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Twilight Manor, the sprawling headquarters of the Loki Familia, was usually a place of disciplined training and high-level strategy. But today, the atmosphere in the executive briefing room was heavy with a tension that had nothing to do with the Dungeon.
Riveria Ljos Alf, the noble High Elf whose poise was legendary throughout Orario, stood at the head of the mahogany table. Her hands were folded, but the slight tremor in her fingers betrayed a fury that threatened to boil over. Beside her, Captain Finn Deimne sat with his chin resting on his hand, his thumb twitching rhythmically—a telltale sign that he was calculating the magnitude of a looming public relations disaster. Gareth Landrock sat across from them, his massive frame making the ornate chair look like a child's toy, while the Familia's matron, Loki, paced the floor like a caged animal.
"What's the meaning of this, Riveria?" Gareth grunted, his voice like grinding stones. "Calling us in during the midday lull? Did the Deep Floors cough up something we need to worry about?".
"I suspect," Finn interjected, his blue eyes sharp and analytical, "that the threat is currently occupying the nightstands of half the adventurers in the city.".
"What? What book? Speak plain!" Loki demanded.
Riveria didn't answer with words. Instead, she produced a thin, illicit-looking volume and slammed it onto the desk with a force that made the fine wood groan.
"This!" she hissed.
Loki lunged for the book. Her eyes, usually mere slits of mischief, flew open so wide they looked like they might fall out of her head. She scanned the cover—a beautifully rendered illustration of Bell Cranel and Ais Wallenstein entangled in a semi-clothed, breathless embrace—and let out a scream that likely reached the top of the Tower of Babel.
"WH-WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE NINE REALMS IS THIS!?" Loki shrieked, her voice reaching a frequency that made the stained-glass windows rattle. "My precious, innocent Ais-tan... with that shrimp goddess's white-haired brat!? And they're... they're almost naked!?".
She tore through the pages, her face turning a shade of purple that matched her hair. The content was worse than the cover—a high-quality, narrative depiction of a romantic tryst that was as vivid as it was unauthorized.
"Um, Ais-san..." the text read, accompanied by a drawing of Bell looking utterly flustered. "Bell, are you nervous? It's okay... I'm the older one here, so I'll take the lead. ♡".
"No... no, no, no!" Loki wailed, clutching her head. "My Ais-tan would never act like a seductive 'Big Sister'! This is a fabrication! This is character assassination!".
Riveria folded her arms, her expression a mask of cold elven disdain. "The craftsmanship is undeniable. The anatomy is accurate, the pacing is professional, and the likenesses are... unsettlingly faithful. If this were a legitimized chronicling of the Familia's history, I would be impressed. But as it stands, it is a vulgar violation of our honor.".
Finn picked up the book, flipping to a page where the 'Ais' in the story was pinning Bell against a training wall. "It's more than just vulgarity, Riveria. It's effective. Bell Cranel is the record-holder—a celebrity in his own right. Coupling him with the Sword Princess? This artist knew exactly what would sell.".
"I don't care about the sales!" Riveria snapped. "I care about the precedent. We cannot allow our executives to be depicted in such a lewd, unauthorized manner.".
Gareth, meanwhile, was leaning over Finn's shoulder, squinting at the artwork. "Aye, it's a shame the content is so filthy. The line work on the armor is better than some of the sketches in the Guild's bestiary. This isn't the work of a bored amateur.".
"Why are you looking at it so intently!?" Riveria barked, delivering a sharp swat to the back of Gareth's head.
The veteran warrior barely flinched. "Just appreciating the technique, Lass. No need to get your robes in a twist.".
"Enough," Finn said, his voice quiet but commanding. "We need to handle this quietly. If the executives of the Loki Familia are seen prowling the Entertainment District for 'smut,' the scandal will double. We need someone inconspicuous. Someone who can blend into the crowd without raising an eyebrow.".
He looked toward the door. "We'll send Raul. He can track the distributor back to the source. Whoever created this needs to understand the consequences of profiting off our names.".
"Good," Loki muttered, her eyes narrowing again. "And when we find 'em, I'm gonna make sure they never hold a pen again! My Ais-tan's purity is non-negotiable!".
