Player's Journey In Anime World

Ryou didn't notice the complex gaze hidden behind the shop door, staring intently at his back until he disappeared.

The owner of that gaze was Syr.

"If you're so concerned about him, why don't you go see him off? This might be your last chance..." A cool voice sounded behind her. It was Ryuu, who had been standing there for a while.

Before she could finish speaking, Syr quickly turned around, covered Liu's mouth, and anxiously said, "Don't curse him! He will come back safely!"

Although Syr was just an ordinary girl, and Ryuu was a level 4 adventurer, Ryuu neither stopped Syr's actions nor dodged.

After a while, Syr realized what she had done, quickly let go, and apologized with an embarrassed look, "I'm sorry, Ryuu, I was really rude."

"Don't worry about it. But you seem to like him, right? Are you just going to keep hiding from him?" Ryuu's question struck right at the core.

Syr gave a bitter smile, "I can't be like my mother, willing to do anything for what she wants. Between him and me, it can only be left to fate."

Syr's pale gray pupils looked into the distance, where the towering Tower of Babel stood.

...

Soon, Ryou arrived in front of the Tower of Babel and joined the Loki Familia and Hephaestus Familia members.

Of course, some members of the Loki Familia didn't look at him kindly.

After all, Ryou was like someone stealing from under their noses, and the target was their acknowledged 'princess,' the Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein.

Ryou, however, remained calm under their gazes. With the system in him, his sights were already set on higher levels. Even the so-called strongest in Orario, the only level 7, Ottar, would be surpassed by him sooner or later.

Such side characters' gazes didn't bother him at all.

Fortunately, most of the main members of the Loki Familia, except for the wolfman Bete, had a decent attitude toward him.

As for Lefiya, whom Ryou considered a strong rival, her close friend even came to see her off personally.

Lefiya held Filvis's hand, smiling and talking, while Filvis, usually cold as ice, blushed with the demeanor of a shy girl.

The scene between the two elven beauties was filled with the fragrance of lilies, making those around them look at them strangely.

"You made it," the leader Finn greeted proactively.

Both Ryou's strength and the power behind him warranted such a gesture.

"Captain Finn," Ryou nodded in acknowledgment.

"Mr. Gudao, let me introduce someone to you."

Finn pointed to a voluptuous, slightly tanned one-eyed woman beside him, "This is Tsubaki, captain of the Hephaestus Familia."

"Lady Tsubaki, hello," Ryou quickly extended his hand.

As one of the two renowned blacksmithing Familias in Orario, their influence and power were no less than the top-tier Familias of Loki and Freya.

"Hey, youngster, nice to meet you," Tsubaki said heartily, patting Ryou's shoulder like a man.

"Mr. Gudao, I have a proposal for you. Would you be willing to join the vanguard team and head to the 59th floor?"

Finn suddenly made a surprising request.

It was known that Ryou joined the expedition as a non-combatant member, similar to a Hephaestus Familia blacksmith.

Despite being called the vanguard, the team was Loki Familia's absolute main force, with none of its members below level 5, except for Lefiya, who was being specially trained as a mage.

Finn's words acknowledged Ryou's strength, but they also caused quite a stir among the other Loki Familia members.

"Why would the captain invite him to join the vanguard team?"

"Yeah, doesn't this guy look pretty weak?"

Fortunately, Finn's authority as the captain was unquestionable. Though the members talked among themselves, none voiced any objections.

"Alright," Ryou thought for a moment before agreeing.

After all, his target was also the corrupted spirit fragment entrenched on the 59th floor. The system had already warned him that it had been mutated, making it stronger than before.

To avoid any unforeseen accidents, he needed to go along just in case.

Equipped with rare gear and Mystic Code, his strength had already surpassed that of an average level 5. With many contingency plans prepared, Ryou was brimming with confidence, treating this as an opportunity to experience a real-life team raid on a boss.

"That's great," Finn said with a hearty laugh.

Although Riveria had some objections, Ryou's continuous goodwill gestures over time were not lost on Finn, who, being no fool, personally persuaded Riveria.

With everything ready, the grand expedition team finally set off.

At that moment, Ryou suddenly felt a scorching gaze cast down from the tower.

Such a distinctive mark made it immediately clear to him that the gaze belonged to the goddess Freya.

Regardless of her intentions, Freya had favored him several times, so he couldn't afford to be impolite.

Thus, Ryou smiled and waved in the direction of that gaze, considering it a greeting. Then, he followed the team into the dungeon.

