Danmachi : The Strongest Adventurer

The Streets of Orario

Rein strolled leisurely through the streets of Orario, his mind filled with various plans.

He called it a treasure hunt.

The Eastern District was his first destination. If nothing interesting turned up there, the Western District would be next.

He knew that finding hidden treasures wasn't easy, but that didn't matter. This was just an experiment, a small game to test his luck.

Rein chuckled as he recalled the novels he had read in his past life. In Chinese novels, protagonists often stumbled upon rare artifacts in the most unexpected places. Of course, reality wasn't that kind. But who knew? Perhaps fate had other plans.

Just as he was lost in thought, a soft and clear voice called his name.

"Rein~"

His steps halted. He looked around, searching for the source of the voice. A few seconds later, a girl with a gentle smile approached him.

Syr.

Or rather, Freya in disguise.

Rein greeted her with a friendly smile. During his two weeks in Orario, he had encountered Syr quite often. They could be considered friends, though not particularly close. However, after returning the lunchbox she had given him, their relationship had become somewhat more familiar.

Of course, to Rein, Syr was just a kind girl working at a bar. But he knew the truth wasn't that simple.

Still, as long as there were no problems, he had no intention of bringing it up.

"Yo, Syr. The sun's shining bright today," he greeted casually.

Syr smiled softly, her expression calm and as charming as ever.

"Fufu~ Good afternoon, Rein. You seem more relaxed than usual. Did you just return from the Dungeon?"

Rein nodded lightly.

"Yeah, just got back."

Syr looked at him with interest.

"What floor did you reach this time?" she asked casually, though there was a hint of curiosity in her tone.

Rein knew he couldn't reveal too much about his abilities, or else he'd attract the attention of this crazy goddess—or rather, this crazy woman.

So, without blinking, he lied naturally.

"Only up to the third floor. I'm still a beginner, so I have to be careful," he said in a normal tone, as if it was nothing unusual.

Syr gazed at him for a moment before giving a small smile, as if unfazed by Rein's lie.

After all, she was certain that Rein had only reached the second floor of the dungeon at most, considering he was on his own.

As for why he claimed to have reached the third floor, he was probably trying to show off to her.

She couldn't help but think that Rein was the type of playboy who enjoyed deceiving women.

"Ara~ Really? I thought you had gone deeper than that," she teased, her tone implying she wasn't entirely convinced.

Rein simply shrugged, maintaining his relaxed demeanor.

"I'm not that reckless. Besides, I only have one life, and it's quite valuable. At least for now, I don't want to die."

Syr gave him a playful look.

"Hehe~ You don't want to die now? Does that mean you do want to die in the future?"

Rein shrugged again.

"Who knows?"

Syr giggled, her eyes sparkling as if she was enjoying their conversation.

"Fufu~ You really are interesting, Rein."

As they talked, they gradually realized they were heading in the same direction. A comfortable silence settled between them.

Neither felt the need to speak, yet their footsteps remained in sync. After a while, Rein glanced at Syr walking beside him and casually spoke.

"Looks like we're going the same way. Want to walk together?" His tone remained relaxed, as if he didn't really care about her answer.

Syr turned to him with her signature soft smile, her eyes narrowing slightly with meaning.

"Ara~ Are you asking me out on a date, Rein?"

Rein simply chuckled, not answering immediately.

"If you consider walking through a crowded street a date, then I don't mind." His voice remained calm, showing no sign of being affected by her teasing.

Syr smiled slightly, then looked ahead before nodding lightly.

"Fufu~ Alright, I don't mind. A journey is more enjoyable with good company, isn't it?"

They walked side by side in silence for a while until Syr reopened the conversation.

"By the way, lately, there have been two people who have caught the attention of adventurers," she said casually, though there was clear curiosity in her voice.

Rein glanced at her, slightly intrigued.

"Oh? Who are they?"

Syr smiled faintly as if enjoying his curiosity.

"They're known as 'Black and White.' One has hair as white as snow, while the other has jet-black hair. Quite the contrast, don't you think?"

Rein raised an eyebrow. Hearing about people famous enough to earn a nickname made him even more curious.

"Hmm… so, they're adventurers?"

Syr nodded lightly.

"Yes, they recently joined Loki Familia. Their quick acceptance into such a renowned familia has caused quite a stir among adventurers."

Hearing the name Loki Familia, Rein was slightly surprised. As one of Orario's strongest familias, not just anyone could join them.

"Loki Familia, huh? If they got in, that means they must be pretty capable."

Syr chuckled softly, her expression as composed as ever.

"Ara~ You catch on quickly, Rein. Well, that's what people think too. But what's interesting is their background—especially the one with black hair." Her voice held a hint of mystery.

Rein narrowed his eyes, growing more intrigued.

"The Black one, huh? What are their names?"

