P/N let me know if there's any mistakes and I will try to fix them
Hestia had her hand on the door handle as she wrapped up her lecture with
that and left the room.
Soma was left alone with his thoughts.
He stood there quietly, Hestia's words running through his mind.
Hestia and Lilly rejoined the others at the base of the main tower and exited
Soma Familia's wine storage facility.
Miach had been waiting one block away in case of an emergency. Joining the
group of more than ten, they all ran together through the backstreets.
"Lilly's very sorry for the trouble she's caused…Thank you."
"It's all right…"
"Think nothing of it, Miss Lilly."
"That's right…It's nice to see you again."
Nahza, Mikoto, and Chigusa—her eyes hidden behind her bangs as usual—
responded to Lilly's apology.
Welf and the massive Ouka, holding a greatsword and a battle-ax over their
respective shoulders, were having their own conversation next to the girls.
"That wire, did you bring it with you?"
"Nah, found it in that tower. Thought it might be useful so I picked it up."
The sun seemed to be smiling down at them as everyone celebrated the
success of their mission.
Lilly moved closer to Hestia.
"But, Lady Hestia, Lilly doesn't understand how she can make a difference in
the War Game by herself…"
Hestia smiled at her confusion and then looked back at the path ahead.
"Not quite."
Hestia shook her head as Miach spoke up.
"You won't be alone."
All they had done was increase Lilly's confusion. She tilted her head in their
direction and Miach smiled back at her. Feeling another gaze on her, Lilly
looked the other way to see Mikoto with a very determined look in her eyes.
Even Welf was smiling at her.
The group reached a four-way intersection.
"See ya later, Li'l E."
"…Lady Hestia, we'll take our leave here."
Welf peeled away from the group and went down the right path. Ouka,
Mikoto, and Chigusa led their group down the road to the left.
Miach, Nahza, and Lilly watched them leave from the center of the
intersection when a sudden breeze swept through the backstreet.
Hestia held her black hair out of her eyes with her right hand.
She looked up at the blue sky, where the wind was blowing in a new
direction.
"Hmmm—gahhh…"
Takemikazuchi groaned.
He was pacing back and forth inside his own room in an old building
designed to house multiple families, built on the side of a narrow street. The god
lived alongside his six-member Familia; this building was their home. Arms
folded in front of his chest, he wore a troubled expression.
"The War Game…I want to assist Hestia, but…"
The Guild had already announced the details of the War Game.
Takemikazuchi knew full well that it was a castle-assault style and everything
that entailed.
His good friend needed military might and he wanted to help her. But he was
in a quandary.
Should he transfer one of his own followers to Hestia Familia with a
conversion ceremony, or not?
"It's impossible for Miach. He only has one and his Familia will collapse
should she leave…"
Without any members, Miach Familia would be disbanded by default and
revoked by the Guild. Miach would lose the reputation and recognition he'd
worked so hard to gain. There was also the possibility that he could be forced to
sell his home in order to pay off current debts.
Takemikazuchi completed yet another lap around his room, mumbling to
himself as he considered every possibility.
"Even among my own children, the only two who could compete with
Apollo's children are Ouka and Mikoto. Chigusa and the others would only
weigh them down…"
Chigusa and the other three were still Level 1 adventurers. Only Ouka and
Mikoto made sense.
"Ouka is the captain. I can't send him…"
Which would mean the only option was Mikoto—
"Would she be willing to go to a different Familia…?"
Mikoto loved Takemikazuchi Familia too much.
She'd always had a strong sense of justice and an urge to do what was right.
Was she capable of betraying Ouka and her allies? There was also the mission
given to them by their hometown in the Far East to consider—Mikoto would
never abandon it.
"I'll just have to find some way to convince her…After all, I'm the one who
wants to help Hestia…But wait, if I did that…Ghaaaaaa…!" Takemikazuchi
stopped in the middle of the room and scratched his head with both hands as he
groaned at the ceiling.
Caught up in a fit of very ungodlike indecision, he almost didn't hear the
knock outside his door.
"Lord Takemikazuchi, it is Mikoto…May I speak with you?"
"Ohh!" The deity jumped on the spot in surprise at the girl's visit.
Mikoto must've interpreted his surprise as an affirmative and opened the door
with a slight bow.
"…? Has something happened, my lord?"
"N-no. Everything's fine. Nothing to worry about."
The girl tilted her head as Takemikazuchi hastily straightened his hair.
Forcing an air of calm, the deity closed his mouth and looked upon his
follower. She, too, wore a distressed expression similar to his own.
Her silky black hair was tied back in its usual style. However, she carried
herself without her normal level of confidence, shoulders uncharacteristically
drooping. Even her violet-colored eyes were trembling as she met his gaze.
The two stood face-to-face in silence.
The tension building, Takemikazuchi gave in and opened his mouth.
"—Mi-Mikoto."
"—Lord Takemikazuchi!"
The two spoke at exactly the same moment.
Both paused, saying, "My apologies, go ahead," and, "Speak first, I insist,"
back and forth.
Mikoto was the first to accept the offer.
She took a deep breath and made eye contact with her god.
A moment later, she threw herself to the floor at his feet. Takemikazuchi
Familia's special technique, the prostrate bow.
"Please forgive me!"
"Wh-what?"
Takemikazuchi was taken aback by Mikoto's sudden plea, her hands, knees,
and forehead on the floorboards.
She didn't look up, only raised her voice to be heard clearly despite speaking
directly into the floor.
