The day after the incident at the tavern, it was back to work for me. However, thanks to a splitting headache from a hangover, I could barely move this morning. Somehow, I managed to drag myself from the Hermes Familia's home to my own, and I opened the shop.
"Are you okay, Toki?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit of headache pain, that's all."
"…People don't usually say 'headache pain,' you know."
"Yeah, that was just a joke."
Apparently, I looked bad enough to make Lefiya worry about me.
As if to make matters worse, a flood of gods came to visit the shop. I guess it's because, while I may not be as prominent as Bell, I did break Ais-san's ranking-up record.
I somehow survived the morning and took an early lunch. Whenever a god tried to interrupt my meal, I whispered some juicy gossip about them, and they quickly left.
"Toki, I'm coming in!"
While I was eating with Lefiya, Hermes-sama barged in. Naturally, I couldn't turn away my own god.
"Oh, Lefiya-chan! Hello!"
"H-Hello."
"Hermes-sama, is there something you need?"
"Absolutely! Look at this!"
Hermes pulled a letter from his pocket. The seal was already broken, but the emblem of a bow and sun engraved on it made me freeze.
Suppressing the urge to say something, I unfolded the letter. It was an invitation from Lord Apollo for a Gods' Banquet.
"Um, Hermes-sama… What do you want me to do with this?"
"It's obvious! You're coming with me!"
"…Of course."
I sighed heavily, while Lefiya looked at me in confusion.
"Why is Toki attending the banquet with Hermes-sama? Aren't such banquets exclusive to gods?"
"This time, there's a twist." Hermes replied with his usual grin.
"According to the invitation, each god must bring one familia member."
"Interesting."
"Wait, Hermes-sama, "
Ignoring Lefiya's intrigue, I turned back to Hermes.
"If I recall, I had a scuffle with some members of the Apollo Familia yesterday..."
Though my memory was hazy, I vaguely remembered getting into a brawl with six members, including their captain, at the Hibachitei Tavern.
"While I understand that not attending could be seen as disrespectful, I'm not the only member of the Hermes Familia. Please consider bringing someone else."
I thought this would be the sort of event Asfi would usually accompany Hermes to, so I didn't expect him to call on me.
"Toki, I understand your reasoning." Hermes said, nodding as if he empathized.
"But I refuse!"
And just like that, my plea was dismissed.
"Hermes-sama, could you please keep your voice down? I have a headache from the hangover."
"Oh, my apologies."
Clearing his throat, Hermes regained his composure and straightened up.
"While it's true that Asfi has accompanied me on such occasions before, I'm just as proud of you as I am of her."
The sincerity in his gaze caught me off guard.
"Besides, I bragged about you quite a bit at the last Denatus meeting. The other gods are probably expecting you to show up."
"Then why not defy their expectations for once?"
"No, no. I think I'll meet their expectations, and show you off even more!"
"So that's your true motive..."
There was no changing his mind. Out of options, I glanced at Lefiya for help.
"By the way, Lefiya-chan, would you like to help Toki pick out his formal wear?" Hermes asked.
"Toki's formal wear…"
With that, Lefiya drifted off into her own fantasy world. Damn, he beat me to it!
"Fine. I'll accompany you, Hermes-sama."
"Good! It's settled. Let's go, Toki!"
"But I still have the shop to, "
"We'll make it quick. Now, come on!"
After hurriedly cleaning up lunch and closing the shop, I found myself dragged out by Hermes and Lefiya to shop for formal wear. Thanks to Lefiya's enthusiasm as a fashion-loving elf, the ordeal lasted until evening.
Two days later, I drove a carriage to the banquet venue using a map for guidance. After stopping the shadow-conjured horse, I dismissed it and opened the carriage door with a bow. Hermes-sama stepped out gracefully.
"Thanks for driving."
"It was nothing."
Toki Ortyx
Riding & Driving: Lv. 3
Capable of handling most animals and vehicles, including tamed low-level monsters.
After Hermes disembarked, I stored the carriage in the shadows. Nearby gods, adventurers, and other coachmen gasped at the display. Honestly, we were supposed to arrive in a luxurious carriage, but Hermes insisted this would be "more entertaining."
"What are you mumbling about?"
"Nothing, my lord."
The banquet venue was a guild-managed mansion located in the high-end residential district near the northern main street. Such gatherings rarely take place at a familia's home to maintain confidentiality. An exception is Lord Ganesha, who hosts his banquets at his own home, "I Am Ganesha."
The exterior of the venue resembled a lavish palace. Even the Hermes Familia's home couldn't compare.
Inside, the grandeur continued with alabaster statues of a male and female deity adorning the spacious hall. We ascended a grand staircase to a ballroom where chandeliers cast a warm glow over tables filled with gourmet dishes.
"There they are." Hermes said, spotting familiar faces.
"Hello, everyone! Mind if I join you?"
"Oh, Hermes…"
The goddess Hestia, clad in a marine-blue gown, noticed us first. Meanwhile, the Eastern deity Takemikazuchi grimaced. Hermes-sama, what did you do to him?
"Hermes-sama, please lower your voice." I said, remembering my promise to Asfi to keep him in check.
"Ah, don't worry about it. If anything, this is our fault to begin with."
"Still, that doesn't change the fact that you helped us."
"...Honestly, the people from Hermes's group are truly reliable, unlike the head gods."
"It's an honor to be praised."
Glancing over, I saw Hermes himself gently kissing Mikoto-san's hand, who was dressed elegantly in a gown. Seeing this, Takemikazuchi stepped forward and struck Hermes on the head. I remembered what Asfi-san had told me and lightly kicked Hermes with my toe.
"Ugh! Toki, why are you getting involved too...?"
