I looked up at the ceiling, watching as the black flames flickered and danced against the stone. They weren't like normal fire, they didn't give off much light, instead seeming to absorb it. The darkness of the flames stood out starkly against the pale ceiling, writhing and twisting like something alive and hungry. It was actually pretty damn cool.
[Status Updated: Magic: I (0) → I (3)]
'Okay, that's a pretty good increase.'
[It was solely because it was your first time using magic sir, the more you use it the less effective the growth will be.]
'Well that's disappointing,' I thought back to Great Sage.
"It really works," Ganesha said, his voice filled with awe. Even through the elephant mask, I could tell he was impressed. He clapped his hands together in excitement. "My newest familia member is going to be quite the prodigy!"
I tried to stand up, but my legs felt like jelly. I'd never really experienced magical exhaustion before, not in my past life, and certainly not in this one. It felt like someone had hollowed me out from the inside, leaving nothing but an empty shell. My vision swam slightly, and I had to blink hard to keep the world from spinning.
"Careful there," Raza said, kneeling down beside me. Her previous skepticism seemed to have evaporated, replaced by something like professional interest. "You've completely drained your magic power. You're in state of mind down right now."
"Is... is that bad?" I managed to ask, my voice coming out surprisingly weak.
"Not bad," she replied, helping me sit down properly on the floor. "In fact, your mind seems to be pretty strong since you were able to cast it, with your magic stat still at I0"
"Then why did you let me cast," I sighed exasperated.
"I wanted to see what would happen, after you said you learnt the tome, I had my suspicions you would be able to cast it and I was right, I'm such a genius."
"It's because of the skill, clearly," Ganesha said, puffing out his chest as if he'd personally been responsible for my abilities. "I knew this child was special from the moment he approached me!"
"How long before I can do that again?" I asked, genuinely curious. If I was going to be exploring Babel, I needed to know my limitations.
Raza sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Normally, I'd say you should rest for at least a day or two. But with your... unique circumstances, who knows? Magic regenerates based on your Magic stat, which is currently at I0."
'Great Sage, any insights?'
[Based on the information available from your memories of the Danmachi world, the fastest way is by killing monsters in the Dungeon]
'Yeah I thought so.'
"Training or killing monsters," Raza said, exactly the same as Great Sage had said, unaware of my internal conversation. "Lots and lots of training. Magic also needs a lot of theoretical studies so as to learn new and longer chants but that doesn't seem to be a problem for you, so you probably shouldn't focus on that."
I nodded, filing the information away. "And how long do you think it will take for me to be able to enter the dungeon?"
Ganesha and Raza exchanged glances. It was Ganesha who spoke. "We'll send you off tomorrow, with a group to protect your first time in."
"I'll go with him," Raza interjected. "Though I have to ask, why are you so eager to enter Babel."
This was the third time I had been asked this question since coming here and the answer was pretty simple. I was getting hooked on feeling stuff, the weakness after casting a spell, the pain in my head when thought acceleration was enabled, it was all so... exhilarating.
"I could give you a sob story on how I was an orphan and want to grow stronger so as to protect myself and my loved ones but that's not the truth, the truth is I want to feel something," I said. "The feeling of having your life on the line, the adrenaline rushing through your body, your veins bulging, sweating out of every orifice, there is nothing better."
Ganesha and Raza turned to look at me like I was crazy but Ganesha just began to laugh as loudly as he could for as long as he could (which as a god was a pretty long while).
"Hahahaha, well that's a good reason as any. Tomorrow you go dungeon crawling, let's get that exhilaration you're searching for."
A wave of exhaustion washed over me, and I swayed slightly where I sat.
"I think that's enough for today," Raza said firmly, noticing my condition. "Lord Ganesha, why don't we get our newest member settled into his quarters? He needs rest."
Ganesha nodded enthusiastically, back to his bombastic self. "Yes, yes! Come, little Atreus, let me show you where you'll be staying. It's not the grandest accommodation, but you'll have loads of neighbors."
With Raza's help, I managed to get to my feet. I took one last look at the black flames on the ceiling, which were already beginning to flicker and fade, I couldn't wait to spam it.
As we left the library, I caught Raza giving me a curious sideways glance. "Six am tomorrow, in front of the familia headquarters, I'll have your gear ready with me, do you want any weapon, you're not a mage yet, you don't have to specialize in it," she said casually.
