"Wait a minute, didn't I say I wanted to be on top?"
"This song should be sung at a fast pace. You're too slow. I'll let you do the next one!"
After a trip to karaoke and singing a few songs together, their relationship deepened even further.
Freya never took Ishtar seriously. Despite Ishtar provoking her multiple times in the past, she never retaliated. Plus, with her ability to charm her way out of any trouble, this situation was hardly an issue for her.
Taking this opportunity to make Eiji owe her a favor, she felt quite satisfied.
As for converting him to her faction, that could be done slowly, step by step.
Trying to rush it all at once would only push him away, which would be counterproductive.
When he finally left, Eiji let out a deep breath.
With both Loki and Freya backing him up, he was completely safe!
Now, he could start planning his departure.
***
"Eiji, where have you been?"
As soon as he returned to the Familia, he ran into the idle Tiona.
Seeing the large backpack he was carrying, her eyes were full of curiosity.
"These are various potions and tools," Eiji explained easily, carrying the dozens of kilograms of supplies effortlessly.
"I'm planning to stay in the dungeon for a while, so I bought more than usual."
"But this is way too much! Enough for at least a dozen people."
"I'm planning to stay for ten days or half a month."
"That long? Are you heading to the lower floors? Want me to go with you?"
"No need, I plan to go alone."
"Huh? Then I won't see you for days again?"
For high-level adventurers, training in the dungeon for several days at a time was completely normal. Last time, Finn and his team stayed in the dungeon for seven to eight days.
Given Eiji's enthusiasm for leveling up, staying for ten days was expected. Besides, he was already strong enough that even Tiona couldn't beat him one-on-one. With his keen danger sense and exceptional escape abilities, as long as he didn't enter the deep floors, there was no real danger.
"Oh, right, Tiona, I have a gift for you. Come to my room later."
"A gift?!"
Ten minutes later—
"Here, take this."
Inside Eiji's room, he handed Tiona a large sack.
"What's this?"
Tiona opened it, instantly shocked.
"So much money?!"
The sack was filled with valis.
Just from the sheer weight, it had to be at least several million!
"I don't need this money right now, and since you're short on funds, I'm giving it to you."
According to Finn, Tiona had borrowed tens of millions to have the Goibniu Familia forge her a second-generation greatsword. She was completely in debt and desperately needed money.
Eiji figured that since he might not be coming back after leaving, there was no point in keeping the money. So, he gave her all of the Ishtar Familia's compensation money as a way to thank her for looking after him.
"Eiji, I love you so much!"
Tiona threw herself at him, planted a big kiss on his lips, and let out an excited scream that echoed through the entire Familia.
'You're taking advantage of me again!'
...Fine, just this once.
Tiona happily left with the sack of money.
"Seriously..."
Eiji shook his head helplessly.
Then, he sat down at his desk and spent half an hour writing a letter, placing it in a drawer.
The letter detailed where he came from and where he was going, even explaining the existence of another world. If he couldn't return after leaving, at least this would help them understand, so they wouldn't have to worry too much.
"...No, in the end, this is just self-satisfaction."
Eiji clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Of course, they would worry. He was just convincing himself that this was enough. The atmosphere of farewells was always troublesome—he really didn't like it.
"Loki, Finn, I'm heading into the dungeon!"
Eiji found Loki and Finn and greeted them.
"Come back early. We have an expedition in half a month!"
Neither of them paid much attention, simply waving him off.
When Ais went into the dungeon, they reacted the same way.
Without realizing it, they had already begun treating Eiji as one of their key members.
Donning his cloak, Eiji shouldered the bag Freya had given him, along with the oversized backpack full of potions, and walked out of the Familia's gate.
He turned back to look at the towering, spear-like building, took a deep breath, and strode away.
***
Dungeon.
The Misty Plains, 10th Floor.
"This spot should be good enough."
Eiji casually sliced down a charging orc in one swift motion.
Then, finding a secluded spot, he focused his mind.
The surroundings rapidly became illusory, as if he had stepped into a transcendent realm.
At the same time, his entire body vanished from the mist, entering the "Illusory Domain."
A pitch-black door appeared before him.
It was ancient and unadorned, yet it exuded a timeless and eternal presence.
On the black door, two glowing golden inscriptions shimmered.
One read "Chivalry of a Failed Knight", and unlike the dim color it had two months ago, it now shone brightly, indicating he could return at any time.
The other read "Type-Moon", the world he had just unlocked last night. It wasn't FSN, FGO, Tsukihime, or Kara no Kyoukai, but rather the name of a collective universe—a grand world. Like the first inscription, it too was glowing, meaning he could travel there anytime.
So now, the question was—
Should he go to the new world? Or return to Chivalry of a Failed Knight?
Eiji had spent a long time thinking about this last night.
The Type-Moon universe was undoubtedly full of opportunities, with various power systems that could help him solve his issues with his constitution and magic once and for all. The potential benefits were immense, making it well worth a visit.
The moment he unlocked this world, he almost rushed straight through the door.
Fortunately, his rationality held him back. At the very least, he needed to say goodbye to his Familia. So, he had run back, only to spend the entire night too excited to sleep—until Loki woke him up early this morning.
Of course—
He wasn't planning to go to Type-Moon right away.
Or rather, not yet.
Before that, he had to return to Chivalry of a Failed Knight.
He had made a promise to his senior sister—he couldn't let her down.
"...Phew."
Eiji took a deep breath.
Images of everyone from Loki Familia flashed through his mind.
He had to admit—they had all been very good to him. Even Bete, despite his attitude, was someone who understood priorities. Maybe next time, he should clear up some misunderstandings about him.
"See you again if fate allows!"
Eiji shouted as if to banish his hesitation, then took a firm step forward, pushing open the black door.
Who knew how much time had passed in Chivalry of a Failed Knight? Had the Seven Star Sword Art Festival preliminaries already ended?
If they had, he would have to use some unconventional methods.
"...Wait, I don't get to choose?"
As he stepped into the door, he was surprised to find that it didn't let him pick a world. The moment it opened, he was already heading to another dimension.
Fortunately—
The sight before him was a familiar wasteland—the exact place where he had left the Chivalry of a Failed Knight world.
"Thank goodness, I didn't accidentally warp to Type-Moon—huh?!"
Just as he relaxed, his vision suddenly blurred.
His eyes widened in shock.
"Wait, what?! If two worlds are available at once, this can actually happen?!"
On the black door behind him—
The inscription for "Type-Moon" slowly faded until it vanished completely, leaving only "DanMachi", now dimmed and temporarily inaccessible.
***
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