"Reporting, Boss! Team member Tiona is ready! Please give instructions!!!"
"At ease!"
"Yes, Sir!!"
At noon in Central Park, beside the bench that had already become their "usual spot," Cecil and Lefiya watched the charming Amazon girl who had followed right behind Isagi to get here. They couldn't help but wonder: where did the boy find this kind of character again?
Tiona's silly posture—chest out, head held high, standing at attention with dead seriousness—was truly hard to keep a straight face at.
"Why does she look like she's not very bright?!" She was a complete idiot on par with Anya!
Hearing the name, Lefiya realized with a delay... could she be one of the Amazon sisters from Loki Familia?!
Subsequently, sure enough, during the self-introductions, she learned that Tiona was the younger of the sisters.
Two Level 3 adventurers who came to Orario from outside the city, and who could convert their Familia at any time, had caused a huge sensation last year.
One must know that for a general exploration Familia, as long as there is one Level 3 adventurer who can lead a team to the Middle Floors, they can usually use this to slowly bring up many Level 2 juniors.
Thus, they can rise to become the "backbone" of the city, prospering and expanding the Familia—though, of course, they might also get wiped out in a single expedition to the Middle Floors, causing the Familia to never recover.
Although Lefiya was in the School District, she had heard about this. Later, they both joined Loki Familia, cutting off the aspirations of other gods.
"Hello, Big Sister Lefiya! Hello, Big Sister Cecil!!"
The charming girl had a sweet mouth. That constantly sunny, open-mouthed grinning look was a bit silly, but very lovable.
"Although it's my first time teaming up with Boss and the Big Sisters, Tiona will do her best!"
Just like a noisy puppy.
Cecil shook her head. She had originally felt some inexplicable "hostility" because the other was an Amazon or something, but it quickly dissipated now.
Clearly, she looked just like a wet-behind-the-ears kid who knew nothing. And she was very strong.
Tiona is currently a peak Level 3 adventurer. She just lacks [Excelia], so she cannot level up to Level 4. She is a warrior who wields a large blade and is very skilled in close-quarters combat and kicking (possessing high-rank [Fist Strike] and [Crush] Development Abilities).
According to Loki Familia's arrangement, the plan was to wait for the next respawn of the 27th Floor Floor Boss, [Monster Rex: Two-Headed Dragon Amphisbaena], and then let the sisters and the Familia's second-string troops go subjugate it. At that time, Tiona and Tione, acting as the main attackers, would both be able to obtain enough [Excelia] to level up to Level 4.
Of course, keeping them to guard the house was partly because a Familia expedition definitely couldn't turn out in full force. The warehouse inside the base stored a considerable amount of important supplies, materials, and Valis.
Although there shouldn't be anyone daring enough to attack the city's strongest Familia, one must prevent trouble before it happens. What if there's some guy not thinking clearly who decides to take a gamble? And petty theft too.
Regarding this, Tiona had been a bit dissatisfied before!
Mainly because staying home was too boring. Her older sister Tione seemed indifferent; that lovestruck fool, just like the other tribe members, fell in love with Captain Finn immediately after being defeated by him.
Truly a hopeless idiot! Now she had completely turned into a secretary, helping to handle various tasks in the Familia.
This made Tiona even more bored! Fortunately, now she could go adventuring with Isagi and the others!!
The girl knew she also shouldered an "important mission": to help maintain a good relationship for Miss Ais, and to watch over the boy so that she could join the adventure later.
Harboring this mission, Tiona was incredibly serious at this moment, thinking she must perform well and not fail Miss Ais's expectations.
As for a certain Miss Wallenstein, at this very moment, she was finding "Mama" Riveria in the Familia, asking the High Elf Princess things like "How to get on good terms with and talk to a boy I don't know."
Ais was still distressed. At last night's banquet, Loki was reliable for once and created an opportunity for her, but she didn't really talk to Isagi at all.
It was all Tiona chatting with the boy, while she just stood there foolishly. Even the natural airhead girl felt it was too weird!
Regarding this, Riveria was shocked again, thinking: Ais went to a gathering of gods with that fellow Loki last night, how did she come back like this?!
Thus, not long after, the "screams" of a god rang out daily from Twilight Manor, but that is a story for later...
Before entering the Dungeon, Cecil, as always, adjusted Isagi's equipment—the armor had been repaired, damaged parts replaced with new ones. The girl had even stayed up late last night to "enhance" the shield for the boy.
She installed some of those magic-reflecting lizard scales. Thus giving this "Door No. 2" a characteristic capable of absorbing and reflecting magic.
"I had Lefiya test it this morning. Magic fired by average Level 2 mages or monsters should be reflectable."
"Even if not, it can absorb some magic power and reduce the damage caused."
To be honest, Lefiya probably couldn't be counted as an "ordinary Level 2 Mage," so the actual effect of this shield should be stronger, not weaker.
