"Welco back, everyone!"
As soon as they stepped through the Familia's gates, the crimson-haired goddess ca rushing out with unrestrained enthusiasm, flashing a lecherous grin more befitting a middle-aged man before lunging toward the female mbers.
The female mbers, including Ais and the others, dodged with practiced ease, clearly accustod to this behavior.
"Huh?"
Lefiya suddenly froze.
As those in front moved aside, she inadvertently found herself within Loki's "hunting range."
"Ha!"
Purely on instinct, Lefiya widened her stance and let out a sharp cry, flipping the oncoming Loki over her shoulder with a judo throw. The goddess landed with a loud thud, the back of her head smacking against the ground.
"...Lefiya, since when did you beco so bold?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Lefiya hurriedly apologized.
"Loki, this expedition was another success with no casualties. We even managed to venture into unexplored territory. I'll give you the full report later."
As per routine, Finn briefed Loki on the expedition's results.
Then, after a pause, he cautiously inquired,
"While we were away, did anything noteworthy happen in Orario?"
"Noteworthy?"
Loki sat up from the ground, scratching her chin in thought.
"Ten days ago, I presided over a God's Banquet, but otherwise, things have been peaceful... Oh, right! Two days ago, that runt's Familia mber leveled up to Level 2 after just over a month—right on Eiji's heels. That's probably the biggest news right now."
The "runt" undoubtedly referred to the Hestia Familia, aning the one who leveled up was the rabbit.
Under normal circumstances, reaching Level 2 in just over a month would have caused a huge stir. But with Eiji's precedent of reaching Level 5 in three months, it barely made waves.
"I see..."
Finn nodded thoughtfully.
It seed the Evilus faction hadn't made their move yet, which ant they still had ti to prepare.
That evening.
Most of the expedition mbers were physically and ntally exhausted, retiring to their rooms right after dinner.
Eiji, however, imdiately sought out Loki for a status update.
==========
[Eiji Nangou]
[LV·5]
[Strength: I·0 → G·234]
[Endurance: I·0 → G·257]
[Dexterity: I·0 → F·324]
[Agility: I·0 → E·541]
[Magic: I·0 → H·145]
==========
"Such small improvents."
Eiji frowned at his updated status, clearly dissatisfied.
His Developntal Abilities, Magic, and Skills remained unchanged—hardly worth a second glance. Only his basic abilities had seen any growth, and the overall power increase was minimal, nowhere near the leap he'd experienced upon reaching Level 5.
"Small?!"
Loki couldn't contain her outburst.
"When Ais and the others were Level 5, a single expedition would net them maybe a few dozen points at most. You gained over a thousand points in one go, and you're complaining?"
"The contrast is just too stark. Last expedition, I gained over five thousand points! And this ti, I even killed a Level 7 monster!"
"Oh please, as if you didn't slaughter Level 4s last ti too."
Loki rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, the great feat is already accomplished. All that's left is to raise your proficiency to level up. Keep at it, and at your current pace, I estimate it'll take about half a year."
That was still too long.
Eiji grumbled silently in his heart.
He didn't want to stay in this world for half a year, and it wasn't even his decision to make.
"Ais, you're here to update your status too?"
"Yeah."
As soon as he stepped out, Eiji saw the golden-haired, golden-eyed girl again.
She seed to have just taken a bath, her hair still slightly damp, and she had changed into her usual casual howear—a rather eye-catching backless outfit.
Apparently, it was Loki's demand, threatening to bite her tongue if she refused. Ais had no choice but to wear it.
Loki, you're doing great, Loki!
A short while later, Ais erged with a parchnt in hand. Judging by her slightly disappointed expression, the improvent must have been minimal.
Sure enough, when Eiji took a look at the parchnt, he saw that after reaching Level 6, even an entire expedition had only raised her stats by a little over eighty points. And that included the experience from battling an Level 7 monster.
"Huh? You're all here?"
Before long, Tiona and Tione arrived together at the door, greeting the two.
Needless to say, they were also here to update their statuses.
"I feel like this ti's gains should be huge!"
Tiona bead brightly as she and Tione entered Loki's room.
"Wooooooah! Level 6 is here! And two at once!"
A few minutes later, most of the Familia, already half-asleep, were jolted awake, and the entire place soon filled with curses directed at Loki.
"Haha, that's amazing!"
"This brings us one step closer to the captain!"
The two Amazons walked out with radiant smiles.
True to their twin nature, they had both simultaneously advanced to Level 6!
In the battle against the Demi Spirit's avatar, they had contributed their share, accumulating enough of a great feat as a team to et the level-up conditions.
"Huh?"
Then, the lone wolf figure appeared at the staircase, casting a particularly unfriendly glance at the group—especially Eiji.
"Ooooh! The full Level 6 lineup is here!"
Soon after, the already roused Familia sharpened their taphorical knives, ready to turn them on Loki.
"What's going on? Why do I feel like I'm the only one left behind?"
At Loki's door, Tiona and the others were already deep in lively conversation, the air brimming with joy. Even the usually taciturn Ais was genuinely happy for them.
Only Eiji felt a strange sense of urgency.
Before he joined, the Loki Familia had three Level 6s and four Level 5s.
After he and Ais leveled up, it beca four Level 6s and four Level 5s.
But now, after just one expedition, it was seven Level 6s and one Level 5.
Weird.
Even though reaching Level 5 in three months was sothing most people would consider slacking off for years, this feeling of falling behind made him feel out of place.
Being the only Level 5 in the entire Familia—wasn't that just wrong?
"I've decided. I'm going to reach Level 6 as soon as possible!"
Eiji's fighting spirit flared up.
"Stop it. If you actually beco Level 6, I might not be able to resist punching you!"
Tione gave him a strange look, cracking her knuckles ominously.
They had all been honing their skills at Level 5 for several years before finally using this battle as the turning point to level up.
If Eiji caught up in just a few months, they would truly lose their composure.
"But even so, how should I proceed to increase my proficiency now?"
The best way to quickly improve proficiency was to battle powerful enemies, preferably those whose strength surpassed one's own level.
However, after reaching Level 5, there were very few people in all of Orario who could face him head-on. Where could he find so many formidable opponents?
Though Eiji was full of fighting spirit, he couldn't help but feel troubled.
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