Please have a look.

All right.

An amulet was placed on the counter. The owner of the store, an old male gnome with a long white beard and a red hat, picked up the green jewel-encrusted necklace and made his way to the back room.

At the Gnome Trader, a very simply named antique shop, a small transaction was again taking place. A prum stood at the counter waiting for the owner to return, surrounded by a random assortment of odds and ends decorating the shop.

All finished. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Whats the result?

Looks like its got a full status boostand resistance to poison attached to it. Very good, very good. Sohow does forty-six thousand vals sound to you?

The prum nodded with a very satisfied look. A deal had been struck.

Is todays payment in cash?

No, the usual.

The two finished the transaction at a brisk pace.

A grandfather clock in the corner of the store ticked off the seconds.

The gnome slowly opened his mouth to speak. It might not be this geezers place to say this, but

Fiddling with the talisman in his hands, the owner gazed at his customer with a bit of concern in his eyes. The prum tilted his head.

Wouldnt be a good idea to stick your neck into dangerous situations. Might already be too late, I know

Theres a rumor goin round in some adventurer circles. Not too well known yet, but out there just the same. Talkin bout a prum with sticky fingers pilfering their valuables. Sometimes even a whole party at once.

What are you trying to say?

No, no, my friend. Im not suspecting you. The prum in question is a lady, and been stealing for a while by the sound of it. Suspecting a man like yourself would be barkin up the wrong tree, I know. Its just said the gnome under his breath, his white beard twitching. Ive seen most of the valuables reported stolen with my own two eyesyes? This geezer thinks you should keep an eye on your company and keep your nose down.

The owners mood suddenly turned sour. The prum could see it in his eyes. In response, however, the male prum flashed an arrogant smile.

Sounds like theres a bad prum out there. But then again, are the words of adventurers all that reliable? I mean, many of them do exactly the same kind of stealing and blackmail.

That istrue

If you ask me, they should all get off their high horses.

The prum continued with a nasty grin on his lips.

Its harsh, but the fact is that its their fault for being tricked.

Hmm? the owner replied angrily, but his voice was drowned out by the ticking wall clock.

Hnnghguhhh?!

Bell, what are you doing?

Im lying facedown on the sofa, holding a cushion against the back of my head with both hands. The goddess seems to think that me hiding my face with my butt in the air is funny, but I dont have any snappy comebacks in me at the moment.

I ran away from Miss Wallenstein.

I have absolutely no clue what chain of events led to it, but I know that all of it was real. I know that my head was in the lap of the girl of my dreams, and I know that I ran away from her at full speed like some crazy idiot.

GaahSomeone, please kill me

Dont tell me, you wet the sofa?

No, Goddess, no

Normally Id be all about getting back at her for saying that, but all that comes out is a pitiful voice.

After I ran away from Miss Wallenstein in an explosion of shame and confusion, I think I wandered around for a while, but I have no idea where I went. By the time I realized where I was, it was almost morning and I was staggering up to the front door at home and falling to my knees.

I dont know the details, but youre a really sensitive boy

No, Goddess, not sensitive. Im heartbroken

I manage to peel my shaky body from the sofa, my ears still bright red. I even make it to the table for breakfast with the goddess.

I just want to stay in the room and wallow all day, but I know I cant. Just for today, I need to forget about Miss WallensteinYeah, like hell I can do that.

Will the day come when I can thank her properly and express my gratitude?

Oh, yes. Bell, show me the book you were reading yesterday. Ive got nothing to do this morning.

Ah, sure. Go ahead.

Her shift must start in the afternoon today. Shes still working at the street stand in addition to her part-time job at Hephaistos Familias Babel Tower Branch StoreI wonder if she can physically keep this up.

I hold out the book, thick as an encyclopedia, that I borrowed from Syr, to the goddess.

Hmmthe more I look at it, the book seems stranger and strangeryes?

She opens the cover and glances through the first few pages. Strangely, she stops moving.

But not completely. Her eyes start spinning. Its almost like someone had come to collect a debt she didnt know about and was looking at the paperwork.

Huh? Whats going on?

Isnt this a grimoire?

G-grimoire?

I repeat the word. Ive never heard it before.

I dont have a good feeling about it, though. I break out in a cold sweat.

So, um, whats that?

To put it simply, its a book that forces the reader to learn magic.

It feels like all the sweat glands in my body have opened at the same time.

I dont think you know about Advanced Abilities, but theyre special skills like Magic Control or Enigma. This book could only be made by someone who has mastered both.

I know what youre talking about, Goddess.

Someone with two Advanced AbilitiesIn other words, a member of a Familia who has reached at least level three. An average smith could never make something like this. It would have to be someone much, much stronger.

It has to be the masterwork of someone on the level of a legendary individual known as the Philosopher.

My body turns to stone, a broken smile on my lips.

So this is how you learned magicSo Bell, just how exactly did this grimoire end up here in the first place?

I borrowed it from a friendShe said it was left behind by someone else

Whats it worth?

At least as much as Hephaistos Familias highest-quality weapons, or possibly even more

Crack! My stone body breaks, right down the middle.

By the way, it can only be used once. Once someone acquires magic from it, a grimoire becomes nothing more than trash. A big paperweight.

Im dead.

Acquiring magic through external intervention was said to be miraculous, and I used a book containing precisely such a miracle. Not only that, I basically stole it, and now its worthless. Millions of vals down the drain, and all because of me

A heavy silence falls over our home.

Im in despair. There is no way to undo what Ive done.

The goddess stares at the floor, her face as emotionless as a mask. She suddenly turns to the table, grabs a chair, and walks over to me, her feet tapping lightly on the floor. She climbs up onto the seat, thumps both hands down onto my shoulders, and starts talking down to me from her high vantage point.

Listen to me, Bell. You met the books owner by accident. And you returned the book to him before reading it. So the book was never here. Even if there was a mistake, the grimoire had been used before you had itThats how this happened.

Goddess, thats wrong!

Why is she trying to pull a fast one?!

Bell, Gekai is not all sunshine and flowers; there are many dark, dark things. Ive seen them with my own eyes. Being thrown out of home, being so poor that even buying potato puffs was impossible and starving, being forced to live under ruinscarrying an enormous debt. The world is full of injustices.

Wasnt all of that your fault?!

And what was that last thing you said there?!

What are you hiding, Goddess?!

A-anyway, Im going to go and explain everything to the person who lent me this book!

Bell, dont! You dont have to be that upstanding! This world is even more unpredictable than the gods themselves!

Please dont try to sound wise at a time like this! Even if we tried to hide it, the truth will come out! Its just a matter of time!

The die has already been cast! Syr will ask me if I read the book, for sure. Even if I lied to her, everything would come out when the real owner came back for it! Done! Over! Out!

At this point, the only option is to explain everything and assume the dogeza position.

Grabbing the book and blowing past the goddesss attempts to stop me, I hold the book under my arm and kick the door open.

Is Syr here?

