Chapter 26

Chapter 26: What to Do When You’ve Been Acting Cocky Right Up to Your Own God’s Face?

Labyrinth City Orario.

The circular city proud of its vast area, encircled by sturdy city walls.

Within the walls that are isolated from the outside world, buildings of all sizes and colors stand side by side, while at the center of the city stands a towering white chalk tower reaching up to the sky.

This is the Skyscraper Facility Babel Tower, built as a cap for the entrance to the great underground hole — the Dungeon.

With this white chalk tower at its center, Orario continues to thrive even today.

As twilight approaches, the streets are crowded with Adventurers returning from the labyrinth, and the sounds of revelry from taverns celebrating their safe return can be heard everywhere.

Many humans and demi-humans drink together, and some overconfident deities barge in holding beer mugs.

Discarding racial barriers and respect, the laughter that arises among them is truly a microcosm of this city — this world.

One by one, the streetlights begin to light up early, the glow of Magic Stone lamps gradually dotting this bustling city.

In order to catch the Familial Group’s dinner time, Izay and Raul made no stops on the streets, swiftly heading back.

However, to quell their protesting stomachs beforehand, both bought a cheap yet delicious fried potato ball from a roadside stall to tide themselves over.

So, fried potato balls are really fragrant～

When they returned to Twilight Manor, there was still some time before dinner started.

Familial Group members were still freely moving about nearby, waiting for dinner to begin.

When they saw the returning Izay and Raul, they all smiled and chatted casually, like the second uncle next door seeing the young ones who’ve been striving outside the village finally come back to take a look.

For Adventurers, teasing familiar companions during their leisure time is also a rare way to relax.

Actually, the main target of everyone’s teasing was Raul, after all, they’re familiar with each other, so it’s easier to tease acquaintances.

Izay just suffered an unwarranted calamity～

After politely bidding farewell to the group of chatty uncles, Izay returned to his room with his share of Valis and all the dropped items.

Then he picked up his change of clothes and went to the Familial Group headquarters’ large bathhouse with Raul for a simple shower.

Because they had been fighting in the Dungeon all day, neither of them could be considered clean.

Of course, the large bathhouse of the Familial Group headquarters has separate sections for men and women, and whether it’s the male or female bathhouse, there are individual shower stalls, so there won’t be any awkward face-to-face situations.

At most, they chat across the showers, talking about the day’s gains.

Izay firmly believed that his sexual orientation was absolutely normal; whether it’s Goddesses, fairies, or cute beastkin girls, they all appealed to him. He absolutely wouldn’t be interested in men.

…………

The large dining hall on the second floor of Twilight Manor.

Once almost all members had gathered here, Loki stood once again in a prominent position, holding a large wooden cup, but this time it wasn’t filled with alcohol but rather some kind of fruit juice drink.

“Well, those of you about to set out on the expedition, I assume you already know what I have to say, so I won’t waste words. In short, no matter how things go, come back alive!”

“OOOOOOOOH!!!!!!!!!!”

At the end, as the Goddess raised her cup, a chorus of responses erupted from the members below, raising their cups in cheers.

Not many were drinking alcohol, after all, the timing wasn’t right.

To put it metaphorically, it’s like tomorrow they’ll be going off to war, so drinking tonight obviously isn’t appropriate.

There were some who secretly indulged in a cup, but their friends beside them were all monitoring each other, making sure not to overdrink.

The long rectangular dining tables in the large dining hall were huge, capable of seating more than ten people per table, and if squeezed, twenty wasn’t an issue.

Izay and Raul sat at one table, next to Raul’s teammates from the second echelon of the Loki Familial Group.

Catgirl Anna Keti, elder sister fairy Alisia, human girl Rine, Elfie……

Wait, how come they’re all girls? ??

Sitting near the center of the table, Izay keenly noticed something was off.

No, it didn’t seem too strange.

It wasn’t surprising that Loki’s Deity Familial Group had more girls.

What they call unexpected within reason, but expected within expectations～ (whispering)

After all, the one responsible for this phenomenon is a certain deity harboring unknown intentions～ (whispering)

Through the persuasion (discovery) of the deity, the “Loki Familial Group” reached its current scale. Without considering the male members, the female members indeed were beauties in abundance, greatly reflecting her interests.

“Achoo!”

Loki, who was being supervised by her Fairy Queen mother while drinking juice at home, suddenly sneezed.

“Who? Who’s thinking about me!?”

“Who would think about you～”

Facing Loki’s self-talk-like question, Riviria beside her rebutted without hesitation.

“Waaah, mom is so heartless, I want to drink～”

“If you dare to call me that one more time, do you believe my staff will descend upon your head!?”

“Waaaah……”

Upon hearing this, Loki immediately shrank her head like a baby chick.

A deity threatened by their own Familial Group, probably throughout Orario, is a unique case, unmatched elsewhere.

Soon, those who finished eating began clearing their plates, one after another leaving the large dining hall.

At this moment, Loki, who finally could enjoy a late drink, suddenly remembered something, stood up, and began scanning around. Her gaze eventually stopped at a certain direction.

Instantly, a smile appeared on her face, and Loki picked up her wine glass, walking towards that direction.

Taking advantage of the mealtime to establish friendly relations with a few girls, Izay was chatting idly with them when he suddenly felt a weight on his head.

“Who!? Daring to sneak attack on Me???”

Didn’t you hear that you shouldn’t touch a tiger’s head?

Let alone the fact that Izay’s punch now could handle more than just an ordinary tiger.

Instantly, including Raul who was quietly eating, everyone at the table looked at Izay, their eyes gleaming with schadenfreude.

And when Izay turned his head, he fell silent, as if he’d swallowed a fly.

Right in front of him was a familiar face with two dimples, smiling broadly, her crimson hair almost blinding Izay’s eyes.

As a deity, Loki had no airs about her as she silently crept up behind Izay and rested her elbow on his head.

However, before she could speak her mind, Izay’s statement made her pause momentarily.

Realizing this, the deity emitted a meaningful tone.

“Oh ho? ‘Me’? If I’m not mistaken, this is the habitual self-reference used by certain bigwigs in the Far East, isn’t it? Young Izay seems quite well-versed? Knows some things about the Far East too～”

“Cough… cough cough… Lady Loki, why did you come over here?”

Suddenly, as if having an asthma attack, Izay tried to change the subject.

Suddenly, he missed the old days of mobile internet social circles.

At this moment, Izay wanted to post a status update asking his online friends: What to Do When You’ve Been Acting Cocky Right Up to Your Own God’s Face?

Online waiting, pretty urgent～