"Dum-dum-dum, hmm-hmm-hmm..."
Ronan hummed a little tune, feeling relaxed. He pulled down his mask and headed home after leaving the tower.
Standing in front of the main hall of Babel, Ronan looked at the drizzle outside.
"This rain never ends..."
"What's wrong? Isn't this weather great? It has a nice mood. Think about it. Rain outside, warm lights inside, and beautiful women waiting in the Pleasure Quarter. Tsk, tsk... This is the perfect weather for it."
"You pervert!"
Not far away, adventurers who had just returned to the surface gathered in small groups near the door to chat.
The conversation started out normal but slowly became improper.
Ronan listened with interest and even wanted to join their discussion. However, remembering that he was now the leader of a Familia, he forced himself to calm down.
He took out his old brass pocket watch and checked it. It was still early.
He wasn't in a hurry to go home. He simply leaned against a stone pillar by the hall entrance, took out his notebook and quill, and began writing notes and sketching diagrams.
The notebook was filled with experiment notes and diagrams for Fireball. He had marked the differences in damage it caused to different types of monsters on different floors.
With his current strength, all the monsters he encountered were killed in one hit. In fact, because Fireball was too powerful, it caused a lot of wasted damage.
How much power was being wasted was Ronan's current research topic.
To explore more safely and waste less Mind, he needed to control Fireball's power according to the target.
Monsters of the same type were stronger or weaker depending on the floor. On top of that, different monsters had different traits. Because of this, he needed to gather data through real combat and learn how to use his Magic better.
"Hey, buddy. Long time no see."
Suddenly, someone slapped his shoulder, and an arm wrapped around his neck from behind.
After being approached from behind, Ronan remained calm. He closed his notebook and glanced sideways. It could only be Luvis, the Elf with no sense of personal space.
He also noticed that Luvis wasn't alone. The other members of the party from the Modi Familia were with him.
Ronan was very familiar with these people too. He greeted them casually.
"It's been a while, Luvis. And Chariot, Laina, Alyke. Good to see you all."
Like Luvis, these three were also strong elven adventurers.
The woman with short pink hair was named Laina. The one with long silver hair swept back was Alyke. The one with spiky blond hair was Chariot.
Together with Luvis, these three formed the core party of the Modi Familia.
Ronan didn't understand this team at all. He didn't know how that god, Modi, had the luck to find four elven followers with such good potential.
They were all Level 2 adventurers. Not counting Luvis for a moment, the other three had stayed at Level 2 for several years. Their techniques, strategies, and Status were all excellent for that level.
Even without counting the other members of the Familia, this small team alone was enough to make the Modi Familia a solid faction in Orario. If they successfully leveled up to Level 3, the Modi Familia might even rise much higher in the city. This was why Ronan remembered the Modi Familia so clearly.
Even in Orario, Level 3 adventurers weren't common. This level was enough to be called one of the main members of a Familia. In fact, the captains of most Familias were only at this level.
"Ronan, what are you doing standing here? Waiting for someone?"
The pink-haired Laina greeted him with a smile and asked curiously.
Ronan tilted his head toward the outside of the hall.
"It's raining out there."
"Oh? I didn't even notice."
Laina blinked.
"Did you guys just come back from the Middle Floors?"
Ronan noticed their backpacks and asked with a smile.
When he mentioned this, Luvis and the others looked a bit awkward. The outspoken Elf complained:
"Don't even mention it. The four of us wanted to team up with those guys from Rivira to take down the Floor Boss, Goliath. But by the time we got a team together and rushed over, someone had already killed Goliath. We went there for nothing."
Floor Boss? Ronan was not used to that term.
Ronan pursed his lips, and he felt a little tempted. Of course... it wasn't for glory or achievements.
The reason he wanted it was simply that the magic stone and Drop Item, Goliath Skin, dropped by the giant Goliath were worth a lot of money.
That thought flashed through his mind, and then he asked curiously:
"Goliath should reappear every two weeks. If I'm not mistaken, it's been exactly 14 days since the last hunt. That means it should have appeared again today, right? Who killed it so quickly?"
When he said this, Luvis and the others exchanged complicated looks.
