CHAPTER 807: CHAPTER 632: THE HARDWORKING GIRLS

Within the Loki familia, aside from Loki and Ais, others also ventured onto the streets on the day of the monster festival.

Facing today’s annual big event, many girls from the Loki familia actually took a day off for themselves, heading to the streets, either immersing in the joy of shopping or going to the coliseum to watch performances, becoming part of the lively festival.

Theona, Theone, and Rephia formed one such small group.

The three girls, who were quite eye-catching in every sense, were also strolling down East Main Street, heading towards the coliseum while chatting without a care.

"Hmm hmm—"

Theona crossed her arms, unusually wearing a serious expression, making strange sounds.

"Theona, you’re so noisy." Theone, quite dissatisfied with this, said, "From the moment we stepped out till now, you’ve constantly been like this, what’s going on?"

"Yeah, Miss Theona." Rephia, seemingly observing Theona all along, quickly chimed in upon seeing Theone starting the conversation, and said, "Is there something that’s bothering you?"

"Of course there is." Theona pouted and said, "I want to invite Ais out."

"Just that?" Theone was a bit exasperated, "For this reason, you’ve been sulking since you stepped out?"

"Yes, can’t I?" Theona bluntly said, "I really want Ais to cheer up."

On this topic, Rephia also had something to say.

"Miss Ais has indeed been quite spiritless lately."

The elf girl, who unsurprisingly always kept an eye on her idol, expressed this sentiment.

"Right?" Theona raised her hand, grumbling, "Even though she reached Lv.6 ahead of us, catching up with Finn and the others, Ais doesn’t seem happy at all, which is completely unlike her usual self!"

Theona’s words made Theone instinctively raise her brows and retort.

"It’s just a recent advancement to Lv.6, she wants to catch up with the captain who has been working hard at Lv.6 for so many years, that’s impossible, right?" Theone defended her beloved a bit before continuing, "But indeed, this is not like her usual self. Normally, even if she’s oblivious, she’d still feel happy, wouldn’t she?"

The entire Loki familia knew how obsessed Ais was with her own strength.

This girl, indifferent to everything except her strength, pursued it with a near-maniacal zeal.

This version of Ais, having accomplished a remarkable feat by advancing to Lv.6 and becoming the first member of Loki familia to catch up with the Headquarters Camp, was not only unenthused but also dispirited, which was somewhat abnormal for her.

"Is she still thinking about Reiger?"

Theone, after all, was much smarter than her sister who seemed to have only brainpower the size of a grain of rice, and quickly connected the dots to the cause.

The one who reacted to this was, as before, the elf girl Rephia.

"Didn’t Loki say that Mister Reiger wasn’t missing but had things to attend to?" Rephia said with some concern, "Could that be a lie?"

"Probably not." Theone shook her head, "The captain and others accepted that explanation. If Loki were lying, they would’ve seen through it."

Having spent decades with Loki and being the closest to her, the leaders, although unlike gods who could see through the lies of mortals, their long-term interaction made them highly perceptive to Loki’s character, easily discerning if she was lying.

So, if even the three from the Headquarters Camp accepted Loki’s explanation, this was likely true.

But...

"What is being attended to exactly? Also not giving us a prior notice!" Theona said angrily, "Isn’t this being too distant?"

"Is this about being distant?" Theone was much more realistic than Theona, calmly said, "Everyone has their own secrets, right? If he has private matters he can’t disclose, it’s quite normal, as long as neither Loki nor the captain object, we shouldn’t worry unnecessarily."

"After all, that guy is already Lv.5, it’s unlikely he’d encounter dangers he can’t handle."

"If he faces something even he can’t solve, then neither can we, right?"

As Theone articulated this, the just-about-to-say-something Rephia instantly fell silent.

The elf girl, being only Lv.3, obviously resonated with Theone’s perspective—if even a Lv.5 couldn’t solve Reiger’s matters, she certainly couldn’t either.

Theona also got stuck, then seemingly deflated and drooped her shoulders.

"With Reiger at Lv.5 and Ais already at Lv.6, and us just staying in place, it’s truly frustrating!" Theona said with an unusual sigh, "If we don’t keep striving, we might get left far behind by those two, right?"

