Everyone watched Loki sprawled on the floor.
The petite, blond-haired, blue-eyed male prum, whose youthful appearance belied his age, looked at Loki helplessly.
"Get up, Loki."
"It was just a few people doing a shallow exploration. It took a few days, and there weren't any difficulties. I'll tell you the details later. For now, let everyone have a good bath and get some rest, Loki."
The prum spoke with a steady voice as he reported to Loki, who was still sprawled on the floor.
"Okay!" Loki flipped to his feet in an instant, grinned as if nothing had happened, and looked at the returning adventurers. "Everyone, go get some good rest!"
"Yeah!" the returning adventurers replied.
After that, the young prum directed everyone as they carried in the spoils.
Liber stood to the side, watching the group enter Twilight Manor, chatting and laughing. The people around them looked on with admiration and longing.
But that was only natural. These people were the pillars of the familia, the trump cards of the Loki Familia.
They were all first-tier adventurers.
Tiona Hiryute, Level 5, Amazoness, Loki Familia executive, alias: Double Cut.
Tione Hiryute, Level 5, Amazoness, Loki Familia executive, alias: Angry Snake.
Bete Loga, Level 5, werewolf, Loki Familia executive, alias: Vana Gandr.
Ais Wallenstein, Level 5, Loki Familia executive, alias: Sword Princess.
These were the identities and abilities of the similar-looking young women walking in front, the beastman youth, and the blonde girl.
As for the mature, unusual trio bringing up the rear, their abilities and standing were even more impressive.
"Finn Deimne, Level 6, the prum hero, captain of the Loki Familia, alias: Braver."
"Riveria Ljos Alf, Level 6, elven royalty, vice-captain of the Loki Familia, Orario's greatest mage, alias: Nine Hell."
"Gareth Landrock, Level 6, dwarven warrior, main battle force of the Loki Familia, alias: Elgarm."
These three had joined the Loki Familia at its very beginning. They had stayed with it and fought alongside it since its founding, leading it to glory.
Among adventurers who explored the Dungeon, people were divided into upper-class and lower-class adventurers according to their levels.
Lower-class adventurers were those at Level 1. It was said that around half the people in Orario were stuck at this level.
Upper-class adventurers, on the other hand, were those who had leveled up and reached Level 2 or higher.
Upper-class adventurers were further divided into third-tier, second-tier, and first-tier adventurers according to their levels.
Level 2 adventurers were third-tier adventurers. Level 3 and Level 4 adventurers were second-tier adventurers.
Adventurers at Level 5 or higher were first-tier adventurers.
Normally, as long as a familia had one third-tier adventurer, it could establish a certain standing in Orario.
By the same token, if a familia had a first-tier adventurer, it would wield considerable influence in Orario.
A familia with multiple first-tier adventurers could be considered one of the leading familias in Orario and even throughout the world.
The Loki Familia was among the top familias—and was, without a doubt, one of the very best.
Liber watched the busy crowd and went over to help, but the other members politely turned him down.
Feeling a little awkward, he returned to his room. He picked up the book he'd left unfinished on the table and continued reading.
The sun sank beyond the window. Liber finished reading the last of the materials and had just put them down when someone knocked on his door.
"Excuse me, is anyone there?" a clear female voice called from outside.
Liber opened the door and saw an unfamiliar elven girl.
Her long, light-brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her ears, slender and pointed like new leaves, showed on either side of her face.
She looked about his age, yet already had a beauty that would draw anyone's admiration.
"May I ask who you are?" Liber asked, studying the girl in confusion.
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lefiya Viridis. Loki said there was something she wanted to discuss with you, and asked me to bring you to the Divine Chamber."
Lefiya spoke in a fluster.
"Sure. I'll just get myself sorted out, then I'll head to the Divine Chamber." Liber replied calmly.
"Oh, okay. All right. Sorry to bother you!" Lefiya apologized nervously, then hurried off.
"Am I really that scary? Or is she just not very good at talking to people?" Liber muttered, puzzled.
He returned to his room, gathered his things, and headed to Loki's Divine Chamber.
The executives who had returned that day were gathered in Loki's Divine Chamber.
"Everyone's here. Looks like you all got some good rest."
Loki looked at the familia's pillars, pleased by their energy, and nodded.
"Thanks to you, we only got half a day's rest before you dragged us here."
Tiona sat limply in a chair, leaning against Ais. The two seemed quite close.
"Hey, the captain's here. Sit up straight." Tione, her long hair flowing behind her, sternly admonished her younger sister.
"If the captain weren't here, you wouldn't be so enthusiastic, Sis," Tiona muttered, sitting up straight with a helpless look.
"Of course not," Tione replied naturally. Her affection was plain for all to see, leaving Finn, the captain beside her, exasperated.
"What's the big deal? Why'd you call us here all of a sudden? Get to the point."
Bete, the werewolf, spoke irritably. His ears twitched, and his tail swished restlessly behind him.
Riveria sat on Ais's other side with a cup of black tea in hand. Hearing Bete, she nodded and looked quietly at Loki.
Gareth stroked his long beard and asked Loki,
"What's the reason you called all the executives here?"
Only Ais sat quietly in the room, making no move or sound.
Under the eyes of everyone present, Loki put her hands on her hips, looking proud and triumphant as she spoke.
"When I got back yesterday, I found a promising talent right at our front door—someone who could rival Finn!" Loki boasted. "Even though he's only just received his blessing, his abilities will be a great help on expeditions."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone froze and exchanged glances.
"Is that true, Loki?"
Gareth stroked his beard, frowning.
"That sounds exaggerated." Bete leaned against the wall, his expression full of doubt.
"Absolutely impossible! The captain is the best!" Tione shook with excitement as she moved closer to Finn.
Finn dodged her a little and replied calmly, "Tione, it's good that you believe in me. But if there really is someone as talented as Loki says, and he joins the familia and makes us stronger, I'll be very happy."
Ais watched Loki in silence.
Riveria calmly set down her teacup, sat up straight, and spoke.
"Then, Loki, what sort of person is he?"
"I just asked Lefiya to let him know. He should be here soon."
Loki was talking with the others when, right on cue, a knock sounded at the door.
"Loki, I'm coming in," Liber said. He knocked on the door, then opened it without waiting.
"Perfect timing. We were just talking about you." Loki happily pulled Liber into the room.
Loki brought Liber over to the others and introduced him proudly. "Let me introduce you. This is Liber Miller, the newcomer who joined the familia yesterday. He has quite exceptional talent."
"It's rare to see Loki praise someone this much—and it's a guy?" Tiona joked.
"Loki's been full of praise for you. She's been talking you up in front of us right up until now," Finn said with a smile. "Not many people get this kind of praise from Loki. To be honest, I'm pretty curious about you."
"It's rare for Loki to praise a man this much," Riveria said softly.
Everyone present immediately nodded in agreement.
The smile vanished from Loki's face, and a black line appeared over her head. Was that really what they were focusing on?
"You brought this on yourself~" Bete's perfectly timed jab almost made Loki lose it.
"He looks about the same age as Ais," Tiona said, looking curious.
Ais, who had been staring at Liber ever since he entered the room, quietly nodded when she heard that.
"Now, now, let's not get carried away." Gareth clapped his hands, stopping the increasingly strange discussion. Then he looked at Liber and said, "I'm very curious about what this kid can do to earn such lavish praise from Loki."
"Hurry up and show everyone what you can do," Loki urged impatiently.
Before you continue