Before he could answer, a loud noise came from inside the hall near the direction of the Great Hole.
"There, it's them."
Seeing the team walking toward the entrance, Luvis curled his lip helplessly.
Ronan looked over. When he saw the faces of the newcomers, he immediately understood.
He looked at Luvis and the others with pity and patted Luvis's shoulder in mock comfort.
"As soon as Goliath appeared, it ran into the Loki Familia returning from their expedition. I don't know if you guys are lucky or unlucky."
If they were lucky, at least following behind the Loki Familia meant no danger on the way back. They might even have been able to make a little money from what was left behind.
If they were unlucky, the chance to hunt Goliath was gone, and they didn't get the great feat they needed.
In Ronan's view, Luvis and the others were feeling very conflicted right now.
This was especially true for Alyke and the other two, whose Status was already high enough to level up. They just needed the great feat.
"Don't talk about it." Luvis adjusted quickly. He soon smiled again and nudged Ronan with his elbow. "How about it? Want to go out for a drink tonight?"
Drinking?
Thinking of the three waiting at home, Ronan shook his head.
"No, I'm a bit busy these days. Maybe another time when I'm free."
"What could someone working alone like you be busy with?"
Luvis looked confused.
Before Ronan could explain, the Sword Princess from the Loki Familia team somehow spotted Ronan among the crowd. Her golden eyes locked onto him. Her eyes lit up, and she left her team, walking over with quick, firm steps.
As a rising star of Orario, known as one of the "Twin Stars" along with Gale, every move Ais made was closely watched. Her unusual behavior was quickly noticed by the Loki Familia and the bystanders. Riveria's eyes narrowed as she followed Ais's gaze.
"Is that the young man we met at the Hostess of Fertility?"
She remembered him, then said a few words to the Pallum next to her and hurriedly followed.
In the past two years, Riveria had truly been stressed out by Ais, this troublesome child. Especially lately, something had changed in Ais, and her fighting style had become even more aggressive. She attacked without defending. Her way of taking a monster's attacks head-on had almost scared Riveria and the other members to death.
Taking care of such a troublesome kid exhausted her. But she had to watch her constantly, or who knew what kind of mess she would cause next.
At this moment, all eyes in the hall followed Ais as she moved.
Then, under the stunned gazes of Alyke, Luvis, and Laina, and the curious looks of the bystanders, Ais stopped in front of Ronan. Ais tilted her head up. With a stiff face and a stubborn gaze, she locked eyes with the speechless Ronan.
"I have to be the one to kill the One Eyed Black Dragon!"
"..."
Silence. The bystanders were confused, and even the members of the Loki Familia looked lost.
As one of the people at the center of attention, even though Ronan was covered by his hood, robe, and mask, the stares from around him made him feel uncomfortable.
I'm just a Level 1 nobody. Is this really necessary!?
Ronan had no choice. His face twitched slightly as he looked at the royal Elf behind Ais.
"I'm sorry. I didn't keep a close enough eye on Ais and caused you trouble."
Riveria walked up apologetically, pulled the fierce Ais behind her, and apologized to him.
"..."
The arrival of elven royalty didn't affect Ronan much, but Luvis and the others next to him stiffened. They hurriedly bowed and saluted with the highest elven etiquette.
"Lady Riveria."
All four of them spoke at the same time.
"You are from the Modi Familia, right? Hello, my fellow Elves. There is no need to be so tense. I am just an adventurer now, not elven royalty." Riveria nodded helplessly to Luvis and the others.
"That still won't do. No matter where you are now, you are still the princess of our people."
Riveria: "..."
Ronan saw all of this and thought of one word.
Loyalty.
He raised an eyebrow and stayed to the side, quietly watching them interact.
Once they finished talking, he finally responded to Riveria:
"You're being too kind, Lady Riveria. After all, Ais is at that difficult age. I'm sure it's not easy for you. I understand."
Ais: "!????"
Difficult age? Who?
Ais's expression twisted as she glared at him. Her eyes burned with anger, as if she wanted to fight him right there.
Even Riveria almost failed to keep a straight face.
"Riveria!"