In the awkward silence after finishing breakfast—we had potato soup—we were fidgeting in the heavy air.
I was embarrassed about having cried pathetically, and Limus was probably ashamed of what he had said...
"Um..."
"Well..."
Ah, shit, we overlapped. So awkward!
"Let's not bring up today's events, even if we can't pretend they never happened."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. A man lets it out once, and that's enough. No need to drag it on."
"If you say so... but if you're struggling, let me know."
And silence fell again... Awkward...!
"Ahem, well, I'm off to Hephaestus Familia to apply for membership."
"Right, I should open the shop soon. But can you find your way from here?"
...Now that you mention it.
I fell into Daedalus Street without knowing a single street in Orario... What do I do?
"Hey, show me around Orario sometime."
"No way!"
"Aw, why! Friends should do that much for each other!"
"I'm too busy making a living! Why should I! Once you join a familia, ask your seniors to show you around! I don't wander Orario much myself, so I only know the eastern Main Street area!"
"You damn hikikomori!"
"What's it to you, you muscle-bound pig!"
"..."
"..."
They both burst out laughing.
I don't know why, but I really get along with this guy.
After glaring at each other for a while, we ended up laughing it off.
"First, Hephaestus Familia is... I think it's in the industrial district, so I'll take you to the eastern Main Street. And if you don't want to get lost in Daedalus Street..."
Limus rummaged through a nearby drawer and handed me a piece of paper.
"Memorize this first; it's a landmark map of Daedalus Street. I'll write down the shop location too, so remember it well."
"Gah, why's it so complicated?"
"Don't underestimate the other labyrinth of the Labyrinth City... Heh heh heh."
"Wow... you sounded like a real villain just now."
"Ahem, and if you really can't find the way, just grab anyone and ask where Azure Wind is. Almost no one around here hasn't owed me a favor for my potions, so they'll help you out."
"By the way, what does this shop mainly deal in? Adventurer potions?"
"No, we mainly handle potions for ordinary civilians without Falna.
Adventurer potions for those with Falna are too strong for civilians, so our shop deals in low-grade potions that civilians can use safely. We do make adventurer potions, antidotes, and explosive items, but usually on special order."
"Ooh, I see..."
As we chatted about this and that, quite some time passed.
"Shouldn't you go apply to the familia now?"
"You have to take me there."
"Tch, stuck with a nuisance... Let's go."
"Let's go!"
After winding through twists and turns, going up and down, we reached a broad avenue, and in the distance, the massive tower, Babel, came into view.
"That's the divine tower, Babel... It's incredible..."
"Yeah, that's Babel, the lid of the Dungeon. I don't know how the gods built something so monstrous.
Well, they're gods, so maybe they just did..."
Honestly, having seen plenty of skyscrapers in the modern world, I didn't think I'd be that impressed, but this exceeds expectations. As far as I know, Babel has 50 floors, a bit less than the 63 Building.
But with other buildings at most 4 or 5 stories tall, it alone boasts 50 floors... It feels truly majestic. This must be what they mean by a standout in a crowd.
"This is the eastern Main Street, where slums and various miscellaneous areas are gathered. Head south from here to the southeast district for the cemetery and entertainment district, and go north to the northeast district for the industrial district where Hephaestus Familia is located."
"Ooh... Things are getting serious?"
"Well, to put it simply, Orario is divided into zones based on the eight Main Streets. The area between the northern Main Street and northeastern Main Street is Zone 1, and we number them clockwise. The zone with Daedalus Street where we just came from is Zone 3."
"So the industrial district I'm heading to is Zone 2, and if I cross this avenue and go over there, I'll enter the industrial district?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Thanks for taking me. From here, I'll ask around and find my way."
"Be careful. With your build, you probably won't get picked on much, but the public safety in Orario is at its worst right now. Murders happen on a whim, and people get kidnapped left and right in this town. Try to come back to the shop before it gets dark."
"Okay, okay, don't worry. I'm off!"
With that, I crossed the avenue.
And a familiar atmosphere, a familiar smell, and... a familiar heat washed over me.
"As I thought... the place that suits me best is still the forge..."
Well, the smelting [prologue] is over, so it's time for the forging [main story].
Shall I go light the furnace?