer in his thirties and became Level 8 in the twilight of even a high-leveled adventurer's life. He had not used the opponents of the Glacier Territory as his whetstone for Level 6 and 7 like the Zeus and Hera familias were able to. He was a solo adventurer, relying solely on his own body and skills against whatever dangers the Dungeon threw at him.

…

Yet, it would still be nothing less than stupid for someone who only had 'strength' to expect anything.

…He placed every weight on a metal plate, lifted and balanced it on his shoulders before starting squats.

Ottar was mediocre, talent enough to sustain himself with effort but not race ahead. He understood little of so many things, blind to many things. He was not suited as a hero. Did not have the requisite emotional range or dreams of one.

He had little reason for the heavens to smile down upon him.

All he had was his will…and the effort that derived from that will.

134 points in two years? He would satisfy himself with half of that. A quarter.

Fifty-five years. That was how long she had been a Level 8. How long it took for her to level up. He could not expect better, even if she had despised being an adventurer and never once sought to succeed at it.

So, two years? Seven years? Eight years? Fifteen? Fifty? A hundred?

Ottar had to be willing to work every day with the understanding that such might be the timeframe he's operating on and without any guarantee of success.

If he didn't…how could he expect the spirits or the Goddess to accept him?

…

Thus, Ottar simply and untiringly did whatever exercises he could think of without relenting.

---

As the sun rose, Ottar's early morning workout finished. Folkvangr also woke up. As the noise of those waking and the clang of the earliest rising Einherjars beginning their baptism started ringing out, Ottar dumped water over his head.

The cold water straight from the tap was uncomfortable, but Ottar didn't flinch at the old enemy. He merely washed as best he could from the outer tap that used to be for horses. He then changed clothes. Worn workout outfit exchanged for one of his sets of dungeon clothes. Simple, but clean. He then left his quarters in presentable form, entering the main temple of Folkvangr.

"It is morning, Lady Freya."

"Mmmm," the sleeping figure let out, even that melodious. A single purple eye popped open as she asked, "Ottar. On time, I assume?"

"Of course, Lady Freya," he answered, hand over his heart in a salute as he bowed slightly. "It is a clear morning, but slightly cold as such."

"Unfortunate. Sounds a fine morning to rest in a slight bit, but Mia demanded I come in early this morning to have the midday open," she claimed even as she folding herself into her blanket more. "But I'm sure I can manage to justify being half an hour late. Maybe an hour, if someone is willing to help warm me up."

"The day shall warm with the rising sun," he told her calmly.

Both her eyes opened to look at me before she spoke again coquettishly, "How about you instead send someone up for me, Ottar? Allen? Or maybe Van instead? I think I need someone huggable."

"I shall send him up, my Lady."

Her eyes remained on him for several moments before she sighed and rose, allowing the blanket to fall to reveal her skimpy nightgown, as she declared, "You really aren't fun sometimes, Ottar."

"I apologize, my Lady," he merely said in response, not understanding but not needing to in order to know he disappointed her somehow. "Is there anything I can do instead?"

"No. Just send Horn and the other attendants in. I'm no longer in the mood for an indulgent morning."

"Of course," Ottar said as he moved back towards the door to her chambers.

"Do whatever chores you need in the meantime. The appraisal is set to happen at noon, and I wish for your presence tonight when I return too. You have the morning and evening for anything else."

He acknowledged that, and left her as was usual so the attendants could prepare her and Horn could be informed of plans. This was earlier than 'Syr' usually came out, but little changed. Others were also set to guard her there.

---

He got to work on the backlog of tasks he needed to cover after any dive into the Dungeon.

He started reviewing the finances and inventory of the Freya Familia. Hedin handled tactical and strategic battlefield considerations, but he had no desire to 'act as a king' by handling more. Allen handled watching and disciplining the lower members, but that was more due to no one wanting to submit to Ottar unnecessarily. When it came to accounting though, no one else wanted the task so it fell to Ottar.

Although, it was rarely a problem. Money mattered little to the familia members, despite having a respectable amount. Most important use was the 'tribute' to Lady Freya. More went into the familia vaults to purchase the equipment for the baptism, ingredients for potions, food for the cooks, maintenance for the base, etc.

The Andhrímnir handled the food and potion ingredients, with Heith Velvet having access to the vaults, but the rest had to be run by Ottar or Allen. It left Ottar moving through the familia armories to check recent wear, setting aside the money for their long-term smithing contracts for non-executives. He then checked the base to check for damage.

Ultimately, it proved mere rote action and he was able to move on to other familia obligations.

Grabbing some of the materials he had picked up in the Dungeon, the less valuable ones, he placed them in a bag before proceeding to leave Folkvangr once again. This time he went northeast. Hopping on the roofs, he passed right over the Entertainment District still recovering from the previous night's revels. This led him into Daedalus Street, and he navigated the convoluted streets from above.

Till he arrived at a modest townhouse.

Alighting down before it without a sound or drawing attention, Ottar entered. It opened into a shop. An open space before a large counter with shelves behind, all loaded with an array of basic potions. Naturally, the counter had someone behind it.

Who immediately perked up from a bored position and started, "Hello, welcome to the Morning Sta – ah, o-oh. Sir Ottar, h-how may I help you?"

Ottar stared down at the teenage boy that quailed, finally asking, "Is your goddess or Joseph here?"

"U-Um, yes sir. I'll g-go get them."

Ottar was unmoved by the panicked retreat, merely waiting till two returned.

"I would be annoyed on Edin's behalf, but I can see you did nothing beyond…being yourself."

Ottar's throat rumbled at that, but he didn't need to find anything to say as another did, "We can discuss Edin's nervousness later, but here we should instead greet our customer. Greetings, Ottar."

"Lady Ausrine," Ottar said, nodding. "Joseph."

Morning Star Pharmacy was the store of a business-type familia, and the two before him were the goddess and captain. Ottar's eyes ran over Joseph's prosthetic lower leg that now defined the man as an adventurer. He still gave the bald bull beastman a nod for his unflinching gaze that deserved sliver of respect. Ottar's gaze then turned to the goddess of the two. Noting the usual simple garb - that did not take away from her beauty. The youthful glow of her skin, the shine of her golden tresses, the enticing swell of her chest under the garb that turned it into -

Ottar shook his head, rejecting the thoughts, and instead spoke firmly, "I bring materials for a new order."

"Of course," Goddess Ausrine said with a small smile and nod. "You can just lay it out here. We obviously have your previous order ready to. Joseph, dear, if you would."

"I apologize for not picking them up earlier. My last two Dungeon delves left distracted."

"I do not even know how to react to your apologizing for a dive that led to you beating the Balor and leveling up. Nor for you going deep and challenging the Dungeon further, as all Orario and the world desire," she retorted, smile complicated. "I shall just say that it is not an issue, and request that we move on."

Ottar nodded and pulled out the smaller bag he carried. Slowly withdrawing the contents, he laid them out on the counter. They were the herbs he had gathered in the Large Tree Labyrinth. Common herbs that were the frequent target of gathering quests, used to create the next tier of healing items than the beginner ones.

"Nothing unusual here. All in impeccable quality as usual," Ausrine noted, lowering herself to look at them closer before sending him a significant look. "Plenty simple enough for your own familia healers to work with."

"The Andhrímnir have other duties they are better to focus on."

"Of course."

She probably didn't even need her divine abilities to know he was lying, although she kept quiet and accepted the partially true excuse.

Because both knew this was merely Freya's will.

Ausrine was another goddess of beauty. One Freya preferred to most others; Ausrine lacking the high-handed nature of most deities who held that domain. Although, it had only been slight fondness. The two had little in common elsewhere. Despite both holding the domains of Love and Beauty, Freya also held the secondary domains of Sex, Fertility, and War while Ausrine was Youth, Health, New Beginnings. The two were quite different.

It was instead something different that prompted this.

Ausrine had come to Orario right after the Great Feud with Joseph, a former adventurer from elsewhere. After the latter had been crippled and left his previous familia, she had managed to recruit him. Valuing his support potion-making skills despite his crippling. The two had also become lovers, arriving with several adopted 'children'. As the years passed, they also added to them by adopting more. The newly adopted children receiving her falna, the familia eschewing the Dungeon and instead surviving solely as a potion-making business. That would have normally placed them thoroughly below the gaze of both Ottar and Lady Freya.

