Danmachi: Strongest Familia

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"Riveria, gather everyone here! Today, we're updating everyone's status!" Sol announced, brimming with excitement that refused to subside. 

Every member of the family had participated in the recent battle, and he was certain some would level up.

Riveria watched Sol with a fond smile; she hadn't seen him this happy since he'd first convinced her to join the family. Today, she decided to let him revel in his excitement, following his instructions without comment. She even managed to usher Alfia away to maintain secrecy about her presence.

Before long, the other family members gathered in the room. For now, they kept Alfia's presence a secret—only Sol and Riveria knew of her involvement.

After a long night of updates, just as Riveria expected, Sol didn't manage to rise the next morning. While updating everyone Falna might not seem physically demanding, the sheer number of people and the time it took—over ten minutes per person, with some requiring much longer due to upgrades—proved to be exhausting.

Yet, the effort was worth it. Following the recent battle, the family's senior members had grown significantly. Setting aside specific attribute gains, the overall results were impressive. The three family members stuck at Level 4 finally broke through, achieving Level 5 together. Of the seven members at Level 3, three advanced to Level 4, and two Level 2 members reached Level 3. 

With this, the family's strength saw a substantial increase—even without considering Alfia's presence, they were now among the top families in Orario.

...

In the family's courtyard, Riveria and Alfia had reached an agreement. Alfia would now serve as Sol's personal bodyguard, albeit in a subtle disguise. She even took the precaution of heading to the dungeon early to fabricate evidence of her supposed death, concealing her presence.

She settled quietly in the family's backyard, in the residence next to Vex. Initially, Vex had some reservations about her new neighbor, but they soon found common ground. Alfia was as reserved as Vex herself, and in time, they accepted each other's quiet company.

Most importantly, Alfia wasn't the type to complain or pry.

...

Life in Orario seemed to return to normal, as fresh waves of adventurers continued to arrive in the city. With many gods recently sent back to the heavens by the dark faction, various deities now set their sights on the available adventurers, recognizing their combat potential and abundant talent. Orario became a battleground for their recruitment efforts.

Oddly enough, despite being one of the biggest victors in the recent conflict and earning considerable renown, the Sol family kept a low profile. Even adventurers who sought to join them were turned away, piquing the curiosity of idle gods who couldn't help but wonder: What was Sol up to?

Riveria's heroics in battle had drawn attention, yet there was no news from the guild about any level advancement for her. By contrast, the Loki family's Big Three had all been promoted to Level 6, and Loki herself could barely contain her glee, practically taking up the whole road when she walked. The Freya family's key members had likewise leveled up, and Ottar had reached a formidable Level 7, becoming Orario's strongest adventurer. Even the Ganesha and Astraea families had seen significant growth.

Among the high-ranking adventurers, only Riveria seemed stagnant, fueling speculation about the Sol family's silence.

In response to rising interest, the guild finally sent someone to inquire at Sol's residence, choosing Saria, a familiar face, to make communication easier.

"Long time no see, Riveria-sama!" Saria greeted as she was escorted into the family's living room.

Due to her regular interactions with the Sol family on guild matters, Saria was no stranger here. As she entered, she was greeted by the sight of Sol resting his head on Riveria's lap, enjoying a serene nap.

Riveria-sama's lap pillow! Saria felt a pang of envy, but she quickly reminded herself to maintain her professionalism as the guild's representative.

"Saria's here—wake up," Riveria said, gently pushing Sol's head off her lap and ceasing her soft temple massage. 

Sol was entirely oblivious to how inappropriate his behavior might seem, but Riveria had to uphold her dignity, especially with an outsider present.

"Oh, come on, Saria's practically family," Sol murmured sleepily.

"I'm honored you think so!" Saria replied with a forced smile. Initially happy to see Riveria, she now found herself hesitant to face Sol. Unfortunately, as the guild's envoy, she couldn't afford to show her reluctance.

"So, what brings you here, Saria?" Riveria asked.

"It's likely the guild's promised subsidy has arrived. We'll finally have funds to expand the property," Sol interjected with a grin.

Saria, who had intended to discuss official matters, was momentarily at a loss for words. She wasn't in charge of subsidies, nor was she aware of any recent disbursements. While the guild did owe the Sol family financial support, resources were currently stretched thin. The cost of rebuilding Orario was substantial, and recently, adventurers from various families had been reluctant to enter the dungeon, further straining finances.