Chapter 168: Loki’s Party Finally Returns Home (Bonus)

After nightfall, darkness settled over all of Orario.

Not a single member of the Loki Familia left the manor that day.

That was because their Familia God had issued a strict order: no one was to step outside the grounds.

"Ugh, this is so boring..."

Tiona, ordered to stay away from the Dungeon, sat cross-legged at the entrance, bored out of her mind and waiting for Loki and the others to return.

"Tione, should I sneak out and check if Loki and the others are back yet?"

"Cut it out!"

Also sitting at the entrance, Tione shot her impatient sister a glare and rolled her eyes.

"Loki left today with the Captain and the others to handle some important business. She specifically told everyone not to leave the manor. And you still want to sneak out?"

"Even if it weren't Loki's order, just the Captain saying so is enough to keep me put."

The others nearby, all just as restless, gave Tione a look of disbelief.

So Loki's orders didn't count, but the Captain's did?

Wasn't that a bit too double-standard?

Tiona swung her legs over the fence, aimlessly kicking as boredom gnawed at her. As an Amazoness, sitting idle was torture. Having nothing to do made her restless.

She looked around, hoping for something—anything—to distract her.

Everyone else was staying inside quietly, but Loki and the Captain had been out with the others all day. Normally, when Loki went out with people, she wouldn't stay out this late...

"Bete, do you think Loki and the others ran into some kind of danger?"

That question made Bete, who was leaning against a wall, twitch visibly.

"Are you dumb? Three Level 6s getting into danger?"

"And seriously, what's wrong with your head? They went to talk business—with the Hephaestus Familia. You think they'd be in danger there?"

In the city of Orario, if Loki herself went out accompanied by three Level 6 adventurers and still ran into danger, then the city might as well be doomed.

Alright, Tiona admitted—her question might've been a bit off.

"But still, how long does it take to talk business? It's been a whole day already..."

Amazoness women really are hopeless, Bete grumbled inwardly.

He didn't want to bother, but against his better judgment, he started explaining.

"Listen, they may have gone to meet Hephaestus, but their actual target this time is Goddess Hestia."

"Remember what that woman Aisha said?"

"What did she say again?"

Tiona honestly couldn't remember Aisha saying anything important.

Bete's forehead veins bulged. He knew it was pointless trying to reason with this Amazoness. She couldn't even remember something like that?

"'Abnormal Resistance.' According to Aisha, she and the Ishtar Familia girls who got taken out were all Level 3s—and all had 'Abnormal Resistance.'"

"But even then, a dozen Level 2 Ishtar members got knocked out like nothing... You really think that was just a fluke?"

"The problem lies with the Hestia Familia—the ones producing those Rune Stones."

Bete wasn't the type to ignore investigations. Sure, the Hestia Familia was new, and by reputation, just some fledgling group trying to rise.

But there was no way the guy behind it all was some small-time amateur.

To manipulate adventurers with 'Abnormal Resistance' like that—if it were just a trivial matter, Loki wouldn't have left today with that much backup.

"I see~"

Tiona nodded as if that explanation made perfect sense, but Bete's eyelids twitched uncontrollably at the sight.

'You idiot! You didn't listen to a single word I said just now!'

Still, he couldn't be bothered to repeat himself.

He was fairly certain Loki and the others weren't in any real danger. After all, they'd just formed an alliance—no matter what tricks the other side had up their sleeve, they wouldn't pull anything on a new ally.

'That guy from the Hestia Familia... he's got a sharp eye.'

He went straight for one of the strongest Familias in all of Orario as a partner.

'Hmph. That's the curse of small Familias.'

Bete's eyes showed a hint of respect. Being weak wasn't shameful—but being weak and unaware of it was.

He had nothing but contempt for people who didn't understand their own limits.

Did they really not know the weak get eaten alive?

A bunch of nobodies thinking they could take on the Dungeon—clearly, they'd never had a real taste of death.

The Hestia Familia had likely been targeted by other groups from the moment they launched the Rune Stones.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have had to put their business under the name of the Hephaestus Familia.

Still, Bete didn't look down on that choice. Seeking protection wasn't something to be ashamed of.

Familias all started out small.

And the fact that the Hestia Familia could land a partnership with the Hephaestus Familia—and even force Loki into an alliance—meant they were sharp. Sharp enough to push Loki into a corner.

Otherwise, from what Bete knew of Loki, she'd never walk away from a negotiation without tearing off a chunk of flesh.

Suddenly, Bete's ears and nose twitched. A familiar scent drifted in with the wind, and he immediately stood up from the wall.

"...They're back."

The others at the door moved in unison, crowding toward the entrance.

The main gates of the Loki Familia's "Twilight Manor" slowly opened to welcome the returning group.

Loki, usually bursting with energy, looked totally deflated.

Even Finn, the ever-composed captain, wore a look of pure exhaustion. The others were no better—every one of them looked completely wiped.

Except for the flirty Renard-girl who'd just joined the Familia and still didn't have a clue what was going on.

"Captain~"

That sultry, wave-like tone made Finn shiver. As he raised his head, a pair of... something... came flying right at his face.

"Tione..."

Snapping out of it, Finn quickly pulled himself together. He felt mentally drained, but there was still work to do.

"Tione, go gather the second squad. We're having a meeting."

"Eh?"

Tione frowned at how exhausted the captain looked, concern flickering in her eyes.

"Captain, you just got back, and you're already calling a meeting?"

Finn gave a small shake of the head. He was just mentally worn out—after everything that had happened today, the fatigue hadn't quite hit his body yet.

"I'm fine. Just go get everyone. This meeting's important."

Tione had no choice. Orders were orders—especially from the captain.