Preparation
"Hmm, what should I do…"
It's been two days since Loki and the others showed up. Since then, I've been feeling chills and sharp stomach pains, so I bought the same stomach medicine Asfi uses. Actually, it was developed by Mercurius-sama.
Now, what I'm really struggling with is Bell and Lili. Those two have been growing closer recently. Or rather, Lili's sharpness has softened. The party's atmosphere is improving, and our earnings have stabilized.
But then, something small caused a rift between them. No, maybe it's better to say their feelings got crossed. Either way, today the mood between them became awkward. I tried to smooth things over, but this is really something they have to work out themselves, so I decided to just wait and see.
Thinking about that, I was heading home to prepare for tomorrow's work when Seinn, an elf from the same Familia, called out to me.
"Do you need something, Seinn-san?"
"Asfi has summoned you. Come right away."
…Summoned? What for? I already helped with paperwork the other day, and I've paid the Familia's dues. I have no idea.
"All right. I'll be there right away."
….
Seinn led me not to Asfi's office but to the Familia's meeting room. There were about 15 people inside besides me. Wait… aren't these the main members of our Familia?
"What are you doing, Toki? Sit down quickly."
"Y-yes!"
I took a seat in the very back. I'm the lowest level here. I guess here it's more about strength ranking than seniority. Next to me was Nelly, a human supporter.
"Well then, let's talk about the request that Lulune brought."
Uh oh, I'm getting a bad feeling.
"The request is to investigate and resolve the sudden monster outbreak on the 24th floor. Reinforcements will be available, but we're not sure how much we can count on them. The members here will take care of this mission. Any questions?"
"Um, Asfi…"
"What is it, mutt?"
"Ugh. Well, why am I here?"
The room murmured. That's natural, I became an adventurer just over a month ago and am only level 1. I don't think I'll be much help on this mission. Nelly also asked why she's here. I want to know that too.
"This mission could involve any situation. If it turns out to be man-made, he'll handle it. He's our Familia's best at dealing with people."
Hearing that, the room accepted it. But wait, shouldn't someone object in a situation like this? And Nelly's not just a sidekick, right?
"Also, he'll be accompanied by a supporter. So everyone, feel free to prepare extra gear. Be doubly prepared."
"Um, Asfi-san, I think I might just be a burden, so I want to refuse to come along…"
"No."
"B-but…"
"No."
"Um…"
"We depart tomorrow night at 11. We'll head to the dungeon under cover of darkness."
…Ignored. That stings a bit.
….
The next day. No use whining, so I accepted this as an expedition request and started preparing.
First, I went home and put a sign on the door: "Closed today due to personal reasons."
Next, I visited the Goibniu Familia, where I'd been recently. Even early in the morning, the sound of metal ringing out at the 'Three Hammers Forge', their home base, was loud.
"Good morning!"
"Welcome! Hey, it's the handyman monk! Boss!"
"I'm coming now."
The boss, who was overseeing the other members, finished his instructions and came over after exchanging a few words.
"Monk, what's up today? Haven't seen that woman yet, have you?"
"No, this is different. I want the Goibniu Familia to make me some weapons."
"Oh?"
The boss's eyes shifted to that of a craftsman. I showed him the halberd and dagger I'd previously taken out from the shadows.
"I want you to make a halberd and dagger identical to these. But they need to be usable even after the 20th floor. The deadline is this evening."
"That's sudden."
"Can you do it?"
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Please take care of it."
"Alright, you're always good to us, monk. I'll make you some first-class weapons!"
…Hey, don't overdo it, please.
…..
After that…
"Isn't that from the 'Lost Child of the Abyss'?"
"Yes, I'm always indebted to Mercurius-sama."
I was at the Mercurius Familia's shop.
"No, no, thanks to you, that high-grade antidote and recovery potion, despite its weird taste and smell, sells pretty well."
"That's good to hear."
"Oh, do you need Mercurius-sama? I can call him now."
"No, it's nothing like that. I'm here on business today. Just shopping."
"I see. Thanks as always. Getting more healing potions?"
"No, this time I'm going along as a supporter for the Familia's record floor update. So I came to buy gear for that."
The Hermes Familia's official reached floor is 19, but this time we're going to the 24th floor, so it fits the progression. The real reached floor is 37, by the way.
