Half an hour later.
At the intersection of North Street and West Street.
In a high-end residential area that was quiet amidst the bustle.
Inside a three-story stone-built residence with its own private courtyard.
"Click."
Lord Haimo tossed the keys in his hand and looked up at the central courtyard.
Though the grey-white exterior walls showed some signs of age, they had clearly been meticulously repaired; far from looking dilapidated, they exuded a sense of steady quality.
Through the black iron railings.
Lord Haimo could even see an old laurel tree planted in the yard, its lush foliage casting a cool shade.
The location was excellent.
It was not right next to the noisy main roads, yet only a few steps away from the bustling commercial district.
In a place like Orario where land was at a premium, this kind of house could be called a rare resource among rare resources.
After all.
The slightly better plots of land had long since been carved up by the major Familias.
The best locations were all the private domains of major Familias like the Loki Familia and Freya Familia; outsiders couldn't even dream of them.
The slightly lesser ones had also long been occupied by mid-sized Familias with deep roots who had come to the Lower World in the early years.
This was the class system.
In Orario, property was not just a residence, but a symbol of a Familia's strength.
For a new god like Lord Haimo who had just recently descended to the Lower World.
Under normal circumstances.
Being able to find a place like his previous two-story building would already be considered incredibly lucky.
But now.
This house, which would absolutely be fought over on the market, had fallen into Heimdall's hands just like that.
He didn't even need to say a single word throughout the entire process.
All it took was Shakti showing an identification plate.
"This is the taste of power..."
After all.
This was the Ganesha Familia.
A colossus with an S-rank evaluation, entrusted by the Guild to maintain the public order of the entire city of Orario!
Just their massive headquarters located in the southwestern part of Orario—"I am Ganesha"!
The annual maintenance, cleaning, and repair costs for that giant statue of Ganesha added up to a dizzying astronomical figure.
For such a colossus.
Heimdall felt perfectly justified spending its money.
Without any psychological burden.
After all, this fat sheep had taken the initiative to come to his door and ask to be slaughtered, even washing its neck and stretching it out.
To be polite any further would be to let down the other party's kindness.
Even for a god.
In this world.
Wanting to live decently and having a place of one's own was of paramount importance.
A so-called home.
For a wanderer, it is the only anchor point in this chaotic world where one can feel grounded.
Humans have used fire since the cave-dwelling era; the campfire lit at the entrance of a cave, that small circle of warm light, enclosed not only a sense of security but also the prototype of a home.
It's the same for gods.
Since descending to the lower world and shedding the mantle of omniscience and omnipotence, even if their divine might remains, a sense of drifting will follow them like a shadow.
Only when holding that heavy key in hand, knowing that in this vast and noisy city, there is a lamp lit for oneself and a tree that belongs to one's own scenery.
Only then will that feeling truly dissipate.
...
"Speaking of which, I suddenly feel that having Captain Shakti by my side really provides a full sense of security."
"I imagine the residents of Orario must think the same upon seeing Captain Shakti."
One who eats another's food must be soft-spoken; one who takes another's gifts must be lenient.
Heimdall's attitude clearly became less rigid.
Shakti bowed slightly, still maintaining her etiquette.
"It is my honor to resolve Lord Haimo's worries."
The answer was impeccable.
"Alright, let's stop with the formalities."
Seeing this, Heimdall waved his hand.
He didn't expect to hear any interesting response from such a wooden beauty.
"With a benefactor like you paying the bill, I should enjoy the fun of shopping."
"I saw just now that this house with a yard is empty, without even a chair."
"Now that we have a new house, the next step is to go buy some furniture and such."
"I can't let my children go back and sleep on the floor."
"Captain Shakti, let's go together."
Having said that.
Heimdall turned around, took a step, and turned his head to signal.
"Yes."
After Shakti responded, she immediately followed.
...
A moment later.
The streets of Orario were still noisy.
But at this moment.
This noise formed a strange vacuum around Heimdall.
The two still maintained that distance of exactly five steps, neither too far nor too close.
Heimdall walked in front, holding a spear, strolling leisurely.
Shakti followed behind, fully armed, with a cold and solemn expression.
The originally crowded crowd ahead.
Upon seeing Shakti's iconic Ganesha Familia captain uniform, they instantly scattered to both sides like a school of startled fish, automatically making way for a wide path.
No one dared to block the way.
Now Heimdall quite enjoyed this.
After all, it saved the trouble of squeezing through.
As for Shakti, who followed behind.
She had been staring closely at Heimdall's back.
"lord of war..."
"war calamity..."
Shakti silently recited these titles of Heimdall in the heavens.
Source of Chaos.
Maker of Strife.
Father of All Weapons.
What kind of story is hidden behind these unsettling titles?
What exactly did Heimdall do in the heavens?
Why is it that just by descending to the lower world, even before starting any real activities.
Just by obtaining weapons, he could make Lord Ganesha so wary as if facing a formidable enemy?
This was one point Shakti was curious about.
Just like the instinct engraved in the bones of all intelligent beings.
When a person stands on the edge of a canyon.
Even knowing they might fall, they can't help but want to peek at the scenery at the bottom.
Even if her reason told her she should maintain a sense of awe and view the other party as a source of danger.
But the more dangerous and mysterious he was, the stronger the desire to find out became.
...
Meanwhile.
Dungeon, 10th Floor.
A thin mist drifted here, and the haziness of the light made one feel as if they were in the morning mist.
Vision was limited.
The air was damp.
There was also a heavy sound of footsteps nearby.
"Thump, thump, thump."
The ground was vibrating.
From the gray mist, a huge figure emerged.
Standing over three meters tall, with muscles knotted like rocks, skin a sickly grayish-brown, and only a tattered animal hide wrapped around its waist.
On that massive pig head, two tusks turned outward, and its eyes flashed with a cruel, murderous light.
—Pigman.
The representative monster of the 10th to 12th floors.
Known for their thick skin, tough flesh, and immense monstrous strength, they were simply an insurmountable wall of meat for a Lv. 1 party lacking heavy firepower.
"Roar—!!!"
The Pigman let out a deafening roar, waving the thick leg-bone club in its hand, and charged over like an out-of-control chariot.
The momentum was terrifying.
However.
The next second.
"Crack!"
Red and white splattered.
The Pigman's massive head exploded directly from the back, turning into a puddle of mush.
The headless corpse swayed twice.
Then it crashed down.
"Boom."
The corpse turned into black ash and dissipated.
Leaving behind a medium-purity magic stone and that pair of broken tusks.
"So dirty."
Kirukiru Amou disgustedly shook off the foul blood staining her hands.
Before it was tearing Goblins and Killer Ants by hand.
This time it was a Pigman.
"Truly a monster..."
Tsubaki clicked her tongue inwardly.
And.
Not just Kirukiru Amou.
The performance of the others was also very strong.
"Swish!"
"Squelch!"
Rin severed a Pigman's spine with one sword strike.
The Rapier in Kikakujuo Mary's hand pierced through another Pigman's eye socket, going straight through to the brain.
-------------------------------
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