Asuna was carried back down to the ice by Ren Isana. Only then did she snap out of her daze, realizing that his arm was still wrapped around her waist. Her small face instantly flushed bright red. She hurriedly broke free from his grasp, composed herself, and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Your waist is really slim!" Ren Isana nodded, unable to resist making a comment. Asuna's waist was genuinely incredibly slender—no joke.
"Screw you!" Asuna's face grew even redder at his words. She shot him a shy, embarrassed glare before turning her attention back to the Floor Boss in the center of the battlefield. Because Ren Isana had severed one of its heads, the monster was in a frenzy.
The excruciating pain drove it mad. With only its blue head remaining, it spewed blue flames from its maw, sweeping them wildly across the surroundings. It was especially focused on Ren Isana; the moment its gaze locked onto him, it unleashed its fury.
A torrent of pale blue flames blasted directly toward Ren Isana. Facing this incoming strike, Asuna's expression changed drastically. She was just about to grab him and dodge when she saw Ren instantly conjure a Magic Circle to block the attack.
[Veil Breath]. This was the [Protection Magic] Ren Isana had learned from Riveria, a spell capable of blocking all incoming attacks.
As the spell activated, the blue flames were completely repelled. The fiery breath hurtling toward Ren Isana was split cleanly in two.
At that exact moment, Ais and the others charged forward. Taking advantage of the fact that the Floor Boss's aggro was entirely focused on Ren Isana, everyone launched a synchronized assault on the remaining dragon head.
Having blocked the blast of blue fire, Ren Isana turned to glance at the flushed Asuna. He wasn't sure if her red face was still from her earlier embarrassment or from being roasted by the intense heat.
"Let's go!" Ren Isana called out before dashing forward. Seeing this, Asuna took a deep breath and hurriedly followed. The two of them charged in, one after the other, joining the siege against the boss.
Without the white head that could burn away Magic Power, the mages were finally able to shine. Volley after volley of magic bullets bombarded the blue head.
Completely immobilized in the frozen lake, the monster couldn't move an inch. It was reduced to a sitting duck—and missing one head, it was nothing more than a stationary target.
Under the group's relentless barrage, the final head was successfully destroyed. As the massive dragon head slowly collapsed, its body dissolved into ash, returning to the Dungeon.
Watching the Floor Boss slowly fade away, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. They had finally done it. Excited smiles broke out across their faces.
It was finally over. The classmates exchanged glances, unable to hide their grinning faces. It hadn't been an easy fight—Asuna had nearly been killed, and they only survived thanks to Ren Isana's lightning-fast reflexes.
"Class Rep, that slash just now was so cool!" Sora looked at Ren Isana with absolute adoration. She had to admit, she was completely swooning over his move.
Hearing her praise, Ren Isana walked over and picked up the fist-sized Magic Gem, several crystals, and four massive fangs resting on the ice. Only then did he speak up, "Stop chatting and let's get out of here. The ice is going to melt soon!"
His words snapped everyone back to reality. They immediately cast [Lightness Technique] and leaped toward the shore. Once they reached a safe spot, Ren Isana finally took a good look at the rest of the group.
In truth, many of his classmates were in rough shape after the battle. Several of them had sustained injuries, their hair was singed, and their armor was heavily damaged.
Even Yukino's beautiful, long black hair had a few scorched ends. Seeing their battered state, Ren Isana said, "Let's head back and rest. We're returning to the surface tomorrow."
With that, he turned and headed toward their campsite. With the successful subjugation of the 27th Floor Boss, their current Dungeon expedition had come to a perfect conclusion.
Hearing this, the others quickly followed him back to camp. Once there, everyone began to assess their condition.
Ren Isana gathered the injured students together and cast a spell they had never seen before. A green Magic Circle materialized out of thin air, and in the next moment, everyone felt themselves enveloped by a warm, soothing Magic Power.
Their burn wounds rapidly healed, with fresh, unblemished skin growing over the injuries in seconds. Seeing this miraculous recovery, the students were left in absolute disbelief.
"What kind of magic is this?" Sora stared at the spot on her arm where a severe burn had just been, her face filled with shock. She had already mentally prepared herself to live with a permanent scar.
She had figured she would just get it treated whenever they eventually returned to the modern world. She never expected a single spell from Ren Isana to erase the scar completely. How could she not be amazed?
"[Mass Heal]. I tinkered with it alongside [Life Perception] a while back but never had the chance to use it. Now seemed like a good time to patch you guys up," Ren Isana explained casually after finishing the cast.
Hearing this, everyone understood. It was from the book gifted by the god Miach. Ren Isana had learned his [Perception Magic] from it, but it seemed the book contained much more than just that.
"That's amazing! As expected of our Class Rep!" Sora praised him, her face beaming with pleasant surprise. *He's just too reliable!* She felt like she could never leave Ren Isana's side now.
Adventuring with him provided an unparalleled sense of security. Ren Isana would never stand by and watch his classmates fall into danger; he would always be the first to step in and save them.
