Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 19: The weight of the Rock God brings peace of mind~

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Since he had nothing else to do, Izzy decided to focus on the two magic spells he had yet to develop, both of which were still blank slates. It seemed like a good time to work on them.

Both spells required Izzy to use his imagination and creativity to determine their form and function.

If Izzy were compared to a game character, he now had a kind of GM authority—he could design his own skills.

However, there was an important limitation: the balance between strength and rationality.

In other words, the power of the magic he created had to correspond to his current capabilities. The stronger Izzy became, the more powerful the star or rock magic he could wield.

At his current LV1 strength, conjuring shockwaves or launching simple stone bombs was feasible. Anything beyond that—like unleashing devastating high-end spells akin to Chibaku Tensei—was out of reach for now.

Still, Izzy had already sketched out some ideas for the development of these two types of magic.

For star magic, he envisioned a path aligned with astrology. He couldn't help but recall the Light of Reason from a certain Type-Moon story, where astrology encompassed an entire galaxy. That vivid memory deeply influenced his concept.

As for rock magic, Izzy unhesitatingly borrowed inspiration from the "Rock Prince" archetype.

After all, how does the saying go?

"The Weight of the Rock God (Geo Archon) ."

In this labyrinth teeming with monsters, only the unshakable weight of the Rock God (Geo Archon) could provide true peace of mind!

Fueled by excitement, Izzy immersed himself in refining his two magic spells. Time passed without him noticing, and before he realized it, dawn had arrived.

The morning sunlight spilled into the room through the window. Its brightness stung his eyes slightly, silently reminding him that it was already daytime.

Squinting and shielding his eyes with his hand, Izzy groggily acknowledged the situation and began preparing to get up.

He recalled his conversation with Loki and the three giants the previous day. Someone was supposed to guide him through the dungeon today and help him register as an adventurer. This meant he couldn't afford to oversleep.

Whoever had looked after him last night had been incredibly thoughtful, even leaving out a change of clothes for him. Izzy couldn't help but feel grateful.

He almost wanted to hug the person—though he did wonder how they had managed to get his measurements.

After tidying himself up, he left his room and made his way to the cafeteria hall on the second floor—the last place he remembered from the night before.

Once the cooks finished preparing breakfast, Izzy found a quiet corner to sit in, enjoying his meal in peace.

As he ate, he couldn't help but glance at some early risers already holding wine glasses and causing a commotion. He found it hard to understand their habit of drinking so early in the morning.

The lively atmosphere reminded him of Loki's principle of "eating together." Breakfast and dinner were communal events, where all members—aside from those on patrol—ate together. This meant the cafeteria was always packed, making even moving between chairs a challenge.

Not long after Izzy sat down, someone noticed him.

"Hey! Newcomer-kun, good morning!"

"Good morning," Izzy replied politely.

The one greeting him was Raul Nord, an elite member of the familia personally acknowledged by Captain Finn.

As a LV4 adventurer, Raul's attention came as a surprise to Izzy.

Before Izzy could ask, Raul sat down next to him and explained his presence.

"The leader told me yesterday that I'd be taking you to the guild to register as an adventurer and to familiarize you with the dungeon. I just finished my preparations for the next expedition, so I'm free today."

"I see. Thank you," Izzy said sincerely.

"You're welcome. We're all part of the same familia," Raul replied with a grin. "Since the captain thinks highly of you, I do too. Let's work hard together, newbie!"

Raul smiled encouragingly at Izzy while taking a bite of bread.

The action, combined with his spiky, hedgehog-like hairstyle, created an unintentionally funny sight.

As they talked during breakfast, Izzy and Raul quickly became familiar with one another.

Sometimes, building friendships between men is a straightforward process: sharing a meal, playing a few games, or discussing topics both understand. From there, a bond naturally forms.

Since they were both members of the same clan, there was no awkwardness or pretense of being just "brothers in name only."

After breakfast, Raul led Izzy on a tour of the clan's residence.

"You don't have any adventurer gear yet, do you?" Raul asked as they strolled through the building. "Before we head to the guild and enter the dungeon, we'll stop by the clan warehouse and get you some proper beginner equipment."

"Good equipment is critical for adventurers, no matter the stage they're at," he added with a grin.

Soon, Raul led Izzy to the warehouse.

Pushing the door open slowly, Raul motioned for Izzy to enter. The sight inside left Izzy stunned.

Rows upon rows of weapons and armor of all shapes and sizes were neatly arranged.

The Loki Familia, as one of the most prominent and active exploration factions, had a staggering demand for equipment. The familia spent a fortune every month on adventurer gear, and countless items were discarded or replaced as members upgraded.

However, high-quality weapons and armor that were deemed too valuable to sell or discard were kept here, in this pressure warehouse.

These items served as reserves and were used to equip new or less experienced members, or for training purposes.

A logistics team meticulously maintained the stored equipment, ensuring that even items left untouched for years would still be usable if needed.

Now standing in this treasure trove of adventurer gear, Izzy marveled at the sheer volume and variety of the collection.

"So, what kind of weapon are you most comfortable using?" Raul asked, breaking Izzy's reverie.

"A spear," Izzy replied immediately. "I've been training with one since I was a child."

Izzy's grandfather, an experienced hunter, had passed down his skills to Izzy and his father. Following the principle of "an inch longer is an inch stronger" in the wild, his grandfather's weapon of choice had always been the spear.

Both Izzy and his father trained under the old man's tutelage, but Izzy had surpassed them both, becoming the most skilled spearman in his family.

"A lance, huh?" Raul said with an approving nod. "Same as the captain—nice! Finn always looks incredible wielding his lance in battle. Too bad I could never manage it myself."

With a wistful sigh, Raul began searching through the warehouse with practiced ease.

It wasn't long before Izzy emerged from the warehouse, now clad in fine light armor and carrying a sleek, silver-gray spear.

The spear was two meters long and crafted from lightweight, high-quality materials. The silver-gray tip gleamed with a sharp, cold light, and its raised central ridge emphasized its precision and lethality.

According to Raul, this particular spear had been a backup weapon commissioned for Finn. However, before Finn ever used it, he obtained his first-tier adventurer weapon, the Spear of Domination. As a result, this silver-gray spear had remained unused, gathering dust in the warehouse.

Now, it served as Izzy's early-stage equipment, an invaluable tool for his initial forays as an adventurer.

After securing the spear in a specialized sheath on his back, Izzy joined Raul, who now carried a supporter's backpack.

The two left the warehouse together, stepping out into the fresh air.

Crossing the courtyard paved with red bricks, they passed under the watchful eyes of the gatekeepers. Finally, they exited the Twilight Manor and headed toward Northwest Street.