Chapter 77

Chapter 78: Pulling Back From the Brink and Attempted Crime (Second Update)

That’s right, come to think of it.

Izay had only been in Orario for about a month.

In just one month, he’d already achieved the grand feat of leveling up.

If you really think about it carefully, if he hadn’t worked extremely hard exploring the Dungeon, would he have leveled up so quickly?

No, it should be said that precisely because Izay was overly diligent in exploring the Dungeon, he was able to level up so fast.

And considering this, where would Izay have found the time to learn about Orario’s characteristics?

There’s a very high possibility that most areas of Orario, he hasn’t even visited yet.

How would he have come to a place like Joy Street on his own?

And Izay also said that this was his first time here. What does that mean?

It means someone incited him! Someone wanted to lead him astray!

Quickly piecing together the truth in her mind, Artemis looked at Raul with almost hostile eyes.

Staying behind Artemis, the little girl Lanti, who had been silent all along, frowned, feeling that things weren’t that simple.

But exactly what was wrong, her little brain couldn’t figure out.

“Zzzzziiiiiiiiiii!!!” Raul himself wasn’t a dull person either, and he quickly realized the current situation, inhaling a deep breath of cold air.

Bad choice of friends!

What a bad choice of friends!!!

This guy Izay, with just a few words, actually managed to fool a goddess! And made her believe his every word without a doubt!

Not just this goddess, even he himself couldn’t find any flaws in Izay’s logic.

This guy completely pushed all responsibility onto him, leaving him no chance to refute anything.

How could there be such a friend!?

Good job, Izay! Normally you look so decent, but who would’ve thought you were secretly scheming inside!

(Izay: Who said I would take full responsibility?)

“You’re from Loki Familia……”

“Ahh, no, I’m not! I haven’t! You must have mistaken me for someone else, sorry!!!”

Before Artemis could finish her sentence, Raul delivered an extremely practiced triple denial, then immediately fled as fast as he could.

This…… is basically a confession without saying it.

Artemis effortlessly saw through Raul’s lie.

Staring at Raul’s retreating back, the goddess had already remembered this scheming hedgehog-head.

“How did you end up coming here with someone like that (referring to Raul)?”

“Ah, it’s like this…… He said he would show me some of Orario’s features.”

To Artemis’ question, Izay decisively sold Raul out without hesitation.

Because Orario is the “center of the world,” apparently these prostitutes also come from all over the continent.

And on Joy Street, there are clusters of architectural styles from the East or desert regions that can’t be seen around Orario.

There are open-style Eastern buildings upstairs, and heavy stone houses reminiscent of the cold North.

The brothels of various styles from all over the world spread out here, giving the streetscape a rich exotic atmosphere.

In a certain sense, this area is indeed one of Orario’s “characteristics.”

“Eh～～～so you just followed him here?”

Dragging out the sound, Lanti felt inexplicably that Izay’s words weren’t trustworthy.

“He dragged me here.” Izay answered seamlessly.

Regardless of Raul’s reputation and what might happen later.

The key issue now is how to preserve oneself wisely.

After all, he and Raul were merely pulling back from the brink and attempted crime at worst.

In the worst-case scenario, it would probably just be some trouble for Raul, a scolding from Finn, and another black mark on his record.

It’s not like it could get much worse.

“So suspicious…” The half-elf girl wouldn’t let go, staring at Izay with a penetrating gaze that made him feel uneasy.

However, Izay was practically immune to her kind of stare.

He had been stared down by this little girl dozens, if not hundreds, of times. Would he be scared?

Absolutely not!

He turned around and started reminiscing with Artemis instead.

Perhaps thanks to Izay’s clever maneuvering to clear his own name, after dragging him away from the fourth district, Artemis didn’t seem as stern-faced and serious as before, responding occasionally.

During the process, questions about Izay’s leveling up inevitably came up again.

“You really reached Level 2 in a month?”

Hearing the topic that caught her attention, Lanti took her piercing gaze off Izay and asked with some surprise.

Reaching Level 2 in about a month—a never-before-seen shortest time. It even seemed foolish to explain it.

“What? Don’t you believe me? Not to brag, but right now, I could beat three of you.”

Izay raised an eyebrow, and suddenly Lan became a unit of measurement in his mouth.

Though Lanti didn’t know what a “unit of measurement” was, she could tell that Izay wasn’t speaking kindly to her.

Definitely saying something nasty about her.

But the little girl flicked her eyes and seemed to think of something, deciding to set aside her grudge with him for now and instead waved at Izay.

“Come closer~”

Lanti signaled for him to lean in.

“?!”

Curious, Izay had prepared to bicker with her.

With some doubts, he still bent down and leaned over.

“If you tell me your method for getting strong quickly, I’ll help you conquer Lady Artemis, alright?”

“???”

“Lanti! What nonsense are you spouting!?”

Unlike Izay’s astonished expression, Artemis exploded upon hearing her words, both embarrassed and angry, grabbing Lanti’s sharp ears and lifting her up.

“Ow ow ow… Lady Artemis, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it hurts~”

How dare this little brat be so disrespectful?

Is there nothing she won’t say?

Is it that Artemis can’t wield her knife anymore, or has this little brat gotten too cocky?

Artemis thought the latter possibility was more likely.

‘Hoooh, rarely see an elf getting their ears pulled, learned something new today.’

Watching this scene with interest nearby, Izay couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful.

Honestly, he was quite tempted by Lanti’s offer.

But now… let’s pray Lanti stays unharmed.

On the other side, at Twilight Manor.

Raul ran back to base, supporting himself against the doorframe of Twilight Manor, his breathing erratic as he gasped for air, unable to catch his breath.

“Heavens… heavens curse Izay… to suddenly stab me in the back…”

Raul panted intermittently, looking utterly exhausted.

“Oh? Isn’t that Raul? What’s going on? Looking like you’re about to die, and where’s Izay? Didn’t you two go explore the Dungeon together? How come you’re back alone?”

At this moment, Loki emerged with a smile, accompanied by Riviria who sighed helplessly, walking out from the Central Tower and noticing him.

Because they had agreed beforehand to buy Soma wine but got stood up during the trip.

A few days later, Loki finally remembered this matter and once again approached Riviria.

After convincing her with emotional appeals, she finally got Riviria to agree to take her to buy alcohol, and they were just about to leave.