Chapter 84 — The Crisis Begins to Unfold!
A loud crash echoed across the room.
"That insolent brat! Just a mere human, and yet he dares to act like he owns the world... damn him!"
Inside the grand hall of the Ishtar Familia, nestled deep within the Entertainment District of Orario, the goddess Ishtar flew into a fury. One after another, luxurious vases shattered against the floor. Everyone around her stood silent, frozen in fear.
Moments earlier, Aisha had delivered a full and honest report—relaying everything Shin Akira had said to her.
And Ishtar's reaction? Absolute rage.
To her, humans were nothing more than insects—things to be toyed with, not taken seriously. But that man… he had defied her. Again and again, without even the slightest hesitation. This was unforgivable.
"Phryne! Go fetch him. Drag that bastard before me! I'll make sure he regrets ever challenging a goddess!"
Ishtar's anger completely consumed her, making her forget even the prestige and accomplishments of Shin Akira.
"Ooh~ But if I'm the one to bring him in, I can't promise he'll still be in one piece~"
A massive woman stepped forward with a twisted smile. Her face was wide, her mouth large, her appearance like that of a grotesque toad brought to life.
Phryne Jamil—Captain of the Ishtar Familia. A Level 5 warrior feared throughout the city. Nicknamed the "Man-Killer."
Towering over two meters tall and built like a boulder, she was infamous not only for her monstrous strength but also for her delusions of beauty. She believed herself to be more attractive than the goddesses themselves, and acted accordingly.
Several unlucky men had been left crippled for life simply because she "liked" them. Her presence alone made Ishtar's district a place most men avoided at all costs. Even her fellow familia members despised her.
"Do whatever you want. Just make sure he's still breathing when you bring him back."
"That's what I like to hear~"
Phryne grinned with satisfaction. She'd long heard the rumors about Shin Akira.
The beloved child of Hephaestus, the goddess of the forge. The man desired by Freya, goddess of love and desire. A prime catch for a "super-beautiful" woman like her.
She lumbered out of the base, her massive body easily weighing hundreds of kilos. The other women in the room could only sigh with pity.
Within the Ishtar Familia, Phryne was a parasite. Though they were all courtesans, Phryne frequently stole their clients through force.
Any man unfortunate enough to fall into her clutches would end up broken—physically, mentally, or both. Many never recovered.
This, of course, directly impacted the others' income. No man in his right mind would take the risk of ending up a victim of that monster.
Were it not for her overwhelming power—being the sole Level 5 in the familia—she would've been thrown out long ago. Even the goddess herself endured her only because she had no choice.
"Lady Ishtar... Are you sure Captain Phryne can handle this alone?"
One Amazoness finally spoke up from the sidelines, her voice hesitant. After all, their target was a member of the Hephaestus Familia.
"He only arrived in Orario two months ago! Sure, his power's grown quickly, but just how strong can a rookie be in that short time?"
"But... weren't dozens of Freya Familia members reported missing? Some were even found dead... inside Orario."
"Exactly! That just proves he's weak. He's hiding behind Hephaestus. The more he leans on others, the more I want to break him. That human has disrespected me far too many times!"
"But—"
"Enough! Phryne's been around Orario for years. This isn't something we need to worry about."
"...Understood."
The Amazoness nodded and stepped back, though unease still lingered in her heart.
A man like that... it was such a waste for him to fall into the hands of that toad-faced woman.
No man Phryne ever desired had escaped unscathed.
— — —
Meanwhile, somewhere else deep inside the Dungeon...
Akira's training with Bell was still ongoing.
However, Akira had decided to adjust his schedule—he would train Bell only in the mornings and spend his afternoons diving deeper into the Dungeon on his own.
Now that he could move freely through shadows, the floor restrictions of the Dungeon no longer applied to him.
With the power of the Shadow Realm at his command, Akira could appear anywhere—so long as there was darkness.
A sharp slicing sound cut through the air.
It was followed by the heavy thud of a monster being slammed against the stone.
This was their second day of training, and Bell was starting to show real progress.
His movements were becoming sharper, more fluid. He could now defeat floor-seven monsters solo. For a beginner, this was an impressive leap forward.
Crimson blood splattered across the ground as Bell's blade pierced through his enemy.
After a tense clash, Bell found his opening and struck down the monster in a single clean slash.
The monster's body crumbled violently, and a glowing Magic Stone rolled across the floor.
"Akira-nii-san! I completed the mission!"
Bell scooped up the stone, beaming with excitement and determination.
He was chasing Shin Akira's shadow. Much like how, in the original tale, Bell admired Ais—this time, his role model was Shin Akira.
But of course, this wasn't romantic admiration. It was a burning desire to become someone worthy.
"Good. That's enough for today."
"Okay, Akira-nii!"
Bell was beyond grateful that Shin Akira took the time every morning to train him.
"Bell, with your current strength, I don't recommend going past the seventh floor. Unless you level up again, it's too risky."
"Got it! I'll keep that in mind, Akira-nii!"
"Good. So, are you going to stay here and keep hunting, or head home to rest?"
"I'll keep fighting! I promised my goddess I'd give her a better life—so I need to earn as much money as I can!"
"Then may fortune favor your hunt."
Akira said nothing more. Though the rewards on the upper floors were small, for Bell, the experience was invaluable.
Suddenly, a faint cracking sound echoed from deeper within the tunnel.
Akira's sharp ears twitched. He heard it—clear as day.
His expression turned serious. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings.
On the seventh floor, there shouldn't be anything that posed a threat to him. His strength was far beyond anything here.
And yet... he felt it. A presence. A threat. Subtle—but real.
Footsteps approached. Steady. Slow. Ominous.
From the darkness of a nearby corridor, four figures stepped into view.
Each of them wore armor of pale yellow, their bodies small and compact. Every one of them carried a different weapon—sword, hammer, spear, and axe.
With just a single glance, Akira instantly knew who they were.
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