Danmachi, Ch 81-85

Chapter 81 – The Strengthening Plan

“Mom… Dad…”

Ais stared blankly at the ceiling, one hand unconsciously brushing over her hair as if she could still feel her mother’s gentle touch from the dream.

“That was… a dream. It felt so real.”

She knew perfectly well it wasn’t reality. The mother and father she’d seen were only her memories, fragments from long ago. Even the version of her mother inside that dream had told her as much.

But still—Ais couldn’t stop wishing she could go back.

Maybe the people in that world weren’t real, but the warmth she’d felt there… she wanted to feel it again. Curling up, she hugged her knees, a dull ache pressing in her chest. The people who’d once given her faith and strength existed only in her dreams. And knowing that, the will she’d carried for so long began to waver.

“Those are some dangerous thoughts you’ve got there, Ais.”

She turned, startled, and saw Loki sitting on her bed—completely naked, watching her with amused eyes.

“Loki, you read my mind.”

Ais puffed her cheeks, glaring at the goddess for poking into her thoughts.

“Gods can’t actually read minds after sealing away their divinity,” Loki said with a yawn. “But after living this long, some of us clever ones can read your heart just by looking. And yours, sweetheart, is written all over your face.”

Completely brushing off Ais’s complaint, Loki grinned and continued.

“Anyway, Tsuna only sent you into that dream yesterday to calm your heart. It wasn’t meant for you to drown in it.”

“Loki… mean.”

Ais instantly realized what that meant—she wasn’t going to be allowed back into that dream world again. The only person who could send her there, Tsuna, definitely wouldn’t help her just for that.

“Mean or not, that’s how it is.” Loki stretched lazily. “If you want to experience that dream again, then you’d better work hard in both worlds, Ais.”

Still grinning, the goddess hopped barefoot off the bed and walked over to the cabinet to grab some clothes.

“Oh right,” she said casually, “Tsuna also told me about his next growth plan—and the Strengthening Plan for everyone else.”

“!?”

“Finn, Gareth, and Riveria are all included. But as for you, we didn’t discuss anything.”

What!? Not me again!?

Ais’s eyes widened in disbelief.

During the last Expedition, she’d been assigned mostly to guard duty, barely getting any real training. And now, even the Strengthening Plan didn’t have her name on it?

That meant she wouldn’t be improving anytime soon. The realization hit her like a shock—an uncomfortable, burning panic replacing the calm she’d woken up with.

If she couldn’t return to the World of Dreams and wasn’t part of the strengthening list… then she’d be the only one left behind.

That thought made her chest tighten painfully.

“I’m going to find him!”

Before Loki could get another word out, Ais threw off the blanket, jumped out of bed, and bolted for the door.

Watching the door slam behind her, Loki sighed, tugging her shirt over her head.

“That girl’s personality isn’t changing anytime soon.”

But she couldn’t help smiling to herself.

“Still, looks like Tsuna’s going to have his hands full for a while. Between the World of Dreams and her drive to grow stronger, she’s definitely gonna be chasing him around nonstop.”

Not that Loki planned to stop it.

At least for the next six months, it couldn’t be helped. Especially since Tsuna was the one running Finn and the others’ Strengthening Plan. It’d be stranger if Ais didn’t stick close to him.

“Guess I’ll leave it to him. Poor Tsuna—I just hope the kid doesn’t get hounded to death.”

The image of an exhausted Tsuna standing before her made Loki chuckle. Somehow, the thought was a little too entertaining.

Meanwhile, Ais was already sprinting down the hall toward Tsuna’s room.

Thanks to the times she’d visited with Tiona and Tione before, she knew exactly where it was.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

Just as she turned the corner, she heard knocking ahead—and saw Tiona and Tione already standing in front of Tsuna’s door.

She slowed, approaching them curiously.

“Tiona, Tione.”

“Oh, morning, Ais!” Tiona greeted cheerfully.

“You two here for training too?”

At that, the twin sisters exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.

Even after a rough, half-failed Expedition, Ais was still thinking about training. Typical Ais—some things never changed.

“No, no,” Tiona waved a hand. “We were actually planning to drag Tsuna out for a walk!”

