"He's alright."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving behind a silhouette that tried a bit too hard to look cool.
Tione let out a short laugh from behind him and said to Lynn, "What he means is: 'You're pretty good.' Translated into normal speech, it means he acknowledges you."
"I know," Lynn replied.
"Then from now on, you're an official comrade-in-arms," Tione said with a smile, extending her hand. "Welcome to the team, Mr. Lynn."
Lynn shook her hand. " I don't plan on joining any Familia."
"It's not about the Familia." Tione shook her head, her smile genuine. "It's about being friends."
Tiona hopped over and slapped Lynn on the shoulder, the force of it nearly sending him stumbling. "Exactly! Friends! From now on, we fight together, share the loot, and face trouble as one!"
"Easy on the strength," Lynn grumbled, rubbing his shoulder.
"Oh, right! Sorry, sorry!" Tiona stuck her tongue out playfully.
Lefiya scrambled up from the ground and walked over to Lynn, her face slightly flushed. "Mr. Lynn, thank you. If it wasn't for you... we might not have made it out."
Seeing her earnest expression, Lynn smiled. "Don't thank me. You all fought for your lives too."
Lefiya nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling. "Yes! I'll keep working hard! Next time, I'll definitely be stronger!"
Ais walked over and stood by Lynn's side. She didn't offer any grand proclamations; she simply stood there quietly, like a silent mountain. But the look in her eyes as she watched Lynn held an indefinable weight—something more powerful than any words could convey.
By the time they returned to the surface, it was late into the night.
The lights of Babel flickered against the dark sky, and the streets were quiet, save for the rhythmic footsteps of an occasional patrol. The air carried the crisp coolness unique to the night, a sharp contrast to the damp humidity of the Dungeon.
From a distance, Lynn spotted someone standing by the Guild entrance.
Eina was there, wearing her familiar blue jacket, holding a lantern as she scanned the area. Her hair was a bit messy and her face showed clear signs of exhaustion, but her eyes were bright, as if she were waiting for someone specific.
The moment she saw Lynn, she froze for a second before rushing toward him. Halfway there, she slowed her pace, seemingly trying to control her urgency.
She stood before Lynn, looking him up and down. His clothes were torn in several places, bandages wrapped around his arms, and his face still bore traces of blood he hadn't wiped away. Her eyes immediately welled with tears.
"You're back," she said, her voice slightly hoarse.
Lynn smiled. "I told you I wouldn't die."
Eina started to say something, her mouth opening and then closing again. She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly as if she were desperately holding something back.
Watching her, Lynn suddenly reached out and gently patted her head.
"It's okay now," he said.
Eina looked up, tears shimmering in her eyes, but a small smile quirked at the corner of her lips. "Next time... next time, you must be careful."
"I will."
She sniffled, took a step back, and regained her professional composure as a Guild clerk.
"Go inside. Captain Finn and the others are waiting for you. And..." She stole a glance at Lynn, her voice dropping lower. "Welcome back."
Lynn nodded and headed into the Guild. After a few steps, he looked back. Eina was still standing there, lantern in hand, watching him.
He waved to her and disappeared inside.
In the tactical briefing room, Finn, Riveria, Gareth, and several high-ranking Guild officials were present.
Lynn placed the Serpent-Hunter on the table and gave a brief account of the events. He didn't go into excessive detail, but Finn listened with rapt attention, his finger tapping rhythmically on the table, a thoughtful glint in his golden eyes.
"So, this is a power from another world," Finn summarized. "And they have already infiltrated deep into Orario's Dungeon."
"Yes," Lynn said. "But their core has been destroyed. They won't be making any major moves in the short term."
Finn nodded, looking at the spear. "This... do you need to hand it over to us?"
Lynn glanced at the weapon, picked it up, and slung it back onto his shoulders. "This is my weapon."
Finn chuckled. "Fair enough. However, regarding these findings, I'll need you to write a detailed report."
Lynn's brow furrowed.
Write a report? How long had it been since he'd even picked up a pen? He'd rather dive into the Dungeon again!
He ran a hand through his hair, asking with a hint of impatience, "Can't I just give an oral account?"
Finn pushed up his glasses, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "An oral account works, but it needs to be exhaustive—every detail, including every ability you used, every monster encountered, and detailed information on this so-called 'Lands Between.' Of course, you could choose to write it down instead; that would be much more convenient for our research."
Lynn's mouth twitched at the suggestion.
"I'll write it," he eventually conceded, his tone heavy with reluctance.
Finn's smile deepened. Beside him, Riveria let out a soft laugh, clearly finding Lynn's reaction amusing.
After finishing up his business, Lynn provided a few more details regarding the internal structure of Volcano Manor and the distribution of monsters. Finally, under Eina's worried gaze, he left the Guild, exhausted.
