// 1 more normal update and then start of alternate sched
Amou curled her lips into a faint smile.
With this layer of armor, she no longer had to worry about her clothes being torn apart. As long as her vital points were protected, the rest would be nothing but pure slaughter.
...
"Um…"
At that moment, a timid voice suddenly cut in.
"Um… I want to!"
Warabi hugged the katana she had chosen and tugged at Tsubaki's clothes with her other hand, pointing toward the large black bear behind her that was still scratching its head.
"I want to get some equipment for my Kyoubou too!"
Tsubaki looked down at the little girl who barely reached her waist, then glanced at the massive, simple-faced black bear. She rubbed her messy red hair in exasperation.
"Listen, kid…"
"This is an armory, not a pet shop."
"Who goes around making armor for bears?"
"And custom gear for something that size isn't cheap."
"But…" Warabi puffed her cheeks, looking aggrieved. "Kyoubou is scared of pain too…"
"Awuu…"
The black bear seemed to understand and cooperated immediately, letting out a pitiful cry before rolling onto the ground as if to prove just how fragile it was.
Tsubaki: "..."
The corner of her mouth twitched.
Watching the shameless act from the girl and the bear, she let out a helpless sigh.
"Alright, alright. You win."
She waved at a few Familia members who were moving goods nearby.
"Go bring out that dusty thing from the corner of the warehouse."
A moment later, a set of somewhat rough but extremely sturdy beast armor was carried over.
It wasn't full-body coverage, but thick leather and metal plates reinforced the chest, back, and key joints of the limbs. The chest piece in particular had an extra steel plate layered over it.
"Here. Try this."
Tsubaki had them drop the armor on the ground.
The bear proved surprisingly discerning. It scrambled up, sniffed the gear, and without needing help, wriggled into it on its own.
Warabi hurried forward to fasten the straps.
"Click."
The fit was unexpectedly perfect.
With the armor on, the once somewhat goofy black bear suddenly carried the aura of a fierce war beast.
"Wow! So cool!" Warabi beamed. "Now Kyouboux is Orario's number one battle bear!"
"Don't celebrate too soon," Tsubaki said calmly, arms folded as she leaned against a shelf.
"That thing was custom-made for a beast tamer in our Familia a few years back. A certain guy treated monsters like pets and paid a fortune for it."
She paused briefly, a trace of seasoned indifference flashing in her eye.
"Armor was finished and then he never came back."
"Heard he died somewhere around the twenty-somethingth floor. They didn't even recover all the pieces of him."
"So this thing's been gathering dust for nearly two years."
"If that bear can wear it, consider it your lucky day."
Warabi's hands paused slightly while fastening the straps.
"He… he died?"
"Is that strange?" Tsubaki glanced at her. "In the Dungeon, people die as casually as eating and drinking."
"Once you enter, there's no guarantee you'll come back the next day to claim your custom gear."
"That's what you call dead man's profit."
"If it bothers you, you can take it off now."
Warabi swallowed. She glanced at the faint dark stains on the armor, her excitement cooling for a moment.
But soon she gritted her teeth.
"We're keeping it! It's free, isn't it?"
"If it belonged to a senior, then Kyoubou will inherit their luck along with it!"
"Awuu?" The bear chimed in as if in agreement.
Tsubaki gave an approving snort.
"Oh? Not bad."
At least the kid had the right mindset. In Orario, without that level of resolve, it was better to go back home and farm.
...
Meanwhile, Tsubaki's peripheral vision caught sight of a figure heading deeper into the armory.
Haimer.
He stopped before a row of long weapons, his gaze settling on a silver spear with a dark crimson spearhead.
Then he reached out and grasped it.
"Buzz!"
The spear lifted, releasing a faint hum.
Holding it one-handed, Haimer casually spun it in a smooth flourish. The movement flowed naturally, without the slightest stiffness.
"Oh?" Tsubaki raised a brow and strode over. "Lord Haimer, are you picking a weapon too?"
