Chapter 8: Level up.
In one of the rooms on the upper floors of Babel, Shichika was lying on a hospital bed, he was surrounded by family members, but Hephaestus was sitting closest, holding a large needle and thread in her hands.
- Loki, I still don't understand why we are doing this. Wouldn't healers do a better job?
- Just because you're my friend, I'll show you something interesting, - the woman took a high-grade healing potion from Gareth's pocket. Then she use it on the face of the lying boy. No hissing or magical tissue fusion. It was as if water had been poured on him, not a miracle medicine. The already wet patient looked at her, a silent question was read in his eyes.
- Now stitch him up, don't worry about the pain, he'll endure it.
The surprised blacksmith goddess began to work.
.......
Stats before lvl up.
Shichika Yasuri
•STR: Max. - 1999
•END Max. - 1999
•DEX: Max. - 1999
•AGI: Max. - 1999
•MAG: Max. - 1999
•SKILLS: ἀμαρτωλός
Kyotōryū
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ἀμαρτωλός - multiple curses:
inability to wear equipment
inability to be healed from external sources
0 slots for spells
monsters always know about the presence of the skill owner
complicated leveling
during tension life around dies
a mess of emotions
Inability to replenish strength during sleep
inability to lose consciousness
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Kyotōryū A - Sword fighting style without sword.
The user fights with his body like a perfect sword.
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Stats after lvl up.
Shichika Yasuri
•LVL: 2
•STR: I 0
•END I 0
•DEX: I 0
•AGI: I 0
•MAG: I 0
•SKILLS: ἀμαρτωλός
Kyotōryū
Supreme hunter - I
Faust - I
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ἀμαρτωλός - multiple curses:
inability to wear equipment
inability to be healed from external sources
0 slots for spells
monsters always know about the presence of the skill owner
complicated leveling
during tension life around dies
a mess of emotions
Inability to replenish strength during sleep
inability to lose consciousness
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Kyotōryū A - Sword fighting style without sword.
The user fights with his body like a perfect sword
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few days later, the wounded man was released under the personal responsibility of the goddess. And within a week after his return, he was able to move as usual, the key to a quick recovery was raising the level and, "Healing trips to the upper floors," as Loki called it.
The essence of such walks was that Shichika collected as many monsters as possible around him on the 5th-6th floor. Where he waited for them to die under the influence of his aura. Now it took about 4 minutes. Almost 4 times faster than in the past, then it took a quarter of an hour.
But now there was a party at Loki's family house a new group of adventurers joined the family.
Already quite drunk, the goddess finally decided to officially introduce the newcomers.
- Everyone! I'm glad to introduce Alicia Forestlight and Raul Nord, I hope you get along.
A couple of 13-year-old teenagers stood before the goddess in bow. A beautiful and smiling black-haired cat girl and an unremarkable guy wearing the same hair color. Both bowed towards the main crowd of people.
- Take care of us! x 2.
- Now go meet your new friends, as soon as you have spoken, you can return to our company, if of course you want, any adult standing behind me will be your protection, the leadership team and two children younger than themselves waved. By the way, the girl's name is Ais, she will also fight with you side by side. And the boy... Shichika Yasuri. Well, think of him as a talisman,he won't help you in the dungeon. Although he has a lot of money now, you can take credit from him, - the goddess returned to the mentioned group.
Then she climbed between Riveria and Shichika, at first she tried to press her head to the elf's chest, but was met with a heavy blow to the back of the head. So she took the only option available and leaned on her "sword".
- Shichika, - the staggering goddess leaned her ear against the boy's chest several times.
- Yes?
- I'm concerned about one question: why do I hear the beating of two hearts in my left ear? Maybe I drank too much?
- No, these are my hearts.
- Tell me tomorrow, now I don't feel like it, - Loki's hand reached out to the back of Riveria. *slap*
The celebration continued into the night.
The next morning, Loki's room.
- One of the curses? Which one exactly, if it's not a secret?
- My body absorbs magic around me to maintain hearts, now there are 2 of them, but with each increase in level new ones will appear, requiring more and more magic.
- Not good. In this world, only intelligent species can create magic; this ability is not available to monsters, which means...
- My presence prevents mages from casting spells, and inexperienced ones will suffer from Ignis Fatus.
- And also the fact that you can't be sent on an expedition; initially, I planned to leave you with Riveria in case of emergency. But this option was no longer available. What is the range?
- At least 40 meters, I would say 50.
- And it will grow... Then you will continue to slowly descend alone.
- I think about it too.
- By the way, before I forget. The Guild sent me a letter. It tells me to take control of you. And also a reward for the head of the criminals, 1 million valis. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you count the money our team received for the stones you left behind, you now have 7 million.
- 7.2 to be more precise.
- Are you going to spend it?
- I don't have a plan yet, I need to think about it.
- You have money for wine, so everything is fine, right?
- Right.
- Am I left alone?
- No, everyone else will be at home. Maybe. Anyway, have fun here without me.
The next day, only Shichika and a change of guards remained in the estate. Finn and Gareth were checking preparations for a new expedition, while Riveria and Ais went for a walk, the girl was about to have her first team raid. The elf, dragged her student with her, went to the Witch's Secret House store. The low-ranking adventurers en masse led the newcomers to shop, giving advice along the way.
