Chapter 19 – First Encounter with the Loki Familia
The battle was still raging… but in the middle of that chaotic clash of horns and claws, a lone young man moved through the fray as if strolling through a peaceful garden.
Watching from a distance, Finn Deimne—captain of the Loki Familia and one of Orario's most respected adventurers—couldn't help but be impressed.
But his sharp eyes soon noticed something else.
Surrounding the boy were several figures dressed entirely in black—silent, swift, and unmistakably reminiscent of eastern-style ninja.
There was something odd about them.
Their number had remained eight since the beginning, yet a few had clearly been struck during the battle and… vanished. But just moments later, the same number had returned, moving fluidly back into formation.
Finn narrowed his eyes.
"…Anyone recognize those guys?" he asked, glancing at his companions.
"No clue."
"Never seen them before."
"Not a familiar face."
"They don't ring any bells."
— — —
Everyone responded the same way. None of them had any idea who the boy or the shadowy warriors were.
Meanwhile…
Shlick!
The long spear in Akira's hand pierced cleanly through the final Unicorn Rabbit.
The last monster dropped lifelessly to the ground, and with that—the skirmish was over.
Akira let out a deep breath.
Unicorn Rabbits weren't particularly strong, but their speed and erratic movement patterns made them a real headache to deal with. Still, nothing he couldn't handle.
Around him, the silent warriors moved without a word.
They began collecting the magic stones scattered across the battlefield with machine-like precision. There was no trace of exhaustion on their faces—if they even had faces beneath those masks.
Some of the creatures had also left behind rare drop items—soft white fur, highly prized in Orario's market.
In this world, monsters didn't just leave behind stones. Sometimes, they dropped rare materials: fur, hide, shells, and other valuable crafting items.
After regaining his breath, Akira slowly turned toward the group that had been observing him for a while now—the elite adventurers of Loki Familia.
Inside the Dungeon, Akira never let his guard down.
Because the greatest threat in this underground labyrinth wasn't the monsters...
It was other adventurers.
The darkness within human hearts ran far deeper than the deepest floor of the Dungeon.
Even the anime had only shown a glimpse of Orario's true nature. Beneath the shining surface of the Labyrinth City… lay a brutal and unforgiving world.
That's why, no matter how many monsters he faced, Shin Akira never dropped his guard against people.
"Greetings, friend," a calm voice called out. "My name is Finn Deimne, captain of the Loki Familia. We couldn't help but be drawn in by your technique just now. Forgive us for observing without permission."
"No problem," Akira replied flatly.
This guy was direct, polite, and clearly not hiding anything. There was no reason to refuse a peaceful conversation.
Besides, the Loki Familia was one of the two great families in Orario. Their reputation was solid, and they didn't seem like the kind to pick fights without reason.
Finn and the others slowly approached.
The shadow warriors, having completed their cleanup, quietly merged back into Akira's shadow—though they didn't fully return to the Shadow Realm. Always on guard.
Even with diplomacy, Akira never let his defense down.
"Hey~ hey~ Mister Onii-san~! That was so cool just now! Teach me that move toooo!" chirped Tiona Hiryute, skipping excitedly toward him with a bright grin.
"Sorry, but I'm just a beginner adventurer. I'm not qualified to teach anyone."
"Beginner? What? Don't be ridiculous. That kind of fighting style doesn't belong to a rookie."
"I'm serious. I became an adventurer just yesterday. Today's literally my second day inside the Dungeon. I'm a beginner—in every sense of the word."
"…Eh—!?"
Silence.
Every member of Loki Familia went stiff.
Second day in the Dungeon—and already on Floor 12?
Since when could a rookie fight like that?
"Quit joking! There's no way some newbie could pull off what you just did!" snapped Bete Loga, the wolfman, glaring at Akira with disbelief and suspicion.
Akira's brow twitched slightly.
Even if I was lying, that's none of your business. We're strangers. I don't owe you honesty.
"Bete!" Finn barked sharply, instantly picking up on Akira's reaction.
"Tch."
Bete clicked his tongue but didn't argue further. He might be brash, but even he knew better than to push things in front of his captain. With a snort, he backed down.
Riveria and Gareth were clearly displeased as well. They knew better than to pressure someone about their background without reason.
"Apologies for my comrade's behavior," Finn said, offering a respectful nod. "He didn't mean any harm."
"It's fine. I'm not offended."
Akira replied politely. For someone of Finn's caliber, his conduct was genuinely admirable. The man had even scolded his own ally for a complete stranger.
Still…
Bete Loga had now earned a place on Akira's mental list.
Right now, I'm still weak… so I'll let it go. But later… we'll see who gets the last laugh.
Elegant revenge doesn't need to be rushed.
"By the way… may I ask your name?" Finn asked.
"Shin Akira. I'm from Hephaestus Familia."
"Hephaestus?" Finn's eyes widened a little.
That explained a lot.
The Loki and Hephaestus Familias were on good terms. Every time the Loki Familia went on an expedition, they commissioned a ton of gear from Hephaestus' workshop. Their relationship was rock-solid.
"So you're a new member of the Hephaestus Familia... Are you also a smith?"
"No. I'm not interested in forging. I prefer fighting in the Dungeon."
"Then why join Hephaestus?"
"Because… Lady Hephaestus is insanely beautiful."
"Ehh——!?"
Finn froze.
In Orario, romantic relationships between gods and mortals weren't exactly unheard of. But to say it so openly and casually?
It was rare to meet someone this... bluntly honest.
Now that he thought about it… even Loki constantly flirted with her female members. Especially with Ais Wallenstein, whom she all but claimed as her own.
"You're strong," Ais suddenly said.
Her voice was calm, nearly emotionless, and her snow-white beauty made her look more like an ice sculpture than a real person.
"…Thank you."
Akira nodded back, equally composed.
Of course, he recognized her.
The famous Sword Princess. The main heroine. The idol and first love of Bell Cranel, the protagonist of this world.
She was the reason for Bell's legendary skill: Liaris Freese, a one-sided love that turned into a growth cheat beyond imagination.
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