Inside the Hostess of Fertility, a conflict was breaking out.
And the two sides at the center of it were the Loki Familia and Genichi.
At first, everything had been peaceful.
Genichi and Demeter were seated by the window, enjoying a rare moment alone together.
Most of the dishes on the table had already been finished, and the two of them were chatting idly, the atmosphere warm and gentle.
Demeter wore a happy smile, occasionally placing food into Genichi's bowl.
Though Genichi still had that same expressionless look on his face, he did not push her away either.
Everything had been perfect.
Until...
The Loki Familia arrived.
The ones who stepped through the door were a group of familiar faces.
Finn, Riveria, Gareth, Ais, Lefiya, Tiona, Tione, and...
Bete.
They had clearly just returned from some mission and had come to the tavern together for a meal.
The moment she came in, Tiona spotted Genichi sitting by the window.
Her amber eyes lit up at once.
"Ah, Genichi!"
She waved excitedly at him, then quickly walked over.
"I'm Tiona. Let's get to know each other!"
Genichi gave her a slight nod.
"Hello, Tiona."
Tiona stopped beside him, her eyes sparkling.
"Oh, right, right. There's something I've been wanting to ask you."
She paused, her face full of curiosity.
"How did you do it?"
Genichi was slightly taken aback.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean defeating the twin-headed dragon Amphisbaena less than two months after becoming an adventurer!"
Tiona's voice was full of admiration.
"I heard it from Ais and Lefiya. You froze the entire lake by yourself, then solo-killed Amphisbaena! That was a Level 5 floor boss!"
Her voice was not exactly quiet, and the entire tavern heard it.
At once, countless eyes turned toward Genichi.
Those gazes held surprise, curiosity, and disbelief.
Genichi's brow furrowed slightly.
He swept a glance over the room, then looked back at Tiona.
"That's a private matter. I'd rather not answer."
His voice was calm, but there was a cold distance in it that kept others at arm's length.
Tiona froze for a second, the smile on her face stiffening.
She had not expected Genichi to refuse so bluntly.
But she recovered quickly and gave an awkward little laugh.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. That was too forward of me."
She scratched her head.
"If you don't want to say it, then forget I asked."
With that, she turned to leave.
But then...
A grating voice rang out.
"Tch. Wasn't it just dumb luck? What's there to be so proud of?"
Genichi raised his head and looked toward the source of the voice.
Bete.
The silver-haired werewolf stood there with his arms crossed, looking at him with open contempt.
His wolfish eyes were full of provocation.
"For someone who won't even say how he did it, how much real skill could he possibly have?"
He let out a sneer.
"If you ask me, he definitely used some underhanded trick."
Demeter's face darkened instantly.
She rose to her feet, anger burning in her amber eyes.
"What did you say?"
Her voice was icy, carrying a goddess's authority.
But Bete did not care in the slightest about her divine dignity.
"I said he definitely used some shady trick."
He repeated himself, the corner of his mouth curling in mockery.
"A rookie turning into some monster who can solo-kill the Floor 27 boss in less than two months? Who would believe something like that?"
He looked at Genichi.
"Either you were never really a rookie and have been pretending the whole time, or you used some dirty trick, or..."
He paused.
"The one who killed that floor boss wasn't you at all."
Then he added, looking Genichi up and down,
"Judging by the look of you, the one who killed it definitely wasn't you."
Demeter was trembling with rage.
She wanted to rush over and teach that arrogant werewolf a lesson, but Genichi reached out and stopped her.
"Don't."
His voice was calm.
Demeter looked at him, her amber eyes full of frustration.
"But he-"
"Leave it to me."
Genichi cut her off.
Then he stood up and looked at Bete.
There was not the slightest ripple in his black eyes.
"Your name is Bete?"
"So what?"
Bete lifted his chin.
"You want to fight?"
Genichi did not answer.
He only looked at him quietly.
That gaze was calm as still water, yet somehow carried a crushing pressure.
It left Bete faintly unsettled.
But he did not back down.
"What are you staring at? Got a problem? Then fight me!"
He took a step forward, glaring provocatively at Genichi.
"Let me see just how much a so-called genius who can beat a floor boss is really worth."
The entire tavern fell silent.
Everyone was watching.
The ordinary adventurers held their breath nervously, afraid of getting dragged into the mess.
And the rest of the Loki Familia...
Finn, Riveria, Gareth, even their patron goddess Loki, simply stood there and watched.
None of them stepped in to stop it.
None of them said a word.
They just watched.
The meaning of that attitude was obvious.
They wanted to see what Genichi was really capable of.
They wanted to see just how far the boy they had once rejected had grown.
They wanted to use Bete's hand to test him.
Genichi's gaze swept across their faces.
Finn's composure, Riveria's scrutiny, Gareth's silence, Loki's amusement...
He understood immediately.
There was no avoiding this conflict tonight.
Unless he chose to swallow the insult and let it go.
But...
Could he really do that?
Genichi glanced at Demeter beside him, at the anger in her eyes, at the way her body trembled with fury.
He did not want trouble.
But that did not mean he was afraid of trouble.
Genichi took a deep breath.
Then he lifted his head and looked at Bete.
A cold light flashed through those black eyes.
"Fine."
His voice was calm, yet carried a chill that made the skin crawl.
"Then let's fight."
A cruel smile spread across Bete's face.
"Good."
He turned and walked toward the tavern door.
"Come on. Outside."
Genichi followed after him.
Demeter wanted to follow too, but Genichi stopped her with nothing more than a look.
So she could only stand there and watch his back disappear through the door.
Her amber eyes were full of worry.
Outside the tavern, the moon hung bright above them.
Genichi and Bete stood facing one another.
The members of the Loki Familia stood to one side, silently observing.
All around them, adventurers had already gathered to watch.
Bete rolled his wrists, his eyes brimming with excitement.
"Kid, I'm not going easy on you."
He licked his lips.
"If you die, don't blame me."
Genichi said nothing.
He simply drew the sword at his waist.
In the moonlight, the blade gleamed with a cold, merciless sheen.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]