Chapter 654: The Name of the Black Robe, the Goddess's Reward, Meeting the Forge

"What exactly happened here……"

At the edge of the deep lake on the 26th Floor, roughly one hour after Broly finished cleaning up the magic stones and drop items from the Twin-Headed Dragon and left, an adventurer party finally approached this side to check the situation.

"Look here……"

The party leader adventurer crouched down, pointing at the damaged wall that was slowly repairing bit by bit, yet because it had gotten stained with some fine red crystal powder, the repair was extremely slow.

"This is the Blue Waterfall Dominant's Red Crystal Mist. Someone must have encountered that Floor Master and engaged in battle, which created the scene we see now."

"What was the result?"

"From when we heard the commotion on the 27th Floor until it ended, it was only a few minutes. In such a short time, the guy who ran into the Twin-Headed Dragon was either wiped out or fled."

The male elf speculated.

"Isn't there a possibility that the Twin-Headed Dragon 【Amphisbaena】 was subjugated?"

"Hah, how could that…… be possible?!"

The male elf's words of denial lost their voice the moment he saw the blood-stained scale in the captain's hand.

A monster's remains, even scales, can only persist for long if they are drop items.

It had been about over an hour since they came here to the 26th Floor.

The battle commotion had disappeared for this long, yet a Crystal Dragon Scale could still be found here, proving that Twin-Headed Dragon had likely already been successfully subjugated.

"I found this in a rock crevice. The one who subjugated the Twin-Headed Dragon must have overlooked this scale because of that."

But compared to picking up a valuable dragon scale, this group of high-level adventurers was more curious about just who had subjugated the Twin-Headed Dragon Floor Master in such a short time.

"That thing has Lv. 6 strength in the water. Just which of Orario's teams pulled it off? Could it be the Loki Familia went on another expedition?"

"Or maybe Ottar of the Freya Familia?"

"Ah, if it's that Mighty One, then it's certainly possible he could solve the Floor Master 【Amphisbaena】 in a short time."

As these adventurers reasoned, they began heading toward the Middle Floors. When they reached the 18th Floor of the Labyrinth, rested in Rivira, and were drinking in the tavern that evening discussing this matter.

"Clack—"

The wooden sake cup in the hand of the man sitting at another table suddenly slipped from his grasp and fell.

"Hey hey hey, Moduo, are you drunk?"

His drinking companion at the same table asked with a laugh.

"You said the Twin-Headed Dragon was subjugated?"

Moduo ignored his companion and instead asked the adventurers over there who were talking about Amphisbaena's subjugation.

"What's wrong, Moduo? Do you know who subjugated it?"

The male elf looked over.

"Of course. The intel on the Floor Master was bought from me, after all."

Moduo puffed out his chest.

"But, was the Moving Floor Master really subjugated?"

"This can't be fake. This scale is proof."

The blood-stained dragon scale picked up for free was produced, and the adventurers in the tavern no longer doubted.

"Moduo, who was the guy who bought intel from you?"

"An unfamiliar stranger I don't know. Wearing a black robe. I didn't get a look at what was under the black robe, but his class should be a Mage. Able to manipulate something like ice sheets under his feet, carrying himself flying in the sky, just like riding a Magic Stone Elevator."

"Hah, how is that possible?"

"I'm not lying. There are people here who have also seen him. You can ask them whether what I said is true or not."

"What Boss Moduo says is true. We can prove this point."

"Yeah, he even earned 50,000 Valis from that mysterious Black-Robed Mage. Otherwise, why would he be so generous as to treat us to drinks?"

"Hey hey hey, you mean to say I'm normally a stingy guy?!"

Rivira's largest tavern grew rowdy, but without a doubt, the name of the Black-Robed Mage began spreading among the adventurers here.

Only because the opponent, suspected to be a Mage, seemed to have single-handedly successfully subjugated the Twin-Headed Dragon Floor Master 【Amphisbaena】, known as the Mage Killer.

