Hayasaka Ai, as the Familia Captain, naturally saw Saeko Busujima's brilliant performance. Truly worthy of being the successor of the Busujima-style Sword Art and someone who has fought countless Corpses. Hayasaka Ai couldn't help but sigh with emotion. She knew that if such an event had occurred in her world and she had only relied on close-combat weapons, she probably wouldn't have survived for long. After all, not having any opportunity to be injured was simply too cruel.
"Saeko is amazing! With you, we don't have to worry so much anymore."
Hayasaka Ai walked up to Saeko Busujima. Due to the height difference, she could only stand on her tiptoes to pat her shoulder. Everyone present now understood Saeko Busujima's strength. Megumi Katou, now feeling like she was perpetually at the bottom tier as a small assassin and support specialist, felt uneasy. I thought the newly summoned girl would be from an ordinary, non-dangerous world like mine. I didn't expect... someone so strong and with such a good personality. She didn't want to become a background character again; hadn't she come to this world to become just an ordinary girl?
"Please guide me in the future!"
Saeko Busujima smiled upon seeing how supportive the team she had joined was. She didn't find any of the intrigue or mutual blame she had seen in the dark side of human nature in her school's Kendo club before the disaster struck her world.
With a powerful swordswoman like Saeko Busujima joining them, Hayasaka Ai was also delighted. Wouldn't it be better to have someone to share the pressure when encountering monsters?
Under Hayasaka Ai's lead, the five-person party quickly advanced to the lower floors. In less than two and a half hours, they had reached the seventh floor again. They decided to use this area for training today. Since they heard that the terrain would change significantly starting from the eighth floor, and Saeko Busujima had just joined, Hayasaka Ai did not give the order to descend further.
Meanwhile, on the surface, shortly after Lin Feng separated from Hayasaka Ai and the others, he
"coincidentally"
ran into Lili, who had teamed up with him yesterday. Lin Feng was 100% certain that this "coincidence"
was entirely part of the small Pallum's plan. Lin Feng looked down at Lili, who was wearing a hood and looking down, lost in thought. Normally, I would be extorted?
"Um... Lili, is there something you need from me?"
Lin Feng's question was good. The rule that mortals cannot lie to a God is confirmed in this world. Therefore, if Lili answered this question, it would have to be the truth.
"Lord, Lord Captain Lin Feng, Lili... thinks you should cover your face when going into the Dungeon."
"Oh, so you want to..."
??? What did Lili mean? Cover his face?
Lin Feng then recalled that the last two times he went into the Dungeon, he simply changed clothes and went straight in. Doing this once or twice was fine, especially since he hadn't been in Orario for long and knew very few Gods or adventurers. But hearing Lili's suggestion now, Lin Feng realized it would be better if he wore a mask or something that covered his face. Although it was rare, there were adventurers who did this.
"Ahem! Lili's suggestion is good, but why are you telling me this instead of spreading the word?"
Lin Feng barely managed to retract the words he was about to say. He knew that the original Lili had done quite a few hateful things. Although she was a pitiable person, she had led adventurers into hopeless situations more than once or twice. It's possible the time Lili almost died in the Dungeon was revenge from an adventurer she had framed.
"Lili... Lili doesn't want to frame people anymore, but... the people in Lili's Familia don't want to let a person like me go."
Does this Lili want to turn over a new leaf? Could it be because Hayasaka Ai and the others saved her life?
"It's good that Lili wants to change her ways, but your identity... it would be best if you changed it. If you keep using your Pallum appearance, you'll likely be discovered."
Since Lili had the intention to change, Lin Feng couldn't stand idly by. After all, Lili's transformation magic, Cinder Ella, was quite interesting (he had thoughts about it)...
"Then... can I do this?"
A flash of light shone on Lili's body, and Lili, now bearing the physical features of a Werewolf, appeared before Lin Feng.
Two drooping ears nestled in her hair, and a fluffy little tail appeared behind her body, swishing back and forth in a way that made one want to grab and playfully manipulate it.
"Werewolf? Transformation Magic?"
"Yes, Lord Feng. This is my exclusive magic, Cinder Ella. I can transform into any appearance and voice similar to my own physique, change my gender, and even mimic racial characteristics."
Lili briefly described her transformation magic, not knowing that Lin Feng was already somewhat familiar with it.
"Mmh... that's good! But you should still wear a hood in public."
"Thank you for the advice, Lord Feng. I will keep it in mind."
Lili felt deep envy toward Hayasaka Ai and the others for having such a kind Lord God. He not only cared for every member of his Familia but also risked going down to the Dungeon with them to fight. She knew that any God who descends to the mortal world would be sent back to Heaven if they faced a fatal threat, and if they were caught secretly entering the Dungeon, they would face certain restrictions, such as being confined within Orario's limits—though they wouldn't be outright banished.
How great would it be if he were my Lord God! Unfortunately, she was a member of the Soma Familia, and Lord Soma completely ignored all matters concerning the Familia, spending his days in his room on the 4.8th floor researching brewing. If he had just put a little effort into managing the Familia, the Soma Familia wouldn't have become what it was, and the lower-ranking members, including Lili, wouldn't have to live such difficult lives. They even had to pay an expensive fee just to have their Status updated.
"Lord, Lord Feng... Could Lili join Captain Hayasaka and the others' party?"
Lili, standing before Lin Feng, suddenly became slightly flustered and timid, looking up with wide, cautious eyes as she asked.
Hearing Lili's request, Lin Feng found it unsurprising, with only the timing being a little unexpected. The most unexpected thing, of course, was that Hayasaka Ai and the others had randomly rescued someone in the Dungeon who happened to be Liliruca Erde.