"Please allow me to go assist Sir Bell!"
Takemikazuchi's eyes shot open.
"Despite nearly causing his death, I haven't done anything to atone for my
actions! I also made a promise; we made a promise to help each other!"
Mikoto's body shook as her voice took on a more serious tone.
"This is my chance. I can't abandon him in his time of need…"
The look of surprise gradually left Takemikazuchi's face as he watched his
follower bare her soul to him.
His shoulders relaxed, arms hung loosely at his sides.
So we both came to the same conclusion…
He had been with her for so long and yet he had failed to anticipate how she
would react to the situation. It was shameful.
Takemikazuchi grimaced before a genuine smile grew on his lips.
"Ahhh…" He let out a long sigh. Mikoto's shoulders shook once again.
The deity looked back up at the ceiling and mumbled under his breath.
"One year…Such a long time."
Mikoto looked up with a start.
It was a rule among Familias: A child who had been transferred to a different
group with Conversion could not be transferred again for at least one year.
Mikoto immediately understood what his words meant. Her face grew
brighter and brighter by the second.
"But it will pass. Learn as much as you can from Hestia's children and come
back stronger than ever."
"—Yes, sir!"
Mikoto brought her fist and palm together as Takemikazuchi smiled upon her.
Lastly, she gave him her Familia emblem for him to hold on to until she
returned.
Mikoto Yamato had joined Hestia Familia.
"…"
Hephaistos sat at her desk, examining a dagger in her hands.
She was visiting one of her Familia's shops located on Northwest Main.
Rather than working in her private office, she was focusing on this particular
weapon.
There was a story behind its maker. A rather difficult child, his skills had
been rather unpolished at the time he forged this dagger, but passion for his craft
alone gave him incredible potential—that "passion" could be felt by anyone who
used the blade.
Hephaistos herself could feel it coursing through her when there came a
knock at her door.
"Enter."
She opened one of the desk drawers at her side, returned the blade to its
sheath, and placed it inside.
Closing the drawer, Hephaistos looked up to see the silhouette of a young
man in a black jacket standing in the doorway: Welf.
"What is it?"
Rather than answering, Welf walked up to the other side of her desk.
Showing no hesitation, he came as close as the desk would allow and met her
gaze.
"I've come to say good-bye."
He closed his eyes and continued.
"I'm joining Hestia Familia. Please allow it."
This was not a request for permission, but a demonstration of strong will and
determination.
Leaving Hephaistos Familia would mean that he would be forbidden to use
her logo as a smith. Despite attaining his dream of becoming a High Smith at
long last, he was willing to forfeit the right to engrave "Ἥφαιστος" into any of
his work and leave Hephaistos behind.
"And what makes you think I would allow such a selfish decision?"
"Because the goddess I know and love would scold me if I didn't."
Welf responded without missing a beat.
Hephaistos displayed no emotion, her face stoic as she asked another
question.
"Didn't you want to overcome the blood in your veins, create a weapon that
exceeds magic swords?"
"As long as I have a hammer, metal, and a good flame, I can forge weapons
anywhere. The one who taught me that was you."
Even apart from her, he would work to spread his name and reach a higher
plateau.
He answered her without any hesitation.
"And what was it that inspired this intense enthusiasm?"
Welf raised his chin and grinned.
"Friendship."
At long last, a smile appeared on Hephaistos's lips.
"Then I accept."
Hephaistos stood up from her desk and walked toward a long line of
hammers on a shelf behind her.
She selected one that was the same crimson color as her hair and eyes, and
picked it up.
She approached Welf, still standing in front of her desk, and handed the
hammer to him.
"A parting gift. Use it well."
Hephaistos said her good-bye by bestowing him with the soul of a smith.
Welf grinned from ear to ear and graciously accepted it with a bow.
"Thank you for everything."
The fabric in his black jacket ruffled as he turned to leave.
Leaving the goddess he revered behind, Welf confidently strode out of the
office.
Welf Crozzo had joined Hestia Familia.
"…So that's how it is. Would you mind helping out again?"
Hermes kept a close eye on her face as he asked.
They were a little ways away from The Benevolent Mistress, inside of the
wooden building where the employees lived. The elf Lyu sighed at Hermes's
forced smile.
"God Hermes, are you mistaking me for some handmaiden?"
"Sorry! But do this for Syr. Bell needs your help!"
"I would like you to refrain from using Syr as a bargaining chip…"
"S-sorry, Lyu…"
"Syr, your apology is unnecessary."
Three figures huddled together inside Lyu's private quarters: Hermes, Syr,
and Lyu herself.
There were only a few days left before the War Game. Hermes had lobbied to
allow outside involvement for just this reason, to request her help.
The condition: said outsider must belong to a Familia outside Orario—must
have the blessing of a deity from outside its walls. Since Lyu's goddess, Astria,
had not been in the city for some time, there would be no objection to her
participation.
Hermes felt slightly guilty for being directly responsible for forcing Bell and
Hestia into the extremely disadvantageous Castle Siege and this was his way to,
kindly, offer his assistance.
"Should I fight, there is a high probability that my identity will be revealed
during the War Game."
"Don't worry about that. I'll convince everyone that you came from
someplace on the other side of the mountains before the fight begins. No one
will believe you're a waitress at a bar once I'm through with them."
Several events in the recent past had landed a hooded adventurer on the
Guild's blacklist—there were still many who resented the "Gale Wind." Hermes
already had a plan to help keep her and those living with her anonymous and
safe.