"We'll repair our gear once we get back. We start the journey home in the morning, so get some rest for now!" Ren Isana told the fully healed group before retreating into his own tent.
They had been woken up in the middle of the night for the boss fight, so it was still prime sleeping hours. Ren Isana wanted everyone to catch up on their rest.
Watching him enter his tent without looking back, the others dispersed and returned to their respective tents to sleep.
However, a few students were too wired to sleep. Instead, they gathered together to chat. After such an intense, adrenaline-pumping battle, how could they possibly feel tired?
Ren Isana didn't bother stopping them. If they didn't want to sleep, they could take over the night watch. It was fine by him. Back in his tent, he quickly entered a state of [Meditation].
He had tested quite a few spells today, and the results were highly satisfactory. He was quite pleased with his progress. In fact, if he had been fighting alone, he was confident he could have soloed the Floor Boss without much trouble.
While Ren Isana rested, Asuna found herself completely unable to sleep. Her mind was entirely occupied by the image of him swooping in to save her.
She had to admit, he made her feel incredibly safe. At that thought, her face flushed red again. She hurriedly cast a [Calming Magic] spell on herself to force her racing heart to settle, then began her own [Meditation]!
The rest of the night passed peacefully. After getting a good sleep in the latter half of the night, Ren Isana emerged from his tent. The others were already up, packing their belongings and preparing breakfast.
Seeing this, he quickly washed up and stored his tent and gear. Once he finished packing and ate breakfast with the group, they began their ascent to the upper floors.
They weren't in a rush on the way back. They had the entire day dedicated to traveling and only needed to reach the surface before nightfall.
A full day was more than enough time to travel from the 27th Floor to the surface. In fact, it would likely only take them half a day to return to Orario.
Ren Isana led the way, with the rest of the group following closely behind. They maintained a leisurely pace as they climbed. Their luck was good on the return trip, and they didn't encounter too many monsters.
Upon reaching the Safe Floor on the 18th Floor, Ren Isana took a detour into the local town to see if there were any suitable crafting materials for sale. If he found anything good, he planned to buy it on the spot.
Unfortunately, there weren't many adventurers setting up stalls at this time of day; most had already ventured deeper into the Dungeon to explore. Ren Isana didn't find anything he wanted.
"What are you looking for?" Ais asked, noticing his slight disappointment. If he needed help, the Loki Familia might be able to provide some assistance.
"I need some materials to upgrade everyone's weapons. Looks like I'll just have to spend some Valis and buy them from the Guild," Ren Isana replied honestly.
Hearing this, Ais couldn't help but offer, "The Loki Familia might have the materials you need. Should I have Riveria talk to you later? If you want to buy them, our Familia can sell them to you at a discount."
She clearly didn't treat Ren Isana as an outsider anymore. If Loki heard her say that, the goddess would probably die of anger. *Ais, you're still a member of the Loki Familia, you know! Is it really okay to favor an outsider like this?*
"We'll take any materials suitable for forging equipment. If you have them, please make a list. I can offer a price higher than the Guild's purchasing rate," Ren Isana said, stating his needs directly.
Since Ais offered, he wasn't going to be polite about it. He would buy everything they had. Even if he couldn't use it all now, he could always bring the excess back to his original world.
Ais nodded and replied softly, "Understood. I'll speak with Riveria when I get back, and then I'll come find you."
With their verbal agreement settled, she said no more. The group resumed their journey, opting to skip lunch in favor of making good time. By two or three in the afternoon, they had finally emerged from the Dungeon.
Very few adventurers left the Dungeon at this time of day. Because of this, Ren Isana and his large group attracted quite a few stares as they exited. Ignoring the onlookers, he led the way straight toward their Familia home.
Along the way, Ais and Lefiya bid farewell to the group. The two of them needed to return to the Loki Familia first. They promised to visit the Hestia Familia later, and Ais would pass on Ren Isana's request for materials.
After watching the two girls leave, Ren Isana and his classmates continued toward their headquarters. Seeing that he had no intention of heading to the Guild, Asuna asked in confusion, "Aren't we going to the Guild to process the Magic Stones?"
Ren Isana shook his head and explained, "We need to sort through the Magic Stones first. We'll keep the high-quality ones for ourselves and sell the rest. The same goes for the monster drops."
After all, they needed materials for their own use. There was no need to liquidate everything like they did after their first expedition. It was always smart to keep a reserve stock.
This time, they had completely filled several Spatial Backpacks with a massive, chaotic assortment of loot. Ren Isana had only done a rough sort in the Dungeon; he hadn't meticulously sifted through it all.
It would be much more convenient to sort everything at home before taking the rest to sell. Otherwise, they would just have to do the sorting at the Guild anyway.
Understanding his reasoning, Asuna nodded and quietly followed behind him as they headed toward the Familia estate.
The group looked incredibly ragged. Their armor had sustained varying degrees of damage during the intense battles, and they were practically radiating the lingering bloodlust from their days of endless slaughter. Seeing this intimidating procession, many pedestrians hurriedly stepped aside to make way.