"Asfi-san said that if Hermes makes a pass at a woman, we're allowed to kick him without mercy."
"Damn that Asfi..."
Takemikazuchi looked thoroughly pleased by this scene. Seriously, what could Hermes possibly have done to earn such contempt?
Helping Hermes up from where he'd collapsed, I looked around. It seemed the crowd had grown quite large.
"Welcome, everyone! Thank you for coming today!"
A voice echoed from the far end of the grand hall. Looking toward it, I saw a solitary male god standing there. His golden hair shone like sunlight, and a laurel wreath made of green leaves adorned his head. That must be Apollo.
"This time, I decided to try something different on my own accord. Do you like it? Dressing up those we cherish and bringing them to our feast is quite enjoyable, isn't it? It warms my heart to see so many fellow gods and beloved children here tonight. I even have a feeling we're destined to meet new friends this evening."
I listened to Apollo's greeting while scanning the guests' faces... About a third looked familiar. Maybe this would be a good chance to expand my network, carefully, so it wouldn't conflict with the Familia's principles, of course.
"Tonight will be long. Fine wine and food will be served. Please enjoy yourselves!"
Cheers erupted from the group around Apollo. Looks like the formal greeting was over.
I asked one of the serving staff for juice. No way I was touching alcohol anytime soon.
I noticed Hermes talking with Takemikazuchi, a goddess, and another male god. Quietly, I approached and waited for the right moment to greet them.
"Oh, Toki. Perfect timing. Hephaestus, Miach, this is my proud child. You spoke to Takemikazuchi earlier, right?"
"Yes."
All eyes turned toward me.
"Nice to meet you, Hephaestus-sama, Miach-sama. I am Toki Ortyx, a third-class adventurer belonging to the Hermes Familia. Please remember me."
"So this is the famous Shadow Devil. I'm Hephaestus. Nice to meet you."
"Unlike Hermes, you seem well-mannered. I'm Miach. Pleased to meet you."
I shook hands with both of them.
"By the way, Toki, have you ever had trouble with healing potions? My Familia is a merchant type, mainly selling those potions."
"Yes, I know. Just the other day, Diankeit was complaining that Miach-san gave him a hard time."
"I see."
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm already buying healing potions at a good price from the Mercurius Familia, so I'm sorry."
"Mercurius, huh? They have some unusual stuff there."
"Yes, Mercurius-sama often visits the shop for consultations."
"Hm, I see. Then there's nothing I can do about it."
"Apologies."
"No need to worry."
I bowed to Miach, who smiled kindly, then turned back to Hephaestus.
"Hephaestus-sama, I'm grateful for everything you and your followers Smith and Verlf have done."
"Likewise, I'm thankful for Smith and the others. By the way, that girl behind you wants to talk to you."
Hephaestus nodded toward Bell. She looked different in her formal dress, probably just nervous.
"Y-Yeah, Bell."
"Wow, Toki, you're amazing."
"Huh?"
"You're calmly talking in front of gods."
"Well, this isn't my first time at a party with Hermes and Asfi."
"Oh, I see."
Bell turned to Mikoto-san next.
"Um, Mikoto-san, thank you for everything on the 18th floor. You helped so much..."
"N-No, I didn't do much... Bell, you were incredible. Even in such a crisis, you bravely challenged the floor boss and finished it yourself... Honestly, it made my heart race to see that."
"T-That wasn't just me. I couldn't have done anything alone..."
"Come on, both of you. Thanks to Mikoto-san, we were saved, and thanks to Bell, the floor boss was defeated. No need to be so humble."
The two exchanged confused looks, then smiled.
"Bell, Toki, if you ever need help, don't hesitate to call on us. We'll do what we can."
"Mikoto-san..."
"Both Ouka and Chigusa want to support you too. And of course, I do as well."
"Um, so... if you ever need anything, just ask. We'll help."
"...Our head god seems to be troubling your head god. I'll lend my strength too, especially with information, I'm pretty good at that. Just ask if you need anything."
I shook Mikoto-san's offered hand, feeling this relationship could be good.
"I've heard you two have been growing remarkably fast. Any secrets to your strength?"
"Bell's a cyborg, and I've been giving her some seriously strong homemade drugs, daily doping, basically."
"Don't lie!"
The voice answering Mikoto-san's question wasn't Bell's, but a woman from the Cynanthrope tribe.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Toki Ortyx of the Hermes Familia."
"I'm Naaza Erisuis of the Miach Familia. Pleased to meet you. By the way..."
"Ah, sorry. I already heard from Miach-sama and declined the healing potion offer."
"...I see. Hmph."
Wait, did that person just quietly click their tongue?
"Well, as an apology, I'll spread the word about Miach Familia's healing potions to visitors at my shop."
"Shop?"
"Yes. With so many kinds of people coming, it should boost sales."
"You're very kind."
"No, no."
We laughed and shook hands.
Later, Bell asked me about the venue. I answered, and then she asked Hermes:
"Excuse me... what kind of person is Apollo-sama?"
"Hm, curious, are you, Bell-kun?"
"Yes."
"He's an interesting guy. I've known him since the heavenly realm, and watching him never gets boring. The other gods often mock him, though. He's always wrapped up in love affairs, even given the nickname 'Tragic Love Farce,' despite not being an adventurer."
Bell looked puzzled. I'm probably making the same face.
"He's a god passionate about romance. Right, Hestia?"
"I don't know!"
Hermes smiled at Hestia, who was quietly eating, though she looked a bit annoyed.
"Hey, Bell."
"The gods say Apollo-sama is hard to get along with."
"Really?"
"And persistent."
"Huh?"
Just then, a commotion stirred at the grand hall's entrance.
"Uh oh... looks like a big shot is arriving."
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