Accelerator was walking through the streets of Orario with a cat on his shoulder.
"Can I reveal my identity?" the cat on his shoulder complained.
He had decided to introduce Qliphap to Misha. It was a way to make amends for using magic recklessly on her. He had spent most of the morning in a room listening to his advisor's scolding.
"That's fine."
After all, many ordinary people in his world saw her out in public and didn't say anything. The issue in this world was that Qliphap's existence might be misunderstood as a monster. And, in essence, she wasn't much different from one.
"I'm only introducing you in your cat form. This won't affect your activities in your true form."
"It's just that you reveal my existence too easily, desu."
"There were more people who knew you in the tavern in our old world than there are who know me in this one."
"Nehehe... Alright, master." The cat turned its face away from him, pretending to sulk.
"You're still upset about yesterday?"
"No, master. It's just that you should value me a bit more. After all, I am the demon of knowledge."
"I've never doubted your value. You're my strategic asset. The people I reveal your existence to are those I can trust," he reaffirmed.
"Thank you. But do you really trust that girl? She doesn't seem very reliable."
"Trust me, at first, I thought the same. But that child is more talented than you might think."
"Misha!"
Standing in front of her was a slender man wearing glasses, similar to Eina's. He was examining various papers on the desk.
"What is it, Rehmer?"
He picked up a piece of paper and handed it to Misha.
"What's this? An adventurer under your management explored the 12th floor of the Dungeon on their first day, even without a Familia. You didn't make a mistake, did you?"
"Ehehe... He only explored up to the 2nd floor. That was my mistake. Hehe..." She stuck out her tongue, trying to look cute, while Rehmer sighed.
"Misha, how many times have I told you to be careful? Reporting mistakes can cause problems for the adventurers. If the gods..." Seeing that she was about to get a lecture from her superior, Misha quickly grabbed the paper and dashed off.
"I'll go fix it right away. Goodbye!"
"Stop, Misha. I'm not finished talking."
"Really?"
Accelerator pondered for a moment.
"No. I take back what I just said."
Clang. Clang. Hey yo, the sword becomes the arm. Up. Again. The armor becomes the body. Up. With every strike of the hammer, we breathe life into it. Up. Bang.
The sound of metal clashing echoed. Flames roared, and heat constantly radiated out. The forges were operating at full capacity. This was Goibniu Familia, one of the Familias specializing in forging and repairing equipment. The unique aspect of this Familia was its focus on crafting special weapons requested by adventurers. Walking past the large forges, he entered a smaller one inside the Familia.
"Hello, old man. Are you free lately?" The person stopped hammering and looked back.
"That tone... It's been a while, Accelerator."
The figure standing at the door had a cold, emotionless expression. But that image was ruined by the black cat perched on his head. "Meow..."
Glancing at the bored black cat lying on the boy's head, the god sighed and asked, "What do you want, kid?"
"I want you to make this for me. The blueprint is here." He extended his hand, and a thick stack of papers appeared. The god took the papers and examined them, flipping through the pages and thinking.
"Drawings, dimensions, materials, specifications, methods... As expected, you're as meticulous as ever. This is a complex and extremely sophisticated design. Although it doesn't require many rare materials, crafting it properly will take a lot of time. What's its name?"
"A.A.A, or Anti-Art Attachment."
"Anti-Art Attachment... That's quite a name," the god mused, stroking his beard as he studied the blueprint.
"How long will it take to complete?"
"At least three months. If not longer. I have other orders, not just yours. So it will likely take around four months. Moreover, with you only asking me to make the exterior, my motivation is somewhat diminished. I hope you'll respect our agreement."
"I always respect our agreement, Goibniu. The other parts aren't suitable for forging, so I can't give them to you. Don't worry, you'll see the true utility of this. Now, what's the cost?"
"If I used cheaper materials, you wouldn't have come to me. The quality of the materials I use is top-notch. The cost would be around 3,000,000,000 valis." The god named his price after a moment of calculation.
"Then I'll pay half upfront." He snapped his fingers, producing a shoulder bag and tossing it to the god.
"It contains about 1,000,000,000 valis, and that bag can hold up to 1 million cubic meters while weighing only 50 kg when full. A magical item like that deserves a high price. Do you accept?" After carefully inspecting the bag, the god looked at him and said, "Although the bag's value might be higher, no one truly needs something like this at such a price. They would have better options... But fine, I accept. This bag will be used to hold your items. If it proves to be useful, I might consider a higher price later."
"Thank you, old man."
"Get lost, you insolent brat."
"So, our budget is almost depleted, meow..." After paying Syr and Goibniu, his current budget was at a critical low. Perhaps he should explore the dungeon for a while to make up for the loss. But before that, there was one more place he needed to visit.
