The following morning, at the Soma Familia headquarters.
The atmosphere had been off since breakfast. In the dining hall, adventurers gathered in small groups, whispering in hushed tones with shifting, restless eyes. Every so often, someone would cast a sharp glance toward the head of the table where Zanis Lustra sat. He was the acting captain of the Familia—a middle-aged human with glasses and heavy bags under his eyes.
Zanis was keenly aware of the anomaly. He found it strange how stifling the air felt today.
Did something happen? Or did that useless Lili cause some kind of trouble yesterday?
He set his spoon down and cleared his throat. "What's wrong with you all today? Shut up and eat!"
No one responded.
Suddenly, a tall, thin elven adventurer spoke up. His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear. "Master Zanis, I heard there's a batch of top-tier Divine Wine stored in the basement. Is that true?"
The dining hall fell into a sudden, deathly silence.
Zanis's expression flickered, but he quickly regained his composure. Dammit! Who leaked that?
"Where did you hear such a ridiculous rumor? Brewing the Divine Wine is no easy feat. Every finished bottle has been distributed according to the regulations."
"But someone saw the ledger," a dwarven adventurer grumbled. "It says you owe a massive sum to the casino... Are you planning to sell the good stuff to pay off your debts while we keep drinking this watered-down trash?"
Zanis's pupils shrank.
"Impudence!" Zanis slammed the table as he stood up. "Who is spreading these lies?!"
"If it's a lie, why not let everyone see the basement for themselves?" The elf didn't back down. "We don't have any dungeon exploration tasks today anyway. Why not check the inventory publicly so everyone can rest easy?"
Shouts of agreement erupted. More and more people looked up, their eyes a volatile mix of suspicion, resentment, and a desperate craving for the wine.
Zanis's hands were shaking. He knew that if he actually let them check, everything would be over. The hoarded wine and the debt records would all be exposed. But he couldn't simply suppress them by force; most of these people only followed him because of the wine. They didn't respect him, and if provoked, there was no telling what they might do.
Just as the standoff reached its peak, a young human adventurer ran into the hall, panicked, clutching a crumpled piece of parchment.
"M-Master Zanis! I found this in the backyard..."
The paper was passed to Zanis. With just one look, his blood nearly froze.
The note didn't just mention the hidden wine; it detailed the colors and quantities of the bottles and even suggested his intent to embezzle them.
"This is a frame-up!" Zanis hissed, though his voice had lost its edge.
"Then let everyone go see!" The dwarf stood up, followed by seven or eight others. "If there's nothing there, we'll apologize! But if there is..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
The crowd began to surge, moving toward the main hall. Zanis tried to block them, but several dozen bloodshot eyes glared him back. He knew the situation was out of his control.
Half an hour later, as the crowd stood before empty wooden racks and the scrap of paper found in the gap of a wine barrel, a volcano of fury erupted.
"Where's the wine?!"
"Zanis! Where did you hide the wine?!"
"Using our Divine Wine to pay off your gambling debts?!"
"Give us our damn money back! Let Lord Soma come out and give us justice!"
Cursing, shoving, and the sound of breaking furniture filled the air. Zanis was cornered by several enraged adventurers, his face ashen and sweat pouring down his forehead. He desperately tried to explain that the wine had been stolen, but no one believed him. The lock on the basement door was intact, and the guards hadn't seen anyone suspicious. Who could have stolen it?
Unless it was an inside job.
In the chaos, no one noticed when the front gates were pushed open. Led by the Goddess Astrea, the core members of the Familia—Solon, Alise, Ryuu, and Kaguya—walked into the wreckage, accompanied by a trembling Lili.
The sudden arrival of the Astrea Familia caused the chaos to subside slightly. All eyes focused on them, and when they saw Lili, many expressions became complicated.
As if grasping for a lifeline, Zanis broke through the crowd and rushed to Astrea, his voice trembling. "Lady Astrea! You've arrived at the perfect time! Our Familia has been robbed, and these people are framing me! Please..."
"We are here regarding Liliruca Arde."
