"Now that Nana's matter isn't known only to us, I need to visit those few. Before things escalate, you all stay home with this child. I won't be home for dinner."
Takatsuki returned to his room, took out his coat, and put it on, speaking to the others in the living room.
"But before that, there's something to take care of."
Approaching Nana, who was tightly leaning on Kiana, Takatsuki spoke softly to her.
"Give me your hand."
Perhaps due to unfamiliarity, Nana looked at Takatsuki with some fear, shrinking further into Kiana's side. She looked at Kiana, and only after seeing Kiana nod did she extend her hands to Takatsuki.
"Don't move yet."
On the girl's hands, her blue nails were sharp like claws, even longer than her slender fingers.
Takatsuki grabbed Nana's left hand, and the figure of Heaven's Stairway appeared behind him.
The hand with the Killer Queen image touched Nana's nails.
Under the enhancement of Takatsuki's B-rank precision, everyone watched as some flame burn marks appeared on Nana's nails, then slowly disappeared, turning into a wisp of green smoke. Soon, the nails, which were originally longer than her fingers, became like those of an ordinary person, with only a small part protruding from her fingers.
Projecting a nail file, Takatsuki smoothed the remaining uneven nails before dispersing the projection in his hand.
"Alright, although Nana has no intention of harming anyone, there's still a risk. Now, it's fine."
Standing up and vigorously rubbing Nana's head, Takatsuki said to the others.
"Is there danger? Do you need me to go with you?"
Fu Hua proactively stepped forward.
"No, no, or rather, it's more convenient if I go alone."
Waving his hand, Takatsuki walked towards the door: "Don't wait for me tonight."
The fastest way for Takatsuki to leave was using [Close at Hand Yet Worlds Apart], but this time he didn't use this ability. On one hand, it was because he wasn't going to the Dungeon but to the Loki Familia. On the other hand, it was because someone might be watching him.
Takatsuki remembered that in the original work, when Bell found the Dragon Girl, Fels, the mage by Ouranos's side, knew about it and began to monitor and investigate the Hestia Familia, observing their attitude towards Xenos.
Although Takatsuki knew they generally wouldn't reveal secrets everywhere, it was still necessary to keep a backup plan.
Arriving at Twilight Manor, Takatsuki said to the mansion's guard: "I'm here to see Lefiya."
Although he had been there many times and the people there recognized him, the necessary procedures still had to be followed.
"Please wait a moment."
A guard ran inside to report and quickly returned to the door, saying something to Takatsuki that made him feel a little tired.
"God asks you to come to the council hall. Please follow me."
Upon hearing this, Takatsuki immediately knew that Lefiya had already told others about this matter, and Loki already knew.
However, Loki is a smart person… oh, a smart god. She knows very well what cannot be revealed. He only hoped that Lefiya and Filvis had revealed fewer people before being stopped.
Following the guard to the council hall, the guard opened the door, nodded to Takatsuki, and left.
Watching the guard leave, Takatsuki entered the council hall. At this time, five people and gods were already seated in the council hall. Loki sat in the center, with Riveria and Finn on her right in order.
Ais and Lefiya sat on the right side.
The chairs opposite them were empty, clearly prepared for Takatsuki.
"Oh~ I thought the dwarf would bring someone, but it's just you?"
Loki, seeing Takatsuki close the door and sit down openly opposite her, slightly opened her usually narrowed eyes.
"So, you're going to take responsibility for this, then?"
Although she hadn't activated her divine power, she was indeed a god of trickery. An invisible sense of oppression descended upon Takatsuki.
Although Takatsuki himself was just a young man and didn't have a very deep cunning, his confidence in his own strength rendered about eighty percent of Loki's initial imposing aura ineffective.
"What responsibility? After all, I didn't do this."
"Oh? Who did it then?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Takatsuki pointed at the table with his hand, gesturing downwards: "The Dungeon."
As soon as Takatsuki finished speaking, he saw that the eyes opposite him, which had only been slightly open, suddenly opened wide and stared intently at Takatsuki.
"I didn't expect you to admit it so directly?"
Takatsuki frowned at Loki's reaction. Was it because he admitted to knowing some secrets about the Dungeon?
"You can't lie in front of a god. Even denying it is no different from admitting it, right?"
"It seems you're very confident. So why did you come to Twilight Manor alone?"
Takatsuki felt like he had missed something, but he couldn't recall it no matter how hard he tried, so he just answered directly.
"Naturally, I hope Lefiya can keep this secret, but now it seems that more than just Lefiya knows the secret."
"Keep the secret…"
Takatsuki watched Loki speak faintly without finishing, so he proactively said: "Loki, you should also understand how much chaos would be caused in Orario if this matter were exposed. Not only us, but even the Guild itself would be questioned and attacked by all the adventurers in Orario, and those dark factions lurking in the shadows would seize the opportunity."
"You mean you're not part of the dark faction?"
Takatsuki was a bit puzzled by Loki's question.
"Of course not. Why would you think we are?"
Takatsuki thought for a moment and then suddenly realized. Takatsuki recalled that in the original work, there was an Ikelos Familia that was engaged in poaching. Although he had watched the third season distractedly at the time and didn't fully understand why poaching monsters would be defined as a dark faction disturbing Orario, Takatsuki guessed that they probably had some subsequent plans, but the anime's subsequent focus was on the Xenos and Bell, so it wasn't clearly explained.
And now Loki considered him to be allied with them?
Takatsuki came to a realization in his heart, but Loki's next words completely bewildered Takatsuki.
"If not, then why cooperate with the Dungeon? And, this matter shouldn't be something only you are doing, right?"
"Huh? Cooperate with the Dungeon? What does that mean?"
Takatsuki's bewildered reaction also caused Loki's previously brewing momentum to dissipate: "Huh?"