CHAPTER 863: CHAPTER 671: MEMBERS OF THE SECOND ARMY

Evening came quickly.

Because he used the second magic book, just like last night, Reiger fell asleep immediately, and when he woke up, the sun was about to set.

Reiger then left his room and learned from the passing members that while he was asleep, Ais finally left her room.

The girl seemed to have been forcibly brought out of her room by Theona, Theone, and Rephia. Then the four ran outside for a shopping spree, seemingly playing wildly outside all day, and haven’t returned yet.

Hearing this, Reiger felt relieved.

"It’s good she came out of her room."

Reiger was worried that the girl might stay cooped up in her room, shutting off her feelings, not accepting any outside words.

Fortunately, with companions like Theona and others around her, Ais was eventually dragged out of her world.

"Indeed, it’s easier for girls of the same age and gender to open their hearts to each other."

Reiger gave high praise to Theona and the others for resolving the issue.

Afterward, Reiger learned that Ais agreed to leave her room partly because of Revilia.

This elf royal, who was like a mother to Ais, seemed to have learned about Ais’s situation upon waking and specially went to her room for a chat.

Because of Revilia’s concern, Ais’s mood improved and Theona and the others were able to bring her out of her room, even taking this princess, who only knew how to fight, out on the town.

With this, there shouldn’t be any more problems.

With this assurance, Reiger finally set aside matters concerning Ais and prepared to handle his own business.

To do this, Reiger inquired about someone’s whereabouts from passing members and moved once he learned where the person was.

...

Twilight Pavilion, reception room.

This room doesn’t particularly seem to be designed for entertaining guests, instead it’s more like a place for the Familia members to relax, and it’s often used as a chat room by them. Reiger hasn’t been here for a long time.

The last time he came here was when Reiger had just risen to Lv.2.

At that time, Rephia hid here, frustrated about not being able to help Reiger, causing him a good deal of searching.

Today, Reiger returned here and found his target person.

It was a human youth who looked very unremarkable, even giving off an unreliable impression.

"I’m serious, back then I almost lost my life..."

With no clear idea what the topic was, the human youth kept complaining, making those Familia companions around him laugh one by one.

"Well, Raul, you’re liked by the captain, aren’t you?"

"Since before, the captain has enjoyed taking you everywhere."

"Isn’t it natural?"

"In the Familia, Raul, you’re considered quite the senior member, naturally, you should lead by example."

Everyone said this, half teasing and half affirming.

"I still feel I’m far from qualified..."

The person denying himself like this, speaking in a low voice, was Raul, the leader of the Familia’s second army right below the first-tier adventurers.

Those around Raul were also members of Loki Familia’s second army, like the catgirl Angel, human girl Elfie, elf elder sister Alicia, human girl Navi who was like Elfie, and the dogman Kaus, etc. These were all individuals just below the top-tier adventurers within Loki Familia, almost all, like Raul and Angel, were Lv.4 second-tier adventurers, the closest ones to first-tier adventurers, and had always supported the leaders and executives.

When Reiger arrived here, those who first noticed his arrival were indeed the beastmen with keener senses.

"It’s... it’s Reiger!"

Dogman Kaus couldn’t help but stand up.

"Reiger!"

Angel also stood up, seemingly very surprised by Reiger’s arrival.

"Reiger."

"Good evening."

"What brings you here?"

The rest of the members followed suit, getting up and greeting Reiger as usual, their attitude carrying a hint of respect.

This was the respect reserved for Familia executives, and it was proof that the members recognized Reiger’s abilities and had trust in him.

Among them was Raul.

This person whom Finn placed great expectations upon, acting as the de facto commander in Finn’s absence, seeing Reiger appear, although not nervous, straightened his posture.

"Good evening, everyone."

Reiger, as always, adhered to the junior’s etiquette towards these senior members of the Familia, without any change despite being a Familia executive and a first-tier adventurer.

"Am I interrupting?"

Reiger asked with a bit of apology.

"Not at all." Raul quickly shook his head, saying, "We’re just gathered here chatting, not doing anything that can’t be interrupted."

"Yeah." Elfie said in a somewhat lively voice, "We’re just chatting here, Reiger, did you not go out with Rephia and the others?"

Everyone glanced at Reiger, seeming to have the same question.

