West Main Street, Seventh District.
At the corner of the bustling avenue stood a magnificent white building that exuded authority and grandeur.
Guild Headquarters.
Its walls were built from flawless white stone, adorned with intricate carvings and reliefs, while rows of stately columns held up a triangular pediment etched with ancient motifs.
Even as a half-trained scholar of design, Lucas couldn't help but whistle in appreciation.
"I never paid much attention before, but this Guild building's architecture has to be some of the best in the Lower World. I wonder which master designed it?"
He already suspected the answer.
Back when he'd studied the geography and history of Orario, he'd read about it in A Brief History of Orario from the Library. Ages ago, the god Ouranos had a follower named Daedalus—a legendary architect whose greatest masterpiece was none other than Orario's symbol itself, the white tower known as Babel Tower. He'd also designed the Daedalus Street.
And now, staring at the building before him, Lucas recognized the same design lineage as Babel Tower. There was no mistaking it—this was another work of the master.
He admired the structure for a while, tracing the stories and figures carved into its walls. Then, at Jeanne's gentle urging, they finally stepped inside.
"So crowded…" Jeanne froze as they entered the lobby, startled by the sheer noise.
From the doorway, the scene looked like controlled chaos. Adventurers packed the hall wall to wall—some lined up in long queues at the counters, others gathered in groups, laughing and boasting about their exploits. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and metal, and though the ventilation was doing its best, the atmosphere was still heavy.
Lucas, a veteran of many trips here, barely noticed. Jeanne, however, looked both curious and overwhelmed by her first visit.
"Good thing I made you wear a cloak," he muttered under his breath. "Otherwise, with a face like yours, we'd have a mob in minutes."
Jeanne's ears turned pink. "You make it sound like I'm some sort of walking distraction…"
Seeing her blush, Lucas smirked, clearly enjoying her flustered reaction.
He glanced toward the Exchange Office counter, where the line stretched halfway across the room. "Too many people," he said quietly. "We'll wait it out. Let's check the request board first."
They pushed through the crowd toward the massive bulletin board covered in notices. Lucas scanned the sheets quickly.
---
[Adventurer Mission]: Investigation Request
Objective]: Travel to Rivira on the 18th floor and investigate suspicious non-adventurers. Confirm their identity and report to the Guild or the city garrison.
Requirements: Party of four Level 2+ adventurers, or one Level 3+.
Reward: 500,000 valis.
Client: Ganesha Familia
'Evilus activity, huh,' Lucas thought, stroking his chin. Figures they'd show up around Rivira. That's black market territory.
---
[Adventurer Mission]: Material Collection Request
Objective: Collect "Blue Crab Shell" in the 25th floor's Water City.
Requirements: Party of four Level 3+ adventurers, or one Level 4+.
Reward: Negotiable, to be discussed upon completion.
Client: Hephaestus Familia
---
[Adventurer Mission]: Missing Party Investigation
Objective: Multiple adventurer groups have gone missing on the 11th–12th floors. Investigate the cause and recover any evidence.
Requirements: Experienced party of four Level 1+ adventurers or one Level 2+.
Reward: 300,000 valis.
Client: Guild
---
The board was crammed with every kind of job imaginable. Among the postings were Guild bulletins, including one that still held a place of honor at the top.
[Notice]: Ais Wallenstein, the Sword Princess of the Loki Familia, has advanced to Level 2!
Even after so long, it remained pinned in the most visible spot. Clearly, neither the Guild nor her Familia intended to let anyone forget it.
Jeanne's gaze lingered on the portrait beneath the notice. "So that's her—the one who broke the record for the fastest Level-up?"
Lucas nodded. "Yeah. The princess of the Loki Familia."
Jeanne stared a moment longer, lost in thought. The girl in the image reminded her of her own abilities—and of Lucas's mysterious power. When she turned back, her violet eyes briefly met his.
Lucas pretended not to notice, keeping his expression neutral. "Come on. Let's finish up and get some dinner."
---
A soft clink sounded as a tray slid out from the Exchange counter, piled high with Orario's gold coins.
"Your total Magic Stone exchange comes to seventy-one thousand, four hundred fifty-five valis. Please confirm and take your payment."
Even though he'd expected it, the number made Lucas grin like a kid on his birthday.