Back at Eina's place, Lynn collapsed directly onto the bed, too tired to lift a finger.
Eina handed him a glass of warm water and brought over a towel to help wipe the dust and blood from his face.
"Are you really alright?" Her voice trembled as she looked at the scorched wounds on Lynn's arms, tears nearly falling.
Lynn took the towel and wiped his own face, grinning. "I told you, I'm fine. Just a bit drained."
Once back in bed, he habitually opened his system interface.
[Remembrance of the Blasphemous] [Exchangeable for: Blasphemous Blade, Rykard's Rancor (Sorcery)]
Lynn narrowed his eyes. Was there even a choice?
"Exchange for the Blasphemous Blade," Lynn said without hesitation.
A flash of dark red light erupted, and a massive greatsword—grotesquely formed and covered in writhing, twisted flesh—appeared in his hand. It was identical in design to the one wielded by Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, but scaled down to fit Lynn's stature.
"Not bad. It's just... going to be hard to carry this around in public," Lynn noted, weighing the blade.
The design was so warped that most people would likely be terrified just looking at it. It wouldn't be fun if people started mistaking him for some cultist just because of his sword.
He quickly stowed the Blasphemous Blade away and noticed another prompt.
[Congratulations, Tarnished. You have obtained Rykard's Great Rune. Level-up conditions met. Level up to Lv. 3?]
Lynn's eyes lit up, but he quickly calmed down. He checked his attribute panel:
[Lynn]
Level: Lv. 2
Strength: S875
Endurance: S823
Dexterity: S892
Agility: S878
Magic: S810
Skill: [Carian Retaliation]
Development Ability: [Abnormal Status Resistance]
Since reaching Level 2, he had been through numerous battles and used a few scattered stat points. Now, his basic attributes had all broken through the 800 mark.
"Better wait a bit longer," Lynn muttered to himself. "I'll grind the attributes a bit higher. It'll be more cost-effective when I finally level up."
Then, he noticed a brand-new option on the system interface: [System Warehouse].
He clicked it open, and a vast, bottomless space appeared before him.
Previously, for convenience, he'd had to stack his less-used equipment in his room. His bedroom was practically turning into a weapon armory.
But now, with this warehouse, he could finally carry the Bloodhound's Fang, Moonveil, the Carian Knight's Shield, and the Serpent-Hunter with him at all times, accessing them whenever he pleased.
"Now this is convenient."
A satisfied smile spread across Lynn's face.
Now he could swap weapons and gear on the fly depending on the combat situation. No more worrying about weight limits, and he could even pull out some "glitches" or secret techniques to give his enemies a nasty surprise.
He was finally a master of a hundred arts, adaptable to any change.
The following days brought a rare period of peace to Orario.
Lynn finished the report—a painful process, but he finally got it over with. He spent most of his time resting at Eina's house, occasionally heading to the Dungeon not to level up, but to get a feel for the Blasphemous Blade.
Although the sword was heavy, its innate fire damage and unique weapon art made it a joy to use. He even began considering whether he should adjust his stat allocation to better master the weapon.
However, the peace didn't last long.
"Mr. Lynn... could you... could you help us out?"
On this particular day, Bell found Lynn, looking visibly anxious. Behind him was Ouka from the Take-mikazuchi Familia, both of them wearing expressions of clear concern.
Lynn set down the Serpent-Hunter—he had been testing if the spear was useful in scenarios outside of fighting Rykard. He looked at Bell, confused.
"What is it? Why the rush?"
Bell looked at Ouka, who took over with a heavy tone. "It's Mikoto. She's been acting very strange lately. She's always heading out alone with a grim expression. When we ask her about it, she's always vague and refuses to speak plainly."
Lynn raised an eyebrow. Mikoto, the Far East girl who was honest to a fault, had secrets? That was a first.
"We're worried she might be in some kind of trouble or caught up in something dangerous," Ouka sighed. "So... I wanted to ask you and Bell to follow her and see what's going on."
Though Bell was a bit hesitant, he nodded firmly. "Mr. Ouka, I'll definitely bring Mikoto-san back safely!"
"Wait," Lynn interrupted, looking at Bell. "This is your Familia's business. Why involve us?"
Ouka scratched his head awkwardly. "Because... Mikoto is a girl. If we follow her and get caught, it would be... awkward. Bell here... well, he looks harmless. Plus, he's on good terms with Mikoto, so she'd be less guarded around him. And as for you, you're our benefactor; even if she finds out, she won't say much."
Lynn's mouth twitched. Harmless... that was certainly one way to put it.
Lynn looked at Bell, whose face was practically screaming 'Please help me.'
"Fine, I'll go."
