"Just a low-class clown."
"That's good. Hehehehehe…"
------------------------------------
After returning from the 'expedition,' everyone once again became busy with the follow-up work.
After two consecutive failed 'expeditions,' coupled with the enormous threat of strange new types of monsters, all members of the Familia began consciously training themselves, working to improve their strength.
Those who could usually be seen around, like Raul, Anakitty, and Elfy, were now nowhere to be found.
Of course, the ones with the most extreme behavior were the executives, by the very next day, they had already put their [Suppressing Bracers] back on after changing the magic stones inside.
Fron, as usual, came to the cafeteria for a meal, and soon noticed this small detail that left him dumbfounded.
Everyone knew Fron liked to sit in the corner, so… for a long time this spot had been exclusively his, as everyone else naturally avoided it.
But sometimes, things just don't go as planned.
Because he didn't like to attract attention and enjoyed peace and quiet, he preferred the corner.
However, whenever he sat here to eat, Tiona, Ais, Lefiya and the others would always come over on their own, smiling and happily eating with him.
This had already become quite the spectacle, sparking plenty of private gossip among their companions.
But… this was completely putting the cart before the horse!
As soon as he sat down with his food, he was speechless to see Ais sitting beside him, still wearing her [Suppressing Bracers], chewing her food slowly.
"I mean, you guys really don't have to push yourselves this hard, right? Even eating with those things on? You sure it won't mess up your digestion?"
"No, problem. Already, used to it."
Ais said her astonishing words with her usual expressionless face.
"?" Eating calmly under several times normal gravity… she's actually gotten used to it???
Tiona cheerfully swung her arms as if showing off.
"That's right! You don't know the feeling of taking off the bracers and then fighting, that amazing, liberating feeling! Ah… I think I'll reach my stat limit soon, and then I'll look for a chance to achieve a great deed and level up!"
"..."
Fron raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You already have S-rank stats?"
"Hmph, don't underestimate me, Fron! I'll have you know, my Strength, Endurance, and Agility have long been S! Only Dexterity left!"
"..."
He cursed inwardly and froze in shock, the change had come too quickly…
Good grief, as expected of you, Tiona. That potential really is boundless. Just a little boost and you've reached this level.
"Then… Tione, could it be that you also?"
The so-called 'refined lady' eating breakfast gave a cold laugh.
"My simple little sister is almost all S-rank. As her elder sister, of course I have to be stronger!"
But Tiona was not happy, she could admit she was a bit simple and sometimes a little ditzy, but you can't just say that out loud!
"Hey, did you just call me simple? What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Exactly what it sounds like. You've always been a bit of a ditz…"
"You… I challenge you to a duel!"
"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who?!"
And then… the two sisters started bickering again. Fron looked at this almost daily scene, half amused, half exasperated.
"What about Ais?"
"Ais is almost there too, seems like only her Endurance is still A-rank, the rest are maxed."
"..."
As for Dexterity, Agility, and Magic, they were probably already S-rank, those were her specialties.
"After sublimation with all S-ranks, you'll be even stronger at Level 6, right?"
"Of course! We can't just sit back and watch you catch up from behind! You've already reached Level 4 in the blink of an eye, if we don't work hard, you'll catch up in no time!"
"We can't let that happen!"
Seeing the little angel raise her fist in determination, he found it amusing. Too bad… your wish won't come true.
"By the way, are you going out today?"
"Mm, I already promised Lefiya I'd go shopping with her."
"Congratulations, Lefiya."
"?"
"Wh-What are you talking about?!"
Then, seeing Fron's half-smiling gaze, the elf girl's cheeks turned bright red, absolutely adorable.
"Ahhh! You're so annoying!!!"
"Hahahahaha!"
And so, the cafeteria filled with warm laughter.
Breakfast ended amid the cheerful atmosphere, and after parting ways with everyone in the courtyard, Fron returned alone to his room and headed straight into the [Magic Workshop] beneath the main base.
Under the dim light, Fron stood at the workbench, resting his chin on his hand in deep thought.
"With my current identity, secretly doing things is obviously impossible. The 'Loki Familia' label is too eye-catching, those people will definitely keep a close watch on every move of a high-profile Familia in the city. On top of that, my current 'Flame Demon' title is basically known by everyone in Orario. Going out to cause trouble is impossible, reputation matters, and I have no intention of socially dying."
