The midnight bell tolled.
Draped in a black cloak, Ryou stepped out of the Loki Familia's castle at a leisurely pace. Looking back at the still-lit captain's office, Ryou's face showed a satisfied smile.
One had to admit, dealing with the Loki Familia, which exuded a positive and upward atmosphere, was quite pleasant. The ultimate goal of the Loki Familia was to reach the fifty-ninth floor, a feat never before achieved, for the sake of glory. Beyond this ultimate objective, they were open to negotiating other interests as long as they didn't interfere with their main goal.
Thus, Ryou joined their team, offering to prepare attribute-boosting dishes for them for free, in exchange for all the rare ingredients found in the dungeon along the way. Next, all that was needed was for the Loki Familia to complete their preliminary preparations, and then the expedition team could set off. However, Finn also requested that Ryou join their vanguard team the next day for preliminary integration. After all, battle was not a game; there were no save points, and any coordination issues could lead to fatalities.
Ryou, for his reasons, readily agreed to Finn's request. After this, all that was left was...
Returning to his new dormitory, he found the entire dorm already dark. Ryou quietly walked to his room's door when suddenly a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
There was an uninvited guest in his room.
Due to his many secrets and his insufficient strength, he always remained somewhat vigilant. Thus, after learning the original runes from his Shishou, one of the first he began to study and understand was Rune 14 — Perdo. Its shape resembled a cup used for dice rolls, turned 90° to the left. It represented "hidden" or "secret."
By using this rune, one could uncover various hidden secrets or a concealed fortune. Once fully mastered, it could be used to find hidden treasures, making it an excellent tool for amassing wealth.
With Ryou's comprehension, he could only grasp its superficial effects, but it sufficed as a warning rune.
And now...
Ryou gently infused magic into the door lock. As a faint black mist dispersed, it revealed a broken rune in two segments, slowly fading in the air. The meaning was clear: his secret had been discovered (the room had been opened).
With a composed demeanor, Ryou retrieved his gaunlets from the storage space and then quickly drew Runes 2 (Uruz), 3 (Thurisaz), and 6 (Kenaz) on himself. These were all the runes he currently mastered that could enhance his attributes.
Quietly unlocking the door, Ryou slipped inside noiselessly.
To his surprise, the large bed, which should have been empty, was covered, revealing the shape of a person.
So audacious!?
Ryou frowned slightly, tiptoed to the bedside, and then suddenly lifted the blanket.
"Eek~~"
At that moment, Ryou felt his heart nearly stop. It wasn't fear of an enemy, but rather...
A sensuous figure lay naked on his bed! With short black hair, black cat ears, and a black cat tail, she lay on her side, showcasing her curvaceous body. Her chest was moderately sized, just enough for a hand to grasp, but the most alluring part was her long, toned legs, clearly honed through rigorous training.
At that moment, Ryou deeply understood the phrase "thick thigh saves lives."
The catgirl lying on his bed in a suggestive pose was none other than Chloe, one of the veteran shop assistants.
Due to her black-furred cat ears and tail, coupled with her black hair, Ryou often jokingly referred to her as "Black Cat".
Incidentally, there was another girl with orange hair, orange ears, and an orange tail named Anya, who had a habit of ending her sentences with "Nyaa."
Ryou had nicknamed her "Orange Cat."
Perhaps because Ryou had suddenly lifted the blanket, causing the temperature to drop, Chloe grumbled something in displeasure while reaching out and groping around. Due to her movements, the previously slightly covered curves of her body were now fully visible to Ryou.
Ryou was neither a saint nor a useless harem anime protagonist. With beauty in front of him, he wasn't going to miss the chance to appreciate it.
Cultural appreciation? Pfft! If given the chance, who wouldn't want to get hands-on?
Ryou took his fill of the view, and as Chloe seemed to be waking up, he asked, "Chloe, why did you come to my room?"
"I was afraid the chef would be lonely and empty at night, so I came to keep you company~" Chloe's tone was a mix of sleepy laziness and enticing allure.
However, Ryou keenly noticed a fleeting smile in Chloe's eyes.
He immediately felt a cold laugh in his heart. This little girl, thinking just because he was a homebody, he was a herbivore?
Suddenly, Ryou leaned over her body, one hand propped near her ear, while the other hand started to undo his clothes.
"Really? That's perfect, I was getting bored sleeping alone. You came at just the right time, Chloe. You're such an understanding girl," Ryou said in an extremely serious tone.
His actions, however, startled Chloe, causing her to stammer.
"W-what are you doing taking off your clothes!"
"Didn't you say you'd keep me company? We're all adults here, I don't need to explain what this means, right? Hurry up, it's still early, we can do it a few more times and avoid delaying tomorrow's work."
