"Brother Su Hai, I think our sisters are starting to fall for you. What do you think about us?"
The mischievous tone in Tiona's voice was unmistakable as she leaned toward Su Hai, her amber eyes gleaming with amusement.
Su Hai chuckled softly at her playful words, shaking his head in mild exasperation.
"If you're interested, you can come with Ais. It's really just a method to improve physical strength—not exactly a secret technique."
"Really?!" Tiona's eyes lit up with excitement. "Then don't blame us if we show up at the Hestia Familia's home one of these days!"
"Thanks," Ais added quietly beside her, her soft voice carrying a hint of determination.
Parting Ways with Loki Familia
As the members of Loki Familia bid farewell, Finn paused to give Su Hai a firm nod.
"Su Hai, we'll be keeping an eye on your progress. With your talent, I have no doubt you'll be making waves in Orario soon enough."
"Take care, Brother Su Hai!" Tiona called, waving with her usual energy.
"Don't forget us!" Tione added with a wink before the group disappeared into the crowd.
A Familiar Voice
As the noise of the departing adventurers faded, a soft, teasing voice drifted into Su Hai's ear.
"Master, I didn't expect you to charm three girls in such a short time. Tsk, tsk… And here I thought I was special."
Su Hai's expression didn't change, though his eyes flicked sideways.
Appearing beside him in a shimmer of violet light was Medusa, her long purple hair cascading over her shoulders and her eyes glinting with mischief.
Clad in her iconic black battle attire, the Heroic Spirit Rider had been invisible to others throughout the encounter. Only Su Hai could see and hear her thanks to their unique bond.
Heroic Spirit: Medusa
• Class: Rider
• Strength: A
• Durability: B+
• Agility: A+
• Magic: A-
• Luck: C
• Noble Phantasms:
• Bellerophon (A+): Anti-Army Noble Phantasm
• Breaker Gorgon (C-): Anti-Human Noble Phantasm
• Blood Fort Andromeda (B): Anti-Army Noble Phantasm
• Skills:
• Mystic Eyes of Petrification (A+)
• Monstrous Strength (B)
• Independent Action (C)
• Divinity (E-)
• Natural Stupidity (Rank Unknown)
Since being summoned from the Golden Egg System, Medusa had been freed from the constraints of the Throne of Heroes, becoming Su Hai's permanent companion. Her power was directly influenced by Su Hai's strength—and with Su Hai's growing abilities, her combat prowess had already surpassed that of most adventurers in Orario.
A Teasing Companion
"Rider," Su Hai said with a sigh, rubbing his forehead. "I told you—there's no need to call me 'Master.' Just use my name like a normal person."
Medusa chuckled, tilting her head slightly.
"But calling you 'Master' is much more fun," she replied with a sly smile. "Unless… you'd prefer something more intimate?"
Su Hai shook his head, already accustomed to Medusa's playful nature. Despite her outward elegance, she had a surprisingly mischievous streak, often taking pleasure in teasing him at the most unexpected moments.
"You're impossible."
"And you love it," she replied smoothly, falling into step beside him as he made his way toward the Adventurer's Guild.
Arrival at the Adventurer's Guild
The large stone building of the Adventurer's Guild stood proudly at the heart of Orario, its imposing architecture a testament to its importance within the city.
Pushing open the heavy wooden doors, Su Hai stepped inside, instantly greeted by the hum of activity—adventurers chatting, guild clerks scribbling on papers, and the faint clinking of coins exchanging hands.
Approaching the reception counter, Su Hai found himself face-to-face with a young half-elf woman with short brown hair, wearing a pair of rimless glasses. Her green eyes sparkled with warmth as she offered a welcoming smile.
Guild Clerk: Eina Tulle
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild!" she said cheerfully. "My name is Eina Tulle. How can I help you today?"
"Hello, Miss Eina," Su Hai replied politely. "I'd like to register as an adventurer and exchange these Magic Crystals for Valis."
As he spoke, Su Hai placed two large sacks of Magic Crystals onto the counter. Despite his careful movements, the sheer weight of the bags caused the wooden surface to creak slightly under the strain.
"Oh my… are all these Magic Crystals yours?" Eina asked in surprise, her eyes widening as she glanced between the sacks and Su Hai.
"Yes, all of them," he confirmed with a nod.
Registering as an Adventurer
Eina quickly retrieved a registration form and a pen, sliding them across the counter.
"Please fill out your basic information here. And you can just call me Eina," she added with a friendly smile.
Su Hai returned the smile and picked up the pen, noting that the form only requested basic details—name, Familia affiliation, and current level.
After jotting down the required information, he returned the form and pen to Eina.
Astonishment at Su Hai's Level
Eina scanned the form briefly, her gaze lingering on the line indicating his level:
• Level: LV0
Her smile faltered slightly as she glanced back at the two heavy sacks of Magic Crystals.
"Um… Lord Su Hai, are you certain you're only Level 0?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes, that's correct," he replied, suppressing a smile at her incredulous expression.
Eina blinked several times, clearly struggling to reconcile his answer with the evidence before her. After all, a Level 0 adventurer—especially one who had only recently joined a Familia—shouldn't have been able to gather such an impressive haul of Magic Crystals, let alone survive the dungeon long enough to collect them.
Exchanging Magic Crystals for Valis
Still processing the information, Eina gestured to a nearby guild assistant, who quickly approached with a small cart to help transfer the sacks of Magic Crystals to the exchange counter.
"We'll have these assessed and counted right away," Eina said, regaining her composure with a professional smile. "It might take a few minutes, so please feel free to wait here in the lobby."
"Thank you, Eina," Su Hai replied, stepping aside as the guild staff began sorting through the crystals.
A Curious Glance from Medusa
As Su Hai leaned casually against the counter, Medusa reappeared beside him, her violet eyes glancing toward Eina with a faint smile.
"Master, you've already caught another one's eye, I see," she whispered teasingly.
Su Hai sighed.
"I think you're reading too much into things, Rider."
"Hmm… Maybe," she replied, though the amused glint in her eyes suggested otherwise.
Awaiting the Results
As Su Hai waited for the exchange to be completed, he couldn't help but reflect on the day's events—the encounter with Loki Familia, his growing reputation, and the promise he had made to Ais and the Tiona sisters.
A faint smile touched his lips as he glanced toward the distant silhouette of Babel Tower, standing tall above the city.
This is only the beginning…
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