In a luxurious room on the top floor of the Tower of Babel.
Before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, the silver-haired Goddess of Beauty, Freya, stood upright, holding a newspaper that recorded the latest publicly available intelligence about Orario.
It had been compiled by a business-type familia rather than issued as an official bulletin of the Guild, containing everything from trivial city gossip to the newest information that the Guild had not yet had time to publish.
Because of this breadth of content, many people favored purchasing newspapers produced by this business-type familia.
At this moment, within this issue, a piece of breaking news occupied an exceptionally large amount of space, as if to emphasize how sensational the event was and how excited the writer felt, filling the article with dense lines of praise.
"Really...?"
Freya narrowed her eyes, which were said to see through the soul itself, murmuring as she read the report.
"So Loki's children gained such enormous rewards during their expedition?"
Apparently, this had already become major news, spreading like wildfire throughout Orario and even reaching the world beyond the city.
After an expedition lasting roughly half a month, the Loki Familia had successfully reached an unexplored floor, becoming the third familia after the Zeus Familia and the Hera Familia to step onto the 59th Floor.
Having achieved this great accomplishment, nearly all of their members, including their executives, had crossed into a new realm.
"Three have risen to Level 7."
"Four have risen to Level 6."
"Two have risen to Level 5."
"Now, the number of First-Class Adventurers has increased to ten, second only to the Ganesha Familia, huh..."
Freya smiled faintly, turned around, and looked toward the loyal servant waiting below the platform.
"What do you think, Ottar?"
Faced with the teasing question from his beloved goddess, the Boaz warrior, Ottar, remained as unmoving as thunderstruck stone.
"Too slow..." Ottar replied calmly with a stern face. "They should have caught up sooner."
Indeed, upon hearing the news that Finn and the other two had leveled up, this had been his very first thought.
He felt neither pressure at being caught up to nor resentment at being surpassed, only regret. If Finn and the others had caught up earlier, they might have been worthy opponents. Unfortunately, he was already on the verge of stepping into the next stage when they finally caught up.
For that reason, this did not make him tense but only made him disappointed.
"You really are someone who only ever looks forward."
Freya remarked with an unhurried smile, causing Ottar to fall silent for a moment before responding.
"...Because I once saw monsters I wanted to surpass no matter what."
What Ottar talked about was from back when he had not yet become the captain of the Freya Familia, when he had not yet become the strongest in Orario.
At that time, the Zeus Familia was still present.
At that time, the Hera Familia was still present.
Those two unrivaled strongest familias, possessing Level 8 and Level 9 respectively, had once been Ottar's targets.
Under the hands of those two familias, he had tasted defeat countless times.
He had been crushed by the true strongest, knocked to the ground again and again, filled with frustration, anger, and hatred.
But that frustration, anger, and hatred had not been directed at others, but instead had been directed at himself.
Because he had been too weak, he had been reduced to such a state.
For that reason, Ottar had hardened his resolve, continued to challenge himself, and climbed step by step to his current position.
Yet by the time he reached this point, the monsters who had once trampled him, defeated him, and forced him to taste humiliation countless times had already disappeared.
To Ottar, the so-called titles of 'strongest' and 'the peak' were nothing more than jokes.
If one had not defeated the children of Zeus, could one really be called the strongest?
If one had not defeated the children of Hera, could one really be called the peak?
A mere Level 7—compared to those monsters, what did it amount to?
With such thoughts, Ottar had never considered Level 7 to be some lofty realm, and instead thought it strange that more people had not reached it.
Although Finn and the others had finally caught up, they had done so far too late.
Ottar had never feared being surpassed.
It should be noted that those who came after him were merely challengers seeking to test his position, to challenge this so-called 'strongest.'
However, Ottar himself was also a challenger, seeking to challenge those former monsters, so he had never regarded himself as someone meant to be challenged.
Why?
Because his own challenge was not yet over.
As Freya observed Ottar, she soon dropped a bomb casually, one that disrupted his calm heart.
"What about Riezel Brynhart?"
