The turn of events at the celebration banquet had caught Liang Yue off guard—
one of the rare-magic holders from the Takemikazuchi Familia…
…had applied to transfer into the newly formed Hestia Familia.
It all happened so suddenly, yet from the perspective of results, Yamato Mikoto joining was undeniably beneficial for the Familia's future.
"Futsu no Mitama."
An extremely rare gravity-type magic.
Its area of effect and weight intensity grew stronger as the user's level increased!
Though Mikoto was only a Level 2 adventurer right now, in the original timeline she was already capable of temporarily restraining a mutated floor boss—
—a Black Goliath with stats approaching Level 5!
She was absolutely a talent worth nurturing. Since Hestia had already given her consent, Liang Yue naturally had no objections.
Lifting his head, he looked at the girl still bowing deeply.
He didn't show much emotion outwardly, but with a serious tone, he said:
"Then… I'll be counting on you from now on."
"Thank you, Liang Yue-kun."
With her god's permission granted, and with Liang Yue now her fellow Familia member, Mikoto finally felt at ease.
Straightening her posture, her gaze toward Liang Yue shone with admiration.
But what she didn't realize was that the Hestia Familia's current position was anything but easy…
The transfer request turned out to be just a small episode in the banquet.
It didn't dampen the mood—if anything, it deepened the ties between the two Familias, making the atmosphere livelier.
But Liang Yue, being who he was, couldn't really focus on socializing.
After quickly filling his stomach, he picked up the gift Hephaestus had given him and looked toward his flushed, drinking goddess.
His tone was light, casual:
"I still have time tonight. I'd like to walk back to our home slowly, clear my head a bit."
"Alright."
She had plenty of things she only dared to say when Liang Yue and the others weren't around, so she didn't stop him.
As for his safety—there was nothing to worry about. Even in Orario at night, adventurers weren't usually so reckless.
"Lili, remember to pay the bill."
Nodding toward Liliruca and Mikoto, Liang Yue slipped out of the restaurant without hesitation.
The reason was simple.
During the banquet, he had felt certain hostile gazes.
Unlike the obvious catgirl waitresses' surveillance, these stares were subtle—yet filled with hostility.
Since the real target was himself, he had no intention of dragging his companions into it. So he stepped into the Orario night.
The city's commercial district was still bustling even after dark.
Surrounded by the crowd of adventurers, Liang Yue paid them no mind and unwrapped Hephaestus's gift.
What lay inside was a short blade, about the length of his arm.
Under the moonlight, its black edge gleamed with a chilling aura, its texture solid, its grip firm.
He considered drawing it against a passing Ganesha Familia group, then thought better of it.
"..."
It wasn't really enough to be his main weapon, but in emergencies, this short sword might prove unexpectedly useful.
After all, it was a token of goodwill from Hephaestus.
At least for the time being, it filled the gap left by his damaged weapon.
And if the Apollo Familia was foolish enough to send assassins in Orario itself—
—he wasn't helpless prey to be slaughtered.
Because—
a "prey" can bite back too!
What Liang Yue hadn't expected, though, was that the Apollo Familia's favorite dungeon tactic—"bait and entrap"—
—would work just as well here in Orario!
He didn't act too suspicious, just walked the normal path back to their Familia home. All the while, he could sense the surveillance.
They kept their distance, no sudden moves.
The Apollo Familia probably wanted to build up psychological pressure first, laying the groundwork for a later ambush.
For now, Liang Yue played the role of "prey" well enough.
At least until the declaration of a War Game, he needed to act in line with their expectations.
"..."
Leaving the crowded streets, he entered the abandoned district.
The pale moonlight cast the ruined buildings in gloom. Footsteps crept closer behind him.
Liang Yue turned sharply, expression grave—
—but the street behind him was empty.
"Cautious, aren't they…"
As one of Orario's mid-tier powers, Apollo Familia's members weren't weak.
The adventurer shadowing him was at least Level 2.
Far from the useless drunkards of the Soma Familia, at least these ones had competence.
Unable to pinpoint the pursuer, Liang Yue resumed walking toward his home.
No successful ambush tonight. Worst case, it would still lead to what he most anticipated:
a War Game.
"With my current stats… facing Apollo Familia… there's hope, right?"
There was no fear in his heart.
The Guild and the Ganesha Familia's investigation might take time, but he had enough leeway to grind in the dungeon and raise his abilities.
With his Sword Soul template already at Level 35, he'd have the means to face whatever War Game might come.
Everything was unfolding within his expectations.
The watcher didn't close in again—probably afraid of being caught.
The only troublesome part was that his planned vacation would be delayed by Apollo Familia's scheming.
"I'll have to postpone the break. Tomorrow, dungeon training resumes."
A bit of frustration crept into him, but he accepted it. If it meant getting stronger, it was worth it.
From afar, a cloaked adventurer silently watched Liang Yue's departing figure.
The Apollo Familia emblem was barely visible on her uniform.
Her face was hidden beneath a hood, blending into the night.
Only a few strands of red hair slipped free.
Her eyes were conflicted.
She—Daphne—once a persecuted adventurer herself, had now become the persecutor.
Her feelings were hard to put into words.
This boy, dragged into turmoil just because of his talent—
wasn't that also a kind of misfortune?
Having experienced what it felt like to be endlessly hunted, she knew:
in Orario, one simply couldn't wander alone at night.
Otherwise—
—it was impossible to survive as an adventurer!
Daphne shook her head. For a newcomer with such potential, there could be no crueller fate.
"…If he'd joined one of the stronger Familias, it wouldn't be like this."
She despised this kind of harassment, but as a member of Apollo Familia, she had no power to change his path.
At most, she could slack off, half-heartedly carry out the orders.
"…And this surveillance job—
couldn't they at least send someone else instead of me?!"
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