From her first breath, she was there—Tiona Hiryute belonged to that land.
"Ze Wiga!!"
"Ze Wiga!!"
"Ze Wiga!!"
Those shouts, exalting the victor and mocking the defeated, still rang in her ears. They were the cries of warriors in Telskyura, an island completely isolated from the rest of the world. In that land, where the scent of rusted blood mingled with the smoke of battlefields, Tiona was born. On that island, rituals of mutual slaughter had persisted since ancient times, long before the Age of Gods.
When the gods descended, they welcomed the strife, granting the "Blessing" that transformed ordinary people into superhumans and superhumans into heroes. Since then, the newborns of Telskyura received the Blessing from their Goddess immediately at birth, instantly joining the lowest ranks of the Familia.
The Amazon warriors of Telskyura learned the arts of combat before they could speak a single word. They memorized how to kill monsters before they even understood the meaning of existence. Tiona never knew her mother; the small hands of her childhood did not hold a mother's warmth but gripped a massive blade far too large for her tiny frame. She knew nothing of herself but her name.
One truth was hammered into her mind: they fought for a single goal—to forge the "True Warrior" of Telskyura. In that place, might was right. The weak had no choice but to obey the strong. The powerful ruled, and the frail could do nothing but swallow the bitterness of their reality.
The island was the physical embodiment of the Amazon instinct. Even the Goddess who descended loved conflict, ensuring her Blessing made the local wars sharper and more brutal.
Tiona never felt those days were cruel. A life of battle was normal to her; she never thought to question it. Victory meant survival; defeat simply meant death. She felt no pain in this logic. She only understood that she had to keep winning to stay alive.
The clashes in the stone arenas were life-and-death struggles. Those who died had their bodies shattered just like the stones beneath them. Not a day passed without her being stained in blood, tearing flesh, breaking bones, or spilling entrails. She felt the warmth of blood against the cold arena stones and continued to swing her blade day after day, unchanged.
As the years passed, her opponents shifted from monsters to her fellow Amazon sisters. She felt no hesitation in killing them, yet for some mysterious reason, her hands began to feel heavy. She didn't know why, but it was a sensation she had never experienced. Her methods hadn't changed; she simply drove her blade home and tore the body apart.
Why then did her chest feel so tight? She found no answer and always ended up killing her opponents as usual. Every time she drenched herself in her comrades' blood, she felt something inside her grow cold, but she ignored it. Because she was still a child and did not grasp the weight of "taking a life," she felt nothing more than a passing thought: Ah, I've killed again.
But Tione was different. Tiona noticed how Tione's eyes grew dull and clouded day by day, though she didn't understand why. Tiona didn't hate fighting—perhaps she even loved it—but every time she killed an Amazon like herself, an annoying fog and a sense of revulsion gathered in her chest.
Eventually, after she killed a roommate she had lived with like family, she earned a Level up. It was decided that they would be assigned mentors. The trainers were two warriors named Bache and Argana. They were ten years older than the girls and were said to be sisters, though their personalities couldn't have been more different.
Bache, responsible for Tiona's training, was a silent and cold warrior. She possessed a strength that made her the prime candidate for the next Familia captain, and her training sessions were beyond brutal. Sometimes Tiona would swing her weapon until she vomited blood and collapsed. Many times, her bones were broken, leaving her unable to move.
"·······Get up. Now."
Bache would look down at her with cold, emotionless eyes as she lay on the ground. For the first time in her life, Tiona felt fear at that monotonous tone. The training grew harsher every day, resembling torture more than practice. The pain surpassed all imagination.
The only pleasure she could find was in victory; defeat meant death. As she spent her days this way, the feelings of confusion or hesitation toward combat gradually vanished. Amidst those days that left her no room to even feel lost, the turning point came a year later.
That day, while walking through a deserted corridor between training sessions, she found something lying in a corner.
── She found a "Hero Story."
●○●○●
< Al Crannell's Perspective >
This is my personal take—I believe that as an adventurer gains fame and power, they become less attractive to others as a partner or an accessible friend.
You might think, "No, Ais is very popular," but that is merely "popularity" as a star or as the "Sword Princess," not a personal charm that makes people actually want to approach her. And before I continue, this attractiveness I'm talking about isn't limited to the opposite sex; it includes friendships with the same gender.
Take a clear example from our circle: our captain, Finn Deimne. Finn is incredibly famous; everyone in the city knows him. He is the "Braver" who represents the Pallum race and seeks to revive its glory. Yet, this man doesn't have a single "friend" among the Pallums.
Well, maybe I just don't know they exist. But for the past four years, I haven't seen Finn speak to any Pallum—excluding enemies or the wealthy—without the other person using formal, reverent language. The reason is simple.
───── A lack of parity.
Exceptions exist, of course, but friendship only thrives on a somewhat balanced power dynamic. Whether it's a balance of wealth, looks, knowledge, status, intelligence... or the simplest and most obvious: combat strength.
