Chapter 6: The So-Called Despicable
_____
In the stillness of the night, Izzy faintly heard a familiar voice delivering a lecture in the distance.
He could already guess what was happening.
With a sigh, he silently offered half a second of sympathy for Lante and the other girl, Chloe.
The crackling sound of the burning firewood gradually helped Izzy calm down. In the serene silence, a small red exclamation mark in the lower-left corner of his vision became especially noticeable.
The urge to click it was difficult to resist.
So, Izzy focused on it with his thoughts, selecting the icon as if "clicking" it with his mind.
A virtual screen appeared, visible only to him, and expanded before his eyes. A few lines of text were clearly displayed:
---
[Host: Izzy Aylward]
[Skills: Starry Night (Half Activated)]
[Current Task: Join a Familia (Unfinished)]
[Reward: Skill - Heart of the Earth]
---
Yes, as a time traveler and an outsider in this world, Izzy naturally had a system—one of the defining traits of a time traveler.
However, this system resembled more of a game interface than the typical all-powerful systems described in stories.
It currently featured three modules: Personal Information, Task Panel, and Achievement List. The names were self-explanatory, especially for someone familiar with gaming terminology.
Most of the time, the system remained hidden in the lower-left corner of his vision, represented by a small arrow icon. Unless he actively looked for it, it wouldn't appear on its own.
The small red exclamation mark indicated that there was an incomplete task.
Tasks appeared randomly and offered a high degree of freedom. Completing them was not mandatory, but failure to do so meant forfeiting the rewards.
For instance, the skill "Starry Night" was a reward he received for completing the achievement "First Visit to a Different World." Unfortunately, the skill had not yet been fully activated.
Izzy speculated that this might be due to the unique rules of the world he had entered—Danmachi's world.
In this world, skills were not something granted arbitrarily. They were the crystallization of an adventurer's mind, born from their inherent potential and the desires in their heart.
Here, the key to unlocking an adventurer's true potential was something called "Falna," bestowed by a deity.
Because Izzy lacked Falna, his skill "Starry Night" remained only half-activated. At present, it provided a modest enhancement to his physical abilities, but much of the strength it promised remained buried deep within him, inaccessible for now.
To fully awaken his skill and its full power, Izzy suspected he would need to join a Familia and receive a god's blessing.
He believed that once he achieved that, his strength would grow by leaps and bounds.
---
The achievement "First Visit to a Different World" had also made Izzy wonder:
Did he acquire the system first and then travel to this world, or did traveling to this world cause him to gain the system?
It was like the classic philosophical question about whether the chicken or the egg came first.
For a time, Izzy had been caught up in this conundrum. But after mulling it over for a while, he decided it wasn't worth losing sleep over.
Overthinking would only lead him into a mental dead end. There was no point in wasting his energy on something he couldn't change or understand.
In the end, he chose to embrace his circumstances and move forward.
"Come to think of it," Izzy muttered quietly to himself, staring at the task panel that hovered before his eyes, "I have a god right here with me now…"
But after a moment of thought, he chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Artemis, huh? Somehow, I don't think it's worth asking her."
Artemis—the goddess also known as Cynthia—was well-known as the deity of hunting in ancient Greek mythology. She was regarded as the mistress of wild beasts and the ruler of the wilderness.
Alongside Hestia and Athena, Artemis was one of the Three Virgin Goddesses of Mount Olympus.
[Note: According to Mythology]
She was fiercely independent and free-spirited, with a deep love for the outdoors. She abhorred the notion of marriage and opposed impure relationships between men and women.
Her affection was reserved for unmarried virgins and young people who rejected the charms of Aphrodite.
Such was the Artemis of myth and legend.
In Orario, though many years of living with her Familia had softened Artemis to some extent, making her more approachable, the rule of prohibiting love remained steadfast.
It was a principle her Familia adhered to without exception, and changing Artemis's stance on it was next to impossible—unless, of course, the legendary "Orion" were to appear.
By the way, according to Izzy's reliable sources, no matter how Omori Fujino might have originally written it, in this real world, Artemis's Orion could never be Bell Cranel.
Izzy was willing to swear on his potential future lifespan as a god: absolutely impossible.
That said, the idea of joining Artemis's Familia was out of the question—at least for now.
---
After stargazing on the stone for what felt like an eternity, Izzy finally rolled back into his tent to get some sleep.
The Artemis Familia rarely stayed in one place for long; it was a habit born from their nomadic lifestyle. By tomorrow, they would set out for Orario.
As the "weakest" member of the group, Izzy figured it was best to get an early start on resting.
By the way... where had his black iron spear gone?
Izzy: "Hey, where's my weapon?"
---
The night passed without incident.
When morning came, the sun's light painted the camp in a soft golden hue. The early risers had already enjoyed breakfast, packed their belongings, and were preparing to leave.
Izzy, too, was ready. With a large leather backpack strapped to his back, he had been assigned the role of supporter for the journey.
Rethusa, the team leader, walked beside him, explaining the precautions and things to be mindful of.
During their conversation, Izzy learned what had happened to his black iron spear.
It had been "gloriously sacrificed" during his fight with the wyvern.
Still, considering how long the spear had served him—several months, to be precise—it was worth it.
Or so he tried to convince himself.
To compensate, Rethusa handed him a spare sword.
---
"…That's pretty much everything you need to know. By the way, how's your backpack? Is it too heavy? If it's too much, let me know immediately. Staying silent could cost you dearly if you fall behind."
After finishing her explanations, Reth6 glanced at the enormous pack on Izzy's back. It was almost taller than he was. Her voice was tinged with genuine concern.
"I'm fine. It doesn't feel heavy at all. I guess I was just born with a good physique."
Izzy adjusted the massive backpack as he spoke. Despite its size, it didn't weigh him down. Most of the contents were just bedding, a folded tent, and other lightweight items.
It looked intimidating, but for Izzy, it was manageable.
"Really? That's good to hear."
Satisfied, Rethusa gave him a small nod before changing the subject.
"Don't worry, Izzy! If anything dangerous happens, you can count on me to protect you!"
At that moment, Lante, the lively, blue-haired half-elf, ran over to join the conversation. Rising onto her tiptoes, she patted Izzy's shoulder with a mock air of authority, like a little adult.
"Yup! You can always rely on Lante, too!"
At only thirteen years old, Lante was undoubtedly still a child—at least by the standards of the long-lived elven race. Both half-elves and pure-blood elves aged much slower than humans.
Her personality was equally youthful. Just yesterday, she had been grumbling about the monsters that had followed Izzy to their camp. Now, she was confidently declaring her intent to protect him.
It seemed she subscribed to the belief that grudges didn't last overnight—because she had clearly forgotten all about her complaints from the day before.
---
"..."
Wait a second… how did you know I was afraid in the first place?
Faced with Lante's spirited enthusiasm, Izzy didn't know how to respond—or where to even begin.
In the end, he forced a small, awkward smile and simply looked at her, his gaze soft and warm.
The girls from the Familia, watching from nearby, couldn't help but giggle at the scene.
---
In this friendly and lively atmosphere, the Artemis Familia began their journey toward the labyrinth city of Orario.