Ryou spoke with a straight face, as if he wasn't discussing something inappropriate, but rather something as mundane as eating or drinking.
"Do it? A few times?"
The composure on Chloe's face vanished, replaced by a deep blush.
"Pervert! Degenerate! Shameless!" she exclaimed, pushing Ryou away, snatching the blanket from his hands, and running out of the room without looking back.
Watching Chloe flee, Ryou showed a satisfied smile.
"See if you dare tease me again. Just because you've grown some fur, you think you can play with fire, huh?"
Ryou lay on the still warm and fragrant bed for a moment before suddenly getting up.
"Damn! I almost let this girl mess up something important!"
Ryou hurried to the window and gently pushed it open.
At this hour, Orario was completely immersed in the night. Apart from the bright lights of the pleasure district, most of the city was shrouded in darkness.
Ryou remained silent for a moment, then activated his magic, using his fingers to draw in the air.
He traced a rune resembling an inverted "E." This was the nineteenth rune, Ehwaz, representing meanings such as horse, change, and transmission.
Currently, he has only grasped one usage: sending information. Unfortunately, due to his limited understanding and his inability to utilize the combination of original runes, he couldn't precisely target the information to a specific person or even lock onto a general area.
Ryou could only broadcast the message, letting it spread in the wind.
And who was he looking for? Naturally, the elusive queen of the Shadow Country, Scáthach.
"Shishou! Shishou! Please respond if you hear this!"
Ryou sent out the message every ten minutes.
However, a full hour passed without any response.
Just as Ryou was dozing off by the window, a cold voice reached his ears.
"You are the worst disciple I have ever taught."
A purple figure appeared silently beside Ryou—it was none other than the mysterious Queen of the Land of Shadow, Scáthach.
Ryou's pupils involuntarily contracted. Before she spoke, he hadn't sensed anything.
Fortunately, Scáthach wasn't an enemy; otherwise, she could have easily sent him to the underworld with a single, effortless strike.
"Speak. What do you need?" Scáthach asked calmly.
"Shishou, didn't you use the Wisdom of Dún Scáith to take a look?" Ryou asked with a strange expression.
"If one knows everything in advance, where's the fun in life?"
Ryou chuckled awkwardly, remembering that despite her godlike abilities, the Queen of the Land of Shadow rarely used them, especially concerning prophecy and future vision.
"What do you want? Don't waste my time."
"Ahem, here's the situation..."
Ryou quickly explained his upcoming expedition to subdue the avatar of the Fallen Fairy on the fifty-ninth floor.
"In short, I want you, Shishou, to secretly follow us. If we fail, please save us."
Ryou spoke cautiously, all the while stealing glances at Scáthach's expression.
To his surprise, her expression didn't change at all by the time he finished.
"A month ago, I left you alone in the arena without any guidance, and now you want me to be your last line of defense."
At this, a playful look flashed in Scáthach's eyes. "Do you think I will agree? Even if I did, would you trust me?"
"I will! You will agree! And I will trust you!"
Ryou declared resolutely.
"Oh? Tell me your reasons," Scáthach raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You threw me into the arena because you believed my talent would allow me to escape on my own.
And now, even with the information we have, I don't have absolute confidence in surviving. Moreover, the so-called 'demonized mutation' adds another significant variable, making my chances of survival even slimmer.
I have a feeling that you don't want me dead; you just want me to grow stronger as quickly as possible. Perhaps it's because I'm your Master? Even though you don't outwardly acknowledge this relationship."
As Ryou said this, he kept his eyes fixed on Scáthach's, especially when he mentioned the last part. For a moment, a ripple appeared in her usually calm eyes.
Ryou felt a sudden clarity in his heart.
Scáthach suddenly sighed, "All my previous disciples were muscleheads who only knew how to practice martial arts. Taking you in, someone who uses their brain has been quite a novel experience."
"However, I'm curious. You should know that I admire brave warriors. Given that, why are you so confident that I will help you?" Scáthach's eyes shone with a probing light.
"Bravery does not equate to recklessness. I can't force myself to advance knowing there's no hope of winning."
"You and that fool Cú Chulainn are completely different. If he had half your brains, it would have been better."
Mentioning a certain name, a tinge of sadness appeared in Scáthach's eyes.
A sudden flame ignited in Ryou's heart, making him blurt out, "It truly is a pity. He is a dead hero, but I will be a strong one who survives to the end!"
Scáthach's eyes showed a complex expression, a mix of surprise and displeasure.
Ryou steeled his resolve and said coldly, "Also, Shishou, please don't mention other male disciples in front of me. Even if I lack a hero's glory, I am still a man."
