[Obtained Moonveil]
Lynn caressed the blade. Under the Dungeon's unique faint light, the silver-white steel faintly exuded a chill. The hilt was simple, warm to the touch, as if it still carried a trace of lingering moonlight. He tried giving it a light swing; the blade was light, cutting through the air soundlessly. For a moment, he seemed to feel that long-dormant magic within him eager to stir with the movement of the blade.
"Old friend!"
Lynn sighed in admiration. Moonveil was, after all, once one of his handiest weapons.
He stowed Moonveil away carefully and, content, retraced his steps to the Site of Grace. After resting for a moment and confirming his status was fully restored, he picked up the guide lantern and walked slowly toward the mine exit.
When Lynn's silhouette reappeared at the cave entrance, the crowd of adventurers gathered outside had grown several times larger than when he went in. The bonfires burned brighter, and the clamor of voices was deafening. Evidently, during the time he was inside, rumors of the strange mining tunnel had fermented considerably.
The moment he appeared, the adventurers who were boasting and chatting around the bonfires instantly fell silent. Dozens of pairs of eyes simultaneously turned toward him, filled with curiosity, doubt, and a trace of disbelief.
"He... he actually came out!" someone exclaimed in a low voice.
"Impossible?! Didn't they say you couldn't get in?"
"Hey! You over there, adventurer! H-How did you get in?!" a brawny warrior couldn't resist asking loudly.
Lynn's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He didn't much care for being stared at by a crowd. He waved a hand dismissively, a habitually relaxed smile on his face. "Oh, I just walked in. Nothing special."
His words were nonchalant, but to the adventurers who had tried countless times without even crossing the threshold, they sounded like pure mockery.
"Just walked in?!" a young man rushed forward excitedly. "W-We tried for a whole day and couldn't take a single step inside! D-Do you have some kind of trick?!"
Lynn didn't stop walking, merely tilting his head, his gaze sweeping over the youth with a hint of amusement. "A trick... maybe caves just like me."
Saying that, he accelerated his pace, bypassed the crowd, and quickly disappeared into the passage leading from the safety floor to the surface. He left behind a group of adventurers staring blankly at each other, utterly bewildered, still discussing what his phrase "caves just like me" actually meant.
Returning to the surface, Orario was as busy and bustling as ever. Lynn checked the sky; the sun was just right. He didn't return directly to his lodgings but went straight to West Main Street, to Patches' Trustworthy Workshop.
Pushing open the shop door, the familiar ding-dong sounded. Patches was leaning over the counter, wiping a health potion bottle with a dirty rag, humming a tuneless ditty. That leisurely posture didn't at all resemble a boss whose shop had only been open a few days.
"Yo, Boss Patches. Business looks good."
Lynn leaned against the doorframe, teasing him with a chuckle.
Patches' hand jerked, almost dropping the health potion. He snapped his head up, and upon seeing Lynn, a fawning smile instantly plastered onto his bald face as he trotted over to welcome him.
"Oh! My great benefactor! You... you're back!" Patches rubbed his hands together, his eyes uncontrollably darting toward Lynn's waist.
Though Lynn was wearing a set of simple leather armor, the silver-white katana at his waist glinted under the sunlight with a cold light not belonging to this world. It was simply too conspicuous.
Patches' eyes immediately went straight. His merchant's eyes, having seen countless strange and marvelous treasures, instantly determined that this sword was absolutely no ordinary item. His throat moved, but he didn't rashly speak. Years of scrambling and rolling told him that some things were best not asked about lightly.
Lynn didn't beat around the bush either. He pulled several dull, grey stones from his pocket and casually tossed them onto the counter.
"Patches, look around and see if Orario has a blacksmith who can use these."
"Patches, look around and see if Orario has a blacksmith who can use these."
Patches picked up a stone, his fingertips rubbing the rough surface, feeling the weak magic contained within. His small eyes opened wide, astonishment written all over his face.
"Th-These are... Smithing Stones?!" Patches almost shouted the words, but immediately lowered his voice, cautiously checking his surroundings. After confirming no one else was present, he leaned close to Lynn again. "Sir, these... I've only seen these back in the Lands Between! Orario's blacksmiths... they use magic stones and ores. I doubt they'd even recognize a Smithing Stone!"
