Danmachi, Ch 101-105

Chapter 101 – Lowering the Bar for More People

“I’m guessing Lady Loki’s side won’t be much of an issue.”

Raul’s whole mission with the Pleasure Quarter courtesan had been to deliver false intel, and now that Ishtar had taken the bait exactly as planned, things were progressing smoothly.

Still, seeing the way Raul fidgeted, Tsuna decided not to say anything.

Sometimes ignorance really was bliss. The less the person involved knew, the better for everyone—especially in matters like this.

Tsuna ordered breakfast from a nearby counter and picked a quiet corner to sit.

He had just settled down when two familiar figures dropped into the seats across from him.

He looked up—oh boy.

Tiona and Tione Hiryute.

The very same two who had bolted naked out of his room that morning.

“…Morning.”

“Morning, Tsuna,” Tiona chirped, flashing her usual bright smile.

She looked a little embarrassed, but not uncomfortable. Not the kind of expression you’d expect from someone traumatized by what happened.

Tione, on the other hand, looked more conflicted. But she didn’t seem angry—thankfully.

“Tione, you…”

“Don’t worry about it,” she cut him off, face slightly pink. “You just saw a little, that’s all. Nothing to make a fuss over.”

Yeah, right.

Tsuna looked at her reddened cheeks and doubted even she believed that. Still, the fact that she hadn’t already punched him meant she wasn’t truly upset.

Which was good. It meant he was still alive.

The air between them grew a bit awkward—until Tiona broke it with her usual lack of subtlety.

“Hey, Tsuna, what was up with that bath anyway? It felt amazing! Like, I lay down and could’ve fallen asleep right there.”

“That’s a healing bath,” he explained. “Just like the name suggests, it’s used for recovery and pain relief. It works differently from an Elixir—it’s slower, but it soothes fatigue and soreness, and gradually restores muscle damage. It’s relaxing enough that most people get drowsy while soaking.”

“No wonder it felt so warm and cozy,” Tiona murmured, eyes lighting up. Then she pouted. “But wait—why didn’t you tell us about it yesterday, after training?”

“Wasn’t that because Tione brought it up?” Tsuna replied, glancing at her sister.

“Eh? Me?” Tione blinked in confusion.

Tsuna nodded. “You asked if I had any way to help you recover your condition, remember?”

“I meant something like a massage to loosen the muscles,” she admitted. “If I’d said that clearly, I’m sure we both would’ve helped.”

“Exactly.” Tsuna gave a wry smile. “But since you two had just finished adapting to the Training Space, I figured if you even touched me, I’d end up flying out the window.”

“‘Flying out’…?”

Both sisters went silent. The same image popped into their minds—pressing a hand on Tsuna’s back a little too hard, and the resulting crack crack crack of shattered bones.

Beads of sweat formed on their foreheads.

Even if it was just imagination, it wasn’t far from reality. After all, they really had adapted to the brutal environment inside the Training Space. It wouldn’t be hard to accidentally use that kind of force.

“Ah, so that’s what you were thinking.”

Tione suddenly recalled poking Tsuna lightly yesterday—probably what made him decide against asking them for help.

“Anyway,” Tsuna continued, “you two can use it yourselves after training. I haven’t made it public yet since it still needs testing, but from what I’ve observed, the more skin contact with the liquid, the stronger the effect. Still, if it’s not in your own room, I suggest wearing something—otherwise, it might cause… unnecessary problems.”

The twins’ faces flushed simultaneously, both remembering exactly what kind of “problem” had already happened that morning.

Even Amazons had limits to how bold they could be.

“Tsuna, don’t hide the real issue,” Tione muttered, cheeks still pink.

He didn’t argue—just gave a small, knowing smile.

He’d only brought it up as a friendly reminder. After all, this wasn’t a women’s bathhouse. Unless it was in someone’s private room, a little caution was necessary.

Tione inhaled deeply, forcing her expression back to normal before switching to a more serious tone.

“The Training Space is even harsher than I expected. The environment’s brutal—just breathing feels like inhaling fire and ice at the same time. It burns the lungs, and the air’s so thin it’s hard to even catch your breath.”

