To celebrate Yuri's victory and his long-awaited promotion to Level 5, the girls accompanied him to the Hestia Familia's mansion.
In truth, more than a celebration, there was an irrepressible spark of curiosity burning within each of them. After all, although they had known Yuri for some time, they had never visited his true home, nor seen with their own eyes the one considered his greatest supporter—the goddess Hestia—nor the other members of his eccentric and famous familia.
Perhaps it was envy, or maybe just a pure need for recognition: they wanted to see up close who the "rivals" were.
As they crossed the gates, the spectacle unfolded with grandeur. The Hestia Familia's mansion, although less traditional than that of the Loki Familia, left nothing to be desired in terms of luxury and magnificence. Polished marble columns, meticulously maintained gardens, and architecture that combined strength with warmth: everything radiated an aura of power and victory.
Daphne and Cassandra, dressed in casual yet elegant clothes, welcomed the visitors with cordial smiles, breaking the initial tension with warm greetings.
Meanwhile, Yuri quietly slipped away to his room, wishing to change clothes after the triumphant return from the expedition.
But no one could have imagined what would happen next.
Upon hearing the news—spread like wildfire through the streets of Orario—that Yuri had defeated Udaeus and was about to be promoted, the two catgirls from the Hostess of Fertility, Chloe and Anya, practically dragged Ryu to the mansion.
"Come on, Ryu! We can't let this pass! A victory like this deserves a proper celebration!" exclaimed Chloe, with her usual wild and mischievous gleam.
Anya, even more impulsive, was already leading the way, pulling the strong but reluctant elf by the hand.
"Hey! Don't pull me like that!" protested Ryu, though deep down she knew there was no way to refuse.
And, of course, as the cherry on top, Syr couldn't stay behind. She followed soon after, with that enigmatic smile that always hid far deeper intentions than she let on.
Thus, four unique figures cheerfully crossed the gates of the mansion, drawing curious looks from the members of the Loki Familia, who were already gathered in the spacious main hall.
When Chloe, Anya, Ryu, and Syr crossed the doors and saw the figures assembled there, they all stopped abruptly, eyes wide.
Even having heard countless rumors about Yuri's relationship with Ais Wallenstein, they had never imagined it was so… close.
There, relaxed and without their usual warrior masks, were not only Ais, but also Riveria, the Amazonian sisters—Tiona and Tione—and even Lefiya, all gathered as if they, too, were part of the family.
The air was dense, filled with something indefinable.
Chloe broke the silence with a hesitant murmur:
"Why… why do I feel like there's something off about these… Level 5s?" she leaned toward Anya, eyes narrowed.
Anya, also noticing the strange stillness among Orario's strongest warriors, nodded:
"Indeed… it seems like they're… distracted."
Syr, standing behind them, let out a low chuckle, crossing her arms:
"Or maybe… shaken?"
Intrigued, some of the newcomers discreetly stepped closer, trying to overhear what the warriors were saying.
And then, a series of murmurs lingered in the air, almost like a restrained chant.
"I already won…" murmured Ais, her clear eyes lost in deep waves, as if reliving the battle in her mind.
Tiona, usually so effusive, was now strangely serene:
"I never imagined such a terrifying Monster Rex could be defeated… with such ease."
Tione, her gaze distant, sighed:
"It feels… like a myth. Something to be told in taverns, but never truly believed."
Riveria, always the most composed, this time couldn't hide the admiration blazing in her eyes.
"To think that Udaeus… that monstrosity of brute strength and savagery… also wielded a colossal black sword… And even so… even so, Yuri defeated him."
She leaned back on the sofa, elegantly crossing her legs, but the tone of her voice betrayed a sincere respect.
The newcomers—Chloe, Anya, Ryu, and Syr—glanced at one another, confused and impressed.
What…?
The silence was only broken when all of them, almost simultaneously, turned to Lefiya. The elf, by nature, had always been the most sincere—or the clumsiest when it came to hiding what she felt.
Lefiya did not disappoint:
"Yuri-san…" she began, clutching her staff to her chest, with a rare glimmer in her eyes "…at Level 4, managed to defeat the Monster Rex Udaeus… alone."
She took a deep breath, as if realizing once again the magnitude of the feat.
"…and not with powerful magic… but only with his sword."
The entire room seemed to freeze at that instant.
The newcomers swallowed hard.
Udaeus.
The master of the 37th floor.
A Level 6 monster that required full expeditions, large-scale magic, meticulous tactics…
Defeated, alone, by a Level 4 adventurer.
The visitors' eyes immediately sought out the expressions of the others.
Riveria, Ais, Tiona, Tione… all of them, without exception, were deeply impacted.
It was a victory that transcended common classifications.
Within the Loki Familia, only Finn, Gareth, Ais, and Riveria possessed enough confidence to face Udaeus on equal footing. And, looking at all of Orario, perhaps only a dozen adventurers could do the same.
And yet… Yuri had done it, alone, without resorting to any tricks, only with his pure skill, his determination… and his sword.
A feat worthy of eternal songs.
As thoughts and emotions intertwined, the door softly opened.
Yuri appeared, already changed, now wearing more casual clothes, unaware of the silent uproar his presence caused.
He paused for a second, confused, noticing the many gazes fixed on him.
And then, as if drawn by an invisible force, Chloe quickly stepped forward, with that unmistakable feline grace—slim and elegant.
"Hey, hey… Yuri~" she sang, as she approached dangerously.
She grabbed his arm, wrapping around it gently, letting her soft black tail brush lightly against the boy's leg, while gazing at him with those feline eyes full of mischief and curiosity.
"Tell me… what exactly is your status?" she asked, leaning in closer to him, her voice almost a conspiratorial whisper.
Yuri arched an eyebrow, surprised, but didn't even have time to react.
Chloe squeezed his arm tighter, rising on tiptoe to whisper:
"Just tell me quietly, okay?"
Around them, all the other girls watched the scene with wide, yet amused, eyes.
Syr smiled mysteriously, while Ryu merely averted her gaze, trying to appear indifferent but clearly paying close attention to the answer.
Anya bit her lower lip, holding back laughter.
On the other side of the room, even the usually composed warriors of the Loki Familia couldn't hide a certain curious gleam in their eyes.
After all… who, in all of Orario, wouldn't want to know the parameters of the one who had challenged—and conquered—the limits everyone thought insurmountable?
The one who single-handedly defeated two families, humiliated enemies and now, annihilated a monster rex?
(End of chapter.)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."