Bete Loga, the werewolf, had a proud and abrasive personality.
He looked down on weak adventurers, spoke harshly, and acted rudely—even toward his own comrades.
Nicknamed the [Mad Wolf], he was a textbook example of a strength supremacist.
"Tch…"
Bete glanced at Raven Eltharion, stopped in his tracks, and asked with a scowl, "New face?"
"Who the hell are you?"
"What're you doing here?"
Raven frowned slightly and replied calmly, "To join Lady Loki's Familia."
"You? Join the Loki Familia?" Bete looked like he'd misheard.
Raven narrowed his eyes and stared back. "Why not?"
"With me joining, the Loki Familia is destined to become the strongest in Orario."
Sure, right now he was just a regular person.
But with the Strongest Summoner System, Raven was confident his strength would skyrocket.
He wouldn't lose to any adventurer!
"Hahahahaha…"
Bete suddenly burst out laughing, his voice loud and dripping with mockery.
Moments later, he sneered. "Kid, I'll give you one thing—you're pretty good-looking, and a top-tier bullshitter."
"Alright, I've taken a liking to you."
"Come fight me. I'll even give you three moves for free—one hand tied."
"If you can impress me, I'll take you to see the goddess."
…This was just too much.
Raven's expression darkened. "Is this guy brain-damaged?"
He knew full well Raven wasn't even an adventurer yet—yet he wanted him to spar with a Level 5?
Raven understood what was going on.
Bete was in a bad mood. If he agreed to the fight, he'd definitely get used as a punching bag.
And even then, there was no guarantee he'd actually get to meet Lady Loki.
Seeing that Raven didn't respond, Bete clicked his tongue. "What's wrong?"
"You chickening out?"
"A coward like you wants to join the Loki Familia?"
Tch!
"You'll regret this!" Raven snapped and stormed off, fuming.
As he left, he glared hard at Bete. Never underestimate a poor youth!
One day, I'll come back and slap that smug grin off your face!
Bete watched him go, curled his lip, and muttered, "Tch~ What a coward. Boring."
"He even tossed out some tough guy lines before running off? Hilarious."
Just then—
The three powerhouses of the Loki Familia—Finn, Riveria, and Gareth—
along with Lefiya, Ais, Tiona, Tione, and Lady Loki herself, came walking out.
Ah… the irony.
If Raven had waited just a few more minutes, he wouldn't have missed them.
Red-haired, squinty-eyed Loki called out cheerfully, "Yo~~ Bete!"
"Waiting out here just for us?"
"Finally cooled down?"
"You wish," Bete replied, still hands-in-pockets, walking ahead with a brooding look.
Finn asked kindly, "Bete, not coming to eat with us?"
Bete lazily waved a hand. "Go on without me. Not in the mood."
Riveria stepped up to the gatekeeper after Bete left. "What happened here?"
The gatekeeper told her everything—what Raven said, and Bete's reaction.
Riveria raised an elegant eyebrow upon hearing it.
Loki hollered back, "Mama Riv, why are you lagging behind?"
"Time to go!"
"I'm not your mom," Riveria replied expressionlessly, then caught up with the group.
After getting booted by Bete, Raven wandered aimlessly back into the busy streets.
Reality had struck hard.
His idealistic dreams were nice, but the real world was cruel.
The confrontation with Bete… had dulled his initial enthusiasm.
Gone was the excitement he had just hours ago.
What about Freyja Familia?
Raven thought it over—and decided against it.
If the major Familias wouldn't take him, maybe mid-tier ones were an option.
Like Hephaestus Familia, Hermes Familia, Apollo Familia, or Soma Familia.
Or even Demeter, Miach, Ganesha, or Dionysus Familia…
Worst-case scenario? A tiny Familia would do just fine.
The sky gradually darkened.
Night began to fall.
And nighttime Orario was even livelier than the day.
Magical crystal street lamps lit up one by one, casting warm light across the labyrinth city.
The entire city became a dazzling sea of lights.
At that moment—
A dark-skinned hand suddenly rested on Raven's shoulder.
"Hey there, pretty boy. You new in town?"
"Interested in having some fun?"
The speaker was none other than Aisha Belka, the infamous [Warrior Courtesan], also known as [Amazoness Beauty].
Next to her stood a soft, delicate-looking golden-haired renard girl—
Sanjo no Haruhime.
Raven turned to them, clearly drained. "Fun…?"
Haruhime stepped closer and sniffed his scent gently.
Then asked softly, "Is this your first time in Orario?"
Raven gave a slight nod.
Aisha's eyes sparkled. "Handsome, have you joined a Familia yet?"
She paused for a beat.
"If not, come join the Ishtar Familia!"
At that, Raven visibly perked up a little.
But then he hesitated.
Ishtar Familia…?
He recalled the infamous [Man-Slayer] frog captain of the Familia…
A chill ran down his spine.
In the next instant—
He shook his head rapidly and said, "Sorry!"
"I already have a Familia in mind!"
And then—bolted off at full speed.
"Lady Aisha…"
Haruhime stared after him. "I think you scared him off."
After running for some time, Raven stopped at a quiet alley entrance.
He bent over, hands on knees, panting hard.
"…That was terrifying," he muttered.
"I almost got dragged off!"
If he had joined Ishtar Familia—
Forget the warrior courtesans and that monstrous 'Tamme' captain.
Even the goddess would eat him alive!
Right now, Raven's soul was pure white and glowing with innocence.
He couldn't afford to be tainted!
Who knew what color it might become in the future…
But for now—
There was no way he'd let a bunch of old seductresses ruin him.
Just thinking about that toad-like Phryne made his stomach churn.
Absolutely horrifying.
Suddenly—
A soft, sweet loli voice echoed in his ears.
"Young man… would you like to join my Familia?"
…