"A pass parade…" Rose muttered, her fingers tightening around the armrest.
"And you're sure you got them all?"
Her eyes gleamed like molten gold as they narrowed.
"None managed to escape?"
I leaned back against the chair, a cacophony of haunting voices echoing in my mind.
Finally… a rookie who knows his place.
What did you do to him!
You will regret this.
You understand that, don't you?
I nodded slowly.
"There were no survivors."
"That's a relief," Rose sighed, folding her hands in her lap. "It makes my job much easier."
"Your job?"
"To punish them," she replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I usually would've had to identify their Familia, prove their guilt, and then persecute them."
A small crease cut between her brows.
"And all of that without it tracing back to you."
"Why would you do that?" I asked
Rose arched a brow.
"What do you mean, why? They tried to kill you."
"Ah"
The sound came out softer than I had intended.
"Why shouldn't it trace back to me?" I added, steadying my voice. "They were the ones who attacked me."
A fact Hestia had made sure I understood.
Rose huffed quietly under her breath.
"If only it were that simple," she grumbled, her gaze drifting past me. "As your advisors, there are many things I can do to ensure justice is served on your behalf."
She looked back at me.
"But shielding you from their retribution… is not one of them."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm talking about a Familia War. The reason why the strong rule in this city."
My focus sharpened with interest as I sensed another lecture coming.
Orario's politics were still a maze to me.
The gods ruled, but it was the adventurers who wielded true power.
All gods were equal, but some were more equal than others.
"In theory, you could refuse," Rose continued. "In practice… they would simply force your hand." She leaned forward. "You'd be pushed into fighting an entire Familia by yourself."
My brows furrowed as I considered the implications of her words.
"Doesn't that mean… first-class adventurers can do whatever they want?" I asked slowly. "And nobody would dare hold them accountable in fear of retribution?"
"Not quite," Rose answered. "Well-established familias form alliances in preparation for situations just like this. If one is unjustly challenged, the rest will rush to their defense."
"I see."
Alliances…
A white-haired rabbit girl flickered through my mind.
Rose's arms crossed over her chest.
"It's fortunate you managed to kill them all. If even one had returned to their Familia, this whole thing would've been far more complicated."
"My goddess said the same thing."
A quiet huff escaped me at the ridiculousness of the situation.
"You know… where I'm from, murder is the gravest sin imaginable."
"Your homeland grows stranger every time you speak of it," Rose sighed. "What happens if you're attacked? I don't suppose they just expect you to roll over and die?"
"They do, actually."
"… You're joking."
"I wish."
Her brows lifted in quiet bafflement.
"I've never heard of such a place before," she mused. "I'm surprised your people managed to survive this long."
She tilted her head slightly as she considered me.
"You must've been quite the heretic to them."
'You're too dangerous to be left alive.'
"The biggest."
A faint smile twisted my lips.
"Believe it or not, there were entire prophecies spoken to warn people about my deviancy."
Rose's snorted sharply, clearly taking my words in jest.
"Then let us thank the gods for your wickedness, otherwise you wouldn't have survived your first day in the Dungeon."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Speaking of Dungeon… have you changed your mind yet?"
"No. I'm taking that break."
An unpleasant sensation stirred in my chest at the thought of returning to the Dungeon—the day after I had wiped out an entire party, as if nothing had happened.
"At least for a couple days."
Rose's wolf ears twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Do you have any plans?" she asked, brushing specks of nonexistent dust from her uniform.
"I've been meaning to explore Orario for a while now. Get familiar with the city."
"Good. Do that tomorrow."
She paused for a moment, an indecipherable emotion flickering behind her golden eyes.
"You're busy today."
"I am?"
Her crimson tail coiled around her waist as she gave a decisive nod.
"We're going out."
"… Going out?"
She nodded again, slower this time.
"The Ganesha Familia hosts weekly open training sessions. It'll be the perfect chance to study some of the monsters you'll be facing soon."
"Sounds good to me."
A humourless smile spread across my face.
"As long as we skip the café this time."
Rose squinted, her head tilting slightly.
"I'm surprised to hear you say that. I remember you devouring those desserts like a starving goblin locked in a pantry."
"The food wasn't the problem."
"Then what is it?"
My gaze drifted to the side.