…if it wasn't for where the later children had been adopted from.

This meant Ottar had been presented with the dilemma of how to help support a familia like this. He couldn't make any official connection. A familia like this would be more endangered by being tied to the Freya Familia than any minor threat would arise against such a weak familia. Ausrine also wasn't the sort of deity that would accept or want funds for nothing.

Eventually, Ottar had hit upon this schema.

Joseph returned from the back, holding a small rack of several dozen small potions. Putting them on the counter, he announced professionally, "A dozen High Potions, and a half dozen each of High Stamina and Magic Potions. The request for smaller volume bottles through higher concentration was achieved, if with difficulty. We also sourced the new bottles ourselves for you, as requested."

Ottar grunted and did a cursory examination of them before nodding and asking, "Price?"

"Taking into account that you supplied much of the raw materials," Joseph mused, checking noted before listing the price.

It was high. Unsurprising, with the extra requests. While the potions were generally only a few thousand vali each, the extra requests added on. Higher concentration for smaller bottles was a special, rarely requested, order. Sourcing new bottles for it.

Ottar paid it without question though.

After all, that was the point. To assist the familia, he simply brought business to them. He made regular orders, bringing in materials himself and making such requests to increase commission costs. Not like it was any troubling amount for him. More indirect than simply providing funds, but this allowed this familia to both keep their pride and refine their potion-making skills.

Ottar could acknowledge that.

"What about your order for these?"

"Simple order of three dozen High Potions this time. I believe what was brought should be enough for such."

"It shall," Ausrine confirmed.

A few more exchanges were made before Ottar left with everything settled. He jumped away once again, although this time stopping as soon as he was out of sight. He then pulled out a previous container of potions he had in his possession.

It was a previous rack of potions from the Ausrine Familia. Not smaller bottles, but pushed to a higher quality. He had carried them into the Dungeon, even if they were not something suitable for himself. After all, Ottar rarely used potions and anything requiring such from him usually required nothing less than an elixir.

He did carry lesser ones around, however. Provided them indirectly to those in the Dungeon that were in trouble and put in deserving effort. Unfortunately, he was more liable to provide aid to critically wounded adventurers who had a fight worthy of respect. That usually meant elixirs. These were generally only if he found a hard-fighting group that had run out of potions, where he'd leave them in the direction they were traveling.

He naturally hadn't focused on such in recent trips.

The Andhrímnir provided the Freya Familia with higher quality products, so their inventory didn't need them.

Used to this whenever he picked up a new order, Ottar started moving. As he passed another townhouse he knew housed another familia, he placed the older potions down at their backdoor in a flash before moving on. Daedalus Street was filled with small, struggling familias. He tried his best to keep track of those striving valiantly, and found little reason not to leave such secret gifts.

He traveled till he appeared in a construction workyard in a flash.

"Where is Foreman Dennin?"

The supervisor Ottar landed right behind jumped in shock, spinning around and demanding, "By the gods, where did yo- Ah, S-Sir Ottar. I-Is there an issue?"

Ottar merely stared, reiterating briskly, "Foreman Dennin."

"I-I'll go fetch him," the man said, quickly scurrying off.

Ottar waited, ignoring the looks and whispers of his appearance, till the desired man came up shuffling and immediately sticking out a sealed envelope, saying, "Here it is, Sir."

Ottar grunted, took it, and turned.

"A-Ah, I hope the Lady Goddess will approve. Y-You will tell her that I've been doing my best, r-right?"

Ottar paused and sent a look over his shoulder as he said simply, "I do not guide the goddess' thoughts, but I shall deliver your letter to her. She shall decide what grace to bestow."

The man thanked him, but Ottar was already gone.

He repeated this process several times. Construction yards. Guilds. Shops. Food providers. All provided Ottar envelopes, and he then left.

All were believers of Freya, following her will. These men and women simply were well-placed believers who could act on her behalf in private endeavors. Agents, with the envelopes merely being their progress and status reports.

In this case, towards providing support to Daedalus Street with funds from her tribute.

Advancing her desires and purposes there, but never so close or directly as to ruin her 'fun'.

Not the concern of Ottar though. He would only deliver these letters, accepting it as a private endeavor of Lady Freya. He just made it his task to collect them.

It also left him done with his tasks as captain, and now able to return to Folkvangr.

---

Heith shivered as his eyes came to rest on her.

Several hours passing had allowed the early sparring in the Fields of Folkvangr to continue. Enough so that he judged it was acceptable to drag Heith and the Andhrímnir away. Not only were there still a good number of Einherjar in the Dungeon, but he had also warned them to allow the healers time to train themselves. If they struggled at that, it arguably only proved the need.

Ottar had felt that too many of the Einherjar had become careless towards receiving wounds; a downside to having recruited such a large and effective healer component.

A reason Ottar preferred not to rely on even potions, having once felt the lure of being around a healer who –

…

Heith shivered again, this time turning around and spotting Ottar's now sharper gaze.

As he stepped forward, she stepped back.

Then –

"~Hey~. ~Heyo~…Anyone there?! I have a complaint. Big Guy or Freya, hellooooooo."

Ottar couldn't ignore the distraction, and reluctantly away to signal the gate guards to open it. They did so. Although as a form darted inside, they sent him a look that all but echoed Allen's sentiments the previous day.

"There you are," Goddess Hestia declared as she spotted his form, cheeks puffing out. "Where did Freya send me? Mia threatened to spank me?! And she wasn't lying!"

Ottar tilted his head, only commenting bluntly, "My experience would agree she wasn't."

"She – Wait, in your experience," Hestia had continued, only to cut off as she registered his words. Building steam punctured by that and instead sending him a look from feet to head. "She spanked you?...that's terrifying."

Not seeing a point in dredging up his oldest memories of Mia's 'lessons' to him, he instead asked, "Is there a different reason you came, Lady Hestia?"

"Oh, yeah," the goddess let out, seemingly remembering her previous mood and started pointing and gesturing emphatically. "Mia and them were hard, but you have to see were Hephaestus dropped me off. She even did it when I was dead tired after work, and has hidden in her familia home while telling the guards not to let me in. Coward."

Ottar merely stared, grunting to hopefully show he didn't see how that connected to him.

The goddess seemed to realize it, throwing herself dramatically at him. Throwing her face into his lower stomach and grasping with both hands at his shirt, she looked up. The teary eyes were set in a way that deities sometimes did, but he thought was actually honest on her.

"Help me, Big Guy."

Ottar was hardly moved, not seeing this as anything but the result of the decisions made yesterday between Freya and Hephaestus.

…yet, he had also made a decision himself yesterday.

If one didn't certain things as sacred, they would come to retreat on everything of importance.

Heith seemed to sense this as well, and came up while commenting, "This issue seems much more fitting than forcing your indefatigable quest for strength on a healer."

Ottar sent her a look, but she was not intimidated.

Honestly speaking, Ottar had never been good at dealing with the healer.

As shown by her ignoring his gaze and patting Hestia on the shoulder, declaring gleefully, "I like you, Lady Goddess. You are useful."

Hestia blinked at the random comment, but only for a moment before she puffed out her chest smugly, "Hey, this is kind of easy."

Heith's eyes, however, dropped at that and she mumbled, "B-Big. Isn't that kind of excessive?"

Hestia heard, and only grew smugger and puffed up more as she let out, "Hehehe."

"Idiots," Ottar growled out.

Regardless of that, he was soon bound by the wayward goddess. Somehow listening to complaints about work. Not to mention finding himself in a church that once again proved an unwelcome reminder of the past.

"It's sad, right?" Hestia commented once the two were inside the church. It was obviously a structure that hadn't seen use in decades, pews and windows broken and degraded. A statue of a goddess with half her face missing. She pointed then pointed down a room behind the altar as she said, "It's literally just a basement with an old couch and bed. What was Hephaestus thinking?"

Ottar hummed as he looked around, noting the wear, but still responded stoically, "What is wrong with it?"

Hestia goggled at him, eventually exclaiming while gesturing even more, "What do you even mean? It's a ruined church, and I'm living in a basement with old and dusty furniture."

Ottar stared.

"…Dust can be removed."

Hestia collapsed onto her hands and knees in despair, groaning out, "How can you look at this and think removing dust will do anything?"

Ottar looked down at her, unimpressed.

