"Ma~ you only just got here. No need to think so hard yet—eat first."
The dining-hall doors swung open, and every gaze naturally slid that way. Beside the familiar Loki walked a boy on the younger side. He looked slender, but any seasoned adventurer could see he'd trained. A genuine rookie.
His clothes weren't in Orario's style—an outsider? Bete's first thought landed on Tsunayoshi's outfit. Clothing was the easiest tell for origin. Yet Bete couldn't place this style at all.
He wasn't the only one who noticed. Others clocked it too.
Hardly surprising. Finn had just set expectations sky-high: a self-awakened talent who could, with the right intel, create powers to counter Ais. How could anyone not be curious? Hype was maxed.
Quite the turnout. Loki swept the room and quietly chuckled. Curiosity practically overflowed from every pair of eyes. She was pleased—that was exactly the effect she wanted.
"Before we eat, you should get to know everyone."
Loki led Tsunayoshi to the front of the hall and raised her voice.
"Curious about the newcomer?"
"Curious!"
The booming reply filled the hall. Dozens of fully curious faces fixed on Tsunayoshi.
Confronted with the crowd, Tsunayoshi felt a bit out of his element. He did fine with guys one-on-one, but public settings like this weren't his thing. He usually moved solo and his hobbies were niche; scenes like this were rare for him.
"Alright, let the newbie introduce himself."
Loki gave his shoulder a light push.
"Go on—self-intro."
"Mm."
Same intro as before, then. Tsunayoshi drew a deep breath.
"My name is Tsunayoshi. I'm 13. I like rock climbing, camping, and swimming. My specialty is 'creating monsters based on my imagination.'"
The hall went silent.
It was like everyone suffered a collective auditory hallucination.
"Did I hear that wrong? Did he say he can create monsters with his imagination?"
"No, you didn't. I heard the same."
People who thought they'd misheard checked with their neighbors—only to learn they'd all heard the exact same thing.
"Eh? Creating monsters with imagination?"
"!?"
The voice right in front of him made Tsunayoshi pause. He looked at the dark-skinned girl standing close—Tiona—and blinked. He could tell she was strong. One casual move from her and he'd be out cold.
"Newbie, can you show us?"
Tiona understood his words—and what they meant—but had trouble picturing how such an ability worked. She was curious how it operated in practice.
"Eh?"
A live demo? Unsure, Tsunayoshi instinctively looked to Loki.
"It's fine. These are my family. Even if you show them, they won't go blabbing. Especially the fastest mouths—Bete. And you, Raul."
Catching his glance, Loki smiled faintly. She would lock Tsunayoshi's ability down from the outside, but she didn't intend to hide it inside the familia. A few fast talkers just needed… firm handling.
One who got into trouble when drunk—Bete. The other who leaked things after "flower street" drinking—Raul.
"Eh?"
Bete wasn't surprised to be named. He figured the reason the old dwarf had "taught" him with his fists earlier was exactly this. And now he understood why Finn had asked the old man to do the "talking."
Raul, on the other hand, looked utterly lost. He hadn't expected to be called out alongside Bete—by the goddess herself, no less.
"Loki-sama, I'm not fast-mouthed."
"When you drink on the Pleasure Quarter, you spill familia intel like water. You're a fledgling—one crook of those big sisters' fingers and you're stripped to your last valis. Well?"
Loki's tone dripped with scorn. It wasn't that she minded Raul blowing off steam with paid company; adventurers carried heavy pressure and the occasional visit was normal.
What irked her was that Raul was so easy to scam—by Ishtar's girls, no less. Loki had been mocked by Ishtar more than once because of it. That was the part that stung.
I'm doomed. Raul shook like a small-scale earthquake had hit him.
"I trust the others can keep their mouths shut. It's you two big mouths—Bete and Raul—I worry about. Also, Tsunayoshi's ability is special. I'm not letting it leak outside. We're sealing all news from the public. Understood?"
After roasting Raul and Bete, Loki issued the order.
No need to hide too much internally—but externally, a full blackout.
Given that keeping it hidden inside would be harder if the kid tested powers in-house, better to be upfront with family. Loki glanced at Tsunayoshi. No way this child could run regular tests without people noticing.
So: reveal within, seal without. Decide it—do it. That was Loki.
Tsunayoshi gave a small nod. He opened his hand, and a tiny lion cub with an orange-red ring of flame around its neck appeared on his palm.
"Arro~"
The little lion let out an adorable yip at Tiona.
"Whoa! So cute~"
Tiona's eyes went wide. Girls are weak to cute things—Amazon or not.
She poked its nose; it gave a solid, real sensation.
"It's a living creature!"
(End of Chapter)
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