I had visited the place twice, and both times I left it with more trouble than I arrived with.
It was definitely not a pattern I wished to continue.
"I don't think the waiter liked me very much," I huffed, pushing myself to my feet.
"The waiter?" Rose repeated incredulously. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely."
A small smile tugged at my lips as I glanced out the window. The sun was climbing steadily toward its peak.
"He must've sensed I'm a dog person."
When I looked back, Rose was watching me with a small frown, her wolf ears angled forward.
I arched a brow and nodded toward the door.
"You coming?"
"… Sure."
—————-
A deafening roar tore across the arena.
The lizard-like creature flinched as a thin red line opening across its scalded face.
The dark-skinned woman circling it snapped her whip back and surged forward. She leapt and landed on its back in one smooth motion, her slender arms wrapping around its thick neck.
The monster thrashed desperately beneath her steel grip, bulging muscles coiling as she forced it down.
"It's an infant dragon," Rose said beside me. "The unofficial boss monster of the upper floors. The Ganesha Familia only recently received a permit to tame one."
"A permit?"
"Infant dragons are rare," she explained. "And responsible for the most deaths among level 1 adventurers trying to level up."
Her gaze drifted across the arena, sweeping over the spectators that occupied the stands.
"Tamer Familias like Ganesha's used to monopolize them, so the Guild was forced to intervene."
I nodded in understanding.
"Do you think—"
A deafening shriek cut me off.
The infant dragon bucked, throwing the Amazon high into the air.
The woman twisted mid-flight—and landed lightly on her feet.
A wide grin spread across her face as the infant dragon opened its maw, a dull orange glow building at the back of its throat.
I turned to Rose.
"They breath fire?"
She snorted, eyes still on the fight.
"They're dragons."
"Then why 'infant'?"
She shrugged.
"They're smaller. No wings."
A torrent of bright flames roared toward the woman. She didn't dodge. Instead, she snapped her cloak forward and ducked behind it.
The fire split against the red fabric.
"That's a Salamander cloak," Rose said, as if sensing the question on my mind.
"The material is fire resistant. And very expensive."
The flames died out after a few seconds.
Two sharp cracks rang through the arena as the Amazons whip lashed across the infant dragon's forelegs.
The creature collapsed forward.
"They have a limited supply of fire," Rose added. "One breath lasts about five seconds. Then they need to recover for a minute."
The amazon laughed as she stalked toward her fallen foe. Her bare foot rose—then slammed down on its snout.
"You're mine now."
The monster glared up at her with baleful red eyes.
She pressed down harder.
"Submit."
Gradually, the red faded as blue bled into its gaze.
The infant dragon sagged to the floor, its eyes sliding shut.
Applause thundered across the arena as the Amazon stepped back and bowed theatrically.
"Prepare yourself," Rose warned quietly. "Now that the show is over, he'll be here soon."
"Who will—"
"I am Ganesha!"
A tan man in an elephant mask dropped from the ceiling.
My lips parted.
Where did he come from?
There were no openings above us.
Ganesha struck a pose.
"As the god of the people, I acknowledge your enthusiasm!"
The hall fell silent.
He strutted toward the amazon, seized her hand, and thrust it into the air.
"I am pleased to see you gather in such great numbers to witness my glorious children in actions!"
He threw his head back, laughter booming from his chest.
I blinked, sweeping my gaze across the stands.
There were hundreds of seats, and barely a few dozens were filled.
Rose patted my shoulder.
"That's Ganesha," she said. "The god of Orario's greatest Tamer Familia."
I blinked again.
"As always… a great success!" Ganesha declared, lowering the woman's arm. "The next part of the show—"
"This is training," the Amazon cut in flatly.
"—will commence in half an hour!" Ganesha bellowed.
He struck another pose.
"Until then, my eager admirers—"
A shower of glitter burst downward.
"I am Ganesha!"
I stared up at the ceiling.
There was nothing there.
"How is he doing that?" I muttered.
"You'll get used to it," Rose chuckled. "I wouldn't be surprised if he spent a few million Valis on flight and invisibility artefacts just for this."
I hummed, watching the crowd begin to disperse.
"Sometimes I wonder," I mused, glancing at her. "Is there anything you don't know?"
"Knowing things is my job," she huffed. "And I've been doing it for quite some time."
