Orario, Leon's home.
"Rose, I'll leave the house to all of you."
Jeanne patted the bulging pack at her feet and instructed Rose:
"I'm taking Kureha over to Miss Tsubaki's to offload some of the loot Leon brought back. Given her integrity, I don't think she'll dig into where these things came from, even if some of the materials are a bit eye-catching."
"No problem."
Rose smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Then let's just take today off, shall we? Laurier, Aura, what do you think?"
"Yes yes yes! Whatever Big Sis Rose says!"
Laurier immediately perked up.
But her little face then crumpled as she rubbed her eyes in frustration.
"Ugh, if I'd known we weren't going to the Dungeon today, I wouldn't have gotten up so early!"
Beside her, Aura rolled her eyes, then turned to see Jeanne and Kureha off.
"Big Sis Jeanne, please be careful. After what happened yesterday…"
Jeanne smiled and patted Aura's head gently.
"Don't worry. Everyone's nerves are on edge right now. The patrol density on the main streets is probably the highest it's been in a while. Even if Evilus wanted to make a move, they wouldn't pick this moment to cause trouble."
With that, Jeanne nodded to Kureha.
"Let's go!"
Kureha hefted her own bundle and answered, "Alright."
…
Compared to Leon's companions, who were entirely unaffected by Evilus's attack and continued going about their daily routines at their own pace, the Order Faction on the other side had long since been left as jumpy as startled birds.
Ganesha Familia headquarters.
"Keep your eyes wide open!"
Shakti Varma stood at the front of the military police formation, legs planted, barking out orders:
"Remember, from today on, if you encounter any suspicious person on patrol, don't bother questioning them. Take them down on the spot! Is that understood!"
"Yes, Captain!"
"Dismissed!"
Watching her members vanish down the streets in squads, a flicker of worry crossed Shakti's face.
"Sister…"
Adi spoke up quietly beside her.
"For you to issue such a harsh order, isn't it a little…"
Shakti glanced at her younger sister, her tone flat.
"Think I'm resorting to any means necessary? Or that I'm being cruel, ruthless?"
Without waiting for Adi to answer, she went on:
"Adi, Orario is storm-tossed right now, and our Order Alliance has just suffered a crushing defeat at Evilus's hands. Every street and alley in the city is filled with negative talk about us. When public sentiment is this volatile and the situation is on the verge of spiraling out of control, if our military police keeps trying to maintain order with gentle methods, it'll only make Evilus and all those thugs and drifters who think they see an opportunity believe we're weak and easy to push around. So-so at best."
"Which will only embolden them further, make them even more lawless."
"Is that a result you can accept?"
Adi fell silent.
She understood the logic, really. But compared to her more decisive older sister, there was still a sliver of idealistic naivety in her heart.
Just as the Ganesha Familia mobilized in full, fanning out across every corner of the city for thorough patrols and searches, Ryuu and the other members of the Astraea Familia, following behind Alise with heavy dark circles under their eyes, were also starting their own patrol.
"Yesterday's incident seems to have hit our noble elven maiden pretty hard."
Kaguya's small feet, wrapped in white tabi and resting in wooden sandals, tapped along. Her slim hand rested on the hilt of her blade, and the corner of her mouth curled into a wicked, serpent-like smile.
Walking beside her, Lyra's mouth twitched and she pressed a hand to her forehead with a sigh.
Here they go again, she grumbled inwardly.
As Kaguya's words landed, Ryuu's sharp glare snapped over.
"What exactly are you trying to say, Kaguya!"
"See, there she goes getting worked up."
Kaguya folded her arms at her leisure, her wicked smile deepening.
"Our noble elf maiden, as innocent as a blank sheet of paper. If you keep being this way, without the slightest growth…"
She deliberately drew the words out, eyes glinting with mischief:
"I'd say you might as well head back to the base now and dive into Lady Astraea's arms for comfort. As long as you hide in the goddess's radiance, all that dark filth will naturally stay far away from you, and you won't have to be so wronged and bawl your eyes out like yesterday. How about it, Ryuu?"
