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[Chapter Size: 1773 Words]
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Following Alise and the still bickering duo, I made my way towards the back of the room where the Vidar and the Dionysus Familia were getting treatment.
Il looked like the treatment was complete as the injured people were now standing and talking to each other in low voices.
"I've healed you all as much as I can, the following treatment can be done in the 18th floor, following which you'll be back to your full strength."
To a side, Airmid was standing next to a brown-haired girl with blue eyes and Bete and Sigil, the captain of the Dionysus Familia. They looked like they were discussing about the follow-up treatment.
There were a few adventurers who looked pale and weak while the others were all wrapped up with bandages already.
Alise directly went to Airmid's group and greeted the other captains, while Kaguya, Ryu and Lyra stopped behind to discuss with Maryuu.
After about ten or so minutes, all the three groups made their way to the 18th Floor, the Under Resort.
...
Walking down a slanting path through the huge door on the other end of Monster Rex's room, the first thing I noticed was the bright light streaming in through the opening at the end of the slanting path.
The light streaming in was almost comparable to the light from the sun outside, nothing like the earlier floors of the dungeon, with only limited visibility.
Next was the size of the 'Under Resort', the 18th floor, the height of the ceiling alone was 40 -50 meters or even greater than that.
'WoW'
I let out an involuntary gasp looking up at the ceiling and seeing the sheer number of crystals embedded in the ceiling.
It was really mind-blowing seeing it for the first time.
The crystals embedded there were emitting an azure light, sprinkling it all over the 18th floor.
Looking at the greenery in front of me, I felt that the floor know aptly named as the dungeon utopia: the Under Resort.
Another plus point was this floor also being the first safety point in the dungeon, where monsters did not spawn, except for monsters coming up or down from the 19th or 17th floor.
There was also a forest some distance away from where I was standing.
The trees were thick and lush with huge roots winding above the ground.
I was once again awestruck, this was nothing like the dungeon, instead it looked like a forest on the surface.
A variety of colorful fruits growing on the trees in the forest, making me wonder if they were edible.
"The red fruits and yellow fruits are edible, the green and pink ones are not edible, the purple fruits over there are poisonous, be careful of them."
Overhearing a excited Maryuu speaking about the types of fruits, I silently withdrew my hand that was reaching out for the purple fruit which was 'poisonous'.
Walking along the man made trail through the forest, I could see groups of sparkling crystals embedded in the floor randomly all over the place, emitting light.
Jumping over another exposed root and emerging from the forest, a vast plain appeared before me with a colossal tree standing tall right in the center of the floor.
Diverting from the main path, the group instead took a side path upon seeing some sign board stuck on the sides of the path.
Looking at the sign board, it was divided into two parts.
The first was the emblem of the Hermes Familia, a feathered hat with wings next to it and the Guild's symbol in the next part.
...
Asfi Al Andromeda, a month-old captain of the Hermes Familia, was having a bad day.
A simple scouting trip to the tree labyrinth had gone awry, the monsters on the 19 and 20th floor which could easily be defeated by a level 2 had grown stronger.
If earlier, a level 2 adventurer was able to withstand the poison inflicted from the monsters those floors, now the same adventurers would struggle against it.
The Hermes Familia had to cut short their scouting trip, as even if she could easily cruise through the monsters, others from her familia were struggling against the enhanced monsters and their poisons.
"Falgar, how is their situation now of those afflicted with the monsters venoms?" Asfi asked the male weretiger who just entered the tent with a tense expression.
"Asfi, it's under control now, no one is in any life-threatening danger and Suicia [Level 3] was able to recover from the poison afflicted but the other five Level 2's are still unconscious. The high-grade elixirs we bought from the Dian Cecht Familia, shall we try them?"
The weretiger with brownish-blond hair and eyes, gave a report of the situation and questioned her.
"Those two really cost an arm and a leg to buy, can't we use the others like the special antidotes we bought with them. And I want to store those two for any fatal wounds."
Asfi spoke in a tone filled with regret, thinking about any other methods they could use, those two elixirs cost 50 million valis each and were really the last option in her mind.
