Levi would hire Tsubaki as a supporter and protector for one day, paying the Hephaestus Familia 2 million Valis within two months.
Hestia and Hephaestus had already agreed on this matter.
Therefore, after introducing themselves, Levi and Tsubaki bid farewell to their respective goddesses and set off together on their Dungeon journey for the day.
Although Levi often acted glib and slick with Hestia, it was because he genuinely liked the blue-ribboned goddess and was willing to put in the effort to make her happy.
However, when interacting with others, calling him cold might be an overstatement, but he was definitely a man of few words.
Tsubaki, on the other hand, who had heard some information about the boy beside her from Hephaestus, hardly stopped talking the entire way.
"Little brother Levi, have you really had your Falna for less than two weeks? To have already accumulated enough status points to level up so quickly."
"I heard you secretly came to the Dungeon before you even joined a Familia. Weren't you scared? Did you find monsters like Goblins hard to deal with?"
"Also, that weapon in your hand is pretty interesting. If my senses aren't mistaken, it must have some kind of special effect, right?"
"And also, that accessory hanging from your waist..."
As the captain of the Hephaestus Familia, Tsubaki was not only an exceptionally skilled smith but also a Level 5, the threshold for a first-class adventurer, making her one of the strongest few dozen people in Orario.
She hadn't joined the Loki Familia on their expedition this time, originally planning to thoroughly research the creation and improvement of magic swords. Who would have thought she'd suddenly be summoned from her workshop by her goddess to babysit the Hestia Familia's captain for a day.
At first, Tsubaki, who was half-dwarf, was actually quite reluctant.
But after hearing that Levi had amassed enough status points to go from Lv.1 to Lv.2 in just half a month, she couldn't help but become curious about the boy.
Today, upon meeting him in person—or more accurately, upon seeing the weapon he carried and the accessory on his waist—that curiosity swelled to its absolute limit.
It was only because Tsubaki had been captain for a long time and hadn't forgotten her job; had this been back when she first joined the Familia, she probably would have lost all composure and pestered Levi to death, demanding to see his equipment.
Having knocked around in society for over a decade in his past life, how could Levi not guess the thoughts of the person beside him?
He got straight to the point: "You want to study my weapon and this accessory?"
As he spoke, he patted the Vision hanging from his waist.
Her thoughts laid bare so directly, even Tsubaki couldn't help but scratch her cheek in embarrassment.
But she wasn't the type to shy away from her actions, so she nodded frankly. "One of the younger members of my Familia asked me if it was possible to create a magic sword that wouldn't break. Because of that, I've been seeking a breakthrough in magic sword crafting techniques lately."
Levi's expression showed understanding as he finished Tsubaki's unspoken thought: "And then, in the equipment I'm using, you sensed a possibility to advance your own smithing skills?"
"That's right." Having explained her reasoning, Tsubaki played the friendship and interest cards. "My goddess and your goddess are best friends. Our two Familias will continue that bond in the future."
"Furthermore, if you're willing to let me study your equipment after we get back, I'll waive my entire fee for being your supporter and protector today. Hmm, to be precise, I'll pay it for you. Not only that, but if you need help leveling up to Lv.3 or Lv.4 later, you can ask me again."
Tsubaki wasn't one to take things by force or trickery. Of course, this was mainly because Hestia and Hephaestus's relationship was genuinely strong.
The two Familias were practically neighbors who saw each other all the time.
Levi, of course, understood this. Or rather, it was precisely because he understood that he had acted out of character today. Instead of waiting for a battle to draw his weapon from his inventory, he had been holding the Sky-Piercing Sword since before meeting Hephaestus and Tsubaki. The Vision, too, was hung plainly at his waist rather than hidden beneath his plate armor.
The reason for doing so was actually very simple.
He was, well, fishing.
Fishing for Tsubaki, one of Orario's top smiths.
Just as adventurers craved strength, the smiths of the Hephaestus Familia held a powerful curiosity and passion for armaments they had never seen before.
"Let me clarify one thing first. My accessory and sword are somewhat like divine weapons; they are directly bound to me. If they fall into anyone else's hands, all their special properties will vanish." Levi gave her a heads-up. "If you can accept that, then when we get back, I can indeed lend you both pieces of equipment to study for a couple of days."
Hearing this, Tsubaki's eyes lit up. "Really? Then it's a deal!"
With that, she casually grabbed Levi's arm and began running faster towards the Dungeon's depths, saying excitedly, "Let's make this quick! We need to finish accumulating feats as soon as possible."
"..."
With Tsubaki's initiative now fully engaged, the pair sprinted through the Dungeon and reached the 13th floor in less than two hours.
Starting from this floor, the potential of the monsters spawned by the Dungeon officially reaches Lv.2.
Furthermore, they always appeared in groups, and their attack methods would shift from purely melee to a mix of close-range and long-range assaults. Unless an adventurer was Lv.3 or even Lv.4, they could easily be overwhelmed and killed if fighting alone.
Although Levi knew his combat power was comparable to a Lv.2, and not even a weak one at that, he remained cautious about whether he could adapt to fighting on the 13th floor and decided to test the waters first.
So, upon encountering a pack of six Hellhounds, he gave Tsubaki a heads-up and asked her to stand by and watch.
He then took out his Recurve Bow and enchanted arrows.
—Mana Burst: Ten!
As the orb of the Vision hanging from his waist lit up, his Dexterity stat on his character panel instantly increased by 1000.
With several whooshes that cut through the air, three of the Hellhounds rushing towards them from a distance instantly disintegrated into black ash, their magic stones pierced.
Levi retreated while continuing to nock arrows to his bow.
When the remaining three Hellhounds closed to within ten meters, another four arrows shrouded in the Cryo element were fired in succession.
He precisely sniped two more of the monsters.
At that moment, the last Hellhound was about five meters in front of Levi.
It suddenly opened its mouth, an orange-red light flickering in its throat.
The next second, the Hellhound spewed scorching flames.
But it didn't hit Levi, because as the creature used its fire-breathing skill, he had already reallocated the extra status points from Mana Burst: Ten to his Agility.
'It's over!'
Closing in on the Hellhound's side, the Recurve Bow in his hand dissolved into light, replaced by the Sky-Piercing Sword, which he brought down in a smooth motion.
—Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū: Ryūtsuisen - Hyo!
The Hellhound didn't even have time to howl. Decapitated, it followed its packmates into oblivion, turning into a pile of black ash.
______
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