Chapter 57

Chapter 58: We’ve undergone rigorous training…..

“Meow~ Don’t let the pests come back to play again meow~”

Watching Izay getting punished by Mama Mia, Aniya was so delighted her eyes turned into crescents, her tail swaying back and forth.

Even though every time Izay came to the tavern, they would inevitably have a fierce battle (at least in his mind).

But just as he was about to leave and pay the bill, seeing Izay being “warmly welcomed” by Mama Mia like this, Aniya couldn’t help but feel both physically and mentally pleased.

Especially when Izay reached for his wallet—it was the happiest moment.

Maybe this is what they call taking advantage of familiarity in a strange way?

This cat might unexpectedly have a talent for being a shady businessman after all~

To this, Izay maintained an extremely calm expression as he looked at the foolish cat who bullied others with her authority. After a while, a contemptuous smile appeared on his face.

“Hmph, mere Aniya~”

After saying that, he walked straight out the door and casually closed it behind him.

Inside the shop, the cheerful catgirl froze for a moment, immediately sensing something was off.

Why did her name, coming out of Izay’s mouth, suddenly sound like an insult?

“Snicker… Aniya has become an insult meow~”

“Mere Aniya… snort~”

Apparently, she wasn’t the only one with this strange feeling; the two bystanders watching the whole scene also noticed, unable to hold back their laughter.

“Meow!! Do not laugh meow!!!”

“Sorry, we’ve undergone rigorous training, usually we don’t laugh…”

“Unless it’s truly uncontrollable…”

“HAHAHAHAHA!!!” x2

Kuroi and Lunowa recited lines they had sneakily learned from someone else, and after saying them, laughed even harder. Their voices carried to the kitchen, probably even audible outside the store.

“Kuroi! Lunowa! You two!!!”

However, before they could enjoy themselves much longer, a voice with immense intimidation drowned out the commotion they had caused.

Upon hearing this voice, the two trembled all over, their laughter stopping abruptly as cold sweat began flowing down their backs and foreheads, their pretty faces turning pale…

Ryu, who had taken out work tools from a room inside the store, took in the entire scene and sighed.

In a certain sense, Mama Mia was right.

Izay’s presence really did affect their efficiency as employees.

Look now, even though he’s gone, those three are still riled up because of the topic he brought up.

When he was around, it was even worse—didn’t Hiel even skip work earlier?

Oh wait, Hiel skipping work seemed to be because of Ryu, not related to Izay…

……

Leaving The Bountiful Mistress Tavern, Izay headed north with his gear.

Honestly speaking, what he wanted most right now was to lie down on his own bed.

It’s not like he wanted to sleep or anything.

He just wanted to lie there.

Whether daydreaming or taking a short rest, anyway, Izay had decided today that he wouldn’t enter the Dungeon.

He wanted to give himself a small break, resting for a day or two.

With ease, he passed through the northern high-end residential area and quickly returned to Twilight Manor.

“Yo! Izay, you’re back safe and sound!”

As soon as he arrived at the gate, Brother Simon, who was on guard duty as usual, immediately spotted him. His initial expression was somewhat surprised, but he quickly showed a very happy smile.

“Huh???”

But upon hearing this, Izay couldn’t help but freeze.

What does that mean?

I just got back, and the first thing you say isn’t a friendly greeting but rather sounds almost like a curse if you think about it?

Big Brother, do you actually wish for me to get into trouble?

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean that. It’s just that the main deity was worried about you. Did you go deep into the dungeon? You’ve been gone for days…”

Seeing Izay’s stunned expression, Simon immediately realized his phrasing was problematic and hurriedly explained.

At the same time, he recounted the events that happened when the expedition team returned.

Actually, due to Tiona’s straightforward comments, many members nearby heard and believed them.

Afterwards, although Loki did provide an explanation, only the senior members knew the details, which led the other faction members to genuinely believe Izay had run into trouble.

They were even discussing how to rescue him from the dungeon!

Good grief…

After hearing Simon’s explanation, all Izay could think was:

Can everyone please stop believing rumors so easily?

The pressure on him as the actual party involved is immense…

Feeling an inexplicable stomachache, Izay entered Twilight Manor with a look of utter bewilderment.

Currently, Twilight Manor wasn’t too lively yet.

Because the expedition team had just returned, the members needed to exchange the materials obtained from the dungeon for money.

Or provide the weapon and spiritual medicine production materials preferentially to the allied factions [Gubernue Familia] and [Cadiante Familial Group].

In short, they couldn’t rest just yet and had to keep running errands for a bit more.

The celebration banquet after the expedition would be held in the evening, and apparently, Loki had already arranged a spot where Izay had just left.

Still, even so, quite a few people remained inside Twilight Manor.

Each person who saw Izay displayed a similar look of surprise as Simon, and every time they encountered each other, Izay had no choice but to explain again.

In the Central Tower meeting room, the officers had temporarily all left.

Bert went to manage supplies, Ais and her sisters Tiona and Tione took a little fairy somewhere to deal with the harvest with the allied factions.

Only Finn was working in the meeting room, while Loki lounged around beside him.

Even Riviria and Gress had departed due to some matters.

“Oh? Little Izay seems to have returned~ I saw him!”

Loki lay sprawled on the edge of the meeting room bed, holding a glass of crimson liquor with ice cubes inside.

Looking at the clouds in the sky as if inviting them to drink with her, she immediately spotted a blonde figure stepping into the Twilight Manor gates.

“Izay’s back? Looks like your worries were unnecessary, Loki…”

Raising his head from a pile of incomprehensible documents, Finn smiled.

“Ah… He looks like he hasn’t fully grasped the situation yet. It seems the kids really believed what Tiona said earlier. I feel like there’s been a misunderstanding~”

Ignoring his statement directly, Loki smoothly changed the subject.

“Tiona’s words?”

The blonde leader paused momentarily before quickly recalling.

“Was it the rumor about Izay having trouble in the dungeon? Everyone actually believed it…”

“Ah, it seems so. Earlier, Raul was even dragging Anqi to discuss rescuing Izay from the dungeon~”

“This… It seems Izay will be exhausted when he meets them later.”