Although Aiden had officially submitted his level-up information, the Guild did not immediately announce it to the rest of Orario. After all, the next Denatus was still two months away. It was only then that the Guild would officially declare the rank of this newly minted First-Class adventurer, alongside the brand-new alias that would very likely accompany it.
The Guild maintained a highly strict and cautious protocol regarding the level updates of First-Class adventurers. Until it was officially announced at the Denatus, all information was to be kept under the highest level of confidentiality.
Theoretically, at least.
Unfortunately, this protocol clearly failed to account for the highly specific personality of Furina de Fontaine, the Goddess of Water and Justice.
To her, knowing that a child of her own Familia had achieved such a glorious milestone, yet being unable to broadcast it to the heavens and force the entire world to bear witness to her glory, was quite literally a fate worse than death.
And so, on the very next day after Aiden's level-up, personalized "good news" letters were flawlessly delivered into the hands of the few divine friends she actually had in Orario.
The spread of the news was an absolute inevitability.
The very next day, the magnificent front gates of Palais Mermonia—carved with the grand scales and sword of justice—welcomed an endless stream of visitors.
The first to arrive was the Takemikazuchi Familia.
"Aiden, congratulations on reaching Level 5."
The tall, composed Captain Kashima Ouka, alongside the solemn Yamato Mikoto, offered Aiden their most sincere and heartfelt congratulations. Standing right behind them was their patron deity, Takemikazuchi himself.
Shortly after, the Goddess Astrea arrived with her children to offer their blessings.
Then came the Miach Familia. The gentle, blue-haired god Miach arrived with his dog-eared Captain, Naaza Erisuis, bringing an entire crate of the newest, highest-tier healing potions custom-made by the Azure Pharmacy as a congratulatory gift.
Even the constantly elusive Hermes somehow caught wind of the news. With a sly grin plastered across his face, he arrived entirely uninvited with his perpetually exhausted, versatile assistant, Asfi, claiming he was there to "offer blessings upon the birth of a hero."
Finally, even Artemis, one of the Three Great Virgin Goddesses, appeared at the gates of Palais Mermonia—partly due to Furina's incredibly persistent invitations, and partly egged on by her own Familia members.
With more and more people arriving, what was originally meant to be a simple offering of congratulations had unconsciously spiraled into a massive, grand celebration banquet.
Inside the spacious, brightly lit grand hall of Palais Mermonia, the crystal chandeliers cast a soft, warm glow. The incredibly long dining table was absolutely packed with a lavish feast meticulously prepared by Tifa and Hyacine, featuring dishes that would leave even the most critical gourmets breathless.
The deities naturally gathered into their own circle.
"Well, well, Furina. Your little Aiden is truly something else, isn't he? It's only been half a year, right? And he's already Level 5! A speed like that... it leaves even the gods in absolute awe," Hermes said with a beaming smile, holding a glass of wine, though his calculating eyes subtly swept over Aiden again and again.
"That goes without saying! Just look whose Familia he belongs to!" Furina proudly puffed out her modest chest. With one hand on her hip and the other holding a glass of juice, she delivered her toast like a grand speech. "This is only the beginning! The righteous path of my Familia will pierce through the entirety of the Dungeon!"
───
For Advance Chapters:
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations