'These are all useful Craft Essences, but I can't just dump them all into enhancements like before.'
Bell had already learned a harsh lesson from his earlier recklessness—he had no intention of going through that again.
Even if he gathered five copies and fully Max Limit Break them, they still couldn't be absorbed all at once. He needed to find the right time and handle them one by one.
At the very least, right now didn't feel like a safe moment.
'Once I'm back at the Familia—that's when I'll really start the enhancement and absorption.'
With a deep breath, Bell finally managed to calm himself and take in the situation on the 50th floor.
...
Meanwhile, the 50th floor was bustling with activity.
Breaking through to the 59th floor was major news for the Loki Familia. It meant they had finally cleared that level and could resume their expedition toward even deeper floors.
The other reason for the buzz, of course, was the Werewolf who had lost a leg.
"This expedition ran into such dangerous enemies?"
"Of course."
Tiona nodded earnestly.
"This was the first time in years we came that close to dying. If we'd slipped up even a little during the battle, there's no way we'd have made it back."
These kinds of details usually weren't shared—they could hurt the morale of other expedition teams.
But now that the expedition was over and the team that took down the "Spirit" had returned safely, sharing the story wouldn't hurt morale. On the contrary, their victory over the "Spirit" only boosted everyone's spirits.
Tiona's eyes drifted toward Cassandra, who sat quietly in a corner, and her face lit up with a smile.
"The biggest reason we made it back alive—besides everyone fighting so hard—was Cassandra."
"Oh!"
Everyone around the bonfire turned to look at Cassandra.
They all recognized the quiet, timid newcomer who usually looked a bit gloomy, though they hadn't really had a chance to talk with her before.
"Huh?"
Suddenly in the spotlight, Cassandra looked completely stunned. Maybe it was the firelight on her face, but she seemed clearly flustered under everyone's gaze.
Tiona, knowing Cassandra's personality, quickly stepped in to keep things moving.
"Hmph~ if it hadn't been for Cassandra's incredible skills, we never would've been able to come up with a winning strategy so quickly. Without her abilities, this expedition would've been a disaster."
That contribution was no small thing.
Tiona tended to speak a little vaguely and exaggerate, but this time, every word was true.
Raul added with a touch of gratitude, "Cassandra's abilities were the key to this expedition. If it weren't for her, we might not have made it back."
At the same time, his heart surged with excitement. He wasn't sure if he had qualified for anything further, but this expedition had definitely given him hope.
That made him even more grateful to Cassandra.
"Cassandra, if you ever need anything, just call on me. If there's something I can help with, I'll be there, no questions asked."
"Oh!!"
Everyone around the bonfire let out a surprised cheer.
They didn't know what Cassandra's special ability was, but that didn't stop them from believing Raul and Tiona. It was clear to them now—Cassandra had played a pivotal role in conquering the 59th floor.
"But... about Mr. Bete's leg... I mean, it's great that the captain and everyone managed to clear the 59th floor, but isn't Bete's condition really serious?"
With that heavy topic brought up, the mood around the fire grew solemn.
Everyone had been on the receiving end of Bete's sharp tongue—especially the lower-ranked Adventurers.
But seeing that foul-mouthed Werewolf lose a leg… that left a bitter feeling in everyone's heart.
And they weren't clueless.
The captain and the others only had surface wounds or suffered from serious magic and stamina depletion. But Bete… he had lost a leg. That wasn't something you could just ignore.
"Hmm... Bete's leg is definitely a serious problem. If he hadn't sacrificed his right leg to launch a nearly fatal blow against the Spirit, we wouldn't have won the fight so decisively."
It was no small matter. Even Tiona's tone grew more serious.
But after glancing around at everyone's downcast expressions, she suddenly burst out laughing. Seeing their confused looks, she finally explained:
"Normally, yeah, you'd be right. That guy's leg was completely charred. Even the 'Dea Saint' Airmid Teasanare wouldn't be able to heal something like that."
"But this expedition was different. Our Familia received support from Hestia's Familia and got our hands on some very rare and expensive Rune Stones."
"With those Rune Stones, Bete's right leg can be properly treated. I don't think it'll be long before that foul-mouthed guy is back to spewing insults like always."
Vanargand's leg wasn't fractured—it was severed.
And because losing a limb is one of the most severe injuries—sometimes enough to end an Adventurer's career—most feared it even more than death itself.
Such injuries changed lives.
So when they suddenly heard that there was a way to treat severed limbs, everyone was in disbelief.
"Tiona, are there really people in Orario who sell something like that? Something that can heal a severed limb?"
"Of course there are! But those Rune Stones are crazy expensive. Even with a discount, they cost 10 million Valis each. And these were special ones supplied by Hestia's Familia—secret Rune Stones that are never sold to outsiders."
"Oh!!!"
Every Adventurer's eyes lit up.
No one expected that the Rune Stones they had always used might have such powerful effects.
10 million Valis per piece was a staggering price—on par with top-tier Level 1 weapons and gear.
But still, their eyes sparkled with excitement.
Everyone understood that compared to losing a limb, 10 million Valis wasn't much. Losing an arm or a leg meant losing the future of an Adventurer. But now, for just that price, they could change that tragic fate.
And an item like this—there's no way it would only sell for 10 million in Orario.
Even if the price doubled, it would still sell without issue.
"But you all better be careful. This is an internal secret of our Familia. Don't go around spreading it."
Everyone around the bonfire exchanged glances and then smiled knowingly.
"Of course it's a secret."
Something like this? No way they'd let it leak.
With something that valuable, it would only be shared within the Familia. If word got out, other Familias would be fighting to get their hands on it.