This was an invisible battle.
Though no smoke rose from the battlefield, it was no less perilous. A single misstep could lead to utter captivation, making escape impossible.
A mortal and a goddess exerted every ounce of their power, unleashing allure capable of driving anyone to madness. Each secretly vied for dominance, striving to make the other kneel before them—neither willing to yield.
The clash lasted until dusk before finally subsiding.
In the end, Freya was slightly outmatched.
Not in charm.
But in stamina.
One bout after another drained her energy completely.
With their divine power sealed, gods were no different from ordinary mortals aside from certain passive abilities. Against Eiji, now Level 3, Freya was gradually outclassed.
In the end, she could only succumb to unwilling exhaustion, slipping into unconsciousness.
Before her vision darkened completely, she saw the boy who both infuriated and enthralled her—his face pale yet brimming with arrogance—leave behind a final declaration:
"This time, I won. We'll settle the score next time."
Then, he walked away without a care.
It's over.
Freya fully understood now.
This boy remained unaffected by her charm, while she repeatedly fell for his beauty. It meant not only that she could never recruit him into her Familia, but also that she might end up utterly at his mercy.
At this moment, her feelings toward Eiji were indescribably complex.
Love and hate intertwined—nothing more, nothing less.
"Hey, buddy. Need a stamina potion?"
Eiji staggered weakly out of the room, only to be met by a dwarf hotel owner sneaking up to him, hawking a small red vial.
"You know—for men!"
"Are you looking down on me?"
Eiji widened his eyes, looking genuinely insulted.
"How much?"
"Two thousand a pop. I've got a dozen!"
"Give me all of them!"
Though confident in his abilities, it never hurt to be prepared.
"Damn, brother! You're a legend!"
The owner peeked at the door, though the view inside was blocked. Remembering the alluring figure of the cloaked woman, he gave Eiji a thumbs-up, eyes filled with envy.
If he could sleep with a woman that stunning, he'd die happy.
Eiji humbly accepted the praise.
***
Half an hour later.
Freya awoke to an empty room, her expression darkening.
'Heartless bastard!'
Was it that hard to wait for her to wake up?!
Dragging her sore body, she freshened up, threw on her cloak, and headed for the door.
"Boss, this isn't right..."
"Shut it. You have any idea how gorgeous that woman is? One night with her, and I could die happy!"
Whispered, ill-intentioned voices drifted from outside.
At the same time, two shadowy figures crept toward the door.
Freya's eyes narrowed coldly.
That boy was one thing, but you lowlifes dare approach me?
With pent-up frustration begging for release, she decided today's victims would be—
"Eek!"
Suddenly, the owner and clerk outside shrieked and scrambled away in terror.
"?"
Freya raised an eyebrow and stepped out.
Embedded in the floor was a double-edged blade, still trembling slightly. Clearly, this was what had silently shot over and scared off the two.
An unusual weapon.
Freya plucked the blade out and traced its trajectory to the inn across the street.
Just in time to see a cloaked figure walking away.
Her mood abruptly improved, her anger dissipating.
"Shall I dispose of them?"
Without a sound—
A lean, cat-eared man clad in black combat gear appeared beside her, casting a murderous glare at the fleeing dwarf owner.
"Cleanly."
Freya gave a slight nod.
***
"Not like she needed my protection anyway..."
Walking down the street, Eiji recalled the killing intent he'd sensed before leaving.
Though he didn't know who had emitted it, there was no doubt they were far stronger than him. Even though he wasn't the target, the sheer menace had been palpable.
"More importantly... Are there any potion shops around here?"
Eiji grimaced, scanning the nearby stores.
He'd pushed himself too hard.
Never again.
Sigh!
Another day of abstinence.
Grumbling, he asked for directions, bought a few potions in South Main Street, then hurried back to the Familia.
Luckily, most members were out—Tiona included—so no one noticed anything amiss.
Next morning.
"Eiji, where were you last night? You missed the celebration!"
"Celebration?"
"Yep! After every expedition, we throw a party at the Hostess of Fertility. Last night, Bete got so drunk he cried like a baby! You have to see it next time!"
"Oh... Uh, I was in the Dungeon. Didn't know. I'll definitely go next time!"
"Geez, you're too hardworking!"
Too close!
If he'd actually agreed to Freya's demand and worked there, he'd have been the Familia's laughingstock!
Learning the truth from Tiona nearly gave Eiji a heart attack.
"Ah, Eiji. Here, you can have this back."
Raul walked over, handing him a paper bag.
"What's this?"
Tiona peeked in curiously.
Heart. Stops.
"Isn't this yours, Raul?"
Thinking fast, Eiji struck first.
"Huh? But this is—?"
Raul stared dumbfounded at the women's clothing pulled from the bag.
"You asked me to get it for you. Raul... do you have a cross-dressing hobby?"
Eiji feigned shock, as if seeing Raul in a new light.
"Seriously?"
Tiona, completely trusting Eiji, eyed Raul strangely.
"NO WAY!!"
Raul shattered, his soul crumbling.
The outfit was burned, and from then on, he never looked at Eiji the same way again.
Time passed.
For the next two days, Eiji rested.
Not just because Freya drained him—post-expedition mental recovery was crucial. Constant high-intensity battles took a toll.
After two days, he felt replenished... ahem, sufficiently rested, and began reconsidering his party lineup.
Now Level 3, he could train in the Lower Floors by adventurer standards.
Generally:
- Upper Floors: 1F–12F
- Middle Floors: 13F–24F
- Lower Floors: 25F–36F
- Deep Floors: Beyond 36F
Level 3–Level 4 adventurers typically ventured into the Lower Floors.
But even so, strong teammates were essential.
Lefiya, as a mobile artillery unit, offered immense firepower—perfect for rearguard.
However, Line's Level 2 strength might not suffice for the Lower Floors. The midguard position needed careful consideration.
***
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