Inside the Labyrinth, as they sped through the upper floors, Tsubaki spoke up. "You know, I wanted to ask this yesterday."
Levi didn't stop, but he turned his head to show he was listening.
"We haven't met that many times, but I think I understand your cautious nature," Tsubaki said.
"And?" Levi manifested five frost-paws, instantly freezing a Mushroom monster. The elemental shields around him and Tsubaki grew firmer.
Perhaps realizing the relationship between her Goddess and the boy was becoming intimate, Tsubaki didn't treat him as an outsider. "Aren't you worried that the 'Troublemaker Gods' on the surface will notice your [Abnormality]?"
"Think about it. It's been three days since you hit Lv.2, yet today you're already starting the feat-stacking for Lv.3. Even if you wear a hood, I'm quite famous in Orario. People are always watching me. If we act together frequently, 'friendship between our Goddesses' only covers so much."
Tsubaki was advising him; she didn't want a friend who provided such unique weaponry to have his wings clipped by the bored Gods of Orario before he could even soar.
Levi understood. In fact, he had initially planned a slow, steady climb.
"I hit a 'Pitfall' on the 16th floor yesterday. To survive the fall, I had to use some life-saving skills."
Tsubaki poked the shield around her. "This barrier magic you put on me?"
"Yes," Levi nodded. "It was just bad luck. A squad from the Loki Familia—likely their second-stringers—was raiding the Floor Boss on the 17th. By now, the Big Three and half the Familia likely have my intel."
Tsubaki raised an eyebrow. "Then you really are unlucky."
"So, you're trying to stack the Lv.3 feat before anyone can make a move?" she asked.
"Yes. But that's not the whole reason."
"???"
Levi paused, then said calmly, "The resources I have right now are enough to push my Falna to the peak of Lv.3."
"..." "..." "靠 (Damn)!"
After a long silence, Tsubaki let out a curse. Leveling to Lv.2 in a month was enough to draw eyes. But if Levi actually went from Lv.1 to Lv.4 in a month...
"No wonder Lady Hephaestus looks at you differently," Tsubaki laughed bitterly. "Even I want to strip you down and see what kind of skills you've awakened."
"My situation... Hephaestus has probably guessed it. If you're curious, ask her. Just... please keep it a secret."
"Don't worry, I'm not a gossip," Tsubaki said, throwing an arm around his neck. "But finishing our agreement so quickly... I didn't expect that. Have you thought about the Lv.4 feat? Deeper floors, or a solo Goliath?"
Feeling the soft pressure against his cheek, Levi shrugged. "That depends on how fast the Lv.3 feat stacks."
He hadn't forgotten that due to his massive base potential, his real strength was one level higher than his Falna rank. When he was Lv.1, he had to kill hundreds of "Bull-boys" (Minotaurs) to get his rank-up because a single kill gave him almost no "Great Feat" experience.
If Lv.3 required the same, it would be fine. But he was worried about the "Feat" shrinking further, forcing him to stay in the dangerous Lower Floors for too long.
His fears were confirmed. After nearly two days of travel, they reached the Great Fall. Levi attacked and defeated his first group of Blue Crabs.
Looking at the progress bar, which had only moved by 0.02%, Levi's expression finally crumbled.
"How does it feel?" Tsubaki asked, picking up a magic stone.
Levi sighed. "Just as you guessed. The monsters on this floor are way too easy for me."
"Then we stick to the plan. We stack the feat in the areas past the 30th floor."
"Deal."