He could never have anticipated that this simple act of greeting would have such an effect.

Freya, who had been standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, suddenly blushed, her legs weakening as she collapsed onto the carpet.

...

To avoid the massive crowds on the upper floors, the expedition team of over a hundred people split into two groups.

The vanguard team of the Loki Familia, led by Finn, included almost all of their main members, while Gareth led the logistics team.

Their advancing efficiency was unparalleled, akin to a destructive force sweeping through.

Any monsters encountered were instantly killed, and swathes of them were obliterated in seconds.

In less than two hours, they reached the 17th floor.

"Who wants to take care of the Goliath?"

Finn suddenly asked.

"I'll do it," Bete said, looking at Ryou with an eager expression.

"Then it's yours. Be careful," Finn nodded.

"Careful? Do you know who I am? It's the big lug who should be careful, not me, Finn," Bete's arrogant response to Finn's concern didn't endear him to anyone, and it angered someone.

"Idiot Bete! How dare you speak to the captain like that!"

Tione's eyes glowed red with rage, her expression ferocious.

"Huh? What's wrong with what I said?"

Bete was not one to back down easily.

Just as the two were about to clash, a loud noise echoed from a distance.

"Looks like someone beat us to it," Finn said with a light chuckle.

"Idiot Bete! Next time you talk to the captain, watch your tone, or I'll skin you alive and make a wolf pelt coat out of you."

"Huh? Try it if you can, old hag!"

The two continued bickering as they quickly followed the team. Suddenly, the passage brightened, and the floor master's domain came into view.

There, a white-haired boy in black armor wielded a giant sword almost as tall as he was, jumping around and continuously attacking the Goliath.

Meanwhile, an orc warrior stood with arms folded, watching from the side.

"Idiot! How many times do I have to tell you? Use your footwork to stay in its blind spots!"

"Yes, Master!"

These two were none other than Bell and Ottar. They were clearly in the middle of a master-student training session.

When the team appeared at the entrance, Ottar had already drawn the jagged greatsword from his back, looking over with a cold expression.

"Yo, Ottar," Finn greeted with a broad smile.

"Finn," Ottar nodded, considering that a greeting.

"This must be the new genius boy your Familia recently recruited," Finn said, turning his gaze to Bell, who was battling the Goliath.

"Hello!"

Bell, being a polite young boy, couldn't help but greet loudly even amid a fierce fight.

However, this moment of distraction nearly put him in danger.

"Idiot! Focus!"

Ottar immediately frowned and scolded.

"Yes, Master!"

Bell quickly refocused on his opponent.

Ryou, in the team, remained silent, observing quietly.

He noticed that Bell's strength had already surpassed that of a typical Level 2, almost comparable to Level 3.

Bell's growth rate was much faster than in the original story. But considering the circumstances, it made sense. The impoverished Hestia Familia couldn't compare to the top-tier Familia of Orario.

With ample resources and a top-tier adventurer as a mentor, if Bell's growth rate wasn't fast, he wouldn't be the protagonist of the original story.

Watching Bell wield his giant sword with great vigor, Ryou couldn't help but feel a bit guilty, worrying he might have stunted Bell's development.

"Then we won't disturb you any longer. Goodbye," Finn, noticing that the other party didn't want to be disturbed, quickly said farewell.

"Mm," Ottar responded coldly.

Understanding Ottar's personality, Finn didn't mind and promptly called his teammates to move on.

Passing through the tunnel, their view suddenly opened up, as if they had entered another world.

In the blink of an eye, they reached the 18th floor.

Here, they rested and waited for the follow-up team to arrive.

Soon, the larger follow-up team arrived.

With over a hundred people combined, they marched grandly towards the lower floors.

To accommodate the lower-level members, the team didn't move as quickly this time. However, under the formidable strength of the vanguard team, the monsters still couldn't pose any hindrance.

During this journey, Ryou occasionally stepped in to stretch his muscles.

After showcasing his strength, neither the members of the Loki Familia nor those from the Hephaestus Familia dared to underestimate him.

Along the way, Ryou collected quite a few top-quality ingredients.

For example, around the 20th floor, he got his hands on bear paws from ferocious bears, various magical and edible plants from the misty forest around the 40th floor, an entire giant wild boar, various fish species living in the water, and more.

It was a bountiful harvest.

These ingredients, growing in the magic-rich environment of the dungeon, naturally absorbed a lot of magic.