But since they didn't know the identity or the name, the adventurers here temporarily gave the opponent the codename 【Black-Robed Dragon Hunter】.

At the same time, in the 【Mistress of Fertility】 Restaurant, there were also adventurers recounting how they today encountered a Black-Robed Mage capable of instant-cast water blade magic.

"You don't know. That guy's water magic had absolutely no chant. He just raised a hand and pointed, and at least dozens of water magic spells like knife blades sliced past us."

"Of course, we also knew those attacks couldn't harm us, so we didn't make any dodging movements."

"During the standoff with him, the atmosphere was extremely tense."

"Fortunately, that person seemed wary of us and chose to temporarily avoid the limelight……"

"Instant-cast magic without chanting, huh. That's something I've never heard of. For a customer to be able to face off against such a person, that's truly amazing!"

"Ah, no such thing, Xier Jiejie. I merely kept my composure in the face of danger."

"Tch. The bad habit of bragging just because a cute girl is watching."

A female adventurer from the same team looked displeased, poking at the meat steak in front of her with a fork.

"Then, Kavon the Courageous, would you like another Courage Set Meal? Limited-time special price, only 400 Valis……"

"Ah, then, Xier Jiejie, I'll have another one."

"Very well, please wait a moment."

"A simple young adventurer, tricked by Xier again."

At the counter, the Black Cat Chloe and the Black Fist Lunona bumped heads and began complaining rather helplessly.

"This is about increasing sales. And if you want to blame someone, you can only blame the guys who get dizzy and disoriented from being attracted by Xier's cute appearance."

The other Cat Person Ania leaned in and said.

"Alright, you three, no slacking. Hurry up and help serve the food."

In the kitchen, an elf girl poked her head out, saw the three of them idling and chatting, and hurried over to urge them.

"Fine, Roli, let's get to work."

On the other side, Broly and Hestia dined together at a stewed meat restaurant, Broly quietly recounting his adventure in the Dungeon Labyrinth today while eating.

After Hestia heard him say he went to hunt the Floor Boss of the 26th Floor, she immediately rounded the table from across and began checking his physical condition.

"Are you hurt?"

"I'm not hurt. That guy was indeed somewhat hard to deal with; if relying only on magic, it would probably take some effort to finish him off, but I used fist techniques—just like this, two punches, one fist to each of that guy's two heads—and KO'd him."

Broly gestured with left and right punching motions, making it hard for Hestia to imagine the scene of the boy knocking down the Floor Boss with his small fists.

"It's fine that you're unharmed, but I agreed to let you go to the Middle Floors, and instead you went straight to the Lower Floors, and even went to hunt a Floor Boss. Broly, do you know doing this would make me worry?"

Hestia said with hands on her hips.

"Um, Lady Hestia, I actually shouldn't have let you know?"

Broly retorted.

"That's even worse, Broly. You must be honest with me, your Goddess."

Hestia reached out, pinched the boy's cheek, and said.

"Okay, Lady Hestia, I will be honest with you."

Broly, whose face was being pinched, agreed directly.

"Sigh~"

After pinching for a while, Hestia let go, then began to sigh.

"What's wrong, Lady Hestia?"

Broly looked at the Loli Goddess strangely.

"Your harvest this time must be great, but for now, I don't know how to handle your harvest."

Hestia said.

"Huh, Lady Hestia, didn't you say last night you had Divine Friend connections and could handle it?"

Broly looked at her in surprise.

"I do, but I thought it was just handling ordinary Drop Items. I didn't expect you to directly go fight a Floor Boss of the Lower Floors. And after monsters of that level are subjugated, it takes time for the Dungeon to regenerate them. Their Magic Stones and Drop Items can basically be matched, and even if made into finished Commodities for sale, they could easily be discovered by others..."

Hestia showed a troubled look, but when she lowered her eyes, she would occasionally sneak glances at the boy's expression.

"In that case, we just won't sell that Floor Boss's Magic Stone and Drop Items externally."

"But that would reduce your harvest for the day."