Can you bicker as equals with a monster who could kill you with his pinky finger? Can you casually throw your arm around the shoulder of someone the entire city calls by titles of adoration? It's difficult. Even if you try to fake it, it's hard for an ordinary person who can't defeat a Goblin to treat a first-class adventurer who slaughters dragons as an equal.
This reality doesn't spare the adventurers themselves. Imagine two people from the same village starting out together. After three years, one reaches Level 3, while the other remains stuck at Level 1, unable to rank up. What happens?
The first becomes a second-class adventurer in just three years and earns everyone's respect. The second will feel—even if it isn't true—that his companion looks down on him. At that point, talking as equals becomes a chore, and they eventually drift apart. Even if they started at the same line, the gap in power and status that emerges over time warps their feelings and poisons the relationship.
It is a harsh reality. Adventurers at Level 3 and above are, without exception, chosen talents. The world of adventurers relies on talent and luck. When these two elements meet, a person succeeds. An ordinary person lacking them cannot change this reality, no matter how much effort they exert. Regardless of similar tastes or hobbies, a hero and an ordinary person cannot be equal friends.
If this is difficult in friendship, imagine the relationship between a man and a woman. The most prominent example here is Riveria Ljos Alf.
True, the Loki Familia is full of beauties of both genders, to the point where some leaders (myself included) have fan clubs inside and outside the Familia. However, it is extremely rare for anyone to actually propose marriage to us. I call this phenomenon in my heart: "A Flower on the Peak Means a Direct Path to Spinsterhood."
If you asked any adventurer in the city who the most beautiful adventurer in Orario is, 50% of them—and 80% of the Elves—would swear it is Riveria Ljos Alf. She is one of the few to reach Level 6 and is considered the city's greatest mage. She is a true Royal High Elf, possessing a beauty and grace that would make even the goddesses blush. Even her personality is easy to handle compared to the usual Elven sharpness.
So, based on all this, is there a man who dares to ask for Riveria's hand?
────── Of course not.
The reason is simple: disparity. Regardless of what Riveria herself thinks, the Elves of the world would never allow a man weaker than her to approach. If he were strong but lacked nobility, Loki wouldn't allow it.
How many men in all of Orario are stronger than Riveria—the city's greatest mage? If we count peers, we find three in the Loki Familia (Finn, Gareth, Bete), and four in the Freya Familia. Even if we combine the two strongest powers in the city, the number doesn't reach ten. In all of Orario, it might barely reach twenty.
Among those few, is there anyone with the character and nobility to be with Riveria?
Ottar and Allen—battle-obsessed fanatics who worship their Goddess above all else.
Hedin and Hogni—they revere their Goddess, and for them, Riveria is a subject of respect, not romance.
Gareth and Finn—if they viewed her that way, it would have happened long ago.
Bete—completely out of the question.
Well, everyone might accept Finn as the only option, but due to the racial difference, it remains impossible. It might have been easier if he were a human who could father children despite the hybrid nature, but there is currently no Elf or human in Orario stronger than Riveria who doesn't look at her as a being worthy of worship.
As an adventurer grows stronger, they automatically gain fame and transform into a sort of "icon." Even if Riveria liked someone, those around her wouldn't bless the union if they didn't approve of him. Because of her status, running away with someone would be nearly impossible. This applies perfectly to Ais as well.
Furthermore, the other party would feel overwhelmed and intimidated. No matter how beautiful the high-ranking adventurer is, they are, quite literally, "monsters in human form." If someone hugged them too hard, their bones might simply shatter. Therefore, despite Riveria's beauty and popularity, she isn't viewed as a woman one can actually be with.
The same applies to male adventurers, though their problems often multiply. Imagine a man who reaches the second tier and has a girlfriend he promised to marry. Since he's second-tier, he earns enough to support her. But power can make him arrogant, and he might lose his life one day in the Dungeon. This is a very common story.
In that case, what happens to that woman? Dying in the Dungeon means no body remains, and sometimes not even his equipment. Adventuring is expensive; adventurers live for the moment and rarely save money. Even if there is money, it often goes to the Familia they belong to. The girlfriend loses the man who promised her a future in a single night, and very little money ever makes it back to her. How will she live alone, drowned in her grief? He might even leave debts behind.
Therefore, few people want to be with an adventurer who might die in the next adventure. No one knows when their time will come, and the power gap makes dealing as equals impossible. No matter how much money there is, as women learn the reality of the situation, their desire to marry an adventurer decreases.
If we consider a relationship between two adventurers, the problem of different "Familias" arises. Imagine if Ais said she was going to marry a member of the Freya Familia? An outbreak of war would be inevitable. This is an extreme example, but unless the Familias are in total agreement, a union is difficult. It might be possible for low-level adventurers in obscure Familias, but the stronger the adventurer becomes, the higher their status in their Familia grows, and the narrower their options for a partner become.
The realistic choice is love within the same Familia, but even this has issues. The primary reason mixed groups collapse is romantic conflict. Especially if love blooms within a single team, things become very annoying. If one person confesses and is rejected, what happens then?
