Danmachi: Strongest Familia

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Bell himself had no idea he'd just quietly achieved something remarkable.

As he defeated the latest wave of monsters, his movements grew slower. His eyes were dull, and his arms hung limply at his sides.

After a brief pause, Bell turned instinctively, drawn by the distant growls of approaching monsters. Watching him struggle, Alfia finally stepped in. She moved swiftly behind him and gently tapped his neck, knocking him out before he could respond.

In the distance, the monsters continued to charge, oblivious to the danger now surrounding them.

"Gospel—" Alfia chanted under her breath, her voice laced with impatience.

Seeing no other adventurers nearby, she no longer bothered to conceal her magic.

With a brief incantation, an invisible wave swept over the monsters, and in an instant, dozens of them halted before bursting like overfilled balloons. The small magic stones they carried shattered and scattered across the dungeon floor.

"Finally... it's over." Alfia sighed, realizing she would need to carry Bell back by force.

It was almost dawn, and once other adventurers began entering the dungeon, it would be difficult to move unseen around Bell. With her tired nephew slung over her shoulder, she headed back to Orario, soon arriving at the church.

There, Hestia waited by the worn door, her face lined with exhaustion.

'This goddess seems quite responsible,' Alfia mused.

Having learned that Bell had joined Hestia's Familia, Alfia had initially harbored doubts about the goddess she'd never met. She worried Bell might be led into an unsavory situation; her sister was gone, and Bell himself had a naivety that made him vulnerable to deceit.

She felt it was her duty to care for Bell, to protect him. Even among goddesses, she knew there were those with less-than-noble intentions. Bell deserved someone who would guard him, not exploit him.

From what she could tell, Hestia was indeed reliable. Although her Familia was small and lacking in strength, her intentions seemed pure. 

Initially, this had brought some comfort. Yet, after witnessing Bell's reckless behavior last night, Alfia couldn't help but feel uneasy. If he acted this recklessly so early on, his future as an adventurer would surely be filled with trouble.

He had no experienced mentor or even a fellow companion to rely on, and Alfia feared it was only a matter of time before he found himself in mortal danger.

Finding him trustworthy allies had become an urgent priority.

"Hestia-sama," Alfia greeted.

"Bell-kun…" Hestia's eyes immediately darted to Bell, held in Alfia's arms.

Bell was sound asleep, his body marked with dried bloodstains, his clothes torn in places. Though his wounds were no longer visible, they had been swiftly healed by the rune Alfia had cast back in the dungeon.

'This rune is truly invaluable,' she thought.

"The boy was exhausted in the dungeon, so I brought him back," Alfia said as Hestia led her inside. She laid Bell carefully on the bed, her voice casual yet careful.

Though Alfia's tone was measured, Hestia's divine perception allowed her to sense the absence of malice. She knew the woman before her meant no harm and had, in fact, brought Bell back safely from the dungeon.

Hestia decided not to pry into the reason behind Alfia's minor deception.

"Which Familia do you belong to?" she asked finally, her eyes settling on Alfia as she turned to leave.

Alfia paused in the doorway, weighing the question before answering.

"I'm part of Sol-sama's Familia. He and I met this boy in the tavern earlier today, and he asked me to look after him in the dungeon."

Her nephew was bound to cross paths with Sol's Familia in the future, and her identity would eventually come to light. Moreover, there was nothing shameful in what she'd done, and her words, though carefully crafted, were entirely truthful.

"Sol…" Hestia echoed. She was sure that Alfia was telling the truth, but this result was completely beyond her expectations.

Only hours before, she had bought fried potato balls at Sol's suggestion, a purchase she'd half-heartedly grumbled about. She hadn't expected him to be such a nice guy!

It seemed he had gone out of his way to look out for her Familia, and Bell's safety had come as a result of his intervention. Even those potato balls now seemed more than worth it.

'Perhaps she should visit Sol more often,' she thought. After all, Sol's Familia was one of Orario's top three'. 

Might as well hug your thighs!

Miles away, as if in response to Hestia's thoughts, Sol stirred in his sleep, pulling his quilt tighter around him.

——

'I wonder how the arrangements Sol-sama mentioned are progressing,' Alfia thought, returning to her Familia's residence, deep in thought.

The sun had yet to rise, and the residence was quiet, still deserted at this early hour. Not even the gatekeeper, Quinn, was present—only Quinn's giant eagle perched atop the gate, its piercing gaze following Alfia's return.

The eagle acknowledged her briefly before resuming its vigilant rest.

'Sol-sama's probably asleep at this hour—best to speak with him later,' she decided.

Alfia turned from Sol's door, making a mental note to discuss Bell's future with him at a more appropriate time.

For now, after his night of relentless fighting, Bell needed a well-deserved rest.

At least until noon…