Yet he had given his word, no matter the reason, and he trusted Lady Freya to only value a goddess that deserved it.

It still felt like he was straining something inside as he forced out, "My private quarters used to be stables."

"Huh," she uttered, looking up at him in confusion.

"My private quarters used to be stables," he repeated, voice blunt. "I disliked crowds and confined spaces, so I came to live in the stables."

Arguably only a lie from underexaggerating. When first picked up by Lady Freya, he had neither understood nor liked people or inside spaces. If Lady Freya didn't keep him in her room for a night, he would inevitably end up outside sleeping in whatever isolated corner he could find. Neither her nor Mia had been able to stop him entirely, and it had taken no small amount of effort and time just to get him to accept the horse stables for shelter.

Not interested in revealing such, he instead explained coolly, "It was a process for me. Both to be comfortable there, but also to build it up. Over the years, I have built and changed everything on top of that stables according to my will. It is now my living quarters, the captain's quarters, and a place that only comes second to by Lady Freya's side where I am most comfortable."

Hestia looked away awkwardly, guilt clear on her face now.

"This building is not solid, but the Divine Smith has granted it to you. It is yours. Potentially your first real possession in the Lower World," Ottar continued, face and voice not shifting even as he moved. He bent over to slip hands under her arms and lifting her up. Ignoring the squeak this elicited, he put her on her feet. "Everything is a process. Look at what you can make of it, and start putting in the effort to do so."

"Y-You…you're really taking this seriously," Hestia let out awkwardly.

"I take everything seriously," he replied simply, voice and face stone. It left her sweatdropping. "You, on the other hand, seem to lack the seriousness I expected of you."

"Wah? W-why are you expecting anything from me here?" Hestia now exclaimed, lurching back. "I'm the goddess that bummed off Hephaestus, was kicked out, went to bum off Freya, got kicked out again, and am now trying to bum of a sugar daddy, aren't I? This is exactly what you should expect of me, Big Guy."

…

"The Goddess of Hearth and Home," Ottar finally said, making Hestia stiffen and grimace. "I assumed you would know better than me."

Ottar looked around the run-down church again.

"I can buy you a house," Ottar declared, looking back at her. "I cannot make it a home though. To you nor your eventual familia. Only you can do that."

Simple living quarters, no matter how diligently built, cannot compare to the space one belongs.

"Ouch," Hestia hissed.

Ottar grunted again, asking, "What do you want?"

"Huh?"

"You have descended to the Lower World, Lady Hestia," he reminded her. "Why?"

This time she was quick and eager to answer, puffing out her chest and raising a hand in the air as she declared, "To make the greatest familia in history!"

He stared.

"W-Why are you giving me that look?"

"Because I don't believe you."

"W-What? Why?" she demanded, offended. "Doesn't everyone want that? Offended and going to say there's no chance because Freya will instead?"

"No. I just sense little will in your words," he told her bluntly again.

Plenty of people spouted common, grandiose dreams or goals, but rarer did people speak them with the full intent on following through.

"I'll have you know it could happen," Hestia claimed with a pout, playing with one of her pigtails. Although she didn't meet his eyes either as she continued, "And yeah, other things comes first. Obviously I want to recruit a lot of adorable children, shower them with love, encourage them to do amazing things, and have a big home. There's a process to it though."

"There is," Ottar agreed, finding several cleaning tools that had clearly been left by a certain smithing goddess. He grabbed a broom and held it out. "Just as there is a process to building a home. Get started."

Hestia grabbed it angrily even as she retorted in frustration, "I meant recruiting some children as the first step."

"I cannot give you a familia. I can assist you in working on this building," Ottar answered to that. "I shall do one task as assistance regularly in fixing this property up."

She actually glared this time despite the offer, although it was still not any sort of intimidating.

Especially with the pout.

"No matter the god, they have an influence on what type of familia they build," Ottar added.

Lady Freya searched for love and her War aspect meant she was drawn to true warriors; thus explaining how she ended up forming a powerful familia even before Hera and Zeus forced her to come to Orario and the Dungeon.

Ausrine simply sought a quiet life raising children in safety with a lover.

Loki genuinely sought to raise the greatest familia, and gathered heroes and other 'stars' she wanted to watch grow and achieve new things.

Demeter sought to support the adventurers who risked their lives, exemplifying a reliable comfort and offering a quiet relief from worries like food scarcity.

Looking at this new goddess, Ottar continued firmly, "Just as there is a difference between want and need, there is a difference between wanting something and merely thinking it would be nice to have. Effort. Now, do you want a home enough to work for it?"

"Mouuuu, fine!" Hestia said, gripping the broom tighter and spinning around with a huff. She then started using it as she muttered, "Getting lectured. Brought him here, and get lectured. Aren't I the goddess?"

Ottar was unconcerned with such words. He had learned not to take the actions of deities at face value. It was doubtful he told a Goddess of Home anything she genuinely didn't already know, unless his own beliefs were wildly divergent from hers, but deities tended to like playing around. She likely came here intending some sort of joking play that he interrupted.

He didn't know what she originally intended, but he had little desire to play along regardless.

Deities had called him boring before with such behavior, but few could demand he focus on entertaining them.

Seeing the goddess working now, he asked, "Which task do you want me to do?"

Hestia paused, reluctantly saying, "Dusting."

Ottar nodded and started working without another word.

Several minutes passed in silence.

Then she suddenly spoke though, muttering in a low, dissatisfied voice, "This has actually been hard, you know. I could read all I wanted at Hephaestus', but that was…not enough. And now I'm kicked out, Hephaestus won't see me, I'm being picked on at work, and I don't have many options on people I can turn to or even spend time with…This isn't why I descended."

Ottar paused, even he able to recognize the sad undertone underneath. Admittedly, it could be a trick. It also still didn't necessarily involve him with this goddess he'd pledged some support to for reasons not quite about her.

He had still given his word.

To a deity who descended to build a familia and valued the idea of that, even he could see that the period before they recruited anyone could leave them listless.

Maybe even lonely, looking at Hestia in this moment.

…Ottar frowned.

He still couldn't recruit a familia for her, but he finally said after another minute of thoughts, "Do not judge the others at the Hostess of Fertility too quickly. I have never been there, but I have heard enough. Mia is rough, but not unreasonable. Or unkind. You can find a place there."

That was all he could say, not understanding.

Hestia merely nodded, entire movement dejected.

Dammit.

"I shall stop by tomorrow to do another task."

…

"Heh," Hestia said, head rising and not doing a good job of hiding the victorious smirk on her face.

"Idiot," Ottar growled in irritation.

Hestia was soon chatting though, voice light-hearted and triumphant, "Before noon, please. Mia said I have to show up at noon. Today too, so be done with the dusting by then, Big Guy."

Restraining himself, Ottar merely forced out sternly, "I was already going to leave before noon anyways, no matter the situation."

"What?! You were prepared to leave me at noon?!"

"Yes."

No hesitation.

"Oooooh, naughty sugar daddy! Selfish! Ready to drop me when convenient for you without a thought. I'm going to cry."

---

"You were almost late, Ottar," Lady Freya said as he appeared at her side, the goddess not even blinking as he all but blinked into existence by her.

"Apologies, Lady Freya," he said, bowing slightly. "I was drawn from Folkvangr to assist the Goddess Hestia, and she kept me busy longer than planned."

She stared at him.

He was spared having to ask her why when figures approached, making her turn away while saying slowly, "Something to discuss later then. Greetings, Hephaestus. Dian Cecht. Hermes. I see you brought your brightest stars to me."

"Only a bright star to see a bright star," the blonde-haired Hermes declared theatrically as he approached, slipping his arm around the aqua-haired adventurer next to him. "Although, I must confess that in a matchup between the King there and my dear Perseus…she might have too much of an advantage for me to allow the contest to go ahead. Just wouldn't be fai-ow, ow, ow!"

"Stop even the suggesting, Lord Hermes. Please," Asfi Al Andromeda hissed while pinching her deities' side, although she made an admirable attempt to still appear dignified as she bowed to them. "Lady Freya. Sir Ottar."

"Perseus," Ottar returned.

"If we're talking about special stars, I'll proudly present my Dea Saint," the white-haired and bearded God of Healing announced, gesturing at the small figure next to him.

