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11.88% Looking Forward to Another World / Chapter 41: Expedition?

章節 41: Expedition?

"Welcome."

As Riezel strolled through the door, Finn, engaged in a conversation with Riveria and Gareth, turned his head and greeted him.

The other two also simultaneously turned their heads, focusing their gaze on his body. Their eyes held a look one gives upon finding treasure—filled with satisfaction and contentment.

"Captain, Lady Riveria, Mr. Gareth."

Riezel greeted each of the three top executives of the familia one by one. His attitude wasn't overly respectful, but he maintained a proper amount of courtesy.

"Don't be too formal, just relax, okay? Just call my name directly."

Riveria, breaking from her usual seriousness and strict demeanor, smiled at him.

"Don't be nervous, kid. We old folks just want to have a chat with you, not to scold you. Regarding you going out on your own to take on the floor boss of the 17th Floor, Loki will be the one who will talk about it with you later. We're not playing the bad guys this time."

Gareth spoke with a smirk while stroking his beard, making Riezel feel a bit awkward.

Naturally, he wouldn't tell Gareth that Loki had already scolded him. After all, he hadn't informed anyone about his plan of soloing the floor boss. Even Lefiya had some complaints about it.

If he hadn't succeeded and leveled up, which diverted some of Loki and Lefiya's attention, he might still be getting scolded by those two.

Surprisingly, Ais seemed to be deep in thought since he successfully defeated the floor boss. She had been wearing a thoughtful expression all morning, making him somewhat worried that the doll princess might be influenced by him, leading to some reckless and dangerous actions.

In this situation, Gareth's teasing made him feel a bit uneasy.

"It's really a mess..." Riveria toned down her smile a bit, indicating that she didn't entirely approve of his risky actions.

"How's it going? Have you adapted to your new strength?" Finn asked with a smile.

Only Finn, who looked at Riezel, a super rookie who jumped from Level 1 to Level 4 in just over a month, spoke with a smile akin to a friendly brother, which relieved Riezel a bit. 

"It's getting there..." Riezel replied truthfully. "With a couple more real battles in the dungeon, I should fully adapt."

"That's good." Finn nodded. "The main reason we called you here this time is to check on your progress and prepare for the upcoming expedition."

"Expedition?" Riezel was surprised at first, but soon, his eyes lit up.

"That's right, an expedition." Finn, seeing Riezel's expression, was somewhat helpless but also understanding. "It's been over a month since our last expedition. It's time for our familia to venture into the dungeon again."

As one of the exploration-type familia in Orario, Loki Familia had always been at the forefront of dungeon exploration.

Just as adventurers explored dungeons as their main job, it was inevitable for big familias to launch expeditions into the dungeon.

However, for familia like Loki Familia, which needed to venture to the depths below the 50th Floor each time, the preparations alone took a lot of effort.

Not to mention the resources required during expeditions, which often involved spending a considerable amount of time preparing. Food and water were secondary, as they could be obtained in the dungeon. The main preparations usually involved weapons, equipment, medicine, and special items to deal with various situations.

Therefore, big familias generally embarked on an expedition every 1 to 2 months.

Now, it was the time.

Finn, Riveria, and Gareth called Riezel here for this reason.

"Even though you've only been part of familia for less than two months, technically, you shouldn't be immediately involved in such a significant familia activity like an expedition. But, hey, you're already Level 4 and we three want you to join us on the next expedition. It's a decision the three of us made, with Loki personally giving the green light. If you have any objections, feel free to voice them here." Finn explained with a friendly smile.

Objections? Riezel didn't have any.

Delving into the depths of the dungeon, battling high-level monsters that most people steer clear of—this was exactly what he had been hoping for. He had been eagerly anticipating an expedition for a while, and now that the opportunity was here, he wasn't about to pass it up.

"I have no objections." Riezel replied without hesitation. "Please make sure I get to participate."

He didn't hide his excitement and eagerness.

This left Finn and the other two exchanging puzzled glances, followed by awkward smiles.

"See? I knew this kid would be excited..." Gareth remarked, feigning irritation.

"We thought you'd be less trouble than Ais and the other kids, but it looks like we need to keep a close eye on you too..." Riveria sighed.

"No objections, of course, are the best..." Finn chuckled and shook his head. "But considering the importance of the expedition and it's also your first time, think about whether there's anything you need to prepare for."