Lyu sighed. "Mother Mia will scold me again."
Either way, the ex-adventurer couldn't abandon Bell to his fate. The elf
agreed to Hermes's request.
The room itself had very little decoration. Lyu walked a few paces to the
corner and grabbed a knapsack along with a wooden sword.
"I'll handle the paperwork with the Guild. It'd make it a lot easier to jump
through the hoops if I had your Familia's emblem. Do you still have it?"
"I do. Be sure not to misplace it."
"It'll never leave my sight," he said with a nod as he took the badge engraved
with the sword of justice and wings from her.
Lastly, Lyu approached Syr, who was holding out her cape.
"Do your best, Lyu. I'll come up with something to say to Mama."
"You have my gratitude, Syr."
Lifting the string of her knapsack over her shoulder, Lyu flashed a soft smile.
Hermes and Syr saw her out of the building and watched as she disappeared
into the night.
Lyu Lyon had joined the War Game.
Blades clashed in vicious flurries.
A silver flash, lashing forward at tremendous speed, was blocked head-on by
the downward swing of a crimson blade. Knife and saber collided under the
reddish glow of dusk, their wielders' blond and white hair flowing in the breeze.
The boy's long shadow passed over the stone surface, slamming into the
girl's shadow over and over. Each time he was thrown backward and each time
he charged again.
Their brutal training was taking place on top of the city wall around Orario.
"You learned how to…react without seeing…"
"D-do you really think so…?"
It was already the fifth day.
Aiz lowered her saber, signaling a brief pause in the action. Bell took a deep
breath and took a look at his own body. What was left of the evening sunlight
illuminated all the cuts, scrapes, bruises, and dried blood that littered his skin.
Completely covered in sweat, the boy's condition showed just how intense these
training sessions had been.
After gathering supplies and setting up a small camp, Bell had committed
himself fully to sparring with Aiz. They started just before the sun rose each
morning and continued until the stars lit up the night, dramatically increasing the
length and intensity of their sessions from the last time they were here. They ate
meals together and slept at the same time; neither of them had gone into the city
even once. A dirty pot and the remains of a fire sat on top of the path just inside
the chest-high stone wall, a guardrail on the city side of the wall. Three water
bottles and three sleeping bags also sat at the base of the guardrail.
Bell had his eyes focused on the cuts crisscrossing his arm when suddenly
—whoosh! A saber came at them from his blind spot without warning. His
instantaneous reflexes brought his weapon into the path of the oncoming blade,
deflecting it before he jumped backward.
Looking very rabbitlike, standing with his left shoulder higher than his right,
he stood at the ready for the next attack. Aiz seemed very satisfied as she nodded
over and over.
"Guess who's back!"
Bell and Aiz turned to face the owner of the cheerful voice.
Emerging from the doorway of the tower that housed a stairwell connecting
to the city street was Tiona with a very large backpack over her shoulder. She
skipped her way up to them and plopped the backpack at their feet on top of the
stone path with a light "Hup!"
"Picked up a ton of meat and fish! Bread and water, too!"
"Thanks, Tiona…"
"Sure thing! Ah, Argonaut, these blades work okay for you? I bought about
five of them."
"Y-yes, thank you very much…s-sorry for the trouble."
Bell stood next to Aiz, scared stiff, as Tiona withdrew the weapons from her
backpack one after another.
Tiona had been supplying the two of them with food and items for the past
five days. It was thanks to her that Bell and Aiz could focus solely on training.
Bell couldn't shake the feeling that he was building up quite a large debt to
the always smiling, happy-go-lucky Amazonian girl Tiona. With the exception
of Ushiwakamaru, he couldn't count how many blades had snapped in half or
been damaged beyond repair during their combat sessions.
"Well, I heard quite a bit around town. First off, the War Game is four days
from now."
"Four days…"
"Yep. It's gonna happen outside of Orario, so we have to think about travel
time…I'd say you've got maybe two more days left."
Tiona continued to relay the information she had collected that day.
Her update complete, Bell looked out over the guardrail and across the
beautiful cityscape.
"Exactly one week…Goddess."
The five days of training plus two more would make one week. Bell said a
quick thank-you to his goddess, who had managed to deliver on her promise.
Bell's ruby-red eyes smiled; he knew that somewhere in this gorgeous city,
Hestia was smiling back.
"Also, you'll never guess what was posted on the Guild's bulletin board.
Hestia Familia has some new members."
"Eh?!"
"Soma, Takemikazuchi, Hephaistos…Looks like all three of them transferred
someone."
Bell fought to contain his surprise and delight until Tiona was finished
talking. The two girls watched as his face lit up and tears of happiness rolled
down his face.
Hestia had saved Lilly, plus Welf and Mikoto were coming to help him. He
didn't need to know the details because he already understood. The black void
that had been eating away at him finally lifted, a new warmth flooding his soul.
Bell stretched out his arms. He looked at Aiz and Tiona with renewed
strength and willpower, feeling stronger than ever.
"Another round, please!"
The look in his eyes made Aiz and Tiona smile.
"Yes…"
"Try to keep up!"
The two girls went on the offensive beneath the red sky.
Three sets of legs dashed about with blinding speed.
Aiz, Tiona, and Bell mixed attack with counterattack in the very limited
space on top of the city wall. Two daggers, one silver saber, and two insanely
wide swords struck with jolting impacts, sparks lighting up the twilight sky.
