Capítulo 84: Chapter 84 – Busy Aston
Aston had an exceptionally busy day.
Originally, Aston planned to form a magic corps with ten elves. But Hestia recruited more than a dozen extra members. With these additional elven members, Aston had to prepare equipment for them too, as it wouldn't be fair otherwise. Moreover, these new members were meant to be close-combat types, as the magic corps could only inherit skills to ten members. The remaining seventeen couldn't inherit magic and had to be close-combat adventurers.
Close-combat adventurers required more than just weapons; they also needed defensive gear, making the task much more extensive than yesterday's magic wand forging.
After signing all the new members onto the Faction Card and giving a brief motivational speech, Aston immediately left the Hestia Familia's new residence and headed to the Hephaestus Familia's forge.
He got a large amount of materials from Hephaestus again. This time, Aston made a deal with Hephaestus: when Tsubaki was free, she would come to learn new forging skills and knowledge under his guidance, similar to the arrangement with Naaza.
Working tirelessly in the forge, Aston managed to complete the required equipment for the new members by around 4 pm. He then politely declined Hephaestus' invitation for further technical exchange and returned to the Hestia Familia residence.
Upon returning, Aston didn't rest but plunged into the task of enchanting. Thanks to his powerful enchantment skills, even without magic stones, Aston managed to complete the magic wands, distributing them to the magic corps members and earning their admiration. He continued enchanting the equipment for the close-combat members, a task that took him another five hours.
Despite the less-than-ideal materials, Aston's superior forging and enchanting skills enhanced all the equipment to the second tier. Consequently, all the mature herbs in his magic garden and the leftover ore materials were used up, temporarily halting his potion-making, forging, and enchanting activities until he could acquire new materials.
However, even if he had the materials, Aston no longer had the time.
After distributing the equipment to the close-combat members and receiving another wave of admiration, Aston left the residence and hurried to his next appointment. He had arranged with Fels the night before to visit the dungeon today and meet with the Xenos.
When Aston arrived, Fels was already waiting.
"Sorry for being late," Aston apologized upon arriving.
"No problem, let's go. I'll take you to meet Lyd and the others now," Fels responded calmly and then turned to lead the way. Aston quickly followed.
Even late at night, there were still people guarding the entrance of Babel Tower, particularly members of the Ganesha Familia. Aston and Fels entered the dungeon openly and descended the spiral stairs.
As soon as they entered the dungeon, Aston applied a wind magic buff to Fels.
"What a convenient magic," Fels commented, feeling the ease throughout his body.
"Thank you for the compliment," Aston politely replied.
Then, they both sped up, moving towards the lower level. Despite Fels being a magician, he was a level 4 magician, and although his speed couldn't compare to first-class adventurers, it wasn't far behind.
This mysterious individual has maximized the art of magic, possessing means to assist in acceleration. Even with all their effort, they can barely keep up with Aston. Of course, Aston is holding back. If it weren't for the need for Fels to lead the way, Aston would have already been far ahead.
In half an hour, Aston and Fels successfully arrive at the 19th floor. Led by Fels, Aston reaches a large tree. Aston checks his system map and notes that this tree marks the entrance to an unexplored area of the 19th floor.
"Follow me closely," Fels says after breaking a crystal on the tree to reveal an entrance. He steps in, calling back to Aston before disappearing into the cave. Aston quickly follows.
Meanwhile, deep in the unexplored territory, a group of Xenos, intelligent monsters, gathers near a pond. In the pond is Mermaid Marie, whom Aston met previously in the City of Water. Marie had traveled to the 19th floor via the complex river system of the dungeon, a journey that took two days.
"You mean someone noticed you in the City of Water?" Lyd asks, stroking his chin.
"Is it those who are hunting us?" Songbird Lyd asks worriedly. They have lost several companions recently and discovered they're being targeted. Their lair is hidden, or else they would be completely exposed to the hunters.
This situation is problematic as their strength, despite being considerable, might not be enough against the surface adventurers. Complete exposure could attract more adventurers and even lead to a siege. Even with the support of Ouranos and Fels, it wouldn't be enough.
"Didn't Fels say he'd bring a friendly adventurer here? Could it be the same person?" Ray wonders, considering the possibility that the adventurer who noticed Marie but didn't harm her might be the one Fels mentioned.
"If that's the case, it's indeed possible," Lyd agrees, pondering.
"Whatever the case, we must be cautious. Fels should be arriving soon. Let's head to the meeting point," Gros suggests.
Agreeing, they prepare to leave. Marie, however, resurfaces in the pond.
"Lyd, Gros, Ray, I forgot to mention," Marie says, "That adventurer who noticed me made me feel a strange kinship, an unconscious desire to get closer to him." After sharing this, she dives back into the water, leaving Lyd and the others to contemplate her words.
"A sense of kinship and a desire to get closer?"
***
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