Chapter 97 – Return to Orario!
A deafening explosion shook the air.
A massive skeletal figure collapsed with a thunderous crash, its enormous frame shattering against the cold stone floor of the dungeon.
Surrounding the fallen creature were dozens of towering shadow soldiers—silent, expressionless, and unmoving as they encircled the lifeless corpse.
[Ding!]
[You have obtained 5% Template Inheritance Progress!]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host has acquired a new Shadowkhan unit: Mantis Khan!]
And with that, the final missing division of the Nine Shadowkhan Legions had returned to Akira's command.
He could feel it—the overwhelming surge of power coursing through him.
And with the reassembly of all nine divisions, the restrictions on Shadowkhan summoning were lifted.
From this point forward, Akira could summon as many shadow warriors as he pleased.
No limits. No cooldowns. Only dominance.
Just 10% more to go.
He could barely contain his anticipation.
"…Hm? This signal—Hephaestus is calling me?"
Just as he was about to continue his descent into the deeper levels of the dungeon, Akira felt a familiar pulse.
A trigger from one of the seals he had left back in Orario.
Only one person had access to that seal—Hephaestus.
Without hesitation, the shadows beside him stirred and stretched, forming a swirling black corridor leading to the surface.
He stepped into it.
In the blink of an eye, he traversed thirty-seven dungeon floors and emerged back in the city—back in Orario.
— — —
"Hephaestus. Why did you call me? Has something happened with Ishtar's case?"
Akira wasted no time, going straight to the point.
His mind instantly jumped to the only ongoing issue he could think of—his mission involving Ishtar.
"…No. Since Ishtar wasn't officially exiled back to the Divine Realm, most people assumed she simply left the city after her Familia was defeated. It's not exactly uncommon."
"So no one suspects anything?"
"Not yet. But that's not why I called you."
Hephaestus's voice dropped slightly.
"Akira, answer me honestly… Did you do something to the Soma Familia?"
"Soma Familia? What do you mean?"
"You really don't know?"
"What should I know, Hephaestus? Don't beat around the bush."
"A few days ago… over thirty—nearly forty members of the Soma Familia were found dead at their headquarters. The method of killing was nearly identical to the previous serial murder case. The wounds, the precision—it was all the same."
Her gaze sharpened, as if trying to see through his soul.
But Akira's reaction was genuinely confused. Not a flicker of recognition crossed his face.
"…Are you saying someone's copying my killing method?"
"Exactly. That's what I suspect too. All the victims were Level 1 adventurers—mostly addicts of the God Wine. In other words… degenerates."
"Still, a mass killing like that would put anyone on edge."
"It already has. And considering that the Shadowkhan typically kill using shuriken or daggers, it wouldn't be too hard for someone to replicate their style."
"…So you want me to find out who did it?"
"Honestly… I'm not sure what I want yet."
The truth was, there was no clear evidence linking the deaths to Akira. No motive. No eyewitness.
And the victims were nobodies—just disposable drunkards. Akira had no known ties to the Soma Familia.
So any personal motive seemed unlikely.
"…Wait a second."
"What is it?"
"It's possible… someone else in Orario might've gained access to the Shadowkhan summoning ability."
"…What?"
Hephaestus froze.
Someone else? With the same power?
But wasn't that ability unique to him?
How could anyone else have access to the Shadow Realm?
"Leave this to me," Akira said calmly. "I'll handle it."
"Fine… But don't make a scene. Understood?"
"Got it."
He closed his eyes and began channeling the contract link of the Shadowkhan.
— — —
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Orario…
Liliruca Arde stood quietly in a back alley, her expression filled with satisfaction.
For years, she had been exploited, abused, and nearly killed by her own Familia.
But now, she had finally taken her revenge.
The rush of power—the taste of payback—it made her heart soar.
Buzz…
Suddenly, the Shadow mark branded on her shoulder began to burn faintly.
She froze.
It was the pull of a contract—the call of her master.
Her survival instincts kicked in immediately, the same instincts that had kept her alive all these years.
"…A summoning call? Is it because I wiped out so many Soma Familia members today?"
She muttered to herself, trying to piece together the reason.
Sssrrtt—Sssrrtt—
Two Shadowkhan warriors emerged from the darkness at her feet.
Liliruca took a deep breath. She didn't resist.
She knew struggling was pointless.
Calmly, she allowed herself to be engulfed by the shadows—as if being swallowed by a thick, black swamp.
There was no pain. Only surrender.
— — —
In the Shadow Realm…
Akira sat upon his Shadow Throne, surrounded by ranks of his dark army—the soldiers of every division standing silently at attention.
And then, a small figure appeared before him.
He blinked in mild surprise.
Liliruca Arde.
A name that resonated even in his memories of the original Danmachi timeline.
A non-combatant.
A supporter.
A once-insignificant girl who, in the canon story, would one day fall deeply in love with Bell Cranel.
She would even go so far as to reject a marriage proposal from Finn Deimne, captain of the Loki Familia, just to stay by Bell's side.
And now…
That same girl stood before him—nervous, pale, and completely at the mercy of the one she had made a contract with.
The Shadowkhan Contract was absolute.
Whoever accepted its power had to offer unwavering loyalty and eternal service in return.
"Liliruca Arde."
"…I'm here, Master."
"Is it true? Did you do all that… to the Soma Familia?"
"I did, my lord. Whatever punishment awaits me… I will accept it."
Her voice was steady. Her gaze unwavering.
Akira found himself momentarily puzzled.
He hadn't expected such honesty… or submission.
He had never directly accepted a contract from someone else before.
He didn't fully understand what kind of psychological influence the Shadowkhan Contract exerted.
But this level of obedience… it was beyond what he imagined.
"…Very well. Since this is your first offense, I won't punish you."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"But there will not be a second chance. If you disobey again…"
"I understand. I swear it won't happen again."
"Good."
In truth, Akira didn't care about the Soma Familia.
They were trash. A nuisance at best.
His only concern… was that someone had tried to frame him.
And that—he would not tolerate.
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