"Kaguya…!!!!!!"
Ryuu, with Kaguya stomping precisely on her sore spot, flushed crimson. Alise shot between them in one step, hands raised as if to hold them apart.
"Alright, alright, knock it off! Knock it off!"
She flashed her signature bright grin, trying to disperse the gunpowder in the air.
"We're on patrol. Work first, right? Whatever you want to argue about, we can pick it back up once we're home? Let's not give anyone a show to laugh at. If rumors of our infighting reach Evilus's ears, they'll mock us with it for a whole year! I don't think that's the kind of outcome either of you wants, right, Kaguya, Ryuu?"
"Hmph!" "Hmph!"
The other members trailing the four exchanged glances, finally unable to hold it in any longer, and covered their mouths as they snickered.
"Neze, Ryana, you, you two…"
Ryuu whirled around, her finger trembling as she pointed at the group cracking up, her voice cracking with frustration.
"Hehehe, can't help it. Ryuu, you're just too cute when you're mad!"
Neze's eyes crinkled with laughter.
"Oh my, you really did bawl yesterday? Ryuu, you… hahahahaha!"
Ryana piled on mercilessly.
"Aaaaaah! Stop talking about it…!!!"
The noble elven maiden's composure shattered completely.
Who knew how long this little weak spot of hers, her crying fit, would be used as fodder by her Astraea Familia companions to tease her.
Perhaps… this, too, counted as a kind of "justice" trial uniquely her own?
…
Dungeon, middle floors, Floor 17.
Leon once again set foot on this special floor that never failed to amaze him.
"Oho, so this is what the Wall of Grief looks like during its cooldown? When the floor boss isn't being brewed up, it's just a strangely smooth stone wall with none of that overwhelming presence from before."
"Still… last time, all my attention was on the fight. Standing here alone now, it gives off a completely different feel."
After taking in this wonder of the Dungeon for a while, Leon set off again, crossed the massive hall, and entered the passage that led down to the Under Resort on Floor 18.
…
With a soft click, Leon opened his pocket watch and glanced at the time.
"Noon already? Lost some time on the way running combat tests. I left the house at four, officially entered the Dungeon at four-thirty. And it's already past twelve by the time I got to Floor 18."
He snapped the lid shut.
"Tsk. Even at Lv. 2, traveling light and solo, the trip still ate up most of the day. A same-day round trip? Just the travel alone would take a whole day. Efficiency is way too low."
He looked up at the vaulted dome made of enormous crystals, radiating their eternal "sunlight," and let out a sigh.
"No wonder the upper-class Adventurers who work the 18 to 24 middle floors usually spend a night at the Under Resort and don't head back to the surface until the next day. Looks like I've officially stepped into veteran Adventurer territory."
With that, his expression shifted. He spared no more glances for the sights of Floor 18 and made straight for the Great Tree Labyrinth on Floor 19.
The vast jungle labyrinth of Floors 18 to 24 had a high monster density and fast respawn rate, a perfect match for Leon's demand for efficient grinding. On top of that, the wide terrain meant sparse Adventurer traffic, dramatically lowering the chance of running into colleagues. He could cut loose and go all out.
And with the Great Tree Labyrinth being a prime source of recovery-type materials, it was a double harvest of Valis and Excelia. A tailor-made perfect training ground.
At the very moment Leon's figure melted into the passage to Floor 19, deep in the dim jungle on the south side of Floor 18, a group of figures in black hooded cloaks and face masks was silently assembling.
The leader's cold voice cut through the silence of the forest:
"Our target this time is every Adventurer currently alive in Rivira. Understood?"
"Understood!"
The hushed responses came back in perfect unison.
"Very good!"
"Grant them death and salvation!"
The leader's voice carried a trace of cruel satisfaction.
"Grant them death and salvation!"
"Grant them death and salvation!"
"Grant them death and salvation!"
The low, fervent chant echoed through the shadows, like an ominous prayer.
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