"Please restrain yourself, Lord Deity," Airmid Teasanare said, the silver-haired healer and medicine maker in her expected uniform of the Dian Cecht familia. She bowed. "Lady Freya. Sir Ottar."

"Dea Saint."

"Hehe, still keeping a ten-meter distance from Ottar, Airmid," a voice from the final group called, making them turn to see the tan form of Tsubaki approaching with the Divine Smith right behind her. "Still offended he refuses to ever have you heal him? Or do you still feel he brings bad luck to you?"

"I do not know what you mean, Lady Tsubaki," Airmid said, face placid and unaffected.

"Yeah, sure you don't," Tsubaki said with a chuckle.

"Enough, Tsubaki," Hephaestus said before nodding at them. "Freya. Ottar. Only a day, but let's do some good work here."

"Naturally. I expect nothing less," Freya responded, mysterious – not friendly – smile on her face.

"Me neither," Hermes added in, popping up with a mischievous smirk as he looked at Tsubaki. "Is everyone ready though? Not that I'm complaining of Cyclops' stat-"

Asfi's hand reached out and snagged his ear before he could finish.

Although Tsubaki just laughed bawdily as put her hands on hips as she retorted, "Got up from the Dungeon, and will be going back. Did a quick wash, but see no reason to replace my clothes that are only going to get soiled when I go back in. This okay, Ottar?"

Ottar raised an eyebrow, only now noting consciously the way she was dressed. She had on her usual pants, but her top was only covered by a sarashi. Not much worth noting.

"Irrelevant, Cyclops, but I agree with the decision if you are only on the surface for this," he said simply.

He could respect someone knowing they were about to return to the Dungeon as soon as possible.

It got a bitter smile though as she shook her head and muttered, "About what I expected."

"Then I shall keep my mouth shut," Hermes said, having slipped out of Asfi's hold. Although he then slipped to Ottar's side, looking about to throw his arm around him only to pause as he wondered where on Ottar's massive form he could even do that. Finally, he pat his arm and continued, "Well, about that. Congrats on the rank up, King. I was blown away. Truly admirable. I had tears in my eyes."

Ottar only let out a deep hum at the flighty god's flatteries.

"Although I can't say I wasn't also distracted by that," the god continued, pointing at the Eye of Balor that had been placed on a table before Ottar's arrival. "Such a discovery, and who knows when we'll see it again. Not many people suicidal enough to try to tear out the eye of Balor, after all. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wasn't alone in being excited either. Asfi was begging the other members of the familia for money."

"I did not!" Asfi snapped immediately.

"She even came to me," Hermes still continued, hand on his chest while the other stretched out. "Begged for a loan, speaking the most impassioned poetry to-"

"Hermes."

Freya's voice silenced him, and made everyone look at her smiling form. Take note of her presence that dominated now. White dress - emphasizing her beauty even as it declared elegance. Less erotic than her usual fare, but only drawing one's gaze towards her flawless face. Every detail of her expression making her will known-

"Enough," she said, cutting off the thoughts running through everyone's mind.

Grinning sardonically, the god merely made a gesture of shutting his mouth and giving a deep bow towards her.

It was enough for Lady Freya, who then explained gracefully, "I have made you aware of why you are here, but regardless, I welcome you. I have ordered this area of Folkvangr separated, so we shall not have any disturbances. Anything heard here shall only be by my children, and they shall keep quiet. So, observe your duties freely and without concern. You are here for an appraisal."

Not even the Goddess of Beauty's presence kept eyes from drifting towards the eye of Balor at that.

It made Freya chuckle before she continued, "Yes, that shall be included. However, I believe we can start elsewhere. Ottar returned from the 66th floor yesterday, and he has other drops and materials brought up. My other executives gathered some from the 59th, but we have chosen to hold onto those for now. We shall instead be using his findings to establish a baseline of what to expect of this new territory. I have naturally drawn on all of you to assist."

All of them were dead serious now, even Hermes quiet and eyes focused.

"It shouldn't be too hard," Hephaestus commented.

"We gods aren't totally unexperienced, after all," Dian Cecht bragged.

"I suppose it is only natural that those from the era of Zeus and Hera would remember some of these materials," Asfi commented, fixing her glasses.

Airmid nodded, even as she looked at her god and remarked, "True, although I must confess to having been taught little of such."

"There's a reason for it," Hephaestus claimed, shrugging with a – rather annoyed – grin.

"That there is," Dian Cecht agreed though, arms crossed and just as subtly displeased. "Beyond the unspoken agreement to not discuss the Secret Floors till modern familias could reach them, it was also just how Zeus and Hera did business. They had a strong tendency to…actively recruit any of our Level 4 craftsmen they deemed likely to reach Level 5."

"Very strongly," Hephaestus agreed. "One of Zeus' Level 6 executives, Aluon, was a smith previously of my familia. I wasn't bothered, but the pattern was undeniably there."

"They recruited, tried to get them to level up, and generally then did their best to keep all crafting of materials from the 59th floor inside their own familia," Dian Cecht continued, grumbling. "Then when they couldn't, they'd demand strict contracts to limit the spread of information."

"While the two former greatest shared some information with the Guild, they knew the value of information," Hermes now took over, smirking and with a glint in his eyes. "There's a reason their records could be kept secret. To all but the strongest of familia, their dives were shrouded in mystery and false information."

"We obviously still know, arguably more than they do, simply from being gods," Hephaestus claimed again, nodding at Tsubaki. "Those that worked with them couldn't spread knowledge around though."

"Dad used to grumble about that," Tsubaki commented, half-smiling. "He taught me everything he knew, but never the stuff from the Glacier Territory."

Ottar didn't comment on this. He knew it already. The Zeus and Hera familias had been monoliths. Familia able to develop over centuries for the needs and challenges they found. Recruiting needed skillsets when appropriate adventurers reached Level 4. They might not have matched crafting familias outright, but they were able to cover at least some of the tasks to provide leverage – alongside simply being so powerful – when forced to work with outside familia.

Tsubaki punched her palm here as she exclaimed, "Guess we can get to solving that today then."

Nodding in satisfaction at that, Freya lifted a hand and snapped, "Ottar."

"Yes, my Lady," he said as he moved to a free table. He placed his Dungeon bag on it, gently opening it and starting to lay out the materials carefully recovered and preserved. Allowing the three adventurers to approach closer, their gods staying back but not able to help peering themselves. "These are my finds."

"Your materials are surprisingly well-handled as always," Airmid commented as she held up some pressed plants.

Ottar wasn't sure why that was surprising, harvesting and preserving materials from the Dungeon being basic skills for an adventurer to learn, but he merely let out a hum.

"Oh, these are interesting," Tsubaki commented, holding up the spines of the Metal Penguins.

Asfi was examining the scales of the Growing Shark, muttering, "What abominable monster did this come from?"

Ottar nodded in agreement with that description, recalling the fish with limbs.

The examination continued, with the three quickly exchanging thoughts but more quickly moving on. All the materials were high quality and of interest, but just that. Not necessarily complex.

Just the expected scales, fangs, spikes, bones, leathers, fur, poison sacs, blood, ears, shells, and more that constituted average drops.

There was no way they could do in-depth study of all of them in this period, that would have to follow of far longer periods of time, but they could at least see which things they were most suited for.

Equipment, magic items, or medicine.

Eventually they did touch on one of the more special that Ottar had removed last.

"What are those?" Airmid asked as he brought out several drops and kept them together.

A patch of hair, fragments of a carapace, a number of bugs trapped in a small jar, and another jar filled with glowing berries.

He explained as both she and Asfi took several, "From one of the strongest monsters I faced. Lightning-element, but alongside some other element. Appeared to have a symbiotic relationship with these bugs that used said other element. They ate from these berries. Took them all together…the bugs are dead, but they exploded in combat."

That made Airmid put down that bottle, although she then looked at the berry one as she whispered, "…ragon?"

"Dragon," Asfi confirmed.

"How though?" Airmid asked as she popped the bottle open and gracefully gave a single sniff of the berries.

The reaction was immediate and harsh.

"POISON!" she burst out, hacking, coughing, and rather trying to sneeze her nose all at once. "T-This is…H-Healing droplets, t-t-tears of light-"

Everyone could only watch as the usually graceful and collecting healer all struggled through her long-chant spell, even if her god and Asfi tried to help her.

Only Hermes laughed.

