(*A/N: Final chapters of this Volume 3/20.)
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Morning came.
As the rays of the sun touched Orario, people started to wake up one-by-one. Though by now, there weren't many people left in Orario. Almost 70% of the Civilians and Adventurers had already left Orario by now. And from the remaining 30% only there were only 10% Civilians, 10% Nobles, and 10% Adventurers. On top of that almost all the Adventurers were in dungeon. Hence, Orario barely had anyone to protect itself except for the guards on the walls.
The civilians who remained were extremely loyal to the Orario. To the point, they were ready to fight to the death with it. They brought out whatever they could fight with like kitchen knife, stool, wooden stick, and so on. Even children were doing the same.
As for Nobles, too bad they didn't stay to fight for Orario. They stayed because they had already planned to backstab Orario when they will get the chance. After how Primis made Adventurers beat these Nobles in front of Guild Headquarters, now Nobles hate Adventurers to the core. And they will do anything to get their revenge. Hence, they were also readying their soldiers and hidden Adventures to strike at any moment.
Though, they were not the only ones. Even the real Evilus were planning of attacking too. Though, they were confused when the news of them attacking in few days spread when they didn't have such plan before. However, seeing the condition of Orario, they still decided to make their move too. After all, current Orario had never been this weak even in all its history.
'Primis: Seventeen days left before Behemoth attack.'
[Fifteen days for Denatus.]
Primis was sitting in the living room of the "Raven Sight" while looking out of the window. He returned three hours ago and was sitting there all this time.
???: Is something the matter?
Primis: Nope.
Ryuu softly asked as she approached Primis with a cup of tea in her hands. She put it on the table which was placed in front of him.
Primis: You all look relaxed today. Don't you have to go "Hostess of Fertility"?
Primis moved his gaze at others in living room. He saw Chloe, Anya, and Lunoire who were lazing around on sofa and couch. Hearing this, Ryuu sighed and sat beside him. Primis didn't say anything at her action.
Ryuu: Yes, today we have holiday.
Primis: Hmm. Really? From what I know "Hostess of Fertility" was opened every single day without exception. So, why suddenly?
Ryuu: You remembered for the last two days when we were opening late.
Primis: Yes.
Ryuu: It wasn't successful. Because of rapid decrease in civilians and Adventurers, even in those two days we bare received ten customers. And now that all the Adventurers have either left or were in dungeon, it makes situation even more difficult. So, Mama Mia decided to give us off for the rest of the week. After that, she will also check whether customers will be coming. If yes then we will continue, otherwise----
Primis: Your vacation will go on like this.
Ryuu: ...Yes.
Primis: Hmmm. Well, the way current Orario is, I am sure your vacations won't show any signs of ending soon.
Ryuu sighed completely agreeing with Primis.
Primis: If that's the case...…
Primis stopped and swept his eyes on Chloe, Anya, and Lunoire.
Primis: Why do you three woke up this early? You could have slept for more.
Chloe: I also wanted to sleep more but after waking up early all these years, it has become a habit, meow~.
Lunoire: YAWN!!!!! Yes. So, even if we are lazing around, we can't just bring ourselves to sleep.
Anya: It's difficult sleeping this early, meow~.
Primis just shook his head and didn't say anything. Next, he picked up the teacup from the take and took a sip.
Ryuu: If there's nothing wrong, then what were you thinking about before.
Primis: It's just that I remembered Dinatus will be happening in fifteen days.
Ryuu: Denatus. Huh.
Lunoire: Now that I think about it, it's almost three months by now since the last one.
Chloe: In normal times, Gods discuss many things and give alias to Adventurers who reached Level 2, meow~.
Anya: But this time I don't there will be any alias given. They will only talk about one thing, meow~.
Ryuu, Chloe, Lunoire, and Anya: Evilus.
All four said in union.
Primis: Since the Orario has already become so weak, many Gods have already been without any member in their Familia. In that case, I am sure they will purpose Alliance.
Ryuu frowned before speaking.
Ryuu: Not because they want to but because they have no choice.
Primis: Well, mostly would have already contacted each other by now. And they definitely won't let go of his matter. After all, that's the only way for them to stay in Orario.
Chloe: What do mean, meow~?
Chloe, Anya, and Lunoire hurriedly raised their bodies and looked at Primis attentively.
Primis: How can you join an Alliance if you can't even provide one member from your Familia?
Anya: In that case, how can those Familia without any member join the Alliance, meow~?
Lunoire: ...That's why they are contacting other Familias. They are definitely asking them to send their members to join their Familia.
Primis: Yes. However, they won't ask for members but just a "single" member will suffice.
Ryuu: Just a "single" member? Why?
Ryuu asked. She can sense some conspiracy in this. Other three were also not fool. They also realized that it's not as simple as it appeared to be. Hence, all their expressions turned serious.
Primis: A single member is all they need to show that they can contribute somewhat to Alliance. This will guarantee their spot in Alliance. However, since they had already decided to create an Alliance, didn't this mean, they had also decided who will lead that Alliance.