"But wouldn't that make Lady Hestia feel at ease?"

"But this way, Lady Hestia can feel at ease, right?"

Hestia blushed.

"Actually, the Floor Boss Drop Items of the Lower Floors can still be handled. But if you really want me to feel at ease, Broly, don't run off to the Deep Labyrinth haphazardly and make people worry. At least, if you're going to go to the Deeper Labyrinth, say hello to me first."

This was what Hestia really wanted to say. Her friend Hephaestus's Familia was, after all, a High Level Familia; swallowing Magic Stones and Drop Items like those of Lower Floor Floor Bosses shouldn't be a problem.

But the main issue was that Hestia worried Broly might, without a word tomorrow, run off to the Unknown Exploration Floor of the Dungeon Labyrinth.

And that was very possible. After all, yesterday he was in the Upper Floors, today he jumped two levels straight to the Lower Floors and took down a Floor Boss. So tomorrow, would he blast through the entire Dungeon?

Being able to blast through the Dungeon was one thing, but if he couldn't, and Broly encountered danger and met with misfortune, wouldn't she herself become a lonely God again?

Hestia absolutely did not want that. So she wanted to restrict Broly's reckless actions of recklessly delving deep into the Dungeon.

In Hestia's view, this was for the boy's own good.

"Mm, Lady Hestia, I promise you. If I need to delve into the Dungeon, I will definitely ask you first."

Regarding this, Broly did not refuse. He did not emphasize or even prove his own strength, but chose a gentle attitude, accepting his Goddess's care for him, even somewhat enjoying her nervousness and concern for him.

And when this concern and nervousness received his positive response, correspondingly, the Happiness Value would also increase.

Indeed, the Crystal Palace in his consciousness began to prompt that the Loli Goddess's Happiness Value in front of him was continuously rising.

Broly's obedient and well-behaved nature made Hestia very satisfied. She sat back down opposite him and scooped up a piece of Stewed Meat with a Spoon.

"Although we can't publicize it widely, a low-key celebration is still fine. Broly, congratulations on subjugating the Floor Boss of the Lower Floors. This is my Reward for you..."

The Loli Goddess personally fed him again, and Broly did not refuse.

After eating the Stewed Meat, he saw Hestia opposite him take a bite herself.

Then she offered him another bite.

【This also counts as multiple indirect kisses, exchanging Body Fluids with the boy, right~】

Hestia thought with red cheeks, and for a Virgin Goddess of the Heavenly Realm like her, this was already considered quite Bold.

Broly didn't know what Hestia was thinking. As long as the Goddess extended the Spoon to feed him in front of him, he would open his mouth and eat.

Broly didn't know what Hestia was thinking; as long as the Goddess held the spoon out in front of him and fed him, he would open his mouth and eat.

Meanwhile, on Broly's side, while Hestia fed him spoon by spoon in this indirect-kiss style, the boy named Bell Cranel found the burly man of the Soma Familia in the Tavern—the one who had taken his money yesterday and said he'd recommend him into a Familia—and received this reply from him.

"This matter isn't easy to handle, because someone else also wants to join our Familia. Here's what we'll do, boy: do you still have money on you?"

"Ah, only four thousand Valis left."

"Hand it all over. I'll help you pull some strings. I'll give you news tomorrow. For now, don't disturb my drinking. Go back and wait for news."

Just like that, the white-haired boy had the little money left on him taken away again, and was shoved out of the Tavern by the burly man.

The Tavern door was closed, and the noisy voices of drunkards sounded from inside. Bell stood before the closed Tavern door, looking at a loss.

"If I were you, I wouldn't hold hope for joining a Familia, and I'd stay as far away as possible from the guy who might exploit you."

Hearing this, Bell turned around and saw a petite girl wearing a Gray Robe.

Hearing this, Bell turned his head and saw a petite small girl wearing a Gray Robe.

"Ah, what do you mean by that?"

He hurriedly asked.

"Nothing much, I just thought this guy's head isn't quite bright, so I said it offhand."

