Chapter 1009: Chapter 767: Rumors Belittling Reiger
Unlike Reiger and Ais, who run to the underground city every few days and hardly idle around in the city district, Rephia is quite popular in the clan and has typical girlish interests, often being invited by Elfie and Alicia to go shopping, buy clothes, or drink afternoon tea. Her life is quite fulfilling.
Naturally, she wouldn’t be able to avoid hearing various urban gossip and has some understanding of public opinion.
Thus, Rephia heard about some rumors deliberately praising Bell Crowney while belittling Reiger.
These types of rumors are basically unavoidable.
Although the Loki Clan is one of the strongest factions in the city, admired by many, as the saying goes, "The shot hits the bird that pokes its head out," and the tree that stands out will invite the wind, some narrow-minded individuals can’t stand seeing others shine, and they resent the so-called geniuses who have talents and skills they can never match.
Quite coincidentally, Reiger is not only part of the Loki Clan but is also the kind of genius bound to be envied, resented, and hated by others.
Thus, some petty individuals who don’t dare to openly provoke the Loki Clan or Reiger would naturally speak ill of him in front of others.
As for the "little prodigy" Bell Crowney, being the second monstrous newcomer after Reiger, naturally he would be compared to Reiger and be praised by these people, while deliberately belittling Reiger.
For the elven girl who views someone as an object of admiration, this is absolutely intolerable.
Therefore, unfortunately, the girl began to hate the "little prodigy" and expressed great disdain for him.
"How could that ’little prodigy’ possibly compare to Mr. Reiger?"
"Over two months to level up to Lv.3?"
"Back then, Mr. Reiger took only 22 days to level up to Lv.3, you know?"
"Being more than a month slower than Mr. Reiger, and yet having the gall to compare himself to Mr. Reiger?"
"Isn’t this just overestimating oneself?"
Rephia muttered there, looking rather resentful.
Clearly, hearing these kinds of rumors many times, Rephia felt quite concerned.
"Isn’t... that already pretty amazing?"
Raul spoke up with a forced smile.
"Yes, very amazing."
Ais nodded candidly.
Less than a month?
Over two months?
Would such a small time difference matter?
You should know that even Ais, who holds the world record for fastest leveling up, took a year to level up from Lv.1 to Lv.2, and one to two years to level up from Lv.2 to Lv.3.
In comparison, Bell Crowney’s ability to level up twice within more than two months is not much different from Reiger, from the perspective of those who might not level up even once in several years or ten years.
This is also why many people are using Bell Crowney for comparison with Reiger.
To many people, the difference of one or two months doesn’t really count as a difference but as a step forward and backward.
But Rephia clearly was not happy with this notion.
"Do Miss Ais and Mr. Raul also think Bell Crowney is more impressive than Mr. Reiger?"
The spirited elven girl aggressively questioned, actually intimidating the two top-tier adventurers.
"Of course not."
Raul quickly shook his head.
"Reiger is the most impressive."
Ais also took a firm stance in favor of Reiger.
Even though Bell Crowney is impressive, in Ais and Raul’s eyes, Reiger is naturally much more impressive.
It’s not just because Reiger is one of their own, but more so because they truly don’t believe Bell Crowney can compare to Reiger.
Reiger isn’t just fast in growth.
As a swordsman, his swordsmanship has already surpassed Ais, and he is now Ais’s instructor in swordsmanship, practicing with her every morning and teaching her Wind Spirit Swift Walk, enabling Ais to grow rapidly.
In magic, Reiger possesses talent not inferior to Revilia and Rephia, but even far surpasses them, having learned overpowered additional magic like Wind Spirit Swift Walk and cheating forbidden spells like [Pandora’s Hammer], along with various strange magic (arcane magic) that even Revilia and Rephia can’t grasp. To put it bluntly, Reiger’s magic achievements are already the best in Orario.
In swordsmanship, Reiger wouldn’t lose to any swordsman in Orario.
In magic, Reiger wouldn’t lose to any Magic Guide in Orario.
The strongest magic swordsman in the city, this nickname is now well-deserved, renowned across all of Orario and even the world.
Additionally, his ability to challenge across levels and his fearless battle style even make [Mighty] Ota consider him a rival, not to mention others.
If Bell Crowney’s only advantage is his fast growth, he could never outdo Reiger.
Of course, according to rumors, Bell Crowney also has the ability to challenge across levels. Recently, he defeated the Lv.3 Apollo Clan leader with Lv.2 ability, achieving remarkable achievement sufficient for leveling up. Previously, he also defeated a Lv.2 Minotaur while at Lv.1, suggesting that his overall quality isn’t too low.
However, Ais and Raul still couldn’t imagine Bell Crowney standing shoulder to shoulder with Reiger.
To put it simply.
While Reiger was at Lv.3, he not only challenged across levels but also defeated the floor master Goliath with a classification level of Lv.4. Could Bell Crowney accomplish such a feat?
Impossible.
Floor masters are super-large monsters, far stronger than ordinary monsters at the same level; for example, Goliath is specialized in "durability," its defensive power surpassing even Lv.5. To defeat such a creature, one needs not only the ability to challenge across levels but also output two levels higher to harm Lv.5; otherwise, they can’t even cut its skin.
To deal with it, Reiger opened Wind Spirit Swift Walk’s output to the max, combined with area destruction magic learned from Revilia and Rephia, successfully broke its defense and killed it.
For Bell Crowney to achieve such feats, relying solely on his rapid assault magic is definitely impossible; he would need another explosive trump card, or he’d only be able to flee in front of Goliath.
This is also why Ota, at the same level, couldn’t defeat the floor master Balrog at the 49th level, immediately achieving enough milestone feats worthy of leveling up upon victory.
Even at Lv.5, without the overpowered additional magic like Wind Spirit Swift Walk and Reiger’s aid, Ais couldn’t defeat the floor master Udaeus at the 37th level across levels.
In short, to Ais, Raul, and others who understand Reiger’s true strength and qualities, Bell Crowney couldn’t match Reiger.
Especially Ais, who feels, through daily practice with Reiger, that Reiger is indeed the strongest in the Loki Clan, possibly superior to newly Lv.7 Finn, Grace, and Revilia.
With such abilities, what comparison does Bell Crowney have?
"Exactly!"
Rephia finally smiled with satisfaction.
"You guys shouldn’t underestimate him."
Reiger, listening nearby, found it both amusing and helpless.
Perhaps only he knows how special Bell Crowney truly is?
"Let’s not talk about him." Reiger put down his milk and asked Raul, "Let’s discuss how the Istar Clan and Hestia Clan went to war?"
Though saying so, Reiger actually had an inkling.
In truth, he was somewhat of a driving force behind it.
So, he actually had a pretty good idea.
As expected...
"It’s said that the Hestia Clan secretly harbored a member of the Istar Clan."
Raul informed Reiger.
"A few days ago, a significant member of the Istar Clan went missing."
"For that member, the Istar Clan almost turned all of Orario upside down these days and finally found her hidden by the Hestia Clan."
"Goddess Ishtar personally appeared, demanding the Hestia Clan surrender the person, but the Hestia Clan refused."
"Thus, the Istar Clan declared war on the Hestia Clan and sent people to attack the Hestia Clan’s base."
"The ’little prodigy’ is now captured, detained in Fengyue Street, and can’t get out."
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