Ohh, look whos here! Morning to ya, meow!

One of the catgirl waitresses at The Benevolent Mistress responds to me while sweeping the street outside the bar.

If I remember right, her name is Chloe. She looks at me with a giddy smile, her tail swishing back and forth behind her.

Whats this, whats this? No morning greeting and calling on Syr at this early hour, meow? What are you planning to

Please call Syr!

Wha?! Okay, okay, meow!

She finally understands my sharp words and jumps in surprise. Maybe she can tell Im not my usual self. She runs into the building so fast she almost slips a few times. The bell on the front door rings as she flies inside.

A few moments later, Chloe sticks her face out from behind the front door and motions for me to come inside.

I step inside the caf and bar; theyre still getting ready for the day.

Good morning, Bell. Is something the matter?

Syr!!

Tap tap tap tap. I can hear her shoes on the floor as she comes running from the kitchen. She must have come in a hurry. Shes still carrying a wooden tray in her arms.

Her blue-gray hair is tied back with a triangular bandanna. I start to tell her the gist of everything that had happened.

At first she wears a polite but confused smile, but her eyes grow larger and larger as I talk. The color of her face changes at some pointWhen I finish speaking, just like she had done at some point before, she breaks off eye contact.

Well, thats a very sticky situation youre in, Bell.

Hold on there, Syr! How come youre acting like youre not involved?!

I had to say something about her strange tone. What is she planning to use me as, some kind of sacrificial lamb?

She lifts the tray up to her mouth, hiding the lower half of her face. She looks at me with upturned eyes.

SoI cant?

As cute as you look right now, no! Absolutely not!

I strike down her request despite those imploring eyes, my own face a flaming cherry on my shoulders.

This woman really does seem like a witch!

Youre hittin a nerve, boy! Burstin into other peoples shops this early in the mornin.

The bars owner, Mama Mia, must have heard our squabble and followed the noise all the way here. Despite being a dwarf, her frame is absolutely imposing. My body freezes as she walks up to me and plucks the book out of my unusually stiff hands, before glancing over the book herself.

Thats a grimoire, all rightBut whats done is done. Boy, pay it no mind, ya hear?

Huh?? B-b-but

The dimwit who left it here is at fault. Like saying, Here, please read this. Boy, if ya hadnt read it, some other adventurer woulda said the grimoire was his and taken it anyway. Thats just how it is.

Shes rather persuasive. I close my still-open mouth as she lets out a long breath through her nose.

He was prepared to lose it the moment he let it outta his sight. Think about it, boy: if ya lost a wallet full of cash, youd come back to get it, wouldnt ya?

Well

Its the same thing. Useless to worry about it, boy. Be happy ya got somethin outta it and let it go.

Mia said her piece and leaves it at that.

I look back over to Syr. She has a small grimace on her face, tilting her head to the side.

This still leaves something to be desired, and I get a bad aftertaste from it. My face puckers up like Ive drunk bitter medicine

Mia glances at me through the side of one of her big eyes. Real men dont brood over nothin! she says.

Yes, maam! Her voice is like a slap on the wrist. My whole body shoots to attention in response.

As I watch the dwarfess make heavy strides toward the back of the bar, I still cant help but wonder if its really okay to just ignore what happened.

I rub the sides of my head, trying to untangle my thoughts.

Well, sorry to disturb you. Ill be going now.

I stand there in silence for a moment before turning on my heel. At the same time, a very sneaky Chloe brings a basket to Syr. She takes the basket andnervously sticks it out in front of me.

Would you be willing to take this again today?

T-thanks.

I stutter as I take the basket from the outstretched hands of the shyly smiling Syr.

I always feel a little embarrassed when she gives me lunch, but Syr always looks very happy when I take it. Honestly, her smile looks more cheerful than usualNot that it isnt always cheerfulI just cant put it into words.

My skin gets even redder as I express my gratitude one more time before finally making my exit from The Benevolent Mistress.

I set down the ex-grimoire when I get home and equip my armor to get ready for a day in the Dungeon.

I give the goddess a basic explanation of what happened at the bar before heading out. A very calm voice says, Have a nice day as I open the door to go outside.

Now that I think about it, didnt I use my last potion?

Im jogging down West Main when I suddenly remember my item situation. I used my last potion three days ago. The item holster on my left leg is completely empty.

Theyve helped me out beforeMaybe I should swing by their shop first?

I decide to stop by a store I havent been to in a while on my way to the Dungeon.

The shop is located off of West Main, but I have to go through a few backstreets to get there.

Basically, its a house that was built in a dark, damp place. But theres a sign with the Miach Familias emblem, a completely healthy human body, above the front door.

Ex-cuse me, good morn-ing

I open the wooden double doors a crack and peek inside. My eyes look up and down the rows of shelves, trying to find an animal-person girl in the dim shop. She hears my voice and turns her half-closed eyes my way.

Morning, Bell. Long time, no see

With her slow voice and drowsy-looking eyes, youd think shed just woken up, but thats just how she is. The girls taste in clothing is also a little strange. Her tail is sticking through her skirt, and her left sleeve comes down to her elbow, but her right sleeve goes to her wrist. She has a glove on her right hand only. She looks to be about the same age as Eina, maybe a little younger. She stops what shes doing and walks to the back of the shop and behind a counter.

Sorry to come in this early. Are you busy?

No worries. No one will come in after you leave anyway, BellSo, whatre you going to buy today?

She reaches under the counter and pulls up a closed case before setting it on the counter between us.

The wide case holds many tubes filled with various colorful liquids lined up in a row.

By the way, is Lord Miach around? I would like to speak with him if its all right.

Lord Miach is on a personal errand and wont be back until tonight. Im alone today

My eyes were scanning the tubes when I asked her, and that was her answer.

The shop is run by Miach and belongs to Miach Familia; it also doubles as the Familias home. The girl Im talking to is Nahza, Miach Familias only member.

She pulls out a very expensive-looking potion from the case and holds it out to me.

Say, Bell, what do you think? Isnt it about time to try a high potion?

Uh, n-no, its still too soon for me.

I dodge her proposal with a nervous smile. The high potion shes holding is worth tens of thousands of vals. This kind of conversation is almost a daily thing for us because we both belong to dirt-poor Familias. If there is a way to make or save a few vals, well find it.

That being said, Im usually on the losing side when trying to barter with Nahza

Bell, you havent paid us a visit in a long time

?!

Lord Miach was very lonely. His stomach was growlingcause he was starving.

Ever since I hired Lilly, I havent been to this shop. Shell prepare any item I ask for, so I havent needed to go anywhere else to buy potions. Nahzas words stab at my conscience; Im breaking out in a cold sweat.

This is bad! At this rate Ill end up buying something I dont need

Ah! I just remembered! Something strange happened to me in the Dungeon yesterday.

Desperate to change the topic, I bring up how I passed out in the Dungeon after using magic. Nahza listens to my story before letting out an affirmative Ah!

