Since they planned to stay here to grind for Ability Scores.
Isagi naturally led the girls to turn directly around and walk away, returning to their "starting point."
Which meant, they only had to turn back and walk a few steps to leave the giant tree trunks of this "Dark" zone, stopping right there to directly begin grinding for Ability Scores.
When tired, they would retreat a few steps, returning to the previous "Burning" zone, and set up camp to rest at the location with the black Site of Grace.
In this way, several days passed.
This Dungeon adventure began to return to its usual rhythm.
Although those monster adventurers were indeed becoming more and more "like" their own party—whether it was the weapons they used or their combat styles—it was useless, because they lacked the raw stats.
Monsters were just ordinary monsters. No matter how powerful their abilities or techniques, they were still just Lv.4 monsters.
Among adventurers, Level was still the most important factor. In particular, the gap between Lv.4 and Lv.5 was like the difference between heaven and earth.
At first, everyone was still worried.
Would these monster adventurers grow to an unimaginable level? But so far, it seemed there was no problem.
At the very least, after grinding for several days, they didn't feel anything special.
In fact, because they had become far too familiar with the opponents' moves, the process of dealing with them had become entirely standardized.
It always felt like something was slightly off.
But they couldn't quite put their finger on it.
Regardless, for now, using this self-respawning monster adventurer party to train their Ability Scores was completely fine.
After spending a lot of time here.
Taking advantage of the remaining supplies, Isagi and the girls also explored the previously discovered Anthropomorphic Holy Church Cathedral before leaving the Dungeon.
The situation inside could be called complex, but also simple.
Unexpectedly, the Cathedral was also filled with monster corpses. Most importantly, Isagi discovered that after he and the girls entered the church, the 13th to 17th Floor areas, which originally spawned monsters, completely stopped doing so.
Inside the Cathedral.
Countless corpses of Hellhounds, Rabbit People, and Minotaurs were piled up.
Layer upon layer, it was as if they had died willingly, all having slit their own throats with their weapons. It truly looked like some sort of "Martyrdom."
It was far too exaggerated. Yet, amidst this incomprehensible scene.
The entire church was empty—perhaps there were hidden chambers, but after he and the girls wandered inside for at least two or three days, they couldn't find any useful information.
Lefiya, Ryuu-senpai, and the others made a guess.
Perhaps they needed to ring the bell they acquired previously to open some sort of secret passage.
This idea was actually correct. They really did open a few hidden rooms concealed within the church, but inside were only treasure chests that provided some materials and equipment; there was nothing truly worth mentioning.
Thus, with their supplies nearly depleted.
Isagi had no choice but to return, planning to continue the investigation next time. Or perhaps, the storyline over at the church required them to defeat that BOSS in the "Dark" zone first before they could obtain some sort of quest item. For now, this was as far as they could go.
And it was only on their way back that Isagi and the girls discovered that the monsters on the 13th to 17th Floors had also completely stopped respawning.
It was terrifying; why did it always feel like the Dungeon was brewing something massive?
How unsettling desu.
Thus concluded this adventure. Returning to the city, in the blink of an eye, the spring days had already passed—
The early summer sun gradually began to feel somewhat sultry.
Outside the city.
On a deserted overseas island half a day's journey from the port city of Melen, a simple pier had now been built along the previously barren sandy beach.
A small boat was moored there. Its main purpose was for Isagi and the girls' daily trips out to sea, whether for fishing, or simply doing nothing but chatting, drinking tea, or taking naps.
After all, isn't that what a vacation is?
A wooden cabin had already been erected on the beach. Built using locally sourced materials by Isagi, Cecil, and Goddess Astrea, they were quite experienced at this, having previously built the house in Solingen together.
In addition, there was even a simple forging workshop—or more accurately, an open-air forging camp?
Essentially, they had bought a lot of forging equipment from Melen, transported it here, and set up a simple canopy to prevent it from getting wet from the rain.
For one, Cecil couldn't sit still, and for another, hadn't she been quite busy lately?
So, even while vacationing here, she would find time to hammer away and forge equipment.
And right now.
Under the somewhat stifling afternoon sun, Isagi and Ais stood in Cecil's temporary forging camp. They watched as the blacksmith girl, wearing her usual dark gray vest, put the finishing touches on the weapon in her hands and announced, "Forging complete."
"It's perfect!"
Including Lefiya's magic dress,[Starry Wings], this was likely the second piece of equipment Cecil had forged since leveling up to Lv.3 and acquiring the [Mystery] Development Ability.
It was also the "prototype" weapon that Isagi had proposed a long time ago.
[Complete Hunter's Arsenal].
Now, this weapon, resembling a massive black iron box, was placed before the blonde girl, making Ais's eyes sparkle with excitement.
