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"Alfia," Mika called out.
"What is it?" she asked, materializing beside him.
"There's a young man in the Hestia Familia I'm quite interested in. I'd like you to train him. What do you think?" A mischievous grin spread across his face.
Mika was always eager for a good show.
"What?" Alfia looked at Mika, feigning confusion. "I must be hearing things. Could you repeat that?"
"I said, there's a young man in the Hestia Familia I'm quite interested in—I'd like you to train him." Mika repeated his request, a playful smile on his face.
"....?" Alfia, despite her enhanced senses, wished she hadn't.
Mika's request was baffling. Her? Train a novice?
Alfia had never done such a thing, not even during her time in the Hera Familia, let alone now, with her power far surpassing what it had been.
"Are you feeling alright, Mika? Training a novice—it's hardly a challenging task, is it?" In her mind, there was nothing special about training a new recruit.
It was a straightforward process—the Yahweh Familia having established a standardized training regimen. It didn't require the direct involvement of their strongest members.
Such tasks were usually handled by Alise, Ryuu, or Gojouno.
Besides, she was officially deceased. Why would she be assigned such a task?
Mika, seeing her confusion, chuckled. "I know you're wondering about my reasoning, but I have my reasons. I have high hopes for this young man and want him to receive the best possible training. And in my opinion, you're the most suitable candidate—Tell you what, I've asked him to wait for you at the front gate. Go meet him. If you're not impressed, I'll find someone else."
"...Very well." Having been by Mika's side since her death, Alfia was familiar with his unconventional methods.
While his decisions often seemed puzzling at first, there was always a deeper meaning—a long-term strategy at play. She trusted his judgment. If he said there was a reason, then there was a reason. She would go and see what made this young man so special, so worthy of her personal attention.
"I'll leave him to you, then—" Mika said, his smile widening.
"Go on. Don't keep him waiting."
"Hmph. He can wait." With that, she vanished.
As soon as she was gone, Mika grinned and also vanished. After all, how could he miss such an...interesting encounter? He followed her discreetly.
——
——
Meanwhile, within Yahweh's office at the top of the Familia manor, several other presences also vanished. After all, the Gods of Orario were masters of entertainment.
"Ugh, why isn't she here yet?" Bell Cranel paced anxiously inside the Yahweh Familia's gates, his gaze fixed on the street outside.
Most of the adventurers passing by were high-level, and while they were technically his comrades, he was still a novice, unfamiliar with them.
Bell was worried about accidentally angering someone he didn't recognize. Besides, he should have been at the Hestia Familia, receiving guidance from his seniors and getting to know his fellow Familia members before venturing into the dungeon. However, Mika's summons had disrupted his plans.
Mika, the Commander, one of Orario's strongest, the leader of the Four-Familia alliance
(Since each Familia—Astraea, Hephaestus, and Hestia—had their own Captains, Mika, who led their combined forces, was often referred to as the Commander)—had recognized Bell's potential and promised to find him a suitable mentor. While this was exciting, it was also incredibly nerve-wracking.
"I wonder what kind of person Commander Mika chose for me? Will they be strict? And will he be there as well?" Bell was lost in his thoughts, oblivious to the curious glances from the passing adventurers.
——
"So this is him... He seems unremarkable," Alfia murmured, observing Bell from a distance, her initial impression less than favorable.
She hadn't intended to be late, but she had forgotten to ask Mika for the boy's name.
And when she returned to ask, he was gone. Therefore, she had arrived later than planned, her reluctance to train a novice further delaying her.
However, she had already accepted the task. She sighed and pulled her hood lower, approaching the boy. She had easily identified him; after all, there were no other young men waiting nervously near the Yahweh Familia's entrance.
His anxious demeanor and fidgeting confirmed her suspicions.
"Are you the novice the Commander mentioned?" she asked, her voice startling him.
"Y-Yes!" he stammered, his voice trembling slightly. He hadn't sensed her approach.
Alfia's lips curved into a subtle smile.
Years spent with Mika and Yahweh had influenced her. She was developing a sense of mischief.
The boy's startled reaction amused her—lifting her earlier gloomy mood. However, as he turned around, his face pale with a mixture of fear and awe, her smile vanished.
She recognized that face.
