Chapter 274 - Joining The Expedition
Hearing Tiona's apology, Tione softened at first, ready to let it slide.
But Tiona's smug grin reignited her ire.
"Tiona, you did that on purpose!"
Tione roared, her patience snapping.
"Did what, Tione?" Tiona played dumb, batting her lashes.
"Don't act like I can't tell!"
Tione shot up, locking Tiona in a chokehold.
She hoisted her sister off the ground, growling, "Thought you'd flex your new trick on me, huh?"
Tione tightened her grip.
"You're a hundred years too early!"
"Gonna die, gonna die!" Tiona wheezed, flailing her arms and kicking her dangling legs, unable to break free.
Her eyes rolled dramatically.
The sisters' antics drew amused smiles from the onlookers.
"Mahiro, that was Shunpo, right?" Finn said, turning to Mahiro with mild surprise.
"I figured it might be that flashing footwork from the 27th floor, but I didn't expect you'd teach it to Ais and Tiona."
"Yep," Mahiro nodded, smiling.
"They've got talent—picked it up in no time."
"So, Ais..." Riveria glanced at Ais.
"Mm," Ais replied softly.
"I learned it too."
"Even skills can be taught..." Gareth muttered.
The dwarf had seen much in his years—yet Mahiro kept toppling his worldview.
Magic was one thing, but skills? What other secrets did this young man hold?
"Is it really fine to teach Ais and Tiona something so valuable?" Finn asked.
Having seen Mahiro fend off a monster horde, the Loki Familia knew Shunpo's worth. Mastered, it could shift battles—practically a divine gift.
"It's not that precious," Mahiro said with a casual shrug.
"Not precious?" Riveria's smile turned wry.
A skill that enabled surprise victories and tier-jumping feats, dismissed so lightly?
To her, Mahiro's humility was just modesty.
"We owe you a big one," Finn said, his own smile tinged with ruefulness.
Ais and Tiona's bond with Mahiro might explain his generosity, but it undeniably bolstered the Loki Familia's strength.
Mahiro gained nothing tangible—pure altruism.
With Ariel—Ais could spar with Level 6s like Finn, retreating unscathed if outmatched.
But Shunpo, from what Finn had seen Mahiro do, outclassed it, promising to elevate Ais further.
The Loki Familia's dominance among Orario's top familia hinged on such high-end power.
For a high class adventurer to grow stronger was exponentially harder—yet Mahiro had handed Ais and Tiona that edge in hours.
"Too much praise," Mahiro said modestly.
"Ais and Tiona are my friends—friends help each other, right? I offered to teach them, no strings attached."
Finn, Riveria, and the others exchanged complex looks.
Ais and Tiona were fortunate to have such a friend.
"Orders: everything about Mahiro today—magic, skills—stays sealed," Finn commanded.
"Especially topside. Keep your mouths shut."
Mahiro thought, 'I'd rather you blab and boost my rep.'
He'd have pushed his fame in Orario already if not for his rush to tackle the monster rex.
Still, Finn's caution was well-meant—self-taught magic and Shunpo could shake Orario, drawing trouble Mahiro's way.
"No worries, lips sealed," Tione assured.
"I'll keep it quiet," Lefiya echoed.
"Don't glare at me—I'm not a gossip!" Bete snapped, irked by the scrutiny.
He clashed with Mahiro, sure, but he wouldn't stoop to petty betrayal.
"Ais, Tiona, what about magic?" Tione asked eagerly.
"You learned that too, right? Show us!"
"We haven't learned spells yet," Tiona explained. "Mahiro's having us get used to mana first—he'll teach us proper magic later."
She conjured a faint mana glow in her hand, then let it fade.
"That's not magic?" Tione blinked, staring at the light.
"It's magic, technically," Mahiro clarified, "but the weakest kind—barebones mana use."
A flicker of envy crossed Bete's stern face, gone as quick as it came, unnoticed beneath his restored arrogance.
"Magic power use..." Lefiya mused, her elf-bred sensitivity to magic stirring.
"Isn't that like our magic stat?"
"Enough, Lefiya," Finn cut in sharply.
"That's Mahiro's secret—don't pry."
"S-Sorry!" Lefiya flinched, bowing apologetically.
Mahiro smiled and shook his head, unbothered.
"That's it for today—I'm heading the surface," he said, bidding farewell.
With a shimmer of teleportation magic, he vanished.
Back on the 27th floor, he'd sent Lily ahead with their collection of magic stones and materials.
His focus these past days had been the 37th floor's monster rex.
"Teleportation magic..." Finn sighed, watching the glow fade.
"Miraculous. If Mahiro joined our expedition, we'd have a real shot at the 59th floor."
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