As expected, the very next day, Apollo couldn't wait to send out his challenge.
Without any delay, he had invitations to a banquet hand-delivered to each deity in Orario. His eagerness was both expected and annoying.
This guy really was always so impatient.
"Please, Leon-sama, this is for Lucifer-sama and Hestia-sama."
Daphne bowed slightly, her demeanor respectful, and extended the ornate invitation with both hands. Her voice was calm, formal, even reverent.
Beside her stood Cassandra, quietly holding her wand, mirroring Daphne's movement with equal deference.
To low-level adventurers, first-class adventurers were like walking legends. Most treated them with awe and reverence, just like Daphne was doing now.
Only those who were familiar with them would ever dare act otherwise.
"Tch… your god Apollo really knows how to stir the pot, doesn't he?" Leon muttered as he reached out, fingers brushing across the luxurious material of the invitation, before casually accepting it.
Then, a sudden smirk appeared on his lips.
"Say, Daphne, ever thought of switching allegiances?" Leon asked offhandedly, flipping the envelope between his fingers as though it weighed nothing.
Daphne froze.
Her breath hitched.
"L-Leon-sama, do you mean… are you inviting me to join your familia?" She asked, her voice barely concealing a trace of hope.
But Leon shook his head lightly, that same playful smile still lingering on his face.
"No, I'm inviting you to join the Hestia Familia." He said, then turned his back to them, already walking away as though it were no big deal.
Daphne and Cassandra were left stunned, the air between them awkward and motionless.
A few seconds passed.
Then, Daphne let out a breathless, wry laugh.
"I really thought Lord Leon was going to recruit me into the Lucifer Familia," she murmured, lips curling into a bitter smile. "Guess I overestimated my worth."
Orario was filled with adventurers desperately seeking familias to belong to. And among them, the Lucifer Familia had become a shining beacon of potential. Ever since Leon's performance during the Loki Familia's expedition, he had become the most sought-after adventurer in the city.
A few days ago, he had even risen twice in quick succession, and the Guild had directly ranked the Lucifer Familia as S-rank.
Everyone wanted in. But up to now, Leon remained the only member of the Lucifer Familia.
No one had even seen its supposed god, Lucifer.
So when Leon had asked her if she wanted to change allegiances, Daphne's heart had skipped a beat, thinking she was about to be recruited by the rising star himself.
Only for him to redirect that offer to Hestia's camp.
"Hey, Daphne…" Cassandra leaned in close, whispering as they began to walk again. "Don't you think Belle's rapid growth has something to do with Leon-sama?"
Daphne paused, then slowly nodded. "It's not impossible…"
"There are a lot of people trying to join the Lucifer Familia because of that," Cassandra added. "And who could blame them?"
The two girls continued onward, Daphne lifting her chin with regained composure. "Alright, we've delivered the invitation. Time to make our rounds to the rest."
As they stepped out of the library, Cassandra glanced back.
Deep in the library, she saw Leon standing in front of a bookshelf, sorting the tomes with casual grace.
Her gaze lingered, and then she whispered under her breath, "What kind of being has wings like that?"
A chill ran down her spine at the thought, and she quickly followed after Daphne.
Back in the library, Leon paused as a strange sensation rippled through his body—like a brush against his soul.
His fingers hovered midair.
"...Something just touched me?"
His eyes narrowed. The sensation had disappeared as quickly as it came, like a passing breeze.
Still...
"It doesn't seem like a bad omen…"
He shook his head and resumed organizing the books.
After a while, the day gave way to dusk, and the warm glow of lanterns filled the library.
Leon returned to the front counter, picked up a novel from the shelf, and leaned back in the chair.
It had been a long time since he read like this.
Before becoming an adventurer, this was what he did—sitting at the counter, reading books day after day. After awakening to strength, there was hardly time for such peace.
Nowadays, Hestia was usually the one manning the library.
Speaking of which, today Hestia had taken Belle and the others to visit Hephaestus. She wanted Hephaestus to help upgrade Belle's gear in preparation for the inevitable confrontation with the Apollo Familia.
As twilight deepened, Hestia returned to the library, stepping inside just as Leon finished another chapter.
In the small kitchen behind the front desk, they sat together, sharing a meal.
"Hey, Leon…" Hestia looked up between bites. "How exactly are you planning to help us during the war game?"
Leon smiled faintly. "I have a magic that allows me to split and alter my form."
He sipped from his cup and continued, "I'll have Lucifer confront Apollo, force him to agree to a condition that allows external adventurers to participate."
"Then I'll use that magic to split off a clone and enter the war game."
It was exactly what Ryuu had done in the original storyline, only this time… it was Leon who would step in.
Even if it was just a clone, that would be enough for Belle to shine.
"Oh—! Really?! That's amazing!!" Hestia's eyes sparkled with joy.
With Leon watching over them, what did she have to worry about?
"I heard Apollo's already made his move. He's hosting a divine banquet tomorrow night and he's specifically invited both you and Lucifer." She said with a pout. "And he even demanded that each god bring a familia member along."
"Guess he's already locked his sights on my Belle!"
Her brows furrowed, and she stabbed a piece of meat with vengeful force.
"Hmph! Tomorrow night, I'll force him into a war game! Then I'll crush him and send him back to heaven! Let's see him act smug after that!"
Leon chuckled, watching her puff up like a tiny war god. "By the way, you've never actually met Lucifer yet, right?"
"Right… but I will tomorrow." Hestia said with a grin. "He's really lucky to have you in his familia, Leon."
Leon scratched his cheek awkwardly. "...Yeah, well, I don't think he'll be attending."
"Huh? What do you mean he won't go?" Hestia asked, blinking.
"It's fine. Doesn't matter if the god shows up or not." Leon said with a shrug. "I'll go either way."
But the moment the words left his mouth, his expression changed.
"Hm?" Hestia immediately noticed the shift. "What's wrong?"
Leon stood up.
"Hestia, something came up. You eat first."
"Okay, be careful." She said softly, watching him leave.
As the door closed behind him, Hestia sat in thought, frowning.
"Why would something happen this late at night…?"
Outside the library, Leon moved swiftly under the moonlight, heading toward the edge of Orario.
Just moments earlier, he had finally received a message—from June.
He had stationed June with Demeter, asking her to stay vigilant and search for any signs of Filvis.
After so many days, there was finally progress.
A discovery had been made.
A body—definitely Filvis's.
And June… was buying time.
She had located the target but couldn't deal with it alone.