"Thank you for the kind offer, Goddess, but I must decline. I already belong to a Familia and have no intention of switching," Ryou replied calmly.
"Is that so? What a pity," Loki squinted her eyes but didn't press further.
She was not like that obsessive Freya who would stop at nothing to snatch people away; Loki had her pride.
Since he ignored her goodwill, Loki refrained from saying anything else.
Joining the Loki Familia wasn't a good choice for Ryou.
Ryou wasn't an ordinary adventurer; he had too many secrets, making it almost impossible for him to join any Familia. Maintaining the status quo was the best option for him.
If not for some unexpected changes, he wouldn't even want to interact with the Loki Familia. After all, with so many strong individuals in the Loki Familia, his secrets would be easily exposed.
Unfortunately, not everyone thought the same.
The werewolf Bete already had a grudge against Ryou because of Ais.
Now that Ryou had refused Loki's invitation, and Ais's eyes clearly showed some disappointment and regret, the fire of jealousy in Bete's heart flared up like fuel had been poured on it.
Coupled with the effects of alcohol, Bete immediately stood up with a hostile expression and walked towards Ryou.
"Hey! You bastard, being invited to join the Loki Familia is an honor. You're just a cook who makes tasty food. Don't be so shameless, you idiot!"
Hearing this, the members of the Loki Familia were stunned. The main members at the same table as Bete also realized something was wrong and began to dissuade him.
"Bete, you're drunk!"
"Idiot Bete, come back!"
Ais's eyes clearly showed displeasure.
The three leaders nearby also had serious expressions, but perhaps out of a desire to test the situation, they didn't stop Bete's actions.
As the person involved, Ryou naturally looked cold, put the dining knife back in place, and picked up a towel to wipe his hands.
However, Ryou's silence seemed to make Bete mistake it for weakness.
"Don't think that just because you can cook and have won over my princess, you can dream of being with her!"
"In this world, strength is what matters! Only strong males like me are worthy of standing by her side!"
"Isn't that right, Ais? If you had to choose, you'd pick me over this cook, right?"
Bete shouted as he walked up to Ryou and poked his chest with his finger.
The stupid wolf didn't notice that his beloved's eyes had shifted from displeasure to disgust.
Feeling both angry and amused, Ryou couldn't help but find it funny.
This stupid wolf seemed to be the epitome of a single dog, not knowing what women liked or disliked, only knowing how to show off his muscles and belittle other males in a childish attempt to attract female attention.
He was destined to be single for life.
Amusing as it was, Ryou was no saint who wouldn't retaliate.
He swiftly grabbed Bete's outstretched wrist with one hand and his shoulder with the other.
A flash of magical energy surged through his arm, dramatically increasing his strength.
"Bastard! Let go of me!"
Bete tried to resist, but Ryou's grip was like iron clamps, rendering him immobile.
Only then did Ryou leisurely say, "I'm just a cook, but cooking a stupid dog into roast dog meat is not a problem for me."
With that, Ryou ignored Bete's curses, forcefully pushed him back to his seat, and pressed him back into the chair.
Then, facing Bete's glare, Ryou calmly said, "You can be jealous if you want, but let me remind you, this is a tavern. If you're in heat and want to mate, go find somewhere else."
Bete used all his strength to try to break free, causing the chair beneath him to creak as if it might snap, but he was still firmly held in place by Ryou, unable to move.
"Enough! Bete, aren't you embarrassed enough?"
Finn couldn't stand it any longer and finally spoke up.
The leader's authority finally made Bete quiet down, but his eyes were still fixed on Ryou, ready to fight him at any moment.
Seeing that Bete had stopped struggling, Ryou released his grip.
"Remember this—one day, I'll make you pay!" Bete threatened viciously.
"Is that so? But you already look quite 'impressive' now," Ryou replied calmly.
"Damn you!"
Bete shouted in anger, ready to leap up again.
"Tiona, Tione! This stupid wolf has had too much to drink; tie him up to sober him up!"
Riveria angrily slammed the table.
"Sorry, Bete, it's the deputy leader's orders."
"Only the leader can order me! Ah, forget it..."
The Amazon sisters immediately grabbed Bete from both sides and hoisted him up to the ceiling.
And so, the farce seemed to come to an end.
The members of the Loki Familia continued drinking and laughing as if nothing had happened, with the only difference being a werewolf tied up and swinging from the ceiling with his mouth gagged.
Shaking his head, Ryou returned to the bar.
He didn't notice that the three top members exchanged glances, their expressions serious as they watched his back.
After a while, the banquet ended, and the members of the Loki Familia left in pairs and groups, supporting each other.
Out of courtesy, Ryou and the female staff stood at the door, watching them leave.
At this moment, Ryou suddenly felt a burning gaze fixed on his back.
Stare~~~
The gaze was so blatant it was impossible to ignore.
Ryou showed a helpless smile. How could he not notice such an obvious look?