Even within the same Familia, relationships have their distances.

Like the top-level adventurers, apart from Bert who is used to being alone, most of the others often act together.

The big three naturally go without saying, with decades of friendship, it’s rare to see them apart. Ais, Theona, and Theone also have a close relationship, and like to hang out together when there’s nothing else to do. On the other hand, Raul and other second-tier members of the Familia are rather close, but due to factors like status and strength, even though they’re not distant from the top adventurers, they aren’t particularly close either.

Reiger and Rephia are exceptions. Even though they are both newcomers in the Familia, their exceptionally high potential quickly integrated them into the group of top adventurers.

Especially Reiger, who rose spectacularly like a shooting star, transforming from a mere new recruit to a key member of the Familia in just over three months, which was truly an inspiration.

Rephia was fine, at least she regularly interacted with the second-tier members.

The human girl Elfie is Rephia’s roommate, and the elf elder sister Alicia was the senior who recruited Rephia into the Familia, making Rephia quite compatible with the second-tier members.

In contrast, Reiger was relatively distant from the second-tier members.

Therefore, when Reiger came to the reception room, everyone was quite surprised. Even Angel, usually calm and collected and known as the "Lady Cat," seemed a bit nervous, trying to maintain her composure without showing any abnormality.

In such circumstances, Reiger didn’t beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose.

"I’m here to see Mr. Raul."

Hearing this, everyone turned their eyes to Raul.

"Just call me Raul; being addressed as ’Mr.’ by a Familia leader feels quite strange." Raul first gave a wry smile, then asked in confusion, "Reiger, do you need something from me? If you need help with any trifling matters, just let me know, it’s no problem."

"You can just call me Reiger, no need for formalities."

Reiger smiled faintly, advising the same as Raul had.

However, in the next moment, what Reiger said could be described as earth-shattering.

"I heard you used to frequent Fengyue Street, right?"

As soon as these words came out, the originally relaxed and easygoing atmosphere of the reception room turned dead silent.

Everyone froze there, like they had heard something unbelievable, their faces full of astonishment.

"Wh-wh-wh-what...!"

Raul, particularly, was like he had been struck by an invisible spear, retreating several steps as if someone had dug up some dark history.

Everyone remained quiet like this for a while.

Next, the reception room erupted in a burst of chatter.

"F-F-F-Fengyue Street...!?"

"Mr. Raul used to frequent Fengyue Street?"

"...No way, right?"

Elfie and Navi blushed as if they were embarrassed, Alicia also blinked, her gaze gradually changing as she looked at Raul.

"Uh, this..."

Dogman Kaus had a stiff face, forcing a dry laugh.

"......"

The catgirl Angel, for some reason, was silent, looking at Raul, her eyes inexplicably filled with sympathy.

Every member in the reception room was without exception, silently staring at Raul, with expressions that, in Raul’s eyes, could perhaps be summed up in two words to describe his feelings at that moment.

And those words were — social death.

Fengyue Street.

This is a special district located in the southeastern area of Maze City Orario, occupying a large territory.

Why is it special?

Very simple.

That place is a red-light district, a place for males to vent their desires and pursue a delightful nightlife.

Reiger’s words implied that Raul, who seemed honest and innocent, was actually quite the player, frequently seeking entertainment and pleasures.

If this isn’t social death, then what is?

"Raul..."

"Mr. Raul..."

"I didn’t expect you to be like this..."

"I really underestimated you... no, I really misjudged you."

With Alicia, Elfie, and Navi as the leaders, the female members began to cast contemptuous glances at Raul, while Kaus and other male members silently took a step away from Raul, looking as if they were worried about getting involved.

Seeing this, Raul, while greatly embarrassed, desperately began to defend himself.

"I-I haven’t been there for a long time!"

This kind of explanation was worse than no explanation.

After all, it was equivalent to telling everyone that there was indeed a period when Raul frequently visited Fengyue Street.

This made the female members’ gazes even more contemptuous, while the male members began to take pleasure in Raul’s misfortune.

"...I’m sorry, I am guilty, I was deluded, I deserve to die."

Raul knelt down, tears streaming down his face.

Watching this scene, Reiger suddenly felt a surge of guilt in his heart.

Did I do something excessive?