Morning sunlight streamed gently through the tall windows of Twilight Manor, bathing Finn's office in a soft golden hue. Finn sat behind his desk, quietly immersed in paperwork while Riveria occupied Loki's vacant seat, doing the work Loki should be doing. The two worked in silence, broken only by the distant chirping of birds outside.
"...They still haven't returned," Finn said finally, not raising his head from his book.
Riveria let out a slow sigh. "Just how inebriated were they?"
Normally, even when sloshed, Gareth could find his way back without issue. That's why she hadn't worried about Loki either—he was supposed to be her anchor. But clearly, she'd misjudged how far things could spiral.
"I warned him not to let her overindulge," she muttered, letting out a soft sigh, more exhausted than angry. "It's disgraceful. She cannot behave like that in another god's home. It reflects poorly on all of us."
"We left a drunk in charge of another drunk." Finn muttered to himself with a small smile. "How brilliant." With that he reached towards a bell on his table and ringed it once.
A moment later, brisk footsteps echoed down the hallway, and the door slammed open as Tione burst into the room with a grin stretching across her face. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, like a dog eager for a walk.
"You called me, captain?" she asked, practically skipping toward Finn's desk.
Finn gave her a thin smile. "I need you to find Bete," he said. "Tell him to head to Soma Familia's home and retrieve Loki and Gareth. They drank themselves unconscious and likely caused a scene."
"Yes sir!" She saluted as she ran away energetically, slamming the door behind her heavily, eager to complete her task.
Bete was one of the few in the Familia who could handle both a drunk Loki and Gareth at once, making him the obvious choice. Sending only him would keep things discreet—bringing along other executives would only draw attention and fuel rumors.
"Let us hope he doesn't cause any trouble," Riveria said, resuming her work with a quiet sigh.
—✦—✦—✦—
"Tch. Babysitting duty," Bete grumbled, slouching down the road with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "Of all things... stuck watching over two drunk people." He scoffed when the towering stone walls of Soma Familia came into view, the Familia's emblem carved neatly at regular intervals.
As he reached the front gate, it swung open and a tall, well-built Level 2 Amazoness stepped out, clearly geared for a dungeon run. Luckily, he wouldn't have to wait to be let in. Without slowing, he moved toward her, the sound of his boots catching her attention.
Turning towards him, her eyes widened in surprise. "What's Vanargand doing here?"
"Take me to Loki," He said, stopping inches from her, his sharp orange eyes looking down on her.
"Loki?" She blinked, visibly confused. "What would she be doing here?"
"I can smell her," Bete said, jerking a thumb toward the building behind her. "She's in there."
The Amazoness hesitated, glancing over her shoulder toward Cupidinem, then back at him. She scratched her head again, before throwing up her hands in surrender.
"I'll get Chandra." She turned on her heel. "Wait here."
Bete waited near the entrance for a few minutes, leaning against the compound wall with his hands stuffed into his pockets. Finally, the gate opened and Chandra stepped out, tall for a dwarf squinting at Bete with an unreadable expression.
"Follow me," he said simply, lifting a gourd to his lips.
"Drinking first thing in the morning?" Bete muttered, a bit scornfully.
"Uh-huh." Chandra nodded, gourd still at his mouth.
Without another word, he turned and began walking, leading Bete through the compound. Members of the Soma Familia who were already awake cast curious glances his way, murmuring among themselves but too wary to approach. Bete ignored them.
They reached the main mansion, and Chandra led him through the winding passageways until they stopped in front of a closed door in the back.
"Goddess Loki and Elgarm are in there," Chandra said, burping faintly as he turned and walked off.
Bete pushed the door open, noticing that the room was surprisingly clean, save for a few empty bottles scattered across the floor. Gareth lay curled between the sofa and the table, snoring like a machine with a newspaper over him like a makeshift blanket.
A man Bete didn't recognize sat with his legs crossed on the L-shaped couch, leaning back with his palms on his knees. His glasses reflected the sunlight pouring through the window, making it impossible to see his eyes.
On the table, an unknown god, who Bete assumed is Soma, lay flat on his back, arms crossed in an X over his chest, surrounded by flower petals as if lying in a coffin. And on the charcoal-black recamier sofa by the window was someone Bete did recognize—Rex, the Chienthrope from the War Game, shirtless and sprawled out on his back.
The curtain had been drawn just enough for the sunlight to hit his face, giving him an almost serene glow. That beauty, however, was immediately ruined by the tomboy goddess laying on him. Her cheeks were pressed to his bare chest, drooling onto it while hugging the 75% full true Soma wine bottle like a teddy bear, with one of Rex's arms loosely wrapped around her back, keeping her from falling off.
"...What a disgrace," Bete muttered, rubbing his forehead with a grumble.
"I've been waiting," came a calm voice.
