DANMACHI: The Silence's Heir (OC x Freya)

Chapter 17

OURANOS

Ouranous sat on his altar praying as he had promised to do to spare this world from being devoured by the monsters from the dungeon. And yet he knew that time was running out for both Orario and this world.

The world was reaching its zenith, and if it were to survive, it would need a hero, one greater than what it had had before in the form of Zeus and Hera familia. And despite the sacrifice of Zald and Alfia or the promise of the next generation, he could feel that they were not ready yet. Not yet ready to face the devastation headed their way.

Ouranos was aware of Alfia and Zald's intentions when they betrayed the city years ago, and though he disagreed with their actions, he could do little to alter them at that time, for he had only learned the truth himself years later.

And now that he did, it was his wish to correct one of their biggest mistakes.

"It seems my fear was right," Fels added as she examined the body that had been brought to them by Aiz Wallenstein and Alfia's heir, the body belonging to an adventurer who had no reason to be alive.

Olivas Act was a high-ranking executive of Evilus who had died years ago, and yet somehow, he had reappeared in the dungeon, alive and even more powerful than before.

"His body has traces of spirit magic," and that was indeed worrying. Before the Gods descended to Tenkai, the spirits helped humanity in their fight against the dungeon monsters. Yet with the appearance of the Gods, their influence and numbers had dwindled, and now they were thought extinct.

But unlike the Gods, the spirits had no restriction on their powers, and that could cause much trouble. Now, someone was using those very spirits to try to break apart the dungeon and flood the world with monsters.

"Is it really wise to announce the emergence of Evilus to the public?" he had ordered Fels to make an announcement about the evil organization's emergence and give certain details about what had transpired in the dungeon today, specifically Inumaki's killing of Olivas Act.

"I feel troubled times lay ahead for Orario in the future," Ouranos added, yet he was helpless to do anything. The most he could do was correct the mistake from all those years ago.

"And in these troubling times, Orario shall need a hero," he added, and Fels looked at him.

"And you think he can be that hero?" Fels asked, and he did.

"I do. The boy is her heir and has matured a lot over the years, and I believe that if Orario is to survive, he must lead us to victory. He is the one with the most potential in the next generation, much like Alfia herself."

And that was not even everything.

"And I believe I am not the only one who thinks as such..."

0000

AIS WALLENSTEIN

After getting separated from Hermes familia, Ais came face to face with the red-haired tamer from before, and after she ranked up, she was able to face the girl head one. And yet, despite the power up, she was unable to land the decisive blow when suddenly she had felt an ominous presence from the area around her and so she tore through the walls and pushed herself only to come across a singular adventurer facing off against what seemed to be a floor boss level monster and a hundred or so Violas by himself.

"Tch!" he is here as well, the red-haired tamer girl said with a click of her tongue.

"Facing you was troublesome enough, but I do not think I am ready to face you both on," and with that, the red-haired girl had reached for the jewel and had vanished in the chaos, leaving behind a single whisper.

The location of the place where she was to find the answer to all her problems.

"The 59th floor," Inumaki-kun added as they made their way back to the surface. He rubbed his chin, for this was a grand undertaking.

"The lowest you have gone is the 51st floor, right?" he questioned, and she nodded. That was as far as Loki's familia had been able to push.

"But that was before I leveled up," she added, and he nodded.

"That will make things better, but still, I do not think Loki familia alone will be able to reach the 59th floor," and her fists balled up at that. She needed answers. She needed to know why that red-haired girl continued to call her Aria.

"But the Guild will not let this go. With the emergence of Evilus, they wish to get to the bottom of this," Inumaki-kun added, leaving only one option.

"A campaign," she muttered, and he nodded.

"One that would involve several familias, though I doubt Freya familia would agree to join in," and with the combined might of Loki and Freya familia, reaching the 59th floor would be easy.

But such a thing would never happen. Both of them were vying for the throne of Orario, and hence, it would not make sense for them to join hands unless Orario's very existence was under threat.

"Would Hestia familia join the campaign?" she asked, and he sighed.

"Despite my own level, we are not very strong, so I doubt the guild would let us join the campaign in our current state," he said, and that may be true.

But having him on the campaign would be a massive boon, for only she knew just how powerful he was. Given his magic, he could be their trump card to reach the 50th floor.

And suddenly, as they came out of the dungeon, they entered the guild Hall, and she noticed how the situation in the Hall was rather tense.

Before she could reason out why, she saw two people rushing towards them with sheer worry plastered on their faces.

"Inumkaki-kun!" and she recognized one of them as the Patron Goddess of Hestia familia.

"Bell-kun! Bell-kun has been taken away!"

And she perked up at those words as a frown appeared on Inumaki-kun's face.

"Who?" he asked, and this time it was the elf beside the Goddess who spoke first.

"We are not sure yet. But we believe that it is the doing of Soma familia."

0000

BELL CRANEL

Pain ripped through all his body as Bell Cranel lay there bound and helpless as the blue-haired captain of Soma familia beat him up.