Liliruca didn't mean to explain further; she just felt a bit of pity seeing this guy being deceived without realizing it, so she gave a slight reminder.

But all she could do was remind him once; as for explaining to the boy the fact that he was being deceived, sorry, she didn't have that ability.

And she didn't want to be targeted by scum from the same Familia; if she was seen as someone who ruined things, getting beaten was inevitable.

After speaking, Liliruca left directly, and Bell subconsciously followed, but the girl ahead turned a corner and vanished.

The boy returned to the inn with worry, the words of the Pallum girl at the tavern entrance made him vaguely realize something, but like someone who had been scammed and already transferred money, still holding a sliver of hope that they hadn't been scammed, the boy hadn't completely given up.

However, for Bell, tonight was a sleepless night of tossing and turning, and that was destined.

After dinner, Broly followed Hestia to the Hephaestus Familia's base.

"Lady Hephaestus, Lady Hestia is here to see you."

When the Familia child came to report, Hephaestus was forging iron.

"Hestia, do you need any help?"

The woman with wine-red hair, tall figure, black eye patch over her right eye, wearing a white top, black long pants, and knee-high heeled boots, showed a somewhat helpless expression after seeing Hestia downstairs, and asked straightforwardly.

"Ah, Hephaestus, how did you know I came to ask for your help?"

Hearing this, Hestia showed a surprised expression; in her understanding, her friend Hephaestus shouldn't have the ability of prophecy.

【Over two months, you've come to my door asking for help over twenty times, either because you had no place to live, or because you spent all your money, or because you caused some trouble, like burning down a part-time job shop...】

Hephaestus thought to herself, the helplessness on her face increased a bit, but she could do nothing about this situation; even though every time she said it was the last time helping Hestia, the last time often became the time before the last time due to Hestia's begging, but who made Hestia her bosom friend in Heaven?

Of course, this time seemed a bit different; Hestia had a boy she didn't know by her side, and the boy had the aura of Falna.

Yes, a child with Falna by their side, staying with Hestia, their relationship with her divine friend was self-evident.

"You've brought your own Familia child to my place; is the thing you need help with hard to guess?"

Hephaestus said with a smile, and as long as Hestia wasn't continuing to mark time in Orario living a drifting life, she was still willing to give this divine friend's starting Familia some help.

"What, not going to introduce me to your Familia child?"

"Ah, this is Broly, he's a very obedient child."

Hestia hurriedly said, and introduced Broly to the red-haired goddess in front of them.

"This is Hephaestus, my bosom friend in Heaven."

"Greetings, Lady Hephaestus."

Broly nodded and greeted the goddess before him who had a similarly ample chest.

"Hello to you too, Broly. Hestia is a difficult goddess to take care of, so please be more tolerant in the future; if you encounter difficulties, you can come to me."

"Ah, Hephaestus, what do you mean by saying I'm a burden child?"

【Because I don't want to see you crying and running to me one day, saying you were abandoned by your own Familia child!】

Hephaestus thought, and she knew better than anyone how hard it was for a Familia starting from zero in Orario, but she couldn't tell Hestia the truth to her face: "I just want to provide some help as your friend to your Familia's first child, like an elder's care for a junior."

"Thank you, Lady Hephaestus, but Lady Hestia is a goddess who is easy to take care of; I will definitely take good care of her in the future."

However, Broly's reply surprised her.

Hephaestus looked the boy up and down carefully, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"He really is a reliable and cute child; then Hestia, I'll entrust her to you."

Hephaestus greeted the two to sit down, then continued.

"Now, Hestia, let's talk about business; what help do you need? Do you need a set of beginner adventurer equipment for your child to dive into the Dungeon?"

Hephaestus thought she would get a definite answer from Hestia, but unexpectedly saw the Loli Goddess friend shake her head.

"Not that; Broly can already dive into the Dungeon. This time I came to ask you to help handle this child's magic stones and drops obtained from defeating monsters in the Dungeon."

(Chapter End)