"What happened?" Hestia asked, seeing Takemikazuchi's anxious expression.

She quickly opened the door without inviting him in.

"Ouka and the others entered the middle floors a few days ago. They said they'd be back the day before yesterday, but it's been a day, and they still haven't returned. I'm really worried," Takemikazuchi said urgently.

His Familia members were always punctual and never broke promises.

This was their first time on the middle floors, and his concern had grown unbearable after a day of waiting.

He had planned to go to the Guild to issue a commission, but after hearing the Loki Familia had returned from their expedition, he recalled Hestia mentioning at a recent denatus that Orsted had joined them.

Since the Loki Familia was back, Orsted must be too.

So, he rushed to the Hearth Manor to seek help from his friend Hestia.

"Seventeen days past the agreed time, and they still haven't returned!" Hestia exclaimed, shocked.

She would be just as anxious in his place.

"Orsted, please help!" Both gods turned to Orsted.

"I'll check it out," Orsted said, nodding slightly.

In the anime, the Takemikazuchi Familia faced danger on their first trip to the middle floors and only survived by luring monsters toward Bell and his party.

Without Bell this time, it was uncertain if they could survive after a day.

Still, Takemikazuchi was Hestia's divine friend, and for her sake, Orsted was willing to help.

Honestly, Orsted wasn't surprised by the Takemikazuchi Familia's actions in the anime.

Choosing survival over sacrifice was understandable.

Faced with a choice between comrades and strangers, Orsted would likely do the same. He might feel guilt afterward but wouldn't regret it.

Of course, that was easy to say since it hadn't happened to him. If it did, Orsted would likely eliminate the threat entirely.

Without delay, Orsted headed toward Babel, not bothering with defensive gear.

The middle floors didn't require it. With his strength, he didn't take them seriously.

Orsted was an all rounder warrior, having reached max status through four consecutive rank-ups.

His abilities were overwhelmingly powerful.

The middle floors were trivial, and even the lower floors posed no challenge.

Like Ottar, who ventured to the 37th floor without armor, or agile adventurers like Finn, who skipped defensive equipments on expeditions, Orsted moved with confidence.

He was fast. Though he didn't use his Instant skill, he reached Babel in minutes.

But as he approached, his body stiffened. He glanced up at Babel's peak.

Freya was watching him again, her gaze even more intense, almost burning.

Shaking off the sensation, Orsted ignored Freya's usual behavior and entered Babel.

At the same moment, atop Babel, Freya stood by a window, dressed lightly, holding a glass of red wine.

She swirled it elegantly, but her trembling body betrayed her inner turmoil.

"What a dazzling light. It's almost melting me. I want to hold Orsted in my arms and kiss him," Freya murmured, downing her wine.

She hugged herself tightly, her boobs trembling.

No one witnessed this captivating scene.

In the anime, after Bell Cranel reached level 4 and returned from a Guild-mandated expedition, Freya confessed her feelings.

When rejected, she used her charm to turn Orario into her personal playground, sparking a war game.

Even if Freya tried that with him, Orsted wasn't afraid.

His charm resistance had grown, though he wasn't sure it could withstand Freya's power.

But he had other means.

Last night, he'd confirmed with Hestia that her arcanum, tied to the hearth, remained intact despite no longer being a virgin goddess.

With his rising strength, Freya might act as she did in the anime. Orsted had already asked Hestia to prepare countermeasures.

If Freya crossed him, he was ready to fight back.

But that was for later.

Orsted entered the dungeon and swiftly reached the 18th middle floor, searching for the Takemikazuchi Familia.

The middle floors were vast, and without a perception skill, finding them was challenging. Orsted began a systematic search, starting from the 13th floor and moving downward.

After hours, he found a clue at the passage from the 14th to the 15th floor. Scattered supplies lay on the ground, and Orsted grew quiet.

The good news: no bodies of the Takemikazuchi Familia were found. The bad news: they had been forced this far, likely exhausted and taking risks.

They seemed to be heading to the 18th floor. Otherwise, they wouldn't have entered the 15th floor, where Minotaurs appeared.

The Takemikazuchi Familia had only two level 2 members, Kashima Ouka and Chigusa, capable of handling Minotaurs.

The rest were liabilities.

They wouldn't have come here unless escape was impossible.

Shaking his head, Orsted didn't dwell on it and stepped into the passage.

---

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