After finishing our conversation, I asked the clones to leave, and the owner of the restaurant approached. She was a beautiful and muscular woman, with long hair and light brown eyes—quite attractive.
She had come to collect the payment.
I withdrew the money from the system and placed it on the table. The restaurant owner thanked me, and I stood up to leave. However, before I could walk out the door, the woman called out to me.
"Excuse me."
I turned around, and she was staring at me seriously. I could sense the atmosphere shift, and my guard went up. "What is it?"
"Who are you? Which Familia do you belong to?"
"What is this? An interrogation?"
"You were having a very interesting conversation. You were talking about the goddess Freya and about being hunted. Who are you?"
"That's all you heard?"
"Yes, but it really caught my attention."
I had been a bit careless—shouldn't have spoken about that with a talented adventurer nearby. This woman is strong, at least level four. She's strong, but I can handle her with this body.
But I don't want to hurt her.
"Are you part of the Freya Familia, by any chance?"
"Not at all. I'm part of the Apollo Familia."
"You're with the Apollo Familia?" I asked, shocked. She didn't seem like someone who fit Apollo's preferences.
"What's wrong? I can show you the emblem if you want."
"No, no need. But why are you so interested in this? I think it's better if you stay out of it."
"Anyone would be curious hearing a conversation like that. What did you do to be hunted?"
"You already know. And if not, you'll find out soon. Now I have to go. I'm heading to the lower floors."
"Is that your group?"
"No. I'm alone."
"You're planning to explore the lower floors by yourself? Are you insane?"
"..." I ignored the woman and waved as I left the restaurant.
When I was far enough away, I started running towards the exit of the city.
As I ran, I looked back and saw the woman chasing me, but she stopped after a few seconds.
Apollo Familia? That woman?
I don't remember the members of the Apollo Familia very well—I never cared much about them—but she doesn't seem like someone the god Apollo would recruit.
If I remember correctly, he was interested in Hestia, but that's about all I recall.
That woman is the complete opposite of Hestia.
If I remember right, Apollo cares a lot about appearances. Most of his members are good-looking since he's bisexual.
Well, whatever.
'I hope I don't run into that woman again. She seemed nice.'
####
As soon as I descended to the 19th floor, I immediately noticed the differences from the previous levels. The ceiling and floor were entirely made of wood, and the ambient light had a strange light blue hue. "It's beautiful…" I said, walking across the wooden floor.
Everywhere I looked, there were different kinds of plants. If I remember correctly, the plants found here are used to make healing potions. They're valuable ingredients. "Should I pick some and store them in my inventory?"
I could take them to the shop where Frieren works.
So I started gathering some plants and storing them while exploring the floor.
Then I decided to assimilate.
Since my clones had already been here, it was smart to assimilate and acquire their knowledge.
It happened in a second.
The knowledge from the clones was transferred to me instantly. I received important information about floors 19 through 23. Two groups are currently on the 23rd floor.
The most important detail I learned was the location of a hidden village. It was Aizen's group who discovered it, but they didn't report it to me. Fortunately, they didn't do anything reckless.
'That village… it's probably inhabited by Xenos. Adventurers wouldn't build a village in a place like that.'
So, I contacted Aizen.
'Aizen, why didn't you report the village you found on the 20th floor?'
[Master?]
Aizen was surprised. It had been a long time since I last contacted him.'
[The village on the 20th floor? I don't remember one.]
'It's a small village. You passed through it but didn't attack.'
[I really don't remember.]
In the memories I obtained from Aizen, they passed by the village and even peeked into one of the houses. They thought it was nothing? Are they idiots?
'Never mind. Forget it.'
[Okay. We're a bit busy right now, Master. I'll get in touch soon.]
'There's no need. Only contact me if it's truly important.'
I cut the connection and searched my memory for the scene when they passed through the village. Aizen, Chen, and Berserker were walking across the 20th floor and entered a dense forested area.
They were quiet, just walking.
To the right, I saw a house hidden among the thick vegetation. Aizen and the others looked in that direction for a few seconds and approached. They arrived at the back of the house and looked in through the window.
It was empty.
Then they turned and left, even though there were more houses in that area.
"Those bastards didn't sense anything there?"
I started getting irritated.
"I have to go to that village. There's no way it's completely empty."
But first, I needed to explore the 19th floor a bit. I needed to get familiar with the monsters here.
Since the monsters in the next few levels are similar—just stronger—I should get used to fighting them now.
I continued walking and collecting plants until I encountered a monster. And the first one I saw was pretty interesting. I can feel its strength… It's strong.
It is a bear. A huge one—larger than a brown or black bear, possibly even bigger than a polar bear.
The monster hadn't seen me yet, so I took the opportunity to approach from behind.
As I got close, I activated gravity magic on the bear.
When it sensed my magic, it used all its strength to move and turn toward me. The wood beneath its feet began to crack, but it was still able to take steps in my direction.
But the steps were so slow that it wouldn't reach me before dying.
And the bear is already tired.
It collapsed, its body crushed against the wooden floor.
It roared in pain as its bones began to crack.
I approached and drove my sword into its skull. The skull was tough—it wasn't easy to pierce.
When my sword finally penetrated its head and it died, my "Combat Instinct" skill activated.
I immediately jumped back.
A fire attack landed right where I had just been, causing a powerful explosion.
I looked up and saw a massive red bird. Its body seemed to be engulfed in flames.
Its eyes were even redder—like tiny orbs of molten lava.
As I stared at it, it suddenly flew toward me, beating its wings and launching blasts of fire.
####
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Next chapters: Chapter 61 - Isolated house. / Chapter 62 - Empty Village? Strange Girl. / Chapter 63 - Wiene