"Those bastards always cause trouble at the worst possible time."
Finn, having arrived at the same conclusion, let out a bitter laugh—though the smile on his face carried the scent of blood.
"Finn, should we talk to Bell-kun about this?"
"No. There's no need."
Riveria's suggestion was reasonable, but Finn shook his head lightly.
"This is exactly the situation Bell-kun and Loki have been waiting for. If the Evilus are aiding the Spirits, then they'll eventually expose themselves. Right now, any Familia in Orario gathering Magic Stones excessively is most likely tied to them. It's easier to catch them when they surface than to go searching blindly."
The real problem with the Evilus was how slippery they were.
Even if supplying Magic Stones to the Spirits backed them into a corner, it also meant exposing themselves.
"Once Loki sees what's going on, she'll probably move fast—linking up with the Guild and the Ganesha Familia to round up those involved, gods and Familias alike."
"It'll probably be just for show, won't it?"
"That's still more than enough."
Finn was well aware that any caught would only represent the surface layer. But even that much was valuable.
"As long as we apprehend enough of them, it'll force the gods to take notice. And once the gods realize that the Evilus are the greatest threat, their days in Orario will be numbered."
"The key moment comes tomorrow."
Finn took a deep breath, trying to settle his emotions.
"Riveria, you're probably going to be under even more pressure than usual."
"When have I not been under pressure during one of our expeditions?"
"Good point."
Riveria's dry remark eased the atmosphere a little.
Back when the Loki Familia wasn't nearly as strong as it was now, each expedition had demanded a tremendous amount of effort and planning—tenfold what it took today.
They'd faced worse pressure than this in the past, and thinking back, death was something they, as adventurers, had always lived with.
They had once faced such things head-on. So why now, with so much more strength, did they hesitate?
"Seems like, with time, we've all picked up the habit of second-guessing everything."
Finn couldn't help but voice the core issue.
"Being cautious and careful isn't a bad thing. And second-guessing... it's not a sickness. It just means we don't want to lose what we have."
Riveria dismissed the idea with a shake of her head.
"This so-called 'sickness' we have… it's the bond we've built over time. Back then, we didn't have anything to lose—that's why we didn't hesitate. But now that we do, we naturally have more on our minds."
"Yeah. If this is a sickness... then I hope I never recover."
The bold Dwarf didn't care for such deep thoughts. He enjoyed making friends and teaching the next generation—and if that meant living with this so-called sickness, then he welcomed it with open arms.
"Finn, Riveria, let's not overthink all that complicated stuff."
Gareth cut the conversation short.
"If we want to live, then we need to get through this. For us, there's no such thing as 'what if.' You both know that, right?"
The two were briefly stunned, then broke into quiet laughter.
"Yeah, we've really gotten too used to overthinking everything."
"Which is why—we have to survive."
Finn had no desire to be cured of this "illness" here and now. If he wanted to keep carrying it with him, then he'd have to get through this trial first.
...
Night fell.
This time, everyone gathered silently around the campfire, waiting for Finn to speak.
"Everyone. Tomorrow, we step into the unknown."
"Tonight, we'll finalize the main members for the expedition."
Most of them already had a good idea of who would be on that list.
Starting from the 50th floor, the layers beyond were pure hell for many adventurers. These were not places where low-level adventurers could simply tag along. The list rarely included anyone without sufficient strength.
Only a handful of the expedition team members were actually qualified to take part in the next phase of exploration.
"First, Tsubaki. I'll need you to handle the weapons."
"Oh, leave all the gear to me this time."
As the captain of the Hephaestus Familia and a skilled blacksmith, Tsubaki also held the strength of a Lv. 5 adventurer—fully qualified for what lay ahead.
"Next, Raul. You'll be in charge of logistical support. This time, you'll be joining the team as a supporter."
"Understood."
It was an obvious decision. Raul, while only a Lv. 4 adventurer without any magic, had pushed his Status to the upper limit of what ordinary adventurers could reach. He had also participated in several previous expeditions below the 50th floor, giving him valuable experience and insight. His role as a supporter was perfectly suited.
"Lefiya, you'll be working alongside Raul to handle support. But be ready—this time, we'll need your full strength."
"Mm."
As the second-generation magic cannon of the Loki Familia, Lefiya's power couldn't be underestimated. Though she was only Lv. 3, a rank below Raul, the magic she wielded and her role as a combat mage put her in a completely different league.
"The rest of the main combatants will be the usual—Tiona, Tione, and Bete."
"Oh! I've been waiting for this!"
"Captain!"
Tione suddenly stood and walked right up to Finn.
"When we get back from this expedition... will you marry me?"
That was a bombshell.
Everyone in the Loki Familia knew Tione was relentless in her pursuit of Finn. She'd even gone so far as to stage a nighttime ambush (with financial incentives). So while her sudden proposal caught people off guard, no one was really surprised.
Those who understood her, though, knew—this was likely her last wish before marching into a battle that might end her life.
Finn's heart was a whirlwind of emotion. He looked into Tione's eyes, saw the hope and the weight of a final wish—and in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say no.
"Alright. If we make it back from this expedition, we'll get married."
For Finn, his lifelong dream had always been to restore the honor and pride of the Pallum race. Long ago, he had devoted his life to that ideal, and naturally, he had always imagined choosing another Pallum as his life partner.
But now, faced with an expedition that he might never return from, Finn chose—for now—to set that dream aside.
At the very least, he didn't want Tione to fall in the Dungeon carrying regrets... not if she was going to die by his side.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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