Chapter 61: Why are you so skilled?

Chapter 61: Why are you so skilled?

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Orario West.

This district is distinct from its neighboring Northwest Street, commonly known as Adventurer Street.

Here, many ordinary citizens reside.

It's worth noting that Orario's world-renowned magic stone products fuel an expansive trade industry that spans the entire world. To support such large-scale industrial production, the city employs countless workers tasked with manufacturing these products.

These workers are hired under the guild's discretion, and their numbers reportedly exceed those of the adventurers who explore the dungeon. Naturally, many of these laborers live in the city, particularly in the West District.

Most non-Familia laborers, along with their families, settle in this area, forming a vibrant residential hub. The bustling streets are lined with shops, taverns, and hotels, drawing adventurers who often come here to pursue the simple, natural charm of the local girls.

"To be honest, I prefer this place over Northwest Street with its heavy adventurer atmosphere," Raul commented.

Without their usual adventuring equipment, Izzy, Raul, and Anakitty strolled through the lively streets. Raul, observing the cheerful ambiance, couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

The workers, having finished their day's labor, drank merrily in the taverns, while shop girls solicited customers with their bright smiles. Among the crowd, strong adventurers mingled with simple townsfolk, and even gods could be seen blending effortlessly into the lively scene.

This lively coexistence was a hallmark of Orario, the City of the Labyrinth.

"Indeed," Izzy agreed. "I like this place too. Whether it's the human girls or the beast-eared ones, there's something so endearing about them all wearing nearly identical store uniforms, don't you think?"

Raul grinned, draping an arm around Izzy's shoulders and leaning in as if sharing a secret. "Exactly! It's the charm of simplicity, my young friend. A place like this really brings out the best in—"

" Raul, your true nature is showing," Anakitty interjected with a sly grin. Her black cat ears twitched as she added, "Don't think I can't hear you just because you're speaking softly. I am a cat person, after all..."

Raul straightened, clearing his throat as if to recover some dignity.

Anakitty, however, was far from done. She smirked mischievously and turned to Izzy. "Don't pay him any mind. If you stick around long enough, you'll realize he's just putting up a front. Raul here acts like a serious and honest guy, but in reality..."

"Anakitty, no! Don't!" Raul interjected, his face turning pale.

"...he's the type who would dip into his Familia's public funds—"

"COUGH! COUGH COUGH COUGH!" Raul suddenly burst into a fit of coughing, as though choking on air itself.

Anakitty ignored his dramatic display and continued with a teasing smile. "He once got addicted to a certain service on Happy Street. Not only did he blow through all his savings, but he also used the earnings from his Familia's expedition to pay off his debts. It's taken him years to pay it back."

"Pfft—!" Izzy barely managed to suppress his laughter.

"Anakitty, what are you telling the juniors for? My heart… it hurts…" Raul clutched his chest theatrically, as if her words had physically wounded him.

Anakitty clicked her tongue, unbothered by his antics. "Tsk, it's your own fault. Everyone in the Familia knows about your little escapade. Finn even warned you today before we handled the expedition supplies, didn't he?"

Indeed, every time they returned from an expedition, Finn would remind Raul not to repeat his past mistakes. It had become something of a ritual at this point.

Raul looked genuinely pained as Anakitty casually aired his past, but she showed no sympathy.

After all, she thought, Izzy will find out about this sooner or later. Why bother hiding it?

If she didn't say it, someone else surely would.

There is an old saying in the East: If you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself.

"Raul, I never knew you were so bold. I'm impressed."

Izzy turned his head and patted Raul on the shoulder, his expression carefully neutral, afraid that he might burst into laughter.

Although Izzy already knew a little about Raul's infamous escapade thanks to his experience as an outsider, hearing someone recount the story in such vivid detail was a completely different experience.

It was like holding onto a private joke that you could only laugh about internally. But when someone shared it openly, the hilarity suddenly became tenfold.

"Stop laughing! If you keep laughing, I'll start to think I've made the wrong friends..." Raul groaned, clearly regretting his earlier mischief.

"Alright, alright," Izzy replied, feigning seriousness. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he added, "I just have one question—how much do you still owe?"

Raul froze, utterly defeated.

We agreed on one question, but you broke my defenses with a single sentence.

Raul was crushed. Completely sunk.

As Izzy and his companions neared the agreed location, they began encountering more and more Familia members along the way. Familiar faces greeted one another warmly, a lively atmosphere spreading among them.

Naturally, Izzy received the most attention.

The older members of the Loki Familia made no secret of their optimism about his potential. They encouraged him openly, expressing hopes that he would grow into another cadre-level combatant for the Familia.

With Izzy's rapid rise, their position as the top Familia in Orario would become even more solid. They could also better suppress rival factions when necessary.

The Loki Familia prided itself on its internal harmony and unity, cheering on the swift progress of their younger members. However, their competitive edge when dealing with outsiders remained sharp and unrelenting.

Soon, Loki herself arrived with a group of her cadres, and the entire group gathered at the entrance of the tavern they had booked in advance.

It was a familiar place—The Hostess of Fertility.

"Mama Mia! We're here!" Loki called cheerfully as soon as they arrived.

Although the tavern's owner didn't come out immediately, one of the waitresses dressed in the establishment's signature uniform stepped forward to greet them.

"Your seats are divided between the interior and the outdoor café. Please bear with us," the waitress said respectfully.

"Yeah, that's fine. Thanks," Loki replied casually.

The tavern featured a combination of indoor dining and an open-air café, designed to accommodate large groups like theirs. Since the store couldn't hold everyone inside, half the group was asked to take seats outside while the others headed indoors.

Finn, ever understanding, took charge of organizing the seating arrangements before heading inside himself.

Meanwhile, Izzy hung back, planning to remain outside with the others and avoid drawing too much attention.

However, he couldn't shake the sensation of being watched. From the moment they arrived, he had felt several intense gazes on him—specifically from Ais, the Amazonian sisters, and the werewolf.

Their sharp eyes were almost predatory, as though they were sizing him up for some unknown reason.

Faced with this pressure, Izzy hesitated briefly before resolving to stay outside.

But his plan was quickly foiled.

"Izzy~ Why are you still outside?" Loki's mischievous voice rang out. "I said we're celebrating for you today. Come inside already!"

"I think this is something we can discuss—" Izzy began hesitantly.

"I don't care what you think," Loki cut him off with a sly grin. "I only care about what I think—and I don't think this needs any discussion!"

???

Izzy froze, a metaphorical question mark hanging above his head.

Before he could process what was happening, Loki grabbed him by the arm and dragged him inside the tavern.

The other members of the Familia, though not privy to the entire exchange, couldn't help but laugh gloatingly as they watched the scene unfold.

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