At the sound of this name, Ottar finally showed a reaction.
"Liberator.... I must admit, that's a fine alias."
As though she had not noticed Ottar's change, Freya continued to gaze at the newspaper, which had also devoted an unusually large amount of space to reporting on this one individual.
Reading the information, a faint ripple appeared in her beautiful eyes.
"Fufu, this child, whom even I cannot see through, has already reached Level 6. At this rate of growth, he might surpass you before long, you know?"
Freya's words made Ottar recall the battle that had taken place not long ago on the Dungeon's 9th Floor.
At that time, the young man had still been Level 5.
Now he had reached a new stage and stood just beneath Ottar.
If it were the current version of him, how strong would he be now?
As this question emerged in his mind, a faint fighting intent, a trace of combat spirit, began to rise within Ottar.
"Lady Freya…"
Ottar was about to speak, but just before he could say the words, Freya spoke first.
"Allen, Hedin, and Hogni recently asked my permission to temporarily step down from their guard duties and go on an expedition."
At these words, Ottar immediately closed his mouth.
He knew exactly why they had made that decision.
"You may not be in a hurry, but those children already are," Freya said with a gentle smile, as though teasing him. "Especially Allen. He has some enmity with the child you've taken an interest in. Being caught up to like this really upset him. If I tried to stop him, he probably wouldn't listen to me this time."
Ottar did not respond because he knew his beloved goddess had already seen through his own thoughts as well.
"You want to go further, too. You want greater power, and then you want to face that child again, don't you?"
As expected, Freya had seen through his heart.
"...I have a feeling..." Ottar said after a long silence. "If I don't gain greater power, next time, I might lose to him."
At this, Freya raised an eyebrow slightly.
Still, she was not surprised.
Truth be told, she had been paying attention to the battle on the Dungeon's 9th Floor. In fact, it had been her intention for Ottar to test Riezel and see how far he had reached at that point.
What she had not expected was that the boy would be able to fight seriously against Ottar and not fall behind in the slightest, which genuinely shocked her.
Level 5 versus Level 7.
A difference of two levels was practically the difference between worlds.
Even a single level gap was enough to drive one to despair, not to mention two levels—they were like a heavenly ridge, something that should have been impossible to cross.
Yet Riezel had crossed it.
With combat techniques that rivaled Ottar's, the magic of the Sword Princess, and status that, despite being Level 5, was comparable to Level 6, he had caught up to Ottar. With additional magic, he had even suppressed Ottar at one point, displaying extraordinary magical ability.
Hedin and Hogni, who had witnessed the battle, had admitted before her with deep frustration that Riezel truly possessed the ability to contend for the title of Orario's strongest magic swordsman.
And after that, Ottar had even begun to show intense interest in Riezel.
Freya herself had also grown curious about him.
If she had not already chosen someone and already reached out toward that 'pure white soul,' she might very well have set her sights on Riezel instead.
Now that Riezel had entered a new stage and grown stronger than before, there was indeed a real possibility that Ottar could lose.
Even though Ottar had not yet used his magic and skills in their previous battle, Riezel had crossed an entire level and become stronger.
Given that, even if Ottar now used the magic and skills he had previously kept in reserve, whether he could defeat Riezel was something she could not confidently say.
In that case…
"You may go."
Freya granted her permission.
"Yes."
Ottar accepted the permission calmly, turned around, and left his goddess's side.
Freya offered no blessing, since she believed her peerless warrior would return safely.
===
What had happened to the members of the Freya Familia had not yet been noticed by anyone in Orario, as everyone's attention had been completely captured by the achievements of the Loki Familia, throwing the entire city into an uproar.
Braver, Nine Hell, and Elgarm had risen to Level 7.
Vanargand, Amazon, and Jormungand had also risen to Level 6, following after the Sword Princess.
Even High Novice and Alchat had entered a new stage and risen to Level 5.
In addition, that monster rookie who had been granted the alias of Liberator by various gods, in recognition of his continual breakthroughs beyond his limits, had likewise risen to Level 6.