Knock, knock.
"Excuse me, is this The Travelers Inn?"
"Who are you? What do you want here?" A voice called out from behind the wooden door.
"You know this wooden door won't stop a high-level adventurer, right, Perseus?"
"Don't break it, Accelerator. What do you need from me now? Don't forget that what you gave me last time was completely useless." Asfi didn't waste any time and got straight to the point.
"It was useless because you didn't understand its nature. Don't blame me for your limited brain capacity. These are the things I need to be made." A stack of papers was immediately placed in her hands.
"I'll pay later."
"This time it's just a bunch of small components. Are you planning to pay the usual price?"
"Yes, just give me the quote later. If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
"Hey, Accelerator," Asfi called out. "Is what you asked me to make last time really that valuable?"
"Yes. It's very valuable. If you understand it well enough, it can completely change the world."
What he had exchanged with her last time was no simple matter. If magic stones here function as electricity does, then there would definitely be something akin to a transistor in this world. The first thing that could achieve this was the sacred sap from the Elf Forest, which had the properties of being both a magic conductor and a magic insulator. He had used Asfi's skills to create the world's first transistor. She had helped him make it for free, under the condition that he would give her the entire manufacturing process. Accelerator didn't hesitate to give her the basic transistor blueprint. (The interaction of the transistor with magic produced some incredibly interesting reactions. Incidentally, his staff also had a microprocessor chip he had made inside.) If she figured out how the transistor worked, he wouldn't stop her from doing whatever she wanted with it.
"Nehehe... You planned to cheat from the start, didn't you? With the technological gap between the two worlds, she could spend her whole life studying it and still struggle to figure it out."
Ignoring the demon's words, he left.
"So tired, desu."
"I thought you wanted to go into the Dungeon."
"Of course I do, Master. But not in the form of a cat, meow." Qliphap exclaimed as she started scratching at his hair. He dodged the sharp fangs of the Ligerfang before sending it flying with a kick. The poor Ligerfangs had unfortunately turned into billiard balls.
"You're starting to resemble Chloe. Yesterday's events affected you more than I thought."
"It's because I was stuck in the body of a cat all night, Master." She tried to claw at his hair even more.
"Alright, you can return to your original form. Just make sure no other adventurers see you." Once she reverted to her true form, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled against his cheek.
"Nehehe... Master." He pushed her away and pointed at the monsters in front of them.
"I didn't call you out to play. First, deal with all those monsters in one minute."
"Nehehe... As you wish, Master." While Qliphap dealt with the monsters, he thought about another important piece of information. Monsterphilia—what would he have to do during the festival?
"Nehehe... Finally, Master is dressed a bit better. It's a vast improvement over that city council outfit you wore. Honestly, I have no idea why you even wore that," Qliphap commented as she walked beside him.
"You've become more straightforward lately, Qliphap." Currently, he was wearing a simple white shirt with basic black patterns and plain black pants. Since today was an outing, there was no need to be extravagant. Standing in front of the Hostess of Fertility with the cat by his side, he lightly knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened, and a cannonball slammed into his stomach. Feeling all the air forced out of him, Accelerator quickly collapsed at the entrance of the tavern. When he regained his senses, he looked up to see Ayla sitting on him with a triumphant expression.
"Ayla has defeated the mighty Accelerator! Bow before me, Accelerator! Hahaha..." Laughter erupted from inside the tavern. It seemed Chloe had orchestrated a prank on him. Lifting the little girl with wind, he slowly stood up.
"Wow, Ayla is flying... So fun..."
"Don't do that again, kid."
"Don't tell me a top-ranked adventurer got beaten by a child. I'm really disappointed in you, meow." Chloe stepped out of the door wearing a modest long black dress, her friends giggling behind her.
"I'm a mage, not a warrior. My physical strength isn't that great. And it's the first time I've seen you wear something like this," he replied while gently making the child fly with soft winds.
"Chloe spent the entire evening choosing this outfit..." The brown-haired cat girl didn't finish her sentence before being pulled away by an elf and someone else. It was a bit sad, but he decided to let it go.
"I can't wear anything too revealing in front of the child. Or would you prefer I do that when we're alone?" She smiled seductively, teasing him.
"Never mind. There's nothing on your body worth looking at anyway." He replied with a tone of disappointment.
"Says the guy who always opens the door without knocking first, meow..." Chloe shouted while hugging her body tightly. The whispers of the staff from inside the tavern hinted they might be spreading some ridiculous rumors.
"Are you two seriously discussing this in front of a child?" A voice came from beside him. Syr approached with a reproachful look.
"Unbelievable, you two are such irresponsible parents. Don't poison the innocent mind of the child." She carried a basket and continued speaking.
