CHAPTER 63: 063 HELP ME! MR. REIGER!

The return journey at the end of the expedition was nothing noteworthy.

At least, that was the case for the usual Loki Familia.

As a large family capable of fighting in the deep levels below the 50th floor, the obstacles they encountered on the way home were almost negligible.

In the past, once the Loki Familia embarked on the return journey, there was only one outcome—unimpeded progress.

But this time, due to their supplies being destroyed by the corrosive fluid of worm monsters and even their weapons dissolved, the Loki Familia encountered quite a few troubles on their way back.

Not to mention, just filling their stomachs was a problem.

With only a very few emergency food supplies left, the Loki Familia had to forage in the underground city, finding a safe place to camp every day to gather wild fruits and vegetables to stave off hunger, which itself took up much of the return journey’s time.

It was the same when they encountered monsters. Since they had lost their weapons and armor, many members couldn’t even fight and had to face the enemy empty-handed, which introduced numerous risks and delayed them much time. If it weren’t for the strong members of the Loki Familia, and swordsmen like Reiger and Ais who could take on a thousand foes alone, leading the charge, the delay might have been even longer.

Thanks to this, the Loki Familia, usually able to return to the surface within five or six days, now took nearly eight days to make it back.

It just so happened to be dusk that day.

When all the members of the Loki Familia, weary from travel, walked out of the Tower of Babel, they immediately captured the attention of the surrounding adventurers.

Wherever they went, the Loki Familia always drew such attention, a destiny as one of the strongest familias in the city.

But by now, they no longer cared about the surrounding gazes and whispering.

"Ah! We’re finally back!"

Theona was the first to shout towards the sky.

"Can’t you be quiet just once? It’s embarrassing!"

Theone complained on the side, yet her expression visibly relaxed.

The others showed more or less the same reaction, Reiger included.

"We’re back, huh."

Looking at the sunset, Reiger himself felt as though it had been a long time since he had been back.

Though the underground city had its various spectacles, it was still underground, with no sight of the sky, and the constant need for vigilance and battle with monsters. A short time might be manageable, but extended periods could make anyone feel particularly oppressed.

Reiger wasn’t so affected.

Once, he had survived several months in the wilderness, hardly one to feel oppressed by less than a month in the underground city.

Yet, at the sight of the sky, Reiger couldn’t help but feel his spirits lift involuntarily.

"Perhaps, there’s just something oppressively deep inside me that I wasn’t aware of?"

Reiger silently thought to himself.

"This proves that, no matter what, I am still human, right?"

Thinking so, Reiger smiled.

"Alright, let’s go home."

The mask that Finn had been wearing as captain fell off, and he returned to the amiable person everyone knew.

Promptly, everyone began to laugh and talk, relaxing the strings that had been tense in their hearts, walking in groups out of the plaza in front of the Tower of Babel, heading towards the street where the Twilight Manor was located.

Along the way, whether adventurers or ordinary citizens, all paid their respects to the Loki Familia.

It was believed that soon, the news of the Loki Familia’s return from the expedition would reach the ears of all the major families in Orario.

Under such circumstances, the gates of the Twilight Manor gradually appeared up ahead.

The clan members guarding the gate originally stood there expressionless, a solemn look on their faces, until they saw Finn leading the returning expedition team and their demeanor changed.

"It’s the captain!"

"The captain is back!"

"The expedition team is back!"

Before long, cries of delight resounded within the Twilight Manor.

"Captain!"

The two gatekeepers also hurriedly saluted Finn and the others.

"We’re back," Finn smiled at them and said, "Open the gate."

"Yes!"

The two members immediately opened the gate.

"Oh! We’re back!"

Theona was the first to rush in.

"I said it’s embarrassing, can’t you understand that?"

Theone covered her face.

"Every time we come back, she’s this loud, I really can’t stand that Amazon."

Bert couldn’t stand it anymore.

"Miss Ais, we’re home."

"Mm."

Rephia simply expressed her joy there, eliciting a soft response from Ais.

With that, everyone walked into the courtyard and came in front of the mansion.

There, a group of members who had stayed behind were already waiting, warmly greeting everyone from the familia.

Of course, at such an occasion, a certain eager chief deity naturally wouldn’t miss out.

"You’re finally back—!"

Inside the mansion, a figure swiftly dashed out, heading towards them.

No, rather, she was heading towards all the female members in particular.

"Ais! Carbon!"

Like when Reiger first saw the expedition team returning to the familia, Loki reenacted that scene, rushing towards Ais.