"And one day, I will make you acknowledge that the most outstanding disciple you, Scáthach, have ever taught is none other than me, Nguyen Ryou!"
Ryou declared firmly.
Scáthach ultimately not only agreed to his request but also consented to a small additional favor.
Now, everything was ready; all that was needed was the fate of destiny.
...
The next day, Ryou arrived at the fountain plaza in front of the Tower of Babel, waiting for the vanguard team of the Loki Familia to arrive.
"Hey!"
Before long, a lively voice called out.
The Amazonian girl, Tiona, was waving her arms from a distance.
"It's the Loki Familia!"
Passersby adventurers immediately began whispering to each other, and covert glances started scrutinizing Ryou's magically disguised face.
"Who's that guy? I haven't seen him before."
"Wait, I think I've seen him. Isn't he the head chef at the Hostess of Fertility?"
"I've heard of that tavern. I heard it's been expanding recently. My familia's main god went there and couldn't stop praising it, saying the chef's culinary skills have reached a divine level."
"Really? I'll have to try it someday!"
"Forget it. After the expansion, he only worked at the Gudako, and it was by reservation only. A meal there costs at least several hundred thousand valis. Can you afford that?"
The person immediately quieted down. As an adventurer, any extra money would naturally go towards upgrading equipment. Who would spend tens of thousands of gold coins on a meal when that money could buy decent gear?
Not every familia could navigate the floors below the fortieth as easily as the Loki Familia.
It's safe to say that the specialties of the dungeon below the fortieth floor were almost monopolized by the Loki and Freya Familias.
Ryou had initially set his sights on the upper echelon of Orario's market, aiming for the top-tier route. As for individual adventurers—
Sorry, but you'll have to humble yourselves to the newly renovated tavern.
Since his culinary skills were unique in all of Orario, he couldn't afford to sell them cheaply.
"But isn't he a chef? Why is he heading into the dungeon?"
"Who knows? Maybe he's scouting for ingredients. Anyway, he's got the Loki Familia's protection."
"True."
Nobody believed that a chef could possess significant combat power, especially one about to join the Loki Familia's expedition to the previously uncharted fifty-ninth floor of the dungeon.
"Hey, have you been waiting long?"
Tiona, familiar as always, slapped Ryou on the shoulder.
"Not really, I just got here."
Ryou politely smiled and nodded.
At that moment, Ryou suddenly felt three gazes directed at him.
One was naturally from the emotionless Ais Wallenstein.
The second, filled with blatant hostility, came from the silver-haired werewolf, Bete Loga.
"Why do we have to practice team coordination with this guy!"
Bete's face was the epitome of dissatisfaction.
"This is an order from me, the captain. Do you have any objections, Bete?"
Though Finn's face bore a gentle smile, Bete couldn't help but turn his head away, avoiding eye contact.
"Tch~!"
As for the third gaze, it came from the yuri-leaning elf girl, Lefiya Viridis.
Her look at Ryou was more complex, a mix of animosity towards a rival, a hint of admiration, and a touch of shyness.
But considering that this girl was best known for her wild imagination, it wasn't surprising at all.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's head into the dungeon now. First, we'll aim to reach the eighteenth floor in one go!"
Finn greeted Ryou and then announced the plan.
"Yeah!"
The childlike Tiona and the Finn-obsessed Tione immediately responded enthusiastically to Finn's call.
The entire vanguard team was almost fully assembled, except for the dwarf shield warrior Gareth.
As for that dwarf warrior, it was said that dwarves also worked as part-time blacksmiths, so it made the most sense for him to handle the expedition preparations.
Even so, up until the seventeenth floor, the monsters they encountered were swept away by the Loki Familia, leaving Ryou with hardly any opportunity to act.
Until they reached the seventeenth floor.
Ryou followed the team into a massive space.
This space was over ten meters high and about the size of a football field. To their left was a huge ice wall, and directly opposite the entrance they came through was the entrance to the eighteenth floor.
Perhaps due to the ice wall, the originally dimly lit dungeon suddenly became brighter here. Strangely enough, such a vast and open space was devoid of any monsters.
Ryou couldn't tell if it was his imagination, but as soon as they stepped into this space, the atmosphere around them seemed to tense up involuntarily.
Even the Loki Familia, who had been playing around as if on a picnic, became alert as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Finn, we've reached the 'Wall of Lamentation,'" Riveria reminded solemnly.
"I know. Everyone, don't hold back. Let's finish this quickly," Finn decided promptly.
As if responding to their presence, the entire space began to change.
The frost-covered area started to emit a faint steam.
Crack!
A loud noise resounded as a massive fissure appeared on the smooth ice wall.
"It's here!"
Riveria reminded once again.