Having personally experienced it, she knew exactly how torturous that environment could be.

“Controlling your breathing is everything,” Tsuna explained. “If you don’t, it only gets worse once the real training starts. It’s the same concept as managing stamina—control your breathing intensity, and you can create external pressure on the body. That’s what pushes someone to their limits faster.”

The entire purpose of the Training Space was to enhance efficiency—to push Adventurers toward their physical and mental limits without killing them.

It was extreme, yes, but that extremity was what made it work.

Tione frowned slightly but nodded in agreement. “Still, that makes it hard to introduce this to the whole Familia. Most people can’t handle an environment that extreme. Even you almost collapsed in there yesterday.”

“True,” Tsuna admitted, reflecting on that moment. He’d nearly blacked out himself.

“…Then how about this?” he said after a pause. “I’ll make another version—a less severe environment, one designed specifically for level one to level three Adventurers. That way, they can adapt gradually to the conditions.”

Tione and Tiona exchanged looks—then smiled.

That was Tsuna for you. Always thinking ahead.

Chapter 102: Recognition from the Big Three

“Yeah. Lowering the pressure and reducing the growth rate of Status will weaken the effect, but it’ll also increase the number of people who can handle the strain.”

Tione nodded thoughtfully. She knew the overall situation of their Familia better than most.

The Loki Familia wasn’t like the Astraea Familia, where every single member was an elite. The majority of Loki Familia members were still Level 1 or Level 2 Adventurers.

Even with Tsuna’s support easing the burden of Expeditions, the Familia still needed to nurture its lower-level Adventurers.

Only by raising the strength of those at the bottom could they truly lessen the strain of Expeditions and bolster the Familia’s middle ranks.

“Tione, how many low-level Adventurers do we have right now?”

“Sixty percent… maybe closer to seventy.”

Tsuna blinked at that number. He hadn’t realized just how many low-level Adventurers there were within the Loki Familia.

“Nine hundred and seventeen? That’s way more than I expected.”

“This is already normal for us,” Tione said calmly, easily guessing what surprised him.

She’d joined the Loki Familia shortly after arriving in the Labyrinth City. Only after learning about the number of high-level Adventurers in Orario did she understand that the city’s golden age had long since passed.

“Right now, about sixty percent of the entire city’s population are Adventurers. But among them, ninety percent are Level 1s. Only ten percent have reached Level 2 or higher.”

“Sure, part of that is because Orario’s general population is massive, but that doesn’t change the fact that the overall quality of Adventurers has plummeted.”

“The main reason probably ties back to the Great Feud three years ago.”

“Too many Adventurers died back then. If not for that era’s casualties, the proportion of low-level Adventurers wouldn’t be so lopsided.”

The Great Feud, huh...

Tsuna repeated the term silently.

That era when the evil god Erebus appeared, alongside the two former Heroes—Silence and Gluttony—had given the Labyrinth City both tragedy and a future.

Countless lives were lost, yet out of that chaos, new hope was born.

Freya Familia’s Level 7 and the three Level 6s of Loki Familia had all emerged from that same period.

But that fact also revealed something harsh—true salvation had long since drifted out of reach for ordinary Adventurers. When the world was on the brink of ruin, only a handful could stand at the forefront.

That was why the city now lingered in such stagnation.

The golden age is already gone. What’s left—Freya Familia and Loki Familia—are just the last rays of its sunset.

For the first time, Tsuna fully grasped that truth.

It really does feel like the surface glitter of this era is about to crack apart.

No wonder so many Heroes who once saved the world are being reborn one after another. Maybe this really is the dawn of a second salvation.

Still, my own world wasn’t much different.

When he thought about it, the story of the Tenth Vongola being a “younger version” of the First wasn’t far off.

The only problem was how rushed that ending had been.

It always felt wrong—like that ramen-obsessed man pulling the world’s strings wouldn’t just give up so easily.