"So… trying to hide that identity? It seems like it's pretty popular these days to have a second persona, especially for those active in the underworld, it's basically an unspoken rule, right?"
"Mm, in that case, doesn't that mean there's a demand? Only when there's demand can we start designing… and then scripting the play."
Fron's lips curved slightly, his eerie low laugh echoing under the dim light.
This scene was almost identical to the jester on the Familia's banner, one couldn't help but sigh at fate's irony.
...
...
Meanwhile, after Ais and a few other girls tidied up a bit, they headed out to the streets near North Avenue. This area was Orario's famous fashion street, boasting a dense row of clothing stores unmatched by any other place on the continent.
Standing before the endless row of connected, high-class storefronts was enough to make anyone dizzy. In the display windows, beautiful dresses priced anywhere from hundreds of thousands to millions of valis dazzled the eye.
Lefiya glanced at the price tags through the glass, and the elf's entire expression fell apart.
"This… this dress actually costs fifteen million valis?!!!"
"Oh, don't make such a fuss. Formal dresses are always expensive. Especially when the gods hold banquets, basically only they would buy something like this. Us adventurers wouldn't normally, "
"But… but that's just too expensive!"
"Dear customer, our clothing not only uses extremely rare materials dropped in the Dungeon, but each piece is also designed and made personally by world-famous masters. Every piece is one of a kind, so this price is quite reasonable."
"Ah, s-sorry."
"It's fine. If you see any styles you like, please feel free to come in and browse."
As expected of a shop selling such luxury goods, their level of service was impeccable. Perhaps… they'd also recognized who these girls were.
"This way, Ais! Come here! This shop doesn't use much fabric, the clothes should be comfortable to wear!"
"Na… nani?! Ais, no, you can't!!!"
What would Ais look like wearing the kind of clothes Amazoness liked?
Just imagining it was exciting enough to shatter her worldview, no, absolutely not, she couldn't allow something so indecent on such a dignified knight!
"No way! If you go there, you'll no longer be Ais Wallenstein!"
"?"
Looking at Lefiya pulling her along in a huff, Ais' blank, innocent face showed a trace of confusion.
She didn't see anything wrong with the store Tiona and Tione had chosen, weren't those two wearing them just fine?
One could only say… Ais' straightforward, single-minded thinking was formidable.
"This shop has very cute clothes, it's elf style! Let's go here!"
"Hey, Lefiya! These clothes look nice, what's with the overreaction?"
"I don't even want to talk to you! Hmph!"
"..."
Just imagining it was exciting enough…
The Amazoness sisters exchanged a glance and both let out a helpless breath.
"We really thought it was a good idea."
"Yeah, what a pity."
Dragging Ais into a shop run by an elf owner, Lefiya fussed over her nonstop, treating her entirely like a clothing mannequin.
Her small face flushed with excitement, she never tired of it. No matter what Ais wore, it looked perfect, making Lefiya both thrilled and conflicted.
"I want to buy all of them."
"Lefiya, be reasonable."
Ais stopped the elf girl's extravagant spree, after all, life wasn't easy for them at the moment.
"F-fine. Then I'll pick this one. Boss, please wrap this up for me, thank you!"
"Of course, dear customer!"
...
...
While the girls were noisily picking out clothes inside the shop, others weren't idle either.
In the meeting room of the Three Leaders, Finn, Riveria, and Gareth sat together, drinking wine and chatting.
"Speaking of which, Fron has already reached Level 4."
"Yeah, it feels like it happened in the blink of an eye."
"Hahaha, for us long-lived races, it really is just the blink of an eye."
"He's only been in the Familia for, what, a year at most? And he's already covered a distance that took us more than ten years of hard work."
"Yeah, that kid's talent is truly…"
"A monster?"
"Ah, that's the only way to describe him."
"Riveria, has he been studying magic under you recently?"
Asked about this, Riveria turned her head slightly, a bit embarrassed.
"Uh… sorry, Finn. I feel like there's nothing left I can teach him. Forget about his learning speed, just the depth of his knowledge alone leaves even me speechless."
"Is that so… I thought it would take him a bit longer to reach this point. He's grown so fast."
"Yeah, watching him fight on the 51st floor, he's already a qualified mage."
"By the way, have you had that strange feeling… about those new types of monsters?"
"What is it, Finn?" The Pallum leader looked at his thumb, his eyes meaningful.
"I just get the feeling… things aren't going to end so simply."