Falgar not paying attention to Asfi's regretful words, dropped his tense look, spoke in a lighter tone while chuckling,
"Asfi, just now the lookouts posted at the 18th Floor entrance spotted the members of the Astraea Familia and a few others tagging along them."
"Falgar, shouldn't you say that to me first, let's welcome them and see if they can help us with the poison."
Asfi let out a sigh of relief, she knew that the Astraea Familia had a level 4 healer, she could ask their help for her familia members.
Quickly exiting the main tent with Falgar following behind her, she made her way to the entrance of the camp just in time to see the girls of the Astraea Familia come into view.
"Ah"
Asfi gave a small exclamation seeing a face which she recognized from a few days back.
The yellow haired boy, with whom Hermes, disguised as an old man, was talking to on the Bridge of Heroes was now walking behind the Astraea Familia carrying a supporter's bag.
After staying with Hermes for a while, she had picked up an habit of finding information on anything that seemed a coincidence or especially if Hermes himself was involved in the situation.
"Falgar, if possible ask someone to investigate about the boy with the Astraea Familia. "
She spoke to the weretiger next to her with a small voice, which was acknowledged with a brief nod from the beast-human.
Asfi was pleasantly surprised to see the Airmid in the ranks of the Astraea Familia, she had thought that Finn would insist to bring the Dian Cecht's prized healer with him in the main party of the expedition.
But this surprise was a welcome one, treating the members of her Familia would now become easier.
"Lion-san, Alise-san."
"You guys came at the right time, there are huge changes in the middle floor and below, we may even need to make some changes to our expedition and we also need your help."
"We'll can discuss in detail about it in the main tent."
Looking at the Astraea girls in front of her, especially the cheery smile on Alise's face and the composed Ryu standing opposite her, Asfi felt as if a heavy weight on her shoulders was lifted.
"Asfi, I know that I'm very dependable, but regarding the expedition, shouldn't we wait till Finn and the Loki Familia come here and then discuss about it."
Alise puffed out her chest and spoke as if to appear more dependable.
" I'll explain the situation to the Loki Familia also when they arrive, for now I'll update you guys on the latest information we've gathered."
Asfi looked at Alise and spoke out.
"In that case, no problem let's go, ah, but before that can you show these guys the infirmary? They still need follow up treatment."
Alise said while looking at the other two Familia's behind us.
It looked like Bete wanted to say something, but Selene quickly pulled him back.
"Sure, Falgar, please show them the infirmary and ask the healers there to treat them."
....
Entering the camp, I slowed down allowing Alise and the others to walk ahead.
Looking around, I could see a few people and beast-humans at the side preparing food, a few blacksmith's hammering away at the piece of metal on their anvils.
There were even a few people carrying items to and fro, everyone was busy doing something or the other.
"Excuse me, can I help with anything?"
Stopping a dwarf who was holding a pad and shouting orders, and looked like the person in charge, I asked if I could help with anything.
Standing simply while the others were busy or doing something did not sit well with me.
"And, who migh' you be?"
The dwarf stared at me for a moment as if trying to maybe remember if he had seen me before? and then questioned me after a while.
"I'm an adventurer, just reached the camp and wanted to see if there was anything I could help with."
Taking out my badge I showed it to him.
"Strange people. An adventurer asking if he can help around."
Nodding at the badge I showed him, he spoke.
"Anyway not my problem if ya wan' 'o help, in that case, can you help with transferring the chunks of metal at the back of the camp to the blacksmiths? Just walk down between those two tents at the back, you'll find chunks of metal, you need to get them."
He pointed towards two tents at the back and gave me my task.
Walking in the direction he had pointed to, I could see chunks of metal pieces piled up together as if it was scrap metal.
...
After doing a few more simple requests, I sat down on a chair which was placed in the shade of a tent.
The tent was a single person tent near the left most corner of the camp, which the dwarf had given me as thanks for helping out.
Sitting on the chair and looking around and not seeing anyone, I enlarged the system's map on the corner of my vision; the entire camp was marked in detail, from where the main tents were located, to the side exits were.
This was also one of the reasons I was interested in helping around the camp, as without a reason I could not just walk around the camp blatantly without appearing suspicious.
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[ A / N : Back with a new chapter !! ヾ(≧▽≦*)o ]