And the whole “Flame of Night” thing? It felt like a movie-exclusive gimmick that got awkwardly forced into canon, tying the seven Sky Flames together and magically stabilizing the world.

It’s honestly ridiculous.

And seriously, is seven to the power of three supposed to be that important?

Creating a world out of seven breakable stones? Yeah, I’m not buying it.

Tsuna set aside his doubts for now. The early arcs of the inheritance saga had made sense—but after that, things had started ballooning out of control.

The Earth that once fought the Sky was now a mere stepping stone on the roadside. Even thinking about it made him wince.

“Tsuna?”

“Huh? Yeah, I’m listening.”

He snapped back to the present at Tione’s voice.

“So, the main reason we’ve got so many low-level Adventurers… is it because they can’t raise their Status fast enough?”

“Pretty much. Most Adventurers only Level Up once they barely meet the minimum requirements and earn enough Excellia.”

“But in reality, the majority can’t even reach that minimum threshold.”

There was a hint of helplessness—and confusion—in Tione’s tone.

As someone blessed with talent, she could never quite understand why so many people couldn’t even meet the basic standards for advancement.

And unfortunately, that was the situation for most of the Loki Familia’s lower ranks.

“That’s because everyone’s talent is different, Tione…”

As Tsuna and Tione spoke, another voice joined in.

Finn had wandered over—along with Riveria and Gareth.

All three of them had caught the earlier part of Tsuna and Tione’s conversation. And they knew full well what Tsuna intended—to help the entire Familia start climbing higher.

It was something they’d been trying to solve themselves for a long time, but none of them had found a true answer.

Yet this newcomer, barely a month into the Familia, had found a solution.

Even if it wasn’t one they could replicate, it was still incredible—because that solution came from Tsuna’s own unique ability.

“Captain,” Tione greeted, starting to stand. But Finn motioned for her to sit. He took a seat beside Tsuna instead.

“So… you’re planning to lead the whole Familia forward now?”

“Finn, you make it sound like I actually have that kind of ability.”

“You do.”

Tsuna blinked at the certainty in Finn’s tone.

The Pallum’s expression was calm, but his words carried conviction.

He truly believed Tsuna’s arrival wasn’t just coincidence.

Maybe—just maybe—Tsuna was meant to bring a spark of hope back to this world that had begun to stagnate.

Finn, the child fated to one day walk the path of a Hero, didn’t believe in miracles easily.

Sure, the so-called “Hero’s child” from the tales might eventually rise to greatness, growing at an incredible pace with godlike potential.

But Finn couldn’t ignore what was right in front of him—Tsuna already possessed that kind of power.

Even back when he was just Level 1, Tsuna had shown ability and insight beyond reason. He even knew parts of a “future story.”

Given that, it was hard for Finn to believe that the supposed Hero’s child years down the line could outshine the person sitting beside him now.

Between waiting for destiny and seizing the present, Finn knew which choice he’d make.

“Compared to that ‘Hero’s child’ you mentioned,” he said firmly, “I believe in your ability more.”

“I share that sentiment,” Riveria added softly.

“The creativity, insight, and drive you’ve shown… it’s far beyond what I expected.”

“And more importantly,” she continued, her emerald eyes steady, “you don’t just grow alone—you bring everyone else along with you. That makes you far more fitting for the role you’ve been given.”

Gareth grunted in agreement. “Aye. On that point, I’m with them.”

Chapter 103: Giving Himself a Reason

“…Let’s skip that topic for now.”

Tsuna still wasn’t mentally ready to step onto that particular path. Finn Deimne didn’t seem surprised.

From Tsuna’s actions so far, Finn already knew—he was cautious. Tsuna never agreed to things lightly.

But Finn wasn’t worried.

Right now, Tsuna was still just a newcomer to the Familia. Even if he didn’t make a decision now, Finn was certain he would, eventually. It was only a matter of time.

“Then let’s go back to what we were discussing earlier.”

Finn smoothly shifted the topic back to their original discussion.

“Lowering the environmental intensity of that space is the best option.”

“Keep it at a level that most members can endure, and let lower-level Adventurers have a suitable space for growth.”

