"Captain!!!"
Finn's emotions were all over the place—especially under this kind of relentless attack from that walking bundle of facial cleanser. He really didn't know how to handle it.
Just like Lefiya had seen earlier, there were literal red hearts in Tione's eyes. It wasn't for any other reason—just the simple fact that marriage was finally a sure thing.
Finn's turmoil, too, stemmed from that very topic: marriage.
Though he had agreed to Tione's proposal the day before, it was more about fulfilling her final wish. He hadn't been sure whether they'd even make it back from the Dungeon, so he had set aside his ideals and goals to let Tione have that dream.
Who could have guessed they'd actually survive this ordeal?
They had played all their cards, burned every last ounce of power available to them, and even chose the high-risk, high-reward strategy of a swift assault in this trial. They staked everything on a five-minute limit.
If they'd lost, they would've lost their right to challenge the Spirits completely.
But they won.
Thanks to the intel from Cassandra, he managed to save his right arm—which should have been lost—and cleared a path forward for Bete and Ais.
Once they learned that the Spirit used magic, they ditched defense altogether and went all-in on offense.
Honestly, if even one piece of that puzzle had been missing, they wouldn't have stood a chance against a Spirit of that caliber.
But Bete's magic turned the tide at the last second.
It was only because Bete sacrificed everything to launch that attack that they gained their one and only advantage in the battle.
This might have been the most dangerous mission they'd ever taken on.
A five-minute limit—who even came up with that? It was like they weren't even treating them like people.
Even now, thinking back on the details of that fight, Finn still felt a chill. One wrong step, and it would've been over for all of them.
Their victory was a fluke—a mix of intelligence, luck, and strength. A one-time miracle that could never be repeated.
And now, despite that miracle, Finn found himself with a brand-new headache.
"Captain does this mean we can get married when we go back?"
That question was the source of his current torment.
He hadn't even felt this helpless when fighting the Spirit—so why did the idea of getting married leave him completely at a loss?
"Tione, I'll need to hold off on the wedding for a while."
"Huh?"
Though she had expected this answer, the disappointment on Tione's face was still obvious.
Finn wasn't trying to go back on his word. He knew full well that after what he'd said, there was no room to back out.
Based on Tione's past behavior, Finn was certain she'd eventually find her way into his room and leave nothing behind—not even the bones.
So, marriage was inevitable.
Just… not anytime soon.
To make sure Tione didn't take it the wrong way, he felt the need to explain.
"There's a lot to handle once we're back. Even just the leveling up will keep us busy for a while."
The fact that three members of the Loki Familia had ascended from Lv.6 to Lv.7 was a major event. It meant an expansion of Orario's top-tier power and signaled a reshuffling of the city's Familia rankings.
The so-called "Twin Kings" dynamic Orario used to talk about had always been more of a polite fiction. After all, Freya Familia had adventurers at Lv.7—something Loki Familia lacked. That title was just a way to let Loki keep her dignity, the eternal runner-up.
But now, with all three of Loki Familia's core members advancing to Lv.7, that second-place title was finally up for grabs.
From here on, "Twin Kings" wasn't just a flattering phrase—it meant that Freya Familia and Loki Familia now stood as equals.
And marriage… wasn't something to jump into lightly. At the very least, it needed proper preparation.
"Besides… marriage isn't something you can just declare and do on the spot."
"…Alright."
Tione was a little disappointed not to get an immediate yes, but she had already prepared herself for this.
After all, the captain had accepted her proposal. That wasn't something that could be undone.
Whether it happened under special circumstances or not, he had agreed—and that was enough for her. She meant it.
Tione gently helped Finn up.
She really wanted to just scoop him into her arms, but her body was still numb from the lightning after the intense battle. Her movements were sluggish, so doing anything that required effort was out of the question.
"Captain, are you okay?"
"Barely."
Finn could clearly feel how weak his legs had become.
The "Hell Finegas" drastically boosted his physical abilities at the cost of rational thought—but it also completely drained his stamina.
Normally, Finn would pace himself in combat. But this time, he had faced an enemy unlike any before—the most ferocious opponent of his life. Holding back would've meant death. That's why he'd pushed himself far beyond his limits, burning through multiple times his usual strength and ending up completely drained.
But the 59th floor wasn't safe. Even if they wanted to rest, they needed to get to the thoroughly cleared 58th floor.
"Tione, let's leave and head to the 58th floor."
"The Valgang Dragons on the 58th floor have been cleared. No monsters are spawning right now, so it's a good place for us to recover."
"Got it."
Once things turned serious, Tione got serious too.
In fact, during real combat, Tione was usually composed—it was just that her impatience could sometimes make her snap.
Of course, that never happened when she was dealing with Finn.
No matter what, Tione was always patient with Finn.
While Tione supported Finn, Gareth picked up Bete, who was still lying on the ground.
"This time, it was you who charged in first."
Gareth glanced at Bete's right leg. It was a serious loss.
"Tch. Old man, not even your shield could block the Spirit's magic. And you're not exactly built for quick assaults. Would've been better if you just went to protect that old hag from the start."
He wasn't wrong. Dwarves had strength and endurance on their side, but they lacked speed, agility, and mobility.
Even with a Rune Stone boosting his speed, Gareth didn't make much of a frontline tank when Finn was already drawing all the Spirit's attention.
Gareth shot the stubborn werewolf a helpless look.
"You little punk, only you would dare call Riveria an old hag."
"Besides, I was just the backup plan."
The werewolf glanced at Finn, who was leaning against Tione, and clicked his tongue. He couldn't shake the feeling he'd been played.