Finn's office, Loki Familia.
On both sides of the long table sat Loki Familia's three pillars: Finn Deimne, Riveria Ljos Alf, and Gareth Landrock.
At the head seat, the red-haired goddess lounged the same as ever, lazy in posture. But in her crimson eyes right now, something complicated was flashing.
Loki.
Several freshly compiled reports lay on the conference table.
They were the firsthand witness reports Ais, Tiona, and Lefiya had submitted after returning from the Dungeon, documenting what they had seen with their own eyes.
Finn set the report in his hand down and swept his gaze across everyone present.
"The information Ais and Tiona brought back…"
He paused.
"Do you think it's true?"
Riveria was silent for a moment before answering.
"Ais won't lie."
Her voice was calm, but absolute.
"Neither will Tiona or Lefiya."
Finn nodded once.
"Then that boy really did subjugate Goliath alone."
Gareth stroked his beard, a thoughtful glint passing through his seasoned eyes.
"And he used Astraea Familia swordsmanship, and Alfia's magic."
He paused.
"And the finishing blow… Genos Angelus."
The room fell into a short silence.
Genos Angelus.
A spell that had resurfaced in the hands of a boy who, less than a month ago, had been a complete novice.
"A Level 1 newbie adventurer…"
Loki's voice suddenly rang out, unable to hide her shock.
"And you're telling me he subjugated Goliath?"
She slapped the table and shot to her feet, disbelief blazing in her red eyes.
"Does that sound normal to you? Does that make any sense at all?"
Finn watched her reaction and couldn't help the hint of resignation that crossed his face.
He understood exactly why Loki was so worked up.
Because that boy had come to Loki Familia before.
He had wanted to join.
And they had turned him away.
Loki Familia had pushed him out with their own hands.
If the boy had truly been an ordinary Level 1, then a rejection was just a rejection. Nothing worth dwelling on.
Countless rookies tried to get into the big familias every day. Getting refused was normal.
But if that boy had really gone from Level 1 to someone who could solo a Floor Boss in less than a month…
Then what did that mean?
It meant they had pushed away a future hero with their own hands.
Someone who might one day stand at the very top of Orario.
A monster any familia would go insane over.
"Right now, there are only two explanations that fit."
Finn's voice pulled Loki back from the edge of her frustration.
"The first…"
He paused.
"He isn't a rookie. He's been hiding his level."
Riveria's brows drew together slightly.
"Hiding his level? Why?"
"I don't know."
Finn shook his head.
"Maybe he has a reason he can't reveal. Maybe he's avoiding someone. Maybe he's simply cautious."
He paused again.
"But regardless, if he's an experienced adventurer concealing his level, then subjugating Goliath wouldn't be strange."
Loki's eyes brightened a fraction.
If he'd been hiding his level, that meant he'd been strong from the start.
It wouldn't be that they'd misjudged him, it would be that he'd concealed it on purpose.
Then she wouldn't have to regret it so much.
But Finn's next sentence shattered that hope.
"However…"
Finn looked straight at Loki.
"A month ago, he still hadn't joined any familia."
"If he was an experienced adventurer hiding his level, why would he try to join us? With his strength, any major familia would fight over him. Why come here and take a gamble?"
Loki froze.
Yeah. If he really was an experienced adventurer, why come to Loki Familia at all?
With that kind of ability, he could have gone to Freya Familia, to Ganesha Familia, to any of the biggest names.
Why come here, and end up being rejected?
"So…"
Finn continued.
"That leaves the second possibility."
"He really is a rookie."
"And after becoming an adventurer, in less than a month, he grew to the point where he could solo a Floor Boss."
The meeting room fell silent again.
Riveria's brow knitted tight.
"That's impossible."
There was a tremor of agitation in her voice that she couldn't fully suppress.
"Less than a month, from Level 1 to killing Floor Boss Goliath head-on…"
She paused.
"That would mean he has at least Level 4-level combat power."
"Is that even possible?"
Finn didn't answer right away.
He only looked at Riveria, a complicated light shifting in his blue eyes.
Possible?
By common sense, absolutely not.
An adventurer's growth takes time. Level 1 to Level 2 is usually a year, often several.
Level 2 to Level 3 takes longer, demands more battle, more hardship.
Level 3 to Level 4-
That's a wall countless adventurers never cross in their entire lives.
Less than a month to go from Level 1 to Level 4?
Orario had never seen anything like it.
But-
"Yet Ais and the others saw it with their own eyes."
Finn's voice was calm, but it carried a force that left no room to argue.
"That boy did subjugate Goliath alone."
"And he held the advantage."
"And that final strike did kill it."
Riveria fell silent.
Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but no words came.
Because what Finn said was fact.
No matter how unbelievable it was, no matter how hard it violated common sense, that boy had done it.
Alone, he had killed a Level 4 Floor Boss head-on.
Loki slumped back into her chair, her expression tangled and complicated.
Regret.
If she hadn't rejected that boy. If she'd accepted him back then. Then the monster who could solo a Floor Boss would be her familia now.
But she hadn't.
She had pushed him out with her own hands.
And shoved him straight into Demeter Familia, a small, agriculture-focused faction that wasn't even known for combat.
Loki's cheek twitched.
If this was true-
Then she'd missed a trump card.
The kind you only miss by personally throwing it away.
"Finn."
Gareth's voice broke the silence.
"What do we do next?"
Finn was quiet for a moment before answering.
"We wait."
"Wait?"
"Yes."
Finn stood and walked to the window, looking out over Orario bathed in sunlight.
"That boy, if he can solo Goliath, his next goal will be leveling up."
"The Level 4 threshold. He'll cross it soon."
"And when he does…"
He paused.
"He'll make an even bigger stir."
"All we have to do is watch. And wait."
"Wait until the day he truly steps onto the stage."
Riveria watched him, a complicated emotion passing through her emerald eyes.
"And then?"
Finn turned back toward her.
"Then…"
He smiled faintly.
"Then we decide whether he's a friend, or an enemy."
(End of Chapter)
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