[Arachnia] Valletta's eyes narrowed as she reviewed the report detailing the safe return of all members of the Astraea Familia. Her gaze then shifted to a second sheet of paper, one that held only a few terse lines of information.

A moment of silence passed before her crimson lips curled into a sinister grin.

"Akira… Is this because of that new member?" She muttered with a trace of intrigue in her voice. "Special magic, perhaps?"

Vito, who had been idly holding his chin in both hands, perked up with curiosity gleaming in his eyes. He tilted his head slightly and asked, "So, what was the point of using those Kaensekis? Did we get any results?"

Though Olivas was only a Level 3 adventurer, the twisted modifications made to his body had elevated his physical capabilities to that of a Level 5. Coupled with his monstrous taming ability, he was one of their deadliest assets.

The experiment was simple—detonate the Kaesekis and lure a monster to the blast site on the 26th floor, then observe what impact the explosion had on the dungeon's integrity.

But what he saw... was Akira slaughtering the Juggernaut.

"Tch. The results came in, alright. But it didn't go the way we expected." Olivas sneered darkly.

He hadn't witnessed the entire event—only the grotesque form of the Juggernaut tearing through the dungeon. Yet, with his extensive experience, Olivas could discern the truth. This was no ordinary beast. It was something born of the dungeon's wrath, summoned through severe destruction.

Suppressing his growing resentment, Olivas clicked his tongue and declared, "Too much damage to the dungeon leads to a new type of monster appearing. That much is clear."

Then his lips curled into a malicious smirk, and his voice dropped with venom. "Still, that monster seemed pretty weak if even that little brat could kill it."

Valletta nodded thoughtfully, wasting no time in writing down a full summary of the results. Her quill danced across the parchment swiftly, etching out a detailed report to be delivered to their absent god, who was still out searching for allies.

"I see. I'll make sure to report everything clearly to Rudra-sama."

Her tone was cold and steady, like steel honed on the battlefield. Then she paused, lips curling into a twisted smile that made her normally elegant features grotesque.

"He wrote in his letter that he's finally located the ally he was searching for. He'll likely return within the month."

As her words echoed through the underground chamber, Valletta's smile stretched wider—almost feral.

"Then... it'll finally be time to strike."

She slammed her hand down on the table and declared, "I won't let you off easy this time, Finn. Nor any of you Order familias!"

Her voice reverberated through the dimly lit hideout, filled with hatred, bloodlust, and the promise of a storm to come.

At that very moment, soft rays of golden light filtered through the narrow cracks of Astraea's bedroom window, washing over the quiet room like a gentle tide.

In this warm serenity, Akira slowly opened his eyes beneath the goddess's luxurious sheets. Still caught in a haze of sleep, he rubbed his eyes and yawned before casting teleportation magic.

In a blink, he reappeared in his own room, moving swiftly and fluidly—his body already conditioned to daily routines. He washed up, dressed neatly, and headed toward the kitchen, his steps full of youthful energy.

As he pushed open the door, he was greeted by a scene of calm.

In the expansive kitchen, only Astraea sat at the table. A single breakfast had been set, and she appeared to be waiting just for him.

Akira's expression lit up, and he raised his hand in greeting, his voice filled with brightness. "Good morning, Astraea-sama."

Astraea looked up with a smile as radiant as starlight, her hands gently supporting her chin.

"You're up, Akira. I was just about to come fetch you."

As he stepped into the room, he noticed something unusual. There was no one else around. Curious, he walked over and sat down across from her.

"Is everyone else still asleep?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.

Instead of answering immediately, Astraea gracefully picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of fragrant black tea. She then uncovered the plate before him, revealing a freshly prepared breakfast.

"Eat. This is a new recipe I tried while you were on your expedition." She said gently, her voice brimming with affection.

"As for everyone else, they've already eaten. They're at the training ground now, adjusting and sparring."

Akira blinked in surprise, then eagerly picked up a bite of food. The moment it touched his tongue, his eyes sparkled.

"Astraea-sama's cooking is the best!" He exclaimed with his mouth still full, his praise slightly muffled but unmistakably sincere.

Astraea chuckled softly at his enthusiastic reaction, her cheeks glowing with subtle warmth.

"So they're already training, huh... But the expedition just ended. Isn't that a bit too soon?" Akira asked in disbelief as he swallowed.

"Well…" Astraea leaned in slightly, a playful glint in her eye. "It's probably because Akira was the only one who handled all the tough monsters on this expedition. I'm sure they're a bit... frustrated."

Akira paused mid-chew, processing her words, and then gave a sheepish grin.

"I see... Then I should help them out later." He replied with a renewed sense of purpose, quickly polishing off the rest of his breakfast.

Moments later, dishes washed and dried, Akira stepped out of the kitchen alongside Astraea. They made their way to the training ground, where the rhythmic clashing of wooden weapons echoed in the air.

There, Alise, Kaguya, and Ryuu were engaged in a fierce three-way duel.

"Hah!"

Alise let out a sharp cry as she parried Ryuu's swift diagonal slash, then pivoted gracefully to deflect Kaguya's sudden strike from the right.

At the start of the bout, it was clear that Alise had been at a disadvantage, forced to face a coordinated pincer attack. But that had only lasted a few minutes.

As time went on, her recent level up began to show its power. Her movements grew sharper, faster, and more precise. Every swing of her wooden sword carried a force that belied its humble material.