"Oh?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow. This was somewhat unexpected. Though thinking on it, it made sense. The systems of the two worlds were different; naturally, forging materials would differ as well.
"If that's the case, then all the more reason to find out," Lynn patted Patches on the shoulder. "Regardless of who it is, as long as they can use them or are interested, keep an eye out for me. You'll be well compensated."
"You can rest assured, Sir! Leave this matter to me!" Patches' eyes gleamed as he guaranteed it, chest out. "Never mind Orario—even if I have to flip the whole world upside down, I'll find that blacksmith for you!"
Just then, the shop door was pushed open again. A messenger wearing a uniform and an elephant-shaped mask walked in. He looked around, his gaze finally settling on Lynn.
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Lynn?"
The messenger's voice sounded somewhat muffled through the mask, but his tone was extremely respectful.
Lynn nodded.
The messenger immediately bowed respectfully and retrieved a wax-sealed letter from his breast pocket, offering it with both hands.
"Mr. Lynn, I am a messenger from the Ganesha Familia. Lord Ganesha specifically invites you to attend the upcoming opening ceremony of the Monster Fair as a 'Hero Guest'."
"The Monster Fair?" Lynn accepted the letter, casually glancing at it.
"That's right, Sir!" Patches had sharp ears, and upon hearing 'Monster Fair,' he immediately leaned over, a fawning smile plastered on his face. "From what I know, this is one of Orario's biggest annual festivals! The whole city will be buzzing then. There will be monster exhibitions, adventurer tournaments, and the gods and adventurers from all the major Familias will be there!"
He winked repeatedly at Lynn. "I hear the scene is incredibly grand! There will definitely be lots of pretty girls, heh heh..."
Lynn originally had no interest in these so-called 'grand festivals.' He preferred exploring the Dungeon quietly on his own. He was about to decline when he was drawn in by Patches' next words.
"Furthermore, Sir," Patches lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously. "I hear that for this Monster Fair, Ganesha Familia will exhibit some rare monsters captured from deep floors! Those monsters might even be ones we've never seen! Perchance... perchance there will be something rare!"
"Rare monsters?" Lynn's eyes instantly lit up.
"Fine, I accept." Lynn closed the letter, his tone calm, but a trace of expectation shone in his eyes.
The eyes behind the messenger's mask seemed to brighten as well. He bowed respectfully once more. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Mr. Lynn. We will send someone ahead of time to inform you of the exact time."
After the messenger left, Patches was ecstatic, almost dancing.
"I knew you wouldn't miss this kind of excitement, Sir! How about it, Sir? Let me be your accompanying assistant. I know all the Orario gossip and ins-and-outs. I can be your guide, guaranteed to make sure you have the time of your life!"
Lynn looked at him without speaking, merely raising the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
As for Patches' "accompanying assistant" proposal, it was naturally directly ignored by Lynn.
Returning to Eina's house, Lynn stowed Moonveil and the Carian Knight's Shield away and changed into regular casual clothes. He knew Eina would be very busy today. Guild employees were always焦头烂额 [overwhelmed/extremely busy] on the eve of such large-scale events. He didn't plan to disturb her and prepared to find something to do himself.
"Lynn, you're back?"
The door squeaked open. Eina was wearing a clean, sharp Guild uniform, sweat on her forehead. Evidently, she had just come from outside. She relaxed upon seeing Lynn sitting on the living room sofa.
"Yeah, just went for a walk."
Lynn responded casually, picking up a water cup from the table to take a drink. Eina walked over to him, appearing somewhat hesitant to speak. She clasped her hands in front of her, her fingertips lightly twiddling, a slight flush rising on her cheeks. "Um... Lynn, the Monster Fair... are you going?"
Lynn set down the cup, raising an eyebrow. "A messenger from Ganesha Familia just came by. They invited me to be some kind of 'Hero Guest.' It sounds quite lively."
"Ah! I-Is that so..." Eina's eyes lit up. "I-I thought, given your personality..."
"Thought I wouldn't go?" Lynn smiled. "Since it's a rare major event for Orario, there's no harm in checking it out."