“Also, from now on, when we recruit, it shouldn’t just be based on talent. We need to consider whether the person is trustworthy.”

In the short term, Finn had no intention of letting new recruits join the Familia—unless they were truly reliable.

Like the two people Tsuna had mentioned before when they discussed potential candidates: Sanjouno Haruhime and Cassandra Ilion.

They’d been busy with Expeditions for a while now, but it was time to start reviewing those two for promotion.

“So, we’re taking the elite route for now? That’s actually a smart move.”

Riveria Ljos Alf nodded slightly. The current situation made such an approach possible.

As long as Tsuna could lead everyone on the path of growth together, the current number of members in the Loki Familia was already sufficient.

Expanding further would only increase the risk of someone leaking Tsuna’s secret. Stopping recruitment temporarily wasn’t just safe—it was necessary.

“The next round of recruitment should wait until our current low-level Adventurers take that crucial step forward.”

Riveria chuckled a little to herself after saying that.

If other Familias heard her right now, they’d probably think she’d gone insane.

But the crazy part was—under Tsuna’s guidance, this so-called “impossible dream” might actually come true.

That was what made it funny—and incredible.

“Are you guys seriously putting this much faith in me?”

The Big Three exchanged glances and laughed together.

“Not too much,” Finn replied with a grin. “Just the right amount.”

“Finn,” Riveria asked teasingly, “you really think they can do it?”

“Of course.”

Finn’s voice was full of conviction as his clear eyes locked on Tsuna.

“Every Adventurer dreams of reaching their goal one day.”

“They all became Adventurers for their own reasons—and it’s because of those reasons that we all gathered here.”

“The difference is, we had a bit more talent than most. That’s why we’ve made it this far, while they’re still struggling below.”

“But if they’re given a clear chance to grow, I don’t think any Adventurer would let that chance slip by.”

The ones still stuck at Level 1 weren’t there because they wanted to be.

No matter how hard they trained, their Status growth crawled at a snail’s pace. Some had been at it for years—long enough to graduate from the Guild Academy—yet still hadn’t reached the standard needed to Level Up.

What they lacked wasn’t effort. It was opportunity.

“And you,” Finn said, leaning back slightly, “don’t you have your own reason for becoming an Adventurer too?”

“If they can keep up with us, won’t that help you as well?”

That last line hit home. Tsuna didn’t deny it. Of course it would help him.

No matter how capable he was, Tsuna knew he couldn’t handle everything on his own.

Strengthening the Familia would only make things easier for him.

A Familia that bloomed on all fronts would also make it easier for him to stay hidden.

Until he was strong enough, Tsuna had no intention of standing in the spotlight. He needed others to draw the Gods’ attention instead.

While the deities obsessed over how such a “miracle” came to be, he’d use that distraction to go even further.

And the stronger and more balanced the Familia became, the deeper they could venture into the Dungeon.

Somewhere in those depths lay the final of the Three Great Commissions—

the very cause of this world’s potential apocalypse.

Maybe once he reached that level of power—when he could sense that location for himself—he’d be able to quietly slip away.

But Tsuna knew deep down that he probably wouldn’t.

He wasn’t someone who made friends easily. Back in his old world, he hadn’t had many close bonds.

Yet here… he’d met so many people.

Knowing that this world was fated to end, knowing that if he did nothing, they’d all die—there was no way Tsuna could just turn his back.

At least not until he’d done something to fix it.

Let’s call this a rehearsal for solving my own world’s mess.

Tsuna gave himself that perfect justification.

Building strength here could very well help him later.

And even if I can’t fix things back home… at least I’ll have somewhere to fall back to.

So before anything else—I need to make sure the foundation here is solid.

“I don’t know if it’ll work,” he said quietly, “but… I think I’ve found some motivation.”

Finn noticed the subtle change in Tsuna’s eyes and felt relief wash over him.

He didn’t have a divine ability to read minds like a God, but he didn’t need one.

He could tell Tsuna had just found his reason—and that was enough.

Whatever that reason was, Finn didn’t care. The result was what mattered.

