Thanks to their adventure in Elsos, Bell's party grew even more. Nevertheless, they did not stop and continued to enter the Dungeon to foster their growth. With Mikoto joining their party, their progress became significantly more stable than before.
Perhaps because of that momentum, Welf Crozzo managed to rank up to Level 2. To celebrate, the group decided to hold a small drinking gathering.
"Is this the [Flame Bee Pavilion]?"
"Yeah. It's a place I know—quite a solid establishment."
"If Welf-sama says so, then I believe it!"
Following Welf's lead, Bell and Lili entered the [Flame Bee Pavilion], a pub sporting a sign with a bright red bee. Located in the back alleys of the bustling district, this shop seemed to be a frequent haunt for Welf, appearing quite popular among certain adventurers and smiths.
"Oh! The liquor really is bright red! Just like a ruby!"
"Right? This is the house specialty: honey wine."
Gulp, gulp—
"Phew! Anyway, Welf, congrats on the rank up!"
"Level 2... You're an upper-class smith now, so the value of the equipment you forge will surely skyrocket, won't it?"
"And by that same margin, it's become even harder to forge items that won't bring shame to my Goddess's name..."
They offered their congratulations for Welf's rank up. Welf himself rejoiced in his growth, drinking as he thought of the person and the Patron Deity he wished to catch up to.
"Bell-sama, what about your next rank up?"
Munch, munch—
"Yeah, my status has risen quite a bit since the 18th Floor."
"Give me a break, will ya? I finally caught up to you, but if you hit Level 3 already, where does that leave me?"
"I think it's only a matter of time~"
"Stop joking..."
While listening to Lili, Bell simultaneously recalled the hero's strike he had witnessed on the 18th Floor. The blow dealt by the person he longed for—the one he admired—remained hauntingly beautiful. It only served to sharpen the aspiration within his heart.
'Level 3, huh...'
'I wonder how many levels I'll need to gain before I finally catch up to Dad?'
While he was lost in thought during his conversation with Welf and Lili—
"Level 3? Don't make me laugh!"
"Hm?"
"I don't know what this 'Record Holder' nonsense is about, but you should know when to stop with the fraud."
"Just ignore him, Bell."
"A rabbit whose only skill is running away, ranking up just by scurrying from monsters? Now you're saying 'Level 3 isn't far off'? Have you no shame!"
A Pallum male suddenly approached, his voice dripping with mockery. Looking at the emblem on his clothing, it was the symbol representing the Apollo Familia.
"Look at this! Even his companions are nothing but dregs kicked out of other factions!"
"A blacksmith who can't sell a single blade, and a puny brat of a Supporter."
"Well, I suppose they're the perfect fit for a fraudulent rookie?"
-Kyahaha!!!!
The Pallum's vitriol moved beyond Bell and targeted his companions. Even then, Welf and Lili tried to ignore the words without much of a reaction, until—
"It can't be helped, I guess? The coward rabbit's Familia was always the weakest of the weak."
Step, step—
"They're bottom-tier, aren't they?"
"Led by a trash Goddess who's got nothing but breasts and leeches off other Familias~"
"They even spread groundless rumors about having ties to the Pioneer—"
The moment the bastard's insults reached Hestia and Akumo—
BAM—!!!!
"Take that back right now!!!"
"H-Hiek!?"
"What do you know that gives you the right to shout like that!!!"
"Y-You're just yelling because I hit the mark!"
Grit—!
"In truth, you're ashamed of being the dependent of such a midget Godd—"
CRACK—!!!!
Before any more nonsense could spill from his mouth, Welf's tankard flew across the air, smashing into the man's face and sending him reeling.
"Oops? My hand slipped."
"You bastard!!"
"Sigh... from Bell-sama to Welf-sama... this is why adventurers are..."
BOOM—!!!!
"Oraaaa!!!!"
Thud—!!!!
Eventually, the celebration spiraled into a brawl. Welf and Bell lunged at the Apollo Familia members, beginning to lay them out.
In the midst of the chaos, a man who had been sitting at the Apollo Familia's table stood up and closed the distance with startling speed.
"I'll be your opponent."
Whoosh—!
'He's fast...!!!'
Smack—!!!
"Gah!?"
Approaching Welf with terrifying velocity, the man sent him flying with a single strike, simultaneously launching a fist aimed directly at Bell's face.
Snap—!!!
