Danmachi: Strongest Familia

In contrast, the once struggling avant-garde group was now incredibly wealthy.

However, there was nothing wrong with the need to regroup.

It had been quite a while since their last expedition, and many of the family members had leveled up during that time.

While medicines and other essentials could be easily obtained with money, the most troublesome issue was the supply of spare weapons and armor.

Though Poppy would accompany the team, it was unrealistic to wait until after the dungeon to slowly craft all these items.

It was necessary to prepare a stock in advance. In addition to the family's own inventory, they would need to enlist the family's blacksmiths to forge additional equipment as soon as possible.

The Sol Familia typically kept very little equipment in stock, so they needed to prepare a large quantity.

It would be even better if they had a pharmacist on hand.

"Let Zed and Yone lead the rear team," Riveria instructed. "Tristana and Poppy should stay behind as well. With these few people, there shouldn't be any major issues."

The rear team would mainly handle logistics, so blacksmiths and healers had to be positioned there for maximum efficiency.

Though it was much safer than the front team—who would be clearing the way—the rear team's safety still needed to be ensured, especially with all the supplies they would be transporting. 

If the supplies were stolen, the expedition would be forced to end.

As for the front team, Kled and Sett would be the main fighters leading the charge. Additionally, they would need some magical support, since ten parts of the supplies had to be transported safely to a secure floor.

Riveria herself would lead the squadron, and combat forces could be slightly reduced, given her leadership and experience from previous expeditions.

After reviewing the details in her mind and confirming the plan's feasibility, Riveria handed the list over to Liate, who had been following her.

When there were no immediate risks, Veronica's little sister Liate had become Riveria's trusted little assistant.

The once shy child had completely grown up and was now an adventurer at the peak of LV3. She hadn't achieved a great milestone yet, but Liate had already reached the LV4 threshold after their last expedition.

This upcoming mission might be the one that will allow her to reach LV4 as well.

"Another expedition?" Ahri asked, her fingers absently toying with Sol's ear. 

She had been like this ever since Riveria entered the lounge. 

Ahri wasn't one to immerse herself in the competitive chaos of the world. Yet, her innate talent had naturally propelled her to LV4. 

Expeditions often meant long stretches away from home, and Ahri seemed to harbor a deep yearning for the familiar comforts of her own space. 

"Didn't Riveria mention this one would be short?" Sol replied, glancing toward her.

"The Loki Familia has already cleared the front floors, so progress should be swift." 

"I hope so..." 

"Don't worry," Sol said with a faint smile. "Once Riveria reaches a higher level, she won't need as many people for expeditions." 

In truth, looking at the current Freya Familia, it wasn't impossible to imagine one person handling an expedition alone. Their speed and efficiency made them stand apart, requiring minimal preparation. 

But a true solo expedition was no simple feat. Regardless of strength, the logistics of carrying supplies and hauling loot back would always be a daunting challenge. 

Riveria, however, was a mage. While solo expeditions weren't beyond her capabilities, they would only be feasible if she stayed clear of the deeper, more treacherous floors. Even then, her efforts would undoubtedly spark widespread attention, making it impossible to hide such a remarkable achievement from the guild. 

"Is that so? Well, I've already set up the quilt and am looking forward to it," Ahri said, her tone light despite the undertone of weariness.

——

Before long, the day of the expedition arrived, and the members of the Sol Familia gathered at the entrance of the dungeon.

It was only at this moment that the entire familia could be seen together. While the atmosphere within the family was harmonious, it was not unlike the Freya Familia.

On most days, the members of the Sol Familia tended to act in small, tight-knit groups.

Even Sol himself rarely saw all of his family gathered in one place.

That's why he made the effort to attend today, to see his family off on the expedition.

To his surprise, in just a few short years, the size of his family had grown considerably.

It didn't quite feel real on a day-to-day basis.

But looking at his subordinates now, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of accomplishment.

'As expected of me!'

"We'll rest on the 18th floor, and then push all the way to the 50th floor without stopping!" Riveria announced.

"Yo! You little ones, follow me!!" Kled shouted, charging ahead as part of the first echelon.

The group moved far faster than expected, propelled by the wind created by Kled's advance.

As Riveria led the team through, they passed numerous magic stones and scattered materials on the ground. 

These were remnants left by the first echelon as they sped through. In their pursuit of speed, they had quickly dealt with the monsters they encountered along the way, leaving behind valuable items like magic stones and materials. These were considered unimportant by the first team, who had no time to waste on such "worthless" things.

Perhaps the adventurers who followed would get lucky and collect a few spoils.

"Let's move faster." Riveria muttered under her breath, prompting the team to quicken their pace.

It was only the upper floors, so why waste so much energy on the road?

Couldn't they show some concern for the short-legged yordle?

Lulu, who was in the second echelon, sighed helplessly. She whispered to herself, "Run faster," and did her best to keep up with the rest, her short legs moving swiftly.

The team reached the 18th floor far faster than expected. Given the circumstances, Riveria decided to change their course and descend to the 28th floor instead.

For them, there was no difference in difficulty between the middle and upper floors. The more ground they covered in one go, the closer they would be to the 50th floor.

"From here on out, don't burn through your magic too quickly. No matter what, wait until after the 38th floor," Riveria instructed.

Despite the ease of traveling on the upper levels and their rapid pace, several lower-level members and yordles were starting to struggle with the speed. 

There was no immediate danger on the middle layers, so there was no need to rush. The deeper layers would demand more of them, and that's where they needed to conserve their strength.

"I understand," Kennen replied, adjusting his pace.

"You know it's useless to rush now," Riveria said, glancing at him. "Kennen, you'll join the first echelon tomorrow. Show me what you've got!"

"Don't worry," Kennen answered with a confident grin.

After assigning tasks, Riveria allowed the group to rest and recuperate.

For the following day, the expedition team made slow but steady progress through the deeper floors of the dungeon.

Thanks to their experience from previous expeditions, Riveria and her team were able to navigate with precision, saving a significant amount of time.

They swiftly passed through the 49th floor, the location of Balor's last stand.

The masters of several floors had not yet respawned, allowing the group to progress without interruption.

It took just over two days for the first echelon to reach their goal: the 50th floor.

The Sol Familia was made up of seasoned adventurers, and they were well accustomed to being stationed here on every expedition.

However, this time, the 50th floor had already received its first guests.