“I can’t predict how things will play out in the end,” Tsuna added, “but Finn, you’d better be ready.”

“How about we test the waters for a week first?”

“We’ll build their confidence—give them something real to show for it. Once they see results, I think things will go just like you said.”

“Deal!”

Finn burst out laughing, unrestrained.

A week was plenty. Once everyone saw their progress, that old fire—the ambition they’d once lost—would start burning again.

“Riveria, Gareth,” Finn said, his grin wide, “looks like we’ve got some work to do.”

“Hahaha! That’s not a bad thing,” Gareth replied, his booming laughter filling the room. “I’ve been itching for something fun to tackle.”

He could already see it—the shape of a brighter, more exciting future ahead.

What lay before them was an unknown world, and the choices they made now would shape it.

Leading everyone forward together was just the first step.

Riveria sighed softly, shaking her head as she watched the two men grin like kids.

“Men really are such simple creatures.”

Chapter 104: Loki’s Expectations

“I’m sorry, Lady Loki!”

Raul Nord was kneeling in front of Loki, apologizing with grave sincerity.

Loki, legs crossed, stared down at him speechlessly. What was supposed to be a simple act had somehow turned into a full-blown drama—and this idiot had gone and taken it seriously.

Ugh. Ishtar really does understand how to mess with men’s heads.

Only a woman like Ishtar—someone who toyed with men’s hearts for fun—could manipulate them so precisely.

People like her couldn’t be openly shown on the stage, like hidden weapons only used in special circumstances.

And clearly, the effect worked perfectly on Raul.

Still, Loki couldn’t bring herself to be too harsh on the poor fool.

If it had been her in his place, she wasn’t sure she’d have made a different choice.

“Forget it. That woman’s always been a sneaky one anyway.”

“She’s a mix between an elf and a courtesan—trained from the start to trick idiots like you. And you… you really fell for it, didn’t you?”

She sighed, half amused, half exasperated. Seeing Raul’s shoulders tremble even harder, she pursed her lips and decided not to keep scolding him.

His ability wasn’t bad enough to warrant harsh punishment, but he had messed up—and sometimes, letting someone off too easily just made them soft later.

“Raul,” she said, voice turning cool, “let me remind you—if you accidentally leak anything about Tsuna, I’ll break your third leg.”

“As long as you keep your mouth shut, I don’t care if you and that little elf girlfriend of yours play around.”

“But if you expose his secret, I’ll personally send both of you to hell. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Raul’s forehead hit the floor in frantic relief.

He knew exactly what this meant—Lady Loki was granting him mercy.

As long as he could control his mouth and avoid spilling any confidential information, he could keep seeing Liza without issue.

Of course, if he ever leaked anything about Tsunayoshi Sawada, he was as good as dead.

Loki didn’t bother repeating herself. If Raul had even half a brain, he’d get the message and watch his words from now on.

Tsunayoshi’s existence wasn’t a complete secret within the Familia, but Loki couldn’t allow any information about him to spread outside their walls.

Especially not details about him.

Once she sent the trembling Raul on his way, Loki sighed and leaned back, shaking her head.

“Being too emotional really isn’t a good thing.”

Knock knock knock.

“Come in.”

The moment she saw who stepped through the door, Loki’s smile returned.

“Well, if it isn’t our newest celebrity. You just ranked up yesterday, and already you’re here to see me?”

“Kind of,” Tsuna said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I overheard Finn giving one of his inspirational speeches in the cafeteria earlier.”

He let out a weary sigh and briefly recapped what had happened, earning a burst of laughter from Loki.

“Hah! Of course Finn would say something like that.”

“Honestly, you’re not just capable—you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, too. You’re careful, you think before you act, and you always look for a way to make things right.”

“You might take bold risks sometimes, but your skill always makes up for them.”

“It’s no wonder Finn thinks you’re the perfect one to lead the Familia forward.”

A kid that versatile—Loki would’ve been an idiot not to recruit him into her Familia.

Of course, letting him actually lead right now would be a complete waste.

