When Furina suddenly hugged her, Artemis' body visibly stiffened for a moment—but in the end, she did not push her away.
Faen also expressed his sincere gratitude for Artemis' kindness. However, he still declined the offer of lodging.
"Thank you very much for your generosity, Lady Artemis. But I made preparations before coming here, so we won't trouble you."
The moment he said that, Lanti nearly jumped in place.
She had been hoping for one last push—to create an opportunity between her goddess and Faen.
And yet this dense fool had actually rejected a goddess's invitation.
Who knew when Artemis Familia would next return to Orario?
But with Artemis standing right there, Lanti didn't dare act too boldly. She could only sulk off to the side, kicking at a pebble with the tip of her boot.
Of course, Faen understood her little scheme perfectly.
But he wasn't naive.
Goddesses could be pursued—but Artemis was a different matter altogether. The difficulty level of courting her was not remotely standard.
In the original story, in the film adaptation, she had practically fallen for Bell without resistance—but that was after her Familia had been annihilated, her children slaughtered, and she herself devoured by a monster. Only after enduring that catastrophic tragedy did she fundamentally change, choosing to follow her own heart and her children's final wish to experience love.
None of that had happened here.
The Artemis before him, though shaken slightly by conflict with her children and their late-night conversation, was still far from the goddess who would sacrifice everything for love.
Trying to push forward now would only trigger her instinctive divinity as a Virgin Goddess and drive her further away.
...
After parting ways with the reluctant Artemis Familia, Faen and the others unfolded the map Artemis had kindly provided and headed toward the latter half of the Seventh District's Old Town—Adventurer's Street.
Their next destination was clear:
The Adventurers Guild.
Only by completing official registration there would Focalors Familia truly secure a foothold in this Labyrinth City.
Orario was far larger than Faen had imagined.
Centered around Babel Tower, the circular city was divided into eight wedge-shaped districts by eight main avenues, each with distinct functions and character.
They currently walked along the boundary between the Sixth and Seventh Districts—one side filled with the lively energy of commerce, the other steeped in the quiet antiquity of the Old Quarter.
Their destination lay in the rear half of the Seventh District's Old Street:
The Guild headquarters – The Pantheon.
---
As they moved deeper, the scenery shifted.
Towering commercial buildings gave way to timeworn stone houses. The air lost its mercantile sharpness, replaced by the scent of history—dust, stone, and daily life.
Then, at the end of the street, a structure so grand it stole their breath came into view.
A sprawling white colonnaded complex.
Massive Doric pillars supported a solemn hall of monumental scale. The architectural style was sacred and austere, as though lifted directly from myth rather than built by mortal hands.
This was the Pantheon.
The heart of all adventurers in Orario.
...
The moment they stepped inside, a distinct scent hit them—sweat, leather, metal, dust, followed by a thunderous wave of noise.
The vast hall, large enough to hold thousands, was packed.
Adventurers clad in armor gathered in groups, loudly discussing their latest Dungeon expeditions.
Supporters, burdened with packs taller than themselves, wove through the crowd searching for employers.
And like them, there were many young newcomers—faces filled with both nervousness and hope.
This was where dreams began.
And where many ended.
A spiral of hope and despair intertwined.
Faen's gaze swept the hall before settling on the reception area, following the signs.
Behind one of the busy counters, he quickly spotted her.
A half-elf girl in Guild uniform, wearing glasses.
Amidst the chaos, she seemed like the calm eye of a storm—methodically processing paperwork with a professional, gentle smile.
Even among the many attractive receptionists, her sweet features and graceful figure stood out.
Faen led Furina and Robin toward her.
"Hello. How may I assist you?"
When it was their turn, the half-elf looked up with a flawless smile.
Her eyes lingered briefly on the trio.
A white-haired, blue-eyed young man—handsome and composed.
A lively girl radiating unmistakable divinity.
And a hooded figure standing quietly at the rear.
"Greetings, Miss Elf."
As captain, Faen stepped forward.
"We are a Familia from outside Orario and wish to complete official registration here."
Though Robin was more skilled in social dealings, she could not afford to draw attention right now.
Faen never overestimated the average moral quality of adventurers.
It was a profession that thrived on risk and bloodshed. Desperadoes and ill-tempered individuals were not rare.
Until Focalors Familia possessed sufficient strength to protect themselves, any potential source of trouble had to be minimized.
"I understand. Please follow me."
The half-elf did not seem surprised. She nodded and guided them away from the noisy hall into a quieter administrative wing.
---
The registration officer was a stern middle-aged man.
The moment he saw Furina, he stood and offered a respectful bow.
A god was a god, whether known personally or not. As a neutral organization, the Guild never failed to show proper reverence.
The registration process was swift.
After verifying Furina's divine status, Focalors Familia was officially recorded.
Next came Familia rank assessment.
"Two members. Both Level 1 adventurers… According to Guild standards, the initial rank of Focalors Familia is… Rank I."
At the announcement of the lowest classification, Furina puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
Faen and Robin, however, remained calm.
This was entirely expected.
They had anticipated nothing less.
===================
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