Thats Mind Down. It happens all the time to adventurers whove just learned magic but get carried away

Mind Down?

Magic requires mental energy to work. If you use too much, you go out like a light.

So thats why Nahza continues as she rustles through a box under the counter, you need a mind-restoring potion to avoid that. This one was just brewed the other day

Uh, butthat potion is really expensive

No worries. Ill give you a discount, being a regular and allEight thousand and seven hundred vals.

I step back for a moment to think it over.

All right

The dog ears on top of Nahzas head twitch happily when she hears my response, and she quickly bends over to pick up two more tubes.

If youre willing to buy this for eighty-seven-hundred vals, Ill throw in these two potions for an even nine thousandSound good?

Her suggestion makes my eyes go wide and my head spin. Is that really a good deal?

Miach Familias cheapest potions are 500 vals apiece. Considering that, Nahzas offer is really good. But spending 9,000 vals in one gothats almost painful. Then again, this item will let me use more magic, so its very tempting.

The first rule of going on adventures is to prepare for anything and everything.

No one knows what will happen in the Dungeon. Itd be a good idea to be thorough

With those words shes just sealed the deal.

I may be a bit of a coward, but if I have to choose between money and the safety of my party, Ill choose the latter.

Okay. Ill accept your offer.

Thanks, Bell. I love you

I feel a fire burning in my cheeks at her sudden words. Finishing the transaction, I take the items from the lazily smiling Nahza with her half-lidded eyes, and immediately feel the need to get the heck out of here.

Nahza waves good-bye as I make a break for the wooden doors and leave the shop.

Youre too easy, Bell

I thought I heard something before the doors closed behind me, but noits just my imagination. My imagination, I tell you!

I leave the item shop and go down West Maina street that Ive traveled many times in the past few hourstoward the Dungeon.

A ton of fully equipped adventurers have already gathered in large, circular Central Park under a bright and clear blue sky.

Wonder if shes here yet

I look around, hoping to find Lilly in the park. Its our meeting point, but I cant find a dog girl that looks like her.

Just as I was thinking this isnt like her, I happen to catch a glimpse of something strange on my way toward Babel Tower.

Its in a part of Central Park, under the shade of a tree with large leaves. Lilly is standing with three adventurers, sunlight dancing on their faces as the leaves sway in a soft breeze. It looks very comfortable.

However, the three large men are surrounding Lilly. They have their chests puffed out, looking down on her and saying something while Lilly frantically shakes her head from side to side. No one looks all that happy.

Could they be members of Soma Familia?

As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I immediately go in their direction.

enoughhandover!

AlreadygoneReally!!

It sounds like theyre having a heated argument.

I hide behind a tree in their blind spot and prepare to jump in at a moments notice.

Hey!

!

But then, out of the blue

Someone grabs my shoulder as if theyre trying to get in my way. I spin out of it in a surprised reflex and turn to face the grabber.

Its a male adventurer. A human with black hair, excellent physique, and a longsword strapped to his back.

Wait a second, isnt he?

Heh, yer that kid from beforeDont matter, got a question for ya: Ya working with that runt over there?

That voice, that toneNo doubt about it. Hes the man I met in the alleyway a while ago.

Oi! Havent got all day! Did ya hire that supporter or not?

That girl is not the prum you were chasing in the alley that day.

I can tell hes pissed off just by looking at his eyes, but I still give him that answer. Part of it might just have been a reflex.

Its hard to tell because shes wearing an oversized robe and has a deep hood over her face, but Lilly isnt a prum. Shes a Chienthrope, a dog person.

I just want to say, Dont get the wrong idea The man curves his lips into a sneer.

Moronis what I wanna call ya, but what ya think is yer own business. Ya wanna play the fool, be my guest.

Sounds like hes giving me an angry lecture, but theres something in the tone of his voice that bothers me.

Its like hes saying Im being tricked.

But Im not just going to take him at his word

I squint my eyes in suspicion, and the man makes a jeering smile back at me.

But that dont matter; yer gonna help meWere gonna snatch her.

Wha

Not askin ya to do it for free. Ill pay ya a bit up front and a share of what we get out of the runt.

This guy sounds serious. Im so shocked by his sudden proposal that words leave me.

All ya have to do is go into the Dungeon like usual. After that, find an excuse to leave her alone and Ill do the rest. Piece of cake, aint it?

The mans mouth opens wide as he laughs with all his might.

I dont like that laugh at all. It reeks of a malice Ive never heard before.

Even as a chill of nervousness sweeps through my body, I clench my fist.

Why are you saying things like that?

Huh? Whats with the backtalk, kid? This is where ya nod yes like a good boy. Think of all the money yer gonna get from this. Hell of a sweet deal.

Ha-ha! The man lets out another round of ridiculing laughter. Use yer brain, boy! Thats just a supporterthe runt carries the bags! Yer no worse off if that useless piece of trash were gone, now are ya? Wring her dry while ya can and ditch the rest.

Im way past my boiling point.

This is different from the back alley. I dont have room to be scareda fierce rage is taking control of my body.

Not a chance in hell!

Friggin brat!

The mans face contorts into a gruesome visage. My forehead tightens as power flows into all of my muscles.

A fierce energy surrounds us. The leaves on the branch above us shake, almost as if in fear of whats going on below.

We stare each other down for a minute or two until he turns on his heal with a loud Tsk and walks away.

I watch him go, the mask of fury still on my face.

Mr. Bell?

!

A voice from behind me.

I turn around, almost as if drawn in by it, to find a dumbfounded Lilly standing there, looking up at me.

The flames of rage that had been burning inside me cool. I return to my normal self.

L-Lilly? How long have you been there?

Lilly just got hereWhat were you talking about with that honorable adventurer?

AhemNothing much, he was just trying to pick a fight

I manage to come up with something. I cant exactly tell the person in front of me that he was trying to set up a trap for her.

Lilly can tell Im not calm. She stares at me with her mouth closed. Her expression seems a little dark.

Oh! You seemed to be tangled up in something a minute ago. Is everything okay, Lilly?

So you saw thatPlease dont worry. As you can see, Lilly is fine.

She holds out her arms and does a small twirl before looking up at me with a big smile.

No bruises or tears on her robe. It looks like nothing happened. Thats a relief.

Lilly, who were those

Just like what happened to Mr. Bell, they were picking a fight with Lilly. Maybe Mr. Bell and Lilly look weak?

She jumped in before I could finish.

Smiling her usual bright smile and telling more jokes, she didnt let me get another word in. I dont think she wants to talk about what really happened.

All right, lets go, Mr. Bell! Since Lilly hasnt worked in two days, Lillys counting on your efforts today, Mr. Bell!

She passes right by my side, heading toward Babel Tower. Her bangs sticking out of her hood shake as she turns back around for a second. I catch a glimpse of her chestnut-colored eyestheyre perfectly normal. Its like nothing happened at all.

I decide to let it go and not say anything else. I close my mouth and follow her.