Tsuna's talent, potential, and growth were far too valuable to be consumed by leadership duties.

He could serve as a guiding symbol for the Familia, a source of inspiration—but until he matured, Loki wouldn’t let him anywhere near the spotlight.

“Rejecting his offer was the right move.”

She leaned back against her desk, her tone soft but firm. “You still need time to grow. Until you reach Level 5, I’m not letting you step into the open.”

“If you show yourself too early, you’ll just become a target.”

Tsuna nodded. He understood perfectly.

“Yeah. I did turn him down,” he admitted. “But I only refused to lead the Familia forward. I didn’t say I wouldn’t help push it forward.”

Loki chuckled. “And that’s exactly what you’re suited for.”

Tsuna’s supporting ability wasn’t any weaker than his combat potential—in some ways, it might even surpass it.

“Your ability brings too many surprises to this Familia,” she said with a sly grin.

“That Training Space of yours—it pushes an Adventurer’s body to its absolute limits, forcing out every drop of hidden potential.”

“If someone’s got the determination to endure it, they’ll reap results beyond anything they’ve imagined.”

“You can turn their desperation into growth. To them, your power will become indispensable.”

“And once that happens, they’ll protect you on their own.”

Tsuna blinked. “Miss Loki, that wasn’t my intention at all.”

Loki laughed softly and stepped closer, pressing a hand lightly against his chest.

“I know it wasn’t. But intentions don’t matter here.”

“When people taste the benefits of what you offer, they’ll cling to you instinctively.”

“They’ll tie their success to yours, and in doing so, they’ll start protecting you without even realizing it.”

“It’s self-preservation disguised as loyalty—a subconscious kind of calculation.”

Her grin turned slightly mischievous. “Though personally, I kind of wish you were calculating enough to plan that on purpose.”

Finn had that kind of mind. That was why he’d always pushed so hard to break through the walls holding him back.

But ever since Tsuna appeared, Finn’s sharp edge had softened a little—he was starting to live up to the title of Hero.

Tsuna, on the other hand, was different. His thoughts were simpler, his actions more instinctive.

And that was exactly what Loki liked about him.

He’d even managed to change Finn.

If anything, that only made Loki wish Tsuna were a little more cunning.

His actions came from sincerity—sometimes from curiosity—and while that made him trustworthy, it also made him vulnerable.

Seeing Loki’s expectant smile, Tsuna rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“I’m not really good at that kind of thing, Miss Loki.”

“I know,” Loki said with a sigh. “That’s what worries me.”

Chapter 105 – The Sensing of Another World

“Well, just keep doing things at your own pace.”

“Even if you’re not aware of it, once those kids taste the benefits, they’ll start protecting you on their own.”

With that kind of bond in place, Loki didn’t even need to issue direct orders. Her children would move on instinct.

“Bete’s even been drinking less lately. Guess that mutt’s decided to protect you in his own way too.”

“The only troublesome one left is Raul. But now that he’s got an elf wife, he probably won’t be sneaking off to the Pleasure Quarter anymore.”

“Planting that elf wife at his side was all Ishtar’s idea—she just wanted to squeeze more information about our Familia out of him.”

“But Raul’s not an idiot. At least he had the sense not to buy a house in the Pleasure Quarter. That’d be the same as living under Ishtar’s nose.”

At least Raul had some sense left in his head. He knew if he was going to settle down, it had to be far away from that district.

Still, that move was purely to guard against Ishtar. And knowing that woman, she probably wouldn’t even care.

Ishtar had enough confidence in her little pawns—she believed they’d eventually bring her something interesting.

As for Raul himself? He wasn’t worth her personal attention. She was still calculating whether it was even worth tearing things completely with Loki.

Loki snorted softly.

“That woman doesn’t care what Raul does. But she’s not crazy enough to start a fight with me over some bit of gossip.”

“She knows that if she ever crossed me outright, I’d wipe her off the map.”

Loki didn’t bother to hide her contempt. If that madwoman ever did try something, the picture that followed wouldn’t include Ishtar’s existence.