"There's no need to worry about that. The child didn't hear anything. Weren't you at the tavern with everyone?" he replied as he made Ayla's flight higher. It seemed to attract some attention from the people around. Sorry, but mist and light had taken care of all the censorship issues. He wouldn't let outsiders see Ayla.
"I have a house outside, so after my shift, I go home. That way, I don't have to work at the restaurant all week. Were you curious about that?" She spoke in a tone that was very unpleasant to him.
"No." He was just confirming the certainty of his assumptions. He looked at Syr with cold eyes while she had a puzzled expression on her face.
"Hey, Accelerator." Chloe punched his shoulder from the side. She pouted, showing her dissatisfaction.
"Today is our outing day, meow. Are you ready to go?"
"Ah, Chloe, sorry for bothering you." Syr spoke as she lifted the cute basket in front of her.
"I know you're still mad at me about last time. This is my apology gift. It's also a picnic gift for your family. Open it when you're hungry, okay?" The basket was filled with fruit and well-prepared snacks. Syr seemed very thoughtful about this.
"Thank you very much." Chloe happily accepted the gift basket. He quietly lowered Ayla to the ground. The little girl seemed very excited after flying so high.
"Alright then, goodbye, everyone, we're off, meow."
"Goodbye, big sisters. Goodbye, Syr." Ayla waved at the tavern staff. Accelerator also nodded to them.
"Ah... Qliphap, you're here too." The cat was being held and petted by Ayla. Then the little girl ran ahead and shouted,
"Mom, Dad, let's go play!" He and Chloe exchanged looks and sighed. It was going to be a long day.
The East Main Street is brimming with life, filled with the sounds of music and the voices of Orario's residents.
It is now 9 AM. While most adventurers have already wandered into the Dungeon, a large number of townsfolk have gathered throughout the streets.
A row of food stalls runs along the center of the avenue, with two more rows of stalls on either side. The sounds and smells from these stalls blend together, spreading throughout the sea of people. The entire street is decorated with vibrant ribbons and blooming flowers. Colorful flags flutter in the early morning breeze, some depicting wild monsters. Others bear the image of an elephant's head – the emblem of the Ganesha Familia. The sun seems to be sending its congratulations with bright rays shining down on the clear sky.
East Main Street has been completely transformed by the festival.
The crowd is flowing in from the east gate, filling the arena. A young man with white hair is wearily making his way to a seat. Accelerator sits down with an armful of items. He could hardly believe that spending time with a lively child and a teasing woman could drain his energy so quickly. Being dragged through countless stalls and dense crowds made him feel suffocated. The exhaustion was even worse than the rigorous physical training or the prolonged battles that usually wore him down. Yet, in his heart, he felt genuinely happy. Memories of the past surfaced in his mind—times when he tried to resist going out. Times when he spent weekends with Last Order and Worst at the park, or squeezed in a trip to the beach with the whole family before the battles resumed. These old memories suddenly came flooding back, engulfing him. A finger poked his cheek from the side. He looked over to see Chloe leaning in to poke him.
"Lost in thought again?" Chloe smiled gently at him. He brushed her finger aside.
"Yes."
"That place means a lot to you, doesn't it?" Chloe looked toward the arena and spoke.
"Yes, it does."
"Ohhh..."
"But it's not the only important place anymore. Another place, just as important, is right here." His answer came from the depths of his heart. Chloe looked at him, beaming with a bright smile.
"Thank you, Accelerator." He smirked back at her. A comfortable atmosphere surrounded them.
"Crunch... gulp..." The sound of someone biting into an apple echoed between them. Ayla was munching on an apple from Syr's basket.
"Um... You two go ahead and talk. I'm invisible."
Chloe awkwardly turned away after Ayla's comment. He returned to his usual grumpy expression, looking toward the arena. And he swore that Qliphah, lying on Ayla's lap, was watching the two of them with the narrowest eyes a cat could manage. How embarrassing. He looked for a way to dispel the awkward atmosphere.
The sound of clinking chains rang out as the god Ganesha stood up to deliver his speech.
"It seems like it's starting now."
"Yeah, it's Monsterphilia."
At the second floor of a café.
The café's wooden interior created a warm and cozy ambiance. A woman was sitting at a table by the window, facing the street. She was wearing a blue sailor cloak to hide her face, but beneath the fabric, one could glimpse her snow-white, smooth skin. However, there was no way a single cloak could completely conceal the beauty of this woman.
Even though her face was mostly hidden by the hood, all eyes in the café were fixed on her. Every time her slender fingers glided gently along the rim of her cup, or when her elegant chin was briefly revealed from under the hood, everyone around her held their breath. Some people came here just to catch a glimpse of her beauty, frozen in awe.