As it happened, he realized he didn't actually know much about Orario's urban layout. Aside from the Dungeon and the Guild, he'd hardly been anywhere else.
And so, that night, Lynn and Bell lay in wait outside the Take-mikazuchi Familia's residence. They quietly began tailing Mikoto, who was dressed in civilian clothes and looked uncharacteristically solemn.
Mikoto seemed to sense she might be being followed, as she turned back to scan the area periodically with sharp, alert eyes. However, thanks to Lynn's mastery of the Bloodhound's Step and Bell's improving stealth skills, she failed to spot her shadow.
They trailed her through the bustling Central Avenue, past the rowdy West Main Market, and finally, Mikoto stopped at a place Bell had never set foot in and Lynn had only heard rumors about—Orario's Pleasure Quarter.
The Pleasure Quarter was, as the name suggested, the most decadent part of Orario's nightlife.
Neon lights and lanterns glowed in shades of green and red. The air was thick with the scent of perfume, alcohol, and an indefinable, hazy atmosphere. Ornate taverns, casinos, and brothels lined the streets. Voluptuous Amazonian warriors, seductive elven dancers, and charming human songstresses stood at the entrances, posing and winking at passersby.
Bell's face turned bright red instantly. He looked like a startled rabbit, wishing he could shrink into Lynn's shadow. He stole glances at the scantily clad, bold-eyed women, feeling his heart race and his breathing grow shallow.
Lynn, on the other hand, remained composed. His expression didn't ripple much; he simply observed his surroundings with curiosity.
It was pretty much what he imagined a red-light district to be, though much more open about it. Many women were walking the streets in what could basically be called lingerie.
The public security here must be great, Lynn couldn't help but think.
Mikoto was clearly uncomfortable there as well. Her lips were pressed thin, and her eyes held a trace of disgust. However, she forced herself to endure it, scanning the crowd as if searching for someone. Her gaze was sharp and anxious; she was clearly there on a mission.
However, before Mikoto could find her target, trouble found her first.
"Well, if it isn't Mikoto of the Take-mikazuchi Familia. What brings you to the Ishtar Familia's territory?"
An Amazonian woman dressed in translucent purple silk, her figure ample and curvaceous, blocked Mikoto's path with several subordinates. A malicious grin played on her face, her eyes full of provocation.
Mikoto's expression darkened. Looking at the onlookers gathering around, she realized she had been exposed. Without a word, she shot the Amazonian a fierce glare before flickering away, disappearing into the crowd.
"Trying to run? Not that easy!" the Amazonian sneered, leading her crew in pursuit.
Lynn and Bell exchanged a look. Bell's face was full of worry. "Mikoto-san's been spotted!"
"Follow them," Lynn said, grabbing Bell and picking up the pace.
They wove through the alleys of the Pleasure Quarter, catching glimpses of Mikoto and the Ishtar Familia members. Just as they rounded a corner, a syrupy, sweet voice called out from behind them.
"Oh my, isn't this the rising star adventurer who made such a splash in Apollo's War Game?"
Lynn and Bell froze and turned around.
A provocatively dressed, enchanting elven woman stood there, accompanied by several similarly dressed Amazonians, all smiling at them. The elf's gaze was bold and heated, unabashedly roving over Lynn. Her look was so intense it felt like she was trying to strip him bare with her eyes, making Bell's face turn red once again.
"This young man is quite handsome. Much easier on the eyes than those crude adventurers."
Another Amazonian stepped forward, reaching out with a hand tipped in bright red nails, aiming for Bell's face.
Terrified, Bell shrunk back, hiding directly behind Lynn. Growing up, he'd had little contact with women other than Hestia and Mikoto, let alone such bold and unrestrained Amazonians.
Lynn frowned slightly. It wasn't that he disliked beautiful women. He just didn't care for those who wore their "desire" so overtly on their sleeves; to him, someone like Fia was much more his speed.
"Sorry, we're in a hurry."
Lynn's voice was calm, carrying an unquestionable tone.
However, the women who frequented the Pleasure Quarter weren't easily brushed off. Seeing that Lynn was cold but exceptionally handsome, combined with Bell's pure and shy demeanor, their "hunting instinct" was only further ignited.
"What's the rush, handsome? In this place, what could be more important than having a good time?"
The woman giggled, reaching out to hook her arm through Lynn's.
Lynn's eyes sharpened, and he ducked to the side. Grabbing Bell's hand, he said sternly, "Let's go!"
Without looking back, he pulled Bell along and activated the Bloodhound's Step. His form turned into a blur, rushing toward the direction where Mikoto had vanished.
"Hey, don't leave!"
"Stay and play a while longer, handsome!"
"After them! Don't let them get away!"
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Danmachi: My Primary God is Hidetaka Miyazaki? (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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