The Returning Veterans

Since ancient times, anyone who received Falna, no matter who they were, could possess at most three spells and at least one.

Everyone knew this.

Even Elves, known as the race of magic, only had three magic slots available for awakening spells after receiving Falna. A fourth magic slot would never appear.

Of course, having only three spells available for awakening did not mean one could only use three spells.

Some people awakened particularly unusual magic that could undergo multiple transformations or had effects with multiple variations, allowing them to use more than three spells in the end.

The Loki Familia had two members of this type.

One had awakened a spell capable of multiple transformations. Its effects differed depending on the length of the chant, allowing one spell to be used as three. With three spells, that person could unleash nine variations, equivalent to possessing nine spells.

The other had awakened Summoning Magic exclusive to Elves. It could summon spells used by members of the same race. In theory, that person could cast every Elf spell with that single spell, possessing far more magic than any Mage.

Riezel had awakened only one spell.

Yet the effects, potential, and versatility displayed by that single spell surpassed even those two people mentioned before.

A spell that could cast any magic contained in his memories?

Did that not mean that as long as he remembered enough spells, Riezel could use as many types of magic as he wanted?

Wasn't such a spell absurd?

However, absurd as it was, it had its limitations.

"As things stand, your magic has two confirmed conditions for use."

Loki held up two fingers before Riezel.

"First: you can only cast magic that you remember. If you can't remember it, you can't use it."

"Second: even if you remember a spell, you still can't use it unless you've personally confirmed its effects."

"In other words, if you want to use someone else's magic, they must cast it right in front of you. You must also clearly remember every part of the casting process, its conditions, effects, and power. Not one can be missing."

Those were the limitations of All-Rounder.

Because of that, Riezel was currently in a state where he could not use even a single spell. Since coming to this world, he had yet to personally witness any magic being cast before his eyes.

Even if magic were cast in front of him, Riezel would still need to remember the exact process and conditions required to cast it.

That was why, even though he had seen the priest who treated him in his original world cast magic, he could not use that spell through All-Rounder. The priest had chanted in mysterious runes Riezel had never understood, and the chanting process had not been obvious, leaving him unable to remember its exact process and conditions.

Thus, Riezel still could not cast a single spell.

Loki knew that and rubbed her chin.

"This problem isn't actually hard to solve." Loki said, "Our Familia has plenty of members, and plenty of them can use magic. As long as those kids cast their spells properly in front of you, or even teach you how to use them, with your memory, you should be able to cast several types of magic soon enough, right?"

This seemingly frivolous chief goddess had already noticed Riezel's extraordinary gift for memorization, which surprised even him.

Still, Loki's suggestion was very helpful to Riezel.

Judging from All-Rounder's conditions of use, there was no more convenient way to trigger its effects than having others personally teach Riezel their magic.

"How about this?" After giving it some thought, Loki said to Riezel, "When the members out on expedition return, I'll find someone skilled to teach you magic."

"An expedition?" Riezel raised an eyebrow slightly.

"That's right." Loki grinned. "Most of our kids aren't home right now. They're in the Dungeon."

As the world's greatest secret realm, the Dungeon still had many unexplored regions.

The deeper one went into this underground labyrinth with its countless floors, the greater each floor's area became, and the farther it was from the surface.

Naturally, this made it difficult for adventurers fighting on the Dungeon's front lines to travel easily between Orario and the Dungeon.

It was said that simply traveling from the 1st Floor to the 50th Floor took several days. A round trip could easily take more than a week.

Thus, the concept of an expedition emerged.

As the name implied, an expedition was when the adventuring forces of a large Familia plunged deep into the Dungeon to wage battle like an army.

They traveled to floors ordinary adventurers could not easily reach, fought extremely powerful monsters there, set foot on floors no one had ever reached, explored the unknown, and developed uncharted territory.

The Loki Familia was one of Orario's strongest Familias and one of the most orthodox exploration-focused Familias. Its purpose was to conquer the Dungeon, develop unknown territory, and gain profit or renown from it.