"Ehsaa!"
Bell did everything he could to keep the attacks of two top-class adventurers
at bay. All the while he couldn't take his eyes off the massive blades in the
Amazonian girl's grasp. Despite learning how to defend against attacks from the
side, knowing that another blade exactly like that edge of death was following
right behind it sent shivers up his spine.
He knew immediately that the weapons were order made. Seeing her wield
the thick, heavy blades as if they were nothing more than shortswords was the
stuff of nightmares. The Amazonian girl smiled, practically laughing as she
danced her way into every strike.
Rather than trying to defend against such an attack head-on, Bell chose to get
out of the way.
Jumping back to avoid the first and to his right to dodge the second, the boy
managed to get clear. However, Tiona charged forward even though her weapons
weren't poised to strike.
"Hup!" Spinning in midair, Tiona unleashed a kick right into Bell's face.
"Geh?!"
The wheat-colored skin of her bare foot buried itself in his cheek, sending the
boy flying backward. Hitting the stone floor and bouncing several times, Bell
rolled to a merciful stop.
"Try not to use potions. If you take one after every hit, you'll run out really
quick. Better to kick the habit."
"I-I'll try…"
Tiona approached him with her swords over her shoulders, looking like
wings from hell. Aiz wasn't too far behind. Tiona gave him some advice as soon
as she saw the boy's hand reach for his leg holster.
"That's the thing about being an adventurer. We still have to be able to move
even after the crap's been beaten out of us!"
Although she was holding back, the kick of a top-class adventurer to the face
can inflict immense damage. Bell slowly nodded as feeling returned to his head.
Just as she'd suggested, it would be a good idea to learn how to fight well when
not at full strength. The lesson had literally been beaten into him.
Gritting his teeth, Bell climbed to his feet as Tiona looked on with a satisfied
smile.
"My turn."
"?!"
The session started back up. Bell was forced to use both knives in order to
repel Aiz's direct attack.
Not only that, Tiona circled around to his blind side and continued her
assault. Two of the greatest sword wielders in Orario weren't holding back any
techniques on top of the city wall. Bell desperately intercepted each strike,
deflecting the blades out of his ever-changing path. However, he hadn't come
here to learn how to defend. He had to find a window for counterattack.
Fighting off his own cowardice, Bell surprised both of them by charging
forward.
"!"
Aiz's posture slipped ever so slightly.
Her feet and shoulders weren't on the same page, moving in different
directions as Bell came in for his attack. Bell couldn't believe his luck. The girl's
feminine frame was trying to retreat, leaving her side wide open. This was his
chance and he didn't hesitate.
A golden opportunity—score a hit on the Kenki.
Taking aim for her ribs, Bell took a quick step forward and thrust the dagger
in his left hand toward his opponent.
"Hm."
"—"
But Aiz spun her body around like a top, armor a blur.
Taking advantage of his outstretched position, Aiz easily dodged the weapon
and traded places with Bell. Now directly behind him, she whipped her saber
forward with less than her full strength and nailed the light armor protecting the
boy's back.
"BuuHA?!"
"You dove for the opening…" said Aiz as Bell landed flat on his chest on top
of the stone floor.
Only then did Bell realize it was a trap. She had baited and set it for the rabbit
as though to demonstrate the prowess of a skilled hunter. Bell's head hit the
stone surface in disappointment.
The boy pushed off the stone floor into a sitting position. Aiz crouched down
in front of him and continued her lesson.
"Monsters and people fight differently…"
"Y-yes."
"Monsters always attack head-on, aiming to kill…but people read each other,
change their strategy."
Unlike monsters that used their full power all the time, people used
techniques and experience to gain the upper hand in a fight. This was especially
true of the combatants of similar strength and skill.
"People become easier to read when they see a window. Just like now."
"…!"
"Guard is lowest when the final blow is near…That's what I was taught."
People became overconfident when they saw victory within their grasp,
which meant they neglected to cover their blind side.
That was especially true during a duel.
Bell looked up, making eye contact with Aiz as she finished her impassioned
explanation.
"Your best opportunity lies in the moment you've been cornered. Don't
forget."
Bell carved her words into his very soul.
Aiz held out her hand. Bell nodded and took it.
She pulled him to his feet.
"How about some more?"
"Yeah…"
"Yes!"
Both combatants nodded at Tiona's invitation and their battle heated up once
more.
Lessons of the top-class adventurers fresh in his mind, Bell continued his
training long into the night.
In order to grasp victory or to rescue a friend.
Each of the people caught in the whirlpool was taking their own actions for
their own reasons and coming together.
The city of Orario might appear calm on the surface, but excitement was
building underneath its placid exterior.
The War Game was fast approaching. With each passing day, the average
citizens of the city discussed it on the streets, at their workplaces, and over a jug
of ale at their favorite bar. The number of adventurers going into the Dungeon
fell dramatically, forcing disappointed shops to close early. No one seemed to
want to do anything else. Even the children seemed to sense that something was
different. Many of them gathered in city parks wielding toy swords and staging
their own games.
Orario was quietly, but undoubtedly, boiling over with excitement. It grew
more intense as the War Game drew nearer.
Most of all, the ones closest to the people caught in the whirlpool had their
own reactions as they watched the preparations unfold.
The curtain of night fell over the city, revealing a star-filled sky.
The white tower in the middle of it all looked over the city as magic-stone
lamps gradually lit up its surroundings.
