Loki Familia's Base, Twilight Manor's Entrance.
Today, there was a lively atmosphere in this particular place, unlike anything seen in the past two days.
One after another, members of the Familia, who were originally stationed in the manor, showed excitement and enthusiasm not seen before. They cheered and leaped with joy, welcoming a group of people.
As Riezel descended from the tall tower and reached the entrance, the group was surrounded by the stationed Familia members, exuding happy and relaxed smiles, creating a warm atmosphere.
His vision almost instantly locked onto the leaders of this group.
There, several individuals stood out prominently among their peers, catching his eye.
"Finally back!"
The energetic cheers came from a girl with wheat-colored skin, dressed in a dancer-like fashion. She wore a cloth covering only her upper body, with a long wraparound skirt around her waist, exposing her belly button and graceful figure without hesitation.
"Tiona, you're so noisy."
The one scolding the lively girl with wheat-colored skin was another girl, almost identical to the lively girl in everything except for waist-length hair and some body proportions. They looked like they were cut from the same mold.
"Dammit, how many times have you shouted since coming in?"
Beside them, a young Beastman with animal ears, tail, and facial tattoos, looking like a rebellious gangster, shook his head in disbelief while wearing an annoyed expression.
The Amazoness twins and the Werewolf youth, positioned conspicuously, engaged in a playful argument.
However, the three individuals standing next to these three were even more imposing.
They formed a trio of Pallum, Elf, and Dwarf.
Pallum, shorter and smaller than anyone present, with a childlike appearance.
An Elf with emerald long hair and a white robe, holding a silver staff, with long pointed ears and extraordinary beauty.
A robust Dwarf, clad in thick armor, slightly taller than the Pallum but shorter than the Elf, visibly muscular.
These three individuals, as if guarding something, smiled at everyone, radiating a benevolent feeling.
Riezel's vision swept over these three, but shortly afterward, it seemed as if something had irresistibly attracted his attention, and his gaze uncontrollably lingered on the last person's body.
However, before he could thoroughly observe this person, a loud voice interrupted him, breaking into this warm gathering.
"I missed you so muuuuuuch—!!!"
Loki, shouting like a child, rushed out, heading towards the leading group. No, more accurately, she was charging towards the figure who had captured Riezel's attention.
"AIS~!!!"
Like an uncle seeing a beloved niece, Loki screamed strangely and pounced on the figure.
The entire crowd witnessed this.
They saw the scene where the gentle long golden hair suddenly moved.
*BOOM!*
Accompanied by an explosive sound, the long golden-haired figure sidestepped, delivering a punch to Loki's stomach.
"GAH!"
Loki immediately made a muffled cry, expelling all the air from her lungs, and collapsed in front of the golden-haired figure.
"...I'm back, Loki."
A voice devoid of any excitement or hesitation emanated from the golden-haired figure's mouth.
The clear and pleasant voice revealed that the long golden-haired figure was undoubtedly a young and beautiful girl.
And indeed, that was the case.
The girl standing in front of the fallen Loki still retained a hint of childishness in her appearance. She seemed quite young, her slender body adorned in a light azure outfit. Her skin was delicate and smooth, with remarkably well-defined features. Her beauty easily rivaled that of Elf and Goddess.
She had a pair of eyes that matched her hair color, subtly radiating a transparent glow. A mysterious aura surrounded her entire being as if she had stepped out of a painting, appearing almost unrealistically beautiful.
The only downside was the lack of expression on her exquisite face, resembling a doll and giving off a sense of detachment.
Confronted with this excessively beautiful doll-like girl, Loki could only manage to lift her face with difficulty.
"Your skills have improved again, Ais..." Loki forced a smile uglier than crying.
"Well, Loki, serves you right, I guess?" Tiona, the lively Amazoness girl, approached with her face full of delight at Loki's misfortune.
"We're tired, Loki. Can you not bother us right now? Let us rest well, okay?"
Another Amazoness girl, who seemed more mature than the lively one, appeared while sighing.
"Tch."
The Werewolf youth also wore an impatient expression, showing no respect for the Goddess.
However, there was no uncomfortable atmosphere between the two sides. Instead, there was a natural sense of harmony, indicating a not just good but excellent relationship—one where they could interact without reservation or hesitation.