Bete turned toward the source to see Rex now watching him with his amber eyes. "Welcome, Bete Loga of Loki."
'He wasn't asleep?' Bete blinked, caught off guard. Pushing the thought away, he stepped into the room. "I'm dragging these idiots home."
"Good," Zanis added, raising a finger to adjust his glasses, the frame glinting and revealing that his eyes had been open all along—but he had actually just woken up when Beta walked in. "We were about to send someone to fetch them."
Bete looked between Zanis, Rex, and the snoring Gareth, who rolled onto his back and scratched his neck, still buried in sleep. Then there was Loki—shamelessly drooling on a man's chest like it was the most natural thing in the world while mumbling about Soma and floating.
"Wake up..." Bete muttered, stepping forward. "Gareth!" He stomped down, his heel slamming into the dwarf's abdomen.
The dwarf's eyes flew open with a harsh wheeze, coughing uncontrollably. The sudden commotion startled Soma, who snapped up into a sitting position, arms still crossed stiffly over his chest. Bete's eyes shifted toward him, catching the god's blank stare through his bangs, the duo staring silently at each other.
"Good morning, Lord Soma." Zanis greeted as Soma turned his head. "Did you rest well?"
"..." Soma looked around the room, then at the snoring Loki. "...Bad..."
"Do you need a mind potion to help with the hangover?" Zanis asked, standing and stumbling slightly to the side, though he acted as if nothing happened.
Soma gave a silent nod. Without another word, Zanis turned toward the door. As he reached it, he glanced over his shoulder at Bete. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Vanargand." He said. "I am Gandharva, Captain of the Soma Familia."
"Whatever," Bete muttered, waving his hand dismissively.
Zanis gave a final nod before leaving the room, the door clicking shut behind him. Bete then glanced down at Gareth, who was groaning and slowly shifting on the floor. Then his eyes moved to the goddess still sprawled across Rex, mumbling nonsense in her sleep.
"Please..." Rex begged, his voice cracking like he was about to cry. "Get her off."
"I swear to—" he growled under his breath before raising his voice. "LOKI! GET OFF HIS DAMN CHEST!"
The Loki Familia trio left without any issues—except for Loki, who cried the entire way out as Bete carried her, causing a scene that drew everyone's attention. She had begged to take the rest of the True Soma wine with her, but Soma refused to let it leave Cupidinem, no matter how persistent she was.
Once they were gone, the mansion settled. Soma disappeared into his garden without a word while the two men took the time to freshen up. Zanis returned to his office afterward, resuming the work that had already begun piling up on his desk, while Rex headed to the fourth-floor kitchen to make himself breakfast.
'I've been here for a month, and I'm still not comfortable eating without my phone,' he thought while eating halfheartedly.
It was the only thing he truly missed from Earth—his closest companion, his phone. Everything important to him had lived on that screen: the games he had spent hundreds—maybe thousands—of dollars on using his McDonald's paycheck, and the dozens of novel and porn tabs open on his browser.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up as Cassandra walked into the kitchen. She was dressed in an ankle-length long-sleeved lavender cotehardie with cloth buttons running from her throat to waist and saddles on her feet. The moment she saw him sitting at the island, she froze like she had seen a ghost, then turned sharply to leave the kitchen like a child avoiding an abusive parent.
"You can do whatever you want," Rex said casually, causing her to pause mid-step. "I won't bother you."
"I-I, um..." she fidgeted with her sleeves, eyes fixed on the floor. "I-I'm not... th-thirsty anymore...?"
Rex stared at her. "Alright." She bowed quickly and practically ran out without another word, leaving him to sigh. 'I don't know why she's scared of me.'
He had only spoken to her twice—once during the Apollo Familia ball, and again when he personally welcomed her to the Soma Familia, hoping to build a relationship. But that second time, she was so visibly shaken that it made him uncomfortable too so he walked away.
'Is it because of what I did in the War Game?' The memory of using Predator on her team flashed through his mind, and he nodded to himself. 'Yeah, probably that.' The others moved on, but with her timid nature, he concluded she might not have been able to.
'Whatever.' He picked up a newspaper from the island counter. 'I'll deal with her later.' He still needed a good relationship with her if he was going to make use of her future sight—
"Oh?" His eyes widened as they landed on the front page. "I guess... it's about time," he mumbled.
After finishing his meal, Rex made his way to Zanis' office. When he entered, the captain was already seated behind his desk, buried in paperwork. Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, the breeze drifting in through the open balcony doors as Zanis scribbled intently.
"Take a look at this," Rex said, closing the door behind him and walking over with the newspaper in hand.
Zanis sighed. He had spent the night doing 'nothing,' and now his paperwork had piled up. The last thing he needed was a distraction "It better be..." he began as he reached for the paper. "...Interesting." He suddenly snatched the paper, scanning the story.
