"What?"
"I'm sorry... because of that bastard Hermes...!!!"
Hestia, returning from the provisional Denatus, fumed with rage as she blamed Hermes. Akumo, taken aback by the results of the divine meeting, repeated Hestia's words to process them.
"The event is a Siege, and additional mercenaries are restricted to adventurers from outside Orario?"
Rewinding the clock slightly, Hestia had appeared at the provisional Denatus. This was two days after the War Game had been officially requested.
However, few Gods were willing to side with Hestia; most were merely gathered to spectate the entertainment that was a War Game.
"Let's settle the stakes. If my Apollo Familia wins, I'm taking Bell Cranel," Apollo declared.
"And if we win?"
"Demand whatever you wish!"
Apollo spoke with absolute confidence as he engaged Hestia.
"The format should be a one-on-one duel..."
"Hmph! Are you suggesting that just because of your pathetic headcount?"
"Ugh...!"
"Why don't we draw lots from everyone's suggestions?"
Through that process, a Siege was unfortunately selected. For Hestia, a team competition like a Siege was a catastrophic result, considering the overwhelming difference in numbers.
"It's not really my place to say this... but I think it would be best to allow Hestia some support?" Hermes interjected.
"Hermes! A War Game between Familias is meant to be settled within the Familias! That's the rule!"
"Aye, but at this rate, it's less a 'game' and more just watching yer twisted hobby, ain't it?"
"L-Loki too!?"
"If you wanted this to stay strictly between Familias, you shouldn't have caused such a ruckus in the first place," Astraea added calmly.
"Urgh... Astraea as well!"
"Oh my? Are you perhaps frightened? It seems your faith in your children is lacking," Freya teased.
"What are you...!! Freya!"
After the defense and provocations from Hermes, Loki, Astraea, and Freya, Apollo finally yielded, allowing the support of exactly 'one' adventurer—as long as they weren't part of an Orario-based Familia.
"How petty..."
"My thoughts exactly!"
After hearing the details of the Denatus, Akumo mused over Apollo's narrow-mindedness. He began considering who was available outside the city's jurisdiction.
'Argana and Bache are out because of the travel time. That leaves...'
"How are you feeling, Ade?"
"....You're truly not going to harm Master Bell and Lady Hestia, right?"
"Yes, of course. More importantly, now that the deal is set, prepare your transformation magic."
Shing—!
"It'll be quite useful for weeding out those fools at the trade location, kekeke!"
"Again with the money... Targeting Lilly just for such greed..."
Lilliluka looked at Zanis, who was looking down at her arrogantly from outside the iron bars, with pure disgust. His total lack of shame for his avarice revealed a will that didn't care if others suffered.
"What's wrong with being greedy!?"
"I want to drink the liquor Lord Soma brews! Money, women, food—I want to taste every pleasure this world has to offer!"
Bang—!!
"I love this Familia! Is it not the perfect environment? No matter how much I soil my hands with evil, our Patron Deity leaves us be!"
Zanis bared his nature, kicking the bars or bragging about his ambitions to Lilliluka. Seeing him like that only increased her loathing.
Suddenly.
BOOM—!!!!!
"What was that!?"
"It seems some rats have broken in. Including that shrimp Goddess."
"Hmm, then I'll just have to deal with them."
Startled, Lilliluka rushed to the bars and shouted at Zanis.
"Wait! That wasn't the promise!"
"They're the ones who attacked first, so there's no problem."
"Then Lilly won't cooperate with you!"
Ssh—!
"Then I'll just have to make you drink the 'Divine Wine'."
"!?"
Lilliluka staggered back. The moment the words 'Divine Wine' hit her ears, she nearly lost her reason.
The Divine Wine was Soma's masterpiece, something that could intoxicate and satisfy even the Gods. For mortals, it was a dangerous substance so ecstatic it caused instant addiction.
"Your craving for the wine will make you an obedient servant. Remember that pleasure."
Thump—!
".....!!"
'Lilly is...'
Lilliluka resisted, even slamming her head against the bars to maintain her sanity.
Ignoring her struggle, Zanis ordered Chandra to watch over her before heading straight to the front gate where the attack was happening.
'I have to get out of here somehow and make Lady Hestia and the others go back...'
But there was no way for her to escape the cell under Chandra's watch. Just as she bit her lip, desperately racking her brain—
Clatter—!
"If you're so curious, go check for yourself."
"The key..."
"I don't like that guy. Do as you please."
Chandra threw the key into the cell, then sat in a chair with resigned eyes and started drinking.
Lilliluka grabbed the key before she could even question him.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!
"Block them!! Everyone, hold the line!!"
CRACK—!!!!!!!!
"Gah!?"
SLICE—!!!!!!!!
The Soma Familia looked as if a disaster had descended upon them, their eyes filled with terror. Everything in their path was being swept away by a single presence.
BOOM—!!!!!!
