After quickly skimming through several more books, Ryota had a significantly deeper understanding of the world of DanMachi.
The breadth of knowledge gradually filled the gaps between him and this new world.
Closing the last book, he rubbed his slightly sore eyes and glanced outside the window. Seeing the fading daylight, he figured it was about time.
Standing up, he returned the books to their shelves and left the library.
The party had lasted late into the night.
Though faint lights still flickered from the main hall and occasional chatter drifted up from downstairs, most Familia members had already dispersed—some retiring to rest, others heading out on patrol.
Thus, the Twilight Manor felt particularly quiet tonight.
Ryota strolled down the hallway, heading toward the main hall.
He planned to find Loki or Finn to ask about his accommodations.
The lingering aroma of stewed meat and alcohol still hung faintly in the air, bringing an oddly relaxing sensation.
However, the moment he approached, the sight inside made him pause in shock.
It was practically a battlefield of fallen bodies.
On tables, chairs, across the floor, and even tucked in corners beneath window sills, sprawled Familia members lay unconscious in every imaginable position.
Some clutched empty wine jugs tightly; others had chicken bones dangling from their mouths as they snored softly. One even lay face-down on the table, murmuring sleepily: "No more drinks, Captain, please stop…"
Clearly, the aftershocks of the feast had thoroughly "defeated" these elite adventurers.
"Wow, seriously…?"
Ryota stood at the entrance, searching for Loki for a long while without success—she had probably been carried back to her own room.
Just then, his eyes landed on Riveria, seated gracefully at the far side of the long table.
Unlike the drunken chaos around her, this elegant High Elf calmly held a glass of water, taking small, refined sips.
Noticing Ryota's presence, she raised her eyes slightly and spoke softly:
"Do you need something?"
Ryota was momentarily stunned by her composed demeanor.
"As expected of the royal elf princess," he thought inwardly.
Even deep into the night, surrounded by drunken comrades, she sat upright and dignified, her voice carrying a naturally graceful aloofness.
"Ah, it's nothing major."
Ryota rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"I just wanted to ask where my room is."
Riveria hummed softly, lightly tracing her finger along the rim of her glass. After a brief pause, she replied:
"Second floor, second room from the left."
"It's vacant; no one's stayed there for a while."
"Got it."
Ryota nodded gratefully, decided not to bother her further, and turned toward the stairs.
He didn't notice that, from beginning to end, the gaze of Loki Familia's elegant "mother figure" never left him.
The second-floor hallway was silent and peaceful. Occasional candle lamps flickered gently on the walls, casting long, dancing shadows.
Soon, Ryota found the room Riveria had mentioned—second from the left.
Click—
The door opened, and a faint scent of fresh wood greeted him.
The room's decor was similar to the inn he'd stayed at on North Street.
He collapsed onto the bed with a relieved sigh:
"Finally, I can catch my breath."
As soon as he closed his eyes, the familiar electronic prompt sounded once again:
[Ding! Side Quest Progress Updated!]
[Explore Orario's Three Iconic Landmarks (1/3) – Achieved]
[Current Location Explored: "Loki Familia – Twilight Manor"]
[Reward distribution in progress…]
[Chakra Capacity Increased: +500]
[System Notice: Chakra increase synchronized; efficiency of certain ninjutsu improved]
Ryota opened his eyes, staring at the wooden ceiling, and chuckled softly:
"As expected!"
"The 'three iconic landmarks' mentioned in the quest aren't strictly defined."
He rolled over, gazing out at the starry sky through the window.
"Orario is huge—gods, Familias, guilds, merchant groups… If it were limited to just three specific places, it would be unreasonable."
"From the looks of it, the system probably means that as long as the location is sufficiently 'representative,' exploring three such places will complete the quest."
"Loki Familia is one of Orario's top Familias, so naturally, their headquarters, Twilight Manor, counts as one."
Reasonable, logical, within expectations.
Perhaps it was the alcohol finally taking hold again, or the sheer exhaustion from the day's events, but Ryota felt his eyelids growing heavy.
That night, he slept exceptionally soundly.
…
The following morning.
Sunlight streamed through the window, gently landing on Ryota's face.
He furrowed his brow, even pulling the blanket over his head, but the stubborn ray of light was impossible to escape.
In the end, he rubbed his eyes and sat up reluctantly, still feeling slightly groggy.
Probably the lingering effect of the strong drinks from last night, he felt somewhat lightheaded.
"Damn… they really went all-out with the drinking last night."
Muttering under his breath, Ryota dressed himself and stepped out of his room.
Descending to the first-floor main hall—which served as Loki Familia's dining area and common space—he found a completely different scene from last night's chaos.
Now, the long tables had been cleaned spotless, and a faint aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air.
It was almost as if the wild party had only been a dream.
Ryota casually grabbed a tray from the long table and approached the serving counter.
Before he could even speak, the cook behind the counter had already placed two slices of toast, a serving of fried eggs, and a few pieces of bacon on his tray, along with a steaming cup of warm milk.
Incredible—this was more efficient than a robot!
After expressing his thanks, he took his tray and found a seat. Just as he sat down, a friendly voice called out from across the table:
"Hey newbie, you're up pretty early!"
This person… who was he again?
Ryota desperately searched his memory of last night's events.
He vaguely recalled this guy enthusiastically piling chicken legs onto his plate, chanting something like, "One drink makes us pals, two drinks make us brothers."
But the name? Completely forgotten.
"Yeah, pretty early. You're early too."
Ryota maintained a polite smile, vaguely replying.
The other person didn't seem to notice his discomfort at all, casually munching on bread and asking:
"So, what's your plan for today? Heading to the guild to register as an adventurer?"
"Mm," Ryota murmured noncommittally in response.
He definitely planned to enter the Dungeon—not only to test his newly acquired abilities but also to progress his side quest.
"Hey, let me give you some advice—don't rush into the Dungeon."
Chewing on his bread, the other adventurer continued casually:
"If you really need to go, just stick to the first or second floors for now. Familiarize yourself first."
"Safety first, got it? The biggest danger for newbies is charging in recklessly."
Ryota nodded repeatedly:
"Good advice. I'll keep it in mind."
Yet, in his mind, yesterday's battle replayed vividly:
The War Shadow known as the "Rookie Killer," feared by new adventurers throughout Orario, hadn't even managed to open its mouth before getting instantly vaporized by his Great Fireball Jutsu.
If this guy sitting across from him knew Ryota had effortlessly obliterated that monster, what kind of expression would he make?
Ryota bit into his bread, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Hmm… it'd probably be quite entertaining."