I rested my arm along the back of my seat.
"I've been curious about that. What kind of school produces people like you—and your blacksmith friend? You don't exactly share a profession."
Rose met my gaze silently, then looked down to the area floor.
Adventurers were loading the infant dragon into a carrier.
"The name is misleading," she said. "The School District is much more than just a school."
Her voice lowered as her tone gained a wistful edge.
"It's the most prestigious place of learning in the world. There's no fixed curriculum. The instructor's are qualified to teach everything. From forging weapons to administration to the very language of the gods."
A soft smile touched her lips.
"I spent four years there, learning everything I could." Her fingers stilled against her thighs. "I would've stayed longer, but I owed the Guild a debt."
"What kind of debt?" I asked, watching her with interest.
She had never spoken this freely with me before.
Rose exhaled slowly, tracing a circle against her leg.
"When I was thirteen, the Guild hosted an academic competition. The prize was the chance to apply directly to the School District. If accepted, they would fund my education in whatever path I chose. I had nothing loose, so I decided to enter."
Her smile deepened with genuine amusement.
"I think I was more surprised by my victory than anyone else."
"Is that why you joined the Guild?" I asked. "Out of gratitude?"
"I grew to enjoy the work. To take pride in it."
She lingered for a moment—then shrugged.
"But yes… I suppose it started out that way." She shot me a curious look. "Is that a problem for you?"
"Not at all. You wouldn't have become my advisor if you didn't start working for them."
Her crimson ears twitched as she stayed quiet for a moment. The she huffed and turned her gaze back to the arena.
"What about you?" she asked. "What was your life like before Orario?"
The smile faded from my lips.
"I'm afraid it's not the most exciting story. My parents died when I was young, so… you know. I did what I had to do to get by."
All that effort, only for it to all go up in flames.
"I do."
"… What?"
Rose straightened slightly as she released a short breath.
"My parents died when I was young too."
For a long moment, I didn't know what to say. She was the one who had insisted on maintain a clear boundary between her work and personal life.
This conversation was clearly straying beyond anything that could still be called professional.
"I see."
"… That's it?"
I suppressed a sigh as I met her piercing gaze.
What a confusing woman.
"What happened to them?" I asked.
Rose's ear flattened as she looked ahead again.
"They were killed by a rival Familia—one that used to be an ally." Her voice darkened with old anger. "That's why I always advise you against trusting adventures."
My expression softened as our eyes met.
The cracks in her mask had never been clearer.
"Don't look at me like that," she hissed.
The corner of my mouth twitched.
"Like what?"
"Save your attention for the next fight," she scoffed, her walls going back up. "Maybe it'll teach you how not to loose your sword against a mere handful of monsters."
A sudden laugh caught in my throat.
"A handful?" I echoed. "Is that what we're calling a pass parade now?"
Rose didn't answer, her gaze remaining fixed on the arena below. The seats were slowly beginning to fill back up again.
My attention drifted as silence settled between us again.
It felt different this time.
————
Hestia gritted her teeth as she glared at the small window. Takemikazuchi's townhouse was more comfortable than her current residence, but it was still painfully humble by divine standards.
She had decided against adding hair to her arms when she created her mortal body, but if she had—it would surely be standing on end right now.
Cain and that thieving wolf were probably having a blast making lovey dovey eyes at each other right at this moment!
By the time she woke up, her child had already left. And there was only one place he would go to that early.
The Guild.
To his advisor.
Hesita's fists trembled.
Even worse, by the time she left the church, he still had not returned. He was supposed to be taking a break, so he wasn't in the Dungeon.
Which could only mean that he was still—
"Hesita?"
The goddess flinched, nearly falling out of her chair.
"Take!" she snapped. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"I've been standing here for close to five minutes," the war god chuckled, setting two faintly stealing cups on the table. "I was beginning to worry the tea would grow cold if I waited any longer."
"Ah…"
She looked away, a light blush rising to her cheeks.
"Sorry, Take. I was… distracted."
"It's no problem," Takemikazuchi replied, taking a seat across from her. "You've only been down here for a few months. It takes us all some time to adjust."
Hestia picked up her cup and took a quiet sip.
"That's what I wanted to ask you about," she said, setting the sugary tea down again. "You descended around twenty years ago."