The dishes made from these ingredients, regardless of taste, would undoubtedly provide significant attribute boosts.

Although the entire expedition deliberately slowed their pace to accommodate the larger group, under the formidable strength of the vanguard and the overall power of the Loki Familia, they still reached the 50th floor in less than two days.

This floor also appeared to be a safe zone, with no monster births, and a vast, barren clearing in the middle of a forest that resembled a high platform—an ideal spot for setting up camp and potentially establishing a dungeon town. Unfortunately, aside from the Loki and Freya Familias, few adventurers could reach this place, leaving it mostly desolate except for the camping traces left by the Loki Familia.

Thanks to the remnants of previous structures, the camp was quickly established. However, the atmosphere remained tense, as everyone knew that the real challenge was yet to come. The performance of the main forces would determine the success of this expedition.

The blacksmiths of the Hephaestus Familia began sharpening their weapons, while the Loki Familia, aside from the main forces, started sorting potions, arrows, and other supplies. As for Ryou, he naturally began his specialty: cooking.

Even though they had portable magic stone stoves, some complex dishes were still impractical to prepare while camping. Despite this, he managed to put on a wild culinary feast.

When it comes to camping, the first thing that comes to mind is barbecue. This time, Ryou prepared teppanyaki, but not the usual kind; he used a special stone slab.

This particular stone slab was no ordinary piece of rock; Ryou found it on the 33rd floor amidst a cluster of plants emitting a unique fragrance. After possibly hundreds or thousands of years of absorbing these aromas, the stone itself had acquired the scent of the surrounding flora. He discovered that when heated by fire, the stone emitted an even richer fragrance and could be used directly as a spice.

To avoid revealing his storage space, Ryou insisted that the supporters from the Loki Familia, despite their complaints, carry this one-meter-wide stone slab. Now, it was time to reap the benefits!

The stone slab grill was quickly set up, and Ryou, with fluid and swift movements, began cutting the ingredients. The tough sinews of the ferocious bear's paw were separated and tossed into a makeshift pressure cooker, modified by the blacksmiths of the Hephaestus Familia according to Ryou's instructions.

The water used was an ice spring from the dungeon, and he added a thick broth made from boiling various animal and monster bones. Two hours later, a pot of aromatic stewed bear paw was ready.

The combined aroma was overwhelmingly rich as if a giant bear was pressing everyone's heads into the pot with its paw. Anyone who smelled it, even the most iron-willed adventurer, couldn't help but be tempted.

Unfortunately, this special dish was reserved only for the main forces about to embark on the exploration, specifically the melee fighters.

Tiona, with her childlike nature, couldn't wait for everyone to gather. She immediately grabbed a ladle from Ryou, scooped some into a bowl, and took a big bite, exclaiming instantly.

"So springy, oww! It bounced against my teeth!"

"Silly Tiona! Let the captain eat first!" her sister Tione scolded, though the drool at the corner of her mouth betrayed her. Only her deep affection for Finn made her resist.

"It's okay, let's all eat together. Even I can't resist this smell," Finn said, maintaining his usual demeanor despite the eager glint in his eyes, proving he was truly a leader.

At that moment, Ais had silently picked up a bowl and, with the speed of a squirrel, swiftly finished her portion.

True to the saying "silent people achieve great things," Ais was the first to finish her food.

"Another bowl," Ais said quietly, holding out her bowl.

"Ais, you're so sneaky!"

Tiona shouted with her mouth still full.

Ryou, however, patted Ais on the head.

"This dish is only effective for the first bowl. I have prepared many other kinds of dishes that can increase your attributes, so save some room."

Ais obediently nodded at his advice.

"By the way, how do you feel?" Ryou asked.

Ais clenched her fist, closed her eyes to sense the changes, and softly said, "My strength has increased by about 10%."

"It seems these ingredients are quite effective." Ryou smiled and nodded, serving himself a bowl as well.

"Huh? Me too, I feel a noticeable increase in strength," Tiona reported after finishing her second serving.

"I can indeed feel the increase in strength. It's quite miraculous," Finn said with a slight smile.

He exchanged a glance with Riveria, both seeing a hint of amusement in each other's eyes.

With Ryou's magical cooking, the success of this expedition seemed even more assured.

Finn couldn't help but feel genuine joy, as it was he who, under pressure and against opposition, insisted on including Ryou in the expedition. Now it seemed that decision was indeed the right one.