"Everyone, be on guard!"
Finn shouted, positioning his dual spears behind him for maximum leverage.
"Wait."
Ryou, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
"Huh? What the hell are you trying to do, you bastard?"
The werewolf Bete questioned irritably.
Ryou ignored him and turned directly to Finn.
"How about letting me handle the 'Goliath'?"
"Are you serious?"
Finn's eyes narrowed.
"After all, I want to stretch my muscles a bit too. Plus, isn't this a good opportunity to understand each other better? Once you've seen my abilities, we'll trust each other more. Besides, a mere Goliath shouldn't be much of a concern for the Loki Familia, right?"
Finn bit his thumb in thought for a moment before agreeing to Ryou's proposal.
"Alright, you handle the Goliath alone. Ais, Tione, you two provide cover but don't interfere."
In just that short time, the ice wall had been completely torn apart from within.
A giant over ten meters tall, naked and genderless, emerged from the ice wall.
Its entire body was covered in purplish-black skin, resembling an enlarged zombie. Its eye sockets were pitch black, with only red hollow circles where the pupils should be. Its head sported dry, straw-like white hair, and its entire body exuded a foul stench.
As soon as it broke free from the ice, it raised its giant hand, which was twice the size of a person, and slammed it down towards the team.
"Scatter! Move to the corners and clear the battlefield!"
Finn immediately commanded.
Almost as soon as he gave the order, the years of teamwork allowed the Loki Familia members to act instantly, spreading out.
Except for Lefiya, who lacked combat experience and stood frozen for a moment, only to be quickly pulled aside by Tiona.
Ryou accelerated, dodging the Goliath's massive hand, and then swiftly began drawing in the air.
Suddenly, flashes of magical light appeared, and the primordial runes were swiftly cast upon him.
"What kind of magic is that?"
From a distance, Riveria's eyes narrowed. Even as the foremost magician in Orario, she had never seen such magic before.
Moreover, this magic seemed to be more inclined towards self-enhancement. It was fast and difficult to interrupt, almost as if it was tailor-made for adventurers.
As a master magician, she immediately recognized the value of this magic.
She could also clearly see that Ryou was using at least four different types of magic.
This was impossible according to common sense.
Humans are not like elves, who are naturally magical beings.
Even with a "blessing," each person could only have a maximum of three magic slots, meaning they could only learn three different types of magic.
This defied all common logic.
"Could it be?"
Riveria exchanged a glance with Finn, instantly thinking of the possibility that Loki had mentioned.
The awakened bloodline of a hero!?
Beside them, Ais watched as Ryou cast one spell after another on himself, her pale golden eyes shining brilliantly.
As a user of enhancement magic herself, she naturally understood the boost this kind of magic could give to one's strength.
Ignoring the odd looks from everyone around, Ryou finished casting the rune spells on himself, and then forcefully leaped into the air.
He aimed a punch at Goliath's ugly, giant face.
Ryou's fist was no bigger than a needle compared to Goliath's head, yet this "needle" struck Goliath's face with immense force, causing the giant to reel to the side.
Roar!!!
Goliath let out a roar mixed with pain and anger. A large part of its face was visibly sunken, clearly indicating that its facial bones were broken.
Ryou, relentless, drew a rune with the meaning of "fire" in mid-air, aiming at Goliath's eyes.
Boom!
A scorching flame erupted out of nowhere, burning fiercely around Goliath's eyes.
Goliath howled in agony, instinctively covering its eyes with its massive hands, its huge body crashing around like an out-of-control train.
Large chunks of ice and stone shattered, making the entire space feel as if it was raining hail.
The members of the Loki Familia had to scatter to avoid the debris.
Ryou, relentless, aimed another punch at Goliath's knee.
Crack!
With a loud noise, Goliath's leg bent into a strange shape.
Seeing the floor boss being beaten almost helplessly, the members of the Loki Familia wore complex expressions.
"That guy is amazing," Tiona exclaimed in awe.
"Tch~!"
The werewolf Bete grumbled unhappily.
Ais, though silent, had a noticeably more intense gaze. Watching her, Lefiya, who was hiding nearby, had teary eyes, feeling as though her beloved toy had been taken away.
With the strength of the Loki Familia, it was easy to find out when Ryou appeared at the Hostess of Fertility.
They had almost confirmed Ryou's identity but had tacitly agreed not to publicize it.
However, as core members of the Loki Familia, Ryou's secret had already spread among them.
This was what made it so shocking.
In just one short month, he had gone from an ordinary person without a "blessing" to now completely suppressing a level 4 floor boss, the giant Goliath.
It was like a hero's tale straight out of a novel.
At this moment, the battle situation also began to change...
=====
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