"-I-I heal you. Dia Fratel!" she finally managed to get out, her magic circle springing to life around her. But…"I-It's not working!"

It took a good five minutes for the situation to be handled. Her god eventually just had to do things the old-fashioned way. Have her flush her sinuses out entirely. An activity that not even she could pull off gracefully.

It left Airmid trying to regain her dignity despite the bright red nose she now sported.

Everyone else looked away, sparing her after the display.

Ottar, however, remarked calmly, "Your nose is red, Dea Saint. Do you need to flush your nose again?"

She sent him a dead-eyed look, and she moved to a distance from him. It made Tsubaki and Hermes let out muffled laughs. She then tried to pretend nothing had happened as she said, "That will likely kill any Level 1 exposed to it."

"Didn't think it would be that bad, but I know what this is," Dian Cecht said, protectiveness no doubt pushing him as he moved to cover Airmid. He did focus on the berries though as he elaborated, "Dragon Element. As the name indicates, it's something high-level dragons are able to utilize. A magical element, like fire. Usually manifests in a different form."

That made everyone grow grim, Hermes murmuring, "The miasma of Dragon Valley."

"Yes. The miasma of the dragons there which poisoned the land," Dian Cecht remarked, before sighing. "I had hoped that my Airmid's spell could purify it, but seemingly not. I'd never risk her going to such a place to find out before this."

"I have additional experience in this," Ottar spoke up here, drawing memories. "Before these floors; several Cadmus and Valgang Dragons. Right after the Great Feud, when I managed to access the Labyrinth Territory again."

It had been an unexpected find. After eight years of surviving without being culled, several of the monsters down there had shown their age. Some accrued wisdom. Even outright irregulars.

It had actually been a welcome discovery, and the years it took him to cull them had offered the largest challenges of a five-year period.

"They did not emit miasma like the dragons of the Dragon Valley, however, but infused it into attacks. Much like the Blood Lightning Wolf did."

"The dragons of the Valley are ancient," Hermes spoke up, still grim. "Descendants of dragons that escaped long before the Dungeon was sealed. Their miasma is meant to create widespread destruction on the surface. Suck life from land. After being sealed, the Dungeon could have encouraged more targeted uses…Although they are simply two different methods for the same desire."

"Well," Airmid spoke, still short. "My instinct is against these finds being brought to the familia. They are dangerous. Yet they, like many harmful materials, could hold the key to antidotes to the affliction. We…must find a way to manage."

Any sort of treatment to miasma beyond sheer prowess or very rare purification spells was so desired.

"I believe find a use too," Asfi declared, eyes intense and eager.

"I think I remember these too," Tsubaki claimed, peering closer at the drops over the berries or bugs. "Think it was with drops, but I believe father managed to infuse Gluttony's weapon with this stuff. The one he used to slay the Behemoth."

"Not just his weapon," Hephaestus corrected. "His armor too. Dragon element, while very hard to infuse into equipment, has natural suppression properties on other elements. Not the most direct anti-magic effect, but that man liked it. Also enhances attack power against many monsters that wield the dragon element."

"Unfortunately, I don't think this is enough for such experiments right now. Best allow them to have a crack at it. Especially-," Tsubaki stated with a sigh, despite clear interest. Although she shifted focus by snatching a piece of ore from a pile Ottar had just removed. "as I remember seeing dad with some of this. He was not happy."

"Oh, that stuff," Hephaestus commented, grimace coming on her face.

"Yeah, rather like that," Tsubaki replied. "Especially when I saw a piece of his and asked why it looked so shabby. He just started cursing."

Ottar didn't respond to that, instead offering, "Found it in an ice cave. It was a challenge to remove, and none has melted."

"It wouldn't," the Divine Smith revealed, sighing. "We call this stalhrim. Enchanted Ice, by another name. A valuable find, I hate to admit. Quite a bit better than adamantite."

Ottar's eyes narrowing as he commented, "I cannot remember seeing it among Zeus and Hera."

"Because it's a pain in the ass," she answered bluntly, blowing some hair from her eye in exasperation. "If every material has a personality, stalhrim is a grumpy old man that is always irritable and complaining about kids on his yard. It wasn't used often. Besides being a pain in the ass to forge, Stalhrim only accepts ice enchantments and just refuses to smooth out. Comes out looking like rather hastily shaped stone."

"But it is strong?" Ottar asked, intently meeting the gaze of the Divine Smith.

She stared, finally sighing and admitting, "Yes. Besides Maxim and Cerea's stuff from the latter's Mystery-produced equipment, I can't say any of the other Zeus and Hera execs had outright superior equipment than good stalhrim equivalents."

"If it comes out looking shabby though, no adventurer will want it," Tsubaki pointed out.

Ottar stared at her blankly.

Tsubaki met it, deadpanned, and finally elbowing her goddess to stage-whisper, "That is the look of someone who has no concept of aesthetic appeal in equipment."

Ottar indeed did not understand, even if he had noticed just about all first-class adventurers had a distinctive style to their equipment.

"Well, it's also about a crafter's pride," Tsubaki tried to explain with a sigh. "We don't want to put out what looks like shabby equipment. Expressing our artistic vision. Creating a brand."

"And to put it in ways you might understand better," Hephaestus interrupted, chuckling and meeting his eyes. "It's largely unnecessary. Adamantite, mithril, or oricalchum mixed with drops from the Secret Floors create roughly comparable equipment. Gluttony's armor was made with adamantite and dragon scales. The scales of some shark monster created a very appealing and tough armor. Blades from certain horns. It required quite a bit of drops, but the monsters that far down have more drops anyways. It works, and – compared to stalhrim, which doesn't easily alloy with anything – offers variety."

Ottar considered that, not sure he agreed, but nodded in acceptance regardless.

"Plus, not sure this will get you anywhere right now anyways," she then added, making his eyes snap to her. Smirking teasing, she elaborated while snatching the stalhrim from Tsubaki, "Tsubaki can't forge this right now."

"What?! I can't?"

"Nope," she answered bluntly. "Stalhrim usually had a different purpose. A training tool. You also have more to go. If I simplify the process…when a smith reached Level 5 and E-rank in Blacksmithing, Zeus and Hera usually created contracts to start having them use materials of the Secret Floors to go further. You've spent years training and reached the limit of E-rank even without, Tsubaki, but no one has reached D-rank before – to my knowledge – without such. Working stalhrim – alongside plenty of years and being Level 6 – then pushes Blacksmithing to C-rank."

"Seriously?" Tsubaki asked, offended at the idea. "It's impossible before that?"

"Not without a spirit forge, although Goinbu might have some old techniques. The method of Zeus and Hera required both Level 6 and at least D-rank Blacksmithing," the Divine Smith stated definitively.

Although that proved less definitive for her own captain, who instead showed her sharpness by countering, "Their discovered method. What about another method? Could you forge it?"

The goddess paused, considering her answer but finally confessing easily, "Well, yeah. It would suck, but if I special designed a forge and used a few other tricks…"

Now, that usually wouldn't say much when one considers the transcendent skill deities can display in their primary domains.

That didn't seem the case for Tsubaki though, who merely grinned, grabbed the stalhrim back, and declared, "Well, as I am already intent on challenging you, Lady Goddess, I suppose that is only another challenge to properly do that."

Ottar hummed, feeling like he had turned into a spectator.

He seemingly wasn't the only one, as Lady Freya spoke up, "Perhaps we can help each other then? With the new need to adapt new materials, we need the best working on it. We must provide some to the Goibnu Familia, but it is to our benefit to focus our efforts on those most likely to grow. It also sounds like you need higher quality materials to grow. Should you devote yourself to it, Cyclops, I believe we might be able to provide you two-thirds of the drops and stalhrim. Agreeable, no?"

The Divine Smith grimaced slightly, clearly troubled by the idea yet proved unable to deny the point and advantage.

Before she could say anything…

"I'm honored, but I believe I have to refuse then," Tsubaki said, grinning rapaciously. "Sorry, goddess, but I can't offer to devote myself to someone so easily. I have several of my own challenges on the docket, and someone challenged me in a way that is all but forcing me to stay in the Dungeon for the near future."

Ottar did not miss the significant look she sent him.

So, she actually was taking his words back then seriously.

He couldn't deny the slight growth of respect and acknowledgement it spurred in him.