Unlike Ais, neither sister was obsessed with constant training—especially now that both their Statuses were maxed out. All they needed to Level Up was more Excellia.

“Ais,” Tiona tilted her head. “From what you said… you came to find Tsuna for training?”

“…Yes.”

Ais nodded firmly, not even trying to hide it. “Loki said she and Tsuna discussed a new Strengthening Plan—but she didn’t mention me.”

“Ohhh, now it makes sense,” both sisters said in unison.

That explained everything—why Ais had stormed over so early and looked so fired up.

Still, the mention of the Strengthening Plan sparked their curiosity.

“So, Ais,” Tiona asked, eyes bright, “what exactly is this Strengthening Plan?”

“I don’t know. Loki only said my name wasn’t on it, so I came to ask.”

Her simple, honest tone made the two amazonesses exchange knowing smiles.

Yup. That was totally Ais.

Still, her habit of tuning out everything except “training” was something that probably needed fixing.

Tione sighed and turned toward the door. “Easiest way to find out is to ask the man himself.”

No hesitation—she raised her hand and knocked.

A moment later, footsteps sounded from inside.

The door opened, revealing Tsuna in his sleepwear, looking groggy and confused at the sight of three women waiting outside his room.

“…You’re all up early.”

“Ehehe~ Since the Expedition’s finally over, we thought we’d drag you out for some fun!” Tiona grinned.

“Tempting, but that’s gonna be tricky for me,” Tsuna said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“After the Expedition, some of my information still needs to be made public. It’s the best time for me to establish a proper public image.”

He looked serious now. “So for the time being, I can only move through my Puppets. That way, the other gods will understand I’m just a summoner—and nothing more.”

“Oh, that plan you mentioned with Loki,” Tione realized.

She remembered—the one involving Raul leaking Tsuna’s ‘intel’ as bait.

“Guess that means the outing’s off for now,” Tiona sighed.

“Yeah. But once Raul finishes leaking the information,” Tsuna smiled faintly, “we can all head out together. I’ll even make some casual clothes for the occasion.”

At that, Tiona’s eyes lit up. “Deal!”

The sisters exchanged a look of shared excitement.

And Ais, standing silently beside them, had only one thought—whatever this Strengthening Plan was, she was going to be part of it.

Chapter 82 – Raul Was More Determined Than Ever

The period right after an Expedition ended was always delicate—especially this one.

It had been far from ordinary, and there was a mountain of information waiting to leak out. Many gods had already turned their eyes toward the Loki Familia.

“Did that recent Dungeon ‘anomaly’ affect Rivira too?”

Hermes leaned back in his chair, scanning the latest report that had arrived just a day after sending his captain to investigate.

Apparently, Rivira had been hit by a monster surge so sudden it nearly overwhelmed its defense force. The timing matched perfectly with the days when those Dungeon abnormalities had begun.

“Besides the monster wave, there was also an early respawn of the Amphisbaena. This anomaly’s way bigger than we thought.”

He tapped the paper lightly, eyes narrowing. “But that’s not even the strange part. What’s really odd is that the Loki Familia cut their Expedition short—and came back together with the Astraea Familia. Now that’s suspicious.”

Hermes could smell something unusual.

“The Dungeon anomaly, the Loki kids’ premature return, and Astraea’s group traveling back with them… all these threads line up perfectly.”

“And the one variable tying them all together,” he said, smiling faintly, “is obvious.”

“The remnants of the Dark Faction that weren’t wiped out three years ago.”

Who else could cause disturbances deep within the Dungeon, force the Loki Familia to retreat early, and drag Astraea’s children into the chaos? There weren’t many individuals—or groups—capable of such disruption in all of Orario.

Right now, only the Dark Faction fit the bill.

“If their target from the start was Astraea’s children, and the Loki Familia just got caught in the middle, everything makes sense.”

Asfi, sitting nearby with her arms folded, frowned. “That does sound plausible, Lord Hermes. But there’s something that doesn’t add up.”

She tilted her head. “How could the Dark Faction target Astraea’s Familia when most of them were wiped out three years ago? The Astraea Familia might not have a Level 7 or 6, but they’ve got at least nine Level 4s. A ragtag bunch of Evilus leftovers couldn’t possibly take them on. It’s absurd.”