Eina's face flushed further. She took a deep breath, as if making a great resolution. "Th-That... Lynn, if—if you are going, could w-we... could we go together?"
She stole a look at Lynn, her eyes full of expectation yet also nervous anticipation. This wasn't her usual official business-like demeanor; she was more like a normal girl.
"As a celebration for your victory in the War Game?" she added quietly, her voice as low as a mosquito's hum.
Lynn looked at her. Eina's eyes were clear and sincere, without a trace of impurity. He thought of her care for him these days, and her rare tenderness and kindness.
"Sure." Lynn nodded, a habitually relaxed smile on his face. "Let's go together then."
"Th-That's great!" Eina's eyes instantly lit up, a brilliant smile blooming on her face, as if the whole room brightened several notches because of her smile.
"Then I... I'll go get ready!"
She hastily dropped that sentence and jogged back into her room.
Lynn watched her back, which was close to leaping for joy, the corner of his mouth slightly raised. Occasionally experiencing this kind of normal person's life didn't feel bad.
Meanwhile, at the Hestia Familia's shabby little home—which was now the spacious and bright Sun Manor.
"Bell! The Monster Fair! Let's go to the Monster Fair!"
Goddess Hestia excitedly jumped onto Bell's bed, shaking him like a child. Bell woke up dazed from the shaking, rubbing his head. "The Monster Fair? What's that?"
"My goodness! Bell, you really are a country boy!" Hestia stood with hands on hips, looking proud. "It's Orario's best festival! All kinds of monsters, plus delicious snacks!"
"Yeah! Let's go!" He nodded vigorously.
"Yay!" Hestia cheered, then suddenly leaned close to Bell's ear, speaking quietly and mysteriously. "When the time comes, Lady Hestia will show Bell Orario's grandest festival!"
On the day the Monster Fair officially opened, all Orario buzzed. The Central Plaza was brightly and colorfully decorated. A huge stage stood high. Surrounding it were diverse temporary stalls. The air was thick with the mixed scents of roasted meat, sweet desserts, and various strange spices.
Lynn and Eina shuttled through the crowd. Eina wasn't wearing her Guild uniform today, but a light sundress that perfectly outlined her usually restricted figure. For once, she set aside her serious Guild employee image, wandering before the stalls like a normal girl.
"These roasted meat skewers look delicious!" She pointed at a smoking, fragrant stall, her eyes gleaming.
Lynn smiled, walked forward, and used a guest voucher given by the Guild to buy two skewers and hand one to her. Eina accepted, taking small bites, a content smile flooding her face.
She pointed at a mask stall, then at a pitch-pot game stall, exclaiming from time to time. The Guild employee, usually meticulous in every detail, was now completely immersed in the festive atmosphere. The smile on her face grew more and more frequent. Occasionally, she would even unconsciously draw close to Lynn, their arms inadvertently touching before she quickly separated them.
Lynn watched her relaxed demeanor, finding it somewhat novel. He rarely saw Eina this real and relaxed.
By evening, the sunset stained the sky orange-red. The two found a spot by the Central Plaza's fountain to sit and watch the water columns dance to the music's rhythm. Eina leaned beside Lynn, her head tilted, looking at his calm profile.
"Lynn... Do you think days like this are very..." She paused, seemingly looking for the right words. "Very... ordinary, yet very happy?"
Lynn didn't speak, merely looking ahead. Eina's voice lowered, carrying a trace of almost imperceptible sadness.
"Since I was small, being a half-elf, I've always been out of place between humans and elves. Later, I joined the Guild and was always busy working. I rarely have chances like this to browse streets in a crowd like a normal girl, eating delicious food..."
She sighed softly.
"Actually, I've always hoped to live that kind of... ordinary, happy life. Not having to face the Dungeon's dangers, or handle adventurer disputes. Returning home after work every day to a warm meal, having someone to talk to..."
Lynn turned his head to look at her. Her eyes held a trace of longing, yet also self-deprecating humor.
"You're quite wonderful just the way you are now," Lynn said softly.
Eina was stunned upon hearing this. She turned her head, looking at Lynn with a hint of doubt and surprise in her eyes. Immediately after, her cheeks visibly flushed. She hastily turned her face away, her ears turning bright red.