"Lady Freya, it has been completed as ordered…Lady Freya?"
In the highest room of Babel Tower.
While Freya heard the words of her follower, Ottar, she didn't respond in the
slightest.
The man looked upon her in concerned confusion as she ran her fingers
through her long, gorgeous silver hair. The goddess sat in her usual chair facing
the window, watching something outside with so much intensity that Ottar was
afraid the glass would melt.
"…Fu-fu."
Her silver eyes were being drawn to a fierce battle taking place atop the city
wall.
The blond-haired, golden-eyed knight along with the warrior wielding
massive twin blades fought two-on-one against a white-haired boy. Two female,
one male, three different spirits "glowed" as they clashed. Freya was enjoying
every second of it.
She felt no pity for the boy whenever he was launched into the air by the
Amazonian girl or cut down by the long-haired human.
This was because every time the boy got up, his soul shone brighter. It was as
if this training ground was a forge and the girls were eliminating all impurities,
like a smith prepping metal. They were drawing out his soul's clear glow.
It was that glow that originally drew Freya to him and would hold her interest
until the end of time. Every hit the boy took added a new sparkle. The goddess
sat there, completely transfixed.
"…Are you certain that we can allow Apollo's followers to go through with
this?"
Ottar tried once again to draw her attention away from the city wall.
Her eyes stayed put, but she used one thin finger to pull a lock of her silver
hair behind her ear and grinned.
"I thought about crushing them for trying something so stupid but…No."
Her silver eyes narrowed as they followed the boy charging back into battle
against the human girl and the Amazon.
"No goddess worthy of her divinity wouldn't want to see how this turns out."
Her cheeks pulled back into a full smile as she looked down from her spot
among the stars.
Unable to rest, the stars twinkled brightly through the night.
Even at this late hour, the Guild headquarters was alive with activity. Clerks
holding stacks of papers, receptionists carrying boxes upon boxes, and
employees with no time to sit down were busily working in every corner of the
Pantheon decorated with white pillars.
With the War Game only four days away, there was enough work to be done
to make their eyes spin.
"No more! I'm gonna die right here!"
"Misha, you're too heavy…"
The human receptionist Misha set yet another stack of papers down on her
desk before drifting over to Eina and collapsing onto her back amid the
commotion. The half-elf looked at her old friend with tired eyes as she spoke
again.
"Eina, wha'cha doing…?"
"Making a plan to keep people away from the war zone…Advising, I guess."
A small mountain range of paperwork encircled her desk, each pile bearing
Eina's handwriting.
"Do not enter" was written in big, bold letters—all referring to the Shreme
Castle ruins located southeast of Orario.
"Shreme Castle…Didn't that group of robbers decide to move in a while
back?"
"Yes. Ganesha Familia accepted our request to remove them ahead of time.
A few quests have also been issued to help them out…It's a good opportunity to
catch them while we can."
Eina continued writing while she responded to Misha's question.
Misha could hear the constrained energy in Eina's voice despite her weak
tone. The girl looked at the side of Eina's face before standing up and bringing
her chair next to her.
"Eina…are you worried about Bell?"
"…Worried? How could I not be worried…"
Her expression became cloudy as her emerald eyes trembled.
Her head drooped as she brought her hand to her chest. One of the
adventurers assigned to her, practically a little brother at this point, was caught
up in a battle between Familias. And now he'd been forced into a War Game in
which it wasn't uncommon for participants to die. Needles pierced her heart just
by visualizing the boy's innocent smile—would she never see it again?
If she could convince him to run away or maybe assist him, maybe she
wouldn't be in this much pain.
"But I'm an employee of the Guild…I can't interfere in any way."
However, the situation had progressed so far that one half-elf couldn't have
any influence at all. Eina knew that she was powerless in the face of the forces at
work.
That fact had soaked in completely. The tone in Eina's voice bordered on
despair. She felt utterly useless.
"We____ll, you know…You could root for him?"
Misha could tell that her friend was upset and tried to cheer her up.
Eina looked up at her.
"Root…?"
"Yep. 'Go for it!' and stuff like that? I'm sure that if he had your support,
he'd do the best he could to win, right?"
Eina looked at Misha's childish smile for a few moments.
Finally, she stood up and walked over to the window at the end of the office.
The moon shone brightly down on her as she looked up at the night sky.
"…Go for it."
Eina whispered to the moonlight.
"Ahh, how patient must I be…"
The deity's eyes slowly closed in a dark room illuminated by moonlight.
Sitting on an ornate throne made of gold, Apollo brought a glass of wine to
his lips.
The manor that he called home was tranquil, a good distance away from the
noisy areas of the city. Tonight, it was much quieter than usual. The bulk of his
Familia had already left to prepare the castle ruins that would become their
battlefield. As it was their role in this battle to defend it, Apollo Familia had a lot
of work to do.
If his only goal was to steal Bell away from Hestia, it would've been easy
enough to continue their assault and capture him even without the cooperation of
Soma Familia. If he had done so, the boy would already be his.
However, Apollo was partial to the idea of a War Game.
There was a very clear difference between a conflict fought on the streets and
the War Game. Crushing a foe in battle to obtain an objective left everyone
involved with a sour taste in their mouths. On the other hand, should he obtain
his prize by following a set of rules, then he would be able to bask in the glory of
victory and enjoy the spoils. It was, after all, a game. He would not allow the
Guild or any other group to profit from this situation. With victory, he would
gain the authority to take the follower of the enemy god—if Hestia refused to
perform a Conversion, it was impossible to make Bell his own both in name and
reality.