- Then what should I do?
- Shichika! We noticed that you are completely bored, do you want to look at new contracts? I promise you'll like it. - Mommon's neutral voice sounded in the boy's head.
- I will like it? Fine.
Contracts:
Belphie - 13th floor - 0%...24th floor - 0%, Spend at least a week at the resort on the 18th floor - 0%
Vaalverif - Pantries - 0%, Magic stones - 0%, Regular food - 0 %, learn to cook well enough to earn the recognition of the Ruler of Gluttony - 0%
Leviathan - Rare creatures - 0%, Regular creatures - 0%, Destroy Goliath alone - 0%
Venera - Fear - 0%, Learn proper manners - 0%, Make the world obey your will - 0%
Mammon - Networth - 14,4%, Spend money on development into the future - 0%, People who owe you money - 0.
Asha - Learn to sing - 0%, Learn to dance - 0%, Give gifts to your loved one(s) - 0%
Iblis - Destroy Evilus members - 0%
............................
In parallel with this, Denatus took place on the usual 30th floor of Babel. The first part of which consisted of discussing the situation in the city, but almost no one was interested in this. The second part, beloved among the gods, was dedicated to assigning Alias to adventurers who had raised their level.
After a few minutes, the gods leading the weak family sat in despondency, because their children received titles like: Sweeping Hurricane or Incinerating Knight.
Fortunately, Loki was able to protect her pride. Ais received the title "Sword Princess", instead of the proposed "Our Princess" or "Doll Princess". Shichika now was called "Onryo"
And at the moment, instead of sitting at home, the boy, nicknamed the vengeful spirit, decided to take a walk to the Guild building. At the moment, the Pantheon was crowded with people, everyone was waiting for the results of what they thought was a "serious meeting of the gods," which in fact does not carry much meaning.
- The results have arrived! - a guild worker entered and handed the envelope to one of the girls standing on the counters. Having unpacked the package, screams began to echo throughout the building.
- Vidar Familia, 1 person Bete Loga, level 2 - Fenris!
- I saw the guy in action, it's obvious that success awaits him.
- Loki Familia, 2 people, Ais Wallenstein, level 2 - Senki!
- YES! - It seemed those around were happy.
- Yasuri Shichika, Level 2 - Onryo!
- Yeah? - none of those present could remember that anyone had personally seen the boy in the dungeon. At that moment he was walking towards one of the counters, behind it stood a red-haired werewolf.
- Rose, hi.
- Oh, long time no see, to be honest, I thought that you, like the others, would perish in the dungeon, or in that situatuin with the heads of criminals, Loki probably spent a lot of money to hire a healer. But it doesn't matter. Here you are, although few people know you. And you almost overtook Ais in terms of time to level up, it seems you didn't have enough... 10 days?
- Maybe. I would like to know about the tasks on the 13th floor, do you have anything?
- If you're looking for quests, then the board is there, it's not my job to sort them, - the girl's fingers pointed to the board completely covered with papers, some covering others.
- They make me dizzy....
The worker's gaze did not soften.
- I understand.
2 crystal mantis wings, 5 hellhound fangs, 3 Almiraj horn. A total of 3 quests were selected, with a total cost of 400,000 valis. Taking the papers in his hands, Shichika bring them to Rose to sign. After this process is completed, the Guild will no longer post these advertisements in order to avoid awkward situations.
This is the main way of issuing quests. Another was the conclusion of a contract directly between families, under the supervision of the Pantheon workers. But this only happened between gods with good relationships.
Having finished his preparations, Shichika decided to take a walk around the kiosks and grocery stores. Slowly devouring street food, more and more products appeared in the bundle hanging on his back. The sooner you start fulfilling the contract, the less it will bother you in the future. There was an attempt to cook something.
Family members returning for dinner could hear the cooks using obscene language. Black smoke was coming from the kitchen.
- How did you get the idea to throw corn into the fire?! And the fish?
- What's wrong with the fish? It seems to have worked out well.
- It is not cleared of scales, burnt, in addition, it is not drained and not seasoned. It cannot be served on the table; even an adventurer can die from this. I don't want to see you in the kitchen again, for everyone's sake.
- Sorry. But I really need to learn how to cook, really well.
Those present in the kitchen could not deny the boy's mood, but the charred stove and melted kettle did not instill confidence. Then the Chief came into play.
- Why are you silent? Isn't everyone who puts their soul into it capable of cooking? Could any of you immediately cook a decent dish? Yes, his path will be more difficult than usual. Is that a problem?
Everyone was silent, the fiery speech did not ignite their hearts.
- What's wrong with you?
One of the cooks stepped forward.
- Your knife... It is broken into fragments.
- My...knife? Which one?
- A very difficult path. And it will start later. We need to prepare. Boy, in a few days familia is going on an expedition, as soon as they return, we'll get down to business.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Justlucky
Justlucky Still, I was able to finish the chapter, despite the greater amount of wasted time during the day. Almost lost a lot of money.
But not about that. Thanks for reading. If you add my work to your collection, I will be very happy. Same for powerstones.
There are almost 200 people who added my work, and the new year is getting closer. In honor of this, I can spoil the image of one of the rulers at your requests.
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