A small point worth noting, he and Ais made a slight detour, heading toward West Main Street.
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After sending Ryu back to the Hostess of Fertility and saying goodbye, Fron and Ais also returned together to their long-missed main base, the Twilight Manor.
This time, however, their return from the expedition didn't bring about the same lively and boisterous celebration as before, quite the opposite.
A series of events had left everyone completely exhausted. Even after staying on the 18th floor for two days, their taut nerves could not be soothed.
Only within the home that belonged to their Familia could they truly relax their bodies and minds, and find peace.
Thus, those who had returned earlier than Fron and Ais had long since collapsed onto their beds, sleeping like wooden logs.
"Good night, Ais. Now that we're home, you have to rest well!"
"Mhm, you too, Fron."
After parting with her on the third floor of the southern tower, Fron was no different from the others, he tossed his gear carelessly to the floor and immediately collapsed onto his bed, falling into a deep sleep.
That sleep lasted until the sun was high in the sky the next day before he groggily woke up.
No one had come knocking in the meantime. It was only after washing up and strolling to the aerial corridor to gaze at the city's enchanting scenery that he finally came across scattered figures here and there.
Returning to the surface from that cold and dim dungeon, then sleeping soundly, put a vibrant glow on everyone's faces. Their spirits were high, their energy abundant, even the fatigue of a three-week march had been swept away.
"Good morning, Fron. Gazing at the view again, huh?"
"Ah, I never get tired of it. With such an enchanting sight, I wish it could last forever."
Narrowing his golden eyes, Fron reluctantly turned his gaze away, looking instead at the blonde girl in the courtyard absorbed in sword practice.
"Miss Ais is still working so hard. Even though she's already Level 6, she trains this diligently. I couldn't even feel jealous if I tried."
"Haha…" Fron chuckled lightly and patted the slightly discouraged Raul on the shoulder.
"Geniuses aren't scary. Well… to put it bluntly, if Loki chose you to join her Familia, then you're a genius. The real problem is when someone more talented than you also works harder than you. That's when you're helpless."
"…" That cut deep.
"Speaking of which, Fron, your Alias has been updated!"
"Hm? Finally not that stupid 'Flame Demon' anymore?"
"Hehe, it's Weaver of Night. Pretty stylish… I'm so jealous. I heard Loki even got into another fight at the Denatus over your title."
"…" Imagining Loki punching Hermes and kicking Apollo in the balls of the gods made Fron shiver involuntarily.
"Don't tell me… it was Apollo again?"
"Hehe, guess who!" Raul left behind a meaningful grin and hummed a tune as he walked away.
Fron stroked his chin thoughtfully, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"That guy, still holding a grudge over Loki crushing his balls last time? Now he's playing the clown again? I bet the other gods find it hilarious too. Tsk tsk… maybe the gods really do lose half their brains after coming down from the Tenkai."
Shaking his head, he waved toward the girl practicing in the courtyard and then headed toward the dining hall.
In the great dining hall that could seat fifty at once, everyone was especially in sync today, filling the room to the brim.
It was no longer like the old days when they had to cook for themselves.
By the time Fron sat down at his usual seat, a meal had already been placed in front of him.
"Thanks, Alicia."
"Hehe, it was just on the way. Besides, Lady Riveria doesn't usually dine in the hall anyway."
As the second-in-command of Riveria's elf squad, Alicia also served as Riveria's secretary, usually staying close to her.
But ever since that certain relationship had formed between her and Fron, her presence had shifted from Riveria's side to his.
"Hm? Tione, Tiona, you two didn't rush to update your status first thing, but instead came to eat?"
Looking at Tione feigning elegance while eating, Tiona tearing into roasted meat with abandon, and Lefiya staring daggers at him and Ais as usual, Fron wore a puzzled expression.
"Humph. Defeating a Level 8 monster with magic powers, that's a huge achievement, more than enough to earn high-grade excelia! My gut tells me that once I update my status, I'll level up to 6!"
Tiona wiped grease off her face with the back of her hand, grinning boldly.
"Probably, except for Finn and the other two veterans, everyone's going to level up this time."
Thanks to the Suppressing Bracers, nearly all their stats had already reached their limit, peaking at rank A-S.
What they lacked for leveling up was simply an achievement worthy of one.
The 59th-floor expedition had provided such a massive bundle of excelia that it wasn't just enough for one or two members to level up, it was enough for the entire Familia!
Especially for the main combatants who had done the most fighting.
"Well then, congratulations in advance!"
Fron had already expected this, so he was calm about it.
"By the way, Fron, you only just reached Level 5. Even with the achievement, don't you still lack the excelia?"
"Mm, probably. But with the achievement in hand, excelia is just a matter of time. And besides… I've got more ways of gaining excelia than you all, and it's much easier for me too."
The way he said it so casually, without a care, made everyone's eyes go wide.
"Handsome, good body, decent personality… but what a shame… he just had to have that mouth."
"Hey, hey, Tione! Don't say that out loud!"
"Heh…" What kind of look is that supposed to be?!
"Despicable, shameless scumbag! Enemy of elves for life! Hmph!"
Lefiya grumbled under her breath, stabbing at the sweet potato on her plate with her fork again and again.
"…"
"Anyway, what's everyone's plan now? The expedition's over, so things should be relaxing, right?"
Popping a strawberry from his salad into his mouth, Fron savored it happily.
"Relaxing? Dream on. Aside from magic stones, all the drop items from the expedition were handed over to the Hephaestus smiths. Forget about covering costs, we actually went deeper into debt. So… Finn already gave the order: we need to make money for a while."
"So, in other words… pay off debts?"
"Exactly. And as the Familia's only smith and mage, you won't slack off, right?"
"Cough, cough… of course not. Sure, I can make magic swords, but… it's not like I have money or materials myself. The Familia's in the same boat. So, for now, I'll take on some simple commissions to earn materials. At the same time, I need to gather some materials to train my alchemy skills."