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"Wait a moment, didn't I say I want to be on top?"
"This song should be sung fast-paced. You're too slow, next time you can have a turn!"
After going to karaoke and singing a few songs together, their bond definitely grew stronger.
Freya never really took Ishtar seriously. Despite all the provocations from Ishtar in the past, she never made a move against her. Plus, with her charm that could solve any trouble, this recent incident wasn't much of a big deal for her.
Taking this chance to have Ryoji owe her a favor was enough to satisfy her. As for converting him, that could happen slowly, like "thin streams flow forever."
Trying to fatten someone up all at once will only push him away and be counterproductive.
When leaving, Ryoji finally breathed a sigh of relief. With both Loki and Freya watching over him, this round was secure!
Next, he could start planning his departure.
...
"Ryoji, where have you been?"
Returning to the Familia, he immediately ran into a bored Tiona. She looked curiously at the large backpack on his back.
"These are all kinds of potion items." Ryoji casually carried the backpack weighing dozens of kilos, explaining to Tiona.
"I plan to stay in the Dungeon for a while, so I bought quite a lot."
"That's way too much! It's enough for a dozen people."
"I plan to stay for ten days to half a month."
"That long? Are you going to the lower floors? Want me to go with you?"
"No need, I'm going alone."
"Eh? Then I won't see you for several days again?"
It's normal for high-level adventurers to level in the Dungeon for several days at a time. For example, Finn's team stayed in the Dungeon for 7-8 days last time.
With Ryoji's passion for leveling, staying in the Dungeon for ten days was expected. Plus, he was strong enough now that even Tiona couldn't beat him one-on-one. Also, his powerful crisis-sensing ability and escape skills meant unless he went to the deep floors, they had no reason to worry.
"Oh, Tiona, I have a gift for you. Come to my room later."
"A gift?!"
Ten minutes later.
"Here you go."
In Ryoji's room, he handed a large sack to Tiona.
"What's this?" Tiona opened it and was immediately stunned.
"So much money?!"
It was all valis inside. The heavy sack probably contained tens of millions!
"I don't need this money for now. You're short on cash, so I'm giving it to you."
According to Finn, Tiona had borrowed tens of millions to get Goibniu Familia to craft a second-generation double-bladed sword, and now their finances were completely in the red, exactly when she needed money.
Ryoji thought that after he left, he might never return. Keeping the money was pointless, so he gave Ishtar Familia's compensation to Tiona as thanks for how well she had taken care of him recently.
"Ryoji, I love you to death!" Tiona happily rushed forward and planted a big kiss on his lips, her excited shout echoing through the Familia.
'You're taking advantage of me again!'
'... Well, let it slide this time.'
Tiona grabbed the sack and left cheerfully.
"Seriously..." Ryoji helplessly shook his head.
Then he sat down at the desk, spent half an hour writing a letter, and placed it in a drawer. It detailed where he came from and where he was going, even explaining the existence of other worlds. If he couldn't come back after leaving, this would help clear things up so they wouldn't worry.
"No, this is basically just self-satisfaction." Ryoji grumbled unhappily.
Of course they would worry, but he selfishly believed this would be enough. He really hated the atmosphere of farewells.
"Loki, Finn, I'm going to the Dungeon!"
Ryoji greeted Loki and Finn.
"Come back early! There's an expedition in half a month!"
Neither of them cared much and waved him off. When Ais went into the Dungeon, they reacted the same way. Unknowingly, their attitude toward Ryoji had changed, they gradually began treating him like an executive.
Cloaked in his cape, Ryoji carried the backpack given to him by Kanata, along with a large bag full of potions, and stepped out of the Familia gate.
He glanced back at the fortress-like building, as if a forest of guns surrounded it, then took a deep breath and strode away decisively.
...
In the Dungeon.
Amid the misty plains on the 10th Floor.
"This should be enough for now." Ryoji casually sliced down an attacking Beastman, killing it instantly.
Then he found a deserted spot and focused his thoughts.
Everything around him quickly turned illusory, as if entering a transcendent perspective. At the same time, he vanished directly from the mist and entered the "Illusory Realm."
A pitch-black door appeared before his eyes.
Simple and unadorned, naturally plain, yet giving a sense of eternal timelessness.
On that black door, two lines of gilded characters flashed.
One read "Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan", unlike the dull color from two months ago, this time the letters shone brightly, indicating he could return at any time.
The other read "TYPE-MOON", a new world he'd just drawn last night, not Fate/stay night, not Fate/Grand Order, nor Mahoyo or Tsukihime, but rather the name of a club or a major world, also shining brightly, ready for crossover at any moment.
So, here came the question: Should he cross over to the new world, or choose to return directly to the Rakudai World?
Last night, Ryoji pondered this for a long time.
The TYPE-MOON world was undoubtedly full of opportunities. All kinds of powers had clear traces; there were ways to solve his physical and magical power problems in one go. Its value was immense and definitely worth exploring.
When he first drew this world, he almost impulsively stepped through the door.
Luckily, he pulled the reins of reason in time and realized he had to say goodbye to everyone in the Familia first, so he ran back, excited and unable to sleep most of the night, only to be woken up by Loki.
Of course, he had no intention of going to the TYPE-MOON world. Or rather, he wasn't planning to go immediately.
Before that, he wanted to return to the Rakudai World once. He had a promise to his Senior Sister that he couldn't break.
"Hiss…huff!"
Ryoji took a deep breath. People and events flashed through his mind one by one.
He must say that everyone in Loki Familia treated him well. Even Bete was someone who understood priorities. Next time he returned, maybe he'd help clear things up.
"If fate allows, I will see you again, goodbye!"
Ryoji shouted loudly, as if dispelling the confusion inside him, then stepped firmly forward and pushed open the black door. He wondered how much time had passed in the Rakudai World. How far along was the Hagun Academy Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival preliminaries?
If they were already over, he might have to resort to unconventional methods.
"Eh? It's not letting me choose?" Ryoji stepped through the door.
Surprisingly, the black door didn't ask him to choose; the moment it opened, he was already in another world.
Fortunately, what appeared before him was a familiar wilderness, the exact starting point when he left the Rakudai World.
"Good, good, didn't accidentally go into the TYPE-MOON world… huh???" Ryoji had just relaxed when suddenly his mind blurred and energy flickered strangely.
Abruptly, his eyes widened.
"Fuck! Two crossover worlds appearing simultaneously, how could this happen?!"
Behind him, on the black door, the letters "TYPE-MOON" slowly faded away, eventually disappearing completely, leaving only the "Danmachi" letters, now dimmed and temporarily unavailable for crossing over.
(End of chapter)