Astrea's voice was calm and authoritative, cutting through Zanis's pleas. "This child has endured suffering she never should have faced. In the name of the Goddess of Justice, I request an audience with Lord Soma to discuss her Conversion."
Conversion? Lili?
The adventurers were stunned. Zanis froze too, but a desperate, mad thought flashed through his mind.
A chance! If Lady Astrea was willing to speak on his behalf in front of Soma, he might still be able to salvage the situation!
"O-Of course!" Zanis nodded frantically. "I'll take you to see Lord Soma immediately! However..."
He lowered his voice to a near-begging whisper. "Lady Astrea, please, you must clarify things for me in front of Lord Soma. I really didn't hoard any wine; someone is setting me up..."
Astrea looked at him, her blue eyes deep and unreadable. "I will relay the facts as they are."
These words put Zanis slightly at ease, but they made Solon arch an eyebrow. The Goddess hadn't promised to "put in a good word," only to "state the facts." Truly the embodiment of justice—even her wordplay was upright.
The group crossed the chaotic hall, climbed the stairs, and arrived at the door at the very end of the third floor. Zanis knocked. Even though he usually looked down on the god, his voice was now exceptionally respectful.
"Lord Soma, Lady Astrea has arrived with her Familia. They have important matters to discuss."
There was a long silence from within before a faint, almost inaudible voice answered. "...Come in."
The door opened.
The sight inside slightly surprised Alise and the others who were visiting for the first time. The room was spacious but cluttered with brewing equipment—massive stills, rows of oak barrels, and an array of bottles and jars. The air was thick with a complex, rich fragrance, far more mellow and intoxicating than what had been in the basement.
In the center of the room, a slender figure stood with his back to the door, focused on a glass apparatus. He had short gray hair and wore a simple linen robe. He looked barely in his twenties, but his eyes were hollow, as if he were indifferent to everything in the world.
This was Soma, the God of Wine, who had rarely concerned himself with anything other than brewing since descending to the lower world.
He slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the group. It lingered on Lili for a moment before quickly shifting away. In that brief look, there was disappointment, numbness, and a trace of pain so faint it was nearly undetectable.
"Astrea... what is it?" Soma's voice was as light as a whisper, as if speaking even one word was a burden.
Astrea stepped forward and gently nudged Lili to the front. "This child, Liliruca Arde, is a member of your Familia. She has suffered prolonged unjust treatment, damaging her both physically and mentally. I request that you allow her to convert to my Familia. I will provide her with protection and healing."
Soma's eyelashes flickered, and his gaze returned to Lili. The young girl kept her head down, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes, not daring to meet the eyes of the god who had once cared for her.
"...Why?" Soma asked, his voice still thin.
"Because she is not happy here," Astrea replied. "Because we protect the weak. And because..." She sighed softly. "She has not yet completely lost the possibility of redemption."
Soma fell silent. He looked at Zanis, who immediately bowed and began an incoherent explanation.
"L-Lord Soma, this is all a misunderstanding! Lili hasn't been performing well, I was just providing a bit of discipline—"
"Be quiet," Soma said. His voice was still soft, but it held a cold, sharp quality that made Zanis freeze instantly.
The God of Wine walked over to Lili and crouched down, bringing his eyes level with hers. Lili was shaking, tears welling in her eyes.
"...Did you drink the Divine Wine?" Soma asked.
Lili nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I drank it... once..."
"How did it feel?"
"It was... very comfortable... like all my troubles vanished..." Lili choked out. "But afterward... it was even worse... I wanted more..."
Soma closed his eyes. When he opened them again, ripples finally stirred in the stagnant lake of his gaze.
"I brewed the Divine Wine hoping to bring joy," he whispered, seemingly to himself. "But all you received was pain and madness... Was I wrong?"
No one answered. The only sound in the room was the soft drip of liquid from the still.
Soma stood up and looked at Astrea. "If you can make it so she no longer craves the Divine Wine, I will agree to the Conversion."
The condition surprised everyone. Solon couldn't help but look at the Wine God with surprise; he hadn't expected such a move.
