After their bath came a sumptuous dinner. Once the meal was over, everyone retired to their rooms to rest—everyone except for Hephaestus's craftsmen, who remained hard at work in the forge.
The "Rest Space" was designed specifically for Expedition teams, so naturally, there was no need for multiple Adventurers to crowd into a single room.
While most of the Adventurers were resting in their rooms, the leaders of the Joint Expedition had already gathered around a low table.
Each of them sat cross-legged on a soft cushion, a cup of steaming tea set before them.
"Bete, what do you think of those three working together?"
"They're even more efficient than I expected," Bete replied. "Classic front and rear formation, but their coordination in battle is impressively fluid. Whether they're up against stronger or weaker monsters, they've already developed a complete combat rhythm. And their teamwork's improving fast after just one day of fighting."
Bete had never denied the strength that came from a well-coordinated party. When synergy was high enough, even difficult battles could become simple. Just like today—their advance through the Dungeon had gone remarkably smoothly.
"The results on the Middle Floors were good. But tomorrow's what really matters," said Gareth, his tone heavy. "Once we reach the Deep Floors, the monsters will be far stronger, and the challenges much tougher than anything we faced today."
"Yeah," Bete agreed with a nod. "Once we hit the Lower and Deep Floors, both the monsters' strength and numbers will jump. Tomorrow's expedition will be a major turning point for every Level 2 Adventurer."
Tsuna shared their view completely. The key would be whether those three parties could hold their ground tomorrow. The coming day was both crisis and opportunity—two sides of the same coin that had always defined life in the Dungeon.
Tsuna folded his hands, resting his chin against his knuckles.
"They should've experienced what it means to stake everything much earlier," he said quietly. "Only with that resolve can one truly cross from Level 1 to Level 2. But they... 'cheated.' They skipped that step without gaining the resolve that comes with it. Tomorrow's expedition will be the lesson they missed."
"If they want to keep growing, they'll need to show the resolve to face powerful foes without retreating. The moment they refuse to back down—that's when they earn the right to move forward."
Resolve wasn't simply a feeling. It was the unshakable determination never to yield, no matter the obstacle. Only by hardening one's heart could an Adventurer continue to move ahead.
"So we're pushing them hard tomorrow?" Bete asked, understanding what Tsuna meant.
Just as Tsuna said, his assistance had made many members of the Familia forget something vital: that every Adventurer must always be ready to face death. Once they'd chosen this path, they should've known it would never be easy.
If they wanted to keep advancing, danger had to become their constant companion. Only by accepting that—and preparing their resolve—could they truly continue down this road.
"You mean... make those kids find their resolve?"
Even Gareth fell silent at that. He knew how difficult that was to ask of anyone. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward Tsuna.
"Are you sure about this?"
"No problem."
Tsuna's tone carried complete certainty.
"No matter who they are, once they're baptized by battle, their hearts will change. Besides, every member of the Loki Familia knows the road ahead is still long. They all have the potential to reach Level 4—or higher. None of them will be content to stop where they are now."
"Once they take this next step, the path to Level 3 will open before them. Knowing that alone will drive them to show a better version of themselves tomorrow. There's no need to worry—they'll make it."
Those who had never seen the view from the summit could endure not seeing it. But once they started climbing—once they glimpsed greater, brighter horizons—they would never stop yearning for more. Not until the day they reached the very peak.
That was Tsuna's own understanding of strength. He believed anyone who had tasted true power would inevitably think the same. Those who gained strength always sought more of it—an endless pursuit.
Because he was the same.
That was why he believed so firmly that tomorrow, when crisis came, the Adventurers would unleash passion and determination like never before. Only by surviving the challenges of tomorrow would they earn their ticket to greater heights.
Hearing Tsuna's unwavering faith and trust in the younger Adventurers made Gareth, who had been quietly worrying, feel somewhat embarrassed.
"You're right," he admitted. "They've chosen the life of an Adventurer. There's no such thing as stopping halfway down that road."
Then, almost instinctively, Gareth thought of Raul—and his expression faltered for a brief moment.
"Yeah," Tsuna said. "Once you set foot on this path, you either keep moving forward in pursuit of strength, or danger will eventually catch up to you. Every Adventurer's growth in the Familia is out there for all to see. Who could endure missing a chance at true advancement?"
Gareth recalled the first time he entered the Training Space. The results had seemed unreal. Ever since then, he'd made a habit of spending some time there every day. The feeling of clearly sensing his growth was addictive. If even he felt that way, there was no way anyone else could resist it.
Having just tasted the sweet medicine of progress, every Adventurer naturally wanted more—to push themselves even further.
With such a clear path toward rapid growth laid before them, no one in the Familia would let that chance slip away.
Beyond raw Status improvement, what they needed next was the boost that came from the "Factory of Excellia." And the only way to fuel that factory was to use their trained strength to battle stronger monsters.
That was why tomorrow's expedition was bound to go smoothly.
In truth, more than the danger itself, what everyone feared most was losing their clear path to Level Up—returning to the uncertainty that had haunted the Familia before Tsuna joined.
No one could endure missing their chance again.