I cant tell what her face looks like now because shes in front of me. But I think about it as we weave through the crowded and noisy street on our way to the Dungeon.

Looks like the time is right.

Whats this? Youre already finishing up, Eina?

Yes. About to.

Eina nodded at her coworker.

They were in the lobby of Guild Headquarters. The floors and walls of the first floor were constructed from white marble, giving the space a somber feel. Evening sunlight shining in through the windows lit up the lobby like the neighboring houses.

Eina looked around the Guild lobby as she cleaned off her desk and stood up.

Wow! Right at closing time?! The Eina I know never leaves right awayCould it besurely nota date?!

Why is that the only

Eina waved off the idea, politely refuting the idea, and forced a smile before taking her leave.

Saying a quick good-bye to her other coworkers, she left the building through the employee exit.

Well, then

Tat, tat, tat. The funny excuse for shoes the Guild provided her echoed off the stone street as Eina set off in the opposite direction from her home.

This area of West Main was completely devoid of street vendors and stalls. The evening sun bathed long rows of large stores on both sides of the street in red light. Being very close to the Guild, almost all of the stores targeted adventurers as their main customers.

People who lived and worked in this neighborhood referred to this Main Street as Adventurers Way for that reason.

The street was wide enough that adventurers wearing heavy armor could easily pass by one another without incident.

After all that searching through the Guilds resources, I couldnt find anything other than the usual information on Soma Familia

Eina had been trying to find information about the inner workings of Soma Familia for the past few days.

If she was asked why, she simply answered, Theres something I need to know. If said person asked for more details, Eina would add that she was concerned about the possibility of Bell being caught up in a difficult situation.

Even talking to people in charge of Soma Familias adventurers, they all say the same thingsLets see what I can find out myself.

Despite going through all of the Guilds records and talking to as many people as she could, the results were less than promising.

Shed gotten as far as understanding, superficially, that all of the members of that Familia were obsessed with money, and it seemed as though there was something forcing them into a frenzy. Eina did her best to focus on the important points as she organized her thoughts.

A god uses their Familia to further their own endsNo, nothing makes sense.

Where there was smoke, there was fire. The smoke seemed to be coming from two places: the members unending desire for money and the sheer number of members in that group.

Soma didnt have the type of reputation that could bring in the large numbers of members and followers that belonged to Soma Familia.

What if the god Soma isnt the cause? What if there is something elsesomething making the members of Soma Familia act like that?

Eina stopped walking for a moment as she reached that point in her train of thought.

A large bar was in front on her.

HmmmIt might be useful to go in here, but

It had always been true that a bar was the best place to gather information.

However, it was the one place that Eina preferred to avoid.

For herno, for all elvesbars where large numbers of adventurers gathered were usually unlucky places.

Basically, men of all races swarmed to her like bees to a flower.

Ah-ha-haNo, dont think so.

Thinking about what might be waiting for her beyond those doors, Eina laughed quietly to herself before walking past the bar entirely. Her pace quickened when the wild voices of the adventurers inside echoed through the entrance.

Not trying to flatter myself

Eina was always very conscious of her appearance.

Despite being half human, the blood of elvesconsidered to have the most beautiful men and women among all the racesalso ran through her veins. She had to accept the fact that, to a degree, men of other races would be attracted to her.

Its not that Im not open to the idea of dating

The surprised look on her coworkers face after she asked about a man or a date just before leaving work jumped into Einas mind.

Eina wasnt trying to come across as some innocent virgin. She was already nineteen; it was perfectly acceptable for someone that age to have a partner. She did feel a bit empty from time to time.

That void was normally filled by work, however.

But then again, Ive never really felt like That one! about anybody

Most of the men who had approached Eina in the past were robust, capable adventurer types.

All of them were dependable men who could sweep her off her feet as well as protect and support her.

But because they were like that, there was one thing about them that made her a little nervous:

Maybe it would be better if they werent so reliable

She was a workaholic, so perhaps someone who was a little more unpredictable would be a better fitNever before had she been so honest with herself.

Shed be struggling with problems alone, trying to overcome them by herself, but then in the end someone would just come into her life. She wanted that kind of person. She laughed to herself as she envisioned getting a little too involved with him, working together to make something great, a hold-and-be-held relationship. Someone who would depend on her and let her feel like a protector would be just right for Eina.

Ahhh, I wonder if theres a man like Bell anywhere

Yes, that was it.

The answer was clear. It was hard to miss, putting it into words.

So a man like Bell would be perfectahhhEina had found the most satisfying answer.

Wait.

Hey, hey! Her hand flew into the open air beside her.

A man like BellWell, thenthat was it, wasnt it?

Hee-hee-hee No one was there to see Einas ears turn pink or to hear her giggling.

Ah! There it is, there it is!

She was alone but still said her thoughts out loud and much louder than necessary.

Her face still flush with heat, she entered a two-story item shop made from stone. The billboard above the entrance to the shop read RETAIL.

The reason she wanted to come here was to investigate Soma Familias wine.

Part of it was that she had exhausted most of her options, but the fact that they sold so little wine didnt seem right to her. While she didnt think shed crack the case with this, Eina thought there was some value in looking into it.

I havent been here in ages. I wonder if they have a larger selection.

Transparent cases that were many times stronger than glass lined the inside of the shop like army camps. Eina craned her neck to look at the highest shelves.

Many products were stored on each shelf. Round-bottomed flasks filled with blue liquid were potions. Green fluids in cylindrical tubes were antidotes, and elixir was sold in fancy bottles with intricate designs. All of them were made by Familias that specialized in sales.

Many item shops sold items produced by only one Familia. This particular shop had secured a spot on Adventurers Way by having a good reputation and carrying many different types of items.

Eina walked right past the adventurer items and over to a corner of the store marked GROCERY.

Yes! Here it is!

Eina happily clapped her hands together when she spotted Soma Familias label on a shelf lined with wine.

The container on the shelf wasnt very appealing, being nothing more than a typical glass bottle. The liquid inside was clear. For something so highly sought after, it didnt look very good at all.

However, out of all the varieties of alcohol on the shelf, there was only one of Soma Familias wines left. Its popularity must be the real deal.

Soma?

Eina blinked her emerald eyes a few times as she looked at the most boring and thoughtless label in the shop.

Same name as its creatorHad the god Soma named it after himself?

Eina tilted her neck as she thought about it. She was thinking about calling over a sales clerk to open the closed case for her when her eyes saw the price tag.

Sixty thousand vals.

Thunk! Einas forehead hit the shelf.

Whahuh? This is just wine?!

Unbelievable! It cost more than all of Bells equipment combined!

Eina rubbed the red spot on her head and looked at the bottle one more time.

The price was equal to or above the value of specialized weapons and armor for adventurers. While it wasnt impossible for an average person to purchase a bottle of this wine, at that price it was highly unlikely.

The value of the contents and the shoddiness of the bottle didnt match in the slightest.