Above all, the other gods would not be satisfied by such a quick turn of
events. Apollo had gathered the support of many gods who were starving for
some "entertainment" in order to capture Bell. He owed them the show they
were dying to see.
He also wanted some amusement.
A war of gods fought by mortals. By far the most delicious flavor of Gekai, it
was enjoyed by all gods.
There was no greater excitement than to be able to move their followers like
pieces on a board game without any kind of interference.
Those were Apollo's true feelings—the influence of his own divinity.
His wants and desires swirling within him, the god wearing a crown of
laurels looked toward the sky.
"Oh, my beloved Bell Cranell…will there ever come a day I can embrace you
in my own arms?"
He wasn't sure when he first knew of the boy—most likely when the rumors
of a new record holder came to light. Apollo had a habit of indulging in
everything new and fresh. Picturing the events that would soon unfold brought
him great joy. His very body shook with anticipation.
—Ahh, Bell!
—No, my Belly-boy!
—You won't get away!
He could see the boy now, a tear in his eye. But something else was swelling
up within him. This heat surging through his chest was proof of his love.
Apollo's craving for the boy was on the verge of driving him insane. His thin,
compact build and rabbitlike features with white hair and young, red eyes that
were untainted by the truths of this world—everything.
Apollo's cheeks flushed like those of a drunken man.
"…If our love is to grow, Hestia, you will only get in the way. Once he is
mine, I will drive you out of this city—no, out of Gekai entirely."
Coming back to reality, Apollo opened his eyes and looked up at the stars.
The moonlight reflected off his suddenly serious eyes as his lips curled
upward.
"I'm counting on you, my cute little children…"
A low laugh resonated from his room beneath the calming moonbeams.
Click. A few moments later, both hands of his clock joined him in looking
skyward.
The time drew near.
The city was filled with a morning chill just before sunrise.
The streets were lined with silent and motionless shops. Shutters were closed
over windows and doors; it was unbelievable how lifeless the city seemed. The
city wall cast a tall shadow over the buildings, the streets covered in shade.
Two figures ran quickly through East Main Street toward the brightening
horizon through the unnaturally quiet morning air.
"You have to hurry, Bell! The caravan's about to leave!"
"Right behind you!"
Hestia and Bell ran through what was left of the morning fog. Their
destination was the East Gate. They kept talking as they ran.
"They already know you're coming. There's a spot for you on one of their
horse-drawn carts. Get off at a town called Agris, it's pretty close to the old
castle! Guild employees will give you instructions from there, so pay attention!"
"Will do!"
The War Game would start the day after tomorrow.
Bell had finished training with Aiz and Tiona and had received a Status
update from Hestia. Now all that was left was to travel to the battlefield. It
would take a day to get there, so arrangements had been made for Bell to travel
with the caravan of merchants for most of the trip.
He was dressed in light but strong traveler's clothes with a cloak around his
shoulders. Everything else he needed was in a bag over his shoulder, the
drawstring held tight in his grasp.
"Everyone else is already there, so meet up with them in town! Also, here's
your travel permit issued by the Guild—show it to the gatekeepers and the leader
of the caravan!"
Orario was set up so that it was relatively easy to enter the city but
extraordinarily difficult to exit. An individual needed several documents
approved by the Guild before they were allowed to pass. Bell took the signed
sheets of paper identifying him as a War Game participant from Hestia and said
a quick "Thank you."
At last, they arrived at the heavily fortified East Gate. Somehow, it looked a
lot smaller to Bell now than it did when he'd passed through a few months ago.
Members of the caravan were already here, talking excitedly amongst
themselves. Bell and Hestia worked their way through lines of horse-drawn carts
and large storage containers on wheels toward the head of the caravan before
stopping in front of the first gate.
"…I'll be waiting right here for your glorious return."
"…See you then, Goddess!"
Hestia smiled at him. Bell smiled back.
That's when Hestia jumped onto his chest, wrapped her arms around him, and
squeezed with all her might. Bell's body tensed out of embarrassment, but he
didn't try to escape. He couldn't. Hestia ignored all the commotion around them
and enjoyed the warmth emanating from his chest as long as she could. Bell's
face turned beet red as her arms worked higher, going above his shoulders and
around his neck as she started to pull back. Meeting his gaze, she opened her
mouth into a bright, gentle smile as she said, "Now go."
Bell took a step back, a shy smile on his face. Wiping his hot cheeks with his
free hand, the boy turned and ran to the front of the caravan. "Wait for me!" he
yelled to the front and took off into the maze of carts. The caravan leader was
talking with one of the gatekeepers. Both looked up as the boy approached,
holding out his paperwork for them to see.
The gatekeeper was an adventurer—probably someone who had accepted an
assignment from the Guild. Two Guild employees emerged from the gate office
from behind him and took Bell's paperwork. Reading it over, they nodded to
each other. The caravan leader pointed to a cart in the line and told Bell to take a
seat.
The horse-drawn cart that Bell climbed into was more spacious than he
thought. It had a roof as well as windows on each side. A few people—some
travelers, merchants, and a hired guard—were already on board. Each of them
had a very distinct look about him or her, a few in light armor and others in
comfortable clothes.
"…Hey, you there. Aren't you the Little Rookie from Hestia Familia?"
"Ah, yeah, that's me."
