Calixia—commander of the Hera Familia.
Her title: The Empress.
(Note: This name is original. The Empress's real name was never mentioned in the canon.)
A human, and the only adventurer in the world who had ever reached Level 9.
She had once accepted a challenge from the famed warrior Ottar—
—and crushed the boar-headed juggernaut with a single blow.
She also once sparred with her Familia's genius, the sixteen-year-old Alfia.
But if Calixia had gone all out in that match… even Alfia wouldn't have stood a chance.
Fifteen years ago—
Calixia led the Hera Familia in a joint expedition with the Zeus Familia.
They reached the 71st Floor of the Dungeon—
—and met their end at the hands of the Black Dragon.
In their final moments—
In order to ensure Alfia could escape,
Calixia and the remaining top executives fought the Black Dragon to the death.
They succeeded—
At the cost of their lives.
Thus fell the legendary Empress—
drenched in blood, yet unbowed.
Her death was as noble and tragic as Alise Lovell's, who once gave her life for Ryuu.
No one wanted to slay the Black Dragon more than Alfia.
It had become her obsession.
But fate was cruel.
She was heavily wounded, burdened with an incurable disease, and forced into a slow recovery.
And during that time—
The Hera Familia, having lost its core strength, was driven out of Orario
by their long-standing enemies—the Loki and Freyja Familias.
Eventually, Hera's Familia collapsed.
Alfia's health continued to deteriorate.
She realized—
She could never again stand against that monstrous dragon.
Seven years ago—
Alfia made a final choice.
Becoming the Witch, she left a final message to the Astraea Familia:
"Become heroes… and don't forget me."
In the end—
She sacrificed herself,
granting her comrades an enormous boost of experience and fame.
—
After downing a top-tier MP potion,
Raven Eltharion, whose face had turned deathly pale, finally recovered.
This woman…
She was terrifying.
Rebuilding her body had consumed three-fourths of his stamina, mana, and mental power.
One thing was clear:
The stronger the undead he summoned—
The heavier the price.
If "Silence" Alfia was the world's strongest mage…
Then this Empress—
Was the world's strongest woman. Period.
"You okay?" asked Celty, supporting him gently.
"I'll live… I've got potions."
Raven breathed heavily, staring at the woman before him.
His first impression?
Graceful. Regal. Untouchable.
Perhaps it was the effect of divine blessing, but despite being a Lv.9 warrior, she looked barely 28.
Maybe even younger.
Just like Riveria, who looked youthful but was nearly a century old.
Calixia stood over 180 cm tall, radiating imperial elegance.
A woman like her…
Was powerful in every way—presence, aura, beauty, ability.
Raven scanned her from head to toe:
Flawless features, piercing phoenix-like eyes, smooth skin, shapely figure, and—
—legs that wouldn't lose to a goddess.
Sky-blue hair cascaded past her waist, shimmering in the dim glow of the Dungeon.
Her narrow waist, her full curves, her timeless face—
A masterpiece of mature beauty.
"Calixia…" Alfia smiled faintly. "I can't believe it."
"You're really here…"
Raven exhaled deeply, still shaken.
He had made a decision.
He would keep the Lv.9 Empress and the Lv.8 Silence by his side at all times.
He wasn't a mage or a smith.
As a summoner—
He needed the strongest guardians.
—
When the Astraea Familia heard the identity of the woman Raven summoned,
They were speechless.
A Lv.9 adventurer—
A living legend.
Even Alise, Kaguya, and Laila recognized the name.
"I never thought…" Alise gasped, "I'd see the Empress in person."
"This is insane."
"This is what a Lv.9 looks like?" Laila muttered, wide-eyed.
Even Kaguya, usually cool-headed, froze.
Because—
Calixia was too beautiful.
Even among elves and goddesses, she would shine.
Raven finally shook off the daze and didn't activate her just yet.
Now—
It was time for a bath.
And the more, the merrier.
With his body now Lv.3 and mostly recovered, Raven cast another summoning spell.
"——O supreme dark god of the underworld…"
Alfia raised an eyebrow. "You can still summon?"