His words prompted Riezel to sink into contemplation.

There wasn't much he needed to do to prepare.

For others, it might involve preparing armor and stocking up on medicines, but for him, thanks to his 'Lightweight' development ability, he preferred minimal equipment. Because of that, he had abandoned armor since reaching Level 2.

He also didn't need medicines to restore stamina or mind because his 'Endless' skill already granted him 'Healing Power' and 'Spirit Healing' development abilities at the highest rank, making him hardly feel fatigued. Coupled with the highest rank 'Abnormal Resistance', he was also fearless against abnormal statuses.

Apart from high potions and elixirs for treating injuries, he didn't have much of a demand for other types of medicine.

During the expedition, the familia would take care of most of the medicine preparation, while Riezel hardly needed to fuss over that.

In essence, his preparations were minimal. Though not entirely since there was one important thing he needed to sort out.

Riezel involuntarily shifted his gaze to his waist where a sword hung, strapped to his side.

Finn noticed this.

"Ahh, I see... Are you having trouble with your weapon?" Finn asked in one breath, hitting the nail on the head.

Riveria and Gareth exchanged a glance, surprisingly showing no signs of confusion.

"Is it because of Ais's magic?" Riveria spoke up.

"Yeah..." Riezel nodded, sighing. "Due to the magic, my weapon couldn't keep up with my current power."

The weapon he currently used was custom-made when he reached Level 2. In the past battle against the Crocodile Dragon, his main weapon shattered under the strain of Ariel's maximum output.

Afterward, he found a reputable weapon shop, provided the Crocodile Dragon's claw Lefiya had retrieved as raw material, and commissioned the blacksmith there to forge a new weapon.

In the end, for 800,000 valis, with some financial assistance from Lefiya, he successfully obtained third-class equipment, the sword he now wielded.

For third-class equipment, it should be more than enough for a second-class adventurer's main weapon. At least, if an average adventurer had it, they could continue using it even up to Level 4 without being held back by their weapon.

However, for him who possessed overpowered magic like 'Ariel', capable of putting an enormous strain on weapons at any time, using this third-class equipment made from the Crocodile Dragon's claw was becoming somewhat lacking.

Moreover, he had now reached Level 4; even when he was at Level 2 or Level 3, it was already quite risky.

For example, during the encounter with the monster feast on the 16th Floor, to break through and protect Lefiya, he once again unleashed Ariel's maximum output, resulting in a crack in the sword.

During the duel with the floor boss of the 17th Floor, he also once again unleashed Ariel's maximum output.

At this moment, not just one but several cracks already appeared on his sword, almost breaking it outright.

The damage from these two incidents forced him to spend a considerable amount of money on repairs.

Now at Level 4, his power had soared once again, and his Ariel was undoubtedly stronger than before. If he used Ariel in combat, even without reaching its maximum output, he could potentially destroy his sword.

It was seriously affecting his ability to fight.

Especially since he had acquired a development ability called 'Swordsman', not having a good sword in hand would greatly impact his combat power.

"If there's anything I need to prepare thoroughly, it's probably finding a strong and sturdy weapon." Riezel said earnestly to the three top executives, considering it the only thing he currently needed to focus on, a top priority.

""Weapon?"" Riveria and Gareth nodded simultaneously.

"Okay..." Finn hesitated for a moment. "In that case, come with me to Hephaestus Familia."

Hephaestus Familia.

This was the unparalleled blacksmith familia in Orario.

In Orario, there were familias of various types, from exploration-focused ones to those engaged in business activities. Hephaestus Familia fell into the latter category.

Their main business was selling various weapons and equipment, and most of the members were advanced blacksmiths, those who had acquired a development ability known as 'Blacksmith'.

"I have a batch of orders to place there. Since you need a good weapon, might as well come with me."

Finn extended an invitation to Riezel.

"Thank you!" Riezel nodded heavily.

Not long after, the two of them walked out of the office and left Twilight Manor.


創作者的想法
VALRRR VALRRR

Support and read advanced chapters at:

pat*reon.com/VALRRR

章節 42: Hephaestus Familia

Orario, Northeast Street.

This was Orario's proud magic stone production hub, adjacent to the industrial zone's manufacturing sector.

Under Finn's guidance, Riezel entered this place.

Unlike the northwest street, mostly populated by adventurers, pedestrians here were mostly laborers in work uniforms.

