A Novice Adventurer? A Masked Supporter?

Dawn gradually brightened as the sun slowly rose above the horizon, casting its gentle light over the bustling plaza.

A cool breeze swept through the lively crowd gathered before Babel Tower.

Fully equipped adventurers gathered in small groups, excitement shining in their eyes as they eagerly discussed their plans for the day.

Kashu deftly weaved through the many adventurers and slipped into the Guild hall.

He stepped up to the counter and rapped his knuckles lightly against its surface, producing a crisp sound that prompted the receptionist, who was intently sorting through documents, to look up.

"Good morning, Miss Aina. I'm a newcomer who joined the Loki Familia not long ago. Do you happen to remember me?"

"Huh?"

Busy with her morning duties, Aina abruptly raised her head and looked at Kashu, who was quietly waiting outside the counter.

A flicker of recognition passed through her eyes. She clearly remembered this novice adventurer.

Kashu possessed a distinctive friendliness, and his calm, composed demeanor during registration had been completely unlike that of other newcomers. He had seemed like a traveler drifting wherever his heart took him.

Before long, Aina pulled herself from her recollections.

She hurriedly adjusted her glasses, cleared her throat twice, and resumed her professional demeanor.

"Of course I remember, Mr. Kashu, correct? Is there anything you need the Guild to help clarify today?"

A faint smile rested on Kashu's lips as he shook his head apologetically.

"I'm terribly sorry, but I'm afraid I've come to add to your workload."

Under Aina's puzzled gaze, he reached into the inner lining of his coat and took out a stack of documents.

"These are records of my previous adventures and the details of my achievements. Please take a look."

"When I first arrived in Orario, I didn't know much about anything here, so it seems I was registered as an adventurer according to the standards for newcomers."

So that's why. No wonder I always felt Mr. Kashu didn't seem like an ordinary newcomer.

After hearing Kashu's explanation, Aina silently mused to herself and accepted the documents for review.

Cases like Kashu's were uncommon, but they did happen at the Guild from time to time.

After all, not every god was willing to remain in one city forever.

Some gods who longed for freedom traveled the world with members of their Familia.

Gods did not care much for Orario's rules, so adventurers who converted and joined Familias within the city naturally did not understand the procedures involved.

With that thought, Aina casually opened Kashu's file.

Yet the very first line she saw made her expression change drastically, and she cried out in shock.

"An LV4 adventurer from the Thor Familia!?"

Her clear voice echoed through the crowded Guild hall. The adventurers who had been busy selecting commissions all turned to look, and murmurs immediately erupted.

"What's going on? Which bastard is harassing Miss Aina?"

"Idiot, are you deaf? It's an expert from outside the city!"

"The Thor Familia? Has anyone heard anything about God Thor?"

"What's the point of asking adventurers? You'd be better off asking some gossip-loving god."

"...You're right."

Hearing the undisguised chatter around him, Kashu raised an eyebrow slightly, gaining a more concrete understanding of the Guild's most popular employee.

He turned to Aina, whose expression had grown awkward and whose pointed ears had faintly reddened, then added unhurriedly.

"God Thor is an open-minded deity. He agreed to my request to come train in Orario and strongly recommended that I convert and join the Loki Familia."

"As for Goddess Loki—she's a carefree god, so much so that I only learned many basic things recently. I'm truly sorry for causing you trouble."

Aina hurriedly waved her hands. "No, no, not at all. As an adventurer advisor, it was my failure not to ask about the situation clearly in advance."

Kashu lowered his head with a soft laugh and did not continue arguing. He merely gestured toward the documents in Aina's hands.

Aina's expression turned serious. She quickly and precisely verified the contents of the file, recorded them one by one, and then replaced Kashu's original registration information.

Before long, Aina passed the file back through the counter window and spoke softly.

"All right, Mr. Kashu. Your information has been updated. There will be an additional note on the bulletin board tomorrow morning, so please remember to check it."

Kashu took the file and nodded amicably.

"Thank you. Then I'll be on my way."

With that, he turned sideways through the long line of adventurers and headed for the exit.

Meanwhile, Aina seemed to have encountered another unexpected situation, and her clear voice rang through the hall once more.

"You had absolutely no combat experience before becoming an adventurer!?"

"You child! You need a proper education!"

Kashu no longer had the time to concern himself with the commotion that followed in the Guild hall.

After leaving Babel Tower, he carefully put away the file Loki had specially forged and surveyed the thinning crowd in the plaza.

Kashu raised a hand and lightly tapped his chin, falling into brief thought.

Being an adventurer was genuinely hard work. They rose early and returned late, and while killing monsters brought profits, the risks involved could not be ignored.

With his current abilities, going to compete with those struggling adventurers on the middle and upper floors for monsters would be a bit too inhumane.

Besides, he only had one day. At most, he could make a round trip to the entrance of the Dungeon's deep floors.

If he wanted to explore farther in, it would take too much time. He might as well wait peacefully for the Familia's next expedition.

Just as Kashu was considering whether to return directly to Twilight Manor to read, a crisp, childish voice called out from below.

"Handsome adventurer sir, may I ask if you need a supporter?"

Kashu lowered his gaze in the direction of the voice and looked at the supporter who had volunteered herself.

A petite figure was wrapped in a loose, floor-length robe, with a few strands of flaxen short hair faintly visible beneath her hood. On her back was a pack much larger than she was.

"Mm, standard supporter attire, but..."

Kashu silently pondered, then bent down on one knee so that his eyes were level with the petite supporter's.

Looking at the sweet, ingratiating smile plastered across her face, the corner of his mouth slowly curled into an amused arc.

That fake smile... how nostalgic.

Didn't those people in Chaldea who couldn't stand me, yet couldn't do anything about me, always wear the same hypocritical mask?

Lily met Kashu's deep gaze, keeping her seemingly pure and innocent eyes wide open as she put on an artless, naïve expression.

But in truth, panic had already risen within her at the feeling that he had seen through her. The muscles in her body tensed involuntarily.

Just as Lily was about to make up an excuse and back out, Kashu spoke leisurely.

"I do need a supporter to accompany me, but which Familia are you from?"

"Didn't your seniors tell you that rashly forming a party with someone from another Familia to explore the Dungeon could easily lead to unfair distribution?"

Kashu's words made Lily's smile freeze instantly. Yet in the next moment, she forced an innocent smile back onto her face and replied softly.

"In answer to your question, sir, Lily belongs to the Soma Familia."

"Since Lily is a dedicated supporter, it's difficult to find teammates even within my own Familia, so naturally I don't dare be picky."

At those words, Kashu's eyes gleamed. He stood, turned, and headed toward the Dungeon entrance.

"In that case, come with me."

"Thank you very much! Lily will definitely do her best to be of help to you!"

Lily gripped the straps of her pack and jogged after Kashu, a cunning glint flashing through her eyes.

Meanwhile, Kashu walked ahead with an easy expression and a teasing smile like Loki's on his lips.

I have nothing better to do anyway. I might as well play along with this little girl.