The morning after Hestia-sama agreed to the war game, the clock struck 10 a.m. At the workshop in the northeastern district of Orario, the members of the rescue team had gathered.
"I want to confirm something first." I said, scanning everyone's faces.
"Is there anyone here who can use destructive magic?"
"No, I can't. How about you?" Welf shook his head and glanced over at the members of the Takemikazuchi Familia.
"We don't have anyone like that either." they answered.
"I see… Narsa?"
"I can't either." she said.
"So then, Welf… forgive my rudeness, but do you have any 'magic swords' ready to use right now?"
Welf's brow twitched, but he answered without complaint.
"No… not at the moment. If you'd asked yesterday, I might have been able to make one."
"That's my fault. Sorry for the oversight." I said.
"No problem."
"So then, the plan is Plan B. Everyone, look at this."
He pulled a sheet of parchment from his pocket.
"What's this?"
"It's a layout of the Soma Familia's brewery where Lili is being held."
Everyone gasped.
"You really gathered all this info in just one day!?"
Hestia-sama's voice spoke for the group.
"It was a gamble, but not a bad one." Welf said.
The Soma Familia doesn't have many facilities. The only places where they could imprison someone are their home base and the brewery. Since the home base is mostly inactive, we figured the brewery was the likelier spot.
If we'd been wrong, it would have been a huge embarrassment. Thankfully, we weren't.
"There's a prison underground in the brewery. That's where Lili was kept."
"'Was kept'… you sound like you've actually seen it."
"I have."
"Wait, how!?"
"Sorry, that's classified."
Well, to put it simply, I wore the Hades Head, activated invisibility magic, and scoped the place out myself. That's how I made this map.
"Let's continue. As you can see, the brewery has several entrances, but aside from the front, the others are too narrow for a proper assault."
"Wouldn't it be better if Toki-sama sneaked in again and quietly rescued Lili?"
"Doing that won't solve the problem. The primary objective is rescuing Lili. The secondary objective is freeing her from the Soma Familia. Just sneaking her out risks her being taken back."
"What about the destructive magic you mentioned earlier?"
Ouka asked.
"To storm in with this many people, we have no choice but to enter through the front. But with powerful magic, we could break through the walls and catch them off guard."
"Then why don't you do it?" Welf asked.
"Sorry, I can't openly join this time."
"Why not!?"
"Hermes-sama forbade it. If I show up, it could bring trouble to the entire Hermes Familia."
"I understand."
"Sorry…"
I apologized as Welf nodded in acceptance.
"No worries! You found the supporter's location so quickly, that alone helped us a lot!"
"Exactly. Like Hestia-sama said, we can't always rely on you."
"Thanks. Now, back to the plan. The only viable route is through the front. The home base is lightly guarded, so they've packed more guards here, but the recent chaos has left them unsettled. We should be able to take advantage and rescue Lili."
"Got it."
"After we rescue Lili, we need to convince Soma to release her from their Familia. Hestia-sama, that's your part."
"Leave it to me!"
"The brewery is near Daedalus Street. Here's a map of the area."
I handed two maps to Hestia-sama, who nodded several times while examining them.
"Thanks for your help. We'll take it from here."
"Sorry I can't be more useful at a crucial moment."
"I said don't worry about it. Now, everyone, let's go!"
"Yes!"
Led by Hestia-sama, Welf and the others departed.
Once they disappeared from sight and the coast was clear, I slipped on the Hades Head from the shadows.
I couldn't openly join this time. No one could notice me at all.
Turning invisible, I followed behind Welf and the others.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
At the Soma Familia's Brewery Near Daedalus Street
Hestia's rescue team clashed fiercely with the Soma Familia members. Though Takemikazuchi Familia, Welf, and Narsa were more skilled, the Soma Familia had numbers because their home base was left unattended.
Passing by the battle, I took the shortest route toward the underground prison. Just before reaching it, I found Lili.
She was clinging to a small window built into the wall for light. On the other side, Welf and the others were fighting.
"Lili's fine! Please escape quickly!" she shouted, gripping the bars tightly.
"No way! We'll stay here until we bring you back!" Hestia-sama's voice echoed from the other side.
"Why!? I didn't want to cause trouble anymore, I didn't want to involve Hestia-sama and the others! That's why I, "
"We're going to fight the war game against Apollo and his group!"
Hestia-sama's shout made Lili gasp.
"The details aren't finalized yet, but we need your power, no matter the form!"
I researched past war games and found the formats rarely involved one-on-one duels, more often full Familia battles. That's where the real excitement is.
"Bell is fighting alone right now, giving it his all! He's enduring hell just to win the war game! But that's not enough, we need your power too!"
Listening to Hestia-sama, Lili's tearful face showed confusion. What was this goddess talking about?
"To win, we need you. No one but you can do this!"
Hestia-sama's desperate cries left no room for doubt.
"Please, help us. Help Bell!"
Hearing that, Lili tore herself away from the window and ran with all her might.
I followed, watching sparkling droplets fall in her wake.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
Lili ran to a stairwell leading upwards.
Unlike the cramped first floor, the second was spacious and open.
She kept running. I recognized the direction, and the stairs led further up to Soma-sama's room, the Soma Familia's chief deity. It seemed Lili aimed to reach there.
Suddenly, a human man smashed through a window in the hallway.
I knew him from yesterday's reconnaissance.
Zanis Lustra, leader of the Soma Familia, Level 2 Third-Class Adventurer, nicknamed"The Drunken Gandharva." Though he held the title of leader, in truth he was a scumbag abusing the name and power of the chief deity to control his members.
Lili glanced back once, then quickened her pace. Zanis sprinted after her.
Due to the level gap, he caught up quickly. Just as his hand reached for her, I kicked his face.
"Ugh!"
Startled, Lili seized the moment to run again.
"W-wait!"
Zanis rose and charged, but I punched him in the stomach and followed with a spinning high kick that sent him flying.
Confused, he drew his sword, but it didn't matter.
Only Zanis and I were here now. Lili probably didn't even realize what was happening. I was the only one who knew I was here.
If I silenced him, there'd be no problem.
Usually I'd knock someone out with a single strike, but caught in Apollo Familia's trap and unable to help Bell yesterday, I found myself more frustrated than usual.
I kicked Zanis's sword away and used his momentum to deliver a spinning back kick.
I wasn't going to let him off easy, he was my stress ball for today.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
After I was done with Zanis, a dwarf came to escort him away. Soon after, Hestia-sama and the others arrived, signaling the fight was over. I slipped out quietly before anyone noticed.
Once away from the brewery, I made sure no one was watching and deactivated my invisibility.
With Lili's rescue complete, the rest was up to Hermes-sama.
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