On the main street in the northwest of Orario, better known to locals as Adventurer Street, stood a building unlike any other in the city.
Its design evoked the grandeur of an ancient pantheon, with towering columns and intricate carvings depicting heroes and monsters alike. The solemn, majestic architecture dominated the skyline, a constant reminder of authority and order. It was no exaggeration to call it the symbol of the city's heart.
This was the Guild Headquarters, the administrative body of the labyrinth city.
Inside, deep within its echoing marble halls, a massive circular conference room stretched wide enough to seat over a hundred people at once. Around the grand round table sat representatives from the strongest and most influential familias in Orario.
From the Loki Familia came Finn Deimne, Riveria Ljos Alf, and Gareth Landrock.
The Freya Familia sent the mighty Ottar and the sharp-eyed Allen.
From the Ganesha Familia arrived Shakti Varma.
The Astraea Familia had dispatched Alise and Kaguya.
In addition, the heads, deputy heads, and high-ranking cadres of other factions had all gathered, an impressive lineup that radiated the pressure of countless battles fought and survived.
Facing this gathering of elite adventurers were the guild officials, elves and humans, whose political influence far outweighed their combat abilities. Yet, in the eyes of many adventurers, they were little more than "the pigs of the Guild", bloated with bureaucracy and arrogance.
At the head of the table, the Guild Head Royman straightened his back and began the meeting with a solemn voice.
"Representatives from all familias are present? Good. Then let us begin the regular meeting on countermeasures against evilus."
But before the agenda could proceed, Royman's expression twisted. His small eyes widened and his voice thundered through the chamber.
"Before that, what's with the state of the city right now!? Attacks all day and night! And yesterday, a large-scale surprise assault! This is unacceptable!"
The air grew heavy. Everyone here knew the truth. The recent series of strikes by evilus, starting from the factory raid, had already caused significant damage. The chaos had only worsened when the charity meal event was ambushed, resulting in civilian deaths.
Royman's hands clenched on the table as his large belly, heavy with layers of well-fed indulgence, jiggled with every angry word.
It was then that a cold voice cut through the room. "If you want these pests eliminated quickly, then stop giving idiotic orders like telling us to hunt down clues on evilus while also conquering the Dungeon, you fat pig."
The speaker was Allen, whose golden eyes now glinted with unrestrained hostility. His hand slammed down on the table hard enough to make the wood groan.
Royman flinched but stammered out a reply. "Y-you just returned from an expedition, and I… I can't do anything about the current situation."
Allen's expression turned sharper as he asled, "You expect us to patrol the entire city right after returning from the lower floors? Do you have any idea what you're saying?"
Royman's voice trembled under Allen's glare. "With Zeus and Hera gone, our most urgent task is to publicize Orario's strength, to show the world we are united. If we don't, the second and third evilus will be emboldened—"
"Oh, just admit it already." Allen interrupted, his tone dripping venom. "You're just clinging to that disgusting chair of yours. The way you use that fat body to hoard power… it's repulsive."
The tension in the room spiked. Royman looked ready to faint from the verbal mauling, sweat pouring down his face.
It was then that Finn raised his hand and said, "Allen. Enough. If this continues, the meeting won't get anywhere. Save your fighting for the real enemy."
Allen's lip curled as he said, "Don't use that little mouth of yours to say my name, runt. Makes me sick to hear it."
Now Riveria narrowed her emerald eyes as he said, "For someone representing the Freya Familia, your inability to communicate properly raises doubts about your goddess' standards."
"You dare, bug?" Allen's voice turned dangerously low, his gaze locking with hers.
The atmosphere became suffocating, as if the air itself had grown sharp enough to cut. The room's collective tension could snap at any moment.
Only a few remained unfazed, Shakti, whose composure was forged from years of dealing with chaos, Ottar, ever unshakable, and a handful of others.
In the midst of it, a soft voice mumbled. "Wow… I want to go home. Why's it so murderous right from the start?"
It was Asfi, attending the faction meeting for the first time. The oppressive air made her hunch over and rub her stomach miserably. "Ugh… my stomach…"
Beside her, Kaguya chuckled, her fan hiding a smirk. "It's not your first day in Orario, is it? Loki Familia and Freya Familia have been at each other's throats forever. Don't let it bother you."
Asfi groaned, "Please don't force me. And why did they send me, the new deputy captain, to a meeting like this? I swear, I'll beat up Hermes-sama and the captain when I get back."
"Ah. No wonder you and Ryuu get along so well. You're both too serious for your own good and far too easy to trick." Alise teased with a wink.
Asfi's eye twitched. "Since you're aware of that, control your words and actions."
The banter drew stares from the other adventurers.
How can these people still fool around in this situation? Many wondered silently.
Meanwhile…
Akira had just woken up inAstraea's bed when Neze informed him that a pallum was waiting at the door.
With no choice but to skip breakfast, he followed Lili to what she called her "secret base." In reality, it was nothing more than a cramped, low-rent room in a shabby inn for low-level adventurers. The air smelled faintly of damp wood, and patches of mold crept along the ceiling. There was no furniture save for a single worn bed.
"Have you eaten yet? If not, here, take one." Akira said, sitting casually on the bed and holding out a fried potato ball.
Lili hesitated, standing awkwardly by the wall. "No, I… I'm not hungry."
Her words were immediately betrayed by the low growl of her stomach, loud and clear in the quiet room.
Akira raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Doesn't sound like it. Don't be shy, eat."
Before she could protest, he pressed the warm potato ball into her hand.
"T-thank you… Akira-sama." She murmured, her cheeks turning bright red as she looked down.
She took small, careful bites, savoring each one as if it were a rare delicacy.
When she finished, Akira leaned forward and asked, "So, Lili… what do you need from me?"
He wasn't the type to help people for no reason, but ever since joining the Astraea Familia, something in him had shifted. His sense of justice, once faint, had begun to grow stronger.
And Lili was a tragedy he couldn't ignore. Not because he wanted anything indecent, she was only eight years old. No, that would be absurd.
Lili carefully licked the last crumbs from her fingers, her small tongue darting out as if reluctant to waste even a grain. Then, after taking a deep breath to muster courage, she finally asked the question that had been gnawing at her heart for days.
"Akira-sama, why did you help Lili? Do you have a conflict with the Soma Familia?"
Her voice trembled slightly. She had wanted to ask for a long time, but hesitation had kept her silent. She was nothing more than an insignificant ant in this massive city, so why would the boy before her, someone far above her world, extend his hand?
Akira blinked, slightly taken aback by the sudden question. Then he shook his head gently, a calm, warm smile spreading across his face.
"There's no conflict with the Soma Familia. I just wanted to help you… for my own reasons."
Not to mention, the girl before him was someone he "knew", though, in truth, it was only a one-sided familiarity.