Barely a blink of an eye for gods like them—or so she used to think.
"And you formed your Familia not long after," she continued. "Why is that? Adventurers never used to interest you much back in Heaven."
"I have my children to thank for that," Takemikazuchi answered, smiling gently. "Coming here, entering the Dungeon—it was their idea. I merely taught them how to defend themselves."
"You children did?" Hestia asked, leaning forward.
"Oh yes," he chuckled. "Our home in the Far East has been struggling financially, so they took it upon themselves to support it."
Hestia's expression softened.
It was a shame she was no longer allowed to bless those who properly honoured the importance of a Home.
"They sound like good kids."
"They are. Being their god is an honor I cherish very much."
His eyes lit up with the same kind of joy she had seen in so many mortal parents as they boasted about their children while praying in her temples.
"Would you like to hear about them?
"I'd love to."
A warm smile played on her lips as he began to speak.
Of the orphans who used to visit his shrine.
Of how he took them in.
Of how he raised them to be strong.
"Mikoto will soon reach level 2 as well. She has already gathered the necessary high-quality Exelia. All she's waiting for now is to be satisfied with her stats."
Hestia hummed quietly as she traced her finger over the rim of her cup.
No child raised by a god of war could ever be ordinary. And yet, it still took the girl nearly two years to to reach that point.
"Is something wrong?" Takemikazuchi asked. "You seem unsettled."
Hestia chewed on her bottom lip. Out of all of her friends in Heaven, the god of war had always been one of the most perceptive.
There was no point in hesitating any longer.
After all, this was the main reason she came here.
"I recently found a child of my own," Hestia began. "He also chose to become an adventurer."
"I'm glad," Takemikazuchi said, smiling softly. "Building a family has always been your dream."
Hestia's expression brightened.
It still was.
"But I sense there's something more," he added.
"… You're right."
Slowly, she reached into her bag and pulled out a marked sheet of paper.
Cain's Status.
She looked up at Takemikazuchi.
"What I'm about to show you is a secret," she said seriously. "And I'm trusting you to keep it."
"You have my word."
Hestia exhaled, and then handed it to him.
Name: Cain
Level: 1
Strength: F 381
Endurance: F 378
Dexterity: F 373
Agility: F 367
Magic: F 360
Skills:
Morsalis
Each life taken with the Blessing of Death is used to empower the host.
Magic:
— None
Takemikazuchi froze.
"This—"
His gaze snapped toward her.
"You said you descended three months ago. For how long has this Cain been an adventurer?"
"One week."
His grip tightened around the page.
"This is serious," he said quietly. "The others won't ignore it. Doing so would go against their nature."
Hestia's fingers curled around her knees.
She wished she could say he was exaggerating, but it was true.
Her child's skill defied all reason.
It disproved a millennia of established common sense.
For those gods who saw Gekai as their own personal playground, and adventurers as pawns in their games, he was nothing less than a queen piece.
"I know," she muttered. "That's why I'm here."
Takemikazuchi set the paper down slowly.
"How can I help?"
"I propose an alliance between our familias."
"Do you understand what you're asking?"
"I do."
He hesitated, then looked away.
"The likes of Freya and Ishtar will come for your child, Hestia," he sighed. "Gods like them only know one way to deal with those who refuse them."
His voice darkened.
"Complete destruction."
He offered her a regretful smile.
"My heart bleeds for you, Hestia. And I don't doubt that Cain is an extraordinary young man… but I have my own responsibilities to consider. My duty is to my children."
Hestia didn't flinch.
She had expected this much.
"What if he's more than just extraordinary?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
Her posture straightened.
"Take…" she whispered. "Cain is the one we've been waiting for."
A child with unlimited potential—someone who crossed over to Gekai from another world with dreams of becoming the greatest hero of all.
It was like something out of a storybook.
"The mortal who will redefine the Age of Gods. The one who will shine brightest during the Promised Time."
Silence fell heavy between them as Takemikazuchi studied her closely.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"He'll need to prove himself first," the god of war declared, his expression hardening. "But if he is indeed who you say he is… then my children and I will stand with the Hestia Familia. Until the end."
Hestia met his gaze without blinking.
"Just watch."
Her eyes blazed with unshakable confidence.
"Soon, everyone in this city will know his name."