Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 55: Something happened to Izzy?

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The sun shone brightly in the sky, nearing noon.

At this hour, while many adventurers delved into the dungeon, the northern district's bustling shopping streets were alive with activity. Ordinary citizens wandered the area, adding a vibrant energy to the city.

"Finally back…"

In the northern part of the city, just beyond the busy streets, stood the Twilight Manor.

A large group of adventurers, numbering in the dozens, crossed North Street, navigated through narrow residential alleys, and arrived at their headquarters.

"Ah, the air on the surface... I feel alive again!"

"I want meat!"

"I'd rather just get some rest..."

Listening to the exchanges between the sisters Tiona and Tione, Lefiya couldn't help but smile awkwardly at their antics.

Finn and his companions, having returned from the dungeon, reached the entrance of their headquarters. The team of adventurers, carrying or dragging supplies, came to a halt before the main gates.

The two guards stationed there immediately saluted the returning group.

"We're back. Please open the gates," Finn ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

With a creak, the gates swung open, but the calm was quickly disrupted by an excited cry.

"Woooooa!"

A blur of scarlet hair shot out from the mansion as a god rushed toward the group at full speed.

Ignoring the men entirely, she zeroed in on the women nearby, arms outstretched.

"Is everyone okay?! I missed you all so much!"

The goddess barreled toward them, aiming for an embrace. Ais, Tione, and Tiona dodged her effortlessly, clearly accustomed to such behavior.

Unfortunately for Lefiya, who stood at the rear, there was no escape.

"Wait—ahh! Nooo!" she shrieked as Loki enveloped her in a crushing hug.

"Loki," Finn said calmly, unbothered by the scene, "no one was lost during this expedition, and our harvest was significant. We reached the targeted floor, encountered some complications, and even glimpsed the super-deep layers. I'll provide a full report later."

The blonde, dwarven leader delivered his update with practiced composure, entirely unfazed by the goddess's antics.

"Yeah, yeah… Got it. Welcome home, Finn," Loki replied with a grin, briefly shifting her attention from Lefiya.

"Yes, we're back, Loki," Finn responded.

Loki looked up, her scarlet hair gleaming like the sunset. Her narrow eyes curved into crescents as a smile spread across her face—a picture of joy befitting a god welcoming her children home safely.

But then her expression shifted slightly, and she asked a question that made the others pause.

"By the way, did you see little Izzy on your way back from the dungeon?"

"Izzy?"

At her words, Finn immediately pictured the young adventurer in his mind.

But after a moment, he shook his head.

"No, I didn't see him on the way back. Why do you ask, Loki?"

"I see…"

Loki's face grew troubled, and the adventurers around her began exchanging uneasy glances.

"Could it be..."

Still trapped in Loki's embrace, Lefiya voiced a grim possibility, her tone heavy with worry.

"Did something happen to the newbie in the dungeon?"

Tiona chimed in bluntly, her expression stiff with concern.

"No, no," Loki said, shaking her head. "It's nothing like that. He went to the fifteenth floor three days ago to deal with an 'Strengthen species.' The guild has already announced that the Strengthen species was defeated... but Izzy hasn't returned yet. I'm just a little worried about him."

Her explanation did little to ease the tension among her Familia members, and unease settled over the group like a cloud.

According to the accounts and descriptions of adventurers returning from the middle levels of the dungeon yesterday, the "Strengthen species" that had appeared on the fifteenth floor had been defeated by a single individual.

The person responsible was described as having shattered golden hair, a youthful appearance, and wielding a silver-grey spear.

Wasn't this the kid, Izzy?

However, despite the "Strengthen species" being slain the day before, Izzy had yet to return to the surface, which left Loki feeling increasingly uneasy.

When her expedition team returned, Loki immediately asked them if they had seen any trace of Izzy. She had originally assumed that the two groups would cross paths during their descent, and Izzy would be brought back with them. She had even looked forward to teasing her Familia about the surprise.

But as always, reality rarely matched expectations, and Loki's hopes were dashed.

"How many floors?!"

"Fifteen floors?!"

"You're joking, right, Loki? Are you sure you didn't just say an extra ten by mistake?"

The one who reacted the loudest was the young werewolf Bete. He immediately began shouting upon hearing Loki's explanation.

The Amazonian sisters weren't far behind; all three of them wore expressions of disbelief.

"Angie, slap me. I think I'm hallucinating," said Raul, pointing at his face in a daze.

"Huh???"

Beside him, Anakiti gave him a look that screamed, Are you even listening to yourself?

The others in the room were not faring much better. Their first reaction was that Loki must have been joking.

In short, everyone was utterly shocked and found the situation hard to believe.

"Can you explain this in detail, Loki?"

Finn was the first to regain his composure. He addressed Loki in a serious tone, his expression solemn.

"Sure, but let's head inside first," Loki replied.

After all, standing at the front entrance of the headquarters wasn't exactly ideal for this kind of conversation.

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The Hall of Twilight, Central Tower Conference Room

The god of Loki Familia, along with the three leaders and several other key members, gathered in the large central conference room.

Ordinarily, this time would have been reserved for debriefing the details of the expedition. But today, something else demanded their attention—a matter that clearly had everyone on edge.

All eyes were fixed on Loki as the room waited for her to begin.

"Ah… don't stare at me like that! You're making me blush~"

After a brief pause, Loki scratched her head with a sheepish laugh.

The Familia's serious expressions shifted immediately. Several people slumped in exasperation at Loki's antics.

"Hey!!!"

"Wahhhh! Okay, okay, calm down! I'll explain! I'll explain!"

Loki flailed dramatically as she was met with glares and a raised wand from Riveria, who looked ready to blast her.

"Ahem!" Loki cleared her throat and adopted a more serious tone. "First of all, you heard me correctly. Izzy went to the fifteenth floor three days ago to deal with the 'Strengthen species.'"

She paused for effect before continuing.

"And Izzy's strength isn't just average—it's outright impressive. I can confidently say that no ordinary Lv.2 adventurer could stand against him."

"What?!"

Bete nearly shot out of his seat, his reaction almost violent.

"Wait a second, Loki! Are you telling us that he's reached the strength of Lv.2 in just half a month? What the hell happened during that time?"

His question echoed the thoughts of many in the room.

The Amazon sisters exchanged surprised looks, while Raul mumbled something under his breath, clearly still trying to process everything.

The three leaders—Finn, Riveria, and Gareth—remained calm, though even they were taken aback. They had already seen glimpses of Izzy's abilities, so they were slightly more prepared for such a revelation. Still, hearing confirmation from Loki herself was something else entirely.

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