Lady Freya was disappointed though, pouting as she said, "I am unused to be refused, and do not believe I enjoy it in this situation. Especially when you show off a good side while refusing. Makes me want to…argue."

"Enough, Freya," Hephaestus cut in, voice firm even if her eyes were closed and she continued professionally. "Tsubaki has spoken, and I shall agree with it. We'll take more of the other drops for alloying and study. My vice-captain Foke has experience from Zeus and Hera, and my other Level 4's could chance to experiment. Goibnu can receive the remaining third alongside all the stalhrim. His children are better at cooperative large projects which might help with managing something with it, and none of my kids can work it so it is only fair. Probably going to pile up anyways, so probably best to bring back adamantite again."

Ottar couldn't help his eyes turning to the Divine Smith herself pointedly.

She caught it, and smirked as she responded, "Got to work harder than that for me, big boy."

A displeased rumble rose in his throat.

With the ores and equipment drops being so partitioned though, the others now came forward. Dian Cecht jockeying for the medicine materials for his familia, while Perseus went on her own offensive. This time was more difficult, magic item creation and medicines overlapping more than equipment manufacturing. Although it was aided by Dian Cecht familia obviously being larger and thus needing more bulk materials where Asfi worked on her own and so went for more special items that drew her attention. Still more difficult.

Ottar was glad Lady Freya was handling the negotiations for him.

It soon led to the options disappearing. They didn't hold back here. While Ottar had brought quite a bit back, it wasn't in such bulk that they could consider using them with craftsmen outside Orario. With such new gains, the weeks of mere travel time would be too much a hindrance.

The rest disappearing also now led to the final and biggest piece.

"Now, for the final appraisal," Freya said, gesturing towards the Eye of Balor. "Behold, from mine own mantle."

This time, all three of the adventurer-craftsmen moved forward and surrounded it. This time, those watching even allowed them to study it for several minutes. Whispering between themselves.

After all, this one was special.

Assuming Ottar hadn't gotten supremely lucky, all his other drops were repeatable finds to the Glacier Territory.

Meanwhile the odds of someone replicating his feat with Balor, even with prior knowledge, was absurd in any shorter timeframe.

So, everyone waited patiently even as the anticipation built.

"Well, I can give you quick overview of the physical side," Tsubaki spoke, after pulling out a jewelry magnifying glass to examine the crystal while also tapping it with her fingers. "Unless there is a use worth the entirety of it, this can be broken down. Both its innate magic and its crystalline structure are more repeating than anything that requires it remain in one piece. Naturally you'll need a proper craftsmen to do so if you don't want to waste more of the innate magic than necessary, but this can probably still be broken down into dozens of high-quality chunks."

"Any its functions?" Ottar asked simply, more concerned with that first.

"Crystal isn't exactly the best material for alloying," Tsubaki admitted painfully. "Very good for magical enchantments, but weak. I've added it onto some equipment out of necessity for that, but it usually created a vulnerability I doubt you'd enjoy. For its more esoteric characteristics, you'll have to ask those two. Mystery is useful for that, if you don't want to do a battery of experiments that isn't quite applicable with a limited resource like this one."

She pointed at the other two, who had their heads together and were whispering together urgently.

Although she refocused herself putting away the magnifying glass and then grasping it, "I can also see if the innate magic is familiar or telling…hmmm…what is it…absorbing my magic, but then fading away…needs more I see, so…"

Her mumbles were interrupted as the Eye unleashed a red beam that dug into the ground. The ground tore, and yelps of alarm burst out of those surrounding. Ottar moved instantly, forming a wall as he used his body to protect Lady Freya from the unexpected attack.

But it only lasted an instant, leaving everyone to stare at Tsubaki.

At least till Asfi muttered, "Ah~. So that's what it is focusing."

Sheepishly putting the Eye down, Tsubaki coughed and took a step as she said, "I think you two might have some explanation."

"Yes, the findings were a bit mysterious, but I think at least comprehendible now. If still hard to parse in implication and possibility," Airmid claimed, patting dust of her white uniform.

"Then, please," Freya said, coming out from behind Ottar with a hard smile. "Enlighten us."

Ottar turning and giving them a hard look too probably didn't help, but he hardly cared.

Airmid exchanged looks with Asfi, seeking comfort before reluctantly starting, "This is a harder and rarer find, so many of its best properties are more…esoteric. Enough that it's a bit hard for those who don't understand the Mystery developmental ability."

Ottar interjected here, announcing automatically, "Mystery allows the user to perceive, touch, and manipulate conceptual aspects of the world."

It got him stunned looks from both Airmid and Asfi.

His mouth tightened, regretting even as he reluctantly admitted shortly, "I once knew a Mystery user."

"Y-Yes, well," Airmid continued, coughing delicately into her hand. "You are correct. Some describe it as manifestation of miracles, but that is not so. There is a conceptual overlay of the world that is separate from the physical or magical. Manifested concepts affect the world in ways not traceable to those two, although not totally unrelated. Now, most things in this world do not have a manifested concept. Some do, but near everything has 'potential' concepts of varying strength that Mystery users can manipulate or manifest."

"It allows multiple options that others do not have," Asfi took over, nodding at Freya respectfully. "As an example, deities often have a conceptual affect related to their domain. Lady Freya, you are quite literally recognized by the world as [Beauty]. It's not physical, magic, or even your arcanum. It's just an innate, inviolable association that the world recognizes and so affects reality."

"Although that is an extreme example," Airmid spoke, choosing her words carefully. "In my case, two ways I use it are in prosthetics and my healing. With prosthetics, I conceptually make them [You]. Even if the prosthetic was made by someone else and an identical copy was applied by someone else, the one I applied so would function better. I also use it with my magic, allowing me to enhance the [Healing] of my spell or specifically target [Curse]."

"Wah, you can do that?" Asfi let out, not able to help herself. "People with good spells are so lucky."

That got several of those present to look at her with raised eyebrows; being a Mystery user.

She seemed to realize it, coughing and regaining herself before she explained, "A case for me is my bombs. By collecting materials with at least potential for the concepts of [Flammable, I can mix them and fuel the concept. It's not potion-making or alchemy. Without Mystery, the products would be utterly useless, but I create a conceptually [Flammable] product."

"That's…so wrong," Airmid now let out, trying not to grimace at the admission as a potion-maker.

"I-I've gotten better and improved it since," Asfi tried to justify.

Tsubaki chuckled ruefully from behind, drawing attention and merely shrugging as she summarized, "A lot of magic items created by Mystery-users are like that. If they don't have skills elsewhere, they really don't make sense. Honestly, it doesn't mesh with blacksmiths. We're more nuts and bolts. I can create an enchantment or magical effect, but it doesn't matter how well you forge a sword. To the world, it's still just an oddly-shaped piece of metal. Can't affect that purely through blacksmithing."

"Not quite true," Hephaestus inserted.

"Wait, really?!"

Freya was undeterred by the byplay though, instead correctly deducing, "I assume you are explaining this as the Eye of Balor has several such conceptual effects."

"Yes, Lady Freya," Airmid conceded, although couldn't help explaining further. "Although it's more a shortcut to learn other properties. For an item this strong, it's concepts strongly correlate to more understandable properties."

"All 'magic' creations have three aspects. Physical, magical, and conceptual. Although what many think of as 'magic items' usually rely on the last, which Mystery users interact with, they still bleed into each other. I can't imagine manifesting [Cutting] onto a smooth, round ball for instance. Innate magical properties also help to define potential concepts. For a drop as high-quality as this, you can expect all three to be quite unified in purpose. So, this has allowed us to deduce several characteristics quickly. Some of which are…"

"How about you begin with the simplest ones?" Hermes suggested, understanding that some would be interesting.

Nodding, Asfi started, "Well, some are simple. It is aligned more towards a light affinity, although in a form that edges towards a fire or heat aspect too."

"""Laser."""

All three of the gods said that in unison, drawing looks but ultimately moving on.

"Yes, well the next manifested concept would be [Sight, and that has clearly influenced its physical form. Despite having shifted from biological into a crystalline form, you could say it is still conceptually 'an eye'. It's not easily apparent, but if you get close you can see through it no matter the angle. It might sound pedestrian, but this material would be very good for telescopes or goggles. A little bit of adjustment could allow it to see vast distances, and together with the light concept inherent, one could make it pick up heat or types of light we cannot see."