“So, Goddess Ishtar won’t make a move then, right?”

“Besides,” Tsuna added, “Ishtar and Goddess Freya’s relationship is all jealousy and envy. She knows about your connection with Freya, so she won’t risk upsetting you. At most, she’ll just throw a few words around to one-up you, right?”

Loki gave a reluctant nod, clearly annoyed.

“That woman just likes to disgust me—tease me for fun. If we ever really fought, she’d be the one who couldn’t handle it.”

“As for Raul, that matter’s settled. From now on, just have him leak a few rumors every so often—that’s enough.”

“Keeping her thinking she’s in the loop actually makes that whore more useful.”

Even if Ishtar mocked her during the next divine meeting, Loki had no plans to discard that pawn.

Better to keep the piece on the board. Having Raul’s “wife” stay close was worth more than removing her. It gave Loki a convenient way to toss out misleading scraps of information when needed.

“How did your talk with Finn go?”

“I’m planning to gather everyone tonight,” Tsuna replied. “We’ll start with a one-week trial, just like you suggested—something the dedicated ones can actually see results from.”

“But not everyone will join at first. We’ll limit it to a smaller group for the first test.”

“Once those results are visible, more people will want in. That’s when the real change starts.”

Over breakfast, Tsuna and Finn had discussed plenty—who would adapt best to the environment, how to adjust the Familia’s inner workings, and how to rebuild morale from the ground up.

They didn’t need a huge number for the first phase. What mattered was showing tangible progress. Once that happened, others would volunteer to follow, ready to return to the path of an Adventurer.

“When the whole Familia finally mobilizes, the next phase will begin.”

“They’ll raise their Status in the Training Space, polish their bodies and technique in the Challenge Space, and build the strength to handle any situation.”

“Then, once they’ve grown enough, they’ll head back into the Dungeon to push their limits further.”

“If everything goes smoothly, within half a year, there shouldn’t be a single low-level Adventurer left in our Familia.”

Half a year—to eliminate all the weak links. To raise every low-level Adventurer up by one full tier.

To make Level 2 the new baseline.

“That’s pretty fast,” Loki admitted.

For her, half a year was a remarkably short time. Most Familias still treated their Level 2s as their main force.

If Loki’s Familia could elevate every Level 1 member up to Level 2 in that time, other gods would call it impossible.

“Start by showing real results,” she said. “Let them see the proof with their own eyes. That kind of change has to come from within.”

“Honestly, it’s a good plan.”

“They’re not lazy—they just haven’t seen results from their effort. Like most Adventurers, they’ve been training without the kind of pressure that forces true growth. No real danger, no real trigger for their Status to evolve.”

Loki smiled and patted Tsuna’s shoulder.

“Anyway, since you’ve made up your mind, go all in.”

“Yeah.”

“By the way,” she added casually, “after your Level-up, have you felt anything from your old world?”

“A little,” Tsuna admitted.

But it wasn’t easy to explain. Then an idea struck him—one that would let Loki feel it for herself.

“Miss Loki, let me try something. I’ll let you sense what I’m feeling.”

“Oh? That sounds fun.”

“Don’t move.”

Tsuna leaned forward until his forehead touched hers.

Using his attunement to spatial coordinates, he transmitted that faint connection through direct contact—letting her experience it herself.

That distant, almost imperceptible resonance suddenly sharpened in Loki’s mind.

A vivid image appeared before her: a mountain peak with a tent pitched atop it.

Inside the tent, faint traces of petrification crept along the fabric. In the center was a mark—so faint it was barely visible.

Beyond that image, she felt something else: walls so solid they seemed unbreakable.

The Barrier of Worlds.

The boundary that separated one world from another—the “World Bubble.”

The walls between worlds are even thicker than I imagined.

But to feel another world so clearly… this is a first.

Loki couldn’t help but be amazed.

Still, one question lingered in her mind: if the World Bubble was supposed to isolate everything—even the worlds themselves—

Then why didn’t it isolate him?

Why could Tsuna connect through something that should have been utterly unreachable?

Her curiosity only burned brighter.