Orario in the early morning was still shrouded in a thin mist, but the sky had already brightened, and figures slowly emerged in the streets and alleys of Orario.
People waking from their sleep began a new day of life.
Asta first returned to last night’s inn, slinging his backpack, which contained the documents he had processed at the Guild yesterday, onto his back.
After packing his belongings and bidding farewell to the yawning elf clerk, Asta briskly headed to the city’s North District.
Along the way, Asta bought a thirty-farli serving of fried potato balls for breakfast.
Yesterday, while shopping with the Goddess, Asta had curiously tried this Orario specialty, and surprisingly, it was really delicious.
And it only costs thirty farli.
It’s truly a bargain.
There’s a reason why so many fried potato ball stalls are open in Orario.
In the northern part of the city, along a road just off the bustling main street, stood a residence much taller, longer, and larger than the surrounding buildings.
Several high-rise towers overlapped, making the mansion resemble a mountain of swords, while its bronze exterior made it look like a vigorously burning flame.
On the Central Tower, the highest of all the towers, a flag with a jester’s emblem fluttered in the morning breeze.
This was the headquarters of the Loki Familia, Twilight Manor.
In front of the main gate, the armed gatekeepers meticulously performed their duties.
As one of Orario’s largest Familia, it naturally couldn’t allow just anyone to enter or exit.
He had expected another peaceful morning, but a figure slowly approaching from a distance made the gatekeeper dismiss that thought.
“Please stop.”
As Asta approached the main gate, the gatekeeper couldn’t help but speak.
“This is the territory of the Loki Familia.
If you don’t have a valid reason, I cannot let you proceed.”
Saying this, the gatekeeper gestured with his weapon towards Asta.
Beneath his armor, strong muscles were faintly visible, indicating his great strength.
Anyone guarding the main gate here must at least be an Adventurer who has received Falna.
To make a bold guess, it was not impossible that the person in front of Asta was even LV2.
“Cough, cough, I was thinking of joining the Familia.
Is there really a need for all this sword-waving?”
Asta stopped as instructed, explaining his purpose somewhat helplessly, and took out the document Eina had given him yesterday from his backpack.
“Look, this is a certificate from the Guild.
It says something about making passage easier?”
Actually, Eina’s original words were that this certificate was just a pass, and over a long period, there were many supporters who noticed the Loki Familia’s announcement at the Guild and came to volunteer.
Especially during the period when Loki had just released the announcement, the Guild issued a considerable number of such certificates, yet almost all of those people were rejected by God Loki.
This was also why Eina said Loki had very high standards.
However, Asta’s situation was somewhat different from theirs and could not be generalized.
Seeing this, the gatekeeper took the certificate from Asta’s hand to examine it, skipping over the long string of text and moving his gaze to the bottom.
When he saw the Guild’s unique seal, the gatekeeper confirmed the truthfulness of Asta’s words and that he could indeed be let through.
However, after returning the document to Asta, the gatekeeper scrutinized him briefly, his gaze becoming inexplicably complex.
“Joining the Loki Familia?
Are you sure?”
“Of course, I’m sure, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”
Hiss, such a confident statement with a sense of déjà vu~
The gatekeeper felt as if he saw his past self in the other person.
He, too, had come to join the Loki Familia, drawn by its high reputation, and was equally confident, believing he could make a name for himself.
Although he was lucky enough to join, as time passed, he slowly ended up guarding the gate here…
There were no negative emotions like resentment or jealousy, just a clear understanding of reality.
Even entering one of Orario’s largest Familia didn’t mean he was capable; in the end, he could only be a gatekeeper.
There were countless Adventurers within the Familia stronger and more talented than him; he wasn’t special.
“In that case, follow me.
I’ll take you to see God Loki.”
The gatekeeper called a companion from nearby, asking him to temporarily cover his duties, then opened the main gate and led Asta into Twilight Manor.
“Let me tell you beforehand, whether you can join the Familia depends entirely on God Loki’s will.
If you fail, you’d better not make a scene, or even if God Loki doesn’t care, I’ll throw you out.”
Because he had seen this situation many times, the gatekeeper now greeted Asta first.
“Understood.
If I can’t join, it means my own abilities are insufficient, and it has nothing to do with anyone else.
I can’t blame anyone.”
Asta nodded understandingly at this.
“Understanding is good.
Many inexperienced newcomers, after failing to join our Familia, make a scene.
I personally dislike that kind of behavior, so I don’t hold any particular ill will towards you.”
The gatekeeper saw that Asta answered without hesitation, not seeming to be faking it, and his previously stern expression relaxed considerably.
He then walked ahead, leading Asta into Twilight Manor.
Perhaps he held a glimmer of hope for Asta joining the Loki Familia, as he chatted with him about many random daily anecdotes along the way.
Upon entering Twilight Manor through the main gate, the enormous residence almost occupied over seventy percent of Twilight Manor’s area.
And this headquarters, built on a limited plot of land, seemed to have decided that since it couldn’t extend horizontally, it would extend vertically, thus making the Central Tower’s presence very prominent.
After entering the main gate, the courtyard ahead did not appear very spacious; the space between the gate and the entrance was indeed only set up as a small manor.
A few planted trees and various colorful flowers swayed gracefully in the gentle breeze.
At this moment, in the courtyard of Twilight Manor, a graceful figure was already training.
The graceful figure, holding a wooden sword, continuously swung it, the blade whistling even when striking only air.
Her golden hair cascaded behind her, and her clear golden eyes were focused, allowing no distractions.
“The Sword Princess…
is that her?”
Asta, walking through the courtyard with the gatekeeper, couldn’t help but stop to watch the scene.
Ais Wallenstein, the Sword Princess.
A powerful LV5 Adventurer and one of the executives of the Loki Familia, she was an existence beyond Asta’s current reach.
Her morning training like this seemed to have been going on for seven or eight years.
She possessed extraordinary talent while also silently putting in effort.
No wonder she was so strong!
“Don’t stare.
It’s not good to disturb Ais-tan’s morning training.
Newcomers shouldn’t aim too high.
Even if you are lucky enough to join the Loki Familia, reaching the executive level is incredibly difficult.”
In front of Asta, the gatekeeper, seeing him stop, spoke earnestly.
Executives in the Loki Familia were the absolute main force for Dungeon Strategy; all of them were LV5 First-Class Adventurers.
Levels that most other Familia didn’t have, the Loki Familia had as many as four of them.
It was enviable.
“Ah, a few glances won’t hurt~”
Retracting his gaze and coming to the gatekeeper’s side, Asta said with a playful smile.
“You rascal, I understand.
After all, Ais-tan’s Charm is so high that even God Loki can’t escape it.”
The gatekeeper felt he seemed to understand something and winked at Asta.
“…”
You understood that quickly?
Are you perhaps also a King of Understanding?
Passing by the diligently training Sword Princess, Asta followed the gatekeeper, walking through the red-bricked courtyard and entering the mansion.