"This is about a friend of mine."
Seeing Riveria's expression grow increasingly strange, Eiji immediately added with a serious look.
"Then why are you being so hesitant?"
"I'm just a bit embarrassed, you know? A manly man like me would never normally talk about something like cross-dressing!"
Riveria gave him a weird look.
He looked so earnest, and it didn't seem like he was lying.
"I've never tried dressing a man as a woman, but I imagine it depends a lot on body type. What's your friend's build?"
"About the same as mine."
"Hmm, that might be tricky. Your frame is slightly broader, and while you're not particularly muscular, it's not ideal for cross-dressing... I can ask someone to take a look for you."
"Alright, that works."
Eiji pondered for a moment, then put on a determined expression.
"These days, there aren't many people like me who would go to such lengths for a friend!"
Riveria rolled her eyes.
"In that case, come to my room this afternoon."
"Sure."
At noon.
Eiji sneaked into Riveria's room.
"?"
A female familia member passing by couldn't help but widen her eyes at the sight.
"Has even Riveria fallen for him?"
Two minutes later.
"Thanks, Riveria."
"No problem. Tell your friend this isn't a good hobby."
Eiji walked out of Riveria's room carrying a small bag.
No cross-dressing, but he did get a set of equipment.
Eiji left the spire.
Then, Riveria emerged from her room.
She lifted the hem of her robe and quietly followed Eiji.
She didn't quite believe his story.
Whether it was for himself or his friend, she decided to find out secretly. It was for Ais's sake, after all.
From Riveria's perspective.
Eiji hesitated on the spiral staircase, glancing around as if checking for anyone watching, then headed toward the left aerial corridor.
"Not going back to his room?"
Riveria was starting to believe him.
It might really be for his friend. If it were for himself, he would have taken the stuff back to his room, not wandered around outside.
"Raul's room?"
Eiji walked to Raul Nord's room and, under Riveria's watchful gaze, knocked on the door.
Raul soon came out and welcomed Eiji inside with a smile.
Two minutes later.
Eiji walked out empty-handed, chatting and laughing with Raul like they were the best of friends.
Then Raul saw Eiji off.
"Is it Raul?!"
Riveria was shocked.
Well, well, who would have thought!
Raul, you look so honest and upright, but secretly you have such interests?
"Sigh, I'll have to discuss the successor issue with Finn again."
Riveria sighed deeply, then turned and left.
Just as she had chosen Lefiya as her successor, Finn had chosen Raul as his. If anything happened, Raul would be the next familia captain.
But now, there was a bigger problem.
Raul was no longer suitable to be the successor.
"Owooo—!!"
From the direction of the courtyard came another mournful howl, making Riveria frown in displeasure.
In the courtyard.
Ais looked confused.
Didn't Eiji say that if she told Bete "it's no big deal," he would be really happy?
Why was he howling so miserably?
Like a cuckoo crying blood.
Do wolfmen always howl like this when they're happy?
"Don't worry about it."
Ais comforted Bete again.
"Waaaaah! I'm going to kill that bastard!"
Bete was utterly devastated.
***
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
That morning, Eiji changed into his combat outfit, equipped his armour and weapons, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and joined the others at the familia's entrance.
A group of over thirty people quickly gathered.
Tiona, Ais, Bete, Raul, Lefiya, and Line—all familiar faces—were part of the group. This was the expedition team.
"Let's move out."
Finn, holding two extraordinary-looking spears, gave the order after confirming everyone was ready.
"Ooooh!"
The group responded enthusiastically.
Eiji followed the crowd.
They were currently on the main street of North Avenue, heading toward the white tower at the center of Orario. The expedition began today.
In the crowd, Bete shot Eiji a murderous glare.
Over the past two days, despite his efforts to explain, many in the familia still doubted whether he was "functional." Especially Ais, who comforted him every time she saw him, completely misunderstanding the situation. It made him furious.
He wanted to teach Eiji a lesson every day, but he could never find him, leaving his anger with no outlet.
Tiona naturally moved from the front of the line to the back, approaching Eiji with a bright smile and giving Bete a warning look.
"Hmph!"
Bete snorted.
With the expedition about to begin, it wasn't the time for infighting.
But once the expedition is over, you're going to pay!
"It's the Loki Familia! Are they going on another expedition?"
"So impressive. I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to join such a familia."
"Is that the strongest rookie?"
"They say he reached Level 2 in twenty days. Is that true?"
"Hard to believe, but it's information released by the Guild, so it should be reliable…"
Along the way, countless onlookers voiced their admiration.
Most of the attention was focused on Ais and the other first-class adventurers, but nearly half of the gazes were on Eiji. Most of them were adventurers, their eyes filled with skepticism.
News about Eiji had spread throughout Orario, and many familias were now aware of him.
However, he would be deep in the Dungeon for the next half month, so he wouldn't get to witness the city-wide discussion about him.
What a shame.
"Everyone, listen up. When we enter the Dungeon, we'll split into two teams. I'll lead one team with Riveria, and Gareth will lead the other. We'll take different routes and meet up on the 18th floor, then push straight to the 50th. Understood?"
"Understood!"
"Good. Gareth, Tiona, the second team is yours."
Finn gave instructions to the leaders of the second team, then entered the Dungeon with the first team, which included Riveria, Ais, and others.
Eiji was in the second team. Because of him, Tiona had volunteered to stay behind.
Eiji tilted his head slightly.
He could feel an intense gaze coming from the top of the Tower of Babel.
Thinking of Freya's alluring figure, Eiji couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
"I'll deal with it when I get back."
Eiji thought to himself.
Women are nothing compared to getting stronger!
***
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