Hermes smiled, completely unfazed by her skepticism. “That question’s actually easier to answer than you think.”

He leaned forward slightly. “Asfi, who do you think caused the Dungeon anomaly? Those lunatics wouldn’t try to ambush Astraea’s children without being fully prepared.”

“They must’ve discovered some method inside the Dungeon—something that allowed them to launch an ambush. But whatever they did also triggered the chain of ‘abnormalities’ we’ve seen recently.”

Asfi nodded slowly. “That… actually makes sense.” She paused before adding, “But if the Dark Faction was so confident in this method, then why didn’t they succeed? How did Astraea’s Familia come back without losing a single member?”

She frowned deeper. “Don’t tell me it was pure luck—that the Loki Familia just happened to stumble across them at the perfect moment and saved them by coincidence?”

“That’s…” Hermes trailed off, his confident tone faltering.

She had a point. It sounded far too neat—too convenient.

Even he couldn’t explain it with the current evidence. His theory was just that: speculation. Without proof, it was meaningless.

“We don’t have enough information to draw solid conclusions yet,” Hermes admitted finally. “But what we can assume is that the Dark Faction most likely launched an attack against Astraea’s group. Otherwise, it’s impossible to explain the Dungeon’s week-long disturbances.”

Asfi didn’t argue. The only gaps left were why the Dark Faction would risk provoking such an anomaly—and how Astraea’s children managed to escape unharmed.

“There’s another question too,” she said. “How did Loki know about the Dungeon so early?”

Hermes looked up.

“Without any direct communication, how did she get such timely intel? And Astraea’s reaction—she clearly knew Loki’s children had run into hers. Otherwise, there’s no way a goddess like Astraea would’ve accepted Loki’s invitation so easily.”

“In other words,” Asfi concluded, “the real mystery isn’t Astraea or the Dark Faction. It’s Loki’s Familia.”

Hermes’s gaze sharpened. After a brief pause, he nodded.

“Exactly. If Astraea’s group returned safely, it’s probably thanks to Loki’s children.”

He tapped his finger lightly against the table, then made up his mind.

“Asfi, keep an eye on ‘the Extraordinary Man.’”

He smirked. “The Loki Familia’s Expedition ended much earlier than planned. I’d wager that ‘extraordinary husband’ of theirs will be visiting the Pleasure Quarter soon to blow off some steam.”

“Have someone tail him. We’ll pay him a visit afterward—see what stories he’s willing to share.”

Asfi nodded in understanding.

The so-called “Extraordinary Man” was infamous among information brokers. When tempted by beauty and drink, he tended to spill every last detail he knew.

As for accuracy? Asfi wasn’t worried.

Adventurers couldn’t lie in front of gods. With Hermes himself present, any falsehood would be seen through instantly. And even if his perception somehow failed, Ishtar certainly wouldn’t miss it.

There was no way both gods could be fooled at once.

Confident in that, Asfi stood to prepare for the operation.

“Raul,” Loki said sweetly, though her smile didn’t reach her eyes, “if you pull this off today, we’ll call all your past screw-ups even.”

Her tone darkened. “But if you mess this up… I’ll personally crush half your future happiness.”

Raul froze, sweat pouring down his neck.

He knew Loki wasn’t joking. She never joked about punishment.

Even with all the mental preparation in the world, her words hit like a blade to the spine.

This was it. His one shot to redeem himself—or lose everything that made life worth living.

If she shattered half his happiness, the other half wouldn’t survive long either.

“I’ll succeed, Lady Loki!” he shouted, chest swelling with determination.

At that moment, Raul Nord was more resolute than he had ever been in his entire life.

Chapter 83 – The Target Appears

At night, there were only two kinds of places adventurers went in the Labyrinth City.

Taverns… and brothels.

Being an adventurer was never easy. Every day meant fighting monsters stronger than oneself, facing death head-on, and carrying the kind of pressure that could crush weaker souls.

Alcohol helped ease that weight.

And, of course, so did women.

That was why taverns and brothels had become two of Orario’s defining features—and its most profitable businesses.

Taverns were mostly clustered around the city’s entertainment districts, while the brothels were concentrated entirely within one area: the Pleasure Quarter.