During the two days since Riezel joined the Loki Familia, the Familia's main combat members had happened to depart on an expedition into the Dungeon, leaving only a small number of lower-ranking members behind to guard the manor.

In other words, when Riezel joined the Loki Familia, its true powerhouses and geniuses had all been fighting in the Demonic Lair far beneath the surface, slaughtering terrifying monsters that the current Riezel could not touch in the slightest.

At that thought, Riezel's heartbeat quickened slightly, and his eyes shone brightly.

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you thinking?" Seeing that, Loki hurriedly said, "You're a Lv.1 rookie. It'd already be impressive if you could get by in the Upper Floors. Don't start getting ideas about joining an expedition. That's not something you can take part in right now!"

"Is that so?" Riezel looked at Loki.

Loki's mouth twitched.

This brat was actually thinking about joining an expedition?

He had only received Falna two days ago and had been a complete ordinary person before that, yet he was already thinking about an expedition. There had to be something wrong with him, right?

Why was her Familia full of problem children like this?

They were going to worry her to death!

"Anyone who can join an expedition must at least be a Lv.2 specialist, like a healer capable of using Healing Magic." Loki covered her face, sighing as she earnestly advised him, "Even if you learn someone else's magic and become a specialist, Finn won't allow you to join an expedition before you reach Lv.2. So you'd better get rid of that dangerous idea right away."

Hearing that, Riezel stared steadily at Loki. Only after confirming that she would not budge on this matter did he reluctantly withdraw his gaze.

"Fine." Riezel said reluctantly, "Then I'll wait until Lv.2."

Loki could not help rolling her eyes at Riezel, sighing inwardly once more.

She had a feeling that from now on, her days would never be peaceful with this brat's recklessness.

"By my calculations, the expedition party should be back soon." Loki could only change the subject. "Just wait another two days."

"Got it." Riezel nodded.

Only then did Loki flash a broad smile that looked rather like a sly grin.

"When Finn and the others return and find out our Familia has gained such a monstrously gifted freak, I wonder what their expressions will be like?"

"Especially Ais-tan, Bete, Tione, and Tiona. This kid's growth rate should give them quite a shock, right?"

"The more I think about it, the more I'm looking forward to it."

The mischievous god of Norse mythology quietly snickered in the God's Chamber, just like a child waiting to watch a spectacle.

And the day this unserious chief goddess anticipated arrived sooner than she expected.

The next day.

When the sky outside had only just begun to brighten, Riezel woke early as he had the day before.

He swiftly washed up, finishing his morning grooming in five minutes. Then he prepared to put on his armor, get dressed, and head out to the Dungeon.

Today, Riezel planned to explore the Dungeon for an entire day without wasting any more time, to see if he could push several more floors down.

His Ability Values had grown again after yesterday's update. In particular, both "Dexterity" and "Agility" had already reached Stage E. By the standards for safe progression, he could now explore the 8th Floor.

But naturally, Riezel would not be satisfied with so-called safe progression.

So, Riezel's plan for today was to reach the 10th Floor, perhaps even venture deeper.

To that end, before going to sleep last night, Riezel had specially used the tools he bought to maintain his weapons. Filled with fighting spirit, he was ready to make some trouble.

Thinking that he was about to enter floors deeper than yesterday's 7th Floor made Riezel feel a little excited.

"I've heard that Large Species much bigger than ordinary monsters start appearing from the 10th Floor onward, like Orcs."

"Orcs?"

"I wonder if they're strong."

Riezel was filled with anticipation.

However, just as Riezel was about to set off with his main and secondary weapons, a voice suddenly rang throughout Twilight Manor.

"The captain's back!"

"Everyone's back!"

"The expedition members are back---!"

The delighted cries shattered the morning silence, plunging all of Twilight Manor into an uproar.

Chaotic footsteps rang out one after another, along with the sounds of doors opening in succession, as though everyone in Twilight Manor was rushing outside.

"They're back?"

Riezel was slightly startled before rising to his feet.

Figures mentioned in the original story surfaced in his mind one after another. Riezel narrowed his eyes, took his weapons, left his room, and headed toward Twilight Manor's entrance.