"Is that so? What do you plan to bring?"
"Well, um…"
After that, one of the team members scolded me for about an hour, asking why I hadn't told Mercurius about my presence. But it's nothing unusual, so I didn't really mind.
By the way, besides the necessary gear, I also bought some headache and stomach medicine.
….
Next, I headed to the home base of the Loki Familia, the "Twilight Mansion." I passed a message to Lefiya through the guard. By the way, I know all the Loki Familia members who do the guard duty pretty well, mainly because I often meet them when sending off Lefiya.
I also asked the guard to deliver the headache and stomach medicine I bought earlier to Finn-san. He had mentioned needing some last time, so I thought I'd smooth things over.
After that, I went to the home base of the Hestia Familia, where Bell is.
Knock knock knock.
"God? Did you forget something...? Huh? Toki?"
"B-Bell."
Knowing Bell's personality, I figured she would skip dungeon exploration today because of yesterday's incident, so I was glad to be right. If I had been wrong, I could have left a message with Eina-san, but explaining it all to her would have been a hassle.
"What's up?"
"Well, I'm going to the dungeon as a supporter for a senior Familia member. I don't know how long it'll take, so I wanted to give you a heads-up."
"I see. Want to come up? I'll make some tea."
"No, I'm heading somewhere else right away. But hey, Bell."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"It's about Lili. I'm counting on you."
"Ah."
Bell's expression darkened at that one word. Well, it was just yesterday, after all.
But just as I was about to say something else, Bell straightened her face.
"Yeah, leave it to me. I'll make sure it's settled by the time you get back."
"Oh? You said that?"
"Of course I did."
We both laughed and cracked up. Yeah, this girl's my best friend. No need to worry at all.
"All right, I'm counting on you."
"Yeah, take care."
"I'm off."
We bumped fists.
…..
After that, I ate lunch and spent the afternoon under Asfi's supervision, drilling myself on all the monsters we could encounter up to the 24th floor. Since I'm going as a supporter, my hands will be free because the gear stays in the shadows, so I'll be acting as a mid-line support.
We kept that up until evening, then I went to pick up my weapons.
"Hello!"
"Welcome! Oh, the monk's here! Boss, the monk's here!"
"Yeah."
The boss came over holding my weapons, blades that looked clearly top-notch. Wait, they're my halberd and dagger.
"They're ready."
"Uh, well, these are…"
"Come on, I put some real effort into them."
Effort? How do you put this much effort and end up with weapons like these?
"Besides, didn't you say you wanted weapons usable beyond the 20th floor?"
"Yeah, but these are obviously way beyond my level."
"Hah! You're the type to drown yourself in your weapons, huh? That's why I made these for you."
"But the price…"
"100,000 varis."
"W-100,000 varis!? That's way too cheap!"
"Consider it a thank-you for always looking out for me. What, you can't pay?"
"No, I can, but…"
Reluctantly, I handed over 100,000 varis from my secret stash. I was prepared for 500,000, so I was a bit surprised. I left the"Three Hammers Forge" feeling a bit lighter.
"Monk!"
"Hm?"
"Come back alive!"
"…Yes!"
Right. First and foremost, I have to come back alive.
…..
At 11 PM, I ran silently through the city streets, where only a few scattered lights glowed.
The Hermes Familia's principal god, Hermes-sama, favors neutrality and dislikes any sign of dominance. Because of that, it's rare to see the main force gather and head to the dungeon openly like this.
Well, I told a few people I was going on an expedition, but those are people who wouldn't care much if I did, so it should be fine.
Also, to make sure we remain unseen, we used a magical item called the "Hades Head", a jet-black helmet granting invisibility. It's one of Asfi's masterpieces. No one can see the wearer.
I'm borrowing one of these for the expedition. If the monster outbreak turns out to be caused by humans, I'm supposed to use it to catch the culprit in the act. Not impossible, I guess.
The usual "Path of Beginnings" looks different tonight. Here we go, the start of an adventure into the unknown.
….
Meanwhile, at the same time:
"Finn-san, here's a gift."
"Hm? From who?"
"A gift for the captain!? Which vixen sent it?"
"From Lefiya's boyfriend."
"Oh... headache and stomach medicine?"
"…Looks like I owe him again."
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Note: From now on the story shifts to Sword Oratoria Volume 3.
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