How much money do I have on me? No way I brought enough

The average pay of a Guild employee was more than what a run-of-the-mill adventurer made but nowhere near enough to justify walking around with 60,000 vals in their pockets. Buying even one bottle would put immense strain on Einas living expenses. Not to mention the fact that shed bought a piece of armor as a present for Bell just a few days earlier.

Eina stood in front of the wine shelf, a fierce debate raging in her mind.

Arent you Eina Tulle?

Huh?

A clear voice caressed her eardrums. Eina turned around to find the person who said her name.

Behind her stood a stunningly beautiful and surprisingly tall female elf.

Her glimmering jade-colored hair was tied into a single ponytail that hung halfway down her back. Her ears stuck up like leaves on a tree, guiding her gorgeous long hair backward. Even among the beautiful and refined elves, the woman looked on par with royalty. Her looks could even be described as otherworldly.

Fitting right in with her elegance, the womans emerald eyes were the same emerald green color as Einas, if not a little deeper shade.

Einas body snapped to attention.

Lady Reveria?!

So it is youIts been a long time. You have become very beautiful in my absence. I almost didnt recognize you.

While it wasnt quite a smile, the lips of Reveria Riyos Ahrve softened and curved upward. Eina was very quick to show respect.

I am honored, my lady. To receive such high praise, I will hold your words dear

Stop talking like that. This isnt the elven homeland. You were not born in the homeland in the first place. You have no reason to hold me in such high regard.

Even so, I mustnt forget to be humble and show the utmost respect to royalty such as yourself. Mother always told me

So even that Aina would force this upon her daughterIt is regrettable. She escaped the homeland alongside me, to end up like this.

Eina looked on as Reveria let out a wistful sigh before fixing her piercing gaze on her.

It is prudent to carry the smallest amount of respect, but any more than that is needless. I find it tiresome to be placed in that particular cage. If you say that you want to respect and honor me, then you must comprehend what my heart desires.

M-my lady

Reverias overpowering words left Eina speechless.

The fact remained that Eina was born in a free city with its doors wide open to any and all races. Her knowledge of elves in the homeland was very limited butshe knew that the elf in front of her was royalty, a high elf.

The elven half of her blood was forcing her to bow her head.

Im not asking you to break the system. Only dont go overboard.

U-understood.

Good.

Reveria gave a satisfied nod, but Eina wasnt sure how to feel. Even her eyebrows werent on straight.

Eina felt like she had lost an argument and tried her best to keep that feeling hidden. So rather than dwell on it, she decided to be happy about their reunion.

When they were both young, Eina had met Reveria many times at her childhood home. However, they hadnt seen each other even once since then.

Eina knew about Reverias activities as soon as she entered the Guild. Due to their schedules and job responsibilities, there hadnt been a good opportunity to meet again.

Not that there wasnt the possibility, but neither of them had made an effort.

Im glad to see that you are well. To think you would work for the Guild, of all places

Please forgive me, I meant to contact you

Pay it no mind. Ive spent my days in the Dungeon ever since arriving in this city. There has been no time for much else. Our meeting would have been delayed over and over, no doubt.

All of Reverias movements, even her short head bow, were extremely polished and refined. Eina had grown up watching her mother carry herself with dignity and grace, but the high elves were on another level entirely. The two girls came from completely different walks of life.

Why are you here today, Lady Reveria?

What? I used up the last of my items the other day in the Dungeon. Simple as that.

Would it be silly to thinkthat Lady Reveria cant use healing magic?

Why, yes. However, magic is not perfect. If an item is on hand, nothing is better. What about you, Eina?

Oh

Reverias question reminded Eina of her mission. Her knees wobbled for a moment before she decided to answer as best she could without bringing up her investigation of Soma Familia.

This was to avoid the possibility of rumors going around that someone working for the Guild was investigating a specific group.

Ahh, this wine. There are many in my Familia who adore it.

Umcan I ask you a question, Lady Reveria? Do any of them show signs of dependence or act strangely?

Everyone who drinks alcohol looks strange to my eyesbut no one has done anything I would consider out of the ordinary. Why do you ask?

Wella friend of mine recommended it to me. But from the things Ive heard about Soma Familia

There was some truth in Einas words. Even though she didnt feel right, purposely misleading Reveria with her answer, the chance of getting valuable information from her was too good to pass up.

I see. I too have heard a few things about members of that Familia being odd, almost cold.

Lady Reveria, do you know anything about them?

She got her hopes up, and her voice cracked with excitement.

Her cover was blown.

Reveria closed one eye and stared at the excited Eina for a moment.

Oh noEina froze. She realized her mistake a moment too late.

Reveria was very sharp. She could sense the emotions of whomever she was talking with and figure out their true intentions. Reveria was the only person Eina couldnt keep a secret from when they were children.

Reveria had more than likely figured out that Eina was investigating Soma Familia.

A wave of cold sweat passed over her body as Eina waited for the high elfs response.

Whatever. Im sorry to say that I dont have any information concerning that Familia. No more than you know, probably less.

Oh, is that so?

Reveria had seen right through her, but Eina was relieved that the high elf hadnt asked for a reason why.

She gazed at Eina for a few moments before opening her mouth to speak.

While I dont know about themI do know someone who knows something concerning that group.

Yes?

Would you accompany me to my Familias home?

The head residence.

That was this building put into words.

I never heard anything about thembut this is just how the home of a prominent dungeon-prowling Familia should be

The building was located on the northern edge of Orario. It stood on the side of a backstreet, one block away from North Main.

Long and thin, it was as if the builders had to squeeze it onto the spot. Several pointed towers protruded from the roof like a line of spears standing on end, supplementing one another.

Of course these bronze towers were nothing compared to Babel but were still tall enough to make someone crane their neck to look up at them. The very tips of the towers were dyed black by the evening light.

It was a dwelling carved from flames.

Lady Reveria, welcome back.

Excuse me, this person with youis she with the Guild?

She is the daughter of a friend. I request that you overlook her position.

After being questioned by male and female guards at the doorway, Reveria and Eina walked into the building.

The two of them looked as though they could be sisters, walking side by side. In reality, Reveria was many times older than Eina.

Elves live the longest of all the races of demi-humans.

I suppose its a little late for this, butbut are you sure this is all right?

What is?

Inviting me, a member of the Guild, into a home like thisIf private information about Loki Familia became public because of me

Do not speak of impossibilities, Eina. If I felt you had the potential for something like that, I would not have brought you here. Or perhaps you are trying to insult me?

N-no, not at all

More and more childhood memories came flooding back into her head as Eina followed Reveria through the main hall and into a reception room.

The room itself was completely open to the hallway and decorated in a calming, light orange color scheme. There were many expensive-looking sofas and round tables draped in cloth. While every furnishing there was of the highest quality, it seemed less a reception room than a space for repose and conversation.

Eina got a good feel for the overall atmosphere and mood of Loki Familia just by looking around this room.