They were all captivated by the allure of someone who was hardly doing anything at all. This was Freya—the goddess of beauty. She ignored everyone and continued to gaze down at the street below.
"..."
She was observing the many residents of Gekai—the lower world.
Humans, beasthuman, dwarves, elves. A small number of adventurers were scattered among the various races.
Freya meticulously examined each person with her sharp eyes.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor signaled the arrival of new customers.
Freya stopped her observations and turned to greet someone who had just entered.
"Yo! Sorry to keep you waiting!"
"No worries, I just got here."
Under the hood, Freya smiled, while the other person waved at her from the top of the stairs.
The newcomer had hair that wasn't as fiery red as Hephaistos' but was a shade darker, like the color of the sky diffused by the last rays of the setting sun. It was tied back in a ponytail. Her clothes were worn and faded. If one didn't know her, they might mistake her for a man.
Stifling a sleepy yawn, with slightly watery eyes, Loki smiled back at the cloaked goddess across from her.
"I haven't had breakfast yet. Mind if I grab a bite?"
"Go ahead."
Loki pulled out a chair across from Freya and sat down. Freya didn't react, and an atmosphere of mutual understanding formed between the two.
"I heard you had quite a night after the banquet. Drank so much you passed out and slept it off, right? I bet Hestia didn't do that, did she?"
"Where did you hear that, you cow?"
"I also happened to hear a few things about your lovely children. They seem to be quite the jokesters, don't they?"
"Those idiots, always messing around when I'm not there!"
Freya had invited Loki to this café to chat at 9 AM.
It had been a few days since the banquet. The two goddesses were here only because Freya had requested it.
"So, when are you going to introduce the girl behind you?"
"Huh, do I really need to?"
"This is the first time I'm meeting her in person."
Loki hadn't come alone.
Standing behind her, holding a sword, was a young girl with golden hair and shimmering eyes that stood out even to Freya, the goddess of beauty.
"Alright, this is Aiz, a member of my Familia. Satisfied? Aiz, since she's a goddess, it's best if you greet her."
"...A pleasure to meet you."
Freya muttered "Kenki" under her breath, then glanced at the girl again.
Aiz Wallenstein. She was the female swordsman responsible for the recent commotion involving the Loki Familia, and she was a topic of conversation even among the gods. Her name had spread not just in Orario, but across the world. It was clear that she didn't need any introduction.
A girl with an appearance that hardly suggested she ever ventured into danger. But those who didn't know her identity would never guess that she had cut through countless monsters as an adventurer.
"You can sit down." Upon hearing Loki's words, the girl with the delicate face nodded and pulled out a chair to sit.
"She's quite cute. And... yes. I can see why you fancy this one."
Aiz and Freya's eyes met. Aiz maintained a blank expression as she politely bowed her head.
Her nickname was accurate in some respects, but completely wrong in others. Thinking of this, Freya couldn't help but smile briefly.
"May I ask why you brought the princess along?"
"Fu-he-he-heee... It makes sense, doesn't it? What better time for a date with my Aizuu?"
Loki's eyes lit up, and a sly grin spread across her lips.
"Well, she just got back from an expedition. She'll be returning to the Dungeon soon. Only this girl would do that, really."
"..."
"Someone has to tell her to rest, right?"
Loki patted the girl's head as she spoke. Aiz just lowered her head, choosing not to say anything.
Freya looked into Loki's narrowed, warm eyes and couldn't help but recall the image of the goddess before she came to this land. Loki had once been a troublemaker in Tenkai.
"Well then, I think it's about time you told me why you brought me here."
"I just wanted to chat with you for a bit. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"No need to lie."
Loki gave a smug smile at Freya, who had been smiling under her mysterious cloak all this time. She understood every word Freya said. An atmosphere of "old friends" suddenly appeared.
A waiter arrived at that moment to take their order. Unfortunately, he walked in right at the wrong time. Caught between the tension from both sides, he froze at the end of the table as if anchored to the spot.
Aiz, still expressionless, silently observed from the side.
"I'll ask again, why?"
"I don't understand. Is there a problem, Loki?"
"Come on, don't play dumb."
Freya turned toward the waiter still standing there, smiling gently at him. His eyes widened, his face flushed as if drunk, and sweat poured from his body as he quickly retreated.
Loki watched him go before turning back to Freya, her predatory gaze returning.
"You've been acting strange lately. You swore you weren't interested in the banquet, but showed up at the last moment. You said it was for gathering information, huh? You've never cared about that before... What exactly are you planning?"
"Planning...? Why would you think so poorly of me?"
"Shut up."
Loki continued to complain about Freya's strange behavior. And she didn't forget to add that if it got in her way, she would personally put an end to it. Loki didn't blink, and her red eyes added weight to every word from her lips.