"What!?"
'A punch like this...!! Compared to those people, it's far too slow!'
THUD—!!!!
"You...!"
Whoosh—!!!!!
Sensing the man's fist approaching, Bell instinctively evaded and parried. At the same time, he counterattacked, managing a glancing blow against the man's cheek.
"Hey, that guy is definitely..."
"[Phoebus Apollo], Hyakinthos!"
"He's standing his ground against a Level 3!?"
The man's identity was the Captain of the Apollo Familia, Hyakinthos Clio. He was a Level 3 elite, yet remarkably, Bell was parrying, deflecting, and enduring his assault.
Thud—!
"Hmph!!"
Swipe—!!
"Ngh!?"
'He's parrying my fists and even attempting to counter...!?'
The surrounding adventurers watched in shock. Just as Hyakinthos abandoned his attempt to toy with Bell and prepared to pour everything into a serious assault—
CRASH—!!!!
"Honestly... a bunch of small fry getting all worked up over nothing."
"You are... [Vanargand]?"
"You're ruining my drink. Get lost already."
"....Tch!"
Bete, who had been drinking nearby, kicked a table over with a ferocious expression and warned Hyakinthos.
Under that threat, Hyakinthos scowled and led his companions away, retreating from the pub as if fleeing.
"Bete...-san?"
"Don't get cocky."
"....Huh?"
"You're still weak."
Step, step—
Leaving only those words, Bete departed from the pub. Bell quietly chewed over the statement as the night's gathering came to an abrupt end.
"Akumo~!"
Grab—!
"What's with you all of a sudden? Did something good happen, Loki?"
"Heh-heh! Aye, somethin' grand happened!"
'What is with her lately...'
Loki didn't even bother to hide her grin, which was wider than usual, as she continued to cling to Akumo's body.
Though Akumo was troubled by her behavior and kept trying to peel her off, Loki merely chuckled meaningfully and peppered him with strange suggestions.
"Akumo! Ye feel like smashin' somethin' up today?"
"No..."
"Then how 'bout we go tighten the screws on some rival Familia?"
"....."
"Or maybe the casino?"
"Hmm...."
'It has been a while since I last visited the casino...'
Akumo had been rejecting Loki's offers, but the mention of the casino finally piqued his interest.
Ever since he was nearly banned after his last visit, he hadn't gone back. Just as he was contemplating a visit—
Glare—!
"Actually, never mind..."
He was forced to endure the temptation as he felt a sharp, stinging gaze boring into his back from somewhere.
Creak—!
"Loki, a letter arrived."
"Ais-tan? What kind of letter out o' the blue?"
"I received it from the Apollo Familia."
"From that Apollo fellow?"
Loki expressed her doubts as she tore open the envelope. Inside was an invitation to a banquet. It stated that the next Denatus celebration—the Gods' banquet—would be held at his own Familia's Home.
"This is!"
"What is it?"
"He says he's invitin' us to the banquet, and we're to bring one member o' the Familia along?"
"Apollo..."
Akumo's eyes narrowed with a trace of wariness at the mention of the name Apollo. His Familia did not have a particularly clean reputation.
The God himself was notorious for taking any follower he desired, even by crushing them with the full weight of his Familia's power. His children, in turn, supported their Patron Deity's atrocious conduct.
"Who're ye takin'? Ais-tan, I reckon?"
"Hmm.... that satyr is bound to show up at a party like this..."
Loki began to ponder. Her heart wanted to take Ais-tan, but she also wanted to bring Akumo along to this long-awaited banquet.
"Haaah~ what should I do?"
'I want Akumo by my side to really show 'em who's boss...'
"But I can't bear the thought o' missin' Ais-tan in a dress, either!"
Observing Loki's internal struggle, Akumo gave her a look of utter exasperation, while Ais voiced her dissatisfaction with a slight frown.
During this, Akumo noticed something written on the back of the letter.
"....What's this?"
'There's something extra written on the back.'
Slide—
[To Loki: If Akumo-kun happens to be there, please tell him I am truly grateful.]
".....?"
Akumo stared at the letter, pondering the hidden meaning behind those words.
"Ah, wait a minute?"
'Did they say Artemis-sama and Apollo are siblings?'
"No wonder..."
'I recall having a hard time stopping Artemis-sama from storming into Orario once she heard the rumors about the Apollo Familia.'
"This... might just work out after all."