Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 35: Breaking through the limit of ability value, dropping items

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The sky was blue and clear, with a gentle breeze drifting through the air.

The sun rose in the eastern sky, casting its rays over the city walls and illuminating the streets of Orario. Gradually, the warm hues of morning sunlight spread across the buildings, painting them in soft golden tones.

On the upper floor of the central tower in the Twilight Manor, Loki stood in the war room—a space typically used for strategy meetings, not worship. From the large window facing south, she gazed at the massive Babel Tower that spiraled into the sky at the city's center.

The room, designed to accommodate four people, was unusually quiet. At this moment, Loki was its sole occupant.

"It's been two weeks... If I've calculated correctly, they should be back soon, right?"

The scarlet-haired goddess leaned against the window, resting her cheeks in her hands as she murmured softly to herself.

For once, Loki had shed her usual boisterous demeanor. In this rare moment of calm, her appearance carried an almost serene beauty.

Her words referred to the members of her familia who had embarked on an expedition.

Expeditions were a routine part of the Loki Familia's activities. Whenever funds began to run low, the familia would organize ventures into the dungeon's deeper floors, chasing the lucrative rewards that lay within.

Yet, as tempting as these rewards were, the risks were equally daunting.

Still, Loki, brimming with confidence in her children's strength, wasn't particularly worried about their safety.

What did trouble her, however, was the unbearable boredom that came with their absence.

Without her beloved Ais-tan to admire, without the tender care of the elven "mama-san," and without the opportunity to tease the girls of her familia, life had become sheer torture for Loki.

Fortunately, there was still Izzy.

Taking Izzy to The Hostess of Fertility every evening for drinks had become one of her few pleasures during this dull period.

But speaking of Izzy…

From her vantage point, Loki caught sight of a familiar blond figure stepping out of the gates of Twilight Manor.

A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes, and her lips curled into a sly smile.

The smile carried both Loki's signature mischievous humor and a trace of eager anticipation she couldn't quite hide.

"When the kids come back and see how Izzy-chan has grown, they'll be so surprised. Just thinking about the looks on their faces... Ah~ I can't wait!"

Her gaze lingered on the distant figure, which looked small from her high vantage point. Her thoughts wandered back to the previous day, when she had updated Izzy's status.

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[Adventurer Name]: Izzy Alyward

[Level]: Lv.1

[Basic Abilities]:

Strength: SS1008

Endurance: SS1006

Dexterity: SS1001

Agility: SS1001

Magic: SSS1999

[Development Abilities]: None

[Magic]:

Silver Star Advent

Star Magic

Rock Magic

[Skills]:

Starry Night

Heart of the Earth

---

In addition to breaking the S-rank limit in all five core abilities, Izzy had developed four unique magics: Thousand-Foot Wall, Falling Stars, Heavenly Movement, and Star Cage.

Even though Loki had expected rapid growth from Izzy, the sheer extent of his progress left her astonished.

Looking back, it still felt surreal.

In just half a month, Izzy had already surpassed the ability value thresholds required for a level-up.

Yet, he remained at Level 1—not due to lack of skill, but because he had yet to accomplish the necessary "great deeds."

For someone of Izzy's strength, upper-level monsters posed no real challenge. To him, it was like a tiger rampaging through a flock of sheep, cutting them down with ease.

But battles like these fell short of the "heroic feats" required for leveling up.

To ascend, adventurers needed to achieve extraordinary accomplishments—acts that would be praised by mortals and gods alike.

It wasn't just about combat; it was about defeating foes stronger than oneself, overcoming impossible odds, and gaining experiences that transcended the mundane.

Only then could an adventurer's level truly rise.

The "great achievement" requirement was one reason Izzy had not yet leveled up. Another was that he had not yet reached the true limit of Lv.1.

Izzy's personal Lv.1 limit could be inferred from his magic stat, which was twice the value of an ordinary S-rank. Based on this, it was reasonable to assume that the limits of his other four stats would follow the same pattern.

Both Izzy and Loki agreed that reaching the absolute limit of ability values before upgrading was essential. A stronger foundation now would ensure Izzy's future growth was even more formidable.

Standing high in the tower and observing her child's journey, the goddess sighed and chuckled, her voice filled with anticipation:

"Looks like things at home are about to get a lot more exciting~~~"

---

In a narrow alley between North Street and Northwest Street, Izzy walked through the dim and damp pathways, a backpack full of "dropped items" slung over his shoulder.

The houses here were haphazardly arranged, with thin and cramped passages creating an atmosphere far from luxurious. To call it dark and damp was no exaggeration.

Yet, nestled in such a place was the headquarters of a forging faction:

[The Goibniu Familia].

The Goibniu Familia specialized in repairing and crafting weapons, armor, and other equipment. Although their popularity and influence were nowhere near the famed [Hephaestus Familia], the performance of their weapons was comparable.

Known for their simple yet steadfast approach, the Goibniu Familia rarely produced pre-made weapons for general sale. Instead, they focused on custom orders, building a reputation for reliability among core adventurers—loyal customers who swore by their craftsmanship.

The faction's emblem, featuring three hammers, adorned the workshop's entrance.

Izzy paused for a moment at the open doorway, then stepped inside.

"Excuse me, is anyone here?"

The workshop was exactly what one would imagine: dimly lit, filled with the heat of blazing furnaces, and thick with the smell of burning metal.

Inside, blacksmiths were hard at work. One stood near a roaring furnace, another meticulously carved intricate designs into metal, and several others focused intently on their individual tasks.

Hearing Izzy's call, a man emerged from a nearby room. He wiped the sweat off his face with the front of his shirt, a clear sign he had been laboring near the heat of the forge.

The man radiated the unmistakable aura of a seasoned blacksmith, the fiery energy of someone who had spent countless hours in front of a furnace.

"Welcome to the Goibniu Familia. Do you need a weapon made? We mostly handle custom orders here," he said, noticing that Izzy was a stranger.

His tone suggested that if Izzy had come to purchase a pre-made weapon, he was in the wrong place.

"Actually, I'm not here to buy weapons," Izzy replied, shaking his head. "I'm from the Loki Familia, and I'm here to sell 'dropped items.' Do you take them?"

Hearing this, the blacksmith raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion in his gaze.

"Loki Familia? I don't think I've seen you before. Are you a new member?"

The man's reaction was understandable. The Goibniu Familia and the Loki Familia had a long-standing alliance.

In practical terms, this meant the Goibniu Familia prioritized crafting weapons for Loki Familia members whenever required. In return, the Loki Familia offered the Goibniu Familia first rights to rare and valuable materials brought back from the dungeon's lower floors—or even deeper levels.

This mutually beneficial relationship extended to smaller conveniences as well, such as discounts on equipment purchases for Loki Familia members.

It was this relationship that had brought Izzy to the Goibniu Familia's workshop to sell his "dropped items."

After all, the camaraderie between the two factions made this an obvious choice.

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