"Thought so! On your way to the War Game, huh? Give 'em hell!"
Bell took a seat at the back corner of the cart next to a rather friendly animal
person who immediately recognized him and started a conversation. The smiling
young man had the aura of a drifter and a bushy tail wagging cheerfully behind
him. The tension in the cart dissipated as the other passengers came over to
break the ice.
"Those guys are rough, but give it your best shot!" "This is our tradition, we
have some snacks before every trip!" "How 'bout this?!"
Each of them came over with handfuls of nougat, dried fruit, and tarts.
Surrounded by kind and welcoming people, Bell couldn't help but smile, nod his
head, and manage to say, "Th-thank you…" He didn't really like sweet foods but
he didn't want to reject their goodwill and decided to eat everything he was
offered.
The cart lurched beneath him as it started to move forward.
The cries of many horses cut through the morning air. The East Gate was
open; the caravan started to move.
Bell felt every bump in the road through his wooden seat when suddenly—
"—Bell!"
He heard someone call his name.
He leaned over to look out the window and saw Syr running right beside the
cart.
"Syr?! What are you doing? It's dangerous!"
Bell lifted the window open and called out to her.
She was out of uniform, wearing a cape over her usual clothes and running as
hard as she could to keep up with the cart. She thrust her right hand toward the
window.
"Take this…!"
"Huh?"
Something golden glinted from within her outstretched hand. Bell reached
outside out of reflex.
She gave him an amulet. It was in the shape of a golden teardrop, a jewel in
its center. It had to be an accessory that granted the wearer some kind of power.
Bell raised his eyes from the item in his hand to look at Syr.
"It was a thank-you gift to the bar from an adventurer a while ago…A good-
luck charm!"
Bell's eyes shot open as he listened to her explanation.
"Do your best! And please come back to our bar!"
The cart picked up speed and Syr couldn't stay beside it, almost tripping a
few times.
"I-I'll have a lunch ready for you! I'll be waiting!"
The girl's cheeks blushed a light pink. Bell couldn't help but smile.
He leaned out the window and waved good-bye as she fell farther and farther
behind. She came to a stop, put her hands together in front of her chest, and
watched the cart disappear through the East Gate.
"…"
Bell returned to his seat and looked again at the shining amulet in his hand.
Sliding the thin chain around his neck, he tucked the amulet under his shirt.
—Win.
—Win and come back.
The faces of everyone he'd met in Orario flooded his mind as he swore to see
them again. Squeezing the amulet with his right hand through his shirt, the boy
suddenly realized he was smiling.
He looked outside the window as he felt every bump in the road shake his
seat.
The sun was just peeking over the mountains in the distance.
Bell shielded his eyes from the bright morning light.
The ruins of Shreme Castle.
Standing in a field void of trees or hills, the castle had been built in ancient
times as the first line of defense. Completed before Babel Tower served as a
"lid" over the Dungeon, it was used to stop the advance of monsters that
emerged from the hole to attack nearby towns and villages. Many castles just
like this one were built relatively close to Orario for just this reason. Most of
them had been destroyed or collapsed after centuries of neglect, but Shreme was
used as a staging point by the kingdom of Rakia in the war almost one thousand
years ago. Several of its main towers were damaged, but the castle's main wall
and other defenses were very much intact. Now it had been selected to host the
War Game.
The outer wall stood an impressive ten meders high, even higher in the areas
where the towers once stood. The wall itself was more than thick enough to
withstand the strongest of attacks—perhaps with the exception of a powerful
blast of magical energy. Even top-class adventurers would have difficulty
cracking it. The castle was located in an open area and very easy to attack. This
wall was the main reason it had lasted so long.
"Get some clay over here. Reinforce everything that's fixable."
Night had already fallen, the moon shining brightly overhead. Apollo Familia
was hard at work making their final preparations for the War Game that would
begin in a few short hours.
One hundred ten of them had arrived three days ago and had been working
around the clock to make sure the castle was ready. That was almost all of their
Familia. Working in groups, they had made repairs to the castle itself as well as
set up hidden stores of spare weapons and items in various places inside the
structure.
"Humph, pointless…Why bother?"
The fortress's main tower stood above the wreckage of the other towers in the
very middle of the castle. Hyacinthus watched the other members of his Familia
work from the top floor.
The time limit for the Castle Siege War Game had been set at three days.
Apollo Familia would win if either he was alive after that time or if the enemy
general—without a doubt, Bell Cranell—was defeated in combat.
It was their role as the defender to make sure the castle was ready, but it was
obvious that they could win without all this fuss. Hyacinthus had heard that the
enemy ranks had increased as of late, but they would face no more than five
combatants. What point was there in having more than one hundred warriors
repair a castle when they could crush their enemy outright in a head-to-head
battle?
"Lord Apollo, why? Why a castle siege…?"
Hyacinthus was very confident that he could win without all of these
favorable conditions. Did his god not trust him and the rest of the Familia? The
man was feeling underappreciated, as though Apollo had forgotten what he was
capable of.
The disgruntled man walked away from the window and took a seat on the
throne at the back of the room. The throne itself had been there when Apollo
Familia first arrived, but they had made a few modifications. Very comfortable,
the back of the ornate chair was an enlarged version of the Familia emblem, a
burning sun with a bow and arrow. The rest of the room was decorated with
artwork and had been cleaned spotless because Hyacinthus had ordered everyone
under his command to make the space pleasing to the eye.
