"Hey! What do you make of that guy?"
"Hard to say. But I can feel it, that black and red sword on his back is definitely no ordinary blade."
"Exactly! The fire elemental energy surrounding it is incredibly active. It might even be a Magic Sword."
"What? A Magic Sword!"
"No wonder he could defeat Udaeus. He's armed with a powerful weapon."
"Damn! I want a Magic Sword too!"
"Idiot! Do you think Magic Swords are just lying around for anyone to pick up?"
...
As Chloe, the black cat person, continuously served various delicious and hearty dishes, nearly everyone in the tavern was whispering about Allen.
Some had sensed the aura inadvertently leaking from the artifact on his back, the Sulfuras Sword, while others noticed the terrifyingly robust vitality of Lupos and its two generations of offspring. Clearly, as adventurers blessed by the gods with great power, most of them possessed keen perception.
Adding to the fact that they had heard from Ariel that Allen had defeated Udaeus, they naturally developed a preconceived notion, subconsciously viewing him as a remarkably powerful adventurer.
Allen, however, didn't care for their idle chatter. He focused on savoring the rich variety of food, occasionally taking a sip of his drink. While he silently contemplated how to spend his time while Vaelastrasz completed its evolution, several figures suddenly walked through the door.
The leader was none other than the captain of the Loki Familia, Finn.
Despite the small man standing at less than 140cm, he radiated an indomitable and powerful presence. It was clear that, like Allen, he was a classic example of someone whose strength was inversely proportional to their height.
The Pallum powerhouse swept his gaze across the tavern, quickly locking onto the pair eating. He walked straight over and asked with a smile, "You're Ariel from the Ganesha Familia, correct?"
"Yes. Can I help you?" The girl looked up at the legendary "Braver."
"I heard the party you led encountered the 37th-floor boss, Udaeus, today. Is that true?" Finn asked point-blank. He had come specifically from his Familia's headquarters to confirm if Udaeus had truly respawned early.
Ariel answered without a second thought, "It's true! But there's no need to worry anymore, because someone has already defeated it."
"Oh? And who might that be?" A flash of interest crossed Finn's eyes.
"Him!" Ariel pointed to Allen across the table, her eyes once again shining with hero-worship.
It was obvious she did this to help her savior gain some fame. For most adventurers, reputation was a vital form of capital. Unfortunately, she had no idea that Allen had no intention of becoming famous, let alone joining a Familia or becoming an adventurer. At the very least, until he understood the effects of "God's Blood" on the human body, he would never allow it into his system; heaven knows what kind of unknown side effects it might have.
"You defeated Udaeus alone?" Finn looked the beautiful youth up and down.
In reality, counting the time spent in various dungeons, Allen was technically a man in his thirties or forties. Regrettably, his appearance remained frozen at fourteen or fifteen. Aside from his violet eyes, which occasionally betrayed a maturity inconsistent with his looks, most people meeting him for the first time took him for a boy.
"No, it wasn't me. It was my companion, Lupos." Allen shifted the credit to his pet without hesitation.
"Lupos? A wolf!" Finn raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Allen nodded slightly. "Yes. He is a powerful Magic Wolf I was lucky enough to find as a cub and raise. As for myself, I'm just a Blacksmith and Alchemist with no real combat ability."
"Might I ask your name and which Familia you belong to?" Finn narrowed his eyes, testing him. It was clear he didn't believe a single word of the previous statement.
"You can call me Allen. As for my Familia... that's a secret for now." Allen curled his lips into a meaningful smile.
There were countless gods who had descended to this world, including unlucky ones who lost power struggles in Orario and were driven out or returned to the heavens. As long as he feigned belonging to a Familia, the gods wouldn't swarm him like annoying flies for a while.
"Hahaha! Very well. It seems you're not one for prying. But that's fine. You'll soon see that the Loki Familia doesn't resort to underhanded tactics. Enjoy your meal."
With that, Finn turned and led his people away. As he passed Lupos, he intentionally released a trace of his internal Magic Power to see how the giant silver wolf would react.
Ordinarily, a beast would panic the moment it sensed such Magic Power. But Lupos merely wore a look of disdain and gave a mocking roll of its eyes.
That's it? The Shadow Wolf King felt a wave of contempt for the man, then closed its eyes to enjoy its post-meal lethargy.
"Interesting. Definitely not an ordinary wolf," Finn muttered to himself as he disappeared down the street outside.
Upon returning to the Loki Familia headquarters, a group of people immediately crowded around him.
"Captain! Well? Was the news true?"
"Did Udaeus really respawn early?"
"No way! If it did, a hunting party from the Ganesha Familia couldn't possibly handle it."
"Was it just a false rumor?"
Looking at the familiar faces, Finn explained with a wry smile, "First, the news is true. I just confirmed it at the Hostess of Fertility. There's also an incredible development: the respawned Udaeus was subjugated by someone else. His name is Allen, and he refused to reveal his Familia."
"What? He refused to reveal his Familia?"
"I've never heard the name Allen. Is he really an Orario adventurer?"
The Amazon sisters, Tiona and Tione, crowded in with strong skepticism.
"I can guarantee he's not a registered adventurer with the Guild. In fact, he's never appeared in Orario before."
Accompanying the familiar voice, the goddess Loki finally appeared, stroking her chin with a thoughtful look.
"You mean..." Finn, who understood his goddess best, had a strange light in his eyes.
Loki responded immediately, "I mean, his identity and origins are highly suspicious. He's definitely worth investigating."