Syr pretended to think for a moment before answering casually.

"The one with white hair is named Bell, while the one with black hair is named… Ye Tian."

Upon hearing the first name, Rein didn't react much. After all, Bell Cranel was the protagonist of this world; it was only a matter of time before he appeared. However, when the second name was mentioned, his steps slowed slightly, his brow furrowing.

"Ye Tian?" He repeated the name, his tone a bit more serious.

Syr glanced at him, slightly surprised by his change in expression. But she continued smiling as usual.

"Fufu~ Quite a unique name, isn't it? I've never heard a name like that before. Maybe he's from a distant land?"

Rein didn't respond immediately. His mind was racing.

Bell appearing was something he had expected. But Ye Tian?

———

The Streets of Orario

Rein frowned.

"Ye Tian?"

He repeated the name in his mind. A name like that sounded strange. It didn't fit the names of this world. In fact, it was more like the name of a male protagonist from the urban novels he used to read in his past life.

Something like Return of the Dragon King, Invincible Medical God, or The Humble War God.

In fact, protagonists with names like that usually had similar traits—arrogant, overly confident, and possessing abilities that defied logic.

"Don't tell me this guy is the same?"

The thought made Rein even more curious.

Syr noticed his change in expression and smiled faintly.

"Fufu~ Is something wrong, Rein?"

Rein shook his head slightly, regaining his composure.

"Not really, it's just… that name is a bit unusual."

Syr nodded in agreement, then gave him a knowing look.

"Ara~ Could it be that you know him?"

Rein chuckled lightly. "Never met him, but I have a feeling… he's going to be an interesting person."

Syr watched him for a moment before giggling softly.

"Fufu~ Perhaps. Shall we wait and see?"

Rein simply smiled faintly.

"Ye Tian, huh? I'll have to see for myself what kind of person he is."

———

Loki Familia – Training Grounds

In a spacious courtyard filled with various weapons and training equipment, a man stood with his arms crossed over his chest. His dark eyes lazily scanned the area, yet there was something off about him.

He was handsome, but his gaze was different—filled with lust and greed. His eyes never left the blonde girl who was training seriously.

Ais Wallenstein.

The "Sword Princess," one of the strongest fighters in Loki Familia.

Ye Tian smirked, his eyes seemingly piercing through the girl's clothes.

"Hmph, her body isn't bad at all. Tsk, tsk. Those long legs alone could keep me entertained for a thousand years. In my previous world, I wouldn't have dared to even dream of a girl like her. But now… hehe… everything is different."

"This girl should consider herself lucky. With great reluctance, I can only accept her as one of my concubines."

He observed Ais's every movement, his smirk widening. However, his thoughts were interrupted when someone called out to him.

"Brother Ye!"

Ye Tian raised an eyebrow before turning lazily. The one calling him was a young boy with white hair and red eyes, holding a massive sword—almost larger than his own body.

Bell Cranel.

The protagonist of this world.

Ye Tian narrowed his eyes slightly before speaking in a relaxed tone.

"Hmm? Is there something you want to ask me?"

Bell hesitated, glancing at the large sword in his hands before sighing.

"U-Um… B-Brother Ye, do you think… this sword suits me?" His voice was filled with uncertainty, his eyes glimmering with hope for a reassuring answer.

Ye Tian chuckled, his smirk turning more mischievous.

"Haha! You're funny, Bell! Of course, it suits you! A real man should wield a big weapon!"

Bell blinked a few times, looking at the sword in his hands. A drop of sweat rolled down his forehead.

"E-Etto… but wouldn't a lighter sword suit me better? I rely more on speed…" His voice wavered, but he still tried to defend his reasoning.

Ye Tian took a step forward and patted Bell's shoulder confidently.

"Hmph! That's just the thinking of the weak! A real man should dominate his enemies with absolute strength! Look at me! Even without a sword, I can crush monsters with a single punch!"

Bell fell silent for a moment, his face slightly stiff. His eyes darted left and right as if searching for an escape.

"U-Um… haha… I see…?" His smile was awkward, as though he wanted to end this conversation as soon as possible.

Deep down, Bell could only sigh.

"Why do I feel like slapping him…?" Of course, he wouldn't actually do it. After all, "Brother Ye" was an incredibly powerful man.

While Bell was still trying to process Ye Tian's words, the latter laughed in satisfaction. His eyes once again drifted toward Ais, who was still training.

"Heh, if you want to be strong, Bell… you have to think bigger. Power, wealth, and women—that's what it takes to be a real man!"

Bell let out a quiet sigh before forcing a stiff smile. He felt that his "brother" had a rather… peculiar aura.

But instead of dwelling on it, he decided to focus on his training. With renewed determination, Bell turned back and started practicing with his sword.

"Brother Ye… is truly a unique man." Bell could only think this as he swung his sword.