Hey, not bad. I wouldnt mind living here myselfHmm?

She noticed something as her gaze reached the far corner of the room.

It was in an armchair facing away from her. There seemed to be a big fluff of golden string attached to the side of it.

No, not stringblond hair. It was the back of someones head, their hair flowing down the side of the chair and sticking out.

The person sitting there slowly turned her thin neck to face the elves.

Eina suddenly swallowed a lump of air.

Welcome home, Reveria.

Yes, Aiz. I have returned.

The speaker was a beautiful girl, even younger than Eina.

What stood out more than her soft, delicate features was her refined solemnity. Still, her eyes glimmered like pools of gold on her face. The word innocent seemed to fit her very well.

A noble beauty and a childlike purity seemed to coexist within her.

As Eina had said once before, just seeing the girls beauty made her heart skip a beat.

Aiz Wallenstein.

The blond-haired, golden-eyed adventurer whom Bell couldnt get out of his mind.

Who isthat person? Aiz asked.

Ium, Im Eina stuttered.

She is like a member of my family. You two, introduce yourselves.

They followed suit and exchanged greetings. Aiz didnt break eye contact with Eina as she spoke, her words clear and concise.

Without any armor on, Aiz looked like a very sheltered girl. She was very feminine, with her slender body wrapped in a pure white one-piece dress. It accentuated her generous bosom, as well.

Aizs bare feet were pearl-white, like alabaster, smooth and vibrant.

Breathtaking.

Eina didnt feel right, looking at Aiz this way. Even though he wasnt here, it felt like she was wedging herself between Bell and Aiz.

Moving slowly and carefully, Eina walked around the armchair and took a seat on the sofa facing her. Reveria joined them, with a table situated between the three girls.

Aiz, have you purchased replacements for the items used during the last trip? We set out again in ten days.

YesIll go tomorrow.

Aizs voice was muffled by her knees; she was holding them to her chest while sitting in the chair. Her words sounded dull, like a bell fallen on its side.

Eina could tell something wasnt right. She glanced over at Reveria, only to see a look on her face that the high elf often gave Eina years agoa warm, motherly expression. Eina finally worked up the courage to say what was on her mind.

Um, Lady Reveria?

What is it?

Dont you think that Aiz looksa little upset?

Eina couldnt feel any energy coming from the girl, her face half hidden behind knees covered in white cloth. Even Aizs hair seemed to be missing its usual luster. It hung limp over her shoulders.

Eina hadnt known the girl for long, but she could tell Aiz was very sad.

Reveria laughed quietly at Einas question, letting a rare smile onto her lips.

Oh, a boy shes been interested in for a while now apparently ran away from her.

Reverias shoulders shook as she laughed again, teasing Aiz about the situation. Eina, on the other hand, didnt feel like this was a laughing matter. Thats terrible she said, her hand on her forehead.

It looked as though the chances of her cute little subordinate getting a girlfriend were rather low.

Eina decided to hide this information from Bell and seal it within her memory.

Lady Reveria. About the reason I came here today

Oh yes, my apologies. Lets call her here.

A still-smiling Reveria reached into the bag she had brought back with her.

She pulled the bottle of Soma out of it.

UmLady Reveria? Werent you going to summon someone for me?

It would be a waste to go looking for her. She has always been very elusive; I dont know how much time finding her would require. It would be more effective for her to come to us.

Before Eina could ask another question, Reveria removed the lid of the wine shed purchased herself, though the fact that shed put all of her purchases on Loki Familias tab seemed somehow more striking.

Soon, the surprisingly sweet smell of the wine filled the reception room.

Wowa frosty smell.

I may be quite accustomed to it, but this smell still has that effect.

Eina enjoyed the aroma for a moment before realizing that Reveria was holding out a glass in front of her and took it out of reflex. Before she knew it, a high elf was pouring her a drink. Eina was on the verge of passing out from shame and embarrassment.

Feeling bad that Reveria had gone through the trouble, she cautiously raised the glass to her lips.

Oh my!

Her eyes shot open the moment the glass touched her lips.

It was heavenly. Too heavenly.

It was so sweet that her tongue almost went numb. But somehow it had a smooth, almost melting texture.

Its sweet bouquet instantly filled her nose. The aftertaste was so invigorating that her very consciousness seemed to be tossed around inside her head until the very last drop. That feeling made its way into her body, right down to the tips of her toes.

No wonder so many people like this wineIn just one gulp, Eina learned firsthand where the wines reputation came from.

I know that smell

It was only a heartbeat after Eina put Soma to her lips.

Thump, thump, thump, thump. The sound of excited footsteps drew ever closer, as if being pulled in by the smell of the alcohol.

Hey, youis that Soma?!

With that, the vermillion-haired goddess of this Familia, Loki, appeared from around the corner a second later.

She has arrived.

So thats what you meant by her coming here

I knew it! I knew it! Thats Soma, all right! Did ya get me a present, Reveria? You devoted child, you!

Eina took a look at the glass in her hand, the source of the mellow smell around her. Next she looked at Loki, in awe of how well Reverias plan to summon her had worked.

Even in the dimly lit reception room, Eina could clearly see Lokis vermillion hair and eyes.

While it was I who purchased the wine, the idea was not mine.

Well then, musta been Aiz! And here ya were actin all sad since you came back from the Dungeon! It was ta keep this a surprise! Geee! Aizuuu, yer soo cute!

Not me.

Loki was ready to jump onto Aiz and give her a big hug, but an intimidating glare from the depressed girl stopped her in her tracks. Aizs eyes were saying Touch me and Ill slice you.

Huh? Loki was confused as she took a few steps backward, sweating.

A-AizuuIsnt that a little too prickly, even fer you? What ya think?

If you want my permission, use words I can understand. More importantly, the person who brought the wine is standing right there.

Ah, so thats how this is going to work.

Eina realized this was part of Reverias plan as well.

The person who had information about the inner workings of Soma Familia was in fact the goddess of her own Familia, Loki. By appeasing her with a gift, Loki might be willing to answer a few questions.

Directly asking a god for their opinion made Eina rather uncomfortable, but she forced herself to relax.

Huh? Whos this girl here?

This is our first meeting, Lady Loki. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Eina Tulle. I know that my being here is very unexpected

No need ta be so formal. Yer makin my neck itchy. Talk normal, got it?

Loki waved off Einas formality like it was too much trouble to bother with as she turned to face her. Loki stiffened when she noticed Einas uniform and planted her gaze firmly on the half-elf.

Her thread of a right eye opened; a catlike smile popped up on her lips.

Whats this here, a Guild member payin my Familia a house call?Old man Uranus, claimin neutrality and all that, yet havin a dagger armed and ready. That how this is?

N-no, its not! II

This girl is my guest. I wont allow such slander.

Ah, ehh. So yer Reverias guest, my mistake, then. Sorry bout that, Einy. Beg yer pardon?