They clearly looked like a group you didn't want to mess with. Some onlookers recognized them as the currently famous Hestia Familia, sparking hushed whispers and discussions as they walked down the street.
The students were getting a taste of what it felt like to be celebrities. Walking at the front, Ren Isana once again felt that familiar, burning gaze on his back. This time, however, he didn't turn around.
He knew exactly who was practically undressing him with her eyes. Other than Freya, he couldn't think of anyone else who would stare at him with such intense, obsessive heat. As for Apollo? That guy wasn't even in Orario right now.
The group soon left the bustling commercial district and entered the quieter eastern sector. As they slowly disappeared from view, the intense stare finally faded—though Ren Isana could swear he felt a lingering sense of deep reluctance from the watcher.
*This is getting ridiculous,* Ren Isana thought, suppressing a shudder of disgust. *Damn it, if I get the chance, I'm going to string her up, drain her divine blood, and use it to upgrade my weapons!*
If this Freya were the pink-haired Freya from *Redo of Healer*, he wouldn't mind having a little "chat" with her about a certain iron rod. Unfortunately, she wasn't!
*Should I ask Yor-sensei to go cause some trouble for her?* Ren Isana pondered as he walked. But he quickly dismissed the idea. After all, she had only looked at him. Sending an assassin after someone just for staring was a bit unreasonable.
If he even brought it up, people might just think he was being paranoid. She was, after all, the patron goddess of one of Orario's two strongest factions.
Ren Isana sighed inwardly. At the end of the day, he just wasn't strong enough yet. If he had absolute power, he could sneak into her tower tonight, drain her blood, and forge his weapons into true divine artifacts.
Meanwhile, at the top of the Babel Tower, Freya sat on the floor, staring obsessively at Ren Isana's retreating back. Her eyes were filled with profound longing. They were completely bloodshot, and tears streamed down her face as if a dam had burst.
But she couldn't look away. This was only the second time she had laid eyes on him, yet the puddle forming on the floor beneath her spoke volumes. Her desire to possess him was overwhelming; she was practically losing her mind with lust!!
"Apollo should be returning soon. I'll let him test the waters," Freya murmured, her eyes still glued to the spot where Ren Isana had disappeared.
It was best to probe them first and see how they reacted. Gods were not fools. No matter how dazzling a soul was, one had to ensure the target wasn't backed by an untouchable force. If they were merely mortals of this world...
Then she wouldn't hesitate or fear any consequences when making her move. But the fact that they were from another world made her cautious. In situations like this, the best strategy was to send an idiot in first to trigger any hidden traps!
Freya quickly made her decision. She withdrew her hand, licking off the honey-like liquid that glistened in the sunlight, before slowly standing up and leaving the room.
Back at the Hestia Familia, Ren Isana and the others finally arrived at their estate. As soon as they walked through the gates, they spotted a young boy training intensely in the front courtyard. Shizuka Hiratsuka and Yor Forger were lounging comfortably under a large patio umbrella nearby.
Seeing this, Ren Isana paused in surprise. The training boy also noticed the large group suddenly entering the compound. Seeing their battered and ragged state, Bell Cranel stared at them in utter bewilderment.
*Are these the other members of the Hestia Familia?*
Shizuka Hiratsuka and Yor quickly sat up from their lounge chairs. Seeing the students' tattered clothes and damaged armor, both women frowned in concern.
However, their expressions relaxed once they realized no one was actually injured. Shizuka Hiratsuka walked over and crossed her arms. "You're back? What happened to you all? If I didn't know better, I'd think you just got back from a begging tour!"
Although Ren Isana and the students were clean, their clothes were torn and frayed. The girls were in slightly better shape, as they cared more about their image; only their outer armor was damaged, while their clothes underneath remained intact.
The boys, however, were a different story. They didn't care about looking presentable—as long as their clothes stayed on, it was fine. In fact, many of them were probably proud of their ragged state, viewing the battle damage as badges of honor.
"We killed the 27th Floor Boss. It was a bit tricky, so their armor took a beating," Ren Isana explained casually as he walked forward. At that moment, Bell hurriedly rushed over to greet them.
As Ren Isana approached, Bell bowed deeply and shouted, "Hello, Captain Ren Isana! I'm Bell Cranel, a new member of the Hestia Familia!!"
He introduced himself at the top of his lungs. Hearing this, Ren Isana's classmates all turned their attention to the boy. *How old is this kid? He looks like a middle schooler, doesn't he?*
Ren Isana hadn't expected Hestia to actually pick up Bell. *Her luck is seriously too good, isn't it?* Just as he was thinking this, the commotion drew someone else out from inside the mansion, and Ren Isana caught sight of the Familia's other new member.
When he saw Haruhime, he froze in disbelief. *Good grief. We were only gone for two weeks, and Hestia managed to pick up two new recruits? And both of them are canonical members of her Familia!*