Chapter 62: The Lustful Gene Engraved in DNA

Chapter 62: The Lustful Gene Engraved in DNA

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Night had fully descended on Orario, and the pub was bustling with life.

Patrons of various races filled the establishment, drinking and laughing, their lively chatter creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere. In contrast, the empty seats reserved for the [Loki Familia] seemed oddly out of place, drawing curious glances from other adventurers.

When the Familia finally arrived, the mood in the tavern shifted. Adventurers exchanged whispers, some awed, others wary, as they watched the renowned Loki Familia walk in.

But Loki and her group were used to this reaction. Without a second thought, they took their seats as if nothing had happened.

Then—

"..."

Just as expected, the moment Izzy sat down, he found himself surrounded by the Familia's cadre members. Their curious gazes pinned him in place, the atmosphere at the table growing awkwardly tense as they leaned in closer.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't be so stiff!" Loki called out, her voice cutting through the silence. "We know you're all dying to know more about Izzy, but this is a party! Save the interrogation for later. Right now, we're here to celebrate!"

Her sharp words broke the tension as she turned to glare at the main culprits behind the awkwardness.

"Hey, I'm just curious," said Tiona with a sheepish grin. Her innocent personality made her easy to get along with, even when she was being nosy.

"Yeah, same here," Tione chimed in, nodding eagerly. As an Amazon, she had no qualms about expressing her thoughts, just as her feelings for Finn were no secret to the entire Familia.

"Curiosity has its time and place," Finn interjected, his usual kind smile smoothing over the situation. "Now isn't the right time."

"Yes, Captain is absolutely right!" Tione quickly agreed, her enthusiasm unwavering.

"Uh... heh," Bete muttered, retreating into his seat with a snort. Despite his curiosity, the werewolf wasn't about to ruin the mood for everyone else.

As for Ais, her quiet, focused stare on Izzy went unchallenged. After all, everyone in the Familia was well aware of her single-minded pursuit of strength. Her gaze, intense as it was, wasn't enough to disrupt the celebration.

With the awkward moment resolved, the festivities resumed. Loki, ever the lively instigator, raised her glass and stood with a wide grin.

"Cheers!" she declared loudly.

"Cheers!!!" the group echoed, raising their glasses as the energy of the party surged.

The Familia members settled into their seats, with Ais and the others taking a corner booth. Though they drew plenty of attention, their presence wasn't disruptive enough to spoil the tavern's lively atmosphere.

The open-air seats by the windows provided a perfect spot to enjoy the night air, while the endless servings of delicious food and drink kept everyone in high spirits. The refreshing fruit wine and perfectly roasted herb chicken were particular standouts, with plates and cups disappearing almost as quickly as they arrived.

"Captain, let me pour you some wine," Tione said sweetly, leaning in with a bottle in hand.

"Thank you, Tione," Finn replied, nodding politely. Then, with a teasing smile, he added, "But you're pouring at quite a pace. Are you planning something?"

"Of course not!" Tione declared, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I've never thought of getting you drunk and dragging you to bed!"

"..."

Her bold admission left Finn momentarily speechless, while Tiona, seated nearby, groaned and half-covered her face.

"Can I apply to replace my shameless older sister? Is that allowed?" she muttered under her breath, drawing a few laughs from the group.

Meanwhile, Loki, who was already tipsy, stood on her chair and slammed her hand on the table.

"Gareth!" she shouted, pointing at the dwarf. "Compete with me in drinking!"

"Fine by me!" Gareth bellowed back, raising his tankard. "Prepare to be defeated!"

"And just to make things more interesting," Loki continued with a mischievous grin, "the winner gets a day out with Riveria tomorrow as the prize!"

Seated next to the raucous group, the green-haired elf royal couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the commotion. Her sharp gaze gradually intensified, and her slender hand instinctively reached toward her side.

Then she touched... nothing.

Riveria suddenly remembered that because of the banquet, everyone was unarmed, stripped of their usual adventurer's weapons.

In other words, her customary method of disciplining Loki with her staff was currently unavailable.

"..."

"L-Lady Riveria..."

"Forget it. Let them cause their ruckus."

