Chapter 13: Loki's Familia
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A faint mist lingered over Orario in the early morning, though the sky had already brightened. Slowly, people began to emerge from the streets and alleys, signaling the start of a new day.
Izzy returned first to the hotel where he had stayed the previous night. There, he retrieved his backpack, which he had left in the room. It contained the documents he had received from the Guild yesterday.
After packing his belongings and bidding farewell to the yawning elf clerk at the front desk, Izzy set off briskly toward the northern district of the city.
On the way, he stopped to purchase a plate of fried potato balls for breakfast, paying thirty Valis.
Yesterday, while shopping with the goddess, Izzy had tried this local Orario specialty out of curiosity. The taste had exceeded his expectations, and at such a low price, it was a steal.
There was a reason why so many stalls in Orario specialized in fried potato balls.
In the northern part of the city, on a quieter road away from the bustling streets, stood a towering mansion.
This imposing structure, composed of multiple overlapping high-rise towers, resembled a jagged mountain of swords. Its copper-colored exterior gleamed in the morning light, giving the impression of a blazing flame.
At the top of the tallest central tower, a flag bearing a clown emblem fluttered in the gentle breeze.
This was the headquarters of the Loki Familia—the Twilight Manor.
At the main gate, an armed gatekeeper stood vigil, performing his duties with precision.
As one of the largest and most prestigious familias in Orario, it was only natural for them to strictly control access to their territory.
The gatekeeper expected a quiet morning, but his assumption was interrupted by the sight of a figure approaching from the distance.
"Please stop."
As Izzy neared the gate, the gatekeeper stepped forward, his tone firm.
"The area ahead belongs to the Loki Familia. I cannot allow you to proceed without a legitimate reason."
He gestured to Izzy with the weapon in his hand. Beneath his armor, the faint outline of strong muscles hinted at his considerable strength.
It was evident that those entrusted to guard this gate were not ordinary guards but adventurers who had received a god's blessing.
By the looks of him, the gatekeeper could very well be a Level 2 adventurer.
"Ahem, I'm here to join the familia. Is there really a need to wave swords and weapons around?"
Izzy stopped as instructed, his tone slightly helpless as he explained. From his backpack, he produced a document—a certificate issued by the Guild the previous day.
"See? This is a certificate issued by the Guild. It's supposed to make things easier, right?"
In truth, Eina had explained that the certificate served as nothing more than a pass.
Over the past weeks, many supporters in the Guild had noticed Loki Familia's recruitment announcement and had eagerly recommended themselves.
During the initial announcement period, the Guild issued a significant number of these certificates. Yet, nearly all of those hopeful applicants had been rejected by the goddess herself.
This was why Eina had warned Izzy that Loki had particularly high standards.
Still, Izzy's situation was different from most applicants, so the general rule might not apply.
The gatekeeper took the certificate from Izzy's hand, carefully examining it. Rather than reading through the long string of text, his eyes moved directly to the bottom.
When the gatekeeper saw the guild's unique seal on the certificate, he immediately confirmed the authenticity of Izzy's claim. It was clear that the young man before him had a legitimate reason to be there and could be allowed to pass.
However, after returning the certificate, the gatekeeper paused to study Izzy briefly, his gaze becoming oddly complicated.
"Joining Loki Familia? Are you absolutely sure about this?"
"Of course I'm sure. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here," Izzy replied confidently.
Such a bold and straightforward answer—it gave the gatekeeper a strange sense of déjà vu.
For a moment, it was as though he was looking at a younger version of himself.
In the past, he too had sought to join Loki Familia, drawn by their immense reputation. Back then, he had been brimming with confidence, convinced he would make a name for himself among their ranks.
He had managed to join by chance, but as the years went by, reality set in. Now, here he was, serving as a gatekeeper.
There was no resentment or jealousy in his heart, just a clear acceptance of his circumstances.
Joining Orario's largest familia didn't guarantee greatness—it merely put one in the company of some of the most talented and powerful adventurers. Compared to them, he simply didn't measure up, and so, here he remained.
"In that case, come with me. I'll take you to see the goddess," the gatekeeper said after a brief pause.
He called over his companion to temporarily take his place, opened the gate, and motioned for Izzy to follow him into the Twilight Manor.
"Let me warn you in advance—whether or not you're accepted depends entirely on the goddess's decision. If you're rejected, don't make a fuss. Otherwise, even if the goddess doesn't care, I won't hesitate to throw you out myself."
Years of experience dealing with rejected applicants had taught him to be cautious. His tone was firm but not unkind.
"Understood. If I'm not accepted, it'll just mean I lack the necessary ability. That's no one else's fault, and I have no right to complain," Izzy said, nodding with composure.
"Good. There are too many people who can't handle rejection and end up causing a scene. I can't stand that kind of behavior, but you don't seem like one of them," the gatekeeper replied, his expression softening slightly.
As they walked, he relaxed a little further and even began sharing bits of daily trivia about life in Loki Familia.
They entered through the main gate, and the full grandeur of the Twilight Manor came into view. The massive structure dominated the grounds, occupying over 70% of the space.
Due to the limited land available, the mansion had been built upward rather than outward. Multiple towers rose into the sky, with the central tower standing tall as the most prominent feature.
The courtyard between the gate and the mansion was modest in size but beautifully maintained. Vibrant flowers and neatly trimmed plants swayed gently in the breeze, adding a touch of serenity to the scene.
As they crossed the courtyard, Izzy's attention was drawn to a striking figure amidst the greenery.
A young woman was there, gracefully wielding a wooden sword. Her movements were sharp and fluid, and though she struck nothing but air, the sound of her blade slicing through the wind was unmistakable.
Her long golden hair cascaded behind her, shimmering in the morning light. Her clear golden eyes were laser-focused, entirely absorbed in her training.
"Sword Princess...?" Izzy murmured, unable to look away.
It was Ais Wallenstein—the Sword Princess. A Level 5 adventurer and one of Loki Familia's most renowned members.
She was a living legend, a figure so far beyond Izzy's current reach that all he could do was admire her from afar.
It was said that Ais had maintained this rigorous morning training routine for seven or eight years, tirelessly honing her skills each day.
To possess such extraordinary talent and still work so hard—it was no wonder she stood among Orario's strongest.
She had earned her place at the top, and in Izzy's eyes, she deserved every bit of it.
"Don't look. It's not good to disturb Lady Ais during her morning exercises. Newbies shouldn't aim too high. Even if you're lucky enough to join the Loki Familia, it'll be extremely difficult to reach the level of a cadre," the gatekeeper said earnestly, standing before Izzy, who had stumbled earlier.
The cadres of the Loki Familia were the absolute main force in dungeon conquests, each a first-tier adventurer at LV5.
Their strength was undeniable, and the structure of Loki's Familia, with its distinct levels, stood apart from most others.
Truly enviable.
"Hey, it won't hurt to admire her for a little while~"
Turning his gaze away from the training grounds, Izzy approached the gatekeeper, a playful smile on his lips.
"I get it, kid. Lady Ais's charm is so overwhelming that even the gods aren't immune to it," the gatekeeper replied knowingly, giving Izzy a conspiratorial wink.
"..."
Understand? You're an expert on this now, huh?
Suppressing his thoughts, Izzy chose to ignore the sword maiden practicing in the courtyard.
Following the gatekeeper, he stepped across the red-tiled courtyard and into the grand mansion.