But Freya didn't flinch, meeting Loki's gaze. Loki's look was like that of a deadly serpent staring at its prey, but Freya received it with a gentle smile. Invisible sparks flew from the four eyes facing each other; the pressure from their conversation filled the room. Somehow, the café had become deserted except for the three of them.
Aiz sat in the front row, witnessing the clash between the two goddesses that seemed like it would last forever. Until...
Loki grew tired of the game and withdrew.
The tension immediately evaporated, and Loki spoke again in a relaxed tone: "It's because of some kid, isn't it?"
"..."
Freya remained silent, smiling.
Loki took that as confirmation. She sighed long and deep. She had seen this scenario play out too many times.
"So... You've taken notice of a boy who's already part of another Familia, haven't you?"
All the gods were aware of Freya's particular "interest" in certain men.
Once someone from the lower world caught her eye, she acted. Her beauty alone was enough to turn her target into her possession. No one knew exactly how many men had fallen under Freya's spell.
Loki believed that Freya's target almost certainly didn't belong to her own Familia. Therefore, from the very beginning, the reason she attended the banquet was to determine which Familia the person belonged to.
Clearly, pursuing someone who already belongs to another Familia wouldn't end peacefully. The god of that Familia certainly wouldn't sit idly by. Freya was looking for an opportunity. If the other Familia was strong enough, she would surely be rejected and left in despair until she found a new target. She was being careful, gathering information before acting. That's what Loki thought.
Freya had no intention of denying Loki's words.
"Jeez, really. Is that all you think about? You plan on pursuing anyone, regardless of their age?"
"How rude. I do have my own standards."
"Setting aside all the clumsy fools from Tenkai you've roped in?"
"They each have their own value. My skill at squeezing money from them is quite refined, you know."
Loki swallowed. This witch was displaying all her vile qualities. Loki raised an eyebrow at her fellow goddess. Freya shrugged, just enough for the fabric of her cloak to lift slightly at her elbow.
Feeling there was nothing more to say, Loki placed her hands behind her head and leaned back in her chair, almost tipping her feet off the ground.
Freya also relaxed her guard and sipped from her now-cool cup. Both of them had gotten their answers, and the atmosphere between the two finally grew peaceful. The clear sky, full of sunshine, spread out beyond the window, and the bustling sounds of the street flowed into the café. Freya's deep blue cloak fluttered in the gentle breeze coming through the open window.
"And?"
"...?"
"Who's that kid? Who's the mortal you're chasing? When did you first notice him?"
Loki tilted her head to one side, as if to say, "Spill it."
Now she was curious. Unlike Freya, Loki enjoyed details. If she didn't get some interesting information soon, she might just storm off.
"..."
"I came all this way, rearranged my plans. The least I should get is that."
Freya turned away, her gaze dropping to the street below.
Through Freya's hood, Loki could glimpse a pair of silver eyes staring into the distance, as if lost in a past memory.
"...That kid isn't strong at all. You could even call him weak. He's easily troubled and breaks down crying over the simplest problems... He's that kind of person."
Then, a "but" slipped from her lips.
"But he's beautiful, pure. I've never seen anyone like him."
And that's why she valued him.
She had heard a voice that was almost impossible to ignore, coming from the flame within the boy. It was a high-pitched female voice.
"I came across him by chance. He just happened to pass by my line of sight."
As she spoke, Freya recalled the details of when she first noticed the boy. She was still staring down at the bustling street, looking for him. That's how she had seen him the last time. Perhaps today would be the same.
"That's it... But that's not the main reason I called you here."
"Then what is it?" Loki stopped slouching as the atmosphere grew more serious.
"Investigating someone. Someone strange, even I don't know much about."
If Freya admitted she couldn't figure out which Familia the person belonged to, it meant her investigation had hit a snag, and that's why she was asking for help.
"Explain further."
"It's a mysterious person who exudes a terrifying aura. The information I've gathered about him in this city is very limited. Even though I've sent my children to investigate, they haven't been able to find his whereabouts."
"This city is vast, with many hidden corners. Not finding someone's hideout isn't that unusual. I don't understand why you need my help." Loki complained about being dragged into another of Freya's pursuits.
"Because he's the one who recently clashed with your Familia. That rumor has spread farther than you think." Loki thought for a moment before remembering. Although she had rushed outside with Aiz, she had heard about the chaos that had unfolded inside. Bete had picked a fight with a mage by mistake and was ultimately blasted away by his magic. His strength was unclear, but Finn had estimated him to be around level 6—a first-class adventurer.
