After Loki's overly dramatic introduction, Judas found himself surrounded by the curious members of the Loki Familia.
Their initial hostility had vanished, replaced by curious and appraising gazes... the kind that silently measured a man's worth.
A few whispered among themselves, eyes glinting with a mix of respect, intrigue, and disbelief.
"Hey... hey, was it true that you ranked up to Level 2 in just four days?"
With her usual energy, Tiona was the first to speak, practically bouncing on her heels as she leaned in with wide, sparkling eyes.
The cheerful Amazon had absolutely no sense of personal space, forcing Judas to take a step... no, several steps back to keep some breathing room.
"Yeah, it's true."
Judas replied with a wry smile, rubbing the back of his neck as he began answering her barrage of questions one by one.
Tione raised an eyebrow nearby, arms crossed as she sized him up from head to toe.
"Four days, huh? If I didn't hear it directly from captain, I wouldn't have believed it."
Even Finn, Gareth and Riveria, who stood a bit further away, observed quietly... the faintest hints of amusement and curiosity tugging at their expressions.
In the middle of all that attention, Judas couldn't help but feel like some kind of exotic animal on display.
"Finn, what do you think?"
Gareth asked, crossing his arms.
"If the rumors we've heard about him are true, then our familia has just gained another significant member... which is a good thing."
Finn said with a satisfied smile.
On their way back home, after Belle had told them about Judas, Finn had ordered Raul and the others to gather as much information as they could about their newest recruit.
At first, although Finn had high expectations, what he heard from Raul's mouth went far beyond even his wildest imagination.
Combat prowess estimated to be on par with a first-class adventurer despite only being Level 2.
Singlehandedly subjugated an irregular Juggernaut.
The new record holder... the one who shattered the previous record set by their Sword Princess... reaching Level 2 in just four days.
His list of achievements seemed so unbelievable that Finn initially thought they were exaggerated, as if taken straight out of a fanfiction.
It was only after Raul said that he had confirmed the information with Loki that he had no choice but to believe it.
However, there was one piece of information that truly bothered him.
'Freya Familia... I can't believe they've already set their sights on him.'
Finn felt his thumb tingle at the thought, his eyes narrowing.
'From my deduction, it seems Lady Freya has taken a liking to him. Otherwise, I can't think of any other reason why they'd risk antagonizing us.'
But that wasn't the only problem giving him a headache.
'Alfia... also known as Silence, a surviving member of the legendary Hera Familia. I can't believe she's been alive all this time.'
His mind raced... the genius strategist behind countless successful expeditions was already devising plans and countermeasures to address the situation.
'It seems like our new member is a living trouble magnet.'
"Loki, Gareth, Riveria... meet me in my office in half an hour."
The Pallum hero spoke with a serious expression.
...
After a while, once everyone had said their welcomes and finished introducing themselves to Judas, the crowd began to thin out.
They had just returned from a long expedition, after all... and naturally, several members were already heading off to organize the loot and materials they'd gathered from the dungeon.
"It was nice meeting you new guy."
"Welcome to the familia."
The bustling noise of chatter and footsteps slowly faded, replaced by the calmer rhythm of the manor grounds.
Just as the commotion was starting to die down, a golden blur suddenly cut through the air like a streak of light.
"Ais?"
Lefiya, who had just finished introducing herself to Judas, blinked in surprise when the Sword Princess appeared before them in the blink of an eye.
Her long golden hair swayed behind her, still faintly shimmering under the sunlight.
The sharp aura that surrounded her made several nearby members pause mid-step.
Even after a grueling expedition, her eyes... clear, focused, and unwavering... still held the same hunger for strength.
"Hey..."
She spoke softly, her tone calm but her presence overwhelming.
"Do you want to spar?"
Her feminine voice, though quiet and unassuming, carried a subtle edge... like a blade drawn halfway from its sheath.
It wasn't a challenge fueled by arrogance, but by curiosity... and the faint thrill of meeting someone who might actually push her limits.
'First there was Belle...'
An adventurer who defied impossible odds through sheer grit and determination.
Just watching her face those minotaurs had sent a rush of adrenaline through Ais's veins.
Ais had no doubt... that white-haired girl would one day become someone great.
'And now, there's Judas...'
Not one, but two exceptional rookies had appeared almost at the same time.
'It's a shame I can't ask Belle to spar with me.'
From the moment she saw Belle standing victorious against monsters that would've crushed most adventurers at her level, the thought had already taken root in her mind...
She wanted to uncover the secret behind that strength.
But she couldn't say it aloud.
Belle belonged to another Familia, and they weren't exactly close... they had only just met.
Judas, however, was different.
'As his senior and a fellow member of the same Familia, it's my duty to assess his strength.'
That was the excuse she came up with.
But that wasn't the only reason.
'Something inside me is... reacting. My blood feels like it's stirring. What is this feeling?'
It wasn't something as ridiculous as love at first sight... no, this was different.
It was instinctive. Biological.
She could feel it, faint but certain... the wind around her was happy.
A strange reaction, one she had only ever felt in the presence of her mother, a full-blooded spirit.
And now, it was happening again... because of the boy standing before her.
'Is he... someone like me?'
For a moment, she simply stood there... unmoving, quiet, eyes fixed on Judas.
The usual calm in her expression was gone, replaced by a faint spark of anticipation that few had ever seen.
It was faint, but even the wind seemed to lean toward him.
Two different reasons.
One simple curiosity.
And one she couldn't quite explain.
'Why does everyone want to fight me?'
Judas blinked, caught off guard for a brief moment as murmurs began to ripple through the crowd once again.
Ais Wallenstein... the Sword Princess herself... was asking him for a match.
'Is the spirit blood in her veins reacting to my presence?'
Judas felt it the moment he and Ais locked eyes.
A sensation of familiarity.
Recognition.
A faint pulse that brushed against his senses.
"Ahh! Damn you!"
A loud shout rang in everyone's ears.
Bete, who up until now was trapped in a coffin of Earth finally broke free.
A chunk of earth and debris flew everywhere.
"Where is that bastard?"
His eyes darted around until they landed on the black-haired boy who had humiliated him earlier.
Rage flared in Bete's chest, and he took a step forward... only for his legs to suddenly stop moving.
A strange pressure filled the air.
Both Ais and the boy were standing face to face, unmoving.
They weren't talking, but the silence between them spoke louder than words.
'What the hell is with this atmosphere?'
Bete grit his teeth.
Even for someone like him, whose first instinct was to fight, his body refused to move.
It wasn't fear... no, it was instinct.
Every nerve in his body screamed that stepping forward now would be dangerous.
The air was thick, almost suffocating, and the faint scent of gunpowder seemed to hang in the air.
It wasn't just him.
All around, the Loki Familia members felt it too... the tension, the pressure, the eerie silence that followed.
Voices that had been chatting moments ago fell quiet.
Weapons lowered. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Every pair of eyes was locked onto the two figures standing at the center of it all.
They didn't need to say it aloud...everyone could feel it.
Something was about to happen.
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