In response, Ais along with Theona, Theone, and the other female members didn’t hesitate to turn around, avoiding the oncoming Loki.

Only Rephia stood there, dazed, and Loki crashed right into her.

"Ah? Ahhhhh!"

Rephia barely had time to let out a scream like that of a violated girl before she was overwhelmed and pressed to the ground.

"Heeheehee, Rephia, long time no see. Let Momma see if you’ve grown at all?"

"No, don’t—!"

Amid a series of salty, lecherous laughs, the elf girl, manipulated by the chief god, screamed in agony.

"Help me, Mr. Reiger!"

Rephia stretched out a hand towards Reiger, her face flushed with pleading.

"Stop it, Loki."

Reiger had initially decided not to bother with Loki’s poor taste, but Rephia’s tearful look was too pitiful for him to watch his teammate being toyed with by the lecherous chief god.

So, Reiger reached out and grabbed Loki’s collar from behind, lifting him up.

"Hey, what are you doing, Reiger? Don’t interrupt my rare fun time!"

Loki struggled while protesting.

"Do you really think it’s appropriate to molest a 15-year-old girl?" Reiger glanced at Loki and said, "If you want fun, go play with old man Grace."

"Who wants to touch a short, stocky, stinky man!"

Loki said without choosing words.

"...It’s really unfortunate that I am the short, stocky, stinky man."

A line of frustration appeared on Grace’s forehead.

"Are you okay, Rephia?"

Reiger ignored Loki, tossed him aside, and then reached out to help Rephia up.

"Wuuu... I was almost touched in places you shouldn’t touch..."

Rephia was at once relieved and pitifully sobbing.

"I’m sorry, Rephia."

Ais seemed guilty for having dodged Loki’s assault, leading to Rephia getting hurt.

"It’s, it’s okay!"

Rephia naturally refused Ais’s apology, hurriedly shaking her head.

"Hey, Loki, can you please stop bullying Rephia?"

Theona stood with her hands on her hips, scolding.

"Can’t you find a different way to greet us when we come back?"

Theone said with a face full of annoyance.

"Well, well, don’t say that." Loki’s demeanor changed as he spoke with a smile, "It’s rare for everyone to come back safe and sound, I’m just too happy."

"You, Loki," Revilia sighed and said, "Since we’ve come back safely after so long, can’t you just let us save some energy?"

The people around them unanimously nodded in agreement.

"Stop showing off, get out of the way. We’ve been in that hellish underground city so long, we all stink. Let people line up to take a bath!"

Bert came forward and kicked Loki several times, his mood plainly sour.

"Oh, alright, alright, sigh, when kids grow up they like to reject their parents, must be the rebellious phase, huh?"

Loki feigned a sigh, which made Bert involuntarily kick her again, causing her to cry in pain and clear the way.

"Everyone go and queue up for a bath."

At this sight, an ever-smirking Finn finally spoke up.

"As per tradition, we rest today, all work will be pushed to tomorrow. Loki, I’ll come find you later for the report; we took some heavy losses, and a few things happened, we need to discuss them properly."

"No problem, no problem, everyone go and take a bath and rest." Loki said cheerily, "Anyone who wants to update their ability values can also come to the God’s chamber and find me, but not too many, or I am done."

Upon hearing this, two people reacted to his words.

It was Reiger and Ais.

"I thought you two would be the most eager to update your ability values," Loki rolled his eyes and said, "All right, then; you two first tonight, everyone else can find another time."

None objected to this decision.

Rather, some were quite looking forward to it.

"Hey, hey, Reiger, you should be able to advance to Lv. 5 now, right?"

Theona asked with curiosity, drawing everyone’s attention.

Not sure."

Reiger felt it should be no problem, but he wasn’t one to boast, so he didn’t answer definitively.

Even so, many were looking forward to Reiger updating his ability values.

Even Ais was among them.

After all—

"With Reiger already so strong, just how formidable would he be if he advanced to Lv. 5?"

For some reason, Ais was very eager to know this.

...

Night fell amid the bustling noise.

After bathing and eating dinner, the expedition members mostly returned to their rooms to rest, making the entire Twilight Residence especially tranquil.

Reiger, too, had taken a bath, eaten his dinner, and made a trip back to his room before finally heading to the top level of the central tower—the God’s chamber.

"Loki, are you there?"

Reiger knocked on the door.

"I am, I am, come in."

Hearing Loki’s response, Reiger pushed the door open and walked in.