"Sword Princess, aren't you going back with them?"
Ryou turned to look at the beautiful blonde girl behind him.
Ais nodded, then shook her head.
"What exactly do you want?"
Ais didn't speak, just stared at him intently.
Ryou sighed, saying, "Do you want to see the 'status' on my back?"
Ais's golden eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly, looking incredibly cute.
However, matters concerning his life were not something he could be swayed by.
"I refused!"
Without even thinking, Ryou immediately refused.
A look of slight displeasure appeared on Ais's face. After a moment of hesitation, she softly said, "Then, I'll let you see mine."
She even started to turn around.
Ryou was instantly frustrated.
This girl was too straightforward! This was like a child saying, "I'll show you my naked body, and then you show me yours."
"Even so, it's still not okay!"
Hearing Ryou's firm refusal, Ais's cheeks puffed up.
"Just go back," Ryou gently pushed her shoulder forward.
"Your name."
"Just call me Gudao."
"Ais Wallenstein, that's my name."
Ais glanced back at him with a look of lingering affection, then reluctantly followed the Loki Familia team, turning back every few steps.
Having finally sent off this stubborn girl, another person was unhappy.
"Our chef is popular with the girls," Syr said, her shadow looming ominously.
"Exactly! Exactly!"
Hestia chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.
Ryou immediately sighed and rubbed his forehead.
Should I say—what bad luck!
...
"That guy is amazing!"
The Amazon sister Tiona patted her bloated belly.
"Well, his cooking is indeed good, but don't expect that alone to win me over. My heart will always belong to the Captain," her sister Tione said with feigned indifference, though her equally bloated belly betrayed her true feelings.
"What's wrong, Lefiya? Did you eat something bad?"
Tiona turned to the gloomy-faced elf girl.
Unexpectedly, her question seemed to flip a switch, and the elf girl burst into tears.
"Boo hoo~! Miss Ais is going to be taken away!"
"Uh..."
The Amazon sisters began to sweat.
Lefiya continued, ignoring them, "When I left, I saw Miss Ais flirting with that guy. The worst part is, even I was captivated by his cooking!"
A mischievous smile appeared on Tiona's face. She chuckled and said, "Isn't that great? You can marry him together with Ais, and then you'll get to eat delicious food every day and be with Ais."
"Hey! Tiona!"
Tione, annoyed by her sister's loose tongue, scolded her.
"All three together~"
The elf girl, her imagination running wild, began to fantasize.
Fortunately, Lefiya's thoughts were pure, and she only imagined scenes of the three of them feeding each other.
"That doesn't sound so bad~ Hehe~"
Drool began to drip from the lovestruck Lefiya's mouth.
"Ah! This is all your fault, Tiona. Lefiya is lost in her fantasies again."
Tione shook Lefiya while scolding Tiona, who pretended to be innocent.
"How is this my fault, sister?"
Tiona protested immediately.
Thus, the large Loki Familia castle rang with the laughter and playful shouts of the girls.
In the leader's office at the top of the castle, Riveria watched the girls playing in the courtyard with a slight frown.
"What a troublesome time," Finn said, standing with his hands behind his back in front of a goddess portrait, sounding like an old man reminiscing.
At this moment, not only were the three top members gathered in the leader's office, but even the usually hands-off goddess Loki was present.
"Every time I see those outstanding young people, I feel a sense of nostalgia, realizing that I'm truly getting old..." Gareth, the stoutest shield of the Loki Familia, sat on the sofa with a cup of wine, making an elderly person lament.
"Oh my! Gareth, are you thinking of retiring?" Loki teased.
"That won't do. The young ones in the Familia haven't grown up yet; they still need Gareth's care," Finn countered with a smile.
"Haha! I have no plans to retire now. Let this old body of mine continue to shine within the Familia!"
The dwarf laughed heartily.
After some idle chatter, Finn sat behind his desk, adopting a classic commander pose.
"What do you all think?"
"Although the increase wasn't huge, I could feel a clear enhancement in attributes," Gareth said seriously.
"And you, Riveria?"
"Though it's hard to believe, even the magic attribute was enhanced," the elf mage answered from her seat on the sofa.
"I told you, that man's cooking skills have reached a divine level. That deliciousness is truly unforgettable," Loki interjected.
"It's a pity that the guy rejected my invitation. Damn it! Such an outstanding talent was already recruited," Loki said, still somewhat resentful.
"What are you thinking?"
Riveria asked, seeing Finn deep in thought.
"I'm considering asking him to join us on the next expedition."
Finn's words brought a sudden silence to the room.
The current situation was entirely orchestrated by Ryou.
Once Ryou used ingredients from the dungeon that contained magic, such as monster meat or plants imbued with magical power, and his cooking reached a certain level of completion, it would produce various miraculous effects.
These effects included enhancing attributes, healing injuries, and dispelling negative statuses.