There was a middle-aged human with strong muscles, carrying equipment.

A beastman walked alongside a merchant, engaged in conversation.

Several dwarves, robust and muscular, were arguing and shouting.

A blacksmith with weapons on his back loudly advertised, seemingly introducing his proud creations.

The sound of iron being hammered echoed everywhere, and the metallic scent filled the air. This was an entirely industrial street, with hardly any buildings other than factories, workshops, and forges. Not even a single woman or child could be seen.

Walking down such a street, Riezel and Finn, with their vibrant clothes, looked somewhat out of place.

Fortunately, both of them were unfazed by such trivial matters. Their strong characters made them appear natural and composed, walking step by step toward the center of the street, undisturbed by the curious and scrutinizing gazes.

Before long, they arrived at a particular workshop.

It was a plain building.

Seemingly not well-maintained, the building was covered in coal ash. The sound of iron striking seemed more intense and resonant here than anywhere else.

"We're here." Finn stood in front of the workshop and turned his head to Riezel.

"Here?"

Despite some speculation, Riezel couldn't help but be surprised when he realized this building was their destination.

The workshop didn't really look like a facility important figures from Hephaestus Familia would use.

As a blacksmith familia specialized in selling equipment, Hephaestus Familia's reputation in Orario and the world rivaled that of Loki Familia.

The reason was simple.

If Loki Familia was one of the strongest familias in exploration, then Hephaestus Familia was the strongest in smithing.

The Goddess of this Familia was the renowned Goddess of Smithing, Hephaestus.

The familia organized by this Goddess not only attracted numerous blacksmiths but also had a comprehensive talent cultivation system. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Hephaestus Familia was a prestigious school for blacksmiths.

With so many skilled blacksmiths gathered, including advanced ones with the ability to possess 'Blacksmith' development ability, it was easy to imagine the excellence of the weapons produced by this familia.

Back then, Hephaestus Familia had become a premium brand worldwide. Products from this familia enjoyed the highest honor among peers. Any equipment labeled 'Created by Hephaestus Familia' immediately gained the admiration of countless people, and its value skyrocketed.

In a situation like this, the one who could get Finn to personally show up and commission an order had to be an important figure and higher-up of Hephaestus Familia.

An important figure from the renowned Hephaestus Familia was staying in a place like this was beyond surprising for Riezel.

On the other hand, Finn could only laugh when he saw his reaction.

"Don't mind it. Most famous blacksmiths have this kind of personality. They'd rather huddle in a dirty workshop, hammering away at iron, than sit in a fancy office. The one we're looking for stands out among this group."

Finn explained while glancing at Riezel's face.

"If we arranged to meet somewhere else, who knows when this person would have time? But if it's here, this person will be one hundred percent present."

After saying that, he went ahead and pushed open the door.

"Let's go. We've already given notice. Since no one came out to greet us, we'll just go in ourselves."

Finn entered and led the way. Riezel followed suit and quickly caught up with Finn as they entered a spacious forging workshop.

The place was dimly lit, with only a few magic stone lamps shrouded in darkness. Deep inside, a faint red glow emanated from the forge, and the air was thick with the smell of iron. This atmosphere would make most people want to keep their distance.

"Tsubaki! Are you there?" Finn shouted towards the forging workshop, seemingly unfazed by the surroundings.

"I'm here!"

A voice responded the next second.

With a powerful response, a figure emerged from the forging workshop, bathed in the glow of the forge.

Surprisingly, it was a woman.

She had a beautiful face, long limbs, black hair, red eyes, and wore an Eastern-style work outfit. Her lower half was clad in bright red hakama, while the upper half was wrapped in white fabric, attracting attention.

Her skin was tan, darker than the wheat-colored skin of Tiona and Tione, and she wore an eyepatch on her eye, giving her a unique appearance.

This attractive woman welcomed Finn with enthusiasm.

"Hey, Finn! It's been ages!" The woman called Tsubaki exclaimed with a grin. "You're still rockin' that youthful charm. Come here, let me hug you!"

She moved in for a hug, not minding the presence of someone else.

"No thanks." Finn avoided her with a nonchalant movement. "Goddess Hephaestus isn't here?"

"Yeah, she's not here." Tsubaki pouted. "She's been in a bad mood lately, probably because her friend crashing at her place is a total slacker. She's got loads of resentment for that freeloader. I guess she's too caught up dealing with that mess to bother with us."