——
——
Alfia wasn't an only child.
She had a twin sister. However, unlike Alfia, her sister had been average, lacking any special talent. Alfia had always believed she had somehow absorbed her sister's potential—which was why her own talent was so extraordinary, so unique.
It was the combined potential of two souls.
Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps out of love, she had adored her sister.
However, her sister had fallen in love with a low-ranking member of the Zeus Familia, married him, and started a family.
They were both dead now.
But their child he had lived.
Bell Cranel.
He was their son.
Alfia should have been the one to raise him, but she had been dying, her illness consuming her. And the boy, like his parents, seemed to lack any special talent.
Therefore, she hadn't taken him, leaving him in the care of the Zeus Familia, hoping he would live a peaceful, ordinary life. She hadn't even met him, merely observing him from a distance, etching his face into her memory.
And now, years later, seeing that familiar face—she instantly recognized him:
Bell Cranel, her sister's son.
"So that's why he insisted it had to be me..." Her eyes welled up, her usual stoicism faltering as emotions she had long suppressed surged forth.
"Your name is Bell Cranel, isn't it?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as she fought to maintain her composure.
"Y-Yes. I'm Bell Cranel," he replied nervously. He was intimidated by this powerful adventurer sent by the Commander.
"I will be strict with you." She turned and walked away, needing a moment to gather herself, to hide the tears threatening to spill. She turned her face away from him, walking towards the city, her steps brisk.
"Follow me."
"Yes!" He quickly followed, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement.
As they walked, Alfia's emotions gradually subsided, the familiar streets of Orario a calming presence.
"To think—Alfia is crying... I never would have imagined..." Mika murmured, watching them from a nearby bush, a smile playing on his lips.
"Indeed. This is a rare sight, a collector's item," Yahweh chuckled, joining him. She wasn't alone; Astraea and Hestia were there as well.
Besides Hephaestus, who was busy studying the forging techniques Mika had acquired, the entire leadership of the Yahweh Familia was present.
They were Gods, after all, and Gods loved a good show. Even Astraea, usually so composed, couldn't help but grin, peeking through the bushes.
"We might never see such a display again."
"Don't worry, I've captured the moment." Mika pulled out a blank photograph, and as he channeled his magic power, an image of Alfia, tears streaming down her face, appeared on its surface.
"Perfect!" Astraea exclaimed. "Can I have one?"
"Of course. Here, one for each of you." He had anticipated their request and had prepared several copies, handing them out. They emerged from the bushes and headed back towards the manor.
"I didn't realize Bell had such a powerful relative," Hestia murmured, still slightly bewildered.
Upon receiving Mika's summons, she had been concerned about Bell's safety, not understanding why Mika had chosen him. She had come to inquire, and he had explained Bell's connection to Alfia and his own plan.
Hestia had readily agreed.
After all, Alfia was not only Bell's aunt but also a former top-tier adventurer, considered one of the most talented in Orario's history.
And she was now Mika's associate.
Entrusting Bell's training to her was the safest possible option. Furthermore, under her guidance, he might even achieve a brighter future.
"Who would have thought—?" Astraea murmured, still processing the information. After all, compared to Alfia, Bell seemed utterly normal. The fact that they were related was surprising.
Mika smiled.
Normal? His talent simply hasn't been awakened yet. Once his Liaris Freese activates, they'll all see what true potential looks like.
"I can't wait..."
That night, Alfia, having returned from her meeting with Bell, thanked Mika. Recognizing Bell, she had understood his intentions.
It had all been a carefully orchestrated reunion.
——
From that day forward, Alfia dedicated herself to Bell's training.
However, seeing his slow progress, she shifted her focus, developing his other abilities, pushing him to his limits. He suffered, but he also grew stronger, his progress far surpassing what it had been in the original story, before his skill awakened.
Even so, Alfia still considered his growth slow.
With anyone else, she would have likely given up, but with Bell, she was patient, even enjoying the process.
She returned every evening, her face alight with a gentle smile, as if reclaiming the time they had lost.
"It seems Alfia is satisfied," Mika mused, watching them.
"But I'm not. At this rate, he won't awaken his true potential. I'll have to intervene." He looked out the window at the night sky, a plan forming in his mind.
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