Needless to say, with such explosive topics, it was impossible for Orario not to boil with excitement.
"Someone finally caught up to King!"
"Three Level 7s!"
"And four Level 6s and two Level 5s!"
"What did the Loki Familia even do on this expedition to let so many First-Class Adventurers achieve such feats?"
"Unbelievable!"
People talked loudly in the streets and alleys throughout the night, some excited, some astonished, some jealous, some resentful, displaying every shade of human emotion.
Bards sang praises of the heroic Loki Familia.
Merchants carried this major news beyond the city.
Whether they were various gods, adventurers, or ordinary citizens, everyone was deeply shaken and amazed that night. It eventually turned into a citywide frenzy, filling the streets with the sounds of drinking and revelry.
Naturally, several other hot topics were discussed as well.
"After the Zeus Familia and the Hera Familia, the Loki Familia hit the 59th Floor too."
"They're basically the heroes of the next gen."
"Ten First-Class Adventurers, and they're not all just Level 5 like the Ganesha Familia…"
"If you really add it up, doesn't that mean the Loki Familia's got three Level 7s, five Level 6s, and two Level 5s now?"
"They're way too strong."
"Even the Freya Familia's only got one Level 7 and three Level 6s…"
"After this expedition, the Loki Familia officially passed the Freya Familia."
"Yeah, they're straight-up the strongest in the city now."
"And Liberator… how'd that guy even grow that fast? Like, why so damn quick?"
"I mean, damn, he already hit Level 6. Not gonna lie, that's actually insane."
"Four months, from Level 1 all the way to Level 6, right?"
"Dude's a monster."
"Oh yeah, apparently there's another guy who just popped up recently, and they're calling him a monster rookie too…"
All of these were undoubtedly the topics most intensely discussed by the citizens.
At present, the Loki Familia's momentum had completely overshadowed the Freya Familia, gradually becoming what people considered the strongest familia, second only to the former Zeus Familia and Hera Familia.
Among the various gods, some admired them, some envied them, and some were purely resentful.
It was said that quite a few gods were so jealous that their eyes had already turned red.
"No, seriously… why does Loki get all the good things?"
"Why is she the only one who gets to recruit so many kids with potential?"
"Fine, Braver and the others are one thing, but even Liberator joined her familia—that's just unfair!"
"At least leave one for us! Give us something to hope for!"
"Yeah!"
"Enough talk. I'm getting ready to make a move on another monster rookie."
"Hey! No cutting in line!"
"If we're poaching, count me in too!"
"Liberator is in Loki's familia, so I wouldn't dare try anything. But that Little Rookie… Hehehe..."
"Hestia, sorry about this."
"We'll take good care of the rabbit and feed him carrots every day."
"Hey, the carrots you mean… are they really carrots?"
"You're really twisted..."
In this way, even the various gods had been stimulated by the Loki Familia's great achievements, and some had even developed improper intentions.
Naturally, this topic was also discussed within the Loki Familia itself.
===
Orario, Twilight Manor.
All the expedition party members, who had just finished a feast at the Hostess of Fertility, returned here under the cover of night.
Holding a feast on the second night after returning from an expedition was a familia tradition, and this time was no exception.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone returned to their home together—some went to bathe, some went back to their rooms, while only the executives were summoned to Finn's office and gathered there.
As soon as they entered the office, Tiona moved up to Riezel.
"Hey, Riezel, have you heard about the Little Rookie?"
Evidently, this topic seemed to attract everyone's attention, as shown by how everyone looked over.
"You mean Bell Cranel, right?"
Riezel sat beside Ais and replied calmly to Tiona's question.
Upon hearing his reply, Tiona immediately fanned the flames.
"Yeah, that kid who took down a Minotaur on the 9th Floor. Now, the whole city's been talking about him. They're saying he's the next monster rookie after you and might even end up your rival someday. So? What do you think?"
Her slightly mischievous question made Riezel chuckle.
"A rival?"
Riezel answered calmly.
"Maybe I would have thought so before, but not anymore."
In his eyes, that was simply how things were.
===
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