Next, Ryou used bear paw meat, fish, shrimp, and mushrooms gathered from the dungeon to make teppanyaki.

While the delicious meal made everyone feel euphoric, it also significantly boosted their attributes.

Leaving aside the basic attributes like strength, agility, and endurance, some dishes sped up injury recovery and provided resistance to various elemental damages.

Even the two elven mage women weren't exempt from Ryou's special treatment.

A few specially mixed drinks and custom-made desserts had them feeling waves of ecstasy while keeping their minds incredibly clear.

These were specially made for mages to enhance mana-gathering speed and recovery rate, and to keep their minds sharp and calm.

After consuming these, the two elven mage women felt both love and hate towards Ryou.

The love was naturally for the unparalleled taste and powerful effects.

The hate was not just for embarrassing them in front of others but also because the state induced by the food made them want to indulge forever, yet their minds remained crystal clear. It was like drinking a world-class wine only to be thrown into ice-cold water just as you wanted to savor it in a dream.

This contradictory sense of masochism nearly drove them mad.

Ryou naturally ignored the resentful glances from the two elven mage women.

He then sampled each dish himself, stacking buffs upon himself.

Each dish seemed to increase attributes only slightly, but with the sheer volume available, as long as one had a big appetite, skyrocketing attributes were not a dream.

Moreover, given Ryou's culinary skills, the food was so delicious that one might even eat their tongue.

With the doubled effects, the main members of the Loki Familia almost ate themselves into a state where it could affect their combat readiness.

After a round of feasting and drinking:

"Was it delicious?"

Ryou smiled, patting Ais on the head.

Ais, touching her slightly bulging stomach, blushed and nodded.

"I'll make more for you in the future," Ryou promised with a smile.

"And me! And me!"

Tiona, whose stomach was also slightly bulging, raised her hand and shouted.

"Don't worry, I'll call you too," Ryou readily agreed.

It's not that he had any particular feelings for Tiona; after all, she wasn't his type at all—she had neither the body nor looks and acted like a tomboy all day long.

He just wanted to build a good relationship with the Loki Familia. He had a good impression of them overall; such a positive and sunny force was worth befriending.

"Yay!"

Tiona cheered immediately.

The other main members of the Loki Familia looked at Tiona with envious eyes. Even Bete was no exception; though his face was full of displeasure, he kept stuffing food into his mouth.

The more reserved members would never dare to be as forward and familiar as Tiona.

As for the other members of the Loki Familia who hadn't tasted such magical food, they were practically drooling with envy.

The taste of Ryou's cooking is already recognized by the gods, comparable to divine creations. But it's not just the taste—the incredible attribute-enhancing effects make adventurers eager to chase after it at any cost.

In Orario, there are quite a few potions that can temporarily enhance attributes, but they are expensive and cause strong resistance with repeated use.

Almost everyone who witnesses the magic of Ryou's cooking feels that, regardless of the outcome of this expedition, the value of his dishes will rise to another level.

"I have tested this. After eating these dishes, the effects last about eight to ten hours," Ryou advised Finn after making preparations for departure.

"Don't worry, we're the Loki Familia. Eight hours is more than enough," Finn replied confidently.

Ryou nodded, knowing he had fulfilled his duty.

For this expedition to the 59th floor, Finn had assembled a team including all the main members of the Loki Familia above level 5, the specially trained mage Lefiya, and outsiders Ryou and Tsubaki.

Perhaps Ais had informed Finn of the effects of the ring Ryou had given her, as he did not assign any additional supporters. To achieve maximum combat effectiveness, everyone was traveling light.

At the entrance to the 51st floor, the area was filled with signs of artificial excavation, resembling a massive labyrinth when viewed from the outside.

Ryou's mind immediately flashed to the image of a monster closely tied to him.

"Riveria, cast defensive magic on us," Finn instructed the elven mage.

Riveria nodded and began chanting.

Unlike the inexperienced Lefiya, who stumbled over her incantations, Riveria's foundation was much stronger. In no time, a faint light shield flickered over everyone.

This incantation would have taken Lefiya twice as long to cast.

With the buffs in place, Finn was about to give the order to depart when Ryou suddenly spoke up.

"I have a suggestion..."

"Please go ahead, Mr. Gudao," Finn said, showing his respect for Ryou.

"I suggest we use the passage blasted open by the cannon dragon to jump directly from the 52nd floor to the 58th floor. This would save us a significant amount of time," Ryou.

"I object!"