I-Im fine. Please pay it no mind

Feeling Reverias quiet gaze, Loki tried to pass the moment by shrugging and laughing it off.

She then plunked herself down on the sofa.

Thats enough with keepin up appearances, lets get ta it. Ya brought me one of my all-time faves, which means ya wanna ask me somethin. Am I right?

Well then, Ill get right to the point. If you know any details about what goes on behind the scenes at Soma Familia, would you be willing to tell me?

Bringin Soma fer that? Ha-ha. I see how it is.

Holding the bottle in one hand, Loki rudely grabbed a glass from the table and poured her own drink. One big gulp and a long, satisfied sigh later, Loki turned her reddening face in Einas direction.

Its not like I got a good connection with that idiot Soma. Dont know if I have the info ya want, EinaBut what the heck, Ill spill the beans on anythin ya want. So, whatll it be?

Do you know the reason behind the strange tendencies of the members of Soma Familia?

Hmm, right ta the good stuff, eh?But how to explain it.

Loki swirled the wine around in her hand a few times, watching the waves wrap around the inside of the glass.

After a few moments, Loki downed the remainder of the wine in one loud swig.

Got it! Ill tell ya a story bout me and Soma. Ah, just bein clear, the wine Soma. Not that idiot god, just tbe clear.

Ah, um, okay?

Well thenYa know me, I love me some wine. Goin ta different shops, tryin and comparin all brands every day. Gettin drunk off my ass, pukin, passin outLivin the dream in a loop until one dayI ran into this lil beauty, Soma.

Reveria was staring at Loki with her eyes half closed, with no notion where the goddess was going with this. Loki, however, didnt care, and continued her story.

One of those fated meetings, I guess you could call it? It was love at first taste! Some Familia made it, but I didnt care. Went round Orario, buyin Soma left n rightBut while I was doin that, I heard somethin very interestin.

Something interesting?

Can ya wrap yer head round this, Eina? This wine is defective, a failure.

WhaEina remembered Bell saying he heard that from Lilly.

Lokis smile grew deeper.

Makes ya wonder, dont it? A failure thats this good? What about the successes, huh? I had ta know. Found my way to Soma Familias home base by myself.

Eina was shocked and Reveria looked down on Loki with disgust. While the two gods werent exactly enemies, a god going directly into anothers territory was almost an open invitation for an attack.

Even the gods had manners. While part of this was to protect personal information, there was no reason for a member of one Familia to go waltzing into anothers home.

Went up ta the porch, yellin SOMA! Marry me! Im beggin ya! But I was ignored, ta the point of gettin lonelyI was gettin ticked off, so I went inside without askin.

Eina rubbed her fingers up and down her temple as though she had a bad headache.

However, Soma Familias lack of resistance to an intruder added to her curiosity about the members themselves.

Place was totally silent. Not a single child anywhere. This is their home, yknow? Whyd everyone be out at the same time? I could tell somethin wasnt right, and it gave me the chillsBut I ignored it and perked up a bit. Went snoopin round the whole place.

I implore you, Loki. Do not reveal any more embarrassing information.

Ge-hee-hee, youre no fun, Reveria. Anyway, couldnt find the real Soma anywhere. Finally got to the point o gettin fed up with it, turn ta go homeand there he was, that idiot himself.

Loki lowered her head as if remembering every detail of that meeting. Her smile vanished.

I let out a big friendly Hey, there! and that idiot responded with only Welcome. Nothin else. It was our first time meetin, yknow? Hardly ever looked at me, either, just stood there with a hoe in his hand. Was tendin ta his garden. Only heard bout this later, but he grows all the ingredients fer his wine. Ah, nothin too alarmin goes in, though.

Loki continued to refill and drink the wine even while telling her story. Her bright pink cheeks were getting redder by the minute.

The tone of her voice went up.

This Soma godreally pissed me off.

Huh?

Tried talkin bout everythin, but all he did was answer yeah or hmm and kept on hoeinHe was implyin that his shit-filled fertilizer was above me.

Just talking about this memory made Lokis gaze grow more and more serious.

Eina was damp with sweat.

That god was nothin more than an indecisive, pitiful coward. But he acted like I was some dumb scarecrow and ignored meMakin me sick just thinkin bout it!

On top o that, Einy, on top o that!

E-Einy?

Overlookin all of that, all of his rudeness and whatnot, I still asked ta taste the real Soma, bein real polite and everythin! Even bowed ta him! Me! What ya think that idiots answer was?

Since Loki hadnt sensed any kind of hard feelings from Soma, she thought there was a chance she could try the good stuffif not a full bottle, then at least a cup or two. However, Soma finally stopped working and turned to Loki for the first time and said:

I refuse.

Apparently that was the first time he had shown any kind of emotion.

Geeyahh! Hes supposed ta be on my side, but that kinda tone pissed me off more than ever!

Loki, get a hold of yourself. Stop going off on tangents and get to the point.

Hee-hee-hee. Loki took a few quick, deep breaths to calm down before her face relaxed. She sank back into the sofa.

Sorry, sorry. Beat round the bush a bit, but I asked that idiot about his Familia. When I asked, what he said made me sick, that idiot. Hes got absolutely no clue how to run a Familia, no sense at all. Like his heart wasnt in it from the start.

Einas thin eyebrows flicked up.

His heart wasnt in it from the start?

Well then, what was his goal? Eina had a new train of thought take off in her mind.

Eina, dont be thinkin too hard on it, yknow? The god known as Soma has only one thing in his skull: his hobby. Plenty o those types, right? Their heads so far in the clouds, they cant see nothin else. That idiot is case number one, the ultimate example. Not barbaric or evil, just purely livin fer his craft. A god o pure amusement. Guess you could say hes the wise ol hermit of the godsha-ha! joked Loki.

There were many strange and usual personalities among the gods, but Soma was weird even among them.

At least that was the impression Eina was picking up from Loki.

Now, the problem is that wine, Soma. That idiot made his Familia for one reason only: his hobby. But they werent bringin in enough money. Not enough ta support his pastime, anywaymakin wines expensive, yeah? Couldnt keep it goin. What little brain he had told him to give them a prize. Somethin really speciala trigger ta get them ta work harder.

Dont tell me

Yep, that Soma. The good stuff, yeah?

A drop of wine from her last swig started to roll down Lokis lip. She licked it up a second later.

Eina, ya drank the failure, so ya probably know, but the real stuff isnt playin round. It takes ya. Not talkin bout getting hammered outta yer mind, now. The deepest part of yer soul, the spirit, gets taken. Like it takes hold of the mind and body, like theyre not yer own.

Whoosh. A sudden chill ran through Eina.

She thought back to the warm, elated feeling she got from drinking the failure before.

Her senses had been swept away by the wine, in a good way. Her spirits had been lifted.

Something even more euphoric than that?

Goose bumps quietly erupted on her skin beneath her suit.

Loki then said, Maybe if I put it like this, youll get it easier, as a way of leading into her next sentence.