Ottar grunted, mentioning, "Balor is said to sense heat."

"It probably quite literally sees heat as a form of light," Airmid concluded with a nod. "But moving onto the next concept, it is [Curse]. Not too uncommon a one, although its particularities are…different. Most curses are based around hindering healing or lowering status in some ways. This is more…a curse of stone?"

"Petrification," he supplied once again, nodding. "Its largest attack had such an effect. Turned my skin exposed to its light into stone that crumbled to dust, even with enhanced Magic Resistance."

That got him alarmed looks – which he ignored – before Asfi eventually looked at the Eye of Balor and concluded uneasily, "Well, that likely means that using a piece of this by a Hexer would bestow such a curse. Such as a sword that turns surrounding tissue to stone."

That got a few more alarmed looks.

"Such a concept can also be utilized for curse breaking though," Airmid countered though. "Something as strong as this, no curse I have ever encountered couldn't be lifted. A piece ground up into crystal dust would be a powerful curse-breaking material."

The looks were more comfortable now.

"The next one…" Asfi started, sending a cautious look at the gods. "I've never experienced it before, but it's…well, [Anti-Divine]."

…

"Oh, how interesting," Freya commented, chuckling.

Hermes was more serious, explaining, "Not a surprise. Black Monsters are rare, but not unknown. Balor is the Dungeon's greatest asset it can control. While the Great Beasts are obviously stronger, they are not so easily corralled. One could almost call them independent. Balor defending it directly when it was yet untamed though. It's always been suspected that it is inherently a 'Black' monster."

"What could be done with it?" Freya still asked.

Asfi exchanged a look with Hermes, but still answered, "I am unsure. This concept…I have never felt one more solid and hard to manipulate. It is likely innately immune to any arcanum though, and might disrupt many divine effects. It would need testing. Items enchanted with it could be immune to arcanum, it might hinder Lady Hephaestus if she tried to smith it, or…"

"Or it might disrupt the Charm of a certain Goddess of Beauty," Freya suggested, Ottar's eyes sharpening in response. Although she raised her hand to calm him, smiling at the now nervous Asfi and Airmid to do the same there. "Do not worry. This is not a surprise. Tis little known, but both Zeus and Hera had a few little pendants that had such an effect for their executives. Not perfect, but…enough."

"Really?" Asfi demanded.

"Indeed," Freya confirmed, now smirking. "In fact, I have one on my mantle. We recovered Zald's during the Great Feud, although sadly Alfia's was lost with her in the Dungeon."

"Oh, how interesting. You've kept a secret well from me, Freya. You minx," Hermes said, leaning forward.

"Not a secret, just…unmentioned," she claimed, meeting his smirk. "Either way, this seems to have answered that old mystery. Those familia's must have made them whenever they killed a Black Monster."

"Couldn't have been often," Hermes pointed out. "Old Ouranos would have flipped on even them if they taunted the Dungeon so, but I suppose there must have been a few incidents over a millennium."

Just sighing at the heretical information was seemingly not a concern for the gods, Asfi adjusted her glasses before she said, "The final trait is the most…impactful."

It made Dian Cecht remark bluntly, "I assume that beam."

"Yes," Asfi admitted. "Conceptually, it is [Focusing]. Which sounds innocuous, but as shown is – in more practical terms – properties that focus magic power into a clear and direct attack."

That actually made complete sense when one considered Balor's main method of attack, but it got everyone's eyes and postures to sharpen.

"That…" Hermes began, only to start laughing. "Mages are going to unite for this."

Ottar frowned too, and asked, "How effectively can it do so?"

"This drop as one piece requires some strong magic," Tsubaki claimed, rotating her shoulder bitterly. "No mage, but I doubt I could do it two or three more times without being on edge of Mind Down. Probably need to be a Level 5 or a strong mage. With how its innate magic functioned though, smaller pieces should solve that. Lower peak ceiling for power, but more manageable minimum necessary."

Ottar moved on his own here. Not asking, he took it from Tsubaki and pointed it away. He then started Hildis Vini without a chant, only doing it slowly to avoid the ignis fatuus. Channeling it into the Eye, a bright golden beam lashed out this time before he stopped.

Airmid watched, explaining elegantly, "It helped that your spell is already of the light element, but the light affinity could be easily removed from separate pieces. It would then take on whatever element of the one using it."

Ottar didn't respond, merely staring at it.

The implication was clear.

Magic was a boon to combat, but it was also limited. Everyone had their own unique spells, even if many were similar. You couldn't choose your spells or its characteristics. You had to chant. All realities of combat for mages that had defines their roles and limitations since the gods descended. There were skills that utilized magic power, magic items that had uses, and even techniques like Concurrent Chanting, but proper magic still had to use chants and spells. Staffs were merely to enhance and stabilize spells by offering an alternate reservoir for one to store magic while chanting.

What if that wasn't the case though?

What if one could have a staff with a crystal on top that if you challenged magic power into, immediately focused that into an attack?

It would have its own limitations. It's a simple attack, obviously. Any esoteric or more complex magic would require the spells proper. The attack would require Mind, and obviously be limited in power.

Yet it could still allow mages with long-chant spells to attack quicker. There was also those with spells not suitable for offense. Could healers attack with this? End the ancient vulnerability of dedicated healers having no offensive magic? Magic swordsman would have new avenues.

With every thought, Ottar's frown deepened.

"It could revolutionize mage combat," Dian Cecht said, greed in his eyes as well as seriousness.

Which meant that more than a simple and reliable material to work with like Udaeus' Sword, this instead was liable to draw the avarice of every mage in the world against the Freya Familia.

"And because of that, Altena would probably place an embargo on Orario till it was provided for study," Hermes commented, smirking and clearly only barely not breaking out in laughter. "And that's before just about every other mage joins in too. If studying this could lead to such, they'd challenge even-"

"Thank you all for your assistance-" Lady Freya suddenly, cutting him off. Her smile was once again not-friendly. "-on how others might attempt to steal it."

That sobered Hermes up, who asked, "Well, Freya, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know," she said coquettishly, clearly lying. Her head tilted to look at Ottar. "Tell me, Ottar. You know the potential threat. Would you defend me?"

"Of course, Lady Freya," he answered, eyes turning sharp.

"Against Altena?"

"Yes."

"Against all the mages?"

"Yes."

"What about against the whole world?"

"Without hesitation," he said, hand raised to his heart and head gently bowed.

…

Freya smiled in amusement, but finally broke the tense silence as she then announced, "I didn't doubt, but it is also unnecessary. I am not so attached to this to require such. I shall wait and ensure that any who make demands pay for it, but I can be…reasonable. I seek not to fight the world."

That made those listening let out a breath of relief, although Tsubaki leaned closer to her goddess to ask, "Are we all in agreement, however, that she'd totally fight the whole world in the right circumstances?"

"It's Freya, Tsubaki," Hephaestus responded, shaking her head in resignation. "She has many good sides, but one can never underestimate her whim."

Kind to merciless. Uncaring to doting. Innocent to lewd. Indifferent to obsession.

She's capable of much; both grand and terrible.

The gods knew that more than any mortal could comprehend.

It was just here that despite its value, the Eye appeared to not be valued by Freya as more than a unique bauble.

Turning from Ottar, Freya then looked at Tsubaki as she questioned, "Is this replicable? This crystal? The effect?"

Despite her previous comment, Tsubaki answered professionally, "Yes and no. As said earlier, there are three aspects for magical items. Physical, magical, and conceptual. All feed into each other. I or any magical craftsmen with the Mage DA can study its magical effect, but it needs an appropriate physical state to support it. You can't enchant different materials the same way. Like Durandal, which requires Orichalcum. The physical structure and innate magic of it allows its suitability for the Durandal enchantment. You simply can't apply the enchantment on other metals like mithril or adamantite."

"Once again, not actually true," Hephaestus threw in once again.

"Okay, stop that or you're going to put more things on my docket," Tsubaki huffed, shaking her head to her goddess' amusement. She returned to seriousness as she turned back to Freya and Ottar to continue, "So, we only know so far that this magical effect works with this crystal. It might be possible to find a metal or alloy that also supports it, but right now we only know that specific crystalline structure does so. Metalworking actually helps with that, but I'm no alchemist which includes crystal formation and growth. Altena focuses on such, the magi treasure stones of the best magic staffs an obvious base to work off of. If they can produce the crystal, I see no reason the magical effect couldn't be replicated…Ignoring the rigorous effort and missteps inherently involved in the process."