In different Familias, it's easy, but in the same Familia—unless someone changes Familias—the two parties are forced to face each other daily. Resentment might grow among comrades, or the girl might be harassed by jealous rivals, which could escalate into bloody confrontations. This problem grows as one's rank within the Familia rises.
The absence of married couples among Level 6s and above illustrates the point; if Riveria and Finn got together and had a romantic falling out, the Loki Familia would collapse.
Back to friendship, it's the same. If ordinary people and lower-ranks won't do, you might think of befriending someone of equal strength. But this is also hard. As strength increases, the numbers dwindle, and strong adventurers often possess high pride and eccentric personalities. Even if their personalities mesh, the difference in Familias is a barrier. If Allen and I were the best of friends in Orario, it would be very difficult for us to go out for a stroll in our private time because of our respective positions.
── In that sense, Finn, Gareth, and Riveria are lucky to have each other ─────
Status, constraints, jealousy, hostility; all these things stand in the way, preventing hearts from connecting and stopping friendships from reaching the level of true, loyal companionship.
─────── Well, these are the reasons why I believe high-level adventurers are not emotionally available. There are other reasons, but this is the general framework.
Based on these facts, I exploit this dilemma. In this city of Orario, as the perfect hero who combines strength and beauty, intelligence and gallantry, nobility and skill; as Al Crannell, I can deal with any peer and more.
Adventurers at the high levels, despite their complex personalities, possess incomparable spiritual energy. Though their hearts are hard to win, reaching them makes everything easy afterward.
Imagine if I died after becoming the sole and unique presence in such a person's life? Without a doubt, they would be plunged into limitless gloom and distress. I don't fear them feeling inferior to me; those at Level 6 and above possess the mettle of heroes without exception. Whether the relationship is friendship or otherwise, they won't accept staying where I left them. Instead, they will drown themselves in training to become stronger rather than surrendering to despair.
Of course, I will never let them catch up to me, and I will die before that happens. I won't allow a repeat of what happened on the 59th Floor; I won't let anyone save me. Therefore, I do not hesitate to die. In fact, I actively seek it. Because by doing so, I will carve my existence—who I am—into the depths of their hearts. This is not a suicide wish; it is a carefully calculated war tactic.
To be the only presence they deal with without reservation, and then to elevate their sense of helplessness upon my death because I made them feel we weren't equals. Don't you feel a chill just imagining that?
But, there is an existence that breaks all these rules.
And that ───── is the Amazon.
●○●○●
"Huh?"
"What?"
"N-No········ It's nothing········"
In the "Fire Bee" pub, which bore a sign of a bright red bee resembling the Familia emblem and was located in a back alley of the commercial district, the voices of Pallum adventurers rose. They seemed intent on spoiling the celebration of a safe return from the 18th floor, hurling insults at Bell and his companions. However, they quickly shrunk back under the glares of Bete Loga and Al Crannell, the two first-class adventurers sitting at the adjacent table.
The six Pallum companions bowed their heads as well. Whether they were Level 1 or 2, they lacked the courage to insult the apprentice and brother of the city's strongest warriors.
"Hmph······ What a bunch of rabble. It seems the Loki Familia lacks refinement. Even their hounds don't wear collars around their necks, ──"
At that moment, a handsome young man with black hair and blue eyes stood up and spoke mockingly. But before he could finish his sentence, his knees buckled and he collapsed to the floor. It appeared he had lost consciousness entirely.
"It's Hyacinthus·····"
"·······Wait, did you see what happened? Why did he fall?"
"They're first-class adventurers, you idiot. A Level 7 move is something people like us can never see."
"Even if he's second-tier, picking trouble with the 'Blade Devil' who made an army of helpless fools is suicide·····"
Welf realized from the whispers of the surrounding adventurers that the handsome youth who had just fallen was a second-class adventurer like Ryuu and Asfi. Welf's cheeks twitched at the gravity of the situation.
"He seems to have over-drank. Take him away and look after him."
Al said to the remaining five with a blank face, while Bete continued to drink his liquor with indifference. Bell felt a sense of "habituation," thinking that first-class adventurers were used to such conflicts. However, Lilliruca and Welf were trembling with fear at the hand speed of the strongest man in the world—the idea of the world's strongest man having a short fuse was terrifying.
"That emblem, it's the Apollo Familia·······"
I silenced him as usual, but did I ruin a chance for Bell's development·····?
In any case, that perverted god never learns. He received a very harsh punishment from Loki when he targeted me in the past, yet he still tries. Well, if he were sane, he wouldn't have tried to harass members of the Loki Familia in the first place.
If the celebration had been at the "Hostess of Fertility," Ryuu would have kicked him out, and it would have ended peacefully······.
Note:
[Refined Metal Chains forged by Airmed]
These chains are the trump card against Al, who can escape even from binding ropes crafted with the "Mystery" skill. They are made of "Orichalcum" extracted from the Deep Floors, not the Upper or Middle Floors.
Once shackled by them, even a powerful dragon would find it impossible to escape.
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