The children who follow him arent there fer the idiot, but the Soma itself.

Members of that group werent worshipping a god, but divine wine.

That meant that the reason Soma Familia had more members than the god Somas reputation would allow was because their spirits were taken by the wine he gave them.

His followers had fallen in love with wine that could give them more happiness than anything else with as little as one sip.

That idiot is a real monster. Hes not gettin help from members with Enigma, hes just growin ingredients, mixin em, and brewin them himself. That idiot has driven his hobby ta utter perfection.

It suddenly came to Eina.

Part of the reason Loki referred to Soma as that idiot was out of fear and awe.

He aint usin our power, either. Hes usin the same abilities as his children, maybe even less, ta make somethin like that. Can ya believe that? In other words, human hands can make the wine o the gods. Its, like, what the helld he do up in Tenkai, right?

Hmm, I think I see the gist of your story. The god Soma uses his wine as bait to lure in members

Yep, thats right. Once the members knew the flavor of Soma, they did anything they could ta get money. While I did call it a prize, not everyone in the Familia gets an equal share. On top o issuin a quota, the idiot only gives the highest earners the good stuff. That Familia is at war with itself. Ah, yeah, those who fill the quota get a sip, most likely.

Loki racked her brain, trying to remember. However, Eina had a realization.

This was why the Soma Familia members she sometimes saw at the Guild were obsessed with money.

They were thirsty for Soma.

The more I hear about this, the more it sounds like a dangerous drug. Is it acceptable to let this continue?

Might just be my bad choice of words. The spirit gets stolen, but yer brain doesnt go up in smoke like that other stuff. Ya dont go mad, just feel really good. Makes yer whole body tremble. Makes ya want ta take another sip, no matter what. But, just like with normal alcohol, that feeling will go away.

Loki explained the difference between Soma and drugs like this:

There was no withdrawal with Soma. Its addictive qualities were not particularly strong.

Since Somas followers condition was only temporary, everyone would return to normal in time.

However, in the case of Soma Familia, members were given their next drink before the effects of the first dose had worn off. They were stuck in a hellish cycle.

Can you explain what you meant by the addictive period being short?

Well then, there are loads o children who have tasted Soma but got cut off and managed ta recover, right?

To add to that, it appeared that even Soma drinkers became tolerant of it over time. The strongest members of Soma Familia were almost always at the top, and therefore received the wine all the time. However, somehow they could drink it without their spirits being stolen, and stay normal.

Come to think of it, thought Eina, of all the members of Soma Familia who demand money at the Exchange, the ones who have reached Level Two are always much calmer and more collected.

To sum it all up fer ya, the leadership of a careless idiot obsessed with his hobby, the allure of Soma, and the members cravin fer it all mix together ta make the craziness that infects Soma Familia.

Normally, if the god at the top of a Familia had real interest in it, things wouldnt turn out this way.

This was because if the one who empowered everyone raised their voice, the Familia would fall silent. If they didnt, they would be stripped of their Falna.

All this information seemed to indicate that, although he was not at fault for the current conditions, Soma himself was responsible for setting them in motion and not putting them to an end.

Thats all there is ta it, Eina. Anythin else ya wanna ask?

No, thats all. Thank you very much for your time.

Eina understood what was happening at Soma Familia.

While their craving for that special wine was a bit scary on its own, this was a case of her being too focused on appearances.

Eina came to this conclusion because their yearning for alcohol and large amounts of money were not much different from other adventurers trying to strike it rich quick in the Dungeon. The only scary part of it was how they chose to reach their goal.

However, according to Lokis explanation, this was only a risk for part of the Familia, not every member. The supporter whom Bell had hired sounded as though she was perfectly normal, by the way he described her last time they talked.

A feeling of relief flowed through her as Eina deduced that it was highly unlikely that Bell would be thrust into a life-threatening scenario.

Loki watched her carefully and, upon seeing the look of relief on her face, opened her eyes a little wider.

Eina.

Yes?

Do ya know what happens ta donkeys that have a carrot hung in front of em but can never reach it?

Eina was dazed by this sudden, strange question.

Loki stuck out all of the fingers on both hands one by one and continued without waiting for Einas answer.

The weaker ones get run over as the stronger ones go fer the others carrots, kickin and thrashin their competition outta the way.

At first, Eina was confused. The answer dawned on her a moment later.

Thats whats happenin at that Familia. All the idiot does is hang carrots. Nothin can stop them now.

Then Loki folded all of her fingers together, expect for the pinkie on her right hand.

There might be a donkey that doesnt care how many times it gets kicked down by its allies. One who cant do nothin alonebut in exchange skillfully spurs sympathy and pity from a different master. A smart, uncompromisin donkey.

The face reflected in Lokis vermillion eyes suddenly tensed. Einas face.

The new master might realize his carrots are gone, yeah?

Loki sat up to peer into Einas eyes, sliding all the way into the sofa.

Pouring what little was left of the wine into Einas glass, Loki continued:

Just thinkin. If ya got a friend connected with one of em, ya might wanna let im know, just in case? Dont think itll be serious, but there might be some problems. Gotta take care o adventurers at the Guild, yeah? said Loki, crossing her legs and grinning.

She had seen through Eina. Loki was truly worthy of the title of goddess.

Eina took a slow breath and nodded with a very concerned look on her face.

Sayin it outta kindness might not be my place, though.

No. Im taking your advice to heart.

She was a good goddess.

Loki was much more compassionate than her reputation indicated. Either that or Eina was getting special treatment because of her relationship to Reveria.

Feeling Einas gaze on her, Loki flashed another grin.

All right, the wines gone. Shall we go our separate ways?

I apologize for taking this much of your time.

Dont worry bout it. Glad I got ta chat with the cute little beauty Eina.

A-ha-ha-ha

Loki stood up from the sofa and stretched out as high as she could before going over to the one person who was silent this whole time: Aiz.

Hey, Aiz. How long ya gonna beat yerself up?

Kay, then, how bout updatin yer status? Havent done it since ya been back, yeah?

Okay.

Fu-hee-hee, been a long time since I got my hands on Aizs soft skin!

Do anything else and Ill slice you.

Huh?! Ya serious?

Aizs harsh tone made Loki crouch down slightly as the two of them left the reception room. Just before turning the corner, Loki looked back at the elves, winked, and gave a quick wave.

Shesan interesting goddess.

I am inclined to agree that she is interesting, but shes much more. We have a lot of faith in her.

You too, Lady Reveria?

Yes, me included.

Eina giggled to herself, looking at Reverias closed-eyed half smile.

Eina picked up her glass from the table and drank what was left.

Tomorrow, I wonder if Ill have a chance to talk with Bell.

Lokis warning was still fresh in her mind. The Soma tasted a little bitter on Einas tongue.

AIZUUS A LEVEL SIIIIIIIIIIX!! Loki suddenly yelled.

PFFFTT

Eina.

Aaaaaagh! Im so sorry!