"A Familia Home that's nothing more than a brewery. Pathetic."
Akumo moved through the Soma Familia's home, searching for Lilliluka.
"Master Akumo...?"
"Oh! Lilly. Here you are."
"Why would everyone... for someone like me..."
He found her soon enough.
The girl who, despite being in a situation where she could fall back into despair, wept because she wanted to save everyone who came to save her.
Drip— Drip—
"I-I...! Lilly...!!"
'Someone as filthy as Lilly... why do you say it has to be me...!'
Pat.
"...!!"
Lilliluka felt Akumo's hand rest on her head. His warmth seemed to wake her spirit.
"You are a necessary existence to Bell, to Lady Hestia, and to everyone."
"....."
"So, do not despise yourself."
—'Don't give up.'
—'Lilly, I've come to save you!'
At Akumo's words, Lilliluka remembered.
The day she had despaired over her life—the day she met the heroes who picked her up when she collapsed inside the Dungeon.
".....Master Akumo."
"Yes, let's go together."
Having made up her mind, Lilliluka headed to the upper floors of the Familia Home with Akumo.
And finally, she met her Patron Deity, the God she had to confront to leave the Soma Familia.
Bang—!
"Lord Soma!"
"....."
"Please stop the fighting happening in the courtyard!"
"....."
"I beg you, Lord Soma!"
Despite her cry, Soma silently continued to stir the vat containing his liquor. It was as if he had no interest in her words.
"What meaning is there in the words of a shallow child who succumbs so easily to wine?"
Step— Step—
"Lord Soma."
"....And you are?"
"Yes, my name is Akumo. I am known by the epithet [Pioneer]."
"..."
Even with Akumo standing before him, Soma maintained his emotionless gaze. It was as if he believed this one would be no different.
Reach.
"Drink."
"But Lord Soma... Master Akumo is...!"
Looking at the two cups of Divine Wine Soma had poured, Lilliluka tried to refuse, not wanting Akumo to be subjected to it.
"Lilly."
"Master Akumo....."
"I believe in you."
".....But that is Divine Wine...."
'This is exactly like what Tione and Tiona did back in Melen...'
Recalling the incident in Melen from Lilliluka's behavior, Akumo met her eyes. Looking into them, he spoke gently.
"Lilly, I know well your desire to protect us."
"But, will you trust me?"
"Trust me, trust Bell, trust Lady Hestia, trust Welf—trust all of us."
Akumo's unwavering eyes conveyed a certain conviction to Lilliluka.
".....Yes!"
Grip—!
Seeing that look, Lilliluka took the cup Soma was holding.
Akumo followed suit, raising his glass and draining it in a single gulp.
Gulp, gulp—!
"Whew....."
'It's certainly impressive liquor. My head is spinning quite a bit...'
Akumo felt a daze washing over him as his vision blurred.
The taste of the Divine Wine was indeed that good—it was a magnificent creation by a God, enough to spark a personal desire for more.
Clench—!
"However."
Clatter—!
"It isn't enough to tempt me."
"!?"
"It's a delicious wine, but it is not a perfect one, Lord Soma."
'Especially considering what has happened because of this...'
Seeing Akumo effortlessly empty and discard the cup without a tremor, Soma's eyes widened in shock. When he turned to look at Lilliluka, his pupils shook.
Clatter—!
"Please let..."
".....!"
"Please let Lilly go! Lord Soma!"
'Lilly can no longer be lost in the Divine Wine...!!'
"This time, I will! I will save myself!!"
Soma froze at Lilliluka's declaration, staring at her and Akumo. Behind them, Zanis entered and witnessed the scene.
"Ade! What on earth are you—"
Swoosh—!
"Y-You!?"
CRUNCH—!!!!!
"Shut your mouth. You have no right to speak here."
'Your name was Zanis, right? The one who turned the Soma Familia into this mess.'
Akumo grabbed Zanis by the throat and slammed him against the wall to keep him from interfering with Lilliluka. Despite this, Soma spoke, directing his confusion toward the two children.
"Just how.... even after drinking the Divine Wine..."
The children Soma had seen until now were all pathetic wretches who, intoxicated by the wine, would offer up their money, their labor, everything they had.
Yet, the two children before him had definitely tasted the full essence of his wine, yet they had not lost themselves.
"Why?"
"Lord Soma."
"In this world, there are things far more thrilling than delicious liquor—things one can never let go of, even when drunk on Divine Wine."
'No matter how enchanted I am, no matter how drunk I get on your wine, I will walk my own path.'
"I don't care what kind of wine you brew, but understand this."
"Even if it is Divine Wine, in the end, it is merely alcohol, Lord Soma!"
Lilliluka and Akumo spoke calmly to Soma before looking out at the chaos, their eyes demanding he do what needed to be done.
========================
The website for reading paid chapters is available on my Patreon. The number of chapters on Patreon: 90
Link: patreon.com/UltraMagnus_T