As for the other materials the boy brought back, Cecil was already considering making better second-tier armaments.
According to the Goddess, Isagi is estimated to level up to Level 3 in a few months, becoming a Second-Class Adventurer. Naturally, he will need matching "Second-Class Armament." Plus, Cecil knows the boy's need for weapon diversity, so she is preparing non-stop.
However, even so, she still finished the greatbow she planned to forge before this morning.
A bow was a weapon Isagi had mentioned before that he always wanted. Because he had no ranged means.
Before, he just carried a short crossbow. Although coated with poison, it felt ineffective against those special monsters.
Thus, after the girl's hard work during this period, the greatbow "Machine Gun No. 1" was successfully released.
It even used a small section of a branch from the Great Holy Tree of [Wishe Forest]—although just a very, very small section. As a product of the Elven Holy Tree capable of creating First-Class Armaments, the strength of this bow had, in a sense, reached the pinnacle of Third-Class Armaments.
By the way, Lefiya was shocked when she found out, wondering how Cecil could have a Holy Tree branch from her hometown?! That is something incredibly precious to the Elf race!
Regarding this, Cecil only said she "secretly took it out" when she ran away from home. After all, it's a rather huge forging family in the City of Swordsmiths, so it's not strange to have such rare materials.
And not only that, Cecil actually had quite a few "good things" in hand. After all, she wanted to craft First-Class Armaments for both Ryuu and Isagi.
As weapons and equipment used by adventurers Level 5 and above, the price of just the materials usually starts at ten million, with no upper limit.
Most of the materials in here came from "her dad's little treasury," and a small part was gifted by blacksmiths who respected the Goddess back in Solingen. Regarding this, Isagi could only praise Cecil as truly her father's "caring little cotton-padded jacket."
"Hmph!"
Speaking of home made her angry; Cecil still felt she took too little back then!
"Truly a good bow."
Taking it from the girl's hands, this thing was quite huge, with a diameter of at least two meters—a greatbow with a rather exaggerated design.
Naturally, golden, ornate patterns unique to the Elf race emerged on it.
Just holding it in hand, one could feel magic power slowly flowing through it. Although it used very ordinary arrows, it was enough.
What's more, this thing's Weapon Art seemed very perverted.
[Weapon Art: Star Stream
· Can fire explosive arrows formed of magic power, causing explosive damage
· Light Attribute / Fire Attribute
· Can be charged by consuming Mind, significantly increasing damage and destructive power]
Dual-attribute magic attack? Interesting. He couldn't test it directly in the square, so Isagi planned to go into the Dungeon to see.
So he shouldered the greatbow. The boy quickly bid farewell to Cecil with Lefiya and Tiona, then walked towards the Dungeon entrance with the crowd.
Soon, arriving before the familiar spiral staircase, they began queuing to go down.
Along the way, they also saw the large cages Ganesha Familia had started transporting to the surface. The aura of monsters emanating from inside made many low-level adventurers subconsciously keep their distance.
These were probably the "guest performers" for the Monsterphilia? Isagi watched curiously for a while, waiting for the convoy transporting monsters to pass first before continuing to walk down with the flow of people and the two girls.
Following the faint glow falling from the azure circular "sky dome" from top to bottom.
After a long time, Isagi and the two girls arrived at the 5th Floor of the Dungeon.
From the moment they arrived here, the boy solemnly drew the long sword at his waist, entering a combat state. Lefiya did the same, gripping her staff tightly and observing the surroundings at all times.
Regarding this, although Tiona was a bit slow to react, she immediately went to the Elf girl's side, acting as her cover.
The Amazon girl had certainly been to the Dungeon before. However, having heard Isagi's stories, she didn't dare underestimate the Dungeon before her that could become "unfamiliar."
Because she was Level 3 upon arriving in the city, for the Upper Floors of the Dungeon, Tiona had basically just passed through. The place where the girl was often active was the Great Tree Labyrinth after the 19th Floor, and the Great Falls area from the 25th to 27th Floors.
The surroundings were still stone caverns. Only the phosphorescence serving as lighting had turned from blue to a pale green.
The terrain also began to become complex. The caves were no longer straight, but featured twisted deformations, winding forward like a lawless long snake.
Isagi was especially alert at this moment.
The reason was simple. In the Guild's "Adventurer's Guide," after the 5th Floor is usually where adventurer casualties appear, also known as the starting zone of adventure.
Simply put, they had "left the novice village." Many brand-new monsters that were extremely threatening to new adventurers would appear.
The humanoid monster "War Shadow" that possesses basic combat skills and moves silently; the "Frog Shooter" that uses a long tongue to attack from a distance in coordination with other monsters; the "Killer Ant" that moves in swarms and even calls for companions; the "Needle Rabbit" with a petite body but extreme speed and sharp horns; and the "Purple Moth" that scatters poisonous pollen.
