Chapter 212 - I love this adventurer's aura
The next morning, after spending a few days with Hestia on the surface, Orsted and the others officially began their first expedition.
Though Lili and the girls had ventured into the lower floors, they'd only explored the 25th to 27th floors, never going beyond the 28th.
This time, the Hestia Familia aimed to traverse the entire lower floors.
If conditions allowed and Lili and the others adapted well, Orsted might take them to the 37th floor.
From the 37th floor onward, monsters were mostly level 4, with only a few at level 3.
Higher level monsters were tough, but Orsted wasn't worried. If one couldn't handle a fight, two could team up.
Orsted had fully equipped Lili and the others, each carrying over ten magic items.
Previously, he might've worried about their magic reserves, but not now.
At level 3, their magic stats had reached S rank, with their second rank up achieving max status at S999.
Their magic capacity could easily sustain the items.
Two consecutive rank ups made Lili and the others far stronger than typical Level 3 adventurers.
Orsted was confident that, aside from himself, no adventurer in Orario matched his familia's strength at the same level.
He'd also given each member a grimoire, granting new magic to everyone except Tifa and Lili, boosting their power significantly.
With this strength and their magic items, they could likely handle level 4 monsters.
Still, this was Orsted's speculation. Their actual performance would tell.
The Miach familia had fully aligned with the Hestia familia.
When Orsted joined the Loki familia's expedition, Lili and the others ventured into the dungeon with Naaza and two other Miach familia members every time.
Though unspoken, it was a tacit alliance.
Miach welcomed this, especially after his Familia's decline.
Following the Hestia familia brought prosperity, and their camaraderie made it appealing.
Miach and Naaza knew adventuring with Lili's group yielded great rewards, likely due to the Hestia familia's unique circumstances.
Miach insisted Naaza split half their gains with Lili's group, yet their profits still surpassed normal ventures.
Thus, the Miach familia joined this expedition.
Additionally, the Takemikazuchi familia also tagged along.
Takemikazuchi was cautious after his familia's recent tragedy.
He feared sending Ouka and the others to the middle floors, but staying on the upper floors offered no growth for Ouka and Chigusa.
After confiding in Miach over drinks, he shamelessly asked Hestia to let his adventurers join her familia's expedition, promising to give seven tenths of the spoils to the Hestia familia.
Hestia didn't agree immediately, consulting her familia first.
After Orsted's approval, she allowed Ouka, Chigusa, and one other Takemikazuchi member to join.
A fourth member, traumatized from the last incident like Naaza once was, opted out of adventuring with Takemikazuchi's permission, instead handling logistics and supplies.
Ryuu also joined, wearing a mask due to her status as a Guild wanted criminal.
The expedition team didn't mind her past, but she avoided trouble for their sake.
She refused Orsted's suggestion to remove her mask to prevent complications if seen with a fugitive.
Aside from Chigusa, the group consisted of Level 2 or higher adventurers.
To ensure Chigusa could keep up, Orsted gave her a low tier magic item to boost her speed without draining her magic, letting her match the others pace.
In half a day, they reached the 18th floor and entered the 19th floor.
Walking its lush paths, Orsted suddenly frowned, sensing something.
"What's wrong, Orsted?" Tifa asked quietly, noticing his reaction.
"Nothing," Orsted replied, shaking his head.
Why was Fels here, with someone else? Could it be the Xenos?
Orsted didn't dwell on it and led the group onward.
Meanwhile, hidden in the maze's dense foliage, Fels whispered to the girl beside him.
"These are the ones I chose. What do you think?"
"I love this adventurer's aura. I'm sure the others will too," Ray replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Orsted's presence intoxicated her.
"But are you sure he'll help us?"
"I don't know yet. I'll find a way," Fels said.
He was confident the Xenos would approve, but convincing Orsted was another matter.
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