Chapter 243 - Targeted Mahiro!
The sun set in the west, sinking toward the horizon.
In the distance, flocks of birds flew across the fiery red sky, painted by the afterglow of the setting sun, and disappeared into the distant woods.
Fully armed adventurers and their supporters, carrying massive backpacks, emerged from the entrance of the Dungeon.
Some lingered in the square, chatting noisily, while others hurried to exchange Valis.
Mahiro and Lili were among those heading to the exchange.
Mahiro walked ahead with his usual ease, while Lili staggered under the weight of her overstuffed backpack, her expression one of utter exhaustion.
She followed behind Mahiro, glancing at his back with a complex mix of emotions.
Today had been the most thrilling day since Lili became a supporter.
Not only had she witnessed Mahiro's miraculous magic firsthand, but she had also ventured into floors she had never dreamed of reaching.
She had teetered on the edge of life and death multiple times.
Yes, multiple times.
Every time Lili thought she was safe, a stray monster would find her, the weak supporter.
The first time she had been cornered by Battle Boars, she had nearly exhausted all her precious items.
It was humiliating for a Level 1 supporter to face Level 3 monsters without her trump cards.
Each time she narrowly avoided a monster's attack, she felt certain she would die.
Fortunately, every time she was on the verge of collapse, Mahiro would appear just in time to save her.
Lili was sure that if she returned to the Soma Familia and updated her status, her agility would see a big boost.
After all, she had pushed herself to the limit, dodging and fleeing for her life.
If her agility didn't improve after all that, there had to be something wrong with the Falna.
But what left the deepest impression on Lili wasn't the magic circle or the scenery of the lower floors.
It was the monster horde.
No, it was more like a monster party.
It was a scene of horror that Lili had only read about in books.
According to records, thousands of years ago, monster parties were common occurrences, each one a catastrophic event that could destroy cities and devastate lands.
However, since the gods descended and built Babel to seal the Dungeon's entrances, monster parties had become almost nonexistent.
At least, Lili, who had grown up in Orario, had never seen or heard of one.
Yet, on the 26th floor, Lili had witnessed it.
It was a terrifying sight that made her legs tremble just from looking at it.
Thousands of monsters, each at least Level 3, surged forward like a black tide, their thunderous footsteps shaking the ground.
Unless it was a powerful Familia like Loki Familia or Freya Familia, any group would be crushed instantly by the monstrous horde.
But Mahiro moved through the horde with ease, killing monsters one after another.
Though it took time, the horde gradually weakened under his relentless assault until it was completely eradicated.
The roaring of the monsters and the ground-shaking stomps still echoed in Lili's ears, and the image of Mahiro moving effortlessly among the monsters was etched into her mind.
Lili knew this image would remain vivid in her memory for years, even decades.
A single person rivaling the strength of an entire Familia—it was an absurd, almost unbelievable existence.
For the first time, Lili felt a pang of guilt.
She had approached Mahiro with the intention of swindling him and leaving.
But now... How could she, a mere supporter, possibly escape after stealing from someone who could rival a Familia?
In the past, Lili had relied on Cinder Ella to deceive adventurers and escape unscathed.
But Mahiro was on an entirely different level.
For the first time, Lili doubted her magic's effectiveness.
A new thought crossed her mind: what if she teamed up with Mahiro long-term?
With his earning speed, even a small share would dwarf her previous income.
However, the memory of last night cast a shadow over her thoughts.
Mahiro, oblivious to Lili's internal struggle, was satisfied with the day's results.
With a supporter and the use of anti-morbule, his monster-killing efficiency had skyrocketed.
[Main Quest 3: Monster Hunter
Completion: 6000/10,000.]
In a single day, he had killed around 900 monsters—seven or eight times more than the previous day.
Though the more he killed level 3 monsters, the lesser their points become.
And the last one gave off 1 point.
At this rate, the main quest would be completed soon.
Soon, Both traded the magic stones and drop items they had collected into valis.
After giving Lili a fair share, Mahiro prepared to part ways.
"Let's stop here," Mahiro said.
"Okay, Mahiro-sama."
"Tomorrow, Lili will definitely wait by the fountain ahead of time. She won't be late," Lili replied with a cheerful smile.
"Good," Mahiro nodded and walked away.
As Mahiro's figure disappeared, Lili's smile faded.
She turned and walked down a dimly lit street, her expression darkening.
"Arde."
In a dark, secluded alley, a group of four men appeared, blocking Lili's path.
"So? Did you figure out that kid's background?"
"Which Familia is he from? Is he a solo adventurer?" the leader asked with a sneer.
"He's a solo adventurer," Lili nodded.
"Good," the man's eyes gleamed with greed.
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