Ever since waking up from his three-day sleep, he had occasionally felt this same piercing gaze directed at him.
It was intense... filled with desire, longing, and an almost possessive hunger.
'What are you scheming this time, Freya? '
Judas thought with a frown.
The Freya Familia, rivals of the Loki Familia, were a significant force that could not be ignored.
Especially that crazy goddess Freya and her equally crazy followers.
Even Judas could not predict what they would do.
'I completely forgot she had the ability to see a person's soul.'
Honestly, he had several spells that could conceal or even disguise his soul.
'She must've already seen mine.'
But it was too late for that now.
'I didn't want to get involved in whatever crazy shenanigans she's up to... but since I've already got her attention...'
He turned around and shifted his gaze upward, locking onto the top of the tower.
'Bring it on.'
Judas was not one to shy away from a challenge.
He stared back at Freya provocatively.
The gaze on him vanished the moment he turned, but Judas continued to fix his eyes on the top of the tower for some time.
'I know you're there.'
He didn't use a spell to enhance his vision... because he was already sure she was still sitting on her throne.
'There's no need to be afraid. I am now a member of the Loki Familia.'
'If they make a move, it could spark a massive conflict between the two factions. Even Freya wouldn't want that.'
Even as a Level 2, many already viewed him as a combat force on par with a first-class adventurer.
His status in the Loki Familia wasn't exactly low.
'Even though I haven't met the executives or the rest of the familia yet.'
Finn and the others were currently challenging the depths of the dungeon.
Their goal was to reach the 59th floor.
He could only imagine the battles they were facing.
He continued forward, feeling like he had just won the staring contest with the Goddess of Love.
Unfortunately for Judas, even he underestimated Freya's obsession with him.
At the top floor of the Babel Tower, Freya sat on her throne with Ottar by her side.
A perpetual blush lingered on her face as she swished the glass of wine in her hand.
"Ah~~"
She moaned with her eyes closed.
"He looked at me... he looked at me."
Her breathing grew shallow and ragged.
"Resist... I must resist looking at him, or else he will only become more alert."
She bit her lip as she fought the urge to gaze out the window.
"His senses are sharp... to even feel my gaze from this far away... I knew it. It is destiny. He must be my Odr... no—he HAS to be!"
Her body trembled with excitement.
It took her some time to calm down.
"Too bad, the location of the Hostess of Fertility does not align with the path he takes to the guild and the dungeon."
The Twilight Manor was located at the northernmost side of Orario, while the tavern sat in the west.
Unless Judas intentionally headed there, he would almost never cross paths with the Hostess of Fertility.
"It's such a shame I can't see him every day as Syr... but that's fine."
She tapped the side of her throne with her finger.
"Because soon, you will be mine."
The sound of metallic footsteps entered her ears.
She turned and smiled at the sight of her familia's executives, geared up as though they were about to conquer the deep floors.
"My goddess, forgive me for my insolence, but I have a question I would like to ask."
A blonde elf with glasses said with his head bowed.
"Ask away, Hedin."
Freya's voice carried alluring composure.
"Is it really necessary to send this much force for the plan? It seems a little excessive."
Hedin Selland, known by the alias Hildrsleif, was a Level 6 adventurer of the Freya Familia.
The moment those words left his mouth, several other executives looked at him with offense.
"You stupid elf! How dare you doubt the goddess' plan!"
The four pallums shouted in unison.
But Hedin ignored them, keeping his head bowed before the goddess.
"You can never be too careful."
Freya said as she sipped her wine, offering no further explanation.
"I understand."
Hedin closed his eyes and bowed even lower.
With that, every first-class adventurer of the Freya Familia—with the exception of Ottar—moved out.
"Judas Spade... no, my Odr."
Freya gazed into her divine mirror, watching Judas walk through the streets of the city.
"Soon, we will unite."
Ottar stood silently at her side, saying nothing the entire time.
In the central square, all geared up and ready to go, Judas jogged toward the dungeon entrance.
"Miss Belle, you're late again!"
At the corner of his vision, he spotted Belle and Lili together... the latter looking annoyed, the former bowing apologetically.
"It seems like they've already formed a party together."
Judas commented as he passed through the entrance.
"Should I also find a supporter?"
Seeing them together, he began to harbor such thoughts before shaking his head.
"I don't think I can find a supporter that can keep up with me."
The majority of supporters were only low-level adventurers.
It was rare to find a Level 2 or higher willing to stay in such a looked-down-upon role.
Of course, that was only the case for supporters who offered their services publicly.
Even Level 4s could be forced into the role of supporter when paired with adventurers of Level 5 or higher.
But such cases were rare, mostly confined to high-ranking familias.
Judas stopped thinking about it and blitzed forward, cutting down every monster he encountered in the upper floors instantly.
『Telekinesis』
He waved his hand.
Magic stones and item drops littering the ground flew into his bag.
'If only I had the 6th-tier spell 『Storage』, things would be a lot more convenient.'
Seeing the bag grow in size, Judas clicked his tongue before accelerating forward.
In just fifteen minutes, he had already reached the 11th floor.
'Is that the Apollo Familia?'
Judas squinted, spotting a large group battling infant dragons.
The emblem of the Apollo Familia was visible on their flag, which was why he could recognize them.
'How unlucky.'
From his advisor Rose, Judas had learned plenty about the dungeon.
"It is a rare monster and considered the boss of the Upper Floors where a Monster Rex doesn't appear."
"The guild has estimated it to be Level 2."
Rose had spoken like a professional, ensuring Judas paid attention.
'They should be capable of handling it themselves.'
'I think they were tasked to deal with the Goliath. I should hurry and reach the 17th before they do.'
Judas merely glanced their way and left.
Cassandra Ilion, busy healing her comrades, felt a disturbance and turned in the direction Judas had gone.
"The one who brought ruin to fate was nearby..."
She muttered absentmindedly.
"Idiot! What are you doing? Focus on the battle!"
Daphne Lauros barked, her voice sharp with authority.
"S-sorry!"
Cassandra yelped before resuming her healing magic.
The 13th to 24th floors of the dungeon were called the Middle Floors.
Here, monsters were much stronger than those in the Upper Floors.
Even for a Level 2 adventurer, these floors were perilous.
Going solo was usually suicide.
Unfortunately for the monsters, Judas was no ordinary Level 2.
Any of his spells could obliterate them into dust.
"Right ahead should be the 17th floor."
He charged forward without hesitation.
On the 17th floor, a huge wall stood in the great chamber known as the Big Wall of Grief, where the Monster Rex Goliath spawned.
"It should spawn any second now."
Judas closed his eyes and waited.
His ears twitched.
The entire floor trembled as massive cracks spidered across the giant walls.
A piercing scream echoed through the chamber.
"Here it comes."
-----
+15 chapters on patreon.com/drdedot