"...We’re actually doing pretty well." Theone, somewhat grumpily, said, "Look at the other members of the familia, all of them being seniors to Reiger, yet in just a few months, he surpassed them, leaving most of them in disappointment."

"Speaking of which, Raul and Angel have also been missing lately, seemed to have gone to the underground city?" Theona suddenly recalled, "Really picking up bad habits, constantly running to the underground city, isn’t it just like that nasty wolf?"

"No, are you seriously saying that?" Theone squinted at Theona, "Haven’t you been constantly delving into the underground city lately too?"

"...Seems like it!" Theona only realized this now, simultaneously amazed and pouted, "But it’s unfortunately ineffective!"

No way, only being able to go there and back within a day means the depth of exploration in the underground city is limited, it’s impossible to go too far.

And the monsters in the shallower levels are, in front of a Lv.5 adventurer, just a batch of trash fish that can be slaughtered easily.

Killing such trash fish is useless, no matter how many you kill.

If Theona and others had only just advanced to Lv.5, there’d still be some use.

However, they’re not.

Whether it’s Theona, Theone, or Bert, all three have nearly reached the end at Lv.5.

The parameters of Theona’s basic abilities in "Strength," "Endurance," and "Agility" have all reached A, with the remaining "Dexterity" also reaching B. Due to the lack of magic, her "Magic Power" remains at 0 proficiency.

Theone’s "Strength" has also reached A, while the remaining "Endurance," "Dexterity," and "Agility" have all reached B, with only "Magic Power" at G.

Bert’s "Agility" has reached S, with "Strength" and "Dexterity" both at B, and "Endurance" at C, while "Magic Power," like Theona’s, is at 0 proficiency.

The three have reached the peak of their respective fields, with barely any room for further growth, just like Ais when she was Lv.5. No matter how hard they try or how many monsters they kill, there is little growth to be gained.

Now, there is only one large-scale method left for these three to grow significantly.

That is to achieve great achievements, like Ais, and advance to the next stage.

Otherwise, they will remain stuck in place.

"If this continues, with Reiger’s growth speed, we’ll truly be caught up!" Theona shouted, raising her hands high. "Alright! We must level up in the next expedition! We absolutely can’t let Reiger catch up! We have to overtake Ais too!"

"Having such ambition is great, but could you not shout so loudly? It’s embarrassing!" Theone sighed, covering her face, and said, "Rephia, can you talk to her?"

"Ah-haha... Ah-hahaha..." Rephia let out a dry laugh.

Still, the young elf girl also secretly clenched her small fists.

(I must work hard too...)

Recalling the girl she had always admired, and the boy she had come to similarly revere in these past few months, the elf girl felt spurred on.

After all, she was Reiger’s teammate.

When Reiger was Lv.1, she was Lv.3, placed by Loki at Reiger’s side to explore the underground city together and eager to grow.

Now, Reiger was Lv.5, while she remained Lv.3.

And unknowingly, even the swordswoman she had long admired had leveled up, becoming the first in the familia to join the Headquarters Camp at Lv.6.

Both of her admired role models were moving forward, making efforts to progress, and if she continued to stand still, she would likely lose the qualification to stay by their sides, following their shadows.

That was unacceptable.

Even if her legs were broken, she must catch up with those two.

Not asking to match their pace, but at least not to be left behind.

(In the next expedition, I will also strive to advance to the next stage.)

This was the solitary wish that the elf girl buried in her heart.

"Hmm?"

At this moment, Rephia stopped in her tracks, tilting her small head, puzzled.

"What’s wrong, Rephia?"

"Did you see someone familiar? Could it be Ais?"

Theone and Theona immediately stopped and turned around to look at Rephia.

"N-No..." Rephia hesitated and spoke hesitantly, "Did you two just feel the ground shake?"

The twin sisters were taken aback.

"A shake?"

"Did it?"

They both looked down at the ground.

Suddenly—

"Boom!"

A loud explosion sounded, as a building next to the street was violently smashed into ruins.

"Ah!"

Rephia was instantly shook to the ground, crying out in surprise.

"Rephia!"

"W-What was that...!?"

Theona and Theone immediately reacted, one rushing towards Rephia, and the other looking in astonishment at the shattered building.

In the rubble, a massive dark shadow appeared.

......

In a dim, deserted alley, Reiger suddenly opened his eyes.

"Found it."

The next second, Reiger vanished from where he stood.