Good thing for that Monster Rex incident, he thought. Otherwise, I'd be lucky to clear thirty-five thousand.
He tucked the pouch close under his cloak and slipped it inside his tunic, moving with practiced subtlety. Then, with Jeanne beside him, he walked calmly out of the Guild hall—just two ordinary adventurers heading home.
The loud ones who shouted about their earnings? Either rookies or idiots.
Discretion was the first rule of survival.
---
"I'm home."
Lucas twisted the key in the lock and pushed open the gate to their courtyard. Both entered quietly.
He dropped his pack onto the ground and collapsed onto a stone bench, immediately grabbing the water jug and guzzling it down.
"Ahh… that's the stuff. I'm alive again!"
Jeanne smiled faintly. "I'm taking a bath. I can't stand the grime anymore."
"Go ahead," Lucas said, waving lazily. "I'll tally up our haul."
He stripped off his armor, cloak, and mask, sitting cross-legged in his undershirt as he emptied the pack in one go.
"Blue Papilio Wing, one. Needle Rabbit's Tusk, one. Killer Ant Carapace, nine… tch."
"Goblin Fang, three. Kobold Nail, one…"
He quickly ran the math in his head.
"200,000 + 50,000 + 270,000 + 15,000 + 5,000, a total of 540,000"
"Add the Magic Stones 71,455—grand total, 611,455!"
A grin split his face. Then froze.
"Unbelievable… all this profit, and it's really just thanks to our lovely Holy Maiden."
He sighed, half admiring, half exasperated. "She's got absurd luck to begin with, and now she's getting that newbie bonus on top of it."
Still, income meant expenses. Time for the other side of the ledger.
"Let's see. Used four Potions, one Antidote, one Magic Potion."
"Potion, one thousand valis. Antidote, twenty thousand. Magic Potion, ten thousand."
"Total spending, 34,000 valis."
"611,455 - 34,000 = 580,455."
He relaxed, satisfied. Sure, the market would fluctuate, but no matter how he sliced it, this was a solid haul.
After finishing the calculations, he checked his supplies. His eyes brightened when he spotted the High Potion still intact.
"Good thing I bailed from the tenth floor when I did, or that five-thousand-valis bottle would've gone poof. Repairs and replacements after a fight like that would've drained me dry."
Just remembering the orc's power made him shudder. The thought of the repair costs afterward made him wince.
"Those merchant Familia really know how to bleed you dry… Hmph. Once I get stronger, the Lucas Familia's definitely getting its own revenue streams."
He carefully stashed his loot away, then pulled out his most precious reward of the day—a shimmering golden treasure chest.
The glow reflected in his eyes. He placed a hand on it, ready to open it—then suddenly froze.
A thought struck him.
A grin crept across his face.
A moment later, the bathroom door slammed open.
Steam poured out as Jeanne turned in surprise, eyes wide. Her mind blanked as Lucas dashed inside, seized her hands, and started rubbing them furiously.
"Give me your luck!"
Still unsatisfied, he leaned in and—smooch!—pecked the stunned Holy Maiden right on the cheek.
"Holy Maiden's blessing!"
And before she could even process what happened, he was gone—vanishing out the door in a blur of motion.
The bathroom fell silent.
Jeanne stood frozen, steam curling around her motionless figure. Warm water streamed over her, damp hair clinging to flushed cheeks, her face half-hidden in shadow.
For a long, breathless moment, nothing moved.
Then her shoulders began to tremble. Her eyes blazed with fury and mortified disbelief.
Her fists clenched tight.
The Holy Maiden's face burned scarlet.
And then—
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The scream shattered the quiet courtyard.
"Lucas! You perverted piece of trash! Die!"
The beautiful Holy Maiden had officially erupted like a volcano that'd been waiting too long to blow.
---
"Gods above!"
Out in the yard, Lucas nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound. His hand, still resting on the treasure chest, trembled violently.
Then he steeled himself, inhaling deeply.
"This is fine. Totally worth it. I did it for… the Familia! Yeah!"
He pressed both palms to the chest, his expression deadly serious.
"Holy Maiden, bless this roll!"
Click.
The lock popped open.
A burst of golden light flooded the courtyard, dazzling his eyes. Lucas squinted, heart pounding, watching as the glow began to reveal the shape of what lay inside.
"This is…?!"