25+ Advance chapters on Patreon
Time flowed swiftly, like cherry blossoms carried away by a stream.
In the blink of an eye, another week had passed.
During this week, Yuto found himself occupied with the girls around him, leaving little time to venture into the Dungeon. Through his persistent efforts to win their hearts, Riveria Ljos Alf, Ais Wallenstein, and the charming glasses-wearing Eina Tulle, among others, were growing closer to him day by day. Simple gestures like holding hands or sharing a kiss became routine. Though the girls often blushed, none ever turned him away, leaving Yuto living a carefree and joyful life.
His week unfolded as follows:
July 13
Fought fiercely with Hestia, and by the time I left, she could barely stand.
July 14
Went shopping with Riveria Ljos Alf. True to her status as elven royalty, she's incredibly wealthy and bought me plenty of expensive gifts. This must be the bliss of being pampered.
July 15
Tione and Tiona invited me out shopping together. Another delightful day.
July 16
Yuto, oh Yuto! How could you let yourself slack off like this? Have you forgotten your goal to conquer the Dungeon? As the great Japanese philosopher once said, "Reflect on yourself three times a day." I can't keep living like this!
July 17
Haha, I went on a date with Lefiya. Her legs in those white stockings are incredible. She obviously looks forward to kissing when we're together, yet she always puts on a serious face. Are all elven women this reserved on the outside but passionate within? I'll test it with Ais tomorrow.
July 18
I gave Ais a lion plushie. It was the first time I'd seen her so excited. Oh, and I claimed her first kiss too. I can't keep slacking off; today, I'm heading to the Dungeon to train!
…..
Another day dawned. Yuto woke up in Hestia's room, reflecting on his recent behavior and resolving to change. It was time to return to his original, earnest quest to conquer the Dungeon.
"Good luck, dear. I'm going back to sleep," Hestia mumbled, clad in a lace skirt that showed off her fair legs. She let out a silly giggle before collapsing back onto her pillow, drifting into a peaceful slumber.
Lately, this pure goddess had fully embraced her role as a devoted partner. When she wasn't clinging to Yuto, she spent most of her time napping. Truth be told, it was partly his fault, his overwhelming physical strength was something only a divine being like Hestia could handle. Even so, the blue-ribboned goddess often felt exhausted. Their routine of exertion followed by rest had become a cornerstone of their daily life.
"Then I'm off. Rest well." He planted a kiss on her forehead. In an instant, Yuto activated his "Godspeed" ability, arriving at the outskirts of Babel Tower in the blink of an eye.
Public attention had been relentless lately, buzzing with talk about him. Unwilling to be stared at like some rare exhibit, he waved his hand, conjuring a black cloak with Projection Magic and draping it over himself.
As he prepared to slip into the crowd, a searing gaze locked onto him. He'd felt this intense, yearning stare far too often from Ishtar's Familia members. Those combat prostitutes from the Pleasure Quarter had marked him as their prey. Every encounter left them gazing at him like ravenous beasts, eager to consume him whole; an attention that made Yuto deeply uneasy.
Sorry, but he only cared for girls who cherished pure love. He had no interest in women who offered themselves to anyone. He always steered clear of such types, avoiding them whenever possible.
The fiery stare persisted, like a volcano ready to erupt, longing to melt him down and swallow him entirely. The intent was so twisted and blatant that it didn't even bother to hide.
Yuto lifted his head, tracing the gaze to its source. It came from the top of Babel Tower.
Babel Tower, managed by the Guild, was built for adventurers' convenience. The first floor housed over a hundred shower rooms, perfect for those emerging bloodied from battle. The second floor offered a modest restaurant and medical area, while the third served as an exchange for Magic Stones and items. Only the highest floor was reserved as the dwelling of a certain goddess.
"Freya, huh? She's not even pretending anymore," Yuto muttered, realization dawning. He narrowed his eyes, staring coldly at the tower's peak, high above all else.
"What, can't resist after seeing how fast I'm advancing?" Only a god of great power could reside in such a place. And just as he suspected, the one watching him was none other than Freya, the goddess of beauty from the tales.
As the head of Freya Familia, her unmatched beauty made her Familia a rival to Loki Familia, both hailed as Orario's strongest. With a captivating smile always gracing her lips, Freya's allure stood out even among gods, ensnaring countless hearts. From her perch atop Babel Tower, she governed "love" and "beauty," reveling in her dominion. She plunged herself into obsessive love, having pursued those with radiant souls in the past, using any means, even force to claim them. Ottar, the boarman, and every member of her Familia had tasted her so-called "affection."
Yuto had no interest in such reckless devotion. He paused, gazing at the towering structure piercing the clouds, his eyes glinting with icy resolve. "I'm not interested in you. Interfere with me, and I won't hesitate to drag you off your throne."
Pulling his hood lower to conceal his striking features, Yuto stepped into the Dungeon, resuming his training journey.
