"Well~ since you just got here, there's no need to overthink it. For now, let's eat."
The dining hall door swung open, and every head turned instinctively toward it. Loki strolled in, a wide grin on her face—and beside her walked a young boy. He looked a bit frail at first glance, but any seasoned adventurer could tell he'd trained his body. Still, he was definitely a total rookie.
His clothes stood out immediately—nothing like the styles seen in Orario. An outsider? Bete's sharp eyes locked onto Tsuna the moment he walked in. That outfit alone screamed "not from around here." But even so, Bete couldn't recall seeing anyone dressed like that before.
He wasn't the only one to notice. The rest of the room picked up on it too.
Not that anyone could help it—Finn had hyped this kid up big time earlier. A self-awakened talent, able to create powers that counter Ais just by analyzing her information? How could anyone not be curious? The tension and anticipation were through the roof.
What a full house, Loki mused, amused as she swept her gaze around the hall. Every single pair of eyes was brimming with curiosity, just the way she wanted.
"Before we eat," Loki said, tugging Tsuna gently toward the front, "you should probably introduce yourself first."
She raised her voice, letting it carry across the room. "So! You're all curious about our new recruit, right?"
"Curious!"
The unified roar filled the hall, shaking the walls with enthusiasm. Dozens of eager gazes locked onto Tsuna at once.
He froze a little. He got along fine with guys his age, sure—but crowds like this weren't his thing. He usually kept to himself, spending time on quiet hobbies. Being the center of attention like this… yeah, not his comfort zone.
"Alright then," Loki said, giving him a light push on the shoulder. "Go on, introduce yourself."
"Okay."
Same as before, he decided. Tsuna took a deep breath.
"My name's Tsunayoshi Sawada. I'm thirteen years old. My hobbies are rock climbing, camping, and swimming. My ability… is the power to create monsters based on my imagination."
The dining hall fell utterly silent.
It was like the whole room had frozen in disbelief.
"Did I just hear that right? He said he can create monsters with his imagination?"
"You didn't mishear. I heard it too."
The adventurers exchanged bewildered looks, as if trying to confirm they weren't hallucinating. But when both parties realized they'd heard the exact same words… reality sank in.
"Wait—create monsters with his imagination?"
"!?"
The sudden voice made Tsuna flinch slightly. He turned toward the dark-skinned girl who'd stepped closer—Tiona Hiryute. Even at a glance, Tsuna could sense her strength. She was powerful—powerful enough to knock him out cold in an instant if she wanted to.
"Hey, newbie, can we see it?"
Tiona understood perfectly what his words meant, but she couldn't wrap her head around how such an ability could even exist. Curiosity sparkled in her eyes—she had to see it for herself.
"Eh?"
You want me to show it now? Unsure, Tsuna instinctively glanced at Loki for confirmation.
"It's fine," Loki said, smiling slyly. "Everyone here's family. Even if you show them, they won't go blabbing about it. Especially Bete—the fastest mouth in the Familia. And you, Raul."
She caught Tsuna's hesitant look and gave him a reassuring nod. Loki didn't plan on exposing his ability outside the Familia, but within the group? She wanted everyone aware. A few loose tongues could be dealt with easily enough.
One drunk blabbermouth—Bete.
And one who tended to spill secrets in the Pleasure Quarter—Raul.
"Eh?"
Bete wasn't surprised to be called out. He'd already guessed that was why Gareth had "talked" to him earlier. Still, at least now he understood why Finn had made the old man do it personally.
Raul, on the other hand, was completely thrown off. His jaw dropped. Me? He hadn't expected to be lumped together with Bete of all people—and called out by Loki herself, no less.
"Lady Loki, I don't talk that much!" he protested.
"Oh, really?" Loki's smirk turned sharp. "Every time you drink in the Pleasure Quarter, you practically broadcast Familia secrets to anyone who'll listen. You're such an easy mark that those big-sister types just crook a finger and you hand over your entire paycheck. Sound familiar?"
Her words dripped with mockery. It wasn't that Loki minded her adventurers blowing off steam in the red-light district—everyone needed to relax sometimes. What did piss her off was how easily Raul got duped. Worse, he'd been scammed by prostitutes from Ishtar's side, and Loki had endured more than a few smug jabs from that goddess afterward. That, she wouldn't forgive.
Raul went rigid, trembling like he'd been struck by lightning.
"As for the rest of you, I trust you can keep your mouths shut. But you two—Bete and Raul—you're on thin ice. Got it? Tsuna's ability is special, and I don't plan on letting word of it spread beyond these walls. Outside this Familia, it doesn't exist. Understood?"
After giving both "big mouths" a thorough verbal beating, Loki's tone shifted to command mode.
Inside the Familia, she saw no reason to hide it. Outside, total lockdown.
It made sense—if Tsuna ever needed to test his ability during training, the others would see it eventually. Better to reveal it now on her own terms. That was Loki's style—clean and decisive.
Tsuna nodded slightly. Then, raising his hand, he summoned a small creature into existence—a lion cub, wreathed in faint, orange-red flames around its neck.
"Rrrawr~"
The tiny lion let out a soft, playful growl toward Tiona.
"Oh my gosh, it's adorable!"
Tiona's eyes sparkled with pure delight. No matter how battle-hardened, a girl was still a girl when faced with something that cute—even an amazoness.
She reached out and poked its nose gently. It was warm, solid—real.
"It's alive!" she gasped, completely enchanted.