Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 76: Artemis's eyes

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Inside the underground city, two somewhat disheveled figures trudged their way back toward the surface.

"Ah, finally, the exploration is over! But I'm so tired—my back and waist are killing me…"

Raul, his hedgehog-like hair disheveled from the battles, stretched his stiff muscles, eliciting a series of crackling sounds from his joints.

Even though he spent most of the battles on the sidelines, distracting monsters rather than engaging them directly, the constant movement still left him drained. His entire body ached as if he had fought all day.

To be fair, Izzy's relentless magic made even Raul's support role exhausting. His determination to avoid getting too involved in combat hadn't spared him from feeling utterly spent.

At this moment, Raul resolved to head straight to Southeast Street to unwind properly once they got back.

His gaze wandered toward Izzy, who was walking alongside him with his spear slung casually over his shoulder. Raul noticed the unusual silence.

"Izzy, what's on your mind? You've been quiet the whole way back."

"Huh? After fighting so hard in the middle levels, isn't it nice to just enjoy the quiet now?"

"Ah… yeah, I guess that makes sense."

Raul, ever the gullible optimist, believed Izzy's casually delivered explanation. After all, the journey through the middle levels with just the two of them had been grueling. Raul's aching back was evidence enough of how tough it had been.

But the truth was, Izzy wasn't silent because of exhaustion.

His thoughts had been consumed by what happened on the twenty-second floor.

Something lurking in the middle levels—remaining hidden, yet possessing strength comparable to Lv.4 or even higher.

Izzy could only think of one explanation: Xenos.

These beings bore similarities to humans, sharing intelligence and emotion.

Unlike ordinary monsters, they weren't mindless beasts driven solely by instinct. They could reason, plan, and express their will—qualities that made them no different from demi-human races like orcs in Izzy's eyes.

The defining line between monsters and intelligent creatures was simple: intelligence.

Xenos, without a doubt, were intelligent beings.

More than a decade ago, their existence had been concealed by Ouranos, the main god of the Adventurer's Guild. With the aid of the sage Fels, the xenos had been allowed to live in unexplored regions of the middle and lower dungeon levels.

These "unexplored areas" referred to paths unmarked on maps—territory untouched even by seasoned first-tier adventurers.

In the past, Izzy hadn't thought much about the Xenos. They had been a distant, abstract idea to him, something he never expected to encounter personally.

But now, after narrowly avoiding a direct encounter, their reality had become impossible to ignore.

However, Izzy couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness.

The Loki Familia, for all their strength and camaraderie, were not known for their tolerance of Xenos.

Among them, the only one who might accept their existence was Tiona. Her kind-hearted and open-minded nature set her apart from the others.

Ais and Lefiya, on the other hand, were less predictable. Lefiya, in particular, would undoubtedly follow Ais's lead without question.

And Raul? Well… Raul was a different story altogether.

Spending so much time together had laid his nature bare: part honest, part hopelessly perverted.

Izzy was about 70% sure that if Raul encountered a female xenos, he wouldn't attack. Instead, he'd likely wait to see if she showed any hostility, driven more by curiosity than caution.

As for the rest of the familia, their reactions were harder to predict.

Izzy's brow furrowed in thought. "Maybe it's better to approach this from a different perspective. There's no need for anyone else to know about this…"

"Know about what?" Raul's voice broke through his thoughts, and Izzy realized he had been mumbling aloud.

Raul tilted his head, giving Izzy a puzzled look. "What are you going on about, Izzy?"

"Hmm... I was just thinking that it might be better not to let everyone in the familia know what we're planning to do next."

"..."

Raul, who had been excited up until now, suddenly looked crestfallen after hearing Izzy's words.

"Don't look so down. It's just a one-time thing. It shouldn't be a problem… Yeah, it should be fine."

Despite Raul's attempt to reassure him, the promise was one even Izzy himself wasn't entirely convinced he could keep. With this vague reassurance hanging in the air, the two returned to the surface.