Unlike the taverns scattered across the city, every brothel in the Pleasure Quarter fell under the management of the Ishtar Familia—a massive organization that had turned pleasure into an art form.

The streets came alive at night. Dozens of prostitutes lined the walkways, most of them amazonesses dressed in little more than strips of fabric that barely counted as clothing.

But the deeper one ventured, the more diverse the lineup became—beastmen, dwarves, even a few elves.

Dwarven prostitutes were rare. Their builds were often sturdy, even muscular, and few men shared that particular taste, which made their numbers small. Beastmen and Pallums, on the other hand, were far more common.

Beastwomen often had striking, almost exotic beauty—those animal traits only heightening the thrill for adventurers looking for something wild.

As for Pallum women, their small, youthful appearance appealed to customers with… “special interests.”

And then there were the elves.

Elven prostitutes were rare—and ruinously expensive. Most elves would never debase themselves to such a trade, which only made the few who did all the more coveted. For the men who could afford them, they were treasures worth emptying their coffers for.

Naturally, the ones frequenting the Pleasure Quarter weren’t just adventurers.

Plenty of gods came here, too.

Hermes was one of them.

By the time the streets were lit with red lanterns, he was already seated in one of the brothel-run taverns, a place where liquor and lust flowed hand in hand.

It was a large establishment. The first floor served as the main tavern hall, while several private rooms lined the side corridors.

High-class adventurers preferred it here—good alcohol, beautiful companions, and an atmosphere that whispered of luxury rather than sleaze.

“Lord Hermes, the man has arrived.”

His captain’s voice reached his ear just as Hermes was enjoying the view outside—watching one stunning courtesan after another parade past the windows.

His lips curved into a knowing smile. “Has Ishtar been informed?”

“Yes. The message was passed through one of her patron clients. Lady Ishtar should know by now.”

“Excellent. Then let’s see how our ‘Extraordinary Man’ performs tonight.”

If this target truly was one of Loki’s pawns, neither he nor Ishtar would let that slip past unnoticed.

But if he wasn’t—then there was no way the man would leave the Pleasure Quarter without spilling something useful.

Either way, Hermes was looking forward to the show.

“Gulp…”

Raul Nord swallowed hard the moment he set foot in the Pleasure Quarter.

It wasn’t his first time here—but every visit left him equally overwhelmed.

Everywhere he looked, amazonesses strolled past in revealing outfits, their bronzed skin gleaming under the lanterns. Each one drew his eyes without effort, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop staring.

That’s weird. I don’t usually find amazonesses that attractive.

So why tonight…?

Tiona and Tione were both prime examples of amazon beauty—perfect figures, fierce charm—but somehow, neither of them gave off this kind of raw, magnetic allure.

Raul had always liked mature, curvy women with gentle personalities. The brash, fiery nature of most amazonesses usually turned him off completely.

If he had to choose, Lady Riveria was far closer to his type. Beautiful, graceful, dignified… but also terrifying. Just picturing her stern expression instantly killed any trace of attraction. It’d be like having your mom glare down at you mid-fantasy.

What about elves…?

His gaze drifted—and stopped dead.

An elf woman was standing a few steps away, wearing little more than shimmering ribbons of silk that barely clung to her curves. Her smile was soft and seductive, her golden hair catching the lamplight as her slender body moved with deliberate grace.

Raul’s throat went dry. Before he knew it, his feet were already moving.

“E-excuse me, are you… free tonight?”

The elf glanced at him, her smile blooming instantly.

“Would you like to buy me a drink, sir?”

“Y-yeah, that’s… that’s right.”

“Wonderful~”

Her voice was like honey.

Before he could react, she slipped her arm through his and pressed herself against him.

Oh gods above.

Her perfume was light, barely noticeable—sweet, floral, intoxicating. The warmth of her body against his arm made his brain melt.

Raul had never experienced anything like this before. His heart pounded like a drum.

The elf courtesan led him inside one of the most expensive taverns in the entire Pleasure Quarter.

The proprietress—another voluptuous woman—greeted them with a sly grin.

