At Last, He Appeared...
After a period of time, Orario returned to a state of calm.
The abnormal situation on the 24th Floor of the Dungeon has been resolved. The abnormal surge in the number of monsters has stopped, and even the food depot, where the incident occurred, has been restored to its Dungeon's self-healing ability, as if nothing had ever happened.
However, a perceptive person would notice that beneath this calm surface, various undercurrents are surging.
The guild members are secretly working on something, following some mysterious instruction, and no one knows what they are investigating.
Some Loki Familia, under the instructions of Loki or Finn, are also secretly taking some unknown actions, either investigating something or trying to contact the guild to obtain some confidential information.
Some people noticed this phenomenon and felt strange, while others watched silently, as if trying to figure out the details, and took some actions as well.
However, all of this was done in secret. On the surface, the guild remained the same, diligently serving the adventurers day after day. The Loki Familia, as if casually throwing out a hidden piece, did not focus its main energy on this, but continued to prepare for the next expedition.
To outsiders, Loki Familia's preparations seemed perfectly normal.
Since the last expedition failed, this time we must prepare well, avenge our defeat, reach the unexplored floors in one go, update the deepest floors of our clan, and earn back our reputation, wealth, popularity, and everything else.
Even the members of the Loki Familia were secretly gathering their strength, preparing to avenge their previous defeat. In particular, Bete Loga, Tiona, Tione, and others, seeing Ais advance to Lv.6 and Leo catch up at an incredible speed, possibly even surpassing them, they were naturally unwilling to continue like this. They were preparing to take the final step through this expedition, to catch up with Leo and Ais again, and reach a higher level.
Even core members of the Second Army, such as Raul, Anakitty, and Alicia, were silently gathering their resolve, hoping to take that crucial step in the upcoming expedition and become Lv.5, an undisputed powerhouse in the city and even the entire Lower World.
As for Lefiya Viridis, this elven girl was so angry at seeing Leo and Ais becoming more and more inseparable that she couldn't eat or sleep properly. She was more determined than anyone else to catch up and refused to watch her little sister be kidnapped by bad guys.
It can be said that the entire Loki Familia is now like a taut bow, just waiting to shoot the arrow, pierce the clouds, and soar into the sky.
Only Finn and the others knew that this expedition was not only for the sake of their clan, but also to investigate what the strange man and the remnants of the Evilus were plotting.
Leo and Ais have already told Finn and the others that something is happening on the 59th Floor, and that it is closely related to the presence of these activities in the darkness.
If we can investigate the truth behind it, we might be able to glimpse the true nature of the deep shadows brewing behind Orario.
At that time, they might be able to turn the tables and completely eliminate this threat.
In short, whether for public or private reasons, this expedition is imperative.
Therefore, Finn and the others quietly accelerated their progress, ensuring that everything for the expedition was prepared in an orderly manner.
Leo and Ais no longer had the chance to wander around outside. This time, Riveria Ljos Alf and Gareth had completely conscripted them, forcing them to join their companions in preparing for the expedition.
However, as Leo Spring Familia companions were busily preparing for their next expedition, an unexpected event shattered their peace.
On this day, in a corner of the Pantheon at the guild headquarters, a piece of parchment was posted on a huge notice board that caused an uproar among countless people.
The parchment records something that has surprised countless people.
"Bell Cranel, a member of the Hestia Familia, has officially reached Level 2 after a month of training."
The astonishment of countless people standing in front of the notice board was completely ignited as they looked at the announcement.
"Reached Lv.2 in just one month?!"
"This is impossible!"
--
Who is Bell Cranel?
"Which family is Hestia Familia?"
"Is this real or fake? It can't be a scam, can it?"
"Reached Lv.2 in just one month—is this another Leo Eligos?"
People were making a ruckus, discussing the matter with great enthusiasm, and the news quickly spread throughout the city.
Naturally, this information was also thoroughly disseminated to all the major clans through newspaper reports.
This included the Loki Familia.
In the large dining room of the Twilight Manor, the group members gathered together to eat breakfast, passing newspapers among themselves and whispering among themselves.
Is it really possible for something like this to happen again?
"I thought Mr. Leo was the only one with this kind of monster----"
"There's actually a second person who can break Miss Ais's record for the fastest level-up? And in just one month?"
"Who exactly is this Bell Cranel?"
Led by Raul, Anakitty, Alicia, and other core members of the Second Army, the Loki Familia members relayed the news with varying degrees of surprise, astonishment, doubt, and solemnity, creating chaos throughout the large dining hall.
Everyone simultaneously turned their gaze to one of the tables, looking at the person dining there.
"Look! Leo!"
Sitting next to him, Tiona, with an incredulous look on her face, took the newspaper, leaned close to Leo, and started shouting.
"This person, just like you back then, broke Ais's fastest leveling record, reaching Lv.2 in just one month!"
Upon hearing this, Leo's gaze also turned to the newspaper, focusing on a portrait of a person.
He was a somewhat shy boy, probably a little younger Lefiya Viridis, with white hair and red eyes, reminiscent of a harmless rabbit.
"Bell Cranel ----"
Familiar memories were awakened; the boy's face, which he had never met but which had already left a deep impression on Leo's mind, made Leo's eyes sparkle.
"Finally, the protagonist from the original story has appeared—"
Bell Cranel, a name that is extremely unfamiliar to many people, at least before this, probably few people in the entire city knew this name, let alone had any interaction with him.
The Hestia Familia is not a large family, not even a small one. Their Chief God Hestia, has been in the Lower World for less than two years, and the Spring Familia has only been established for a month. The entire family has only one member, Bell Cranel. They are a small family among small families. In Bete Loga's words, they are truly insignificant, without even the slightest bit of fame. They even have trouble getting enough to eat. As a result, their Chief God Hestia, is even called the Goddess of Poverty by some gods.