Family.
Riezel observed this scene before him, seeing the scene that seemed somewhat distant and foreign to him.
At this moment, the trio that had been watching from the sidelines approached.
"We're back, Loki."
The Elf lady—or more precisely, the High Elf lady, regal like a queen, spoke in a serious yet slightly warm tone towards Loki.
"Get up quickly, don't lie down."
The Dwarf uncle cheerfully pulled Loki up, looking as if he were effortlessly lifting a doll.
Finally, the shortest person in the group, with hair-like sheaves of wheat and lake-like azure eyes, approached with an appearance more youthful than anyone else present, the Pallum.
"The expedition has ended smoothly with no casualties, but the gains aren't noteworthy. I'll explain the details later. For now, let everyone take a good bath and rest, Loki."
With an unexpectedly mature tone, the Pallum reported to Loki.
"No problem!" Loki suddenly grinned like nothing happened, addressing the group. "Well then, everyone, good job and rest well!"
""Yes!""
The returning members responded one after another.
"Those who stayed, bring in the spoils we brought back." The Pallum, in a matter-of-fact tone, instructed the people around.
"Yes, Captain!"
The remaining members immediately went to help with moving things.
Only Riezel remained standing in place, watching the group entering Twilight Manor with laughter and conversation, his gaze fixed on the three top executives throughout.
Not only Riezel, but the rest of the Familia members, whether those staying at the base or those on the expedition, looked at the three top executives with admiration and affection.
It was only natural.
After all, those three individuals were the pinnacle of Loki Familia, the backbone of this Familia.
They were powerful.
They were renowned worldwide.
Among the adventurers engaged in labyrinth exploration, all adventurers were categorized into 'High-Class Adventurers' and 'Low-Class Adventurers' based on their level.
Low-Class Adventurers referred to adventurers at Level 1, while High-Class Adventurers was the title given to adventurers who had experienced a level up, reaching Level 2 and above.
High-Class Adventurer was further divided into 'Third-Class Adventurer', 'Second-Class Adventurer', and 'First-Class Adventurer'.
Adventurers at Level 2 were considered Third-Class Adventurers.
Adventurers at Level 3 and Level 4 were classified as Second-Class Adventurers.
Adventurers at Level 5 and above were recognized as First-Class Adventurers.
Generally, if a Familia had a third-class adventurer, it was considered to have gained some status in Orario, stepping out of the realm of a small Familia.
Therefore, if a Familia had a first-class adventurer, it held significant influence in Orario.
A Familia with multiple first-class adventurers could be considered one of the top Familia in Orario and even worldwide.
Loki Familia, precisely one of these top Familia, stood as one of the most prominent.
Tiona Hiryute, Level 5, Amazoness, Loki Familia's Executive, bearing the alias—Crusher.
Tione Hiryute, Level 5, Amazoness, Loki Familia's Executive, bearing the alias—Jormungand.
Bete Loga, Level 5, Werewolf, Loki Familia's Executive, bearing the alias—Vanargand.
These three were the Amazoness twin sisters and the Werewolf youth who initiated the conversation earlier. They were the first-class adventurers within Loki Familia.
The other trio had even more impressive backgrounds.
Finn Deimne, Level 6, Pallum's Hero, Loki Familia's Captain and Top Executive, bearing the alias—Braver.
Riveria Ljos Alf, Level 6, a High Elf and Elven Royalty, Loki Familia's Vice-Captain and Top Executive, Orario's strongest mage, bearing the alias—Nine Hell.
Gareth Landrock, Level 6, Dwarf's Warrior, Loki Familia's Top Executive, bearing the alias—Elgarm.
These three were the strongest members of Loki Familia, leading the Familia from its early days to its current glory, all Level 6, a rarity in all of Orario.
As for the last person...
Riezel once again turned his gaze toward the doll-like girl walking among the group, a bit silent and reserved.
"Ais Wallenstein, Level 5, Loki Familia's Executive, the strongest swordswoman, bearing the alias—Sword Princess..."
His few whispered words faded away like the wind.
"Um?"
The golden-haired girl about to enter the tall tower seemed to have heard something, turned her head, and looked in Riezel's direction.
Their eyes met in an instant.
At that moment, in their eyes, it seemed as if there was only each other.