Most of these new monsters wouldn't appear on the 5th Floor. Only on the 6th and 7th Floors would they gradually increase, replacing the original Goblins and Kobolds to become the most common monsters.
But his Dungeon was completely different from what the Guild recorded. So Isagi couldn't guarantee anything.
Before, with just Goblins, Kobolds, and Lizards, the Dungeon had created so many varieties of "Special Monsters." Now with so many new monster types added, god knows what it will turn into!
Isagi guessed that after reaching the 5th Floor, he had formally stepped into the [Goblin Kingdom] area. How many floors did it encompass?
Isagi felt it was from the 5th Floor to the 12th Floor. That is, the entirety of the "Upper Floors" area defined by the Guild. From the 13th Floor onwards, one enters the Middle Floors, which is a brand new map.
The goal this time was to "map" the area as safely as possible. To see if special buildings like the previous [Border Fortress] would appear, as well as the location of the Fog Gates between floors. Ideally, to directly find the location of the so-called [Goblin Kingdom].
Isagi had an idea. First, he would follow the corridor connecting the floors marked by the Guild.
As a result, the journey was uneventful (not even ordinary monsters were encountered), and the three arrived at the end. There was no Fog Gate, nor special monsters. They could walk to the 6th Floor freely without any problems.
Isagi fell silent for a moment, then returned to the 5th Floor. Subsequently, he walked in the direction where the [Border Fortress] existed on the 4th Floor.
Still, nothing happened along the way. The Dungeon was excessively quiet, as if nothing existed except himself and the two girls.
The more it was like this, the more Isagi could feel that the Dungeon was "holding back a big one." A storm is coming!
Tiona obviously realized something was wrong too, because this was the first time she had been in the Dungeon for so long without encountering a monster. In the previous 1st to 4th Floors, they would still encounter those trash Goblins and Kobolds!
Did the Dungeon become "good"? Impossible!
And as they gradually approached the position where the [Border Fortress] was located on the 4th Floor, at the same spot on the overlapping 5th Floor, sure enough, Isagi saw a fortress again from afar.
City walls piled with pale stones extended to both sides, seemingly endless, standing so distinctly in front of that cavern chamber.
A huge city gate, over three meters in height alone, stood quietly in front like a giant mouth gaping open.
And behind the gate was a pale plaza. Visible to the naked eye, many Goblins dressed in fine clothes sat around on the high platforms surrounding it.
At the same time, in the plaza at this moment, a Kobold over two meters tall, wearing heavy pitch-black armor, was fighting another humanoid shadow holding a sickle. Noisy cheers could be heard clearly even from far away.
Accompanied by the roars of monsters and the ear-piercing sound of blades clashing with iron armor, Isagi and the girls walked forward, and several characters surfaced in the three's minds simultaneously:
[Goblin Kingdom · Circular Colosseum]
As the boy approached, a notice by the city gate clearly stated in Common Tongue:
[The Kingdom allows warriors of foreign races to obtain the rights of citizens, but first, you must prove your valor to the King.]
Beside the notice, a Sculptor's Idol cradling ghost fire floated up from the ground, clearly proving that some kind of challenge indeed existed behind the city gate.
Just then, the sickle-wielding black shadow cut off the giant Kobold's head. As the victor, it stood in the center of the Colosseum, arrogantly pointing its still-dripping weapon at him and the girls, issuing a challenge to battle.
Countless Goblin spectators also looked over. Enthusiastic cheers and applause were like a tidal wave, completely dispelling the original silence of the cave.
But what Isagi expected even less was that, unbeknownst to him, a small, hunched figure quietly walked out from a corner nearby.
"I advise you not to think about entering the Kingdom from the Colosseum."
The speaker was a short Goblin rubbing its hands. It was covered in a dirty gray robe, revealing only somewhat sickly deep red eyes.
"I know a small path. If you don't mind, you can enter the Kingdom from there. It's absolutely safe." It said.
"At least, it's definitely better than going to your death."
"You must believe me. Since the establishment of the Colosseum, no foreign fellow has ever passed the trial."
Looking at the Goblin before him that seemed like an "NPC," Isagi was okay.
Since discovering that the boss he fought could talk, Isagi had already thought that "NPCs" would likely appear later, just didn't expect it so soon.
Lefiya was about the same.
The most shocked person was Tiona. Just the appearance of such a giant building in the Dungeon was enough to shock people!
Although she had heard Isagi talk about the adventure in the [Border Fortress], seeing it with her own eyes still felt like her "worldview" was being overturned!
And now, a Goblin was actually talking to them? Hah?!
And no matter how you look at it, it's a trap, right!
Just looking at this guy rubbing his hands and being so attentive, he's not a good Goblin, hey!!
Speaking of which, does such a thing as a "good Goblin" exist in this world?!
Inexplicably asking everyone to follow it down a small path, and looking like it's free of charge, just benevolent and can't stand seeing people suffer, so it wants to help you.
Suspicious, really too suspicious!
___
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