The front page had the news that Bell Cranel of the Hestia Familia had reached Level 3. In just a month. A feat that hadn't been seen in over a thousand years. No, it shouldn't even be possible.
"Do you think he kept his actual level concealed until now, revealing it only to create the impression of sudden progress?" Zanis asked, adjusting his glasses while Rex walked to the balcony for some fresh air.
"It's a solid theory," Rex said, leaning on the railing while looking at Babel, noticeable even from the far eastern district where the Soma mansion was. "But, Hestia and Bell are too 'good' for that trick."
"So it's an accelerated-growth ability akin to yours." Zanis murmured, glancing at Bell's portrait before looking at when the boy had officially reached Level 2. "You both leveled up on the same day," It was during the last Denatus a month ago, the day things began shifting in the Soma Familia—for the better, admittedly. "yet you reached Level 3 first—putting your growth speed ahead of his."
He paused, "Or is it due to you spending more time in the dungeon?"
"Nah, I'm much faster." Rex confidently said, glancing down into the backyard as Daphne stepped out of the mansion, dressed in a tight shirt and shorts for her morning training routine. 'Afterall, even while farming for SSS stats, I am still faster at leveling than him.'
"I see…" Zanis mumbled, his eyes moving back to Bell's face. "It's a good thing we didn't make an enemy out of him," He said more to himself, the memory of how he almost accepted Apollo Familia's request to attack the Hestia Familia resurfacing. '...Things could've gotten ugly.'
"Try to keep a good relationship with the Hestia Familia," Rex said, stepping back inside, feeling like he was a creep watching Daphne stretch. "If they come asking for help, and it doesn't hurt us, we should lend a hand."
"Naturally," Zanis said with a nod. "Mikoto belongs to their Familia; that much is self-evident."
During the brief week of training alongside Rex, he and Mikoto had formed a kind of camaraderie—not especially close, but enough that he would be willing to lend a hand, so long as it didn't bring him trouble.
"Oh, and—" Rex clapped once, drawing Zanis's attention, "—if you can, arrange a meeting between me and Goddess Ishtar as quickly as possible."
"That was abrupt." Zanis turned to him, one brow arched. "Why?"
Rex had been acting oddly lately—asking what would happen if the Ishtar Familia vanished, then assigning Sandra to shadow Bell near the Pleasure Quarter… and now this? A sudden request for a meeting with Ishtar? Something was definitely in motion.
"I'll tell you later." He intended to explain eventually, but at the moment, he had no convincing way to justify how he knew what Ishtar was planning.
"Very well." Zanis folded the newspaper. "I'll send someone to the Ishtar Familia to formally request the meeting. Given your position as the vice captain of one of her closest allies, she's likely to arrange the meeting for this evening, or tomorrow at the latest."
Rex nodded going into deep thought while walking towards the door. Zanis watched him for a moment, then said, "I hope you're not planning to sleep with her."
"What?" Rex stopped walking, caught off guard by the statement. "Where did that come from?"
"She's rather expensive, you know," Zanis replied, adjusting his glasses.
Rex looked back, "I wasn't trying to sleep with Ishtar..." then paused, tilting his head. "How much are we talking?"
Zanis stared for a few seconds shook his head. "It's not a disclosed price. I haven't exactly looked into it, but I've heard it's in the hundreds of millions. Or you would have to be lucky enough for her to pick you."
"Hmm..." Rex nodded. 'Sleeping with a goddess, huh.
"Don't even think about it." Zanis said, returning to his paperwork. "The last thing I need is you getting charmed. I doubt even your Indomitable Will can resist a goddess's charm."
'You'd be surprised,' Rex thought, continuing his way towards the door, but replied, "Wasn't really planning on sleeping with the goddess."
"It would be wise to remain home today, in case her reply suggests the meeting will take place today," Zanis said, pushing a stack of papers toward the edge of the desk. "And since you'll be here anyway, you may as well embrace your role as vice captain and help with this."
Rex looked back then chuckled. "I remember when you almost cried because I offered to help."
"That was when I thought you were an idiot." Zanis adjusted his glasses, unbothered. "Turns out, you're smarter than I had given you credit for."
He met Rex's eyes. "Not the kind of intelligence someone from an orphanage in Daedalus Street should have. But I suppose that's the effect of your Indomitable Will."
"Something like that," Rex nodded, walking toward the desk.
Since the meeting could happen today or tomorrow, Rex figured he might as well take the next two days off. He picked up a stack of papers and moved to the sitting area, beginning to work with the help of Scavenger.
Zanis quickly wrote the letter, sealing it before stepping out of the office to find one of the Level 2s in the mansion who wasn't doing anything and appointed him to deliver the letter to the Ishtar Familia. It wasn't long before the messenger returned, handing the reply to Rex who read through the contents.