"KUKH!GUGH!" he coughed out blood as the man rubbed his hand.

"You are a stubborn one," he whispered with a smirk as he adjusted his glasses, as Bell lay there, head spinning, huffing as he grits his teeth.

"You do know you can make this end. You just need to tell me where that damned prum girl is," the man asked, and it was the same question.

Soma familia had somehow learned of Lili's plans to leave them and had decided to move against her for some reason. The attacks began suddenly when they had been resting in the church, and they attacked the church. Thankfully, he was able to sense them and stave off the attackers, allowing Goddess and Lili-san to get away.

"I do not know," he replied, and the very act of speaking was painful.

"You damn bastard! You are going to suffer," and with that, the man pulled back his leg as Bell closed his eyes and geared himself up for the pain, and yet the attack never came.

BOOM!

And to his surprise, suddenly, the whole building shook, making the blue-haired captain of Soma familia, Zanis, frown in worry as he stopped and looked out worriedly.

"What is going on!" he screamed at the two guards at the door as screams and wails filled the whole castle, and then, in an instant, the whole wall was blown apart, forcing the bell to cover his eyes as he watched singular figure step forward.

"I am sorry for taking my time, Bell-kun. " He recognized that voice immediately and watched as a sole figure stepped forward, his hair similar to his own but a few shades darker, and a spear hanging on his shoulder.

"You!" he saw Zanis's face pale at the sight of him, and Bell felt relief fill his heart as he saw his familia member coming to his rescue.

"Do you have any idea what you are doing?" and with that, he watched as the guards stepped forward and Zanis backed away with unsteady steps; his whole body quivered in fear as he saw Inumaki-san's eyes gleaming an ominous red.

"This can be considered an attack on Soma familia! You will pay for this! GET HIM!" he said, and suddenly, the two guards jumped at Inumaki-san, who simply swung his spear, and the two of them were sent flying into the wall with a single swing before Bell felt a hand grip his hair as he felt cold steel get pressed against his neck.

"Move, and he dies!" he threatened, and he saw Inumaki-san's eyes narrow.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," and he saw Zanis's smile widen.

"I know who you are, you Evilus scum! What do you think the Ganesha familia will do if they find you attacking a smaller familia like us," he taunted and Inumaki-san sighed.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"The prum girl. Lilurca!" he asked with a wicked grin.

"Hand her over," he asked, as Inumaki-san shook his head.

"I am afraid that is not possible. The girl has made a pledge to join Hestia familia, and we are rather protective of our members," he added, and the man laughed.

"Then you must repay all her debts, debts that total to a hundred million Valis," and Inumaki-san's eyes narrowed.

"I wouldn't give a man like you a penny. But I have a proposition of my own," and with that he pushed his spear into the ground.

"A war Game," and the words made him still as the man shook his head.

"We all know your level. Why would I even agree to such a thing!" Zanis screamed.

"Ohh. Not that kind, despite your numbers, I could singlehandedly slaughter all of your familia members in a few minutes," and those words made the blue-haired man grit his teeth. The words were spoken with such nonchalance as if speaking of the weather, and yet the Soma family captain knew they they were not false given how he stilled at them.

"No, I propose a duel. One between you and him," and with that, Inumaki-kun pointed at him, much to his amazement.

"And if you win, Hestia familia shall hand back the girl named Liliurca Arde and this," his eyes widened as Inumaki-san pointed at his weapon.

"My weapon, the Heart Piercer. Gae Bolg!"

0000

In the topmost floor of Babel, a smiling Freya watched the city below her with her familia's ace Ottar right behind her. For Ottar, it was rare to see the Goddess in such a good mood, and yet for days, their Goddess had adorned a radiant smile on her face.

"Bell Cranel has been captured by Soma familia," he informed the Goddess making her eyes narrow for a second, and he knew that their Goddess was interested in the young rookie. And yet he was surprised by the lack of concern or attention by her at his words.

"It seems my little Bell-kun has gotten himself into quite some trouble," she remarked as she sipped her wine.

"There is no need to intervene," and he was surprised at those words. And so, his initial guess was proven correct, the Goddess's interest in Bell Cranel was but a fleeting event, for despite it being years their Goddess's heart remained set on one singular adventurer.

Inumaki-The Silent, the last pillar of Hera familia.

"Though I am interested in the mess Inumaki-kun has gotten himself involved in," she added as she glanced back at him.

"I want you to look into it and find out the person behind it all, the one they call Enyo," she ordered as Ottar lowered his head.

"It is time we had a little chat..."

"As you wish, Freya-sama," he replied dutifully.

"Hogni has also returned to the city," he informed her, and she raised a brow.

He was one of their executives, one who had spent quite a few years away from the city carrying out an assignment for their Goddess, protecting three retired adventurers, and now, with their return to Orario, Hogni had come back as well, the Goddess's promise to Astrea from all those years ago now complete.

"So, they are finally back, huh..." she remarked as her eyes glinted, and he watched as the mirror beside her shifted to reveal the silhouette of three female adventurers entering the city.

"...the remnants of Astraea familia."

00000

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