"W-What are you saying..." she muttered softly, her heart pounding like a rabbit caught in a trap.
Lynn didn't explain further, merely smiling.
Just then, passionate music sounded from the main stage, signaling that the Monster Fair's finale display was about to begin. The crowd started to stir, surging toward the stage.
"The finale is starting!" Eina ignored her embarrassment and tugged on Lynn's sleeve. "Let's hurry over!"
The two followed the flow of people to the front of the main stage. A huge iron cage was pushed to the center of the stage. Within it was caged a massive Silverback. Its hair was silver and bright, its muscles bulging. One could tell at a glance it was a high-rank monster from the deep floors of the Dungeon.
"This Silverback was captured by Ganesha Familia from the 20th floor or below and brought up after special domestication!" Eina introduced it quietly to Lynn. "It's said its strength is double that of same-level monsters, but its personality is quite gentle. It's one of Lord Ganesha's favorite displays."
Trainers surrounded the cage, showing off the Silverback to the audience. The audience cheered repeatedly, the atmosphere reaching its peak.
"Now, let us together witness the miracle of domestication!" The Ganesha Familia's captain, Shakti Latour, announced loudly from the center of the stage.
At his command, the cage's heavy gate slowly rose.
However, just as the gate opened completely, chaos erupted!
The Silverback, which should have been gentle, suddenly had eyes turn crimson, its pupils glinting with cruel red light. It let out an absolutely berserk roar. The sound was deafening, making the entire plaza tremble!
"ROAR!"
The Silverback violently broke free from the chains in the trainers' hands, its power far exceeding normal limits. Several Ganesha Familia members attempting to stop it didn't even have time to unleash magic or skills before being easily flung away like ragdolls, smashing onto the ground.
"What's wrong?! The monster is out of control!"
"Run!!"
The audience exploded instantly, cheers turning into screams of terror. People started scattering and fleeing, shoving each other. A stampede could happen at any moment.
The Silverback was too fast, charging toward the densest part of the crowd.
Ganesha Familia Captain Shakti Latour reacted extremely quickly. He roared orders, organizing members to evacuate the crowd. But the Silverback was faster. Its massive body was like a tank, rampaging directly toward the center of the audience area.
Lynn, at the first moment the chaos broke out, instinctively grabbed Eina and took her to a relatively safe high ground at the stage's edge. His sharp gaze scanned the chaotic crowd below, seeking the target of the berserk monster.
Then, he saw it.
In the Silverback's path of rampage, the Hestia Familia's Bell and Goddess Hestia were squeezed into a corner by the crowd, trapped. Hestia instinctively blocked Bell, rare terror on her face, yet still shouting, "Bell! Run!"
Bell's face was pale, but he didn't retreat. He gritted his teeth, drawing the short sword from his waist. Though he knew he was no match, he still stubbornly blocked Hestia, attempting to protect her.
The Silverback's massive palm raised high, carrying whistling wind, slammed down brutally toward Bell and Hestia! That power was enough to instantly flatten them both into paste!
"Stay here and don't move," Lynn said concisely to Eina beside him.
Before Eina could respond or even think, Lynn had already leapt down from the high ground.
His silhouette was like a phantom mid-air. Bloodhound's Step activated continuously in the air, each step onto the void, yet precise as if upheld by an invisible force. He turned into a black afterimage, plunging straight into the chaotic battlefield at incredible speed.
The instant before the Silverback's massive palm hit, Lynn's silhouette appeared in front of Bell like it had teleported. He held the Carian Knight's Shield high in his left hand.
Clang!
A deafening sound, like a massive bell, made everyone's eardrums ache.
The Silverback's full-force blow, which could shatter steel, was stopped dead by the Carian Knight's Shield! The massive impact spread through the shield, instantly shattering the stone slab beneath Lynn's feet, sending stone fragments flying. Yet his posture was unmoved, rooted in the ground like a rock.
Lynn's face didn't change at all. He even had time to turn back and say calmly to the stunned Bell behind him, "Take your Goddess and leave."
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Danmachi: My Primary God is Hidetaka Miyazaki? (Simulpub – Ongoing)
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