Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 26: What should I do if I try to show off to the level of my own God?

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The labyrinth city of Orario.

This sprawling circular metropolis is encircled by a sturdy city wall that separates it from the outside world. Within these protective walls stand buildings of all shapes and sizes, creating a vibrant tapestry of life.

At the heart of the city rises a massive chalk-white tower that seems to pierce the heavens.

This is the Tower of Babel, a monumental skyscraper constructed to seal the entrance to the dungeon—a vast and dangerous labyrinth hidden beneath the city.

Centered around this iconic tower, Orario continues to thrive, a hub of adventurers, gods, and mortals alike.

As dusk approached, the streets of the city grew crowded with adventurers returning from the dungeon. The air was filled with the celebratory chatter of those grateful to have survived another day, and the raucous laughter spilling from inns and taverns.

Humans and demi-humans alike drank and joked together, while some gods, too proud to hold back, joined the revelry with a beer glass in hand.

Here, in this vibrant city, the barriers of race and social rank seemed to fade away, replaced by camaraderie and laughter—a snapshot of Orario's unique spirit and culture.

As the evening deepened, street lamps were lit ahead of schedule, their magical stone lights bathing the city in a warm glow, illuminating the lively streets.

Eager to make it back in time for their Familia's dinner, Izzy and Raul avoided lingering on the bustling streets. Still, their protesting stomachs demanded attention, so they stopped at a roadside stall and each bought a serving of inexpensive yet delicious fried potato balls to tide them over.

And, oh, fried potato balls truly lived up to the hype!

When they finally returned to the Twilight Manor, there was still some time before dinner. The Familia members were milling about nearby, waiting for the meal to begin.

As Izzy and Raul entered, they were greeted with warm smiles, like neighbors welcoming a young relative back from a long journey.

For adventurers, teasing familiar companions during downtime was a treasured form of relaxation. Naturally, Raul was the prime target of the group's jokes, as his long-standing familiarity made him an easy mark.

Unfortunately, Izzy became collateral damage in the teasing, suffering through the good-natured ribbing with a resigned smile.

After extricating themselves from the boisterous group, Izzy carried his share of Valis and loot back to his room. Then, grabbing a change of clothes, he joined Raul in heading to the Familia's large communal bathhouse for a quick shower.

After a long day of fighting in the dungeon, the grime and sweat clung to them, making the bath a much-needed respite.

Of course, the bathhouse was sensibly divided into separate men's and women's sections, with individual shower stalls to ensure privacy. There was no risk of any embarrassing encounters—at most, casual conversations across the dividing walls about the day's adventures.

Izzy was certain of his preferences. Goddesses, elves, or even charming beastfolk girls—all of them stirred his interest. He had no inclination toward men.

---

Later, the Familia gathered in the large dining hall on the second floor of the Twilight Manor.

As the members settled in, Loki took her place in a prominent position, holding a large wooden cup. This time, however, it wasn't her usual wine but a fruit drink.

"Alright, everyone preparing for the expedition, you already know what I'm about to say, so I'll keep it brief. One thing matters most—no matter what happens, you must come back alive!"

With that, Loki raised her cup, her words met with a resounding cheer from the Familia members.

"OOHH!"

Glasses were raised, and a toast echoed through the hall.

Not many people were drinking—after all, the timing wasn't right.

To use an analogy, it was like heading to the battlefield tomorrow; drinking tonight would clearly be inappropriate. Some people might sneak a sip, but their friends would keep a close eye on them, ensuring no one overindulged.

The rectangular dining tables were spacious enough to seat more than a dozen people comfortably, or even twenty if they squeezed in a bit.

Izzy and Raul sat at one such table, joined by several of Raul's teammates from the second echelon of the Loki Familia: the cat girl Anakitty, the elf sister Alicia, the human girl Line, and Elfy…

Wait a minute. Why were they all girls?

Sitting near the center of the dining table, Izzy immediately sensed something peculiar.

Uh, no, perhaps there wasn't anything wrong after all.

Considering the composition of the Loki Familia, it wasn't too surprising to find more women among its members.

The so-called unexpected… wasn't unexpected at all.

After all, the one behind this phenomenon was a certain mischievous god with rather particular tastes.

The Loki Familia, having grown to its current size under their god's "recruitment efforts" (discovery methods), was renowned for its stunning female members. The male members… well, they were there, but it was clear where Loki's preferences lay.

---

"Achoo!"

Loki, sipping juice under the watchful eye of her Familia's royal elf caretaker, suddenly sneezed.

"Who? Who's thinking about me!?"

"Who would think you?"

Riveria, standing nearby, delivered her rebuttal without hesitation.

"Wow, Mama is so heartless! I want a drink~"

"If you call me that again, believe it or not, I'll drop my staff right on your head!"

"Mmm…mm!"

At the threat, Loki shrank back like a scolded child.

It was rare—perhaps unique—for a god in all of Orario to be so thoroughly cowed by their own Familia.

---

As the meal wrapped up, members began clearing their dishes and leaving the dining hall one by one.

Loki, finally seeing an opportunity to sneak a drink, suddenly remembered something. Standing abruptly, she glanced around the room before her gaze locked onto a specific target.

A mischievous grin spread across her face as she grabbed her wine glass and made her way over.

---

Izzy, meanwhile, was using the dinner conversation to establish friendly ties with the girls at his table. The atmosphere was lively, with laughter and light-hearted chatter filling the space.

Just as he was starting to feel comfortable, he suddenly felt a weight press down on his head.

"Who is it? Who dares to ambush me!?"

Was no one aware that it was dangerous to touch a tiger's head? Especially now, when Izzy was confident enough to say a tiger was no match for his fist.

The room went silent, and when Izzy looked around, he found everyone—including Raul, who had been quietly eating—staring at him with barely concealed amusement.

Their smug expressions told him all he needed to know.

Turning around, Izzy froze, as though he'd swallowed a fly.

Right behind him was a familiar face with a mischievous grin, dimples flashing on her cheeks. Her scarlet hair was as striking as ever, almost blinding him in its intensity.

It was Loki.

The goddess had snuck up behind him without a trace of divine dignity, casually resting her elbow on his head like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Before she could speak, however, Loki was startled by Izzy's reaction.

Her raised eyebrow and thoughtful hum were as sharp as her grin.

"Oh? Did you just call yourself 'I'? If I recall correctly, that's a form of self-address reserved for bigwigs in the Far East, isn't it? Little Izzy, you seem quite cultured to know something like that~ You've done your homework on the Far East, haven't you?"

"Ahem… Ahem! Lord Loki, what brings you over here?"

Izzy hastily changed the subject, his tone full of nervous deflection as if he were on the verge of an asthma attack.

Inwardly, he missed the old days of scrolling through his mobile network and consulting his online circle of friends.

At this moment, he desperately wanted to post a question to them:

"What do you do when you accidentally act too cool and end up offending your own god? Asking for a friend. Urgent advice needed!"