Finn didn't react to her words, but Riezel, who stood nearby, raised an eyebrow without a trace. Unfortunately, neither of the two noticed this.

After chatting for a few moments, they turned to Riezel.

"Let me introduce her to you..." Finn said with a smile, glancing at Riezel. "Tsubaki Collbrande, Captain of Hephaestus Familia, a top-tier blacksmith among many in Orario. Plus, she's a Level 5 first-class adventurer, with a reputation that's no less impressive than mine."

He was about to introduce Riezel when Tsubaki interrupted.

"Riezel Brynhart, Loki Familia's rookie. A supernova who rose from Level 1 to Level 4 in just over a month. How could I not know him? Everyone's buzzing about him in Orario, especially the Gods. I heard they're all digging for info on him. Even my Goddess is keeping tabs. Finally got a chance to meet you!"

"Hello." Riezel nodded to her, maintaining a calm expression without any hint of self-satisfaction.

"Hmm? Seems like he's got a calm and serious vibe, huh?" Tsubaki said while scratching her head. "I can't really deal with this kind of personality, y'know."

"Don't worry, Tsubaki." Finn took the opportunity to tease her. "Don't be fooled by his current appearance. Even I would be cautious if this boy loses it. He's not as calm as you think."

"Oh? Seriously?" Tsubaki's eyes lit up, then she burst out laughing. "That's awesome. Imagine if everyone had this deathly aura like you old folks, it'd be so dull, y'know."

She said that while completely disregarding gender differences, wrapping her arms around Riezel's neck.

"Rookies gotta have that rookie vibe, y'know. All that energy, a little wildness—that's what makes them cute." Tsubaki grinned. "What if you crash at my spot for a bit? I'll make sure you're all good, huh?"

"Cut it out, Tsubaki. Aren't you just looking for a free laborer to swing that hammer for you?"

Finn, with no trace of politeness, swatted away her hand on Riezel.

"Don't mess with the future backbone of our familia. If anything happens to him, be ready for Loki and Riveria to come after you."

"Ugh, okay, okay... You're no fun." Tsubaki gave in and mumbled. "If that Goddess of Mischief and Elf Princess are both eyeing him, I'm screwed..."

Finn shot her a look that said 'As long as you know', making her raise her hands in surrender, while Riezel, who almost couldn't keep up with the situation, just rubbed his nose awkwardly.

But, honestly speaking, her tight embrace felt not bad at all.

Quite soft.

Wondering what Riezel was thinking, Tsubaki placed her hands on her hips and got down to business.

"Okay, enough with the jokes. Give me the order." Tsubaki reached out her hand to Finn. "You're here for spare weapons and equipment for your familia expedition, yeah?"

Bulk ordering spare weapons was precisely Finn's goal.

While members of Loki Familia had their preferred weapons, they would wear out, and different situations demanded different weapons. Therefore, when going on expeditions, besides medicine, the most essential preparation was spare weapons.

Especially useful in group battles, long-range weapons played a crucial role and required significant preparation for effective offense and defense.

In light of this, every familia, regardless of which, would order a large quantity of weapons as spares for each expedition. For a big familia like Loki Familia, preparing for an expedition beyond the 50th Floor required even more.

So, on every expedition, Loki Familia would commission a large order from the forging business familia, and Hephaestus Familia often took up these orders.

It could be said that Loki Familia was a regular customer of Hephaestus Familia, and Tsubaki, as the captain of Hephaestus Familia, had a close relationship with them.

Given this background, she naturally understood Finn's purpose in coming today.

But today was a bit different.

"Here's the order. Get it done as quickly as possible." Finn handed a parchment to Tsubaki. "Besides this, I also need you to create a weapon for your so-called supernova."

"Oh?"

Tsubaki took the parchment without looking at it and instead glanced at Riezel—more precisely, she was looking at the sword at his waist.

"Nice workmanship, but it shows plenty of wear and tear already. Probably been patched up a bunch, yeah?"

The discerning eye of Orario's strongest blacksmith was truly sharp. She accurately assessed the sword's condition with just a glance, all the while grinning.

"Seems like this third-class equipment doesn't suit its user. Wanna hire me to whip up a new one? Just spill your requirements."


創作者的想法
VALRRR VALRRR

Support and read advanced chapters at:

pat*reon.com/VALRRR

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