“Well, well. Nice catch.” She gave Raul a quick once-over, amusement flickering in her eyes, then gestured toward one of the private rooms. “Your usual’s still open, but you know the price.”

“Don’t worry,” the elf woman replied with a wink.

She tugged Raul along, leading him toward the secluded room.

The door shut behind them, sealing off the noise from the tavern outside.

Inside, the lighting was dim and golden, bathing everything in a hazy warmth. Shelves of fine liquor lined the walls. A spacious bath steamed quietly in one corner, and a large, heart-shaped bed dominated the center of the room.

Even for someone as nervous as Raul, the setup was almost dizzying.

“Th-this place…”

The elf courtesan smiled sweetly, amusement glinting in her eyes as she guided him to the cabinet.

“Mr. Raul, how about a drink to start with?”

“...Y-yeah. Sure.”

She poured the wine with a slow, deliberate motion, and as the glasses clinked together, Raul had no idea that he had just walked straight into the trap.

Chapter 84 – The “Charm” of the Elven Courtesan

Right now, most of the Loki Familia members were gathered in the dining hall, snacking while watching a movie.

On one wall, a massive black screen had been set up, currently showing—

“Beastman Blockbuster: How Raul Resisted Temptation.”

“Holy crap! Raul’s living the dream!”

“An elf—no, not just any elf, a courtesan from the Pleasure Quarter! I’ve been there so many times and never once saw an elven woman working there.”

Every man in the room was practically seething with jealousy.

There weren’t many elves in the Pleasure Quarter to begin with—elves rarely sank that low.

That made them incredibly rare commodities down there.

And this one? She wasn’t just beautiful. She had a killer figure, a gentle-looking smile, and that mature aura that could melt any man’s brain.

For all those traits to show up in a single woman—and for Raul of all people to be the one she approached tonight? It was way too much.

Every guy watching couldn’t help but feel the same thing: lucky bastard.

The women of the Familia, however, were far less impressed.

“Elven courtesans are already rare enough. For Raul to run into one by chance? Please. He should’ve realized how off that was from the start.”

“Exactly. If he’d used even half a brain cell, he’d know something’s wrong. You think he’s pretending?”

“No way. That reaction’s way too real. Look at his face—his eyes are about to roll out of his head, his nose is practically pressed to her chest, and he’s drooling! Actual drool! That idiot’s been wrapped around her finger from the moment she smiled.”

Every woman present knew exactly what was happening. Raul had taken the bait. Now all it would take was a little more teasing, and he’d spill every last secret like a well-trained dog wagging his tail.

They all sighed and shook their heads.

This was just pathetic.

Tiona pouted. “I knew it! That’s how the info about me and Tione got leaked last time—it was Raul running his mouth!”

“Don’t even remind me,” Tione growled, clenching her fist. “Right now, I really want to punch that idiot in the face.”

Onscreen, Raul was completely entranced by the courtesan, his expression slack and helpless. Tione’s eyes darkened; she looked about ready to put him through the wall.

Across the table, Loki took a lazy sip of her drink, smirking.

“That guy’s always had a thing for mature women. The moment one flirts with him a little, he’s done for.”

Her gaze slid toward Finn and Gareth.

“So, boys—what do you think of that courtesan?”

The two exchanged awkward looks.

You sure you want to ask us that question?

Their expressions said it all as they both shot a quick glance toward Riveria, whose face was already dark.

Elves were proud and elegant by nature. They lived by their principles—and most of them had extreme aversions to anything they considered “unclean.”

Many even refused physical contact with their own kind, let alone others.

So for an elf to end up as a courtesan… even if Riveria understood that everyone had their own fate, she couldn’t exactly look cheerful about it.

“Coward,” Loki muttered under her breath before turning to Tsuna.

“Hey, Tsuna. What do you think of that fallen elf?”

Tsuna tilted his head slightly. “She’s really pretty. Though, honestly, all elves are—never seen an ugly one. Miss Loki, she’s probably an adventurer too, right?”

“Most likely. Even if she’s a courtesan, she’s still an elf, which means she’s naturally gifted with magic. Cases like hers are rare, though. I’d bet Ishtar’s already claimed her as one of her own.”

“Then it makes sense,” Tsuna nodded. “I thought so too. Raul’s acting like he’s under the effect of a Charm.”