"You're a god, after all."
In the Lower World, gods possessed endless lifespans, but strict rules forbade them from entering the Dungeon or using divine power. Most gods were physically weak, let alone capable of wielding a weapon designed purely for killing.
Haimer planted the spear beside him and smiled.
"My title does include martial aspects."
"I can't enter the Dungeon to fight monsters."
"But my hands do get itchy from time to time."
His thumb traced the engraved patterns along the shaft.
"A war god, huh…" Tsubaki murmured thoughtfully. She didn't know the specifics of his divinity, but that spear flourish had clearly come from practice.
She didn't press further.
Turning back to the fully armed girls, who looked ready to find someone to fight immediately, she crossed her arms.
"Alright then."
"Gear's settled."
"Next comes real combat."
"What do you say, Lord Haimer?"
"These rookies are new to Orario, right?"
She tapped her own chest.
"After they register as adventurers, how about I personally take them into the Dungeon for a round?"
"I've got time."
"And I'd like to see for myself just how capable your new recruits really are."
"Plus, I can teach them some Dungeon basics."
"Think of it as an onboarding guide."
There was a bit of selfishness behind her offer. Partly to earn Haimer's goodwill. And partly because as a smith, once her weapons had found owners, she couldn't help wanting to see them tested in battle.
Haimer considered it.
It was indeed a solid proposal.
As a god, he couldn't personally lead them into the Dungeon. Having an experienced Level 5 veteran who understood the Dungeon's ecosystem would significantly improve efficiency.
And Tsubaki, as a master smith, understood weapons far better than most. She could guide the girls in bringing their new gear to its fullest potential.
Though he couldn't help wondering what expression this Level 5 veteran would wear after witnessing these Level 1 girls stirring up a bloody storm in the Dungeon.
...
"Then I'll trouble you, Miss Tsubaki," Haimer said with a nod.
"No trouble at all." Tsubaki laughed heartily and waved it off.
After a moment, Haimer asked, "By the way, where's Hestia? With this much commotion, she hasn't rushed out to join the fun?"
Given that loli goddess's personality, she should've appeared by now.
"Hestia?" Tsubaki's expression turned slightly peculiar. "She's probably still asleep in the guest room."
"Asleep?" Haimer arched a brow. "Still?"
"Look at the sun. What time is it?"
"That's because you don't know her habits yet," Tsubaki said helplessly. "Ever since she's been freeloading here, she's developed an unshakable biological clock."
"Before lunchtime, she absolutely will not open her eyes."
"Even if the sky collapses, she'll just roll over and keep sleeping."
"…Right."
Haimer remembered.
Since descending to the Lower World, Hestia had been living comfortably off the Hephaestus Familia.
"Fine."
"If she's dreaming, we won't disturb her."
He waved dismissively and decisively abandoned the deadweight.
"Let's go."
...
Orario's mornings were always bustling with energy.
By the time Haimer and his group stepped out of the Hephaestus Familia's gates, the streets were already alive with noise.
"Wow…"
Though they had glimpsed it the night before, Orario bathed in morning light still felt new.
Especially the towering Babel rising at the city's center.
Under the sun, it refracted dazzling white light, like a divine pillar connecting heaven and earth.
"That's… the Dungeon entrance?" Amou narrowed her eyes, gazing at the towering structure.
"Not yet," Haimer said. "Before that, we need to get your identities sorted."
The starting point of all adventurers,
The Orario Adventurers Guild Headquarters.
Whether a dream-chasing youth or a vicious criminal, anyone who wanted to legally enter the Dungeon and earn money had to register there first.
That was the power of the system.
Even in a world of swords and magic, bureaucratic procedures were unavoidable, after all, it was the only way to manage Orario's adventurers.
...
Thus, Orario Adventurers Guild Headquarters.
The Pantheon.
The registration process itself was uneventful, it's just forms and paperwork.
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