Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Familial Group’s Welcome Party

As evening approached, a grand welcoming banquet was underway in the dining area on the second floor of Twilight Manor.

This large restaurant dining hall could almost accommodate all members of the familial group. As a prodigy newcomer officially recognized by Loki and the three faction leaders, Izay was pushed to the forefront to make an appearance.

“Everyone! Our familial family has a new member! Meet our new family member! Izay-kun!”

Using a wooden cup as a microphone, Loki laughed loudly while introducing Izay to everyone in the faction.

Izay’s mouth twitched slightly at the corner.

What the heck is this “Izay-kun”? I want to complain…

But he just thought about it; now wasn’t the time for complaints with over a hundred people watching him.

Compared to before, Izay had already gained much experience dealing with situations like being watched by others.

He simply gave a normal self-introduction, greeted everyone politely, finished speaking, and then quickly slipped away to the side.

Next, Loki smoothly changed the topic.

The goddess with crimson hair made a loud thud as she stepped onto the table, displaying a manner unbecoming of her status. She raised her wine glass high to set the mood.

“Alright! To welcome the newcomer, tonight is a feast! Drink as much as you can!!!”

After saying that, Loki took the lead in raising her glass under everyone’s watchful eyes, followed by everyone clinking their beer glasses together, gradually warming up the atmosphere in the dining hall.

Under Loki’s leadership, the banquet soon reached its climax.

For a moment, the clamorous atmosphere within Loki Familia could be heard even outside on the streets.

Even though Izay had slipped into a corner, he still couldn’t escape his fate of being “watched.”

One by one, faction members with friendly or “friendly” gazes approached Izay.

Among them, there might be some who genuinely wanted to say hello.

But more likely, most were holding their wine glasses, wanting to come over and “say hi” to Izay.

“Uwaaaah… uuuuuuuuuh…”

In one corner of the dining hall, Simon, the person who brought Izay into the faction, was crying here while drinking heavily.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong? Simon.”

A nearby friend saw his state and couldn’t help but ask out of concern.

“I’m jealous… Even the gods and the captain have acknowledged his talent. I thought our goalkeeper team would grow again!”

Simon wiped his tears and sobbed.

So all his expectations for today were in vain.

Thinking about how he gloated thinking Izay would join the goalkeeper team, Simon couldn’t help but feel sour inside.

The clown turned out to be myself?

“This…”

This statement left the friend beside him unsure of how to console him…

Forget it, let him cry. He’ll be fine tomorrow anyway.

Elsewhere at the banquet.

Ais’s eyes flickered with confusion as she glanced at where Izay was, looked back at Refia, and then turned her gaze to Izay again…

She repeated this action two or three times, and then the confusion in her eyes turned into certainty.

“Refia…”

“Wh-what is it, Ais?”

Called suddenly, Refia was utterly confused.

“The newcomer isn’t a girl, but a boy.”

Ais seriously explained to Refia.

“Hmm… I know…”

Should we say it lives up to Ais’s reputation? She got unexpectedly hung up on such a thing?

But such an Ais is so cute!

Suddenly remembering something, Refia started giggling foolishly with a dreamy look on her face.

Meanwhile, seeing so many people holding wine glasses queuing up to “say hi” to him, Izay’s complexion immediately turned pale.

To put it bluntly, in his combined lifetimes, Izay hasn’t really drunk alcohol much, neither liking nor knowing how to drink.

At most, he only drank a sip of red wine mixed with Sprite, marveling that it didn’t taste as good as soda.

So what would happen to Izay after being repeatedly “greeted” at this kind of banquet?

As expected, Izay passed out halfway through the banquet… RIP!

Not remembering when exactly he lost consciousness, when he woke up again, it was already deep into the night.

No, probably already past midnight?

With great difficulty, Izay propped himself up from the bed, catching sight of the water placed on the bedside table and the labeled hangover remedy. Without hesitation, he picked them up and drank down, not knowing who prepared them, but thanks nonetheless.

Unfamiliar ceiling, unfamiliar room, the sheets and bedding were all new, clearly indicating he had been taken care of.

Realizing this, he lay back down, sighed, and felt a sense of security rise in his heart.

If everything went well, this would be his personal room from now on, right?

“Can’t compare to hotel rooms at all…”

Even though the decoration in the room was simple and the area not large, it was very comforting.

Why did so many people in his previous life go into heavy debt to buy houses?

Isn’t it just for peace of mind?

Propping his hands behind his head, Izay opened his system menu-like interface to check the task panel.

[Completed Task: Join a faction]

[Adventurer Level: LV1]

[Updated Main Quest: Upgrade adventurer level to LV2]

[Reward: Obtain Skill: Star of Enlightenment]

…

…

“Main quest updated? Reach LV2, so does that mean every upgrade in adventurer level will have corresponding rewards?”

Izay guessed softly.

This was a habitual mindset, after all, game patterns are always like this.

Of course, it was just a guess, and Izay couldn’t be sure.

That skill, “Star of Enlightenment,” couldn’t help but pique his curiosity, but he wouldn’t know the exact attributes of the skill until he obtained it.

“In other words, all I need to do next is keep leveling up. After all, in this Labyrinth City, strength is everything…”

Thinking about this, Izay moved his gaze from the ceiling to the window.

Tonight was a cloudless night sky, with countless stars twinkling on the vast expanse, seemingly boundless and close enough to fall to the ground.

Although only a small corner could be seen from the window by the bed, it was still dazzlingly beautiful.

While gazing at these sparkling stars, Izay suddenly felt a refreshing coolness in his mind, thoughts becoming unprecedentedly light and quick.

The originally emerald blue pupils dimmed slightly, turning into a deep azure hue, with luminous starlight swirling within, glowing brilliantly.

At this moment, Izay recalled the effect of his skill.

“Celestial Favor”: Doubles his mental power, and if during a time when stars shine brightly, it doubles again.

Simply put, “time when stars shine brightly” means a cloudless night, exposing the starry sky.

Right now, it perfectly met these conditions, amplifying Izay’s mental power to four times its normal state.

Though he had just received divine blessings today, Izay’s current mental power, under the influence of the skill, even surpassed some ordinary LV2 Magical Arts users.

“But this way, I won’t feel sleepy at all…”

Feeling his increasingly clear mind, Izay’s tone carried a hint of helplessness.

This was truly the ultimate skill for staying up late.