The familiar bustle of the Guild Hall buzzed with noise—adventurers shouting over each other, bags of loot being dropped on counters, and the sharp clink of coin being counted. The scent of sweat, parchment, and steel hung heavy in the air.
Ethan stepped inside with Lili walking confidently beside him, her cloak slightly torn, pouches packed full with loot from their first official dive. They made their way through the crowd, past rows of bulletin boards and update stations, toward the front desk.
A bored-looking receptionist glanced up, eyes slightly widening as she noticed Ethan's dust-covered gear and the sheer amount of loot Lili was carrying. "Turning in materials?" she asked, standing a bit straighter.
"Yes," Ethan replied. "From the first through sixth floors."
The woman nodded, already preparing a form. "Please empty the contents here."
Lili went to work, efficiently pulling out magic stones, fangs, hides, claws, and even a silverback tusk. It took several trays and an extra set of hands from another clerk just to catalog everything.
Ethan leaned against the counter, watching the organized chaos. His muscles still ached, but not from fatigue—rather, from being on the edge for so long. In that last fight… he could feel it. That strange tension in his body. A wall pressing in from all sides.
He was close to the ceiling of Level 1.
The stats he'd seen with Hestia a few days ago were already starting to feel outdated. His body moved smoother, faster. His instincts sharpened. He knew he wasn't strong enough to match a Level 4 adventurer—but in terms of stats, he was pushing right up against the boundary.
And still… he wasn't satisfied.
His hand curled slightly into a fist. Not yet. It was a silent mantra now. Not yet.
Lili returned from organizing the final batch and stood beside him, bouncing slightly on her toes as they waited.
"You're thinking again," she said, glancing up.
"Always."
"You're different from most adventurers I've met. Most are happy just getting paid."
"I'm not here to get rich," Ethan said, his voice low. "I'm here to reach something."
Lili looked at him curiously but didn't ask more.
A few minutes later, the receptionist returned with a receipt and a bag of coins. "Total comes to 106,000 valis. Quite the haul for a two-person party."
Ethan nodded. "Thanks."
The coin pouch was heavier than usual. Lili beamed, clearly proud. "That should cover church repairs, gear maintenance, and still leave a bit extra."
He handed her a small cut, and she blinked in surprise. "Ethan-sama…?"
"You're my partner. You earned it."
Lili hesitated, then accepted it with a smile that made her look a little less like a thief and a little more like someone proud of their place in the world.
As they stepped outside into the afternoon light, the streets of Orario buzzing with life, Ethan took a deep breath. His eyes drifted toward the distant tower, rising into the sky like a blade piercing the heavens.
"There's a floor boss waiting past the tenth floor," he murmured.
Lili looked at him in alarm. "You're not thinking of going soon, are you?"
He shook his head. "Not yet. But we'll get there. Soon."
She sighed in relief, then grinned. "Let me guess… you want to push the limits of Level 1 before you level up?"
"You know me too well."
"Ethan-sama…" she groaned, half-joking, "I don't want to carry you out of the Dungeon every week."
He chuckled under his breath. "Then keep training. I'll be counting on you."
The sky above them glowed orange with the setting sun. Behind them, the Guild doors closed as another day ended—but for Ethan and Lili, it was only the beginning of something far greater.
Deeper levels. Stronger monsters. And the looming test that would decide the fate of their growth.
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