Beyond the 25th floor, the terrain grew treacherous. Adventurers of Orario called these deeper levels the "New World." The passage linking the 24th and 25th floors, known as the "Water Paradise Great Waterfall" or "Giant Blue Waterfall," roared ahead.
The water surged with relentless force, kicking up thick mist. Endless cascades plummeted into a bottomless void, their crashes echoing with ear-splitting booms. In this watery labyrinth, traps mostly sprang from the currents themselves.
Relying on his fearsome body, enhanced by Tiamat, Yuto entered the raging torrent unarmored. The water sliced like countless blades, its speed defying belief under immense pressure. The relentless streams battered his flesh like steel knives, sparking thousands of sharp bursts in an instant.
A leap from the Giant Blue Waterfall could bypass the 25th and 26th floors, landing one on the 27th, home to the Labyrinth Lone King. Yet no one in history had dared such a reckless feat. The drop was too vast, the depths too perilous; even Level 6 or 7 adventurers wouldn't risk it. A single misstep into the rapids and down the falls meant certain doom, beyond any healer's aid.
But Yuto, a master of bold challenges, thrived on the extreme. His eyes sharpened as immense magic surged around him. Heavy armor plates materialized on his body, rising and falling like breathing scales before shaping him into a dragon-like form. A golden crystal fused to him, melting into a scalding liquid that spread from his chest outward. Within seconds, the dense golden magic clarified into a translucent aura, warping the space around him with each breath.
"Self-Modification: Water Dragon Form." A skill from the Mother Goddess of All Things, it let him adapt his body for any fight. He dove into the water, his dense scales flaring open. A tail like twelve giant shears carved a steady path through the torrent. With a final surge, he leaped downward.
The waterfall's fury unleashed blasts rivaling grand water magic, but Yuto felt no pain. Shrouded in mist, he landed swiftly on the 27th floor.
To level up fast, tackling higher floors was key. Flying swiftly on his wings, he soon faced the floor's boss: the Tower King, the Two-Headed Dragon, Amphisbaena.
Amid falling rocks, a massive shadow descended, its wings stirring a gale that cleared the dust. In the misty glow, the dragon's toothy maws lunged at him. Its roar alone shook the air, a testament to its might.
Undaunted, Yuto charged forward as he projected Gram: Dawn of Destruction.
Thunderous echoes layered as he swung his radiant sword, splitting the space with a violent quake. The dragon's final roar faded into ashes under the blinding magic, its minions leaving only Magic Stones behind.
After gathering the stones, Yuto turned to leave, only to find two Apollo Familia girls at the exit, holding an invitation. Their eyes carried pity.
"Mr. Yuto," said the long-haired girl, stepping forward. "This is for you."
The letter, marked with a bow and sun, clearly came from Apollo, the sun god. The short-haired girl spoke next. "I'm Daphne, and this is Cassandra. We're from Apollo Familia."
Their distinct beauty caught Yuto's eye. 'They'd be great additions to Hestia's Familia,' he thought. 'Especially Cassandra, her prophetic gift from the original story makes her a rare find.'
Cassandra's long hair framed her shy demeanor, but her stunning figure drew attention effortlessly. Yuto's pensive look, she murmured, "If it's inconvenient, you don't have to come." Going meant catching Apollo's eye, a risk she kindly warned him of, revealing her gentle heart.
Daphne, with her commanding presence and sharp eyes, sighed and tapped Cassandra's head, eliciting a soft yelp. "We're just messengers, kid. Deliver this to Hestia. We're done here."
Still, Cassandra cast him a sympathetic glance. "Goodbye. Stay strong."
Watching them hurry off, Yuto chuckled in frustration. "What's this nonsense?"
…..
That evening, Apollo Familia's banquet lit up Orario. The lavish decor; opulent furniture, dazzling lights, and striking god statues, screamed wealth and importance.
Yutoi arrived with Hestia, their striking looks drawing every eye.
"That's Hestia's prized boy, I'd love to steal him," one goddess mused.
"So talented and handsome, Orario's genius indeed," another chimed.
"Wow, Hestia, lend him to me for a bit!" a third teased.
Familiar goddesses swarmed him, pressing close with bold affection. The soft contact made Yuto squint slightly.
"Back off! He's mine!" Hestia yanked him back protectively.
'How dare they target my man?'
Before she could protest further, the hall dimmed, spotlighting Apollo. His greedy gaze lingered on Yuto, barely contained. "Hestia, I challenge you to a War Game!"
"What?" The crowd erupted.
A War Game pitted Familia members as pieces in a divine proxy war. The winner claimed all, dictating any terms.
"Classic Apollo," one god remarked.
"He's after that pretty boy," another whispered.
"This is unfair, Hestia's Familia is just one person," a third giggled.
"I…" Hestia faltered, pale and unprepared amid the murmurs. How could she stop this?
As panic gripped her, Yuto stepped behind her. "Don't worry. I'll fight this divine war for you."
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━
patreon.com/DUKE3500 for advance chapters for all the novels i translate for 2$