She turned her head back to Asfi and Airmid though.

"I can't say on the conceptual side, obviously."

Asfi flinched, but still ventured cautiously under their gaze, "I cannot say that I ever saw [Focusing] before, although it wasn't known as useful. It's still likely to be difficult to find the materials to bestow said concept. Right now, I would assume it would require some of this crystal as a catalyst. Without that, even if the physical and magical state were reverse engineered, the result would be notably weaker and less potent. Not enough to not be worth it, but…any pieces of the original Eye are going to be a level above."

"Then I believe I am satisfied," Freya claimed, drawing attention as she looked at them mischievously. "Thank you all for your assistance. You may leave now."

The sudden dismissal made all six of them blink.

"We have already allocated the other drops, and I believe it best that time is taken to ensure the right decision is made regarding this," she stated, patting the Eye. She flashed them a teasing smirk. "We'll get back to you if we require further assistance."

That earned a variety of reactions, but they knew better than to argue wit Freya.

Especially with Ottar looming behind her, staring them down.

After a sort goodbye, Ottar spoke while looking at their retreating backs, "Is this alright, Lady Freya?"

"Which part? Eventually giving up parts of the Eye for others to study, or allowing them to leave like so?" she asked lightly. He merely hummed, making her chuckle. "The former is all but necessary, and it's just a matter of choosing the method and allocation well. Even Altena better be willing to thoroughly repay us for even half the Eye, and it's only correct that the other half remains with us. Any pieces could prove useful. Plus, I believe I can be a generous Empress. We can consider this a gift from us to Orario and the world."

"Yes, Lady Freya."

"As for them leaving, well…it will be fun to get back at any of them that leak it while not covering their tracks well enough," she continued teasingly, watching their backs. "Hermes will probably frame one of the other two, even if he doesn't leak it, but I enjoy challenges."

Ottar hummed again, just taking in the natural assumption and acceptance that one of them would leak the news.

"Return the Eye to my quarters, Ottar. Then you have the rest of the day to yourself. I have to work," she said as she turned and started away. Although she did pause and look back, "Oh, yes. Ottar?"

"Yes, Lady Freya?"

"Remember I expect to see you tonight too."

"Of course."

With that confirmation she left, leaving Ottar to frown at an appraisal that was not as directly beneficial to him and far more complicated in terms of wider effects than he had hoped.

He was irritated.

---

That irritation might have shown when he tracked down Heith right after.

Although, she admittedly shot right back with her own.

"Seriously?!" she snarled as she found herself before him.

"It was delayed, but it is time for me to test you again," he told her simply.

"And I don't see the reason," she retorted, even if her hands tightened around her staff. "This, this is just you doing what you want!"

Ottar only felt his irritation growing, feeling quite tired of this already.

"Possibly," he merely told her, stance as firm as stone. "Yet that doesn't change my intentions."

"Yet it can change mine," she countered, slamming her staff to hit the ground dramatically. "I am head of the Andhrímnir, and I actually have duties. Too many to get distracted by you, who refuses to even state why you are fixated on this. There are others you can use. Why me?!"

…

Ottar honestly wasn't good with Heith.

He knew more than anyone how little he did as a familia captain, with his tasks earlier that day largely what he had to do. Otherwise, he could neither participate in the Fields of Folkvangr and few desired or needed his help elsewhere. In comparison, numerous responsibilities had been dumped on the healer. The duty of healing the Einherjar, allowing the baptisms of their familia to continue. All the other support duties like cooking too. It was a heavy workload, and she knew it.

Guilt on his end and resentment on hers did a good job of inverting the relationship one would expect of their differing levels.

She could give her opinion without fear, and already he could feel his boar-ears bending a bit at not knowing how to handle this.

It all made him feel his patience run out, already worn out by other interactions that always strained him and the appraisal.

The result was Heith blinking as she suddenly found herself on the floor, his sword at her neck.

"I have chosen you for this task, and that should be enough," he told her sternly, having moved too fast for her to even track. Showcasing the difference in power to avoid needing to do anything more subtle. He just explained the reality to her. "Either rise up to it, or crumple under it. That is the way of this familia, and you seem to have forgotten that recently."

She gritted her teeth, and half screamed at him as she tried to swing her staff to hit him.

As he dodged, Ottar thought that he had probably done something wrong there.

As the training proceeded though and the need to say anything faded, he still felt relief.

---

The relief hardly lasted till he arrived at the farms of the Demeter Familia though.

If anything, his irritation had grown despite the usual stress relief of a spar. It made him pass by the Demeter familia members with barely a glance. He just arrived and started looking over his own little plot with body tense and mind distracted.

It resulted in it taking a while till Demeter herself finally appeared.

"Ah ah ah, you can't be so tense," she immediately said as she caught sight of him, voice light and distracted herself even as she teased. "The flowers catch on, and you might scare them."

Not sure or wanting to reply, Ottar merely grunted.

"Ara, you are tense."

A whiff on the air made him finally look towards her. His eyes also lingered when he did so. Her hair was messier than usual, and she looked tired. If still pleased.

"Is this an acceptable time, Lady Demeter?" he asked, feeling like he might have interrupted her in something.

"Of course it is," she said, although she caught his meeting. Smiling, she clapped her hands and continued. "I was simply taking a nap, but better I get up anyway. I had a little drink with some friend recently, and I was simply more tired than I expected."

Explained the faint alcohol smell, so he nodded before turning away.

…

A minute of silence followed, even if he could feel her eyes on him.

"You know~," she finally started again, making him look to see she was bending over while looking at his profile. She had a mischievous smile, even if it hardly affected her usual aura. "I feel like I had some dream about you recently."

He really didn't know what to do about that and simply grunted.

It didn't prevent her giggling and declaring in a joking, accusatory tone, "I think you were naughty in it, Sir Ottar."

Another grunt.

"I know it was a dream, but now I'm rather curious. Do you have a side like that?"

Another grunt.

She was clearly intending to continue, but paused. Eyes on him. He then saw from the corner of his vision as she stopped that and merely let out her usual smile. Chuckling, she straightened her hair before she moved to his side while facing the bush he was tending.

"Sorry about that, Ottar. It's not the time, since you are clearly tense. Tough day?"

Ottar still didn't answer, although her words finally made him internally acknowledge it as just that.

Work that he had little skill in, and involved talking to too many people.

Talking to a goddess he barely knew yet still had to provide aid to.

An appraisal that didn't go as he wished. The biggest find not offering some equipment well suited to him, but instead troubles. Not to mention more talking.

Heith. For a task he considered straightforward in training her till she was suitable to fight the Goliath, he felt like something was wrong. He was missing something obvious, and the chance he'd had not to talk now felt like a wrong choice.

He would see Lady Freya later, but this day indeed had been…tough.

"The Dungeon is often simpler," he said simply to the goddess.

"Hehe, can't say I understand entirely, but I see enough," she merely let out herself, humming a bit too. "Don't worry. Tending plants can help. I think I'm also in the mood to do so with little distractions, so please forgive this goddess if she gets a bit mixed up in her own thoughts."

He grunted.

The following hour passed in silence though. Only broken by the quiet snips of their work on the plants. Their moving around. Even her soft humming eventually only seemed to add to the quiet ambiance.

He was thankful for that.

Enough to muster some words for a few exchanges at the end of said hour.

---

Workers at all the guilds and workyards where Ottar showed up and forced their managers to hand over sealed envelopes before leaving: Definitely believe he's running a protection racket.

The appraisal scene lasted longer than hoped, but it was hard to totally divorce the drops from describing the context. Although I am absolutely the person who could have added like five more drops without issue. Big takeaway is obviously the final trait of the Eye of Balor.

Don't you hate being the warrior who picks up the ultra-rare Mage Crafting material and having to deal with them all malding over it?

Otherwise, ended up with a few social scenes. Hestia one extended too, but I cut down on the Heith and Demeter. Intended those to be longer, but I was tired of it. Then I realized that Ottar would be tired of it too. Guy was totally done with talking by that point. Hestia basically stole his limited reservoir of considerate words per day, Heith kind of got screwed, and Demeter just rolled with it.

Next POV is likely Loki Familia or Shakti.