"You want me to investigate that guy? That won't be free." It was troublesome, but she understood the reason. A first-class adventurer in Orario with very little information was hard to believe. Even in the underworld, details about strength or nicknames usually existed if you searched thoroughly. The most worrying thing was that he might be connected to Evilus, just like the other two who had infiltrated before. Loki understood the seriousness of this. Perhaps she should send Finn to investigate.
"I'll pay you an appropriate price later. But for now..." Freya glanced out the window.
It was early morning, the air fresh, the sunlight just beginning to spread, on West Main Street.
He appeared from the far end of the street—just like now.
The boy ran into her line of sight, just like that day.
"..."
Freya held her breath.
Her gaze fell upon a human boy with white hair, clad in the bright armor of an adventurer.
He weaved through the crowded street.
That boy was heading toward the stadium—Monsterphilia.
Following the crowd, he was on his way to the round tower not far from the main road.
Freya watched him for a while. A new, eerie smile formed on her lips.
"I'm sorry. I have something to attend to."
"Huh?"
"Let's continue another time."
Loki slumped over the table in frustration. Freya had already risen from her seat.
She pulled on her cloak, descended the stairs, and left the building.
Only Loki and Aiz remained in the café.
"What kind of person just up and leaves like that...?"
Loki glanced at the staircase for a moment, frowning slightly.
A hum escaped her throat as she turned to look at the girl standing beside her.
Aiz was staring out the window.
"What's wrong, Aiz? Something on your mind?"
"...No."
She said, "Nothing," but her gaze didn't shift.
Those golden eyes, like the silver eyes of the goddess who had just left, were fixed on a familiar white head bobbing through the crowd, heading toward the stadium.
The opening was marked by a loud roar from the crowd.
Unleashed from its chains, a monster roared as it charged into the arena, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. It was a War Boar, over two meters tall. Only a short-haired beast tamer stood in its path. She quickly sidestepped, her hair fluttering in the wind.
The crowd erupted in excitement at the tense scene. Fifty thousand people created a whirlwind of energy that spread across the stands.
The arena, Anphite Atom, was located in the eastern part of Orario. The curtain had just risen to begin the main event of Monsterphilia. Thousands of spectators filled the seats to witness this performance.
The War Boar had been captured solely for this event. It stamped its feet, preparing to charge the woman. The immense power of the beast left cracks on the arena floor with each step. However, the beast tamer from the «Ganesha Familia» remained unfazed. She skillfully dodged each of the beast's attacks, driving the crowd into an even greater frenzy.
The fight was reminiscent of bullfighting. A person, dressed in vibrant clothes, faced off against the beast, using a whip and a cloak. The monster relentlessly attacked, while the tamer narrowly avoided each blow.
Her mission was to tame it, not kill it. The calm demeanor on her face as she faced the life-threatening situation left the audience both terrified and awestruck. They wanted more. They applauded every time the tamer dodged without a scratch.
The beast's earth-shaking roars echoed throughout the arena, amplified by magic stones, so even those in the upper stands could feel the heat of the performance. The entire stadium was truly electrified.
"Go, adventurers..." Ayla cheered enthusiastically from beside him. Her excitement spread to Chloe. Both mother and daughter were engrossed in the battle below.
Accelerator was deep in thought about this peculiar festival. Monsterphilia wasn't an event held by the gods just for fun. The Ganesha Familia provided the monsters and the trainers for the show, but the Guild also played a major role in organizing everything. While there was virtually no threat to the city, it still seemed odd to bring these monsters out of the dungeons. If the Guild truly cared about the city's safety as they claimed, they should restrict the movement of these monsters. Eliminating them would be a good start.
This event likely had something to do with the relationship between adventurers and civilians. But there were other ways to improve that relationship, so he doubted that was the main goal.
The true purpose of this event wasn't just to tame monsters. It wasn't purely for entertainment either. Creating such a potentially dangerous situation just for fun seemed like something that should be abolished.
The only reasonable explanation was an attempt to ease the tension between humans and monsters. This suggested that the higher-ups at the Guild knew secrets about the monsters that they couldn't share with others.
He glanced at Ayla and gently patted her head. The child seemed to enjoy the attention.
"Daddy, what is it?"
"Nothing. Chloe, I'll be stepping out for a bit, keep an eye on the kid."
"Got it. But if you take too long, we'll leave you behind, meow."
"Feel free. I'll find you both." With that, he left. Accelerator quickly exited the arena. The streets were still bustling, and he swiftly slipped into the shadows of the alleyways. His departure wasn't random. Upon arriving at the arena, he had kept his vector senses extended to learn from the warriors fighting in the arena. And then he had sensed something. In a brief moment, extremely unusual vibrations had spread from a corner of the arena.
Chaos soon erupted around him. Shouts echoed from various corners of the city.
"MONSTERS!!!!!!"