—————
Later that afternoon, the sunlight was beginning to slant through the high windows of Twilight Manor. Ais Wallenstein walked through the corridors, her mind occupied by a nagging question about her footwork during her last session with Bell. She made her way to Loki's private quarters, hoping for a rare moment of lucidity from her patron.
"Loki? Are you there?".
Silence greeted her. Ais nudged the door open, peering into the room. It was empty, smelling faintly of expensive spirits and Loki's signature floral perfume. She hesitated at the threshold, then decided to step inside. She'll probably be back soon, Ais thought, deciding to wait.
As she stood by the desk, a small, thin book lying amidst a pile of scrolls caught her eye. On the cover, she saw a shock of white hair and a face she recognized instantly. And beside him... was herself.
"What is...?".
She picked it up. Curiosity, a quiet but insistent force in her chest, compelled her to open it. Her eyes widened as she took in the first few panels. It was a story about her and Bell—but it wasn't a story about training or the Dungeon.
"Ais-san—chuu♡" the bubble read, accompanied by an image of her pressing her lips to Bell's. "Mmm... this is my first kiss...♡".
Ais felt a sudden, sharp heat bloom in her cheeks. My first kiss? her mind echoed. She had never kissed anyone. To see herself doing it—and with Bell—was like watching a version of herself from a different, feverish world. The story depicted their training on the walls, but then it shifted. In the book, she accidentally hurt him, and in her 'guilt,' she began to comfort him in ways that made Ais's heart race for all the wrong reasons.
She turned the page. The drawings became more detailed, more intimate. She saw herself pushing Bell down, her uniform disheveled. She saw the confusion and longing in the illustrated Bell's eyes. It was a level of vulnerability she had never seen from him—and a level of aggression she had never felt in herself.
"Is this... Bell's...?".
She stared at the drawing of Bell's exposed skin, her fingers trembling against the paper. She didn't fully understand the mechanics of what was being depicted, but the raw, visceral intensity of the images made her stomach flip. She felt like she was trespassing on a secret she didn't know she had.
"Ais! Did you find Loki yet?".
The voice of Tiona Hiryute rang out from the hallway. Ais's survival instincts—honed by years of combat—kicked in instantly. She slammed the book shut with a loud thwack and, in her haste, it slipped from her fingers.
Thud.
Tiona rounded the corner, her golden eyes bright with energy. "Oh! You're here! I've been looking all over for—wait, what was that noise?".
Ais didn't hesitate. With the blinding speed of a Level 6, she didn't reach for the book; she delivered a sharp, controlled kick. The volume skittered across the floor, sliding perfectly into the deep shadows beneath the heavy mahogany desk.
"N-No," Ais said, her voice sounding higher than usual. "She's not here.".
Tiona tilted her head, stepping closer. "Ais? Your face is totally red! Are you having a fever? Did you eat something weird in the Dungeon?".
"I'm... fine," Ais insisted, touching her burning cheeks. Why is it so hot in here?.
"Well, if she's not here, we should keep looking!" Tiona said, grabbing Ais's hand. "Aki said she saw her near the archives earlier. Come on!".
Ais allowed herself to be dragged out of the room, her eyes lingering for a split second on the shadows beneath the desk. She needed to go back. She needed to... destroy it? Or finish it? She wasn't sure.
As they left, Aki, who had been following close behind, stopped at the doorway. Ais seemed really off, she thought. She stepped into the room to check if Loki had left any messages, but a glint of white paper caught her eye from the darkness under the desk.
She reached down and pulled out the book. "What's this? Did Loki drop another one of her—?".
Aki froze. She stared at the cover—the Sword Princess and the Rabbit Foot. She flipped a page. Then another. Her face went through a rapid series of expressions: confusion, shock, and finally, a deep, professional furrow of her brow.
This is a disaster, Aki realized. If the other Familias see this... if the Guild sees this....
She looked at the images—the passionate, almost believable portrayal of Ais losing her cold exterior. It was a dangerous piece of work. Aki took a deep breath, scanning the room for a hiding place. She couldn't take it with her—someone might see—and she couldn't leave it where Loki might find it again.
She moved to the large, ornate bookshelf against the wall. Finding a gap behind a set of dusty, leather-bound histories of the Age of Heroes, she shoved the book deep into the crevice. It was a spot no one would look for years.
I need to find Loki, Aki thought, her mind already racing through the implications. And I need to make sure Raul finds that artist before anyone else does..
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