Loki’s expression immediately hardened.

“‘Charm,’ huh? Yeah… elves with strong magical aptitude often awaken abilities like that. Whether it’s a skill or a spell depends on the person’s talent. But if she can use it that effectively, she’s not just some random woman—she’s a capable adventurer in her own right.”

“Tch. Guess Ishtar’s luck’s holding strong,” Loki added with a sigh.

The elf courtesan might not have been powerful in a fight, but with a “Charm” ability paired with her job, she was the perfect spy for gathering intel.

Riveria finally let out a quiet breath, her composure returning. Rather than dwell on how one of her kin had fallen so low, she was more worried about Raul.

“Tsuna, is he going to be alright in that state?”

"No problem," Tsuna replied calmly. "To prevent him from leaking unnecessary information, I've already performed a certain suggestion on Raul. Through the dream world Ais experienced, I implanted corresponding memories to ensure he won't leak unnecessary information."

He added lightly, “Of course, I asked Raul first. He agreed to the memory implant himself.”

Riveria nodded, reassured.

As long as Raul had consented, there wasn’t an issue.

“Ha. So the idiot’s that desperate not to screw up this mission—only to end up getting completely owned by Loki anyway,” Tione muttered dryly.

Tiona snickered. “Yeah, I bet it’s because Loki threatened to crush half of his future happiness.”

...Half.

Every male adventurer in the room winced. A sharp, collective flinch swept across the group.

Losing “half” of something didn’t mean the other half would still work.

Once one side was crushed, the rest might as well be too.

For any man, that kind of punishment was soul-shattering.

Compared to that, hypnosis, memory tampering, or any other punishment sounded merciful.

Tiona frowned as she looked back at the screen, where Raul was now glassy-eyed and swaying slightly.

“Tsuna, is there any way to counter a Charm like that?”

“No need for anything complicated,” Tsuna said. “A normal-level Charm doesn’t affect adventurers with Abnormal Resistance too much. Raul only fell for it because that courtesan was using special items or skills to amplify the effect—plus, they were in a confined space.”

From his observation, Raul had already been influenced before entering the private room. But the real loss of control had happened after they stepped inside.

“As long as you don’t let her drag you into a sealed room like that,” Tsuna concluded, “her Charm won’t work nearly as well.”

Chapter 85 – Information Without Protection

Charm skill + enchanted items + a confined space = Raul Nord, despite his Abnormal Resistance, successfully charmed.

“Ishtar sure went all out,” Loki muttered. “She really stacked up the Charm effects.”

“Think she’s just after intel on the Loki Familia? Or maybe she just wants to humiliate you, Miss Loki?”

Tsuna wasn’t sure which was true. Probably both.

“If we hadn’t taken precautions, Raul would’ve blown a hole wide open in our security.”

“But now it’s fine.”

Loki’s divine power to tell whether someone was lying depended on the mortal’s own awareness.

Even if someone technically lied, as long as they themselves believed what they were saying was true, a god couldn’t detect the deception.

That meant, by carefully altering or planting memories, one could easily distort a god’s perception of what was real or false.

Of course, it was best done with the subject’s consent—otherwise, it felt a little too immoral for comfort.

“Still… the courtesans in this world are seriously professional.”

Even though Tsuna was only thirteen, he couldn’t help but glance at the elven courtesan’s figure.

Every single woman in the Pleasure Quarter had an amazing body—no exceptions.

Well, except maybe for the Pallum girls. Their “permanent child-sized” thing was... definitely unique.

After that passing thought, Tsuna focused on the real details that mattered.

“She’s carrying quite a few hidden tools,” he noted quietly.

“The pouch at her waist, that little vial hanging from her chest, and those special earrings.”

“A few doses of aphrodisiac, combined with her natural skills and magic—perfect setup to Charm her target and trick out whatever info she wants.”

The synergy between Falna abilities and this world’s enchanted gear was nothing short of terrifying.

Just look at Raul right now—his face was bright red, eyes glassy and dazed.

If this were a PG-13 anime, his pupils would’ve already turned into pink heart shapes.

“Corrupted already, huh,” Tsuna murmured with a sigh.

