Orario—Babyl Tower, first floor.
A group of graceful figures crossed the lobby and descended the stairs into the dungeon.
"Ais, what floor are we going to this time?"
"Thirty-seven."
"E—eh? That deep?!"
Lefiya gasped.
Based on danger level, the Guild divided the dungeon into tiers.
Floors 1–12: Upper Floors — suitable for Level 1 adventurers; relatively low risk.
Floors 13–24: Middle Floors — typically requires several Level 2s, or a Level 3 lead; medium-high risk.
Floors 25–36: Lower Floors — without a Level 3 leading, the survival rate of low-level adventurers is effectively zero.
Floor 37+ — the start of the Deep Floors; packed with skeletal monsters; one mistake and even Level 4 adventurers can die.
Lefiya was only Level 3. To her, Floor 37 was lethal.
"Ais is Level 5. On Floor 37 she won't get anything meaningful—materials or status growth. Why go that deep?"
"Earn money. Maintain my weapon."
Ais answered with minimal words.
Her fighting style was too rough; after every expedition she spent a fortune repairing and maintaining her sword.
As the starting point of the Deep Floors, Floor 37's magic stones and materials sold for high prices.
If they were lucky and picked up a few commissions, one run could earn anywhere from several hundred thousand to a million valis.
"Don't worry. I'll protect you."
Seeing Lefiya's concern, Ais added a line.
"Yep yep, Lefiya! You just point your staff at the skeletons and blast them. If anything gets close, I'll cut it down!"
"Relax. There's nothing on Floor 37 that can break through all three of our defenses at once."
The two behind them—Tiona and Tione—echoed confidently.
To newly advanced Level 4s, Floor 37 might be terrifying.
But to a Level 5 with maxed status, it was basically a backyard.
"Then I'll be counting on you."
With her teammates' reassurance, Lefiya's pressure eased.
But right then, a familiar figure flashed through her view.
"Huh?"
Lefiya stopped.
"What is it?"
Tiona also stopped and followed Lefiya's gaze.
There, not far away, a black-haired boy in silver armor was slaughtering goblins with enthusiasm.
"Ohhh—he's pretty handsome. Is he your friend, Lefiya?"
"More like… half an acquaintance. The fried rice I've been eating lately is made by him."
"Huh? It's him?!"
Tiona immediately perked up.
She'd heard Lefiya stopped eating at the cafeteria and kept running out to buy fried rice.
She'd assumed the cook was some uncle or auntie. She hadn't expected someone this young.
"Mm?"
Lin Dong noticed he was being watched.
After finishing the goblin in front of him, he turned toward them.
"Good morning, Lefiya. And good morning to the Loki Familia, everyone."
"Lin Dong, why are you here?"
Lefiya asked, confused.
"As you can see—training."
Lin Dong picked up a magic stone on the ground.
"And earning a bit to support the household."
Lefiya frowned. "But yesterday you said running a stall was safer. That fighting wasn't for you."
Lin Dong sighed and sheathed his blade.
"Lefiya, a stall has its limits."
"The harder you try to make money, the more you realize there's a ceiling to stall life… unless you transcend the stall."
Lefiya tilted her head. "I don't get it. Say it plainly."
"I'm quitting the stall, Lefiya!"
Lin Dong pressed his right hand to his forehead, arched backward dramatically, and pointed at their squad.
"I'm becoming an adventurer! I'll break through to Level 100, build the strongest Familia, and conquer the world!"
"Pff—!"
Tiona suddenly doubled over laughing.
"Lefiya, your friend is so fun!"
"No wonder you keep running to him. He's an interesting man," Tione agreed.
Ais murmured as if contemplating deeply: "Level 100…"
Lefiya: "..."
She shouldn't have stopped to say hello.
Crack—crack—crack.
A crisp sound rang out.
Their chatting stopped as they looked toward a nearby dungeon wall.
Like a dam breaking, cracks spread across the surface, and more than twenty goblins popped out and dropped down.
"That's a lot."
Lefiya instinctively raised her staff.
"What are you doing?"
Tione glanced at her.
"Lin Dong only just got Falna. He can't handle that many alone," Lefiya said.
"Really? He looks pretty confident. Doesn't seem like he needs help," Tiona said, pointing.
Lefiya followed her finger.
Lin Dong took a step forward, left hand on the sword grip, right hand on the hilt—leaning into motion.
Thunder Breathing — First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!
BOOM—!
The ground dented under his foot.
His body tore through the air like lightning, appearing at the goblin group's flank.
A cold flash. The front goblins fell instantly, heads spinning through the air.
Before the rest could even react, Lin Dong vanished again as a streak of light.
There was no disadvantage. No back-and-forth.
What Lefiya witnessed was a one-sided massacre.
In a few breaths, more than twenty goblins were dead.
"There's nothing complicated about it."
Lin Dong collected the magic stones and materials and walked back, meeting Lefiya's eyes.
"Chasing strength is an instinct. I'm here for one reason—to get stronger."
"I… see…"
Still dazed by what she'd just seen, Lefiya asked on impulse:
"Will you still run the stall?"
"Unless I'm really short on money, probably not."
After learning Breathing, Lin Dong could survive in the dungeon.
Compared to selling fried rice, farming monsters and improving strength took priority.
The stronger he became, the stronger Demon Slayer Lin Dong became.
The stronger Demon Slayer Lin Dong became, the stronger demons he could kill.
Then, via syncing, Lin Dong could receive those experiences, update his Falna, and grow again.
The strong pull the strong forward—handle it right, and everyone grows stronger together. Happy ending.
Of course, that wasn't something he could say out loud.
Seeing Lefiya's sudden look of disappointment, Lin Dong thought for a moment.
"I live under the abandoned church in the Northwest District. If you want to eat my cooking, you can come find me."
"Huh? Really?"
"Sure. If you don't mind the place being a bit shabby."
"Me! Can I come too?!"
Tiona shot her hand up.
Lin Dong nodded. "Of course. And the other two are welcome too if you have time."
"Hehe—then I won't hold back!"
Tiona looked thrilled.
She'd been curious about the fried rice Lefiya couldn't stop talking about.
-------
My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
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