On the sixth floor, a new insect monster spawned. A fierce four-legged red ant swinging its two arms around. I retreated a step and let Nao do her magic. Nao's wind blade blew it away but its shell was still unscathed.

"I should get serious too," Nao mumbled and thrust her hand over my shoulder. "Wind Blast!" ​​

A vicious gust flung the ant in the air and enclosed around its body.

"Crush."

The barrier condensed and effortlessly crushed the ant.

—You earned 100 XP from killing [Level 5 Killer Ant]

Her new technique was unique…

*Crack* *Crack* *Crack*

More killer ants spawned around us. It wasn't all as I sensed footsteps coming from the next corridors.

Time to get serious.

I thrust my hand and my mana swirled within my body. "Barrett."

Phenex's flame spiraled into a bullet and ended three ant's life before they popped out of the dungeon.

'Klyscha, silent—'

(Done!)

I nodded and proceeded to cast a barrage of Barretts, effectively ending the horde.

Good XP.

Nao gulped down a mana potion.

After we cleared the floor, the dungeon slowed down in creating new monsters.

"Ready—" I paused and spun around. Weak footsteps arrived alongside a man's laughter, intensifying each second.

I waited until several figures appeared in the corridor.

The guy with gray hair and two wolf ears up top his head pointed at me. "The fuc' are they?"

Beside him stood a small blonde guy with a spear over his shoulder, a dwarf with a horned helmet over his head.

Standing behind him was a jade-haired woman wearing a white mage's robe. Her leaf-like pointed ears, porcelain white skin, and a calm expression—everything gave her the impression of a refined noble. An expressionless blonde loli held her hand, two swords hanging from her waist.

In the far back, two black-haired lolis with tanned skin followed. Their only distinction being their hairstyle. One had medium-length hair while the other had long hair with two thin braids. I remembered them. The former was Tiona and the latter being Tione, the amazoness sisters, part of the infamous Loki Familia.

Who could have thought I would run into them on my first day here?

The spearman held the wolf back. "Is she injured?"

He must be Finn, the level 6 spearman with a hero complex.

"C'mon, Cap. Like we care about some newbies'?" The wolf guy's voice crawled on my nerves.

Bete, the annoying wolf.

The elf woman shook her head. "She looks fine except exhausted."

The werewolf's amber eyes glowed with disdain. "The rookies biting more than their weak asses could chew."

"Says the guy who couldn't protect his lover," I muttered under my breath. His tragic story earned no sympathy for me.

"What'cha saying, boy?" He growled, lunging at me.

But the dwarf grabbed his waist, holding him in a lock.

Rivera sighed. "Don't take his words seriously. He has been through a lot."

My lips curled up. "I can't be bothered to be worked up for every dog's bark."

"Pffft." Nao broke into laughter. She got off my back and bowed. "Please forgive his rudeness. He tends to provoke others for no reason."

Riveria waved her hand. "It's fine… but did you destroy the walls there?"

"Yeah, did you do it?"

"Stop kiddin' me. Ya think a nameless gigolo like him did that—" a wind blade flew by his ears, shaving a few strands of his hair off his head.

Nao inclined her head a little. "Please don't insult Asahi-kun."

Bete took a step back, his wolf ears shaking in fear.

The elegant elf stroked her chin and exchanged subtle glances with Finn.

Nao had used magic without a chant. That's what they discussed through their eyes.

So easy to read.

Loli Ais approached in little steps and stood before Nao. "Wind?"

Nao bent and patted Ais's head. "Yes, Wind."

Ais tilted her head, her golden eyes stoic like a cute doll. "Who are you? You look… strong."

Nao looked at me and scratched her cheeks. "Nao Marikawa, from an unnamed village outside Orario."

Even she felt guilty lying to a loli.

"Ais, we are going." Riveria pulled Ais with her arms around the loli's neck. "We apologize for delaying you here."

Finn and Riveria glanced at us for the last time and moved past us into the cave leading down with the amazon with long hair. Gareth laughed as he dragged the growling wolf away. Tione trailed Finn while Tiona kept eying me.

"Hello?"

"Get back'ere loser!" Bete's yell echoed in the corridor. "We gotta show you the ropes around the dungeon."

Tiona shifted her eyes between her group and me before she rushed away.

Loser? Weren't Tiona and Tione stronger than the wolf? Showing the ropes? Wait… did they just join Loki Familia and it's their first expedition?

"Let them go. We will wait here for twenty minutes. It should be enough for the monsters to respawn."

Nao spread a blanket on the ground and sat in seiza position. I jumped at the opportunity to rest my head on her lap.

"Ah… there is no substitute for Nao onee-san's plump thighs."

"Honestly… Asahi-kun. Why are you so childish…?" Her fingers weaved through my hair as she gazed down at my face. "Then again, I would have never approached you if you acted like a proper adult."

"Oi, you mean I am not a proper adult?"

"You are reading too much between the lines," she said, giggling. "What will we do about lunch?"

"I will ask my Goddess to cook something."

Klyscha will be happy to do it.

"Asking Goddess to cook for you, only you can say it with this much confidence."

"I know. I am too special."

Nao sighed and pulled my cheeks. "I need to whip you in shape, my dear future husband."

Sometimes her words itched my heart and soul.

—x—x—x—

After munching some spicy snacks over tea, we continued down the path.

The dungeon had already repaired itself from Loki Familia's destruction if they caused much in the first place. What if the dungeon was a loli at its core? It would be cliché but the light novels and anime market had plenty of them.

This floor also had the same sickening killer ants and large humanoid monsters called 'Warshadow'. We were surrounded once more. I groaned and pressed my hand on the ground. A scarlet magic circle appeared below the ants and columns of fire erupted, leaving a giant gaping hole in every monster.

"Asahi-kun, isn't this too easy…?"

Nao raised a flag.