"The exterior can actually be refined a bit more, but because it involves some transformation mechanics, at most I can only paint it different colors. If you want decorations, I might have to study it further..."
Cecil was still explaining.
Because the current weapon was indeed quite "ugly." To the girls' aesthetics, it was just a pitch-black big iron box!
Though Isagi thought it was pretty cool.
And Ais felt the same way!
Heavy, sturdy, reliable—at a glance, it was brimming with a certain primal sense of power!!
Tentatively picking it up, the weight contained within was incredibly reassuring.
Ais had already felt her previous odachi was quite heavy.
But this large iron box even made her wonder for a moment, Can I really swing this around?
Yet, in response.
What immediately surged from within Ais's heart was an unparalleled excitement, passion, and joy—
If her current self couldn't perfectly wield it, then she just needed to level up. That familiar joy of growing stronger welled up once more.
Growing, getting stronger, and fulfilling her "dream."
At this moment, Ais derived an incredibly grounded sense of satisfaction from the heavy hunter's weapon in her hands.
Taking advantage of the opportunity.
Isagi let the girl try out the new weapon herself. Overall, this was a large iron box that could "transform" into many different types of weapons.
It looked like one weapon, but in reality, it was fourteen—
Great Sword, Long Sword, Sword & Shield, Dual Blades, Hammer, Hunting Horn, Lance, Gunlance, Switch Axe, Charge Blade, Insect Glaive, Light Bowgun, Heavy Bowgun, and Bow.
Different weapons each possessed different traits.
Moreover.
Because it contained his "Divine Power," certain traits could be used universally, such as the "Charge" of the Great Sword and the "Blade Awakening" of the Long Sword.
Thus, by combining different weapons with other traits, entirely new combat styles could be formed.
Through mutual combination.
For Ais, it was as if she had obtained a tremendously vast treasure trove.
It was no longer just a simple "new toy."
Isagi straightforwardly handed the girl a previously prepared instruction manual. Using all these various weapons was simply too complex, and explaining them one by one would be too much of a waste of time.
It was better to read the manual and then practice hands-on.
Speaking of which, this[Complete Hunter's Arsenal] actually had a hidden function. That was the "Dragon Weapons"—a name Isagi came up with himself—obtained by severing the tails of the Infant Dragon they previously subjugated, as well as the Tree Dragons found dead beneath the Pearl Tree after defeating the Nameless Hero known as the Dawn-Dark Moon.
Because they indeed contained a certain special power.
And so, straightforwardly.
Isagi had Cecil melt down those two weapons and integrate them directly into Ais's new weapon.
As a result, the girl's [Complete Hunter's Arsenal] now also contained the "Power of Dragons." Specifically, it was—
"Roar!!!"
When Ais tentatively transformed it into its most basic "Great Sword" form.
A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering dragon roar erupted directly, even making Lefiya and the others, who were playing in the sand far away by the sea, think some monster had appeared!
This was—
"[Roar], it should be considered an area-of-effect crowd control skill, capable of intimidating surrounding monsters."
Isagi explained.
Besides this, this weapon inherently carried the "Aura of Dragons," causing it to inflict a considerable degree of "psychological pressure" on monsters whenever swung or used to attack.
He wasn't just making this up; this was exactly how it was described in the two weapons dropped by the tail-severed Infant Dragon and the Tree Dragon.
Overall, it was a very practical skill.
Furthermore, the dragon blood could combust, temporarily enhancing the weapon's attack power and destructiveness. What Ais needed to figure out now was how to adapt her previous combat style, and perhaps even how to use the hunter's weapon to execute her signature skill, [Lil Rafaga].
Brimming with excitement, the girl wanted to drag him into the woods to train.
But he didn't have the time right now.
Cecil still had some finishing touches to complete here, and for dinner later, Isagi was planning to show off his skills by making grilled fish for everyone.
Thus.
Ais could only drag Ryuu-senpai far away to the woods, which had already become somewhat of a "mess" due to their previous practice sessions.
As for himself, he stayed behind to help Cecil pack up.
The afternoon sun was perfect, and there was still a long time until dusk. However, there were still many things to do this afternoon.
Like going out to sea to fish and coming back to grill them.
Amidst his thoughts.
Isagi looked toward the beach. There, Lefiya was with Tiona. Besides them, there were also the two Goddesses, Artemis and Aphrodite, as well as a Familia member of the Goddess of Beauty.
Isagi recalled that her name was Harmonia.
What were those guys chatting about over there?
Speaking of which, he was planning to announce a major event tonight: his intention to challenge the Ishtar Familia! To execute his first step in making the Astrea Familia great again!!
However, Isagi didn't plan on applying to the Guild for a War Game; that was too troublesome. Instead...
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