As soon as they emerged from the underground city at the base of the Tower of Babel, Raul's mood shifted dramatically. Suddenly brimming with energy, he flashed an eager grin.

"Ah~! Finally, it's time for the exciting part of the day! Let's go!, I'll take you to experience the thrilling nightlife of Orario!"

Bathed in the warm glow of the maple-red sunset, Raul enthusiastically pulled Izzy along, leading him toward South Street and the neighboring southeast district.

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Meanwhile, still on South Street...

A group of female adventurers had just arrived in Orario.

"Lady Artemis, should we submit the commission now? Or..."

The leader, Rethusa, glanced back at her goddess, awaiting instructions.

Artemis, noticing the weariness etched on her children's faces after their long day's journey, shook her head gently.

"No, Rethusa. Let's find a place to rest first. Everyone's tired after the trip. We can submit the commission tomorrow."

Although Artemis was known for her strictness regarding the familia's discipline, there was another side to her—kind, caring, and approachable.

That side of her only emerged in moments like these, among those closest to her. Perhaps it was her time spent in the mortal world that softened her sharp edges.

But more than that, Artemis cherished the daily interactions she shared with her familia. It was a warmth that couldn't be put into words, a joy unique to this realm.

"Understood. Then we'll wait for you, Lady Artemis—"

"Wait for me? No need, Rethusa. You can take everyone to West Street and find a place to rest first. I'll catch up later. I still need to handle the entry passes."

Artemis declined Rethusa's suggestion. As the familia's goddess, it was her responsibility to oversee the paperwork.

Orario's laws strictly regulated the entry and exit of adventurers blessed by the gods. Given the size of the Artemis Familia, processing the necessary documents naturally required more time.

Rethusa nodded in understanding, but before she departed, she glanced back curiously. Near the city walls stood a figure wearing an elephant mask, enthusiastically waving and striking exaggerated poses.

"I am—Ganesha!"

Artemis's old friend and fellow god greeted them in his trademark flamboyant manner, as if sensing the attention on him.

The Artemis Familia had actually been allowed to enter Orario before their passes were finalized, thanks to Ganesha granting them temporary permission.

"...Understood, Lady Artemis. We'll wait for you at a tavern on West Street."

"All right."

Rethusa didn't specify the exact location, but Artemis understood. It was bound to be one of two places: the Flame Bee Pavilion or the Hostess of Fertility.

Finding them wouldn't be difficult when the time came.

With that, Rethusa departed, leading the other members of the familia away.

Only Lante remained behind, insisting on staying with Artemis as her self-proclaimed bodyguard.

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About ten minutes later, the passes were processed. Artemis carefully stowed the documents away and prepared to head toward West Street with Lante in tow.

However, as they turned a corner, a familiar figure entered Artemis's line of sight.

"Lady Artemis, it's him! That guy—Izzy!!!"

Lante also spotted the figure and immediately pointed her small hand in Izzy's direction, blurting out a few impolite words.

"Yes, I see him," Artemis replied calmly.

Huh? Why is she so calm?

Something felt off.

Lante's little mind began to churn. She had expected this reunion to spark some sort of reaction from Lady Artemis—excitement, surprise, something. After all, wasn't this the man the goddess had once hugged?

Unable to resist her curiosity, the girl turned her head to observe Artemis. What she saw sent a chill down her spine. The goddess's striking indigo eyes had narrowed slightly, and the sharp gaze she directed at Izzy's retreating figure was anything but warm.

Where is he heading?

That direction… isn't that toward the red-light district?

Coincidence? Or deliberate?

Artemis's indigo hair swayed gently as if moved by some unseen breeze. Before Lante could piece together her thoughts, the goddess stepped forward decisively.

"Let's go, Lante."

"Huh? Oh! Wait for me, Lady Artemis!"

The half-elf girl stumbled after her goddess, belatedly keeping pace with her determined stride.

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