The once peaceful street quickly descended into chaos with just that one word. He understood what was happening. Someone had released monsters from the arena into the city. Leaping onto a rooftop, he drew his sword cane and thrust it into the roof.
"Winds, roam freely everywhere. You exist in Yetzirah. Seall mun cuairt." The winds spread from his staff, reaching all corners of the city. Combined with his vector manipulation, this allowed him to "see" everywhere in the city and control it. The monsters heading towards civilians were halted by flying stones. The panicked crowd quickly calmed down and began retreating from the monsters. The chaos was quelled in an instant, and now it was only a matter of waiting for the adventurers to deal with the monsters trapped in the wind. The situation around the arena was under control, so he decided to "look" further to find any monsters he might have missed.
He noticed that some people had frozen the tree monsters in a distant corner. Upon closer inspection, he realized these monsters had come from underground, likely through the sewer system. Sending a gust of wind down there to investigate, he found nothing but monsters still asleep in the sewers. Deciding to leave that matter for now, he focused on the more immediate problem. In the Daedalus Street district, a silverback was chasing a boy and a girl. He decided to help them by creating a dust storm to obstruct the monster's vision.
Just as the two were cornered in an alley, he prepared to intervene, but a chill ran down his spine. Someone was warning him. Accelerator quickly turned in the direction of the gaze. The person watching him had already left, but the wind told him who was behind it all.
'A warning not to interfere. You're targeting that boy, aren't you, Freya?'
He returned his focus to the battle, ready to step in if necessary. The boy stood, facing the monster, protecting the girl behind him. Clenching his dagger, the boy charged with incredible speed, plunging the blade into the monster's chest, defeating it in an instant.
At that moment, Accelerator did not intervene.
"Good job, kid," he muttered as he "watched" the boy carry the girl away. Satisfied that everything was under control, Accelerator dispelled his magic. A corner of the arena suddenly became noisy, and he quickly headed there, seeing a little girl surrounded by adventurers.
"Ayla?"
A moment earlier.
When Accelerator left, Ayla immediately felt bored. She tugged on Chloe's sleeve, whining.
"Mom, let's follow him."
"Don't be in such a rush, Ayla. Accelerator just went for a moment and will be back soon."
"This place is boring. Teasing Mr. Accelerator is more fun. Let's go find him, please, Mom."
Unable to resist, Chloe was quickly defeated by Ayla's cuteness. Suppressing a nosebleed, Chloe reluctantly gave in.
"Alright, let's go then."
"Yeah!"
Ayla quickly hugged her cat and dashed towards the exit. Chloe sighed and followed behind.
Swiftly weaving through the crowd, they made their way to the arena gates. But Accelerator was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is he, Mom?"
"This is pointless, meow. How could we possibly keep up with a first-class adventurer, meow? Let's head back, Ayla. Ayla??" Chloe glanced around but Ayla was nowhere to be found.
"MONSTERS!" A scream echoed, and Chloe immediately sensed something was wrong and rushed towards the noise.
"Thanks, Qliphap."
"We shouldn't have done this, young lady. Master and Chloe will scold me for sure," Qliphap complained as he clung to Ayla's shoulder.
"Don't worry, I have a friend here. You can protect me, can't you?" Ayla said. Qliphap sighed after hearing her words.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"I've had a strange feeling ever since I saw those monsters."
Qliphap nodded, understanding why Ayla was acting this way.
"Alright, but be careful, young mistress." The cat immediately jumped onto the roof, ready to intervene with magic if necessary.
"Don't worry, Qliphap."
"MONSTER!" A scream echoed from the street ahead. Ayla instantly sped up, racing forward. In front of her was a massive bear charging toward a small pallum carrying a large backpack. Gritting her teeth, Ayla's bones and muscles cracked before exploding with incredible speed. She shot forward like a bullet, slamming into the monster. The bear was hurled into a wall, which crumbled on top of it. The pallum stood frozen in shock.
"Are you alright?" Ayla extended her hand to the small pallum. Snapping out of the shock, the pallum stammered,
"Uh... Y-Yes, thank you."
"I'm glad you're okay," Ayla said. The sound of rubble shifting came from the broken wall, and Ayla saw the bear trying to get back up. "But you should get out of here."
The pallum nodded and quickly ran off. Ayla took a deep breath and faced the monster again. The sound of cracking bones echoed as her fingernails turned into sharp claws. She dropped to all fours like a beast and growled at the bear. Her pupils slitted like a reptile's, glowing with a mystical blue light.
"Roaghhh..." The bear roared and charged at Ayla. She rolled to the side, dodging its massive claws.
"Bang!" The ground shattered beneath the bear's huge paws. Using the momentum, Ayla lunged forward, sinking her claws into its back.
