Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 83: Attempting to Discredit the Ancestors

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Izzy felt like he was having a terrible day.

At first, he had wanted to "celebrate" his promotion to Level 2. Then, there was his reunion with Goddess Artemis after a month of separation. On top of that, he had almost succeeded in implementing some personal plans…

If these three joys had been enjoyed separately, Izzy would've been over the moon, relishing each moment like a dream.

But instead, they all collided and overlapped in a chaotic mess.

Why?

Why did it have to turn out like this?

Supporting his cheek with one hand, Izzy stared at the scene in front of him with a deadpan expression, his eyes resembling those of a lifeless fish. The lively gathering before him felt more like an unruly offline meetup, leaving him with mixed feelings.

Artemis and Loki appeared to be locked in a competition. The two goddesses had downed an entire can of Soma-brand wine in a few gulps and had now moved on to glass after glass of fruit wine from the store of the Hostess of Fertility.

Neither seemed willing to back down until the other was thoroughly defeated.

The reason? Loki had been trying to reveal some secret about Artemis, but Artemis adamantly refused, and their dispute had escalated into this drinking contest.

Rethusa and Lante, seated a little farther away from the others, tried to keep their distance, but given that they were still at the same table, it wasn't much of a gap. After dodging the heated atmosphere of the earlier moments, the two eventually rejoined Syr and Ryuu, chatting and laughing together.

Meanwhile, the elegant elven royal, Riveria, sat between Syr and Loki. Her presence was otherworldly, almost like a fairy who didn't belong to this chaotic scene.

She paid little attention to Loki's reckless antics beside her, occasionally responding softly to Syr's words.

The night carried on with everyone enjoying the delicious food and wine until late.

What should have been a joyful dinner party ended with Artemis passing out drunk.

Though Artemis seldom drank, she could hold her liquor well enough. However, against a seasoned drinker like Loki, her limits were eventually reached.

"Lady Artemis has fainted!"

"Amazing! This is the first time I've seen Lady Artemis like this…"

"Me too…"

"After all, she's usually so strict!"

The girls from Artemis' clan, who had accompanied her, gathered around and began making a commotion over their goddess, who was now utterly incapacitated.

Fortunately, the ruckus didn't last long. Rethusa calmed them down, hoisted her drunk goddess onto her back, and said goodbye to Izzy before leaving with a sense of amused novelty.

Luckily, they had booked a hotel in advance. Otherwise, finding a place to stay on short notice with Artemis in this state would've been a challenge.

As for the cost of the meal? It was fully covered by Izzy.

That single meal had cost him nearly 300,000 valis. When it came time to settle the bill, Mama Mia and a certain cat girl were all smiles.

After a brief farewell with Ryuu, Izzy was the last to leave the tavern.

Walking along the softly lit avenue where the magic stone lamps glowed, he stepped forward to catch up with Loki and Riveria, who had walked some distance ahead of him.

"Hmmmm... competing with me in drinking? It's far too early for you~ Artemis," Loki slurred, her face flushed as red as a crab's shell. She seemed to be in high spirits, undoubtedly pleased with her victory in the drinking contest.

Loki walked ahead alone, her stride unsteady but triumphant. Izzy and Riveria followed a few steps behind her.

"Izzy," Riveria said coolly, her usual calm demeanor intact. She turned her head slightly to glance at him. "Why did you follow Raul to Red light district?"

Her voice was direct, and her sharp, cold beauty only made the question feel more pointed.

She wasn't the type to speak much in noisy environments, so she had kept her doubts to herself until now.

"Um… I didn't even step inside. Doesn't the teacher believe me?"

"No, I believe you. That's why I'm asking why," Riveria replied gently, her head shaking slightly as her calm gaze remained on Izzy.

Her words reflected her trust in him—she truly believed Izzy hadn't entered Red light district. But her initial question was still, "Why were you even there?"

"You know what the third and fourth districts around South Street are like. You don't seem like someone who'd willingly go into such a place. Is there something about it that concerns you?"

As his teacher, Riveria remembered clearly what she had taught Izzy. During moments of leisure, she often spoke to him about the sights of Orario, the things she'd seen, and her experiences across the continent.

The city of Orario was vast, and each of its eight neatly divided districts had its own unique traits. Riveria had, albeit with some embarrassment, explained places like the red-light district to both Izzy and Lefiya, firmly instructing them to avoid such areas unless absolutely necessary.

So, for Izzy to accompany Raul to Red light district now, Riveria felt there had to be a compelling reason.

"…I can't hide anything from you, can I, teacher?" Izzy admitted after pondering for a moment, his lips curving into a slight smile. "There are indeed some reasons."

"Can you share a little with me?"

Riveria's emerald eyes settled on Izzy, her lips curving softly—not quite a smile, but close.

"Ahem, please let me keep this a secret," Izzy said, clearing his throat. "I promise it's nothing bad, teacher. You have my word."

"I'm not interested in the 'colorful' things on Red light district. Even if I were, we have so many lovely girls in the familia. Why would I look elsewhere?"

Izzy's tone was solemn, as if swearing an oath.

Is Artemis not as attractive as before? Are Lefiya and the others suddenly lacking charm? That's not it at all. Even if we stretch logic to the limit, the accusation still insults common sense.

Why would he willingly involve himself in that kind of trouble?

If it weren't for the strength of some foxes, the goddess Ishtar's allure wouldn't even be a factor. Even when she personally invited Izzy to Red light district, he'd firmly refused.

Riveria blinked.

Was it just her imagination?

For a moment, it felt like some unseen malice had descended upon her. No, there was no direct hostility—but the sensation of being singled out lingered uncomfortably.

"You're still talking about going elsewhere? You dare to even think about my Ais-tan!? Izzy! Die!!!"

At that moment, Loki, who had been quietly eavesdropping from up ahead, suddenly turned around and launched herself at Izzy like a ferocious tiger pouncing on its prey.

"Huh? Loki, what are you doing!? I never said I wanted to 'catch Ais's attention!'"

"Do you expect me to believe that? Because I don't!"

"…."

Indeed, even the most gullible fool wouldn't believe it.

A scene of complete chaos unfolded as the two began fighting in the middle of the street like children squabbling.

A few minutes later, Riveria, who had been watching nearby, finally lost her patience. With a sigh, she stepped in to break them apart, ensuring they wouldn't embarrass themselves any further.

Ignoring Loki's resentful glare, the trio continued their journey in relative peace.

However, members of Loki's familia would later recount an odd tale. That night, in the high-level conference room of the Central Tower, muffled sounds of tearful confessions could be heard—words so laden with sorrow that anyone listening might've been moved to tears.