Twilight Manor.

Loki took Asahi into the yard where the ten-man party gathered around the supplies. Asahi only remembered eight of them. ​​

Ais, the cutest loli.

Riveria, the high elf.

Gareth, the mighty dwarf.

Finn, the eternal shota.

Tione and Tiona, the Hiryute sisters.

Bete, the annoying wolf.

Lefiya, the rookie mage elf.

The other two were new faces. A young woman with long black hair and a rather slim figure, which was further accentuated by her sleeveless black and white outfit, a small white skirt, and black stockings. It was the black cat ears on her head that stole most of his attention.

The last member was a mature elf woman with honey blonde hair. She reminded Asahi of Goddess Demeter to an extent.

"You must be Asahi Marikawa?" The catgirl asked as she stretched her hand with a friendly smile. "I'm Anakitty Autumn."

Alise stepped forward to shake her hand. "Aki, you're cute as ever~. Just a level below me."

"And you're still so proud," Aki replied.

"Perfection calls for acceptance."

"Captain…" Ryuu muttered with a hand on Alise's shoulder. "We're guests here."

Finn looked around for the scary lady that usually accompanied Asahi. Out of all the people he met so far, Aimi's glare just frightened him. She might become his first archenemy in his path to hero.

'I might befriend him without her around.'

Being friends with a Demigod would be both risky and profitable.

With a smile, he approached the group. "No need to be like that. We will be comrades on this expedition."

"Finn is right," Riveria said, staring at Asahi with almost emotionless eyes. She hadn't forgotten his last prank, but now wasn't the time to address it.

Loki nodded as she pointed at the pile of rations and the other supplies. "Kiddo, show your magic."

The anticipation of everyone was sky-high. Tiona was especially perked up when she heard the word 'magic.' She looked at Asahi with a strange hope in her eyes, wondering if he could live up to the hype he created around the city with his recent deeds. She could sense a threat from him. Her instincts were always on point, never letting her down. Without her, she wouldn't have survived the brutal battles in Telskyura—a country solely inhabited by amazonesses and ruled by Kali.

'Demigod, they must be stronger than the heroes of old tales.'

Asahi felt an intense gaze on his back and turned around. A tanned girl with disheveled black hair stared at him. Like all amazoness he had met so far, she wore revealing clothes. A strip of cloth around her chest and a pareo around her waist.

"Ya," she waved with a grin.

'Tiona?'

She looked different from the first time he met her. Before she seemed like an unsociable kid. Her current self was quite different. A lot more cheerful.

Asahi returned a nod before focusing on the supplies. He bought a new ring from Klyscha and tossed everything in it.

Riveria's mouth parted with a gasp. She had seen this skill with her eyes before. The scene of over two hundred kilos worth of supply vanishing still left her shocked. She became even more curious about the limits of this skill.

"Asahi Onii-san." Ais shuffled toward Asahi and tugged at his shirt. "We should go."

The desire to face stronger monsters was so obvious in her eyes. She couldn't wait to slay them and gain their excelia.

He softly patted her head. "Revenge isn't everything."

Ais's eyes widened, although her face remained neutral. She couldn't believe Asahi knew about her revenge. Riveria only had a vague idea, and Loki had known everything. She remained silent, letting him soothe her flames of revenge.

"She is too cute and small for a level 4," Alise said, looking at Ais. "Lion doesn't lose in terms of cuteness."

Ryuu reddened from the compliment. Shaking her head, she glared at Alise. The redhead cheekily grinned in response.

Asahi noticed a certain werewolf was overly quiet today. He was being 'tame' since Loki had ordered him. The last thing Loki wanted was to let someone blow their expedition.

Asahi gave a smile to Finn. "Ready?"

"All good here," Finn said. "Let's talk about our strategy—"

"No need for that," Asahi interrupted the pallum. "We'll only stop at the 50th floor. Until then, I'll be the guide and the frontline fighter. No interfering unless I say, okay?"

"As you wish," Finn readily agreed, though he intended to step in whenever things get out of hand.

'It's near impossible for one person to fight such overwhelming odds.'

Asahi's arrogant words got on Bete's nerves. Looking at Alise's smile, he felt like she was laughing at him. Every smile seemed to be directed at him, sneering at him for calling Asahi newbie when he was the weakest member right now,

Loki fixed her glare on him. "Loga."

Bete swallowed down the emotions and gave a nod to Loki.

"Everyone, come close," Loki said. "Asahi, I'm leavin' these kids to ya. Come back if things go south."

She didn't wish to lose her Familia even if it meant losing a chance to break the record.

"Noted."

(I'm bringing her over!)

Klyscha said and teleported Grayfia before Asahi. Without wasting any time, the maid spread a magic circle under her feet and teleported everyone to the promised 45th floor.

Riveria and Finn were all too familiar with the sweltering heat in the air and the burning red ceiling as if they were inside a volcano.

"This is it, hmm," Riveria murmured. The teleportation happened in an instant. She imagined the process to be more complicated.

"Looks like… We're here," Finn said.

"My Lord, I'll leave for the Underworld."

She was going to spend some time with her father and get some more classified information if possible.

"Sure."

Blushing, Grayfia glanced around. With a determined expression, she perked up and pecked his lips.

"Take care," Grayfia said and vanished with her magic.

'How bold.'

Asahi smirked a little. After he helped her in making up with her father, Grayfia became more affectionate.

*Roar!*

As though ruining his good mood, a group of hellhounds appeared around the corner.