"Gyahhh!" The bear tried to shake her off as it stood up, thrashing wildly. Ayla held on tightly, digging her claws in deeper. When the bear attempted to crush her by falling backward, she leaped away just in time. Regaining her balance after the jump, she rushed toward the bear once more. It swung its massive paw at her in a desperate attempt to stay alive.
Ayla opened her mouth wide and bit down hard, despite the size difference. The bear's enormous paw was severed as if by an invisible jaw that tore through the air itself. Her claws plunged into the bear's chest, and with a powerful yank, she ripped out its magic stone. The monster collapsed, lifeless, as Ayla landed gracefully. The surrounding crowd watched in astonishment. Her claws slowly retracted, returning to normal. A moment later, cheers erupted from the onlookers, but Ayla ignored them entirely.
She stared at the magic stone in her hand, feeling an odd urge to do something.
"Ayla!" A panicked voice called out as Chloe rushed through the crowd.
In front of everyone, Ayla brought the magic stone to her mouth. The crowd fell silent again as she innocently chewed on it like candy. A moment later, her face scrunched up, and she spat out the crushed bits. She tried to wipe the fragments off her tongue, forgetting her hands were covered in the monster's blood. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Chloe.
"Ayla, spit that out immediately!"
"Mom... It doesn't taste like candy." Ayla wiped her mouth with her bloody hands, making things worse. The awful taste made her burst into tears. Chloe sighed at the sight, grabbing a damp cloth to clean her hands. The crowd chuckled at the tiny adventurer who had just defeated a monster, now crying over the taste of blood.
"Of course, it's not candy. Don't do that again, understood?" Ayla nodded quietly, her eyes still wet with tears.
"Here, drink some water. Rinse your mouth out, kiddo," Accelerator said as he handed her a bottle. Ayla thanked him and rinsed her mouth. Something fell out of her mouth.
"A tooth...?"
"It looks like she lost a baby tooth trying to chew the magic stone," Accelerator remarked. Ayla blushed as the crowd laughed even harder. Even Chloe was trying to stifle her laughter.
"Mom, Dad, can we go home now?" Ayla clutched her dress, her face red as a tomato, pleading with them.
"Alright, let's go. This was a good lesson for you, meow?" Ayla nodded quickly, clearly eager to leave.
"Besides, with us unable to find you, I think we need to have a talk with the one who helped you sneak off, don't we?" Accelerator and Chloe shot sharp looks at the cat, who was trying to act innocent nearby.
"It's my fault! Auntie Qliphap didn't do anything wrong!" Ayla tried to defend Qliphap.
"We'll discuss that later," Accelerator said as the cat quickly jumped onto his shoulder.
"Let's go, you two."
"Why is it so crowded everywhere?" The one complaining was a flat-chested goddess with a ponytail. Loki was trying to weave her way through the crowd that had gathered. Aiz was silently following behind her. Loki grabbed a random person nearby and asked about the situation inside.
"Hey, old man! What's going on here?"
"Don't you know? A little girl just took down a huge bear! A child with silver hair and bright blue eyes defeated the massive monster with her bare hands."
"What? With her bare hands? From your description, that beast must have been a Bugbear. Even a second-tier adventurer would struggle to take one down alone. And you're telling me a kid did it?"
"How do you know I'm lying? I saw it with my own eyes! An eight-year-old girl punched straight into the monster's chest and ripped out its magic stone. She even tried to eat the magic stone, thinking it was candy. She ended up losing a tooth! Hahaha..."
"So, where's the girl now?" Loki asked, peering into the crowd but not seeing anyone.
"Oh, her family just picked her up. They went in the opposite direction from where you came, so you wouldn't have seen them."
"A family picked her up? Can you describe them?" Loki's interest was piqued. A child who could take down a Bugbear was a rare gem. If she could recruit the girl, it would be a huge gain for her Familia.
"The mother was a pretty cat girl with jet-black hair, dressed in a very modest outfit. I wish she wore something a bit more revealing. Oh, and her chest was kind of flat, too."
"Stick to the point, you perverted old man!" Loki snapped, smacking him on the head.
"Alright, alright. The father was a tall, slender young man with white hair and blood-red eyes. He had this serious aura about him. His gaze was terrifying; it gave us all chills."
A tall, slender young man with white hair and blood-red eyes, with a frightening atmosphere? That must be the guy from the tavern Freya had asked Loki to investigate.
'The black-haired cat girl must be the tavern maid. Do they have a child together? Is Freya playing some kind of trick on me?' Loki made a mental note to question Freya more thoroughly about this later.
"Why does it feel like so many things lately involve people with white hair and red eyes?" Loki grumbled as she signaled for Aiz to follow her.