Danmachi: Adventuring Till the End!

After Hephaestus left, Orsted examined the reward he had just received.

Taking a moment to understand the so-called Mystery: EX, he couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Mystery is the foundation for crafting magic items.

Only adventurers with the Development Ability of Mystery are qualified to create such items.

What Orsted had obtained was this very ability and it was of the highest tier.

With this ability, Orsted could create a wide range of magic items.

If combined with Development Ability of magic, he could even craft Grimoires. Suppressing the excitement bubbling within him, Orsted took a deep breath to steady himself.

"What's wrong, Orsted-sama?" Lili asked, tilting her head in confusion.

Hestia, too, looked at him with curiosity.

"It's a secret. You'll find out when the time comes," Orsted replied with a playful wink.

His vague answer only deepened their curiosity, but neither Hestia nor Lili pressed further.

The three of them shared dinner, chatted about the Middle Floors, and eventually drifted off to sleep.

As for the daily updates of his Falna, Orsted had decided to hold off.

Knowing his achievements weren't sufficient, he hadn't updated his status since the previous day. He planned to do so after returning from the Middle Floors.

The next morning, Orsted and Lili prepared to set out. However, they didn't leave together. Lili mentioned she needed to stop by a place she frequented to pick up some supplies.

Orsted, on the other hand, went ahead to wait at Babel Square.

Orsted was supposed to wait for Lili at the square, and the two would enter the Dungeon together. However, after waiting for over twenty minutes, things took an unexpected turn.

For the first time since becoming an adventurer, someone approached Orsted—and it wasn't a friendly encounter.

The man tried to drive a wedge between Orsted and Lili, speaking negatively about her and even attempting to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Orsted. But Orsted stepped aside, avoiding him entirely.

Orsted didn't bother hiding his disgust. The man, unfazed, simply smirked and walked away. Shortly after, Lili arrived at the square.

In the past, Lili's smile had always been bright and genuine.

Now, though she still smiled, Orsted noticed a hint of stiffness in her expression. Glancing at the group lingering nearby, he immediately understood.

These were the same individuals who had caused trouble between Bell Cranel and Lili in the anime.

Gently patting Lili's head, Orsted spoke in a soft tone, "Lili, keep up the act for now. Let them think they've fooled us. Once we're in the Dungeon, we'll find a chance to deal with them."

Hearing his words, Lili's eyes widened slightly, and her smile grew brighter. 'Of course, Orsted-sama would never harm me!'

After spending so much time together, she had come to understand Orsted's character. He was decisive and ruthless, the type who avoided trouble but never backed down when confronted.

In the past few days, anyone who had provoked him in the Dungeon had met a grim fate. If Orsted said he would eliminate those people, he meant it.

Since he was already planning to take care of them, there was no way he would side with them against her.

Now that she thought about it, the earlier scene had likely been staged by those bastards to make her doubt Orsted, just as they had done before.

Today's plans would need some adjustments. While dealing with those bastards would be a hassle, Lili couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness. "Orsted-sama, let's put on a show for them!" she suggested after a moment of thought.

Those people were cunning and wouldn't be easily fooled.

To deceive them, they'd need to put on a convincing performance. Hearing her idea, Orsted paused, then smiled and shook his head.

"There's no need for that. Once we're in the Dungeon, we'll find a quiet spot and take care of them directly."

In the anime, Lili had stolen Bell's Hestia Knife and was later ambushed by those individuals.

But this time was different. Orsted knew exactly who they were, and Lili hadn't fallen for their tricks. There was no need to waste time on elaborate schemes—they could handle the situation swiftly and move on to the Middle Floors.

Hearing Orsted's straightforward plan, Lili was momentarily surprised but soon laughed. Yes, Orsted was powerful and decisive. There was no need to play games with those bastards.

Orsted was the type who didn't hesitate to act when provoked. If someone caused trouble, he would eliminate them without a second thought. It was simple, effective, and exactly what she admired about him.

The more time she spent with him, the more Lili realized how well they complemented each other. She respected his character deeply. Without wasting any more time, the two of them entered the Dungeon.

It didn't take long for Orsted to notice they were being followed. It was obvious who the followers were. Without drawing attention, Orsted led Lili to a secluded area.

Seeing the change in direction, Lili immediately understood. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. Canoe and his gang had been the ones who harassed her in the past. The thought of Orsted taking care of them filled her with joy. If he could eliminate those bastards, it would be a form of revenge on her behalf.

She couldn't help but smile at the thought. As for whether Orsted could handle Canoe, Lili had no doubts. After spending so much time together, she was well aware of his strength. Dealing with those bastards would be more than enough.

In fact, she felt confident she could take on one of them herself now. After practicing the Sun Breathing, her physique had improved. She was now capable of being an adventurer, but she still preferred to remain a Supporter, following Orsted and assisting him.

Without Orsted, she wouldn't be who she was today, and she wanted to repay his kindness. Of course, there was also a small, secret part of her that had grown fond of him. She wanted to stay by his side.

Orsted, however, was unaware of Lili's feelings. At that moment, his focus was entirely on the task at hand. Leading Lili to a remote area, he stopped and gestured for her to hide. Together, they waited for their pursuers to arrive.

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