As if realization struck them, they opened their eyes wide.
Lunoire: You mean they had already decided who they will vote to be Alliance head. Why?
Primis: Think about it, if someone will be chosen as the Alliance head then others must follow his order. And that applied to all Familias even the strongest one. Because if they don't then the Alliance will crumble. Which result in them becoming the enemies of other Gods.
Anya: Well...…That's true. But even then, he or she can't give them unreasonable order, meow~.
Primis: What if the order is reasonable?
Ryuu: Like?
Primis: Like...…
Primis paused here. Not only Ryuu and others, even Sheng Ming and Ais who were standing behind him completely hidden also put all their attention at Primis. Primis then suddenly smiled. Yet, instead of falling into trance, they felt a chill down their spine.
Primis: Compared to you strongest Familias, other Familias are very weak. With barely one member. Hence, why don't you all send a required number of your members to join their Familias. By doing this, even the weaker Familias like them will have higher chance of survival.
BOOM!!!!!!!!!
Those words struck them like thunder. They can't believe it. That's just too big of a shock.
???: Required amount won't be much. Like 10-15. For High-Ranking Familias who have hundreds of members, it's not a problem to give that number to a "single" low-ranking one. However, if we must give this amount to tens of low-ranking Familias then it will become a whole different story.
All except Primis and Ophis turned towards the direction of the voice. There at the door of the living room, they saw Hestia and Hephaestus. They both heard everything Primis said and had a serious expression on their face.
Primis, Ophis, and Sheng Ming already knew they were returning a long ago. On the other hand, Ais realized it when they entered the "Raven Sight". How? Because now that her control on her wind magic has increased, she found the movement in wind when they entered.
Primis: Hoh. You created them 16 hours before the deadline I give you.
Hephaestus: Well, not really. The weapons have been made but they need to remain in ice for almost 16 hours before they will be complete.
In both Hephaestus and Hestia hands, there was a box. Though it was fully covered, Primis could easily see what's within. Both boxes were filled with ice and the weapons were inside that ice. Hephaestus put both the weapons in the water then asked a magician to freeze the water. That's a really good method.
Even though the weapons were inside the ice, they both were still scorching hot. So, as with time when the hot temperature of the weapons would be melting the ice, their own temperature would also fall. In a way, they both were receiving hot and cold temperature at the same time. This will make weapons stronger.
Hestia: Therefore, when all the ice will be melted into water, that will be the time when these weapons will be done.
Primis: I know.
Hestia who had smug on her face stiffened. She then pouts and looked at Primis.
Hestia: Can't you let me be proud of myself even for a second?
Primis: Proud? Tell me the "name" of a single method that Hephaestus performed when creating these weapons. Do it and I won't mind even if you shout throughout the entire "Raven Sight" about your proudness.
Hestia: Geh.
Hestia as if received a punch oo her gut hearing Primis words. If he would have said something like, "tell me what Hephaestus did?" then she would have said Hephaestus hammered the metal, burned it, cooled it, again and again and again. Well, she won't be wrong because that was one of the thing Hephaestus did. However, Primis asked the specified name of the method used. It changed things completely.
Hephaestus on the other hand sighed looking at Hestia. Since she had exchanged some pointers on blacksmithing with Primis, she already knew that Primis has more knowledge of blacksmith then even she herself. Which still shocked her even now. Hence, how come he won't know this fire and ice method.
Witnessing how Hestia was having hard time, saying her next words, he called her.
Primis: Come here, Hestia.
Hestia: Huh?
Hestia showed a confused expression but still approached him
Hestia: What is it, KYAA-----
Primis grabbed Hestia waist, raised her before putting her on his lap. Next, he put his hand on her head and started to pat her gently.
Primis: Still, your legs must be tired after standing all that time. Let them rest.
Hestia: ...…Mn.
Hestia nodded her head like a chicken as a blush appeared on her face. Ryuu understanding the situation get up from her seat and sat with Chloe, Anya, and Lunoire. Primis turned his gaze at Hephaestus and pat at the seat beside him. Seeing this, Hephaestus showed a sweat smile before approaching him and sitting down. She leaned back and her body started to relax. After relaxing for a few seconds, she turned her face to Primis. Serious look had returned on her face.
Hephaestus: If we give 15-20 members to almost all the low-ranking Familias then the strength of our Familias will decrease drastically. Even if they only took our low leveled Adventurers.
Primis: True. But you can't do anything against it. Can you?
Hephaestus: ...…I don't want to believe that even if it's true.
Hestia: In that case, the strength of Hephaestus, Loki, Freya, Ganesha, and all other strongest Familia will become a lot weaker in an instant.
Primis: Yes.
'Primis: And that will also apply on Hermes Familia who always keep the Level and Names of their members hidden.'
[And he also can't deny the so-called request of sending his members to join weak Familias even if he has the backing of Ouranos.]
'Primis: Exactly.'