Leaning back on his throne, Hyacinthus begrudgingly laughed through his
nose.
"What a boring game…"
"—Yeah, Hyacinthus would say something like that…"
The short-haired woman, Daphne, grumbled to herself as she looked up at the
throne room from her post on top of the solid castle wall.
Rakia had made a few strange modifications when they occupied the castle.
Their god must have really enjoyed showing off because the main tower had
many complex designs built onto its surface. It had a luxurious feel to it despite
being the castle's last line of defense. Seeing her own Familia's emblem
attached to the top of the main tower made her want to laugh out of sheer
absurdity. That hunk of metal was so big it could probably be seen from Orario.
Daphne sighed to herself and continued with her own assignment. It was her
job to motivate the other members to hurry up with the wall repairs. The hard
part was that most of them shared Hyacinthus's opinion of the upcoming battle
and couldn't wait to watch it unfold. Despite having more than one hundred
workers under her command, making sure that there were no weak points in any
of the walls of the castle had been frustrating beyond belief.
Also, Ganesha Familia had arrived at Shreme a few days before Daphne and
the rest of Apollo Familia in order to clear out the group of thieves and
marauders that had been living in the castle. Since they'd been ordered not to
damage the castle in any way before the War Game, the eviction had been
carried out by digging holes under the wall and catching the squatters by
surprise. They'd captured every single one of the criminals in less than a day.
Daphne made sure that they filled in the holes before returning to Orario.
"Daph…"
"Cassandra?"
Magic-stone lamps lit up the top of the wall in place of the torches of old.
Cassandra approached Daphne, nervously calling out to her.
She came to a stop in front of one of the lamps, only half of her face
illuminated in the light. She embraced her own trembling body with both arms as
if she were afraid it would fall apart.
"It's no good…We need to get far away from here."
"Huh?"
"The castle, the castle will fall…"
Daphne's expression turned to annoyance as she listened to the nonsense
coming out of Cassandra's mouth.
"Another dream? You know it's too late to do that now. Get it together."
"Please, please, Daph, believe me…!"
Cassandra desperately begged her friend to take her prophetic dream
seriously even though there was no way it could come to pass.
Daphne ignored her and continued inspecting the wall, but Cassandra was
much more persistent than usual. The long-haired girl's shoulders slumped as if
she were debating whether or not to keep trying, before freezing on the spot.
Surprised by the sudden silence, Daphne turned around to face her.
Cassandra's face was pale and gaunt as if she were moments away from death,
eyes transfixed on a spot below them.
"No, we can't let it in. There's still time; it mustn't come inside…"
A small line of horse-drawn carts carrying the last of their supplies was
approaching the wall just outside the gate. The girl watched, horrified, as the
gate opened.
"Heey! Wait up, will you?!"
Luan yelled at the top of his lungs, chasing the last cart as he watched the
castle gate start to close.
The driver of the last cart ordered his horse to gallop to cover the distance,
forcing the prum into an all-out sprint just to make it inside the gate before it
shut completely. A dull thud sounded a moment after he slid between the
massive iron blocks.
"Why, why would you shut it when I'm still out there?" the small prum man
asked in a pathetic, panting voice to the exceptionally large animal person
standing at the gate controls.
The large man just laughed. "Hee-hee, so you were there, Luan. You're so
tiny! Couldn't see you at all."
The lower-class adventurer known as Luan Espel looked much younger than
his age, almost like a child. Other members of Apollo Familia treated him like
the bottom of the barrel because of the combination of his rank and his
appearance. That was why he'd been assigned to bring supplies to the castle at
this late hour.
Prums were often discriminated against because of their short size and
unintimidating presence. "Come on," he retorted as other members of the
Familia joined in the laughter.
"…Quite a large shipment you brought in."
"Three days' worth of weapons and rations. Best to be ready, you know?"
The animal person laughed again, saying that he was being a little too careful
considering their opponent. The large man didn't even look at Luan as he started
to inspect the shipment.
In moments, other members of the Familia were unloading box after box
from the carts and taking them to the castle's already well-stocked storage
rooms.
"Aaah…"
Cassandra watched it all unfold from her spot on top of the wall.
Daphne had never seen her friend like this. Although she felt something was
wrong with the girl, Daphne turned to leave.
"Wake up, we have work to do!"
Cassandra watched Daphne's back pass in and out of the light of the magic-
stone lamps. She took a deep breath and let out a long, heavy sigh.
Then she whispered in a shaking voice like a prophet who'd seen the end of
the world.
"It's too late…The Trojan horse is inside the wall."
"What took you?"
"Sorry."
"Are your preparations in order?"
"Yes. My goddess upgraded my Status already."
"Great. Now, here's the knife I promised you. The cutting edge is way better
than the first one, I guarantee it."
"Thanks."
"Sir Welf…What about those?"
"Ready and waiting. Didn't have much time, so I could only finish two."
"…Um, Welf, are you sure this is all right?"
"Yeah…I've stopped compromising allies for pride."
"?"
"Never mind…Yo, you can take these now. But I warn you, they were very
rushed so I'm not sure about their full power or how long they'll last. Don't
waste them."
"Understood."
"Well, then…Everything is going according to Lady Hestia's plan."
"Yep. And tomorrow—we take down the castle."
"Yes…Let's win this."
Several voices went unheard under the cover of night.
War Game versus Apollo Familia. Classification—Castle Siege.
Victory condition: defeat the enemy general.
The long night was almost over.