With a sharp flash of magical energy, the space around them distorted, and in the blink of an eye, everyone reappeared on the fiftieth floor of the dungeon. The air felt heavier here, saturated with the scent of dried blood, gunpowder, and smoke.
Before them lay the camp that had once been a stronghold, now utterly destroyed. Black spirals of ash rose into the air, the ground scarred with craters and burn marks. Makeshift structures lay in shattered pieces, twisted reminders of a fierce battle.
Yet, surprisingly, none of them appeared disheartened. No sorrow marred their faces. On the contrary, all were filled with a vibrant flame in their hearts. They had witnessed something extraordinary—something that transcended their own limits as adventurers.
After all, they had just seen up close an impossible magic—a miracle forged by the hands of a single man.
Many of their eyes instinctively turned to Shirou. He sat on a partially broken stone, shoulders relaxed, body clearly exhausted, yet his expression remained serene. His eyes carried the weight of mental fatigue, yet still radiated determination.
For a moment, silence hung heavily, until suddenly, applause erupted through the air.
"Woooooah!"
Claps and cheers exploded like a wave, sweeping over everyone in the camp. They were not only celebrating victory over the monsters but honoring the one who had borne alone the burden of a power capable of turning the tide of battle.
Shirou couldn't help but grimace. The effort to summon and sustain so much magical power in such a short time took a brutal toll on his mind. Still, he tried to remain steady, despite the throbbing pain in his skull.
"Brother, did you find the ingredients?" – Lefiya's soft voice cut through the commotion.
Shirou lifted his tired gaze and smiled faintly.
"I found them. Let's head back… I really need to rest a bit."
They walked together through the new camp being set up. Wherever they passed, adventurers approached to greet Shirou, unable to contain their desire to acknowledge him.
"Good morning, Shirou!"
"Morning!"
"You did well, Shirou!"
"Shirou, do you want to try some fruits I just picked?"
He responded politely to everyone, even though his mind begged for immediate rest. "Thank you, but later. Lefiya and I need to deliver the ingredients first."
And while trying not to show his fatigue, he couldn't help but notice the gazes. They were everywhere—discreet whispers, admiring and sometimes blushing looks following his steps.
Beside him, Lefiya clicked her tongue, her face flushed with irritation. Shirou could only return an awkward smile.
Ever since revealing his Unlimited Blade Works, this had become routine. The men of the Loki Family simply respected him even more, treating him as a valuable ally. But the women… the women were a different story. They watched him silently, exchanged knowing glances, murmured to each other, always with pink cheeks.
"Could this be… Shirou's charm?" – some whispered.
And within his own mind, Shirou sighed in despair.
"Have I unknowingly won over all the women of the Family? No, no… this can't be. If Loki finds out, he'll kill me!"
With narrowed eyes, he quickened his pace, swiftly handing the ingredients to a specialist. He was ready to invent an excuse and slip away discreetly when voices called from inside the camp:
"Shirou! Lefiya! The Captain wants you at the meeting!"
"Understood!" – he replied, straightening his posture.
He ran to the central tent where the family's high command gathered. As soon as he entered, all eyes turned toward him—some teasing, some amused, and a few shy.
"Look who it is, our hero." – Gareth teased, laughing in his deep voice.
Shirou raised his hands, almost in supplication.
"Please, stop calling me a hero. I only did what was within my power!"
"But the ladies of the Family disagree." – another replied with a mischievous grin. "In their eyes, you're a hero now."
"No… Loki will kill me!" – Shirou muttered, drawing general laughter.
Some of the girls present immediately blushed, only fueling the collective laughter and making Shirou even more uncomfortable.
Then Finn's firm voice cut through the noise, restoring seriousness to the room.
"All right. Time is running, and we must make the most of every second. Save the jokes for when we return safely."
Silence filled the tent.
Not only were the officers above Level 5 gathered, but also core members of the second team, like Raul. The tension on everyone's faces was evident.
Finn continued, his voice clear and authoritative:
"After the attack by that new species, our supplies were severely compromised. If Shirou hadn't eliminated the monsters so quickly, we would have been forced to retreat."
He paused, scanning every face around him.
"But we still have enough to hold for another day. And we must use this time to minimize our losses."
Previously, due to urgency, they hadn't properly collected the materials and magic stones left by the monsters. Now, with damaged weapons and scarce supplies, it was imperative to turn every battle into a gain.
"After breakfast, we'll split into two teams." – Finn declared. "Riveria, Gareth, I, and the rest of the Family will explore the 49th floor. The remaining officers will take Shirou and Lefiya to the 51st."
He narrowed his eyes, his voice growing even more serious.
"But remember one thing: do not go beyond the 51st floor. Do not set foot on the 52nd."
Everyone nodded firmly.
The 52nd through 58th floors were known as the Dragon's Cauldron—a hellish region where dragons from the 58th floor attacked upward, ignoring all intermediate levels. Anyone entering the 52nd floor had only two choices: flee desperately or be crushed by a roar of fire.
Shirou absorbed the orders, recognizing Finn's flawless reasoning. Leaving the veterans on the 49th floor was strategic: Riveria with her large-scale magic, Gareth with his brute strength, and Finn with his command formed the perfect combination to protect the bulk of the team.
Meanwhile, the elite would advance to the 51st floor. It was risky, but the presence of Shirou and his arsenal of projected swords provided a safety net against the unexpected.
It was, indeed, the best way to maximize gains.
Shirou felt a smile escape his face. The weight of exhaustion did not erase the excitement bubbling in his chest.
After all, who doesn't like making a profit?
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."