"The best way to deal with lunatics," Bete said flatly, "is to end things quickly. Don't bother figuring out why they joined the Dark Faction or what their 'reasons' are. No one in their right mind wants to talk philosophy with a bunch of maniacs holding Firestones and ready to blow themselves up."
His tone carried the weight of experience.
"As for that psycho 'Killer Empress'… her actions match her title perfectly. She likes to torture her prey—slashing at kittens and puppies just to see them crawl and bleed."
He clicked his tongue, disgust clear in his voice. "That woman's the worst kind of high-level adventurer—someone who takes pride in being a monster. She's cruel, meticulous, and never stops until she's broken everything in front of her."
"If you ever have to face her again, be careful," he warned. "She enjoys playing with her prey. The more danger she's in, the harder she pushes herself. Pain just makes her hungrier."
Tsunayoshi nodded silently. Bete didn't need to elaborate—the message was clear enough. Valetta Greyte was pure madness in human form.
"I've always treated her with extreme caution," Tsunayoshi said. "That's why I rewrote her memories so thoroughly. She doesn't suspect a thing. I even threw her into the Deep Floors' 'Food Storage' zone, so she believes she was swept away from the 'Giant Blue Waterfall' and somehow survived. It makes her story believable."
He paused, eyes sharp.
"My beast still dwells within her consciousness. I didn't alter her body—no marks, no traces. No matter how she searches, she'll never find the intrusion. Yet I can see every thought, every instinct, every image that passes through her mind."
He smiled faintly. "Her awareness might be sharp, but she'll never trace it."
The parasitic beast lived within Valetta's mind, not her flesh. No magic or divinity could probe that deeply. As long as Tsunayoshi remained cautious, she would remain his best living spy inside the Dark Faction.
"But one Valetta isn't enough," he continued. "If the chance arises, I'll implant another beast into someone else within the faction. That way I can cross-verify any information I receive from her."
Bete crossed his arms. "Smart. But after that last disaster, those freaks will probably lay low for a while."
"Exactly," Tsunayoshi said. "After two failed operations—the Astraea ambush and the recent Amazon trap—they'll need time to recover. Especially after Valetta's defeat. They won't risk a third strike anytime soon."
"Repeated failures breed distrust," Bete muttered. "They'll start doubting each other."
"Right," Tsunayoshi said. "They'll retreat and reorganize. For now, it's best not to get involved in any of their schemes."
He had already decided how to handle things. Valetta's paranoia worked in his favor; as long as she believed she'd escaped by chance, she would never realize the strings attached to her mind.
Satisfied, Tsunayoshi changed the subject. "Anyway, Bete-san, I just came from Loki's room. She mentioned you've been looking for me. I think I know why."
"I need sharper claws," Bete said bluntly. "Even if my stats are maxed out, fighting a floor boss alone is another story. I can't tear through their scales with what I have now."
He wasn't exaggerating.
Amphisbaena, the twin-headed dragon, might only be one level above him—but that single level represented an abyss of difference.
Fighting with a team was one thing; fighting alone was another. A party could cover weaknesses, with tanks drawing aggro and mages providing support. But solo challenges were what truly earned Feats—the heroic achievements required for advancement.
And Bete knew he didn't yet have the weaponry needed to make that leap.
Fortunately, the Amazons' recent victory had triggered Amphisbaena's respawn timer.
Now, Bete was waiting for the right moment—to strike, to climb, to earn his own legend.
"I'll need your help," he said simply.
Tsunayoshi nodded. "Of course. I'll explain the nature of the power the Amazon sisters awakened."
As Tsunayoshi described the "flames of death" and their unique properties, Bete's eyes widened slightly.
"So… it's like magic," he muttered, "but controllable, without incantation?"
"Exactly."
Bete exhaled sharply through his nose. "No wonder they managed to take down Amphisbaena."
Tiona fought purely through brute strength, while Tione's magic focused more on enhancement than destruction. Now, it all made sense—their balance of raw power and flexibility had been amplified by that strange flame.
He had assumed Tsunayoshi gave them enchanted gear or tamed beasts to assist. Never had he imagined it was a new type of power, one that defied the usual rules of magic.
"So they were your first tests," Bete said.
"Yes. I wasn't sure they could handle it at first," Tsunayoshi admitted. "After confirming their results, I moved on to Finn and Gareth."
"What about Riveria and Ais?"
"Riveria's potential element isn't one I'm familiar with, so she's last. As for Ais… she's a special case. Her temperament makes her unpredictable. Finn, Gareth, and I all agreed to hold her back until she's more stable."
Bete snorted. "Yeah, that tracks. That girl can't keep herself from chasing a fight."
Tsunayoshi gave a small, helpless laugh. "Exactly. Originally, you were supposed to follow right after Finn and Gareth. But then I got tied up with Hephaestus Familia—helping with their forging projects—and things kept getting delayed."
He scratched the back of his neck. "If not for the Amazons' promotion, Riveria wouldn't have come to me, and we'd still be waiting. Now it seems you'll be the last one."
Bete shrugged, unconcerned. "No problem. Timing's fine by me. The expedition's in about a month, right? That lines up perfectly with the floor boss respawn. I'll make that thing my stepping stone."
Tsunayoshi looked at him for a moment, then smiled. "I believe you will."
"Then let's begin," he said, pulling out a set of rings—one refined, one rugged.
"Choose whichever type you prefer, Bete-san. Let's find out what attribute fits you best."
(End of Chapter)
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