Chapter 419: The Hostess of Fertility  

At the entrance of the dungeon, the members of the Loki Familia emerged into the bright sunlight. Tione glanced upward, then sighed helplessly.

"Ah, we're back. I have no idea how to tell Loki about the failure of this expedition."

Finn, standing nearby, offered her a comforting smile. "Don't stress over it too much. It's just one failed expedition. It's not like we lost because we were weak. It was an unexpected incident that wiped out all the monsters."

As Finn spoke, his thoughts drifted to a certain godlike figure they had encountered. He couldn't fathom the full extent of a true god's strength, but what he had seen felt close to it.

Meanwhile, Ais remained quiet, lost in thought. Just as she pondered, a cheerful voice rang out.

"Ais-tan! Welcome back!"

Whoosh!

A figure darted toward Ais, Lefiya, Tione, and Tiona like a starved tiger pouncing on prey. There was no need to guess—it could only be their lesbian goddess, Loki.

In an instant, whoosh! whoosh! whoosh! Three figures swiftly dodged out of the way. Only Lefiya, a Level 3 mage, failed to react in time. The next moment, she was tackled to the ground.

"Ah! Loki-sama! Please stop~!"

Lefiya looked up at Loki in exasperation. "You're a goddess! Why do you keep pestering us girls? Aren't there plenty of handsome men in the Familia for you to bother?"

But alas, Loki was Loki. Perhaps the Trickster God secretly yearned for the beauty of lilies instead.

Finn, stepping forward as the leader, attempted to break the awkward moment. His expression was grim. "Loki, we need to inform you that... our expedition failed."

His disappointment was palpable. They had set out with high hopes but returned in disarray—a result far from the triumphant success they had envisioned.

To his surprise, Loki simply shook her head. "It's fine. Failure is part of the journey. As long as no one was hurt, that's what matters most. We'll regroup, prepare better, and try again later."

Despite her playful demeanor, Loki's concern for her Familia was clear. Perhaps it was this sense of responsibility that made the Loki Familia one of the two strongest in Orario.

Finn nodded, appreciating her understanding, but his unease lingered. "Thank you, Loki. However, we need to report some unusual findings—new types of monsters and a mysterious figure in the dungeon. These anomalies..."

Before he could finish, Loki released Lefiya and glanced at her tired children. Observing their weary faces, she made a bold declaration.

"We'll discuss this tomorrow. Tonight, I'm treating everyone to a feast at the Hostess of Fertility!"

At her words, the group's exhaustion seemed to vanish instantly.

Tione cheered, "Long live Loki-sama!"

Tiona echoed, "Long live Loki-sama!"

Bete interjected, "Loki-sama has lived for millions of years. Isn't saying 'long live' a bit redundant—or is it a curse?"

The sisters froze, their faces turning bright red. Indeed, calling an immortal god "long live" seemed ridiculous, if not offensive.

But Loki didn't mind. With a grin, she grabbed Tione and Tiona by the hands and led the group toward the Hostess of Fertility.

Watching Loki's retreating figure, Riveria shook her head with a sigh. "Honestly, Loki is just... sigh..."

Gareth chuckled beside her. "Come now, Riveria. You've known her long enough. Let's go. We've had a grueling few days, and I could use a good drink. The Hostess of Fertility's ale has been calling my name."

Riveria hesitated but eventually followed.

At the Hostess of Fertility

The tavern, the most popular in Orario, bustled with adventurers who could afford its comforts. Yet despite the lively crowd, no one dared cause trouble. Rumors of the seemingly ordinary tavern's hidden strength kept everyone in line.

Those rumors gained credibility when an intoxicated Level 3 adventurer was unceremoniously kicked out by a petite maid.

At the largest table in the tavern, Alexander and his companions sat in silence, each with a glass of wine before them. Alexander frowned at the subdued atmosphere and asked, "What's wrong with all of you? Why aren't you drinking?"