Last night.
After completing his level-up with Loki, Eiji had a sparring session with Tiona.
"Ahhh! I can't do it!"
Tiona cried out, tears streaming down her face.
She kept saying she couldn't bring herself to hit Eiji, which deeply moved him.
After much persuasion and promising a head-pat as a reward, Tiona finally agreed with reluctance.
Afterward.
Tiona sat on a chair, questioning her life choices.
Eiji, on the other hand, quietly left the familia alone.
...
...
...
Late at night.
The southern district, one of Orario's eight main streets, was a well-known bustling area.
Grand theaters, casinos, luxury hotels—such establishments were clustered here, all built tall and spacious, standing side by side along the streets.
As the night deepened, the sounds of people became even livelier, reaching their peak in clamorous noise.
Well-dressed merchants, rough-looking adventurers, even elegantly poised gods—such patrons could be seen everywhere.
Eiji, draped in a cloak, ignored the bustling scenery and turned from the noisy main street into a narrow alley.
His destination lay in the southeastern part of the city.
Near the border of the southern district and the southeastern street—Orario's fourth district—the atmosphere starkly contrasted with its surroundings, as if stepping into an entirely different world.
"Hey there, handsome, want to come in and have some fun?"
A seductive voice called out, and a passionate young adventurer was immediately lured in by an Amazoness, wrapping his arm around her waist as they entered a dimly lit building.
Unlike the nearby bustling streets, this area was shrouded in an atmosphere of indulgence.
The magic stone lamps in the buildings and streets glowed a hazy pink. Everywhere, enticing women with crimson lips and alluring figures dressed in backless, waist-exposing evening gowns could be seen.
Centered around the Amazoness, there were humans, pallums, beastmen, even a few elves. They stopped passing men with enchanting glances and whispers, before linking arms and disappearing into the buildings.
The soft curves and alluring voices occasionally surfaced from within the establishments.
It was obvious who these women were—prostitutes.
This street was Orario's infamous Night Street.
Eiji's gaze swept across the prostitutes standing by the roadside. Beneath his hood, his expression remained solemn, with not a hint of lust in his eyes.
"My 'fate' memory storage is running out!"
Yet, his expression looked as if he was wearing a mask of pain.
He had seen too many beautiful women lately, causing his 'fate' memory storage to overflow. In the end, he had to painfully delete some not-big-enough 'fates' and not-well-shaped ones.
From time to time, prostitutes cast him enticing glances, seemingly eager to discuss singing techniques with him, but Eiji quickened his pace and soon vanished from their sight.
Even though they could tell he was a handsome young man through his cloak, they hadn't expected him to walk so fast—gone in the blink of an eye. Left with no choice, they sighed in disappointment before setting their sights on the next customer.
Eiji ventured deeper into the alleys.
At some point, upon emerging from a passageway, his vision suddenly broadened.
A massive building loomed at the very heart of the street.
Undoubtedly, this was the largest brothel in the area. However, its atmosphere was completely different from the rest of the district. Unlike the lust-filled brothels in the outer streets, this place carried an air of majesty, like a palace built in the middle of a vast desert. Its golden decorations shimmered with extravagance.
Rather than a brothel, it resembled a palace.
Upon stepping into its semicircular front courtyard and arriving at the grand entrance, one could see a distinct familia emblem displayed on the door.
The emblem depicted a nude woman with a veil covering the upper half of her face—undoubtedly, a prostitute.
"Oh? No guards at the entrance?"
As a familia base.
This palace-like establishment bustled with activity.
Countless scantily clad Amazoness intimately clung to the arms of male adventurers, leading them inside with affectionate expressions. Every now and then, delighted adventurers exited the building as well.
Despite the overwhelming customer traffic, Eiji was more intrigued by the Amazoness themselves.
Not because of their alluring appearances, but because each one possessed an extraordinary presence far beyond that of ordinary people. Their aura carried a refined sharpness unlike that of common folk.
Typically, familia bases did not easily allow outsiders to enter, especially members of other familias, due to risks of intelligence leaks and potential disputes.
Loki Familia, for instance, always had several groups taking turns guarding the entrance. Eiji himself had stood on guard duty twice when he wasn't training.
But this familia was different.
Most of its members were prostitutes, and to attract business, they left their familia's doors wide open. They didn't mind other familia's adventurers visiting.
Because every single one of them was an adventurer, each receiving a god's blessing.
They were combat prostitutes.
This was the business model of one of Orario's top-tier factions—the Ishtar Familia.
The deity Ishtar was a goddess who highly revered prostitutes, and her familia members were largely composed of them.
Controlling a vast portion of the southeastern district, their influence covered the entire street. Given their formidable strength, they didn't care about spies from other familias.
Eiji entered the Ishtar Familia's base through the main entrance.
Even with a cloak covering him, no one stopped him.
A few combat prostitutes did cast curious glances his way, assuming he was someone unwilling to reveal his face in fear of exposing his patronage.
Such cases weren't uncommon.
For instance, some gods who embezzled their familia's funds to spend on leisure would sneak around, lest they be dragged back by their furious children.
Thanks to this, Eiji had no difficulty entering the Ishtar Familia's headquarters.
However, he had no idea what to do next.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where Phryne's room is?"
"Huh? You're looking for Phryne?"
The male adventurer he stopped had just finished putting on his pants and was stepping out of a room. Upon hearing Eiji's question, he immediately gave him a look of pure horror, his post-pleasure satisfaction instantly vanishing.
"Bro, while people's XP is their own choice, I really think you should visit the Dian Cecht Familia and see a doctor."
"Airmid is great and all, but I'm looking for Phryne right now."
"Why would you do this to yourself…"
The male adventurer sighed heavily before lowering his voice.
"I heard that ever since she caused trouble with Loki Familia last time, the enraged Goddess Ishtar locked her up. But as for where exactly… I have no idea."
***
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