This all started a few days ago when Ryou's magic attribute reached 20 points, and a new skill called "Item Creation" appeared in his skill list.
According to the system, Ryou could now create items imbued with magic.
In the Fate series, this skill is a common ability for the Caster class, but its effects vary from person to person. For example, the witch Medea can create magical potions and scrolls from the Age of Gods, while Kojiro Sasaki can make cigars in ancient times.
However, for Ryou, it seemed to mutate into the ability to infuse delicious food made from magical ingredients with magical power.
If it was just that, it wouldn't be a big deal. The key point was that these magical foods did not develop resistance like potions and their effects could stack infinitely, as long as one could keep eating them.
This was precisely Ryou's bargaining chip to attract the Loki Familia. After all, as Bete had said, if he were just a good cook, the Loki Familia—the largest faction in Orario—wouldn't have paid him any attention.
The reason he attracted the Loki Familia was obvious to anyone who has played RPG games: the importance of buffing up before fighting a boss.
Just as his basic attributes all broke past 20 points, the system provided him with a special piece of information.
Ding!
[ Discovered the source of this world's magical corruption. ]
[ Please head to the 59th floor of the dungeon and kill the Fallen Fairy's avatar.
Time: within one month. ]
Despite easily suppressing the Level 5 werewolf Bete by cleverly using a magic skill, Ryou's attributes were roughly equivalent to those of a Level 3 adventurer. Even though his combat capability was quite strong, he was certainly no match for the Demi Spirit.
That was a terrifying boss that nearly wiped out the high-ranking members of the Loki Familia in the original story.
In the original story, the Loki Familia dispatched four Level 6 adventurers, three Level 5 adventurers, an elf mage equivalent to Level 4 or 5, and two minor characters.
They only managed to defeat the enemy by leveraging a berserk state.
Even with a double experience buff, Ryou couldn't possibly reach Level 5 in just one month to fight the Demi Spirit. That would be like serving himself up on a platter.
Unable to join the Loki Familia directly and needing to team up with them, Ryou had to use this roundabout strategy to get them to invite him.
The bait was set, and the Loki Familia had taken it.
"Are you serious?"
Riveria asked with a stern expression.
"Of course. It's better to have someone like him as a friend rather than an enemy. Moreover..." Finn paused, "The attribute enhancements from his cooking haven't faded yet, which shows how beneficial his cooking is for expeditions."
"But I think we should consider this carefully," Riveria expressed a differing opinion.
Riveria's objection took Finn by surprise.
"Riveria, what are you thinking?"
"Finn, do you remember the information we received a month ago before we set out on our expedition?"
Riveria brought up a seemingly unrelated topic.
"You mean..."
Finn began to ponder.
"About the underground arena that the Ishtar Familia built?"
Riveria showed evident disgust as she spoke.
To elves, who loved nature and had a strong sense of cleanliness, the bloodthirsty and brutal nature of arenas was utterly repulsive.
Conversely, such places were favorites for beastmen, Amazons, and dwarves.
"Are you talking about the arena that was destroyed overnight by the Freya Familia? Too bad, I was planning to sneak a look," Gareth said, showing a hint of regret.
"You're such a brute. Is your brain only filled with these things?"
Riveria's displeasure was evident after Gareth's comment.
"Tch~ Annoying elf," Gareth retorted, equally unyielding.
"Alright, alright, let's get back to business. Riveria, please continue," Finn hastily played mediator, used to manage the tensions between the dwarf and the elf.
Riveria shot a cold glare at Gareth before continuing, "I heard that during the festival, there was a gladiator who had never received a blessing but managed to slay a mutant Minotaur."
"Could it be a mistake? Maybe it was a rampaging monster, and one of the Amazons from the Ishtar Familia stepped in to kill it," Finn said, unconsciously biting his thumb.
"No, even though it was an underground arena, there were at least a thousand spectators. People saw that young man kill it with their own eyes, and he practically did it single-handedly."
"If this is true, then that guy must have the bloodline of a hero, or perhaps even..."
Loki chimed in, leaving her sentence unfinished. Everyone present understood: Only bloodline above that of a hero would be that of the gods.
While this conclusion was shocking, it wasn't entirely unbelievable. Many ancient heroes had heroic bloodlines. Now that gods openly descended to the mortal world, some indulged in pleasures and formed relationships with mortals. Leaving behind a few offspring was not unusual.
"Taking in such a child would certainly boost Ishtar, that madam of a brothel," Loki remarked disdainfully.
After all, anyone with a normal sense of morality would naturally despise someone who treated their Familia members as prostitutes.
"The problem lies here. That night, the Freya Familia destroyed that underground arena and it seems the young man escaped."
"Riveria, what are you implying?"
Finn's eyes grew serious. The elven mage wouldn't bring up unrelated matters without reason.
"I suspect that young man is the chef at the Hostess of Fertility."
Riveria's words were astonishing, plunging the office into silence, with only the sound of breathing audible.
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