Realizing she couldn't mete out any punishment for the time being, Riveria sighed in resignation. She closed her eyes, sipped her fruit juice, and resolved to let the chaos fade from her sight and mind.

While her companions reveled, Ais quietly ate at her own pace. Yet, her gaze frequently drifted to the side, locking onto a certain blond boy who was mingling with the lively group.

"Although I understand why, Miss Ais keeps staring at Izzy..."

Nearby, the elf Lefiya bit down on a handkerchief she had retrieved from somewhere, a low whimper escaping as she ground her teeth in frustration.

The banquet's cheerful atmosphere, however, drowned out her muffled complaints. The tavern, both indoors and on the terrace, grew livelier as voices overlapped and mingled. Plates and mugs emptied in no time, forcing the waitresses to hasten their movements to keep up with the demand.

Or perhaps it was just Izzy's imagination?

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the way Anya, the cat-girl waitress, kept glancing at him.

Her gaze carried a sting, sharp and unmistakable, as if she were plotting revenge.

No way...

Was she still upset about the events of the day?

The same uneasy look flickered in the eyes of Chloe and Lunoire.

Unable to make sense of what the three were thinking, Izzy found his hand trembling slightly as he raised his wine glass.

Strangely, he hadn't seen much of Ryuu that evening. After asking Syr, he learned that Ryuu was working in the kitchen—washing dishes.

As the banquet carried on, time seemed to blur. The laughter of guests echoed through the tavern, blending with the cheerful clinks of mugs and plates. Everyone, adventurers and staff alike, gradually sank into the joyous rhythm of the night.

By the time the festivities wound down, many Familia members were thoroughly drunk, barely able to stand.

Those who remained sober wore expressions of mild exasperation as they set about the task of carrying their inebriated comrades home.

Naturally, Izzy wasn't spared.

His charge? A completely unconscious goddess.

"This doesn't make any sense..." Izzy muttered as he trudged down the moonlit streets, Loki draped across his back. His expression was one of sheer misery.

"You're all Level 4, 5, or 6... So why am I, a Level 1, the one hauling this drunk goddess around?"

He glanced around at his companions for some kind of explanation. Walking alongside him were Raul, Anakitty, Alicia, Ais, Tiona, Riveria, Gareth, and others—all of them more than capable of handling the task.

Yet somehow, it had fallen to him.

"I'd like to help, but..." Raul gestured helplessly to the orc Cruz slumped against his shoulder. Cruz, one of the main members of Loki Familia's second echelon, was entirely out of commission.

"Haha, don't sweat it, kid!" Gareth bellowed from behind, his breath reeking of alcohol. Though he staggered with every step, he was still conscious—just barely. "It's normal for a man to tough it out once in a while!"

"Well, Izzy," Riveria added, her tone calm but firm, "be considerate. Carrying Loki when she's drunk is a burden no one willingly takes. She completely loses her sense of propriety."

The ever-cheerful Tiona, embarrassed by her sister Tione's failed attempt to get Finn drunk—resulting in Tione succumbing to the alcohol first—turned her head and kindly explained the situation to Izzy.

"For some reason, once Loki gets drunk, she clings to the girls around her like an octopus. You can't shake her off, no matter how hard you try."

She paused and added with a hint of disbelief, "But if it's a guy, this doesn't happen. Isn't that bizarre?"

Izzy remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he finally spoke, his tone flat and laced with sarcasm.

"It's like the lustful gene is written into her DNA."

Tiona nodded earnestly. "Yeah, Loki's totally horny."

"That's right!"

Ahead of them, Ais and Lefiya both nodded in unison, their agreement immediate and absolute.

Ais, as one of Loki's unfulfilled targets, had endured more than her fair share of unwanted advances. Lefiya, on the other hand, had become one of Loki's frequent victims, regularly teased and harassed.

The two of them exchanged weary glances, both silently affirming their shared grievances.

From there, the conversation evolved into a lively critique of Loki's behavior, with the group recounting tales of her antics with exasperated amusement.

As the night wore on, what had started as a celebratory outing gradually morphed into a session of lighthearted venting, with the girls openly airing their frustrations about their troublesome goddess.

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