"Hmm I thought you'd be against mages using weapons."
"Why because I'm an elf?"
"Kind of yeah."
"Then no, not having even moderate experience in close combat as a mage is stupid, sure you shouldn't be so close, but it does happen and when it does you have to be prepared, for example I have a specialty in halberds. So what weapon do you want me to try and bring?"
I thought for a bit, remembering two characters that were the epitome of the strongest.
"A nagitana and two daggers."
"I'll try and get them," she hummed noncommittally. "Just show up on time."
"Thanks," I said feeling what I suspected was gratitude.
"Don't worry it comes out of Lord Ganesha's wallet after all."
"You people are gonna send me straight to the poor house," Ganesha said laughing.
Raza and I both looked at Ganesha. After all I hadn't known the god for a while but the man had built a house in the shape of himself, if anyone knew frugal spending it would be this guy.
"Well until tomorrow then, Atreus," Raza said a small smile playing on her lips. "I do wonder how much magic you'll be able to show me."
Raza then went back to whatever she had been doing before Ganesha had asked her to come with us while Ganesha himself led me through a series of ornate hallways, each one decorated with more elephant motifs than the last. The deeper we went into the building, the more I realized just how massive the Ganesha Familia headquarters really was. It wasn't just a building; it was practically a small fortress.
"The familia is divided into different divisions," Ganesha explained as we walked. "We have the Adventurers Division, which you'll be part of. They're responsible for dungeon exploration, monster hunting, and the like. Then there's the Public Safety Division, which helps maintain order in Orario alongside the Guild. We also have the Entertainment Division, the Tamer Division, and several others."
"It's quite the operation," I commented. The anime had never shown just how organized Ganesha's familia actually was.
"We are the largest familia in Orario," Ganesha said proudly. "AND I AM GANESHA!" he added, striking a pose that nearly knocked over a passing familia member who sighed and sidestepped him with practiced ease.
Eventually, we arrived at what appeared to be a dormitory area. The hallway was lined with doors, each marked with a simple number. Ganesha stopped in front of one labeled '108'.
"This will be your room," he announced, pushing the door open with a flourish. "It's standard accommodations for new members. As you rise in rank and prove yourself, you'll have the opportunity to upgrade to better quarters."
I stepped inside and looked around. The room was small but functional, a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, and a small window that looked out onto an inner courtyard. It was pretty luxurious especially considering my past life's home and best of all it was all mine.
"Thank you, Lord Ganesha," I said.
"The bathroom is at the end of the hall," Ganesha added, gesturing. "It's shared with the other residents of this floor. Meals are served in the dining hall three times a day, though there's always something available if you miss the regular times. Now to rest you must go little Atreus! Tomorrow, we begin your journey to greatness!"
His voice turned serious for a single moment.
"And don't go out around Orario alone least of all at night, understand?"
I nodded at his words.
With that, he spun on his heel and exited. After he left, closing the door behind him, I asked Great Sage
"Any clue on what hat that final thing was about?"
[No clue sir]
I sighed at that, immediately collapsing onto the bed. The exhaustion was real, weighing down my limbs like lead weights. But my mind was still active, churning with thoughts and plans.
'Great Sage, let's make a timeline.'
[Based on the mention of Ais Wallenstein as the "Sword Princess" and her recent advancement to Level 2, it would appear we are approximately 8 years before the start of the canon storyline, when Bell Cranel arrives in Orario.]
Eight years. That was a good amount of time to grow stronger, to prepare. I didn't have any growth type skill like Bell which would allow me to level up in months, while surpassing the imposed limit of s rank, I'd have to take my time and try to find a way to surpass that limit.
As for what to do when the plot began? I was going to mind my own damn business. I had only watched the first two seasons of the anime and while Great Sage could fill me in on all I had forgotten from those, I had no clue what would happen next, maybe some eldritch monstrosity would be the next villain Bell Cranel would face and I didn't want any of that smoke.
"You have 8 years Atreus," I said to myself. "Let's put a goal in mind, reach at least level four before the plot starts while maximizing all stats. Yeah that's a good benchmark."
I fell on my bed, sinking into the silk soft sheets, sleep claiming me in a manner of minutes.
A/N: Welp now Ganesha knows the answer to why Atreus wanted to climb Babel lol, serves him right for interrupting our boy Atreus before when he was explaining in chapter 2.