Zanis grew frantic. Is he joking? If even a useless Prum can resist the temptation of the Divine Wine, how will I control the other members? He interrupted urgently.
"Lord Soma! You can't! Lili, she—"
"I told you to be quiet." Soma didn't even look at him. "Astrea, can you do it?"
The Goddess of Justice looked toward Solon. The youth nodded and stepped forward.
He pulled the sample bottle of amber-gold Divine Wine from his bag and popped the cork. The intoxicating aroma instantly filled the room. Aside from Solon and the prepared members of the Astrea Familia, everyone else fell into varying degrees of a trance. Lili's breathing became ragged, her eyes fixed on the bottle.
Solon quickly chanted his incantation. He constructed the model for the second-tier spell, Calm Emotions, targeting Lili. A pale gold film of light enveloped the girl, shielding her from the direct influence of the scent.
Then, he began preparing the second spell—Intellect Fortress. He had been contemplating this spell for a long time, specifically designing it to counter the mental dependency caused by the wine. He also surreptitiously applied Guidance and Bless.
The process lasted about a minute.
Lili's expression shifted from craving to confusion, and finally to calm. When Solon finished the casting and withdrew the protection, he held the bottle toward her again.
Lili wrinkled her small nose and took a step back. "The smell is so cloying."
It wasn't disgust, nor was it craving. It was the normal reaction of a child facing candy that was far too sweet.
Soma's eyes widened slightly. Ever since the Divine Wine was created, the members of his Familia had been obsessed with it, yet not one could accurately describe its taste. They only ever said they wanted more.
He took the bottle and personally held it to Lili's lips. "Taste a bit."
Lili hesitated, then took a small sip. As the amber-gold liquid slid over her tongue, she blinked and gave her evaluation. "It's sweet, but it burns my throat a bit. It's not as good as the fruit juice they sell on the street."
In that moment, the expression on Soma's face was too complex to describe. Shock, confusion, relief, sadness... Finally, he let out a soft laugh. His voice was still thin, but it felt as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted.
"I see."
He put the bottle away and looked at Astrea. "I agree. Liliruca Arde, as of today, you are released from the Soma Familia. I will facilitate the transfer of her Falna to your side."
"Lord Soma!" Zanis watched in despair. Seeing that the wine no longer tempted Lili was devastating. Even if Level 2 adventurers could resist it to some degree, if even someone like Lili could withstand it, his control was gone.
Soma finally cast a glance at him, his eyes as cold as ice. "Zanis Lustra, as of today, you are no longer the acting captain. Familia affairs will be... overseen and restructured by the Guild."
He narrowed his eyes, adding with a hint of mischievousness, "As for your 'stolen' wine, let that be your punishment. Furthermore, the Familia will not pay your gambling debts. You must settle them yourself."
Was he serious?
Asking him to pay back eighty million Valis alone was an impossibility. The crushing weight of that debt transformed into a mountain, causing Zanis to collapse to the floor, his face the color of ash.
Soma ignored him and turned to Lili, his voice softening. "Lili, live a good life from now on."
Lili looked up at the god who had once given her warmth but had watched her fall, powerless to help. Tears finally fell. She gave a deep bow; she said nothing, but all her gratitude and farewell were contained in that gesture.
Astrea placed a hand on Lili's shoulder and nodded to Soma. "Thank you for your understanding and mercy. I hope that one day, you find the recipe for a wine that brings true joy."
As they left the Soma Familia headquarters, the sounds behind them were the curses of angry members surrounding Zanis and the end of an era for the Familia.
Lili gripped Solon's sleeve tightly as she walked among the members of the Court of Stars. The sunlight spilled over her clean face, and for the first time, her large eyes—once filled with fear—reflected the clarity of the sky.
"Master Solon..." she whispered.
"Hmm?"
"...Thank you."
Solon ruffled her hair and smiled. "Welcome to your new home, Lili."
A week passed quickly. Next on the agenda was the date set by the invitation from the Loki Familia, which Astrea had received the day after the Denatus.
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Danmachi: My Magic Style is Different from Yours (60 Chapters – Ongoing)
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