Danmachi: The Focalors Familia — Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Supporter

Causing a massive stir was by no means a good thing for the newly established Focalors Familia. They lacked a stable foundation in Orario, and while Noah did not fear trouble, he deeply disliked it. His only desire was to develop quietly in the shadows, at least until he could steadily grow to Level 3 and possess enough confidence to calmly face all the trials this city had to offer.

Compared to the quiet joy and bright prospects brewing within the Focalors Familia, the atmosphere over at the Loki Familia was suffocatingly depressed.

Because of Noah’s departure, the effects of his skill, The Abyss That Gazes Back, had vanished into thin air. The Dungeon no longer spawned the bizarre new creatures known as Slimes and Hilichurls. When the Loki Familia expedition excitedly descended into the Dungeon, they found a reality vastly different from the Guild’s thrilling reports. They spent an entire half-day scouring the floors, only to find a pathetic handful of surviving Slimes and Hilichurls that had somehow escaped the initial purge.

“What is going on? Where are the monsters? What happened to the massive horde we were promised?”

Tiona swung her massive double-edged sword, Urga, boredly striking a shower of orange sparks against the Dungeon wall.

“Tch, what a waste of time.” Bete Loga leaned heavily against the stone corridor, his face twisted in deep annoyance.

Despite the overwhelming disappointment, Riveria maintained her cold composure. She ordered everyone to carefully record the combat data of the few monsters they had found, documenting their attack patterns, physical weaknesses, and dropped items in detail to submit to the Guild.

Yet, the high-ranking adventurers remained completely in the dark regarding the specific cause of this Dungeon anomaly. That short, intense monster disturbance seemed like nothing more than a strange hiccup from the Dungeon itself. It came quickly and vanished just as fast, leaving behind only a frustrating puzzle that left the greatest minds of Orario utterly perplexed.

A single night of deep rest swept away the heavy fatigue of the previous day. That astonishing growth in their ability values transformed into a vibrant, thrumming energy within their veins. Early the next morning, just as the pale light of dawn began to brighten the eastern sky, Noah and Robin set off once again.

Their first stop was the Hephaestus Familia weapon shop located in the bustling Eighth District.

Noah’s goal was clear and pragmatic. He casually sold the chipped, battered longsword that had been on the verge of shattering during yesterday’s intense battles to a young apprentice at the counter. Then, he used the vast majority of the wealth he had harvested to outfit himself with a brand-new set of equipment.

He selected a standard longsword boasting fine craftsmanship, a perfectly straight blade, and a moderate weight that balanced flawlessly in his grip. To complement his offense, he purchased several pieces of light armor forged from hardened leather and reinforced metal plates, including a sturdy chest piece, a pair of vambraces, and protective greaves. Although they were mundane items devoid of any special magical properties, their durability was far superior to the cheap wares peddled in ordinary weapon shops.

These practical upgrades alone cost them over forty thousand valis.

Leaving the rhythmic clanging of the weapon shop behind, the two hurried through the awakening streets toward the Dian Cecht Familia shop to secure their medical supplies. Unlike the rugged, soot-stained interior of the Hephaestus Familia, this establishment was bright, pristine, and immaculate. The air was thick with the refreshing, earthy scent of crushed herbs and medicinal extracts, while the staff in crisp white uniforms moved with quiet, professional efficiency.

Noah did not even spare a glance at the expensive, alluringly glowing high-grade Spirit Medicines displayed on the distant velvet shelves, let alone the exorbitantly priced elixirs locked behind glass. Those were not luxuries they could afford at their current stage, nor did they have any urgent need for such potent healing.

His primary target was Mind recovery potions. He fully intended to start training his Magic attribute during their upcoming descents, and for Robin, who operated as a pure mage, a deep reservoir of Mind was the absolute key to her combat endurance.

In the end, they purchased ten small vials of Mind recovery potions and five bottles of standard low-grade Spirit Medicine. Their heavy money pouch shrank at a visible, painful rate. The seventy thousand valis that had felt like a king’s ransom just last night were squandered in an instant, even overdrawing a portion of Noah’s private stash to cover the final cost.