At that moment, Raul was completely out of it.

He’d never had much resistance toward mature women to begin with, and now, under the gentle assault of the elven courtesan’s touch, his body felt weak and boneless, lying limply against her chest.

“Mr. Raul, you must be exhausted after coming back from that Expedition, right?”

Her soft, delicate voice melted into his ears, and after spending so long around tough, domineering women, Raul couldn’t help but relax. He shifted slightly, his head resting against her thigh.

“It wasn’t that bad. The big stuff on the Expedition was handled by Captain and the others, so I didn’t have to do much at all.”

He chuckled hazily. “Still, I didn’t expect that kind of incident this time.”

“Incident?” The courtesan’s pointed ears twitched in curiosity. “You mean something unusual happened in the Dungeon?”

“Yeah. You could call it an anomaly. It was my first time seeing a black-skinned Goliath.”

Her eyes brightened instantly. Big Dungeon news always drew attention.

“A black-skinned Goliath? I’m not an adventurer, but I’ve heard from my clients that Goliaths are supposed to be bronze-colored.”

Raul grinned, chest puffing up a little.

“Exactly! That’s why I said it was my first time seeing something like that.”

“And that thing didn’t just look different—it was stronger.”

“Even though it was a Floor Boss, it had insane regeneration. The strongest anti-acid magic we used couldn’t corrode its hide. And that black skin? It wasn’t just color—it made its body even tougher. I saw Captain’s spear struggle to pierce it with my own eyes.”

The courtesan blinked, half in awe and half in disbelief. Raul didn’t sound like a man who’d merely watched an incident. He sounded like someone who’d lived through it.

“Mr. Raul, your captain must be incredible then, huh?”

“Of course,” Raul said proudly. “Captain’s amazing.”

His tone shifted to one of genuine admiration.

“Pallums are born with small builds and low strength. We’re only good at agility and dexterity. But Captain reached Level 6 anyway. Maybe it’s pure talent, but I think it’s willpower too. Hardly anyone can break their limits like he did.”

He smiled faintly. “And lately, it’s not just Captain. The ones who joined a couple years ago—Tiona and Tione Hiryute—they’re terrifying in their own right.”

He shuddered a little just mentioning them.

“Other than magic, everything else—raw power, endurance, close combat—they completely dominate. Stronger than even silverback gorillas. I’ve literally seen them kick Dungeon monsters around like toys.”

Unlike when he spoke about Finn, there was no awe this time—just trauma.

You poor man, the courtesan thought, suppressing a laugh.

She tilted her head, feigning curiosity. “Mr. Raul, are you really that afraid of those two amazons?”

“There are plenty of amazon courtesans in the Pleasure Quarter. Are they that different?”

Raul’s answer was instant and absolute.

“Completely different.”

“The amazon girls here, I’ve noticed them. They’ve got that wild kind of beauty—bold, confident, naturally eye-catching.”

“But Tiona and Tione? Totally different.”

He looked more serious now than he’d been all night.

“Tiona’s personality is fine—actually, she’s kind of childish. But there’s nothing wild about her at all.”

“Tione, on the other hand, is pure wildness—but her personality? Terrible. She’s loud, brash, and sometimes just plain insane.”

He sighed deeply. “If you want someone with both a good personality and a great figure, that’d be Lady Riveria.”

Lady Riveria?!

The courtesan’s eyes went wide, glittering like magic stones.

Even as a courtesan, she still carried a deep reverence for the high elves—and Riveria Ljos Alf was practically royalty among them.

“Lady Riveria isn’t just beautiful—she’s graceful, composed, and her figure’s incredible too. But she’s always got that stern expression, and her voice… there’s this natural authority in it that makes your spine tingle.”

He chuckled weakly. “It’s hard to even think of her that way.”

“You actually dared to think of Lady Riveria like that?!”

The courtesan’s eyes widened even further. She honestly couldn’t believe the gall of this man. Adventurers really were fearless.

Raul just shrugged, looking almost proud of his own recklessness.

“And besides them,” he added with a grin, “the newest member of our Familia is seriously impressive too.”

The courtesan’s smile deepened.

Excellent.

She leaned in closer, ready to let him keep talking.