The deal was set: Levi would employ Tsubaki for one day and pay the Hephaestus Familia 2,000,000 Valis within two months. After the introductions, Levi and Tsubaki bid the Goddesses farewell and headed for the Dungeon.
While Levi was smooth-talking with Hestia, he was a man of few words with others. Tsubaki, however, couldn't stop talking. She had heard snippets of intel from Hephaestus and was brimming with curiosity.
"Little Levi, has it really been less than two weeks since you got your Falna? You gathered enough stats to level up that fast?" "I heard you snuck into the Dungeon before joining a Familia. Weren't you scared? Did you find Goblins tough back then?" "Also, your weapon is interesting. If I'm not mistaken, it has a special effect, right?" "And that accessory on your waist..."
As a Master Smith and a Level 5 adventurer, Tsubaki was one of the strongest people in Orario. She had skipped the recent expedition to study the creation of indestructible Magic Swords, so being pulled out to babysit a Level 1 was initially annoying. But her dwarf blood stirred with interest the moment she saw Levi's gear.
Levi, with his years of life experience, saw right through her. "You want to study my sword and this accessory?" He patted the Cryo Vision on his belt.
Caught red-handed, even Tsubaki scratched her cheek awkwardly. But she was straightforward. "A junior in my Familia asked if there was a way to make an indestructible Magic Sword. I've been looking for a breakthrough in smithing techniques lately."
"And," Levi finished her thought, "you saw my equipment and sensed a chance to advance your craft?"
"Exactly," Tsubaki said, playing the friendship card. "Our Goddesses are best friends, and our Familias will share that bond. If you let me study your gear when we get back, I'll waive the fee for today—I'll pay it for you. Plus, I'll help you again when you need to hit Level 3 or 4."
She wasn't trying to rob him; she was just passionate. Levi had anticipated this. In fact, he had held his sword and worn his Vision openly specifically to "fish" for a top-tier blacksmith like Tsubaki.
"A word of warning: these items are somewhat like Divine Treasures. They are bound to me. If they leave my hands, their special properties vanish," Levi cautioned. "If you can accept that, I'll let you study them for a few days after we return."
Tsubaki's eyes lit up. "Deal! It's a promise!" She grabbed Levi's arm and began sprinting toward the deeper floors. "Let's make this quick so we can get back and start the research!"
"..."
With Tsubaki's motivation spiked, it took less than two hours to reach the 13th floor. This was where monster potential officially reached Level 2. Creatures here spawned in packs and used complex combinations of melee and ranged attacks.
Levi wanted to see how he fared against the 13th floor's difficulty. Encountering a pack of six Hellhounds, he asked Tsubaki to stand by while he took the lead with his Recurve Bow and elemental arrows.
Mana Burst: En (Shroud)!
His Agility surged by 1,000 points as the Vision at his waist glowed. Thwip-thwip-thwip! Three Hellhounds were reduced to ash instantly as their cores were pierced. Levi retreated while notches more arrows. As the remaining three closed within ten meters, he fired four more frost-coated arrows, sniping two more.
Now, the final Hellhound was only five meters away. It lunged, its throat glowing orange. A split second later, it unleashed a blast of scorching flame.
The fire didn't hit Levi. At the very moment the Hellhound unleashed its skill, he had already shifted the extra attribute points provided by Mana Burst: En entirely into his Agility.
It's over!
Closing in instantly on the monster's flank, the Recurve Bow in his hand vanished into a shimmer of light. In its place appeared the Flying Sky Sword, which he brought crashing down in mid-motion.
— Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu: Ryu-kan-sen — Frost!
The Hellhound didn't even have time to howl. Its head was severed cleanly, following its kin into the void as it dissolved into a pile of black ash.