While others might not know, Leo knew it all too well.
The Hestia Familia is indeed very weak at present, ranking at the bottom in the entire Orario, but this Familia is the center of the original world and the main protagonist team of this world.
Bell Cranel, this seemingly harmless young man, is also the protagonist of the original work. In just about half a year, he rose from Lv.1 to Lv.5, achieving countless feats and incredible feats.
He is a first-class adventurer, considered by many, even by the gods, to be an unfinished hero, and is on whom countless people place high hopes.
Leo had been waiting for the appearance of the original protagonist.
Now, the other person's name is finally good enough to be considered by him.
"He leveled up to Lv.2 in just one month?" Leo thought to himself. "That's even faster than in the original story."
Leo vaguely remembered that in the original story, Bell Cranel took about a month and a half to officially level up to Lv.2.
Moreover, the reason why the opponent rose to Lv.2 and even became so powerful is also related to the Loki Familia, or rather, to Ais.
Thinking of this, Leo looked in Ais's direction.
The blonde girl sat on the other side of Leo, having her meal with him. She was currently reading a newspaper with Lefiya Viridis and Lefiya, marveling at Bell Cranel's achievements.
In the original story, Loki Familia suffered a crushing defeat during their expedition due to encounters with worm-like and female-bodied monsters. On their return journey, they encountered a group of Minotaur on the 17th Floor. During their battle, the Minotaur escaped, frantically running upwards, forcing Loki Familia to give chase. Ais, Ais encountered Bell Cranel, who was being pursued by the Minotaur, on the 5th Floor and rescued him. This act of heroism, coupled with the young and inexperienced Loki's attraction to the Doll Princess's beauty and power, led him to acquire the precocious skill [Liaris Freese], thus undergoing a complete transformation.
Because Leo, a character not from the original story, joined the Loki Familia and participated in the last expedition, the Loki Familia's journey time this time differed from the original story. With the addition of a Level 5 firepower scout, the expedition's strategy was undoubtedly smoother than in the original. This unavoidable time difference resulted in the Minotaur swarm, which should have appeared on the 17th Floor in the original story, not appearing on time, thus ruining the protagonist's first encounter with the Doll Princess.
Even so, Bell Cranel still rose to prominence, reaching Lv.2 in just one month, even faster than in the original story. This proves that even if he didn't obtain the overpowered skill [Liaris Freese], he must have gotten something with a similar effect.
Why is this?
Leo realized it almost immediately.
"It must have been that Freya Familia who got involved, right?"
In the original story, Bell Cranel's pure and clear soul caught the eye of Freya, the goddess who could "see" the radiance of souls. The amorous goddess fell in love with him at first sight and became infatuated with him. She prepared many trials for him, hoping that his soul would become even more dazzling and bright.
Even now, having lost his encounter with Ais and the chance to obtain the [Liaris Freese] skill, Bell Cranel's pure and clear soul will still attract the goddess's gaze and make her fall in love with him.
Considering the goddess's style of doing things, Leo was certain that she had probably lost her temper and made a move. He wondered what kind of impact this had on Bell Cranel and what kind of trials she had given him, which led him to awaken as in the original story and embark on the path of an "unfinished hero."
With such a pure and clear soul, even if one opportunity is lost, another will arise, and this is the path Bell Cranel is destined to take.
The protagonist of the original work was destined to be extraordinary.
After all, the other party's parents were from two powerful clans that had ruled Orario for a thousand years, only to fall fifteen years ago due to the failure of the final task entrusted by the three great adventurers.
Such a background and such an origin destined Bell Cranel to be extraordinary from birth.
Therefore, while others were astonished and doubtful by his incredible achievements, only Leo remained calm.
"Good job, young man, you're very energetic."
Leo even had the leisure to make such a comment, looking like he was giving orders, which disappointed Tiona, who was watching the spectacle.
"Aren't you worried at all?" Tiona said somewhat exaggeratedly, "The other person only took a month to reach Lv."
.2, just like you.
Aren't you afraid of being caught?
No sooner had Tiona spoken than Lefiya objected.
"Mr. Leo could have reached Lv.2 in less than a month, even just ten days, but he chose not to upgrade in order to continue accumulating his potential!"
By now, some of Leo's less important deeds are no longer big secrets.
For example, the fact that it only took ten days to level up was accidentally let slip by a drunken Loki.
Now that Tiona is actually badmouthing Leo, Lefiya, who was fortunate enough to team up with Leo for a while, naturally won't stand for it.
As Leo grew more and more dazzling and powerful, Lefiya practically became his fangirl, so naturally she would support him.
"Can we stop comparing ourselves to this freak?" Tione said irritably, biting into a steak. "Normally, people don't level up in 'days,' do they? And what's so special about reaching Lv.2? He only took half a month to reach Lv.5, okay?"
Whether it's leveling up to Lv.3, Lv.4, or even Lv.5, Leo takes about half a month to level up.
By this calculation, it actually took him the longest to reach Lv.2, almost a month.
This is... outrageous.
"Indeed, we can't compare ourselves to this freak." Tiona's face fell, and she sighed, muttering, "But even if we don't compare ourselves to him, reaching Lv.2 in just one month is ridiculous, okay?"
The group nodded in agreement and began whispering among themselves again.
Even Ais stared at Bell Cranel's portrait in the newspaper for a while, thinking to herself.
"I wonder what enabled this child to become so strong so quickly—"
Hmm, Ais is eyeing someone else's secret to getting stronger again.