This time, the drain was much lighter.
From the circle rose—
A pale-skinned girl with gray-blue hair.
The Astraea girls froze.
"Is that… Aude?" Alise whispered.
Aude Pharma, the "Ivory Poet," of the Ganesha Familia.
Age 15. Cheerful, full of justice.
Level 3 in life—
But Raven's buff could raise her to Level 5.
She had often worked alongside Astraea members, patrolling the city.
Seven years ago—
She died trying to comfort a child…
Only for the "child" to trigger a hidden bomb.
The memory haunted Ryuu ever since.
"Lord Raven," Noin whispered. "Can you restore her?"
"Give me a second." Raven popped another potion. "I can summon more."
"You're still going?" Alfia blinked.
Indeed—
Aude was much easier than Calixia to summon.
And so—
He began chanting again.
"——O supreme dark god of the underworld…"
A new girl emerged from the circle.
And this time, Alfia gasped.
"…Sister?"
Metelia.
Alfia's twin. A member of Hera Familia.
Lv.1. Human. Gentle and beloved by all.
No talent, no combat ability.
But full of warmth and kindness.
Even Hera had once tried to extend her life.
Alfia loved her more than anyone.
And in the canon—
Metelia gave birth to Bell Cranel, then died of illness.
Raven blinked.
"No way…"
"I just summoned Bell's mom."
"She's beautiful…"
Three summoned now.
And Raven still wasn't satisfied.
"——O supreme dark god of the underworld…"
This time, two girls rose from the circle.
Alise gasped. "…Lethesa? Lanti!?"
Kaguya stiffened. "Artemis Familia…?"
Lethesa, human, red-haired, age 25. Captain.
Lanti, half-elf, age 15. A Lv.2 scout.
Their Familia wasn't summoned—likely too weak.
But Raven didn't mind.
He could strengthen them.
Seven years ago, during the Seven-Day War, the Artemis Familia marched five days to help Orario.
They fought alongside Astraea.
Now—
Raven narrowed his eyes.
If he could summon them…
Then the Artemis Familia had likely just fallen.
The killer?
Scorpio Andaris—a divine assassin.
He had annihilated their Familia in the distant Great Tree Sea.
In canon, it took Bell ten days on dragonback to even reach it.
So their deaths were very recent.
In about a month—
Hermes would send someone to investigate.
"Looks like I'll have to level up fast," Raven muttered.
But that could wait.
Right now—
Hot springs.
He unlocked the mental seals of the five new women.
"This is…?" Calixia looked around. "Metelia?"
"…Alfia?" Aude blinked, stunned.
"…Sister?" Metelia whispered.
"I'm here," Alfia said, embracing her twin tightly.
"Am I reborn?" Lethesa murmured.
Raven smiled softly as they reunited.
Then introduced himself:
"I'm Raven Eltharion."
"You're all here because of my Summoning Magic."
"I brought you back…"
He paused—
"…so we could bathe together."
—
Moments later—
Raven relaxed in the hot spring, surrounded by sixteen women.
He leaned against a warm rock.
Silence on his right.
The Empress on his left.
Metelia resting against his chest.
All of them—
Beautiful, powerful, serene.
The Astraea girls, Aude, Lethesa, Lanti—chatting happily nearby.
"I never thought I'd walk again…" Calixia murmured. "Thank you, Raven."
After hearing his explanation, they understood everything.
Still holding two women close, Raven whispered:
"We're family now."
"It makes me happy—seeing you together again."
"…Metelia, how's your body feel?"
She smiled. "Perfect."
"Your magic is… stronger than my sister's."
"…That, I admit," Alfia said softly.
—
After about twenty minutes, Raven finally stood up to dress.
Everyone had bathed openly—
If the world saw this…
No one would believe it.
In the Dungeon—
Adventurers were always on the brink of death.
But Raven?
He bathed with legendary heroines.
Because he was the protagonist of his own story.
And this… was how a Dungeon expedition should be.
Let others do the fighting.
Raven Eltharion… had his own priorities.
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