When the two finally arrived fully armed at the towering base of Babel, ready to brave the Dungeon’s depths once more, they were immediately swarmed by a desperate crowd.

“You two Adventurers, do you need a Supporter? I am very strong and can carry all your heavy loot.”

“Look at me, please. I am incredibly familiar with the upper floor terrain and can guide you safely.”

These were the freelance Supporters who gathered like vultures at the Dungeon entrance. They possessed sharp, calculating eyes and could tell at a single glance that Noah’s leather and metal equipment was brand new, completely devoid of any battle damage., the elegant staff resting in Robin’s grip practically screamed wealth. To the desperate crowd, this was a glaringly obvious signal. A small, wealthy party that likely lacked practical experience was the absolute ideal employer.

Amidst the noisy, overlapping sales pitches, Noah’s calm gaze was drawn to a tiny figure struggling fiercely to squeeze her way out of the pressing crowd.

It was a dog-person girl with an incredibly petite stature, looking almost identical to a Pallum. She possessed fluffy brown short hair that perfectly matched her twitching beast ears and the tail swaying nervously behind her. Her large, expressive eyes glinted with a mix of shrewdness and desperate longing that completely contradicted her weak, fragile appearance.

“Um… Adventurer.” The girl’s voice was a bit timid, trembling slightly, but her gaze remained stubbornly firm. “My name is Liliruca Arde, and I am a Supporter for the Soma Familia. Please, you must hire me. My fee is very cheap, and I am willing to do any dirty or tiring work you need.”

Liliruca Arde.

Hearing that familiar name, a faint ripple stirred within the calm depths of Noah’s heart. Although he had transmigrated to this world many years ago, and countless memories from his past life had long since begun to blur into obscurity, he still vividly remembered this specific name. She was one of the core members of the original protagonist’s fated group.

He knew exactly what hid beneath that pitiful facade. Before she met that naive, fated boy, the Liliruca Arde standing before him was a deeply problematic individual. Because of her agonizing childhood experiences and the cruelty of her Familia, she harbored an extreme hatred and deep distrust for all Adventurers. She would expertly weaponize her pitiful, helpless appearance to harvest sympathy, only to ruthlessly cheat her employers in the dark depths of the Dungeon, stealing their expensive equipment and hard-earned loot.

While she would never go so far as to take a human life, a staggering number of Adventurers had been left penniless and stranded by her deceit. At this very moment, as she approached them on her own initiative, those seemingly innocent, pleading eyes were undoubtedly locked onto the expensive magical staff resting lightly in Robin’s hand.

Noah freely admitted that in the distant future, she would blossom into a brilliant strategist with exceptional command abilities, not to mention being a petite and charming girl in her own right.

But he possessed absolutely zero interest in any of that.

He was not a lolicon, nor was he some self-righteous savior overflowing with boundless saintly compassion. He already had a stunning Goddess waiting for him at home, and standing right beside him was Robin, an existence whose sheer elegance and mature temperament were more than enough to outshine the vast majority of divine beings in this city. For a man like him, there were exceedingly few women in this world who could ever inspire the desire to actively pursue or entertain them.

also, his current and absolute primary goal was to develop his strength quietly and methodically. He had no intention of shackling himself to a walking disaster who might stab him in the back or vanish with his vital supplies at any given moment.

Therefore, Noah merely cast a cold, indifferent glance over her small frame. He refused her decisively, his tone completely devoid of any warmth or emotion.

“We do not need a Supporter.”

That single, uncompromising sentence instantly shattered the noisy sales pitches echoing around them.

The surrounding Supporters, hearing the absolute finality in his unhesitating refusal, simply shook their heads in quiet regret and tactfully dispersed back into the plaza. They did not have precious time to waste on a lost cause. Noah’s glacial attitude clearly left no room for negotiation.