'Nice.' He nodded, folding the letter. Ishtar had agreed to the meeting tonight, which was the best case scenario. 'Let's go over the plan again,' he thought as continued to work on the papers.
That evening, Rex dressed in a slim-fit long-sleeved gray shirt, black pants, and a pair of boots. There was no need for anything formal—Ishtar wouldn't care, something Scavenger had already confirmed. Before heading out, he paused in front of the mirror, eyeing his reflection. His hair now reached his mid-back. Long, but it hadn't interfered with battle thanks to his helm, where he usually tucked it away.
"I wonder how long it would get if I let it grow," he muttered, imagining himself with a ridiculously long braid like Rapunzel. It wasn't a pleasing imagination, especially with his muscular body. "Nah. I'll cut it before it gets that far."
With that decided, he left Cupidinem for his meeting.
The Entertainment District was farther from Soma Familia's home than the Dungeon, but even at a casual pace, a 'Level 5' reached it in no time. He didn't bother using the gates and instead, jumped up onto the tall circular wall that surrounded the entire district, crouching as his eyes scanned the vibrant scene below.
The district resembled a giant circular petri dish, with magic-stone lamps affixed to buildings and pillars casting soft pink and purple hues over the streets. The glow bathed everything in a seductive pinkish light, and at the district's heart rose a tall tower—Belit Babili, the home of the Ishtar Familia.
It looked like a smaller Orario with a smaller Babel for a smaller Orario. '...Coincidence?' Rex thought while looking around. 'I think not.'
Because Orario was seen as the 'center of the world,' this district had become a melting pot of cultures. Some rooftops mimicked the sharp triangles of the Far East, while others resembled the tents of desert nomads, and some were built from solid stone, like the fortresses found in the cold, northern regions. Each brothel showcased a different architectural style, creating an ever-changing landscape meant to lure customers back for a new experience every time.
It was effective enough that even Rex felt intrigued by the changing scenery, curious about what each place might offer.
Women of all shapes and sizes moved through the streets, wearing revealing dresses that exposed their backs, seductive thighs, and luscious breasts, with their hips swaying. They called to every man that passed, flashing a smile and angling their body in a way to lure the eye. More than half were Amazons, but there were also humans, demi-humans, and even Pallum.
'...' From the wall, Rex watched a rather good looking man squatting to flirt with a female Pallum that looked more like a child. Even the way she acted was suggestive of a child, but scavenger confirmed that she was indeed an adult.
'Interesting taste.' He looked away, dropping down from the wall, landing in a crouch.
Knowing full well how much attention his marvelous looks could draw, Rex chose to move through rooftops and shaded alleys rather than the streets. The women here were bolder than those in the city. Rex, being a man, knew he might falter if approached too aggressively. Better to avoid the risk entirely. He didn't want to lose his virginity to prostitution.
'But this place really is busy.' It was even busier than the market the guild. 'I guess it makes sense.' After All, in this district, every building wasn't active during the day so adventures rush here during the night.
As he continued walking in the shadows through the Entertainment District while looking around, he noticed something. 'Hmm?' Rex squinted, frowning. 'What are they—ohhh… right.'
Not far off, Rex spotted Mikoto and the girl he recognized as Chigusa, flustered and clearly out of their element as they hurried through the red-light district. Their faces were completely red, arms raised in a frantic attempt to wave off the attention swarming them from all sides.
The two girls stuck close together, eyes darting around, shoulders jerking at every lewd comment from the men or teasing jeers from the women lining the street. Chigusa trembled beside Mikoto, looking like she might burst into tears, the duo looking like lost baby deer in the middle of the city.
Then, without warning, a large man stepped into their path and reached out to grab Mikoto.
"P-please, stop!" Mikoto squeaked, eyes clenching shut, her body moving on instinct. A split-second later, the man crashed face-first onto the stone pavement, knocked out instantly.
'…'
It was an amusing sight, but with Scavenger already having confirmed his theory and with only ten minutes left until his scheduled meeting, Rex saw no need to get involved. He turned and melted back into the shadows and continued on his way.
After a few minutes of walking, he suddenly noticed something after leaving the two girls behind. 'I should have used this chance to warn them not to return to the entertainment district...' It would have kept Bell from following them here tomorrow which would start the plot for Ishtar's Fall.
'Eh, whatever.' He looked up at the towering building before him. 'Time to tame a rabid dog.'
[Author's Note: Finals Weeks at my college is coming up so there might be delays for the chapters posting, so please be patient.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was originally going to be 4600 words but I had to cut it down to 3800 words because it felt too long to post as one chapter and too short to split into two. The part I cut out will be moved to a later chapter so you guys won't miss anything.
Starting the next chapter, the Ishtar arc will officially begin. Wonder how Rex's meeting with Ishter is going to go~.
Thanks for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day/night~o(*￣▽￣*)ブ]