Morning.
Still sleeping in, Elfy gradually woke up under Lefiya's shaking. When she looked at the elf already fully geared up, her eyes were filled with confusion.
She had originally thought—Lefiya was just joking with her and hadn't taken it seriously at all.
But this was real?!
"Do I really have to go?"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"We just finished a dungeon expedition. At most we've only rested for one day. Even slaves aren't worked this hard, right?"
"Don't worry."
"As for combat, you don't need to think about it."
Though it was another seamless transition, the elf girl's face showed not the slightest trace of fatigue. Looking toward Tiona waiting outside the dorm door, she emphasized once more: "This expedition…"
"You just need to fulfill the role of a supporter. Trust me… even as a supporter, what you gain will exceed your imagination."
Truly…
To come into contact with the essence of the Dungeon?
"Hurry up."
"Don't keep Senior Tiona waiting. Mm… I also need to introduce you to a friend." After dragging her roommate out of bed with some difficulty, Lefiya finally let out a breath of relief once Elfy started washing up.
There was definitely enough time, but since this was their first time exploring together as a team, they had to arrive early.
At the very least, they needed to leave a good impression on Ron's companions.
"…"
"Don't supporters come in plenty?"
During a normal holiday, not to mention going into the Dungeon, Elfy wouldn't even want to think about daily training. But since this was arranged by the vice-captain—
Even if she was unwilling, she could only obey the Familia's orders.
However, when she heard the latter half of Lefiya's words—that she would be introducing her to a new friend—
Elfy's gossip-loving heart finally sparked with some interest.
"A friend?"
"Lefiya, you actually have other friends besides me?!"
"What are you saying…"
Even if it was true, hearing Elfy say it out loud still made Lefiya a bit embarrassed. After all, she hadn't been in the Familia for long.
She couldn't really be called a fringe member.
But the others were mostly her seniors. The only ones she could communicate with normally were Elfy, and… Ron.
She explained, "It's a friend I met while exploring the Dungeon… This time, for the Familia expedition, we're going to assist him."
"…"
"Your friend's Familia needs to go on an expedition, and I have to go too, is that it?!"
This kind of thing wasn't uncommon.
If they weren't heading to particularly deep regions, members of the Hephaestus Familia would also follow the Second Expeditionary Force into the Dungeon for training.
But—
When Lefiya's "friend" and "Familia expedition" were combined, the amount of information contained in that statement became enormous.
Elfy frowned slightly, her gaze falling on Tiona standing at the dorm entrance.
Even Senior Tiona was participating?
Though it wasn't explicitly forbidden, minimizing contact with other Familias was considered common sense among adventurers—unless the Familias had particularly close relations.
And the key point…
The Familias that were on good terms with Loki Familia were only those few. No matter how you looked at it, there was no need for someone like her to be involved in expedition assistance.
Yet this time—
Not only was Lefiya participating, even a first-tier adventurer from their Familia was accompanying them.
That made the whole matter extremely intriguing.
"Hurry and tell me…"
"Who exactly is it?"
"…"
Looking at Elfy, who was already prepared—and since both Tiona and Tione had already met Ron—Lefiya didn't hide it.
However—
When she thought of Ron's familiar face, the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl upward.
"You definitely know him."
"Who?"
"Ron."
"…"
At the mention of the name "Ron," how could Elfy not be familiar with it?
Having just returned to Orario after finishing their expedition, she had inquired about recent events—and three major happenings were all related to that guy!
A rookie adventurer breaking Ais's record, becoming Level 3 in the shortest time—and even sweeping aside that annoying Apollo Familia.
So…
An adventurer whose talent was comparable to a "monster" still needed assistance from other Familias for an expedition?
It wasn't that she doubted Lefiya. She tugged at the corner of her mouth slightly.
"Are you sure this guy needs our help for a Dungeon expedition?"
"…"
"It might sound absurd to you, but that's just how it is."
Instead of directly explaining that the Dungeon's "abnormal state" was caused by Ron's own talent drawing hatred, it would be more convincing to let Elfy experience it herself.
Facing her close friend's curiosity, Lefiya chose to play mysterious.
With a relaxed smile, she said, "It's hard to explain the exact reason, but once you join this expedition…"
"You'll probably understand."
"…"
After finishing preparations for the Dungeon expedition, the elf girl looked toward the two senior members of her Familia waiting quietly in the dorm corridor.
She nodded seriously.
"Senior Tiona."
"We're ready."
"Alright."
"Next, let's head to the Dungeon. We'll meet up with Ron at the Starting Path." Tiona held her twin great blades.
As for consecutive expeditions, she had no complaints. After all, there were plenty of people in the Familia who wanted this slot—like Ais, who had come looking for her last night.
To truly…
Experience the harsh environment of the Dungeon after coming into contact with the "abnormal state."
The only downside was—
Before Ron or Lefiya faced life-threatening danger, she couldn't intervene!
"Let's go!"
...
Daphne's logistical and coordination abilities were precisely what the Hestia Familia lacked.
As for Cassandra standing before them—
Even if her healing skills were average and she couldn't contribute much in combat—
If Ron had to weigh it, the latter was far more important.
Just the fact that she could foresee possible futures through her dreams—
No matter what, Hestia Familia would always have a place for her.
Under the negative influence of Cassandra's prophetic dreams, she wasn't trusted by others.
But as a transmigrator—
Ron could ignore that effect.
Looking at the timid girl standing before him, his attitude was relaxed as he casually asked: "Go on."
"Did you have another bad dream last night?"
"…Mm."
Faced with the question, the girl nodded lightly.
But just as she was about to explain honestly, Cassandra instead asked: "Captain Ron… do you believe me?"
"Of course."
Being distrusted for so long—and even being treated as strange because of her dreams—would inevitably leave some psychological scars on Cassandra.
What Ron needed to do was simple.
He nodded frankly.
"Didn't we already encounter your dream on the twelfth floor?"
"Since it concerns the safety of our Familia members, no matter what the truth is, I think we should prepare for the worst."
"And besides—"
"Before you met me, could you have imagined that an ordinary adventurer could trigger an 'abnormal state' in the Dungeon?"
"…"
The girl shook her head repeatedly.
Feeling the trust from Ron—this very trust was constantly erasing the fear that dream had left in her heart.
When she raised her head again—
Her gaze gradually became firm.
"I saw… a giant. A giant adding firewood beside a furnace… and… flames that burned us completely to ashes."
"It was…"
"Exaggerated!"
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