"Gah...?!"
When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling. I also saw four figures who appeared to have brought me here.
"Who are you people...?"
"I'll give it to ya straight: you're gonna become one of my kids!"
"...Wow, she's actually insane."
At my blunt assessment, the red-haired woman froze as if struck by lightning. The green-haired woman sighed, shoving the one called Loki out of the way.
"Apologies. It's unfortunate that the God of our Familia acts in such a manner."
"A Familia...? Don't tell me you've come from Orario?"
"Indeed. We are the Loki Familia. I am Riveria Ljos Alf."
"With a name that long, you must be an Elf."
"Ahem! While I dislike being categorized by that alone... you are correct."
As I shared a brief exchange with Riveria, the woman named Loki suddenly lunged forward, her voice rising in volume.
"Hold it right there! What'd you call me just now?!"
"An insane woman."
"'Woman'!? Did you say... wo-man?!"
"...I apologize?"
"Did ya hear that, Finn?! He sees me as a woman!"
"Wow..."
'She really is insane...'
Once Riveria managed to suppress Loki's outburst, she introduced the remaining members. The blonde Pallum was 'Finn,' and the Dwarf, who was the very image of a seasoned warrior, was 'Gareth.'
"I see. My name is Akumo. I'm an adventurer."
"A pleasure, Akumo. As Loki mentioned, we have a formal proposal: we'd like you to join our Familia."
"An invitation..."
"It is not a poor offer. I'm hesitant to boast, but we only recruit those of high caliber," Finn added.
"Hmm... I refuse."
"I see, a wise deci—wait, what?"
Startled by my immediate rejection, Riveria fell silent. Finn and Gareth shared her look of astonishment before Loki rushed over once more.
"Why?! What's the problem?! Why're ya turning me down?!"
"I have no experience with your group. I cannot blindly join something I haven't vetted."
"Don't ya worry 'bout that! I'll give ya the best welfare benefits in the city!"
"Hmm..."
"It... it's true! Despite appearances, Loki knows how to treat talent properly!" Gareth grunted, trying to salvage the pitch.
"He's right, Akumo! I'll guarantee it—even if she is a drunkard goddess who's obsessed with girls!" Finn shouted.
"Shut yer mouth, Finn, ya brat!"
Gareth and Finn tried their best to persuade me, but Loki's reputation—thoroughly shattered by Finn's slip of the tongue—only made the room louder and more chaotic. Eventually, Loki let out a heavy sigh, dragged a chair over, and sat directly in front of me.
"...What is it ya want?"
"What I want? Is this a negotiation for terms?"
"If it's possible."
"...To pioneer."
"Huh?"
Loki looked at me with a question mark practically floating above her head. I continued, my voice steady with the weight of my past lives.
"I want to pioneer. My only desire is to carve out my life in the direction I choose."
"..."
"That is the only reason I seek power. Power is nothing more than a tool. The one who wields it, ultimately, is me."
Loki lowered her head, her frame trembling slightly, before she erupted into a fit of laughter.
"Pffft... Bwahahaha!"
"Well, now! It's been a long time since I've met a kid this interestin'!"
Her laughter cut off instantly. Loki opened one eye slightly—a sharp, divine gaze—and spoke with absolute gravity.
"A child who wants to become a hero to give courage to his race, the Pallums. A child who seeks to prove her existence as an individual and see the world. A child who chases pure strength and adventure."
"Finn Deimne, Riveria Ljos Alf, and Gareth Landrock. Those are the three kids behind me."
"They are destined to become heroes. I guarantee it. And you... you'll be a hero as well."
"However, since everyone has such clear goals, there might not be that pure, fairy-tale bond ya see in storybooks."
"But I'll promise ya one thing."
"Akumo, this will be the greatest possible help for ya to grow strong and experience the wide world."
"Man, that feels good!"
"So you managed to recruit him, Loki?" Riveria asked.
"Recruit? Nah, let's call it a partnership of sorts."
"Is that so?"
"That guy is the type to use martial power, intellect, wealth, technology, and luck—anything he can—to walk the path he wants. Tryin' to force an kid like that into just one mold would be a prison."
With a refreshed expression, Loki approached Finn, Gareth, and Akumo, who were currently searching the carcass of the Black Dragon clone.
"Find anythin' useful?"
"Not much. As you suspected, Loki-sama, it seems it was just a construct created from the leaking power of the original," Finn replied.
"Figures, right?"
Loki noticed Akumo looking slightly disappointed and reassured him that once they reached Orario, she'd get him fitted with a full set of top-tier gear.
"Before we head to Orario, I'd like to stop at a nearby city first," Akumo stated.
"A city? You got business there?"
"Just need to deliver some news."
With that, Akumo headed back to his campsite to pack his belongings.
"Loki, how was he?" Riveria whispered.
"You talkin' 'bout his Status?"
"That, and anything else. Did anything stand out?"
Loki recalled the Status screen she had seen while registering him into her Familia.
----
----
"It was actually shockin'... but it's hard to put into words."
"Level 3... A person who just received their Falna starting at Level 3..." Finn murmured, his eyes widening.
"We hit the jackpot, I'm tellin' ya."
"But compared to those monsters..." Riveria began.
"Riveria, girl, mark my words. That kid? He's definitely gonna reach it..."
"That territory?"
"Course he will!"
Leaving their conversation behind, Akumo and the Loki Familia members set off toward Pavin's city. Several days later, Pavin was overjoyed to see Akumo return safely. Recognizing the elite adventurers of the Loki Familia accompanying him, Pavin treated them with the utmost hospitality.
"Ya certainly got some good connections, don't ya?" Loki teased.
"We're just acquaintances, more or less," Akumo replied calmly.
"So? You done sayin' yer goodbyes?"
"Yes. They gave me plenty of parting gifts and well-wishes for my move to Orario."
"Then we're good to go!"
Having officially joined the Loki Familia, Akumo finally set foot toward Orario.
'I can't wait to see what kind of storm this kid is gonna stir up in the Labyrinth City...'
"Hm? This is..."
In the heart of Orario, Freya opened a letter that had arrived for her, her interest piqued. The sender was Pavin, an adventurer she had saved two years ago.
Usually, his letters contained simple greetings, but this one was different.
----
To Lady Freya,
I have recently encountered a truly magnificent adventurer.
I could not convey the full scope in this letter, but he is the one who eradicated every dragon within the Barren Canyon, only a few days' journey from our city.
He mentioned he would be heading to Orario shortly.
It seems he has already joined the Loki Familia, but I believe he may be of interest to you, so I am sending this word ahead.
----
"Hoo...?"
Freya's initial reaction was indifferent. To her, the only thing that mattered was the brilliance of one's soul.
'If he is merely strong, I have no interest. But I wonder... does it shine? That soul of his...'
"Dragons, was it?"
Freya felt a flicker of curiosity regarding just what kind of person Loki would be bringing back from her trip.